LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. (Sept. 14, 2009) - Whitney Stephens of Piketon, Ohio, won the Bass Fishing League final Buckeye Division bass fishing tournament of the season on the Ohio River/Tanner's Creek Sunday with a catch of nine bass weighing 16 pounds, 11 ounces. The victory earned Stephens $4,540 and helped him qualify for the Kentucky Lake Regional Championship in Gilbertsville, Ga. Oct. 15-17, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Bill Lowen of North Bend, Ohio (10 bass, 15-6, $2,270); Mike Combs of Frenchburg, Ky. (nine bass, 11-6, $1,515); Chris Combess of Cincinnati, Ohio (six bass, 10-10, $1,059) and Kevin Spears of New Boston, Ohio (six bass, 10-6, $908).
Stephens took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $532 for a 3-pound, 7-ounce bass he caught.
Mike Otto of Kettering, Ohio, earned $2,270 as the co-angler winner Sunday thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds that he caught on a plastic Paca Craw targeting wooden docks.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Cody Wayne-Hall of Xenia, Ohio (seven bass, 9-14, $1,135); Dennis Hughes of Bethel, Ohio (five bass, 9-1, $757); Steve Sorrell of Beavercreek, Ohio (5 bass, 7-7, $530); and Keith Humble of West Liberty, Ky. (five bass, 7-5, $454).
Otto earned $266 as the co-angler Folgers Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass.