Lawson climbs to top of Mountain Division tournament

David Lawson of Richmond, Ky., won the BFL Mountain Division’s third regular-season stop, held June 7 on the Barren River near Lucas, Ky. Lawson led the field of 137 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce. Angler: David Lawson.

June 7, 2003 • MLF • Archives

LUCAS, Ky. – David Lawson of Richmond claimed $3,798 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Mountain Division’s third regular-season stop, held Saturday on the Barren River near Lucas. Lawson led the field of 137 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce.

Lawson caught his bass Saturday flipping a blue and black jig in channel bluff walls. As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, Lawson also claimed a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats, and he earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Mark Mauldin of Cleveland, Tenn. (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,899); Guy Siler of Rutledge, Tenn. (five bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,291); Kevin Powers of Unicoi, Tenn. (five bass, 9 pounds, 15 ounces, $987); and Ed Hembree of Berea (five bass, 9 pounds, 13 ounces, $835).

Allan Stephens of Florence topped 134 Co-angler Division competitors with a four-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 13 ounces that he caught on a top-water Rico, pocket to pocket on wood. Stephens earned $1,857 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Larry Marcum of Campbellsville (four bass, 7 pounds, 8 ounces, $929); Jarrod Hembree of Berea (four bass, 7 pounds, 7 ounces, $631); Al Cox of Nancy (four bass, 6 pounds, 13 ounces, $483); and Jimmy Flanagan of Kingston, Tenn. (four bass, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, $409).

Michael Brown II of Bristol, Tenn., earned boater big-bass honors and $685 with a 3-pound, 13-ounce bass, and Stephens earned co-angler big-bass honors and $335 in his division with a 3-pound, 13-ounce bass.

The Mountain Division will make its fourth regular-season stop June 21 on Douglas Lake in Sevierville, Tenn. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 27-28 on Cherokee Lake in Morristown, Tenn. 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.