Lashlee top boater at Music City Division tournament

Sam Lashlee of Camden won the BFL Music City Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held June 28 on Kentucky and Barkley lakes near Buchanan. Lashlee led the field of 100 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 22 pounds, 8 ounces. Angler: Sam Lashlee.

June 28, 2003 • MLF • Archives

BUCHANAN, Tenn. – Sam Lashlee of Camden claimed $3,047 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Music City Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on Kentucky and Barkley lakes near Buchanan. Lashlee led the field of 100 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 22 pounds, 8 ounces.

Lashlee caught his bass Saturday using a Strike King Premier jig. He earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.

In second place was Kevin Lasater of McKenzie with a five-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces that earned him $1,523. Third place was Shawn Penn of Eddyville, Ky., with a five-bass catch weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces that earned him $1,036. In fourth place was Tim Griggs of Paducah, Ky., with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 15 ounces that earned him $792. Tied for fifth place were David Gnewikow of Antioch and Britt Cone of Benton, Ky., with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 11 ounces. Each received $609 for their catch.

Lasater also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Chuck Rounds of Benton, Ky., topped 100 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces that he caught using a 12-inch june bug. Rounds earned $1,523 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Eddie Walker of Antioch (four bass, 13 pounds, 12 ounces, $762); Todd Owens of Middletown, Ohio (five bass, 11 pounds, 4 ounces, $518); Tony Byram of Nashville (five bass, 11 pounds, 3 ounces, $396); and Billy Brewer of Lyles (five bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $335).

Cone earned boater big-bass honors and $500 with a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass, and Walker earned co-angler big-bass honors and $250 in his division with a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass.

The Music City Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 20-21 on Old Hickory Lake in Gallatin. 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 Music City Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Louisiana, Mississippi and Savannah River 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.