BENTON, Ky. (May 3, 2008) - Pro Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo., caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds Saturday to win the Stren Series Central Division bass fishing tournament on Kentucky Lake with a four-day total of 20 bass weighing 64-07. For his victory, McMullin earned $25,000 cash.
"An old-timer won it," said McMullin, who has had 28 top-10 finishes in Bass Fishing League and Stren Series tournaments since 1999. "I worked in a factory for 40 years and tried to get off work to fish all my life. Now I'm 65, retired and have time to fish; this win is just icing on the cake."
McMullin caught his bass on a variety of baits, which included crankbaits, jerkbaits, spooks and jigs. Only fishing Lake Barkley the first day of the tournament, he stayed on Kentucky, between Moors and the dam, the remainder of the competition.
"If I got behind someone, I'd fish a green-pumpkin centipede with a weight," McMullin said. "I didn't catch big fish; they've been running about the same size all week."
McMullin's consistency paid off this time, getting him the win he's been waiting for.
"I've been dreaming about winning a big one," McMullin said. "I haven't even won a BFL; I've had three second-place finishes in BFL tournaments on Kentucky Lake. You don't know how it feels; I didn't know I could come back to win being 3 pounds behind the leader."
McMullin opened the tournament in 10th place Wednesday with five bass weighing 15-15 that he caught while fishing Lake Barkley. On Thursday he added another five bass weighing 15-13 to capture his lead. He then caught five bass weighing 15-11 Friday to make the crucial top 10 cut in fifth place.
Rounding out the top five pros are Mark Rose of Marion, Ark. (20 bass, 63-06, $9,832 plus $5,000 Ranger bonus); Nate Wellman of Jenison, Mich. (19 bass, 60-04, $8,849 plus $5,000 Ranger bonus); Troy Eakins of Nixa, Mo. (20 bass, 60-03, $7,866); and Michael Wooley of Collierville, Tenn. (20 bass, 60-02, $6,883).
Stephen Smith of Glenwood, Ark., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Wednesday - a 7-pound largemouth - that earned him the day's Big Bass award of $295.
Overall there were 42 bass weighing 120 pounds, 10 ounces caught by 10 pros Saturday. The catch included 6 five-bass limits.
B.J. Nelson of Louisa, Ky., won the Co-angler Division and $5,000, including a 198VX Ranger boat, with a four-day total of 16 bass weighing 45-08. "What a week it's been," Nelson said. "I lost fish both yesterday and today, but I just kept fishing and kept pushing."
Nelson said he had been flipping all week, but every day was different. After starting out on a jig, he made the switch to a Carolina rig with a green-pumpkin Paca Craw.
"I'd really like to give a big thank you to my dad," Nelson said. "He took me fishing when I was 5 years old and taught me everything."
Nelson caught five bass weighing 12-15 Wednesday while fishing with pro Jerry McKinnis of Little Rock, Ark., to open the tournament in seventh place. He then caught five bass weighing 16-12 Thursday fishing shallow with a jig while fishing with pro Britt Cone of Benton, Ky., to capture his lead. On Friday he added four more bass weighing 8-10 to make the top 10 cut in first place while fishing shallow with pro Keith Simmons of Sitka, Ky. Finally, on Saturday, he sealed the win with a two-bass catch weighing 7-03 while fishing off banks with pro Nate Wellman of Jenison, Mich.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mitch Greenwood of Russellville, Ky. (17 bass, 45-05, $3,947); Joey Rogers of Mayfield, Ky. (14 bass, 43-08, $3,207); Tim Rhoades of Leitchfield, Ky. (14 bass, 36-00, $2,467); and Clint Williams of Fayetteville, Ark. (9 bass, 33-04, $1,974).
Mark Martin of Ozark, Mo., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday - a 6-pound, 12-ounce largemouth - that earned him the day's Big Bass award of $148.
Overall there were 21 bass weighing 61 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 10 co-anglers Saturday. The catch included 2 five-bass limits.
The next Stren Series Central Division event, hosted by Fort Madison Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, will be held July 23-26 on the Mississippi River in Fort Madison, Iowa. Boats will launch from Captain Kirk's Marina in Fort Madison and the final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 324 West Agency Road in West Burlington.