CALERA, Ala. (April 2, 2007) - Boater Patrick Murphy of Sylacauga, Ala., won the Bass Fishing League Dixie Division bass fishing tournament on Lay Lake Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces. The victory earned Murphy $4,809 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.
Murphy caught his fish around mid-lake on rocky points and shallow flats.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jamie Horton of Centerville, Ala., (five bass, 15-15, $2,829); Scott Canterbury of Odenville, Ala., (five bass, 13-14, $1,886); Patrick Dobbins of Opelika, Ala., (five bass, 13-10, $1,320) and Allen Hayes of Pell City, Ala., (five bass, 13-9, $1,132).
Murphy took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $915 for a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass.
Michael Heard of Red Level, Ala., earned $2,829 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught while fishing a shaky-head rig on flats in 5 feet of water in creeks.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mark Moore of Prattville, Ala., (five bass, 12-4, $1,414); James Feenker of Pell City, Ala., (five bass, 11-12, $945); Chad Bailey of Warrior, Ala., (five bass, 11-11, $660) and Jeff Ford of Trion, Ga., (five bass, 11-4, $566).
Chris Hawkins of Adger, Ala., earned $457 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass. The Dixie Division's next event will be June 9 on West Point in Lanett, Ala., followed by the final event of the regular season, a two-day Super Tournament held Aug. 25-26 on Logan Martin in Pell City, Ala.
Following the end of regular-season competition, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on year-end points standings in the division will advance to the no-entry-fee Lake Seminole Regional Championship where they will compete against top qualifiers from three other BFL divisions. At the Regional Championship boaters will fish for a new Ranger boat and Chevy truck and co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger boat. The top six boaters and top six co-anglers at the Regional Championship will also advance to the 2008 All-American.