Darby wins co-angler title at Kentucky Lake

Arkansas co-angler takes first Stren Series win

MURRAY, Ky. – Chris Darby of Mount Ida, Ark., took home $5,000 plus a brand new Ranger boat by winning the Co-angler Division of the Stren Series event on Kentucky Lake with a four-day total of 54 pounds, 10 ounces.

Darby was the only co-angler in the field to catch double-digit limits all week.

“This feels great,” Darby said. “I have to thank all my pros I fished with this week. Every pro I fished with was not only a great fisherman, but also a great guy – all very friendly and helpful.”

To make the finals, Darby fished behind pros Danny Pierce, Tommy Williams and Jeff Taylor to catch limits of 16-6, 14-8 and 13-7, respectively.

Today he fished with tournament pro winner Mike Ward to catch 10 pounds, 5 ounces to seal his victory.

Darby is a part-time guide on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas, and he relied on his ledge-fishing experience from home to win this week.

“The fish back home set up the same way there as they do here this time of year,” Darby said. “We catch them on the same kinds of things – big worms and jigs – so I felt pretty comfortable fishing here this week.”

Darby used a 10-inch YUM Big Show Paddle-tail worm, a ¾-ounce Eakins football-head jig teamed with a Zoom speed craw and a Fat Free Shad crankbait to catch his fish this week.

Murphy second

Finishing in the runner-up spot was Shawn Murphy of Nicholasville, Ky., with a four-day total of 49-0 worth $3,659.

Murphy used a Berkley 10-inch Power Worm (plum) with a 1/2-ounce weight and a ¾-ounce jig with a Paca Craw trailer to catch his fish.

Rest of the best

Ben Jackson of Paducah, Ky., finished third with a four-day total of 45-3, worth $2,973.

Roger Walters of Madisonville, Ky., finished fourth with a four-day total of 43-0 for $2,287.

And rounding out the top five co-anglers was Justin Swast of Pevely, Mo., with a four-day total of 38-15 for $1,830.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers in the Stren Series event on Kentucky Lake:

6th: Chad Kerr of Burlington, Iowa, four-day total of 38-9, $1,738

7th: Bobby Wade of Sedalia, Ky., four-day total of 36-5, $1,646

8th: Keith Whipple of Iuka, Miss., four-day total of 35-2, $1,556

9th: Alan Johnson of Crestwood, Ky., four-day total of 33-15, $1,462

10th: Andrew Thiesse of Forest Park, Ill., four-day total of 32-12, $1,373

Coming up

The fourth and final Stren Series of the Central Division will take place on Lake of the Ozarks Oct. 8-11.