Holt wins Wal-Mart BFL Mountain Division tournament

Brian Holt of Newport won the BFL Mountain Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held June 21 on Douglas Lake near Sevierville. Holt led the field of 138 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces. Angler: Brian Holt.

June 21, 2003 • MLF • Archives

SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. – Brian Holt of Newport claimed $3,825 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Mountain Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on Douglas Lake near Sevierville. Holt led the field of 138 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces. Holt caught his bass Saturday using a crankbait.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Mark Mauldin of Cleveland (five bass, 17 pounds, $1,913); Rusty Smith of Somerset, Ky. (five bass, 10 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,301); Keith Monson of Burgin, Ky. (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $995); and Anthony Roy of Lancaster, Ky. (five bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $842).

John Devere of Berea, Ky., claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Billy Gardner of Livingston topped 133 Co-angler Division competitors with a three-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught using a DD-22 crankbait. Gardner earned $1,873 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Kevin Burns of Sevierville (five bass, 12 pounds, 2 ounces, $937); Jerry Shepard of Knoxville (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces, $637); Jarrod Hembree of Berea, Ky. (five bass, 9 pounds, 9 ounces, $487); and Larry Cable of Marryville (four bass, 8 pounds, 15 ounces, $412).

Guy Siler of Rutledge earned boater big-bass honors and $690 with a 5-pound bass, and Gardner earned co-angler big-bass honors and $333 in his division with a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass.

The Mountain Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 27-28 on Cherokee Lake in Morristown. 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 Mountain 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 Piedmont 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.