MOULTRIE — A first-day catch of 17 pounds, 4 ounces propelled Moultrie’s Butch Tucker to a first-place finish — and a $25,000 prize — in the co-angler division of the BASS Elite Series Citrus Slam held last weekend on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes in Lake Worth, Fla.

The veteran professional fisherman fished each of the three days with a different boater and went out in different water each day.

Tucker, who has fished as both a boater and as a co-angler in BASS Open events, did not match his Thursday catch either of the next two days — had just one 1 1/2-pound bass on Saturday — but finished with 26 pounds, 10 ounces and led all three days.

Bill Williams of Corbin, Ky., was second with 25 pounds, 1 ounce.

The tournament was Tucker’s first as a co-angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series, although he had fished 13 BASS events previously.

His first day on the Kissimmee Chain was an especially memorable one.

Fishing with Elite Series pro Kevin Wirth in a canal at the mouth of Lake Cypress, Tucker weighed a limit of five bass for 17 pounds, 4 ounces.

His largest was 5 pounds, 1 ounce.

The catch led not only the co-angler division, but was better than all but 11 first-day stringers in the professional division.

Tucker said he used junebug Gambler Sweebo on the first day.

On Day 2, Tucker fished with boater Cliff Pace and went in with 7 pounds, 14 ounces to keep the lead with 25 pounds, 2 ounces.

Tucker switched to a junebug Zoom Speed Worm on Friday, when he did not have a fish by 1 p.m.

When it became cloud and the wind began whipping the water, Tucker began reeling them in.

The field was cut to 50 for Saturday’s final day of co-angler competition.

He fished with Kenyon Hill on Saturday and caught just the one bass.

But it was enough to seal the victory, although he had to endure a nearly two-hour wait until Williams came in near the end of weigh-in.

And came up short.