Powers wins on Cherokee Lake

Pro Kevin Powers (left) of Unicoi, Tenn., and co-angler Robert Hobson (right) of Hagerhill, Ky., won their respective divisions at the April 21 Wal-Mart tour event at Cherokee Lake. Powers won $5,166 after netting a total catch of 14 pounds, 15 ounces while Hagerhill took home $2,469 after landing a catch of 12 pounds, 12 ounces. Anglers: Kevin Powers, Robert Hobson.

April 21, 2001 • MLF • Archives

MORRISTOWN, Tenn. – Kevin Powers of Unicoi, Tenn., outpaced 154 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces to win $5,166 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Mountain Division tournament on Cherokee Lake.

Powers edged out Rodney Williams of Gray, Tenn., by 1 pound, 10 ounces in the one-day event that set out from the Hamlin County Boat Dock. Williams finished with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 5 ounces to win $2,583. Powers caught his limit under partly cloudy skies using a rattle back jig around shallow rocks.

Mark Mauldin of Knoxville, Tenn., took third place and collected $1,291 with four bass weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces. Daryl Kazee of Wurtland, Ky., and James King of Monroe, Tenn., placed fourth and earned $1,076 each with catches weighing 10 pounds, 6 ounces. Kazee caught three bass while King caught five bass. Kazee also tied with Mauldin for the boater Big Bass Award. Each man collected $395 with a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,469 went to Robert Hobson of Hagerhill, Ky., who topped 145 competitors with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 12 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,234 went to Jason Lake of Gray, Ky., with three bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces, while Earl Poplin Jr. of Maryville, Tenn., took third place and $617 with three bass weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces.

Darrell Jennings of Huntsville, Ala., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $377 with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a firetiger-colored rouge while fishing chunk rocks in 4 feet of water.

Boater Todd Boggs of Corbin, Ky., won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished in 10th place with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces.

Overall, 292 bass were caught during the tournament, including six five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit the Barren River May 19 for the third 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, Bama and Gator 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.