MCCORMICK, S.C. – Tracy Watkins of Williamston, S.C., topped 74 Boater Division competitors on Clark Hill Lake this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds. He earned $5,207 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division season finale.
After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament in sixth place with an opening-day catch of five bass weighing 9 pounds, 14 ounces, Watkins out-fished runner-up Tony Christian of Hull, Ga., by 3 pounds, 13 ounces to take the win. Watkins caught his limit on day two using a homemade spinner bait.
Christian qualified for the final round in first place with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 11 ounces and finished up with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 3 ounces to win $2,604.
John Drew of Gold Hill, N.C. (five bass, 11 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,410); David Wright of Lexington, N.C. (five bass, 9 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,193); and Chris Baldwin of Lexington, N.C., (five bass, 9 pounds, 4 ounces, $976) rounded out the top five boaters.
Christian took boater big-bass honors and $740 for an 8-pound, 11-ounce bass he caught on a jig. Wright earned a $500 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Michael Chris Nix of Liberty, S.C., topped 74 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $2,604 thanks to a final-round catch of five bass weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,302 went to Dennis Henderson of Ware Shoals, S.C., with a five-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce, followed by Keith Thomasson of Abbeville, S.C., in third place with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 14 ounces worth $705.
Darren Taylor of Watkinsville, Ga., won the co-angler big-bass award of $370 with a 4-pound, 1-ounce bass he caught using a finesse worm.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Savannah River Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 15-19 on Lake Gaston near Littleton, N.C., where they will go up against top competitors from the Buckeye, Mountain and Northeast divisions for a shot at qualifying for the BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative postseason 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, 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, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.