Boater Jonathan Botts of Abbeville, S.C., caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 21 pounds, 10 ounces to win the Oct. 1-2 BFL Savannah River Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Russell to earn $5,004. Anthony Marks of Spartanburg, S.C., was the highest-placing co-angler in the Oct. 1-2 BFL Savannah River Division event, earning $2,502. Botts was drop-shotting shaky heads and jigs near the Rocky River and at the mouth of the Savannah to catch his bass.
WHO: The remaining top 10 anglers:
2nd: Jerry Kotal, Elberton, Ga., 10 bass, 20-10, $2,502
3rd: Bo Price, Seneca, S.C., 10 bass, 20-4, $1,666
4th: Rick Steckelberg, Gainesville, Ga., 10 bass, 18-9, $1,168
5th: Mike Winchester, Bryson City, N.C., 10 bass, 16-4, $1,001
6th: Brad Benfield, Demorest, Ga., 10 bass, 16-4, $917
7th: Joseph Marks, Duncan, S.C., nine bass, 16-2, $834
8th: Steve Coleman, Clayton, Ga., nine bass, 15-13, $751
9th: Kim Carver, Milledgeville, Ga., nine bass, 15-5, $667 + $1,000 Evinrude bonus
10th: Wesley Story, Clarks Hill, S.C., nine bass, 15-1, $584
WHAT: Anthony Marks of Spartanburg, S.C., caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces Oct. 1-2 to win $2,502 in the Co-angler Division. Marks was drop-shotting the tops of trees mid lake to catch his bass.
WHO: The remaining top 10 co-anglers:
2nd: Michael Smith, Piedmont, S.C., 10 bass, 13-11, $1,251
3rd: Christopher York, Toccoa, Ga., 10 bass, 12-15, $834
4th: Brad Davis, Cleveland, Ga., 10 bass, 12-7, $584
5th: James Wood, Pickens, S.C., nine bass, 11-2, $500
6th: Tommy Milligan, Seneca, S.C., seven bass, 10-15, $459
7th: Craig Riker, Dacula, Ga., eight bass, 10-8, $417
8th: Scott Roberts, Asheville, N.C., six bass, 9-11, $375
9th: Kevin Henderson, Honea Path, S.C., six bass, 9-11, $334
10th: Randy Reese, Martinez, Ga., eight bass, 9-10, $292
NOTES: The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 20-22 Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Chattanooga, Tenn. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger 198VX with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy pick-up, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger 198VX.