Hinds wins Wal-Mart BFL Shenandoah Division tournament - Major League Fishing

Hinds wins Wal-Mart BFL Shenandoah Division tournament

Image for Hinds wins Wal-Mart BFL Shenandoah Division tournament
Robert Hinds Jr. of Prince George, Va., topped 176 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors June 29 on Kerr Lake and earned $4,546 in the Boater Division. Angler: Robert Hinds Jr.
June 29, 2002 • MLF • Archives

HENDERSON, N.C. – Robert Hinds Jr. of Prince George, Va., topped 176 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Kerr Lake with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him $4,546 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Hinds caught his limit on a buzzbait in 10 feet of water. The catch topped second-place boater Mike Hawks of Woodlawn, Va., by 9 ounces. Hawks finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 6 ounces worth $2,273. Hinds also received a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Duane Essick of Townsend, Del. (four bass, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,364); Sam Cole of Lexington, N.C. (five bass, 10 pounds, 15 ounces, $1,091); and Quinten Stacy of Bassett, Va., (five bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,000) rounded out the top five boaters.

Terry Olinger of Marshall, Va., earned boater big bass honors and $880 with a 5-pound, 8-ounce bass that he caught on a chartreuse and white spinner bait that he was working over deep water. He finished in 30th place overall thanks to the one bass.

Roy Hall of Manassas Park, Va., claimed first place and $2,273 in the 176-competitor Co-angler Division during the June 29 Wal-Mart BFL tournament on Kerr Lake.Roy Hall of Manassas Park, Va., claimed first place and $2,273 in the 176-competitor Co-angler Division with four bass weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler David Ludwig of New Castle, Del., by 12 ounces. Ludwig finished with a four-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce worth $1,136.

Jon Collins of Herndon, Va. (three bass, 7 pounds, 7 ounces, $682); Bobby Martin of Manassas, Va. (one bass, 7 pounds, 3 ounces, $545); and Ronald Butler of Moneta, Va., (four bass, 6 pounds, 14 ounces, $500) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Martin earned big bass honors and $440 in his division with his 7-pound, 3-ounce bass.

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

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the James River July 27 for the fourth of five Shenandoah Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 21-22 on the Potomac River, 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 Shenandoah Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition presented by BC Powder Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Wheeler Lake near Rogersville, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bulldog, LBL and Music City 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.

Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, GARMIN, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley, Eagle Claw, Hover-Lure, Laker, Maxwell House, Plano and Solar Bat.