CORSICANA, Texas (April 28, 2008) - Boater Mark Beckmann of Bryan, Texas, won the Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division bass fishing tournament on Richland Chambers Reservoir Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 11 ounces. The victory earned Beckmann $2,124 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.
Beckmann caught his limit on a 1-ounce white Rat-L-Trap.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Kit Getchell of Granbury, Texas (five bass, 20-07, $1,250); John Byler of Irving, Texas (five bass, 17-06, $833); Terry Hawkins of Corsicana, Texas (five bass, 15-11, $583) and Darrell Campbell of Trophy Club, Texas (five bass, 14-06, $500).
Hawkins took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $260 for a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass he caught on a Carolina-rigged creature bait.
Scottie Owen of Hamilton, Texas, earned $1,250 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce that he caught on a Carolina-rigged tube.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Nathan Bourque of Humble, Texas (five bass, 14-14, $625); Rick Pritchard of Huntsville, Texas (three bass, 12-00, $416); David Connelly of Trenton, Texas (three bass, 10-03, $292) and Scott Douda of Frisco, Texas (three bass, 8-12, $250).
Owen earned $130 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass in grass near the dam.
A two-day Super Tournament, the Cowboy division's fifth and final event, will be held on Lake Texoma in Denison, Texas, Oct. 4-5.