Raines wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Columbus Pool

John Raines of Enterprize, Ms., won the May 5 Wal-Mart BFL tournament in the Angler Division at Columbus Pool after recording a catch of 17 pounds, 3 ounces. Angler: John Raines.

May 5, 2001 • MLF • Archives

COLUMBUS, Miss. – John Raines, 47, of Enterprise, Miss., outpaced 104 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces to win $3,848 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Mississippi Division tournament on the Columbus Pool.

Raines, who also earned $1,000 from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, topped Bobby Kilzer of Trenton, Tenn., by 3 pounds, 9 ounces in the one-day event that set out from the East Bank Ramp. Kilzer finished with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces to win $1,924. Raines caught his limit by flipping a 3/8-ounce jig into grass located in 8 to 9 feet of water.

In addition to the $3,848 he received for winning the event and the $1,000 bonus from Ranger, Raines collected $1,000 from GARMIN for using a fixed-mount GARMIN sonar and $520 from Operation Bass for landing a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass that ranked as the biggest bass in his division. His total take from the tournament was $6,368.

Charlie Long of Baton Rouge, La., took third place and collected $962 with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces. Joey Knight of Meridian, Miss., placed fourth and earned $834 with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 15 ounces, while Ricky Smith of Collinsville, Miss., placed fifth and earned $770 with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,869 went to Danny Jones of Gordo, Ala., who topped 102 competitors with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 5 ounces. Second place in the division and $934 went to Billy Hausey of Ethelsville, Ala., with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces, while John Breeden of Brandon, Miss., took third place and $467 with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces.

Waymond Price of Ethelsville, Ala., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $252 with a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass that he caught on a watermelon seed-colored lizard.

Overall, 633 bass were caught during the tournament, including 67 five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit Tunica on June 2 for the fourth of five events in the Mississippi Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 22-23 on Lake Ferguson, 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 Mississippi Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 16-20 on the Red River near Shreveport, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Cowboy, Okie and Arkie 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.