Schwendimann takes BFL Super Tournament on Old Hickory Lake

GALLATIN, Tenn. – Van Schwendimann of Franklin caught 10 bass weighing 25 pounds, 3 ounces to win $5,138 at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Music City Division Super Tournament, held this weekend on Old Hickory Lake near Gallatin. Schwendimann bested 75 Boater Division competitors and earned 300 points at the tournament, which was the fifth and final Music City Division event of the regular season.

Schwendimann caught five bass Saturday weighing 11 pounds to finish first on day one and followed that up Sunday with another five bass weighing 14 pounds, 3 ounces to earn the win. Schwendimann caught his bass tournament-winning bass on a brown jig in the lower lake.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Gary Clouse of La Vergne (10 bass, 18 pounds, 14 ounces); Tim Messer of Hendersonville (eight bass, 18 pounds, 13 ounces); Greg Rollins of Monteagle (10 bass, 18 pounds, 9 ounces); and Trey Bain of Gallatin (eight bass, 15 pounds, 6 ounces).

Michael Penix of Lewisburg claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

David Gnewikow of Antioch claimed $750 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass.

Mark Pirkle of Cleveland led 75 Co-angler Division competitors on day two to claim $2,569 as the Super Tournament co-angler winner. He caught one bass Saturday weighing 3 pounds, 6 ounces to finish 11th and followed that up Sunday with three bass weighing 8 pounds to earn the win. He caught his tournament-winning bass on a jig.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Danny Boggs of Fayetteville (six bass, 11 pounds); Mike Binkley of Springfield (four bass, 8 pounds, 4 ounces); Ronnie McCormick of Carthage (four bass, 7 pounds, 5 ounces); and Paul Flatt of Cookeville (three bass, 7 pounds, 5 ounces).

Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo., took co-angler big-bass honors and $375 with a 3-pound, 11-ounce bass.

Scotty Webster of Hendersonville is the Music City Division’s Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 1027 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. Mark Brawner of Lafayette is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 1061 points.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Music City Division 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 BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.

The BFL comprises 24 divisions nationwide, each featuring five regular-season events that lead to one of six regionals. Four of the regular-season tournaments are one-day events, while the final event, a Super Tournament, is a two-day tournament that will award as much as $70,950 to participating anglers. Anglers who enter all five regular-season events in a division but do not advance to a regional may enter the Chevy Trucks Wild Card for a shot at qualifying for the All-American. The All-American field comprises 84 competitors – six boaters and six co-anglers from six regionals plus six boaters and six co-anglers from the Wild Card.

As the nation’s leading provider of affordable, close-to-home weekend tournaments, the BFL is widely credited with opening competitive bass fishing to the masses. It also serves as a steppingstone for anglers who wish to advance to the EverStart Series and ultimately the Wal-Mart FLW Tour – bass fishing’s most lucrative tournament series. Each year the top 30 boaters and co-anglers from each BFL division are eligible to advance to the EverStart Series, and the All-American champions are eligible for Wal-Mart FLW Tour competition. The top 15 pros and co-anglers from the Central, Eastern and Northern divisions of the EverStart Series (top 10 from the Western Division) are eligible to advance to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour. Former BFL anglers who have become fishing superstars on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour include Kellogg’s pro Clark Wendlandt, Chevy pro Tommy Biffle and four-time FLW Tour champion David Fritts.