Monson wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League division opener on Dale Hollow Lake

Pro Keith Monson of Burgin, Ky., took home first place at the March 24 Wal-Mart BFL event at Dale Hollow Lake. Monson, who landed an 18-pound, 4-ounce catch, landed the top prize of $5,660. Angler: Keith Monson.

March 24, 2001 • MLF • Archives

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. – Keith Monson of Burgin, Ky., outpaced 183 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 4 ounces to win $5,660 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Mountain Division opener on Dale Hollow Lake.

Monson edged out James Sells of Monroe, Tenn., by 1 pound, 9 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Star Point Resort. Sells finished with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 11 ounces to win $2,830. Monson, who also won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, caught his limit fishing secondary points with a 1/2-ounce black and blue jig.

Rodney Williams of Gray, Tenn., took third place and collected $1,415 with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces. Aaron Klaber of Georgetown, Ky., placed fourth and earned $1,227 with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces, while Eddie Evans of Berea, Ky., placed fifth and earned $1,132 with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces.

Billy Hall of Florence, Ky., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $915 with a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass that he caught while fishing pockets in Hendrick’s Creek with a jerkbait.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,830 went to Michael Penix of Lewisburg, Tenn., who topped 183 competitors with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,415 went to Todd Beaty of Livingston, Tenn., with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces, while Jarrod Hembree of Berea took third place and $707 with two bass weighing 5 pounds, 13 ounces.

Chris Williams of Stanford, Ky., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $457 with a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass that he caught on a brush hog.

Overall, 271 bass weighing 549 pounds, 9 ounces were caught during the tournament, including 10 five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit Cherokee Lake April 3 for the second of five events in the Mountain Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 22-23 on Lake Cumberland, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Mountain Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 23-27 on Wateree Lake near Camden, S.C., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bulldog, Gator and Bama divisions for a shot at qualifying for the $250,000 All-American.

Awards for the 2001 BFL season could reach $5.7 million based on full fields at each tournament.