BETHEL ISLAND — Jimmy Reese of Witter Springs caught a final-round total of 10 bass weighing a combined 39 pounds, 1 ounce to win the Stren Series Western Division, which wrapped up its four-day run Sunday on the Delta.
Reese won $63,000, including a Ranger 519VX powered by a Yamaha out-board and equipped with a Minn Kota trolling motor, Lowrance electronics and EverStart batteries.
?I had no idea I was going to win this thing. I thought the other guys were going to whack them today,? said Reese, who finished the Western Division regular-season in first place after winning two tournaments, finishing fifth in a third and placing 14th in another qualifier.
Reese took the lead Friday with a five-bass catch weighing 21 pounds, 5 ounces. On Saturday, he fished a lipless crankbait and a swimbait and drop-shotted worms in 2 to 5 feet of water to add five more bass weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces to his final-round total.
?I caught three on a lipless crankbait and six on the drop-shot for about 13 pounds,? Reese said.
In addition to the prize money, anglers were competing for a trip to the $1 million Stren Series Championship for a shot at $140,000.
The highest-finishing pro from each division at the Stren Series Championship will also earn a spot in the new $2 million 2007 Forrest Wood Cup, where they will compete against top pros from the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League and Ranger owners? tournaments for bass fishing?s first $1 million top award.
