ELBERTON, Ga. (May 5, 2008) - Boater James Edwards of Greenville, S.C., won the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Russell Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces. The victory earned Edwards $3,531 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 16-18, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"The blueback herring pull up during this time of year to spawn," Edwards said. "The largemouth were eating them, so I caught most of my fish up on the banks."
Edwards caught his limit in the Cherokee Shoals area, fishing points with a Money Minnow swimbait.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Bradley Gunter of Greenwood, S.C. (five bass, 12-12 , $2,078); Wade Dodgens of Easley, S.C. (five bass, 12-03, $1,176); Tim Jones of North Augusta, S.C. (five bass, 12-03, $1,176) and Adam Terry of Lowndesville, S.C. (five bass, 12-02, $831).
Jay McCuen of Pelzer, S.C., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $570 for a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass he caught on a worm. Alan Posten of Travelers Rest, S.C., earned $2,005 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 13 pounds, 15 ounces that he caught fishing points in the main lake.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Lesley Childers of Anderson, S.C. (five bass, 10-11, $1,002); Dennis Medlin of Anderson, S.C. (five bass, 9-15, $568); Vince Smith of Walhalla, S.C. (five bass, 9-15, $568) and Rob Boyer of Lawrenceville, Ga. (five bass, 9-11, $401).
Todd McAlarney of Elberton, Ga., earned $275 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught on a worm. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on Clarks Hill Lake in Appling, Ga., Sept. 6-7.