Russellville, Ark. (June 11, 2007) - Boater Mark Hensiek of England, Ark., won the Bass Fishing League Arkie Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Dardanelle Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces. The victory earned Hensiek $4,417 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Wright Patman Lake Regional Championship in Texarkana, Texas, Oct. 25-27, where he could ultimately win a new 519VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Hensiek caught his five-bass limit flipping a jig in and around grass between Piney and Cabin Creek.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Brandon Lee of Ratcliff, Ark. (five bass, 17-8, $2,598); Greg Ault of Hot Springs, Ark. (five bass, 16-15, $1,473); David Davis of Paron, Ark. (five bass, 16-15, $1,473) and Joey Fisher of Casa, Ark. (five bass, 16-5, $1,039).
Ladd Shannon of Atkins, Ark., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $810 for a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass.
Kenny Laxson of Lexa, Ark., earned $2,566 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught while fishing a Berkley Power Worm in 8 to 10 feet of water.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Phillip Austin of Greenbrier, Ark. (five bass, 15-2, $1,283); Nicholas Wade of Lowell, Ark. (five bass, 15-0, $855); Clinton Patton of Bonnerdale, Ark. (five bass, 14-5, $556) and Edwin Whitted of Dover, Ark. (five bass, 14-5, $556).
Richard Tomlin of Dardanelle earned $400 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 11-ounce bass. The final event of the regular season will be a two-day Super Tournament held Oct. 6-7 on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark.