Cone lands LBL Division victory

Britt Cone of Benton, Ky., won the BFL LBL Division?s second regular-season stop, held April 12 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes near Cadiz. Cone led the field of 158 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces. Angler: Britt Cone.

April 12, 2003 • MLF • Archives

CADIZ, Ky. – Britt Cone of Benton claimed $4,206 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League LBL Division’s second regular-season stop, held Saturday on Kentucky and Barkley lakes near Cadiz. Cone led the field of 158 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces.

As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, Cone also claimed a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats, and he earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Donnie Williams of Paris, Tenn. (four bass, 14 pounds, 2 ounces, $2,103); Tim Shmigal of Akron, Ohio (five bass, 12 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,430); Phillip Robinson of Ashland (five bass, 11 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,093); and Ray Barga of Gilbertsville (five bass, 11 pounds, 1 ounce, $925).

Aaron Blair of Albion, Mich., topped 155 Co-angler Division competitors with a two-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 6 ounces. Blair earned $2,063 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo. (three bass, 8 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,031); Jim Fowler of Elizabethtown, Ind. (three bass, 7 pounds, 12 ounces, $701); Ted O’Connor of Hillsboro, Mo. (three bass, 7 pounds, 2 ounces, $536); and Jeremy Estes of Hawesville (four bass, 6 pounds, 7 ounces, $454).

James Tolley of Fredonia earned boater big-bass honors and $790 with an 8-pound bass, and Blair earned co-angler big-bass honors and $388 in his division with a 6-pound bass.

The LBL Division will make its third regular-season stop June 21 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Cadiz followed by an event on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Gilbertsville July 19. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Oct. 4-5 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes in Paris, Tenn. Following the regular season, the boater with the most points will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points following the regular season will earn $500.

The top 30 LBL Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 14-18 on Beaver Lake near Rogers, Ark., where they will go up against top competitors from the Great Lakes, Okie and Ozark divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.

As much as $6 million will be awarded in the 2003 Wal-Mart BFL.

Editor’s Note: Ranger Cup award winners are pending verification by Ranger Boats and thus are unofficial at this time.