OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (March 5, 2007) - Boater Ronald Roker of Naples, Fla., won the Bass Fishing League Everglades Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Okeechobee Saturday with a four-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 5 ounces. The victory earned Roker $2,979 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.
Roker caught his fish on a Hildebrandt spinnerbait and crankbait in the river and canal systems.
Rounding out the top five boaters are John Bitter of Maitland, Fla., (five bass, 15-15, $1,753); David Cepek of Naples, Fla., (five bass, 14-15, $1,169); Steve Yeatts of West Palm Beach, Fla., (five bass, 14-5, $818) and Steve Fairtrace of Okeechobee, Fla., (five bass, 13-15, $701).
Roker took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $440 for a 9-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Jose Chavez of Davie, Fla., earned $1,753 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught while fishing a Senko in open water.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Keith Scragg of Manalapan, Fla., (five bass, 15-08, $876); William Wood of West Palm Beach, Fla., (five bass, 14-01, $585); Jay Trudel of Boca Raton, Fla., (five bass, 11-10, $409) and Bert Marante of Doral, Fla., (two bass, 11-0, $351).
Scragg earned $220 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching an 8-pound, 10-ounce bass.
All Everglades Division tournaments are held on Lake Okeechobee. The next event will be March 31. The division's fourth event will be held April 28, and the final event of the regular season will be a two-day Super Tournament held Sept. 29-30.