MAYSVILLE, Ky. (Aug. 10, 2009) - Dwight Benjamin of Felicity, Ohio, won the Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division bass fishing tournament on the Ohio River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned Benjamin $3,289 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Kentucky Lake Regional Championship in Gilbertsville, Ky., Oct. 15-17, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Benjamin said he caught the majority of his limit throwing a spinnerbait in brush piles on the main river, approximately 15 miles from the ramp.
Rounding out the top five boaters are John Keal of Milford, Ky. (five bass, 8-3, $1,644); Ken Barker of Middletown, Ohio (three bass, 7-13, $1,097); Clyde McNaron of Trenton, Ohio (five bass, 7-8, $767) and John Carter of Felicity, Ohio (four bass, 7-1, $658).
Craig Mills of Hamilton, Ohio, and Randy Dyke of Waverly, Ohio, tied for the Boater Division Big Bass award, each earning $197 for a 3-pound, 11-ounce bass.
Charlie Smith of Florence, Ky., earned $1,644 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to four bass weighing 4 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Andrew Helton of Lucasville, Ohio (three bass, 4-12, $822); David Palmer of Port Clinton, Ohio (two bass, 4-2, $549); Trent Norman of Cincinnati, Ohio (one bass, 3-14, $384); and Kenneth Garrison of Hamilton, Ohio (two bass, 3-12, $329).
Trent Norman earned $197 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 3-pound, 14-ounce bass.
The final Buckeye Division event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held on the Ohio River in Lawrenceburg, Ind., Sept. 12-13.