Dowd Wins Bass Fishing League Michigan Division Event on the Detroit River
TRENTON, Mich. (Sept. 2, 2008) - Boater Mark Dowd of Livonia, Mich., won the Walmart Bass Fishing League® Michigan Division tournament on the Detroit River Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 25 pounds. The victory earned Dowd $3,431 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Cherokee Lake Regional Championship in Morristown, Tenn., Oct. 16-18, where he could ultimately win a new 198VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"It was a great feeling to win this tournament," Dowd said. "I have been close a few times but I always fell short."
Dowd caught his Detroit River bass in 23 feet of water using a variety of baits that included- a crankbait, drop-shot and tube.
"I was done fishing at 10:30 in the morning and once I looked at the scales, I knew that with the weight I had that it would be tough to beat," Dowd added. "So, I felt confident going to weigh-in."
Rounding out the top five boaters are Steve Clapper of Lima, Ohio (five bass, 23-14, $2,019); Michael Trombly of Perrysburg, Ohio (four bass, 23-04, $1,345); Jim Hull of Sidney, Ohio (five bass, 22-08, $942) and Robert Barta of Deerfield, Mich. (five bass, 22-02, $807).
Dowd took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $545 for a 6-pound bass he caught on a Lucky Craft Moonsault CB 350.
David Adams of Schererville, Ind., earned $1,944 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 20 pounds, 7 ounces that he caught fishing deep on Lake Erie.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Joshua Heintschel of Curtice, Ohio (five bass, 20-01, $972); William Schwartz of Avon Lake, Ohio (five bass, 19-01, $649); Bob Eastman of Hartland, Mich. (five bass, 18-11, $454) and Craig Scherbarth of Royal Oak, Mich. (five bass, 18-05, $389).
Brian Clark of Ceresco, Mich., earned $262 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass he caught on Lake St. Clair fishing a tube.
A two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, will be held on the Detroit River in Trenton Sept. 27-28.
Following the end of regular-season competition, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on year-end points standings in the division will advance to the no-entry-fee Cherokee Lake Regional Championship where they will compete against top qualifiers from three other BFL divisions. At the Regional Championship boaters will fish for a new Ranger boat and Chevy truck and co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger boat. The top six boaters and top six co-anglers at the Regional Championship will also advance to the All-American presented by Chevy.
