Barnes bests boaters at BFL Choo Choo Division tournament

Dennis Barnes of Boaz won the BFL Choo Choo Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held June 14 on Lake Neely Henry near Ohatchee. Barnes led the field of 177 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces. Angler: Dennis Barnes.

June 14, 2003 • MLF • Archives

OHATCHEE, Ala. – Dennis Barnes of Boaz claimed $4,569 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on Lake Neely Henry near Ohatchee. Barnes led the field of 177 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces.

Barnes caught his bass Saturday using a spinner bait and jig. As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, Barnes also claimed a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Lance Wiseman of Cedar Bluff (five bass, 15 pounds, 7 ounces, $2,285); Bill Slatton of Ooltewah, Tenn. (five bass, 15 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,554); Chad Hall of Trussville (five bass, 14 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,188); and Allen Hayes of Moody (five bass, 14 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,005).

Mike Ryan of Joppa topped 177 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 5 ounces that he caught using a crankbait. Ryan earned $2,272 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jerry McCafferty of Muscle Shoals (five bass, 13 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,136); Josh Driver of Powder Springs, Ga. (five bass, 11 pounds, 13 ounces, $772); Allan Garner of Estill Springs, Tenn. (five bass, 11 pounds, 7 ounces, $591); and Greg Watson of Kimberly (five bass, 11 pounds, 4 ounces, $500).

Slatton earned boater big-bass honors and $885 with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass. Tied for co-angler big bass honors were McCafferty and Chad Brewer of Gadsden. Each received $220 for a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass.

The Choo Choo Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 6-7 on Guntersville Lake in Guntersville. 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 Choo Choo Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 21-25 on Clark Hill Lake near Thomson, Ga., where they will go up against top competitors from the Gator, Mountain and Piedmont 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.