Whaley earns Carolina Division win
SENECA, S.C. – Trad Whaley of Due West topped 117 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Hartwell with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces. The catch earned him $3,417 and 200 points in the Boater Division.
Whaley caught his bass on a Lucky Craft minnow in the brush around Martin Creek. Whaley claimed a $1,000 bonus from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder and also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats for being the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Tied for second were Gene Williams of Chapin and Larry Pearson of Cramerton, N.C. Both caught five bass weighing 15 pounds, 1 ounce that earned them $1,435. Rounding out the top five boaters were Robert Walser of Lexington, N.C., in fourth (five bass, 13 pounds, 5 ounces, $888) and Jack Veal Jr. of Kinards in fifth (five bass, 13 pounds, 1 ounce, $752).
Dennis Henderson of Ware Shoals claimed first place and $1,723 in the 118-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Harold Drew of Ladson by 6 ounces. Drew finished with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce worth $862.
Ray Baskin of Clemmons, N.C. (five bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $586); Michael Collins of Pembroke, N.C. (four bass, 10 pounds, 3 ounces, $448); and William King of Heath Springs (five bass, 9 pounds, 5 ounces, $379) rounded out the top five co-anglers.
Christopher Harley of Estill claimed boater-big bass honors and $585 with a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass. Derek Schlotterback of Simpsonville earned co-angler big-bass honors and $295 in his division with a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass.
The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Santee Cooper lakes May 10 for the fourth of five Carolina Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 20-21 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. 14-18 on Old Hickory Lake near Gallatin, Tenn., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bulldog, Hoosier and Illini 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.