EUFAULA, AL — The 34th Annual Lake Eufaula Bass Classic was won Saturday by Cody Ray Turnbow, 41, who hauled in a five-fish limit weighing 28.7 pounds using a $97,000 bass boat, $14,000 in electronics, and a rod-and-reel combination that costs more than a semester of college.

Turnbow edged out second-place finisher Nate Gunderson by just 0.3 pounds, a margin Turnbow attributed to "preparation, skill, and the forward-facing sonar unit I refinanced my truck to buy."

"You gotta have the right tools," Turnbow said from the deck of his Skeeter FXR21, which features twin 12-inch Garmin LiveScope units, a Minn Kota Ultrex trolling motor, a Power-Pole system, and a custom paint job depicting a largemouth bass leaping through an American flag. "This ain't a hobby. This is an investment."

A brief financial analysis reveals the following: Turnbow's bass boat, motor, and trailer are valued at approximately $97,000. His electronics package totals $14,200. His rod-and-reel arsenal, consisting of 22 setups currently aboard the vessel, is estimated at $8,400. His tackle for this tournament alone cost $1,200.

Total invested: approximately $121,800.

First place prize money: $2,500.

"It's not about the money," Turnbow insisted, carefully polishing a crankbait that retails for $28. "It's about the love of the sport."

Gunderson, the runner-up, fished from a 2006 aluminum jon boat with a depth finder he bought at a pawn shop. "Cost me maybe $3,000 total, counting the trolling motor and the duct tape holding the seat on," he said. "But I guess 0.3 pounds is 0.3 pounds."

Turnbow says he's already eyeing upgrades for next season, including a $6,000 shallow-water anchoring system. His wife was unavailable for comment but neighbors report she recently started a separate bank account.