OKEETANTIE, Fla. (April 3, 2007) - Boater Chuck Webb of Sarasota, Fla., won the Bass Fishing League Everglades Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Okeechobee Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 23 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned Webb $2,946 plus a $519 Ranger 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.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Chris Weber of Fort Myers, Fla., (five bass, 19-15, $1,733); Chris Ranew of Naples, Fla., (five bass, 18-3, $1,155); Justin Schwier of Okeechobee, Fla., (five bass, 18-2, $751) and Jim Finley of Coconut Creek, Fla., (five bass, 18-2, $751).
Patrick Layhew took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $435 for an 8-pound, 13-ounce bass.
Mark Linn of Sarasota, Fla., earned $1,733 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces. Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Zetts of Myakka City, Fla., (five bass, 16-12, $866); Tim Simko of Port Saint Lucie, Fla., (five bass, 15-3, $577); Jackie Barber of Cocoa, Fla., (five bass, 14-14, $404) and Todd Schlueter of Englewood, Fla., (five bass, 13-13, $347).
Jeremy Prouty of Vero Beach, Fla., earned $217 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching an 8-pound, 9-ounce bass. All Everglades Division tournaments are held on Lake Okeechobee. The division's next 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.