DENISON, Texas (Sept. 21, 2009) - Chad Griffin of Cresson, Texas, won the Bass Fishing League final Cowboy Division tournament on Lake Texoma Sunday with a two-day 10-bass catch weighing 22 pounds, 5 ounces. The victory earned Griffin $4,110.
Anglers were competing to qualify for the DeGray Lake Regional Championship in Arkadelphia, Ark., Oct. 22-24, where they could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"I had a pretty tough practice with the wind as bad as it was and was worried going into the tournament on Saturday," said Griffin. "But I am pretty versatile so when the weather changed for the better I was able to make the adjustments that other anglers were not able to make."
With Saturday and Sunday bringing the best weather Denison has seen in over a month and a half Griffin fished on what he called his past history. He hit every hole he had ever caught a 3-pound or better fish in, covering a whole lot of water. He fished in really shallow water using a Custom Angle Rod, 20-pound fluorocarbon line with a 3/8 ounce shaky head, Yum CrawBug.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Brian Clark of Haltom City, Texas (10 bass, 22-4, $2,055); Bill Glascock of Kingston, Okla. (7 bass, 21-4, $1,369); Donald Merki of Denton, Texas (8 bass, 19-6, $959); and Toby Wallace of Tolar, Texas (9 bass, 19-2, $822).
Bob Weaver of Lawton, Okla., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $442 for a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass he caught.
Brian Gambill of Sachse, Texas, earned $2,055 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to 8 - bass weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces that he caught on a shaky head.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Michael Fleehearty of Nashville, Ind. (7 bass, 12, $1,028); Dustin Robinson of Anacoco, La. (6 bass, 11-10, $684); Ron Knight of Hot Springs, Ark. (6 bass, 10-11, $480); and Jay Moore of Frisco, Texas (7 bass, 10-6, $411).
James Moore, Jr. earned $221 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass.