NATCHITOCHES, La. (May 19, 2008) - Boater Mark Richard of Bridge City, La., won the Bass Fishing League Louisiana/Texas Division bass fishing tournament on the Red River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds. The victory earned Richard $3,801 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.
Richard caught his bass throwing a black Stanley Ribbit Frog in 3 to 6 feet of water near Colfax.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Aaron Johnson of Bossier City, La. (five bass, 14-13, $2,236); Marc Gatwood of Hattiesburg, Miss. (five bass, 13-11, $1,492); Glen Freeman of Converse, La. (five bass, 13-08, $1,043) and Glenn Robertson of Shreveport, La. (five bass, 12-07, $894).
Melvin Dunn of Orange, Texas, Nicholas Albus of Trinity, Texas and Tim Achee of Hemphill, Texas each took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $216 for a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass.
Charles Dranguet of Natchitoches, La., earned $2,236 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 13 pounds, 11 ounces that he caught on a Zoom Brush Hog.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jeffrey Wharton of Houston, Texas (three bass, 8-10, $1,118); Bobby Barreraz of Center, Texas (five bass, 7-15, $633); Daniel Thomas of Pineville, La. (three bass, 7-15, $633) and Ronald Roth of Ocean Springs, Miss. (four bass, 7-12, $447).
Larry Tucker of Montgomery, La. and Michael Frost of Cookville, Texas each earned $162 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass.
The division's fourth qualifying event will be held on Toledo Bend in Many, La., June 28. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Jasper, Texas, Sept. 20-21.