APPLING, Ga. (April 3, 2007) - Boater Deron Johnson of Anderson, S.C., won the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division bass fishing tournament on Clarks Hill Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 6 ounces. The victory earned Johnson $4,390 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 25-27, where he could ultimately win a new 519VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Tanner Brown of Starr, S.C., (five bass, 16-12, $2,582); Ronnie Wald of Seneca, S.C., (five bass, 16-6, $1,722); Kip Ashmore of Evans, Ga., (five bass, 16-1, $1,205) and Randy Childers of Anderson, S.C., (five bass, 14-2, $990).
Hans Cansler of Aiken, S.C., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $805 for a 6-pound, 11-ounce bass. David Carmichael of Lincolnton, Ga., earned $2,577 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to three bass weighing 12 pounds, 9 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are James Wood of Pickens, S.C., (five bass, 10-13, $1,288); Jake Carter of Westminster, S.C., (five bass, 10-2, $858); Mike Thrift of Easley, S.C., (four bass, 9-14, $601) and Ronald Bryant of Batesburg, S.C., (five bass, 9-11, $515).
Carmichael earned $397 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass.
The Savannah River Division's next event will be April 28 on Lake Hartwell in Clemson, S.C., followed by a tournament June 16 on Lake Russell in Elberton, Ga. The final event of the regular season will be a two-day Super Tournament held Sept. 29-30 on Clarks Hill in Thomson, Ga.