GADSDEN, Ala., – Ricky Smith of Anniston, Ala., out-fished 123 competitors Saturday to earn $4,309 and 50 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Choo Choo Division event on Lake Neely Henry.
Smith caught five bass weighing 17 pounds, 2 ounces during the one-day event to edge out Rilo Carver of Maryville, Tenn., who also finished with a five-bass catch of 17-2 but fell to Smith during a rare 1-hour tiebreaker. Carver received $2,154 for his second place finish and $615 for a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass that earned him the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award.
Terry Tucker of Gadsden, Ala., took third place and collected $1,077 for five bass weighing 16-7. Kevin Keith of Dalton, Ga., placed fourth and earned $934 for five bass weighing 14-11, while Matthew Herren of Trussville, Ala., placed fifth and earned $862 for five bass weighing 14-10.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,137 went to Barry Guthrie, 50, of Knoxville, Tenn., who topped 122 competitors with four bass weighing 11-15. Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,068 went to Drew Watkins of Dalton, Ga., for five bass weighing 11-2, while Jeff Burchett of London, Ky., took third place and $534 with five bass weighing 10-13.
Burchett also won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $305.
On June 3, the Red Man Tournament Trail will visit Weiss Lake for the third of five events in the Choo Choo Division. The boater with the most CITGO Challenge points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 16-17 on Guntersville 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.