Grigg wins Carolina Division opener

PROSPERITY, S.C. – Eric Grigg, Shelby, N.C., topped 175 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Murray with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 11 ounces. The catch earned him $4,563 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Grigg caught his limit by fishing docks and small pockets with 7-inch worms. His catch topped second-place boater Beau Dixon, Leesville, S.C., by 3 pounds, 3 ounces. Dixon finished the one-day tournament with a three-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces worth $2,282. He also earned boater big bass honors and $875 with a 9-pound, 1-ounce bass that he caught while sight fishing near deep-water points.

Patrick Tierney, Denver, N.C. (four bass, 15 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,369); Roger Huffman, Asheville, N.C. (five bass, 14 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,095); and Bud Moss, Whitmire, S.C., (five bass, 13 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,004) rounded out the top-five boaters. Tierney also earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Terry Cook of Pilot Mountain, N.C., claimed first place and $2,282 in the 175-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler James Wilkerson, Prosperity, S.C., by 4 ounces thanks to his productive deep-water crankbait pattern. Wilkerson finished with a three-bass catch weighing 12 pounds worth $1,141.

Norman Monts, Chapin, S.C. (four bass, 10 pounds, 11 ounces, $684); Jerry Freezon, Elgin, S.C. (three bass, 9 pounds, 11 ounces, $548); and Nathan White, Kings Mountain, N.C., (four bass, 9 pounds, 8 ounces, $502) rounded out the top-five co-anglers.

Co-angler David Clemmons, Rock Hill, S.C., earned big bass honors and $437 in his division with a 7-pound bass. He finished sixth with a three-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces.

Overall, 18 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Santee Cooper Lakes April 27 for the second of five Carolina Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Oct. 5-6 on Lake Wylie will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” Points Leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 Carolina Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on Lake Seminole near Bainbridge, Ga., where they will go up against top competitors from the Choo Choo, Gator and Piedmont divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling.

2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.