Wagner takes BFL Music City Division tournament

Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tenn., won the BFL Music City Division's third regular-season stop, held May 3 on Old Hickory. Wagner led the field of 105 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces. Angler: Adam Wagner.

May 3, 2003 • MLF • Archives

GALLATIN, Tenn. – Adam Wagner of Cookeville claimed $3,199 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Music City Division’s third regular-season stop, held Saturday on Old Hickory Lake near Gallatin. Wagner led the field of 105 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces.

Wagner caught his bass Saturday flipping a Green Pumpkin Killer jig in shallow water. Rounding out the top five boaters are Gary Clouse of La Vergne (five bass, 15 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,600); Tim Staley of Dowelltown (five bass, 15 pounds, $1,088); Greg Fender of Odin, Ill. (five bass, 14 pounds, 10 ounces, $832); and Dave Rigsby of Lebanon (four bass, 14 pounds, 7 ounces, $704).

As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, Fender also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats. G.W. “Nancy” Kemp of Castalian Springs topped 103 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces that she caught flipping a Rat-L-Trap in shallow grass. Kemp earned $1,569 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are John Marshall of Murfreesboro (four bass, 7 pounds, 3 ounces, $784); Chris Hicks of Hendersonville (two bass, 6 pounds, 10 ounces, $533); Gary Reynolds of Lebanon (two bass, 6 pounds, 6 ounces, $408); and Dustin Hadley of Nashville (three bass, 5 pounds, 15 ounces, $345).

Eddie Stover of Nashville earned boater big-bass honors and $525 with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass, and Alan Piacentine of Powder Springs, Ga., earned co-angler big-bass honors and $258 in his division with a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass.

The Music City Division will make its fourth regular-season stop June 28 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Buchanan. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 20-21 on Old Hickory Lake in Gallatin. Following the regular season, the boater with the most points will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points following the regular season will earn $500.

The top 30 Music City Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Louisiana, Mississippi and Savannah River 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.

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