OKEECHOBEE CITY, Fla. (May 18, 2009) - Darrell Brackin of Okeechobee, Fla., won the Bass Fishing League Everglades Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Okeechobee Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 26 pounds, 1 ounce. The victory earned Brackin $3,021 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Brackin said he caught the majority of his bass fishing a crankbait on ledges in the Kissimmee River.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jim Hurlock, Jr. of Lake Worth, Fla. (five bass, 24-3, $1,511); Jason Council of Casselberry, Fla. (five bass, 20-15, $1,007); Jason Danes of Winter Haven, Fla. (five bass, 17-9, $705) and Jeff McMillan of Belle Glade, Fla. (five bass, 16-9, $604).
Brackin took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $345 for a 8-pound, 4-ounce bass.
John Haystead of Saint Cloud, Fla., earned $1,511 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces.
Haystead said he caught the majority of his bass on a cream and blue-back Rat-L Trap on ledges in the Kissimmee River.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Clyde Arnold of Coconut Creek, Fla. (five bass, 13-7, $755); George Davis of Moore Haven, Fla. (five bass, 13-0, $504); David Hunter of Williston, Fla. (five bass, 12-9, $327) and James Trudel of Lighthouse Point, Fla. (five bass, 12-9, $327).
Dererk Savage of Port Saint Lucie, Fla., earned $172 as the co-angler Big Bass winner with a 9-pound, 5-ounce bass he caught on a June Bug-colored trick worm fished on a ledge in the Kissimmee River.
The next Everglades Division event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held on the Kissimmee River in Lake Wales, Fla., Sept. 19-20.