LITTLETON, N.C. – Joe Nichols Jr. of Ahoskie, N.C., topped 154 Boater Division competitors on Lake Gaston this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces. He earned $8,088 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division season finale.
Nichols out-fished runner-up Mark Inman of Henderson, N.C., by 3 pounds, 14 ounces to take the win. He caught his limit on day two using a spinner bait. He also earned a $1,000 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Inman finished up with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce to win $4,044.
Elton Clements of Durham, N.C. (five bass, 10 pounds, 11 ounces, $2,191); Larry Inman of Greensboro, N.C. (three bass, 7 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,854); and Jamey Way of McLeansville, N.C., (four bass, 7 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,517) rounded out the top five boaters.
Robert Walser of Lexington, N.C., took boater big-bass honors and $1,540 for a 6-pound, 11-ounce bass he caught on a jig.
Mark Robertson of Henderson, N.C., topped 153 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $4,018 thanks to a final-round catch of three bass weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces. Second place in the division and $2,009 went to Mark Leatherman of Elkton, Va., with a two-bass catch weighing 4 pounds, 10 ounces, followed by Jim Smith of Bowersville, Ga., in third place with one bass weighing 3 pounds, 11 ounces worth $1,088.
Eddie Cook of Clemmons, N.C., won the co-angler big-bass award of $765 with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass he caught using a spinner bait.
Ray Griffin of Henderson, N.C., is the Piedmont Division’s Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 990 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. David Farman of Semora, N.C., is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 948 points.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Piedmont Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on Lake Seminole near Bainbridge, Ga., where they will go up against top competitors from the Carolina, Choo Choo and Gator divisions for a shot at qualifying for the BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.
2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.
Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, GARMIN, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.