By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
DECATUR - All four area anglers competing in the Bassmaster Elite Series Southern Challenge on Wheeler Lake last weekend finished in the top 100 among co-anglers.
Hartselle’s Ken Callahan pocketed $500 for his 26th place finish in the non-boater division after catching a limit of 15 bass during the three-day event.
Callahan’s total catch weighed in at 24 pounds, nine ounces.
Jason Preuitt, also of Hartselle, finished 60th with 10 bass weighed in at 12 pounds, three ounces for the tournament.
Falkville’s Brian Merriman was 91st overall at seven pounds, nine ounces with six keepers. He caught five of the fish on the first day alone.
Kelly Townson of Hartselle was 95th overall with six fish weighing in at six pounds, five ounces.
Jeremy Starks won the professional side of the tournament with a total weight of 21 pounds, 15 ounces. The championship, the first for Starks, was worth $101,000.
Missouri’s Bob McMullin won the co-angler division a total catch of 37 pounds, two ounces to claim the $25,000 first-place payout.
Stren Series Southeast
Three local fishermen competed in the Stren Series’ Southeast event on Pickwick Lake last weekend.
James Johnson, fishing in the professional anglers’ division, caught a limit of five bass each day and finished the tournament in 108th place with a total catch of 24 pounds, 10 ounces.
Johnny Pittman and Mike Sandlin finished 65th and 78th respectively in the co-angler division, fishing out of the back of a boat with the pros.
Pittman finished with a haul of 21 pounds, six ounces after opening the three-day tournament with five bass weighing nine pounds on the first day.
Sandlin finished with 20 pounds, five ounces after completing the tournament with 14 keepers. He caught the limit of five bass on the first two days, but boated just four on the final day.
Stren Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday-Friday. The field is cut to the top 10 pros and co-anglers based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weights. These anglers continue competition Saturday.