FLINT, Texas (March 31, 2008) - Boater Ricky Campbell of Waxahachie, Texas, won the Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Palestine Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces. The victory earned Campbell $2,289 plus a $404 Ranger contingency bonus and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Ouachita Regional Championship in Mount Ida, Ark., Oct. 23-25, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"I enjoy fishing any FLW tournament," Campbell said. "Lake Palestine is one of my favorite lakes to fish and I always look forward to fishing with such a great tournament organization."
Campbell caught his fish on a black and blue Senko in 1 to 2 feet of water near Kickapoo Creek.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Robert Farmer of Killeen, Texas (five bass, 14-04, $1,347); Mark Britain of Gainesville, Texas (five bass, 13-08, $898); Mark Beckmann of Bryan, Texas (five bass, 13-06, $629) and JD Green of Tyler, Texas (five bass, 13-04, $539).
Farmer took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $290 for a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass he caught on a Senko in 4 feet of water in and around grass.
Ryan Parker of Kaufman, Texas, earned $1,347 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to four bass weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces that flipping a Fluke in and around grass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Ronnie Talbot of Mexia, Texas (five bass, 12-00, $674); Rick Pritchard of Huntsville, Texas (five bass, 11-04, $449); Clint Clover of Gatesville, Texas (five bass, 10-09, $314) and Bo Mitchell of Malvern, Ark. (five bass, 9-14, $269).
Stephen Poynter of Edgewood, Texas, earned $145 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass he caught on a Ribbit near Ledbetter Creek.
The division's fourth qualifying event will be held on Richland Chambers in Corsicana, Texas, April 26. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Lake Texoma in Denison, Texas, Oct. 4-5