OKEECHOBEE, Fla. (April 30, 2007) - Boater Val Osinski of Pompano Beach, Fla., won the Bass Fishing League Everglades Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Okeechobee Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 27 pounds, 3 ounces. The victory earned Osinski $2,682 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.
Osinski fished the south end of the lake using mostly crankbait.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Chris Rand of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., (five bass, 22 pounds-14 ounces, $1,578); Jim Hurlock Jr. of Lake Worth, Fla., (five bass, 18 pounds-13 ounces, $1,052); Byron Childers of Coconut Creek, Fla., (five bass, 18 pounds-5 ounces, $736) and James Conrad of Alva, Fla., (five bass, 18 pounds- 3 ounces, $631).
Greg Sorrell of Fort Myers, Fla., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $370 for a 9-pound, 8-ounce bass.
Sherman Cruse of Stuart, Fla., earned $1,578 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 24 pounds, 6 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jeff Ross of Vero Beach, Fla., (five bass, 20 pounds-0 ounces, $789); Christopher Liotti of Tamarac, Fla., (five bass, 15 pounds-5 ounces, $526); Randy Marrs of Palm Bay, Fla., (five bass, 14 pounds-12 ounces, $368) and Mark Brader of Loxahatchee, Fla., (five bass, 14 pounds-4 ounces, $316).
Jeff Ross of Vero Beach, Fla., earned $185 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 9-pound, 12-ounce bass.
The Everglades Division's next event will be the final event of the regular season it will be a two-day Super Tournament held Sept. 29-30 on Lake Okeechobee in Okeetantie, Fla.