Cifuentes Swims And Spins For Title

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Arkansas, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, 12 ounces Saturday to win the fourth Walmart Bass Fishing League Arkie Division tournament of 2015 on Lake Dardanelle. For his victory, Cifuentes earned $6,926.

“This tournament was really fun to fish,” said Cifuentes. “I know it was a tough day for a lot of anglers but I ended up having a great day.”

Cifuentes said he started out by fishing grass in the Illinois Bayou using a Denali rod and a black and blue-colored Jewel Bait Company Magnum Casting Jig.

“I just swam it through the grass and targeted postspawn fish that were pulling up and feeding,” Cifuentes said. “I probably had 14½ pounds by 10 a.m.”

Around 1 p.m., Cifuentes said he focused on a windy bank where he found wood and rock mixed with grass and switched to a War Eagle spinnerbait.

“I caught three keepers and a 6-pounder by 1:30 p.m.,” Cifuentes said. “I was feeling pretty good about my chances of winning by then.”

 Cifuentes said he caught 12 keepers over the course of the tournament.

"My gut decision to fish that bank worked out for me,” Cifuentes said.

The top 10 boaters:

1^st:          Joey Cifuentes, Clinton, Ark., five bass, 18-12, $3,926 + $2,000 Ranger Cup Bonus + $1,000 Mercury Bonus

2^nd:         Cody Davis, Greers Ferry, Ark., five bass, 15-15, $1,963

3^rd:          David Ellis, Leola, Ark., five bass, 15-11, $1,309

4^th:          Brandon Lee, Ratcliff, Ark., five bass, 15-7, $916

5^th:          Samuel Hutson, Benton, Ark., five bass, 14-5, $785

6^th:          Spencer Grace, Dardanelle, Ark., five bass, 14-1, $720

7^th:          Zach King, Clarksville, Ark., five bass, 13-11, $654

8^th:          Terry Cordum, Fort Smith, Ark., five bass, 13-9, $589

9^th:          Ladd Owens, Hope, Ark., five bass, 13-8, $523

10^th:        Jason Lieblong, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-6, $458

Complete results can be found here.  

Todd Thomas of Fouke, Arkansas, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division, a fish weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $530.

Kimbrough wins co-angler title 

Herbert Kimbrough of North Little Rock, Arkansas, weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 4 ounces Saturday to win $1,963 in the co-angler division.

The top 10 co-anglers were:

1^st:          Herbert Kimbrough, North Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 11-4, $1,963

2^nd:         Nick Shaw, Greenbrier, Ark., five bass, 10-15, $981

3^rd:          Michael Andrus, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 10-9, $655

4^th:          Jason Broomfield, Waldron, Ark., five bass, 10-8, $458

5^th:          Randy Allen, Russellville, Ark., five bass, 10-6, $376

5^th:          Tommy McCullar, Benton, Ark., five bass, 10-6, $376

7^th:          Garret McMahan, Barling, Ark., five bass, 9-15, $327

8^th:          Travis Harley, Sherwood, Ark., five bass, 9-12, $294

9^th:          Bruce Thompson, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 9-5, $262

10^th:        Stephen Tyson, Camden, Ark., four bass, 9-4, $229

John McNeill of Hot Springs, Arkansas, caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division and earned the day’s Big Bass award of $265.

The top 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 22-24 Regional Championship on Lake of the Ozarks in Osage Beach, Missouri. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and $20,000, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.