Applegate wins Bass Fishing League LBL Division tournament

David Applegate Jr. of Morgantown, Ky., topped 194 BFL pro competitors March 15 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces. Angler: David Applegate Jr.

March 15, 2003 • MLF • Archives

GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – David Applegate Jr. of Morgantown topped 194 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Kentucky and Barkley lakes with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces. The catch earned him $4,885 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Applegate caught his limit using a Prowler Pro Pitch tube bait around the Linton area. His catch topped second-place boater Kevin Lasater of McKenzie, Tenn., by 1 pound, 12 ounces. Lasater finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces worth $2,443. Lasater earned a $500 bonus from Ranger for being the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Mark Templon of Mumpus Mills, Tenn., earned $970 as the big-bass winner thanks to a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass.

Ray Barga of Gilbertsville (five bass, 16 pounds, 15 ounces, $1,661); John Morgan of Murray (four bass, 16 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,270); and Britt Cone of Benton (five bass, 15 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,075) rounded out the top five boaters.

Jerry Jones of Dyersburg, Tenn., claimed first place and $2,380 in the 186-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces. Jones caught his limit on a Bandit crankbait fishing rocky banks in the Kenlake area. He surpassed second-place co-angler Mike Rushing of Paducah by 2 pounds, 11 ounces. Rushing finished with a four-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces worth $1,190.

Mike Cole of Louisville (five bass, 14 pounds, 3 ounces, $809); Larry Martin of Clarksville, Tenn. (three bass, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, $619); and John Cambron of Sturgis (four bass, 12 pounds, 1 ounce, $524) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Jimmy Thomas of Lavinia, Tenn., earned big-bass honors and $465 in his division with a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Kentucky and Barkley lakes April 12 for the second of five LBL Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Oct. 4-5 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes, 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 LBL Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 14-18 on Beaver Lake near Rogers, Ark., where they will go up against top competitors from the Great Lakes, Okie and Ozark 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.