ELBERTON, Ga. – Bo Price of Westminster, S.C., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division tournament on Lake Russell. For his victory, Price earned $3,794 plus a $2,000 Ranger bonus.
“I have worked so hard to win one of these; this feels special,” said Price. “Things just came together for me on Saturday. Typically there is a strong shallow bite, and I am a deep-water fisherman. I have always been consistent on Russell fishing deep, but it never seemed to be enough in the past. Today it was.”
Price thanked an hour-long fog delay and a cold front that moved through for shutting down the shallow bite. Price indicated the shallow bite is usually good early, and with the fog delay it was completely shut down and opened the door for his deep-fishing pattern. He was targeting pre-spawn bass in about 35 feet of water with Strike King Series 6XD crankbaits and homemade football-head jigs.
“I was fishing against some great fisherman,” Price continued. “God really blessed me today in making things go my way.”
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
2nd: Richard Phillips, Asheville, N.C., five bass, 12-6
3rd: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 12-4, $1,265 plus $1,000 Evinrude bonus
4th: Eddie Whitten Jr., Six Mile, S.C., five bass, 11-14, $885
5th: Cason Mabry, Clinton, S.C., five bass, 11-13, $759
6th: Jerry Kotal, Elberton, Ga., five bass, 11-11, $696
7th: Stacy Lowe, Belton, S.C., five bass, 11-10, $632
8th: Dan Roberts, Flowery Branch, Ga., five bass, 11-2, $569
9th: Greg Glouse, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 10-15, $506
10th: Mick Rhinehart, Pelzer, S.C., five bass, 10-14, $443
Anthony Lively of Lincolnton, Ga., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win $1,897 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Michael Smith, Piedmont, S.C., five bass, 9-0, $949
3rd: Tony Hudson, Liberty, S.C., five bass, 8-6, $633
4th: Roger A Jr Deveau, Green Ville, S.C., four bass, 8-4, $443
5th: Adam Fincher, Roebuck S.C., five bass, 8-2, $379
6th: Bill Hawkins, Piedmont, S.C., five bass, 7-11, $332
Jeff Penland, Leicester, N.C., five bass, 7-11, $332
8th: Graham Rogers, Cleveland, Ga., five bass, 7-9, $285
9th: Charles Pruitt, Greenwood, S.C., five bass, 7-2, $253
10th: David Faulkner, Greenbille, S.C., five bass, 7-1, $221
The next BFL Savannah River Division tournament is the two-day super tournament scheduled for Sept. 22-23 on Lake Hartwell in Lavonia, Ga. After this fifth and final event in the Savannah River Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 4-6 Regional Championship on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Fla. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.