TERRELL, N.C. (March 6, 2006) - Boater Cliff Kirby of Catawba, N.C., earned $4,839 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Norman. The tournament was the first of five regular-season North Carolina Division events and featured 146 boaters vying for the win, which earned Kirby 200 points in the Boater Division.
Kirby's winning catch of five bass weighed 15 pounds, 8 ounces. Kirby caught his bass from a deep ledge with a Shakey Head finesse jig and worm.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Maurice Freeze of Concord, N.C. (five bass, 14 pounds, 9 ounces, $2,419); Josh Brady of Rockwell, N.C. (five bass, 14 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,614); Chuck Douthit of Mooresville, N.C. (five bass, 13 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,129) and David Williams of Maiden, N.C. (five bass, 12 pounds, 4 ounces, $968).
Freeze took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $730 for 5-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught on a 1/2-ounce jig. He also earned an additional $500 as winner of the Ranger Cup award.
Kris Meredith of Statesville, N.C., bested 146 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,419 as the co-angler winner, thanks to four bass weighing 10 pounds, 5 ounces that he caught on a jerkbait and jig.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Travis Ruff of Connelly Springs, N.C. (four bass, 9 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,210); Alfred Kiesling Jr. of Mooresville, N.C., (five bass, 9 pounds $807) Jeff Smith of Reidsville, N.C. (three bass, 8 pounds, 6 ounces, $565) and Edward Markham of Statesville, N.C. (four bass, 8 pounds, 4 ounces, $484).
Junior Self of Vale, N.C., earned $365 as the co-angler big-bass award winner, thanks to a 4-pound, 5-ounce bass he caught on a jig.
North Carolina Division anglers will next visit Jordan Lake in Apex, N.C., March 25 for their second regular-season event, followed by an event on Kerr Lake in Henderson, N.C., April 22. The division's fourth qualifying event will be held at High Rock Lake in Salisbury, N.C., June 10. A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held at Lake Hickory in Hickory, N.C., Sept. 9-10.