Nunnelley wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Guntersville Lake

Phillip Nunnelley of Cullman, Ala., won the top prize in the Boater Division at the June 9 Wal-Mart BFL tour event at Guntersville Lake. Nunnelley, who netted a 20-pound, 6-ounce stringer, took home $4,977 in winnings. Angler: Phillip Nunnelley.

June 9, 2001 • MLF • Archives

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – Phillip Nunnelley of Cullman, Ala., outpaced 149 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces to win $4,977 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division tournament on Guntersville Lake.

Nunnelley edged out Brent Brady of Hixson, Tenn., by 1 pound, 7 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Goose Pond Marina. Brady finished with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces to win $2,489 plus a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Brady also won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $745 with a 7-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a jig while fishing grass.

Nunnelley caught his limit under sunny skies while fishing a green worm around grass.

Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, Ala., took third place and collected $1,244 with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 11 ounces. Mark Cady of Dalton, Ga., placed fourth and earned $1,079 with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces, while Daniel Kennedy of Hollywood, Ala., placed fifth and earned $996 with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,324 went to Doug Campbell of Anniston, Ala., who topped 136 competitors with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce. Second place in the division and $1,162 went to Dennis Sandoval of Decatur, Ala., with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 15 ounces, while Anthony Yell of Jasper, Tenn., took third place and $581 with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces.

John Kitchens of Smyrna, Ga., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $340 with a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass that he caught on a worm while fishing drop-offs in 10 feet of water.

Overall, 545 bass were caught during the tournament, including 36 five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit Lake Neely Henry Sept. 15-16 for a two-day Super Tournament that will determine the Divisional Points Champion who will be awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the conclusion of the season ending tournament will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Choo Choo Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 9-13 on Weiss Lake near Cedar Bluff, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Carolina, Ozark and Illini 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.