RUSSELLVILLE, Ark., (Nov. 9, 1999) – Newton Ford of Brandon, Miss., won the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Regional Bass Championship Saturday on Lake Dardanelle with a two-day catch of 24 pounds, 9 ounces.
The victory earns Ford a new Chevy truck and Ranger bass boat equipped with 175 hp Johnson outboard motor, Humminbird fishfinders, and Energizer marine batteries. As one of the events top eight finishers, he also receives a berth in the prestigious Red Man All-American Bass Championship May 8-13, 2000, on Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., where he’ll take a shot at winning the $100,000 first place award.
During the first day of competition, Ford hauled in 12 pounds, 4 ounces of bass, good enough to finish in fifth place. On day two, he weighed in a 12-pound, 5-ounce catch to finish atop the field of 80 anglers from the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Illini, Mississippi, Ozark and Cowboy divisions.
Also qualifying for the Red Man All-American are Bob Sanders of Hughes, Ark., 21 pounds, 5 ounces; Ricky Smith of Collinsville, Miss., 21 pounds, 1 ounce; Sean Hoernke of College Station, Texas, 19 pounds, 14 ounces; David Poort of Olathe, Kan., 19 pounds, 11 ounces; Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., 18 pounds, 12 ounces; Randy Timmons of Mt. Vernon, Ill., 18 pounds, 11 ounces; and Anthony Fulgham of Ethelsville, Ala., 17 pounds, 13 ounces.
The Red Man Tournament Trail consists of six one-day weekend qualifying events in each of 22 divisions, five regional championships, each covering four divisions; a western regional, covering two divisions; and two Chevy Wild Card regional tournaments. The top four finishers from the western regional and the top three finishers from each of the Chevy Wild Card events advance to the Red Man All-American along with the top eight finishers from each of the five regional tournaments.
Founded 20 years ago on the principle that working anglers should be able to fish competitively without interfering with jobs and family, the Red Man Tournament Trail has grown into the nation’s largest competitive bass fishing series.
Sponsors of the 1999 Red Man Tournament Trail are: Evinrude Outboards, Evinrude Electrics, CITGO Petroleum, Ranger Boats, Humminbird Fishfinders, Stren Fishing Lines, Abu Garcia Rods and Reels, Chevy Trucks, Energizer Marine Batteries, Old Milwaukee NA, Black & Decker, David Seeds, Coleman Products, Land O’Lakes, BC Powder, Eveready, Wheaties, Chex Mix, Hamburger Helper, Wrangler, US Bank-VISA, Powerbait and Frenzy.