WOODBRIDGE, Va. (May 19, 2008) - Boater Danny Wicker of Hillsboro, N.C., won the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division bass fishing tournament on the Potomac River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned Wicker $3,531 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Albemarle Sound Regional Championship in Elizabeth City, N.C., Oct. 9-11, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Wicker caught his bass throwing a jig and tube near docks and grass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jeff Williams of Moneta, Va. (five bass, 18-05, $2,078); Richard Heath Jr. of Rockville, Va. (five bass, 18-00, $1,383); Christopher Burns of Durham, N.C. (five bass, 17-03, $970) and Russell Nixon of Rustburg, Va. (five bass, 16-09, $831).
Heath took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $570 for a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught on a jig in and around grass.
Larry Drewett of Sterling, Va., earned $2,078 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce that he caught throwing a Strike King Diamond Shad near rocks.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Pat Riley of Lynchburg, Va. (five bass, 16-02, $1,039); James Bradfield of Raleigh, N.C. (five bass, 15-01, $691); John Chandler of Lovettsville, Va. (five bass, 14-10, $485) and Jeffrey Brill of Stephens City, Va. (four bass, 13-01, $416).
Chandler earned $285 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass he caught on a ChatterBait.
The division's fourth qualifying event will be held on the James River in Richmond, Va., June 21. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on the Potomac River in Woodbridge, Va., Sept. 13-14.