Classic X

Bo Dowden caught the biggest bass of the Bassmaster Classic X on the St. Lawrence River.

ST. LAWRENCE RIVER, N.Y. — Bo Dowden of Natchitoches, La., caught a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass, the biggest of the tournament, which anchored his 54-10 three-day catch, and earned him the crown in the "Super Bowl of Bass Fishing."

Dowden fished heavy leadhead jigs tipped with frog-shaped chunks of pork rind around boulders surrounded by weed beds in Chippewa Bay.

Roland Martin, who finished second, fished plastic worms, changing colors after every strike or two to keep schools of bass from wising up to his bogus baits.

Of note

•  Ray Scott frequently embellished Bo Dowden's life story to the weigh-in crowds, claiming he was a silver medalist in track in the 1952 Olympics.

•  Muskies, northern pike and other toothy critters were a constant problem for the competitors — destroying lures and breaking lines, taking valuable lures with them.

Top 6 finishers

1. Bo Dowden Natchitoches, La. 54-10

2. Roland Martin Broken Arrow, Okla. 44-01

3. Cliff Craft Sugar Hill, Ga. 41-00

4. Hank Parker Denver, N.C. 35-11

5. Basil Bacon Springfield, Mo. 34-05

6. Larry Nixon Conway, Ark. 33-14