OKEETANTIE, Fla. (Oct. 1, 2007) - Boater Brian Prowant of Moore Haven, Fla., won the Bass Fishing League Everglades Division Super Bass Fishing Tournament on Lake Okeechobee with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 22 pounds, 3 ounces. The victory earned Prowant $3,967 plus a $700 Ranger contingency bonus 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. Prowant caught his bass throwing a Rat-L-Trap in schooling fish despite the windy conditions.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Bill Troyer of Sarasota, Fla. (10 bass, 21-14, $2,334); Ken Fitton of Loxahatchee, Fla. (10 bass, 18-13, $1,557); Dennis Wood of Port Saint Lucie, Fla. (seven bass, 18-04, $1,089) and Jimmy Williams of Winter Springs, Fla. (10 bass, 18-00, $934).
Prowant also took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $547 for a 8-pound, 7-ounce bass that he caught on a blue Rat-L-Trap.
John Guttuso of Delray Beach, Fla., earned $2,334 as the co-angler winner thanks to 10 bass weighing 17 pounds, 7 ounces that he caught while fishing a jig near rocky structure at Taylor Creek.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are David Milo of De Bary Beach, Fla. (10 bass, 16-14, $1,167); Rick Browning of Plantation, Fla. (nine bass, 16-10, $779); David Stout of Okeechobee, Fla. (10 bass, 13-04, $545) and Anthony Valachovic of Coral Springs, Fla. (eight bass, 11-13, $467).
James Stalters of Boynton Beach, Fla., earned $274 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass he caught on a green pumpkin shaky head.