Jones wins BFL Hoosier Division tournament

Paul Jones of Jeffersonville won the BFL Hoosier Division’s third regular-season stop, held July 19 on the Ohio River near Cannelton, Ind. Jones led the field of 151 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces. Angler: Paul Jones.

July 19, 2003 • MLF • Archives

CANNELTON, Ind. – Paul Jones of Jeffersonville claimed $4,069 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division’s third regular-season stop, held Saturday on the Ohio River near Cannelton. Jones led the field of 151 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces.

Jones caught his bass Saturday using a spinner bait. He also earned $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.

Tied for second place were Bill McDonald of Indianapolis and T.J. Edwards of Waldron with a five-bass catching weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Each received $1,709 for their catch. In fourth place was Ryan Deal of Haubstadt with a five-bass catch weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces that earned him $1,058. Tied for fifth place were Jim Pickett of Martinsville (four bass, 6 pounds, 6 ounces) and Don Case of Muncie (three bass, 6 pounds, 6 ounces). Each received $813 for their catch.

McDonald and Edwards also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participants in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Norman Day of North Vernon topped 146 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces that he caught flipping a jig. Day earned $1,994 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are John Melton of Corydon (five bass, 5 pounds, 14 ounces, $997); Robert Workman of Florence, Ky. (three bass, 5 pounds, $678); Ray Olsen of Memphis (three bass, 4 pounds, 11 ounces, $518); and Roy Brand of Nineveh (two bass, 4 pounds, 8 ounces, $439).

Case earned boater big-bass honors and $755 with a 4-pound, 7-ounce bass, and Brand earned co-angler big-bass honors and $365 in his division with a 4-pound, 1-ounce bass.

The Hoosier Division will make its fourth regular-season stop Aug. 23 on Monroe Lake in Bloomington. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept.20-21 on Patoka Lake near Birds Eye. 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 Hoosier 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, Carolina 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.