MAYSVILLE, Ky. – Christian Romans, 28, Carrollton, Ky., out-fished 102 competitors Saturday to earn $3,774 and 50 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Buckeye Division event on the Ohio River.
Romans, a heavy equipment operator, caught five smallmouth and spotted bass weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces during the one-day event to edge out Dick Shaffer of Celina, Ohio, who finished with a five-bass catch of 7-10 worth $1,887. Romans caught his limit, which also earned him the Berkley Power Bait award for the heaviest overall catch on Power Bait or Frenzy lures, near Markland on a pearl-white crankbait with a green back.
Bill Lowen of Addyston, Ohio, and Kenneth Meek of Barlow, Ohio, tied for third place and collected $881 each with five bass weighing 7-6. Robert Lynch of Loveland, Ohio, placed fifth and earned $755 with five bass weighing 7-0.
Keith Wheelock, a 48-year-old Dental Ceramist from Beavercreek, Ohio, won the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award in the Boater Division and collected $510 with a 3-pound, 2-ounce bass that he caught on a Berkley red shad colored worm near White Oak Creek.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,869 went to Roy Lester a 39-year-old bricklayer from Hamilton, Ohio, who topped 98 competitors with five bass weighing 7-8. Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $935 went to Randy Weaver of Piqua, Ohio, with five bass weighing 7-2, while Donnie Young of West Carrollton, Ohio, took third place and $467 with three bass weighing 5-9.
Mike Bell, a 41-year-old welder from Bethel, Ohio, won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $245 with a 4-pound, 4-ounce largemouth bass that he caught on a Berkley red shad colored worm near White Oak Creek.
On Aug. 5, the Red Man Tournament Trail will visit the Ohio River near Tanners Creek for the fourth of five events in the Buckeye Division. The boater with the most CITGO Challenge points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 23-24 on Sandusky Bay, 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.