Ailor wins Ranger boat, Chevy truck at Wheeler Lake Regional

Bryant Ailor of Knoxville, Tenn., topped 120 pro competitors on Wheeler Lake during the BFL Wheeler Lake Regional presented by BC Powder. Angler: Bryant Ailor.

November 2, 2002 • MLF • Archives

ROGERSVILLE, Ala. – Bryant Ailor of Knoxville, Tenn., topped 120 competitors on Wheeler Lake this weekend at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Wheeler Lake Regional presented by BC Powder. The postseason tournament featured the top 30 boaters from the Bulldog, LBL, Music City and Shenandoah divisions. Ailor, who qualified for the regional through the Music City Division, won a new Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha and a new Chevy truck. He also earned a berth in the prestigious 2003 All-American, where he will vie for a top boater award of $100,000 cash.

Ailor caught five bass weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to lead the regional field. He caught his bass in cold and cloudy conditions using a spinner bait. On Thursday’s opening day, he hauled in five bass weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces to place 35th and followed that up Friday with four more bass weighing 12 pounds, 10 ounces to rank second. Ailor will be competing in his first All-American after several years in the BFL fishing several divisions. This is his first season to fish the Music City Division.

The full field of anglers competed for two days to determine which six would advance to Saturday’s final day of competition. The final six started at zero Saturday, competing for position and prize money, having secured their All-American berths.

Rounding out the All-American qualifiers are David Young of Mayfield, Ky. (five bass, 8 pounds, 8 ounces, $5,000); Sam Moody of Athens, Ala. (three bass, 6 pounds, 14 ounces, $2,500); Ramie Colson Jr. of Cadiz, Ky. (five bass, 6 pounds, 4 ounces, $2,000); Jim Beavers of Manchester, Ga. (five bass, 5 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,500); and Sam Lashlee of Camden, Tenn., (three bass, 5 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,000).

Chris Coates of Westmoreland, Tenn., led the Co-angler Division with a final-round catch of four bass weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces. His victory earned him an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger boat and a spot in the All-American, where he will compete for a top prize of $50,000 cash. He caught most of his bass using a centipede.

Rounding out the All-American qualifiers are Tommy Bell of Richmond, Va. (two bass, 4 pounds, 4 ounces, $2,500); Chad Lannom of Mount Juliet, Tenn. (one bass, 1 pound, 10 ounces, $1,250); Todd Hollowell of Old Hickory, Tenn. (one bass, 1 pound, 2 ounces, $1,000); Robert Holton of Murfreesboro, Tenn. (one bass, 1 pound, 2 ounces, $750); and Jeff Lugar of McGaheysville, Va., (no bass, $500).

Anglers advanced to this weekend’s regional competition by placing in the top 30 in the points standings within their respective divisions. Every angler who receives weight credit during the season earns points. Six regionals will each advance six boaters and six co-anglers to the All-American, while a seventh regional will send three boaters and three co-anglers. Another six boaters and six co-anglers will advance to the All-American from the Chevy Trucks Wild Card, which will be held Nov. 5-9 on Alabama’s West Point Lake. Anglers who fished all five regular-season tournaments within a division but did not advance to the regional can enter the Wild Card for a chance to compete in the All-American. The All-American is one of the most prestigious and lucrative events in bass fishing. The site for the 2003 event will be announced next month.

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.