MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (March 2, 2009) - Rick Layfield of Lenox, Ga., won the Bass Fishing League Bulldog Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Sinclair Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned Layfield $5,704 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"During practice, the fish were shallow, but with weather the day of the tournament, they pulled back deeper," Layfield said. "They relocated on me but I found them early."
Layfield fished the docks with jigs and custom painted crankbaits.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Kip Carter of Loganville, Ga. (five bass, 14-8, $2,852); Brian Cox of Woodstock, Ga. (five bass, 14-4, $1,901); Todd Lowe of Greensboro, Ga. (five bass, 13-0, $1,331) and Keith Hutto of Evans, Ga. (five bass, 12-3, $1,141).
Layfield took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $930 for a 9-pound, 1-ounce bass he caught.
Billy Cain of Jackson, Ga., earned $2,852 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 9 pounds, 15 ounces that he caught on a crankbait and a Shaky Head.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are George Goodman, Jr. of Monticello, Ga. (five bass, 9-2, $1,426); Jody Jarvis of Donalsonville, Ga. (three bass, 9-0, $808); Tim Noonan of Monticello, Ga. (five bass, 9-0, $808); and Lavon Odom of Blakely, Ga. (five bass, 8-14, $570).
Jody Jarvis earned $465 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass.
The next Bulldog Division event will be held on the Lake Oconee in Buckhead, Ga., March 28.