Houchins wins BFL Shenandoah Division tournament

Jason Houchins of Stokesdale, N.C., won the BFL Shenandoah Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held July 26 on the James River near Richmond, Va. Houchins led the field of 173 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces. Angler: Jason Houchins.

July 26, 2003 • MLF • Archives

RICHMOND, Va. – Jason Houchins of Stokesdale, N.C., claimed $4,508 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on the James River near Richmond. Houchins led the field of 173 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces. Houchins caught his bass Saturday pitching a 4-inch Ring Worm.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Ronald Wolfarth of Locust, N.C. (five bass, 11 pounds, 4 ounces, $2,254); Jacob Powroznik of Prince George (five bass, 11 pounds, $1,533); Tommy Little of Chester (five bass, 10 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,172); and Chris Baldwin of Lexington, N.C. (five bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $992).

Wolfarth also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Shawn Lookabill of Fredricksburg topped 173 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces that he caught flipping a black/brown jig. Lookabill earned $2,254 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mark Finley of Palmyra (five bass, 9 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,127); Truman White of Myersville, Md. (four bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce, $766); Phillip Banks of Dale City (five bass, 8 pounds, 9 ounces, $586); and James Brown of Chase City (five bass, 8 pounds, 6 ounces, $496).

Walter Hairston Jr. of Gwynn Oak, Md., earned boater big-bass honors and $865 with a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass, and Truman White of Myersville, Md., earned co-angler big-bass honors and $433 in his division with a 4-pound, 7-ounce bass.

The Shenandoah Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 27-28 on the Potomac River in Woodbridge. 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 Shenandoah Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Chautauqua near Jamestown, N.Y., where they will go up against top competitors from the Buckeye, Michigan and Northeast 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.