Brown breaks BFL record with 40-14 on Chickamauga
Warden claims co-angler title
HIXSON, Tenn. – Rogne Brown of Hixson, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 40 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division event on Lake Chickamauga. For his victory, Brown earned $4,271.
“It was absolutely incredible,” said Brown. “I can’t even explain it. It’s been incredible here for the past five weeks or so. I found a really good staging area where they are getting ready to move up and spawn as soon as the conditions get right. The spot has scattered out stumps on it and quick access to deep water. It is also near a shallow flat where they can roam and feed.
“I caught them all on the 3-arm, 6-blade Hog Farmer umbrella rig fitted with 3 1/2-inch Big Bite Baits Cane Thumpers,” Brown continued. “I was a little worried because the bite slowed down a bit the past week and a half, but today it picked back up for me. The way I have been catching them was messed up by the warm spell we had. As soon as the weather changes again, I have a feeling this might be over.”
Brown’s five-bass limit of 40-14 broke the record for all-time heaviest single-day weight in BFL competition, a record previously held by Dicky Newberry of Houston, Texas with 36-5. It was the second largest single-day weight ever brought to the scales in any FLW tournament. Brown added another $595 to his winnings by picking up the big bass of the day award with a fish weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces.
WRCB Channel 3 of Chattanooga filmed Brown as he weighed in his catch. To view the video, click here.
Lake Chickamauga has been on fire lately and has been receiving a lot of national attention for its big bass and big limits. The Walmart FLW Tour is scheduled to visit Lake Chickamauga for the final regular-season Tour event of 2013 on June 27-30.
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Andy Lusk, Cleveland, Tenn., five bass, 31-0, $2,136
3rd: Jeremy York, Monroe, Ga., five bass, 30-2, $1,424
4th: Walmart pro Wesley Strader, Spring City, Tenn., five bass, 28-10, $997 + $300 Evinrude bonus
5th: Rex Pendergrass, Bristol, Tenn., five bass, 27-7, $854
6th: Shaun Lusk, Soddy Daisy, Tenn., five bass, 27-3, $747
6th: Daniel Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 27-3, $747
8th: Brian Hazel, Clinton, Tenn., five bass, 26-13, $641
9th: Thomas Helton, Charleston, Tenn., five bass, 24-11, $569
10th: Adam Dysart, Ooltewah, Tenn., five bass, 24-9, $498
For complete boater results, click here.
Warden wins co-angler title
Kyle Warden of Bluff City, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 27 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win $2,136 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Brad Barnes, Jonesborough, Tenn., four bass, 26-7, $1,068
3rd: Justin McGaha, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 24-8, $712
4th: Lester Botts, Blountville, Tenn., five bass, 23-10, $498
5th: Bud McKelvey, Lenoir City, Tenn., five bass, 23-8, $427
6th: Jonathan Hankins, North Tazewell, Va., five bass, 20-3, $392
7th: Scott Stockstill, Clinton, Tenn., five bass, 18-9, $356
8th: Doug Neal, Blountville, Tenn., four bass, 18-5, $320
9th: David Perron, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 17-7, $285
10th: Ernest James, Loyall, Ky., three bass, 16-6, $249
For complete co-angler results, click here.
The next BFL Volunteer Division tournament is scheduled for April 20 on South Holston Lake in Bristol, Tenn. After the last divisional tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 17-19 Regional Championship on Lake Hartwell in Lavonia, Ga. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. The 2013 BFL All-American is being held June 27-29 on the Nickajack Lake in Chattanooga, Tenn. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
About FLW
FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2013 over the course of 220 tournaments across five tournament circuits, four of which provide an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water.” For more information about FLW browse FLWOutdoors.com and look for FLW on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube.