LITTLETON, N.C., – Bob Taylor of Pamplin, Va., out fished 200 competitors Saturday to earn $6,000 and 50 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Piedmont Division event on Lake Gaston.
Taylor caught five bass weighing 21 pounds, 4 ounces during the one-day event using a Berkley Power Craw in 1 to 3 feet of water. His catch also earned him the Berkley Power Bait award, a package of baits valued at $200, for the heaviest overall catch on Power Bait or Frenzy lures.
Howard Bean of Salisbury, N.C., finished second in the Boater Division with a four-bass catch weighing 17-10. Bean earned $3,000 for his effort.
Ronald Wolfarth of Locust, N.C., took third place and collected $1,500 for five bass weighing 16-10. John Crews of Jetersville, Va., placed fourth and earned $1,300 for five bass weighing 16-8, while Chris Jennings of Altavista, Va., placed fifth and earned $1,200 for five bass weighing 15-10.
Keith Joyce of Apex, N.C., won the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award in the Boater Division and collected $1,000 for a 7-pound, 8-ounce bass that he caught jigging a Berkley Power Craw.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $3,000 went to Scott Holtswarth of Raleigh, N.C., who topped 200 competitors with five bass weighing 12-13. Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,500 went to Michael Slemp of Lanexa, Va., for four bass weighing 10-13, while Paul Higgins of Chesapeake, Va., took third place and $750 with five bass weighing 10-12.
Robert Taylor of Ayden, N.C., won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $500 for a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass he caught on a black and blue jig.
On May 6, the Red Man Tournament Trail will visit the Potomac River for the second of five events in the Piedmont Division. The boater with the most CITGO Challenge points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 30-Oct. 1 on Kerr Lake, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.