Henderson victorious at BFL Piedmont Division tournament

James Henderson Jr. of Evington, Va., topped 200 BFL pro competitors March 15 on Lake Gaston with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces. Angler: James Henderson Jr.

March 15, 2003 • MLF • Archives

LITTLETON, N.C. – James Henderson Jr. of Evington, Va., topped 200 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Gaston with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him $5,000 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Henderson caught his limit on a crankbait in muddy, stained water. His catch topped second-place boater Mark Inman of Henderson by 1 pound, 14 ounces. Inman finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces worth $2,500. Henderson claimed a $1,000 bonus from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder as well as a $1,000 bonus from Ranger for being the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Ray Winans of Pinewood, S.C., earned $1,000 as the big-bass winner thanks to a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass.

Rodney Sorrell of Stokesdale (four bass, 15 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,700); Jeff Chandler of New London (five bass, 15 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,300); and Anthony Fofi of Spring Lake (five bass, 15 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,100) rounded out the top five boaters.

Mark Finley of Palmyra, Va., claimed first place and $2,500 in the 200-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 2 ounces. Finley caught his limit on a Rat-L-Trap in water 3 to 6 feet deep near the dam. He surpassed second-place co-angler Dave Murdock of Florence, S.C., by 6 pounds, 11 ounces. Murdock finished with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces worth $1,250.

Scott Golden of Roanoke Rapids (five bass, 12 pounds, 5 ounces, $850) and Walter Whitman Jr. of Greensboro (three bass, 11 pounds, 7 ounces, $650) rounded out the top four co-anglers. Tied for fifth were Robert Bawcum of Henderson and Steve Lowe of Danville, Va. Each caught three bass weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces to earn $500.

Mark Finley of Palmyra, Va., earned big-bass honors and $500 in his division with a 6-pound, 14-ounce bass.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Kerr Lake May 3 for the second of five Piedmont Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Oct. 4-5 on Kerr Lake, will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” Points Leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 Piedmont Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 21-25 on Clark Hill Lake near Thomson, Ga., where they will go up against top competitors from the Choo Choo, Gator and Mountain divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.

As much as $6 million will be awarded in the 2003 Wal-Mart BFL.

For more information or to enter a tournament, call (270) 252-1000 or browse this Web site.

Editor’s Note: Ranger Cup award winners are pending verification by Ranger Boats and thus are unofficial at this time.