GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. (Oct. 10, 2009) - Pro Christopher Lane of Guntersville, Ala., caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounce Saturday to win the final Stren Series Southeast Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Guntersville with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 62 pounds, 4 ounces. For his victory, Lane earned $23,648 cash.
"It was an awesome day," Lane said. "I didn't get a lot of bites today, but I was able to stay focused and caught as many as I could. My biggest surprise came yesterday when I caught a 6- and 7-pounder on back-to-back casts."
Lane fished shallow grassy water, no deeper than 3-feet. He was using a Gambler Ugly Otter and Cane Toad for baits to catch the majority of his fish this tournament.
Rounding out the top five pros were JT Palmore of Gasburg, Va., (15 bass, 57-1, $9,459); Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala., (15 bass, 51-6, $7,567); Tim Buckner of Scottsboro, Ala. (15 bass, 51-4, $6,621); and Marshall Deakins of Dunlap, Tenn. (15 bass, 49-6, $5,675).
Brent Anderson or Kingston Springs, Tenn., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Friday - a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass - that earned him the day's Big Bass award of $414.
Anthony Goggins of Sylacauga, Ala., won the Co-angler Division and a 177TR Ranger boat and trailer, with a three-day total of 12 bass weighing 38 pounds.
"I was mentally fried after yesterday," said Goggins. "After catching only 4-pounds of fish on Friday I didn't think I had a chance of making the top 10, and then I did. I knew I needed a big bag today and to go from last to first is just awesome. I just fished for the monsters by throwing frogs all day and things just ended up going my way."
Goggins caught five bass weighing 15-9 Thursday while fishing with pro Tim Buckner of Scottsboro, Ala., to open the tournament in second place. On Friday he added only two more bass weighing 4-8 barely making the top-10 cut in tenth place while fishing with pro Eddie Melton of Charleston, S.C. Finally, on Saturday, he captured the win with five bass weighing 17-15 while fishing with David Gray.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers were Casey Martin of Huntsville, Ala. (14 bass, 36-13, $3,821); Todd Classon of Albany, Ga. (10 bass, 32-8, $2,866); Marty Sexton of Kennesaw, Ga. (10 bass, 31-13, $2,388); and Undre Montgomery of Dunwoody, Ga. (11 bass, 31-2, $2,150).
Danny Bucher of Spring City, Tenn., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Friday - a 7-pound, 10-ounce bass - that earned him the day's Big Bass award of $207.