Hinson wins Wal-Mart BFL Music City Division tournament

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Billy Hinson of Mount Juliet, Tenn., topped 76 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Percy Priest with five bass weighing 21 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him $2,587 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Hinson caught his limit on Rat-L-Traps, crankbaits and lizards while fishing points along the main river channel. The catch topped second-place boater Brad Wimberly of Woodbury, Tenn., by 1 pound, 6 ounces. Wimberly finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 19 pounds, 12 ounces worth $1,293.

Bryant Ailor of Knoxville, Tenn. (five bass, 17 pounds, 15 ounces, $776); Jim Dillon of Smyrna, Tenn. (three bass, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, $621); and David Bell of Smyrna, Tenn., (five bass, 10 pounds, 15 ounces, $569) rounded out the top five boaters. Ailor also received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Jason Gibson of Hendersonville, Tenn., earned boater big bass honors and $380 with a 7-pound, 7-ounce bass that he caught on a spider jig while fishing secondary points. He finished in 12th place overall with two bass weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces.

Phil Richardson of Portland, Tenn., claimed first place and $1,276 in the 76-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Randy Vassar of Woodbury, Tenn., by 2 pounds, 11 ounces. Vasser finished with a two-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce worth $638. He also earned big bass honors and $187 in his division with a 6-pound bass he caught on a 1/2-ounce spinner bait with willow leaf blades.

Robert Holton of Murfreesboro, Tenn. (three bass, 8 pounds, 3 ounces, $383); Todd Hollowell of Old Hickory, Tenn. (two bass, 5 pounds, 6 ounces, $293); and Shane Metz of Cincinnati (one bass, 5 pounds, 6 ounces, $293) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Overall, seven five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Barkley for the third of five Music City Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 21-22 on Old Hickory, 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 Music City Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition presented by BC Powder Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Wheeler Lake near Rogersville, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bulldog, LBL and Shenandoah divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling.

2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.