Hughan Claims Arkie Division Title on Greers Ferry

Liles nets co-angler title

GREERS FERRY, Ark. – William Hughan of Little Rock, Arkansas, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 4 ounces Saturday to win the second Walmart Bass Fishing League Arkie Division tournament of 2015 on Greers Ferry Lake. For his victory, Hughan earned $4,350.

“Its nerve wracking until the end of weigh-in because you never know if someone will edge you with a little bit heavier weight,” said Hughan.

After a shaky Friday practice, Hughan found the fish he needed to earn the win on Saturday. He stopped at a spot in the Middle Fork area and caught his first keeper using a Rapala crankbait. After four or five hours, Hughan had caught around 10 keeper bass but still lacked the kicker that he knew he needed to win.

“I didn’t really realize how much weight I had in the livewell. I usually am just paying attention to the smallest fish in hopes of culling. After a while I was looking for one more upgrade,” Hughan said.

Around 1 p.m., Hughan started working his way back to the main lake, citing water clarity as his guide.

“I was looking for water that was stained but not muddy,” Hughan said.

The Arkansas angler was able to find what he was looking for, and boated his last keeper on a white and chartreuse-colored Revenge spinnerbait. It was a smallmouth bass that increased his weight by nearly a pound.

“I knew then I probably would be in contention for the win,” Hughan. “It was the kicker I needed. Everything came together at the right time.”

The top 10 boaters:

1^st:          William Hughan, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 14-4, $4,350

2^nd:         Greg Ault, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 11-7, $2,175

3^rd:          Dustin Blevins, Harrison, Ark., five bass, 8-12, $1,451

4^th:          Adam Wright, Benton, Ark., four bass, 8-11, $1,015

5^th:          Zach Bane, Heber Springs, Ark., three bass, 8-6, $870

6^th:          Devin Baxley, North Little Rock, Ark., three bass, 7-13, $798

7^th:          Ryan Satterfield, Texarkana, Ark., 6-13, three bass, $725

8^th:          Kevin Late, Pocahontas, Ark., three bass, 6-7, $653

9^th:          Will Cranston, North Little Rock, Ark., three bass, 5-10, $580

10^th:        Allan Reaves, Pottsville, Ark., one bass, 5-3, $508

Complete results can be found here.

Reaves caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $615.

Liles wins co-angler title

Bobby Liles of Texarkana, Arkansas, weighed in four bass totaling 6 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $2,140 in the co-angler division.

The top 10 co-anglers:

1^st:          Bobby Liles, Texarkana, Ark., four bass, 6-8, $2,140

2^nd:         Johnny Manning, Arkadelphia, Ark., three bass, 5-7, $1,070

3^rd:          Jeff Reece, Dardanelle, Ark., two bass, 5-5, $712

4^th:          Tommy McCullar, Benton, Ark., two bass, 5-1, $499

5^th:          Russ Scalf, Ward, Ark., two bass, 4-8, $428

6^th:          Craig Wilson, Knobel, Ark.,  two bass, 4-6, $392

7^th:          A.J. Mays, Sherwood, Ark., two bass, 4-4, $357

8^th:          Caleb Kelly, Little Rock, Ark., one bass, 3-11, $321

9^th:          Bryan Barnard, Harrison, Ark., two bass, 3-9, $285

10^th:        Trevor Wood, Pine Bluff, Ark., one bass, 3-3, $250

Kelly caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $302.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 Regional Championship on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.