LAKE WYLIE, S.C. (March 30, 2009) - Greg Rikard of Leesville, S.C., won the Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Wylie Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces. The victory earned Rikard $4,046 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Norman Regional Championship in Lake Norman, N.C., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Rikard said he targeted pre-spawn fish with a 1/2-ounce spinnerbait on mid- and lower-lake points.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Joe Avin of Summerton, S.C. (five bass, 16-1, $2,023); Chris Marshall of Forest City, N.C. (five bass, 14-14, $1,348); Tony Hatten of Huntersville, N.C. (five bass, 14-8, $944) and Todd Walters of Greensboro, N.C. (five bass, 13-12, $809).
Avin took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $555 for a 6-pound, 5-ounce bass he caught on a spinnerbait.
Mark Lynch of Goose Creek, S.C., earned $2,023 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 13 pounds, 1 ounce. Lynch said he caught his pre-spawn bass on lower-lake points on a Rapala Shad Rap.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Todd Lawrence of Rock Hill, S.C. (four bass, 12-7, $1,011); Chad Griffin of Ninety Six, S.C. (five bass, 11-7, $674); Rufus McDaniel of Mooresboro, N.C. (five bass, 11-1, $472); and Greg Atkinson of Ridgeway, S.C. (five bass, 10-9, $405).
Ryan Shoaf of Rockhill, S.C., earned $277 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass on a Strike King Series 3 crankbait.
The next South Carolina Division event will be held on Clarks Hill in McCormick, S.C., June 13.