ASHDOWN, Ark. – Mike Brower Jr., 42, of Texarkana, Texas, out-fished 78 competitors Saturday to earn $3,235 and 50 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Arkie Division event on Millwood Lake.
Brower caught three bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces during the one-day event to edge out Keith Williams of Conway, Ark., who finished with a three-bass catch of 12-11 worth $1,618. Brower caught his bass, including a five-pounder, casting jigs and spinnerbaits to standing timber.
Bill Lawrence of Russellville, Ark., took third place and collected $809 with three bass weighing 12-5. He also won the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award in the Boater Division and collected $390 with a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass he caught on a jig near lily pads.
Tommy Thompson of Benton, Ark., placed fourth and earned $701 with three bass weighing 11-1, while Eddie Woody of North Little Rock, Ark., placed fifth and earned $647 with three bass weighing 10-14.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,618 went to Darwin Patton of Sheridan, Ark., who topped 78 competitors with three bass weighing 11-0. Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $809 went to Brad Smith of Van Buren, Ark., for three bass weighing 9-8, while Jason Ardwin of Grannis, Ark., took third place and $404 with three bass weighing 8-12.
Red Man rookie angler, Chuck Simington, 20, of Dardenelle, Ark., won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $195 with a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass he caught on a watermelon- and chartreuse-colored lizard.
Overall, 195 bass weighing 586 pounds, 7 ounces were caught during the rain soaked tournament.
The division’s fifth and final event of the season will be a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 9-10 on the Arkansas River. The boater with the most CITGO Challenge points after the season finale 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.
Operation Bass was founded in 1979 on the principle that working anglers should be able to fish competitively without interfering with jobs and family. The trail’s championship event, the Red Man All-American, awards $100,000 to the winning boater and $50,000 to the winning co-angler. The highest placing CITGO Divisional Points Champion at the All-American receives $10,000 in the Boater Division and $2,500 in the Co-Angler Division. Overall, more than $5.7 million could be awarded in 2000 based on full fields in each of the series’ 119 events nationwide.
Red Man became the trail’s title sponsor in 1983.