CARROLLTON, Ky. – Mark Wenger, 30, of Buckner, Ky., out-fished 82 competitors Saturday to earn $3,248 and 50 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Mountain Division event on the Ohio River.
Wenger caught four bass weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces during the one-day event to top David Upchurch of Columbia, Ky., who finished with a four-bass catch of 6-1 worth $1,624. Wenger caught his bass while fishing laydowns and stumps with a black buzzbait and red shad worms.
Ronnie Grant of Columbia, Ky., and Bob Wiles of Huntington, W.Va., tied for third place and collected $758 each with three bass weighing 5-4. Larry Kirby of Louisville, Ky., placed fifth and earned $650 with four bass weighing 5-2.
H.C. Sumpter, 39, of Nancy, Ky., won the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award in the Boater Division and collected $410 with a 3-pound, 3-ounce bass that he caught on a red worm while fishing boat docks in the main river.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,585 went to David Lambert, 52, of Middletown, Ohio, who topped 80 competitors with five bass weighing 8-5. Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $792 went to Brett Underwood of Campbellsville, Ky., with one bass weighing 4-0, while Thomas Dumm of Chillicothe, Ohio, took third place and $396 with three bass weighing 3-11.
Underwood also won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $200.
Overall, 134 bass weighing 186 pounds, 15 ounces were caught during the tournament, including one five bass limit.
The boater with the most CITGO Challenge points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 23-24 on the Barren River, 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.