Lashlee wins BFL event on Kentucky Lake - Major League Fishing

Lashlee wins BFL event on Kentucky Lake

Simcox scores co-angler title during Music City Division contest
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Boater Sam Lashlee of Hermitage, Tenn., finished in first place at the March 24 Walmart BFL Music City Division event on Kentucky/Barkley lakes with a total catch of 22 pounds, 11 ounces. For his efforts, Lashless walked away with over $3,000 in winnings. Angler: Sam Lashlee.
March 24, 2012 • MLF • Archives

PARIS, Tenn. – Sam Lashlee of Hermitage, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 22 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Music City Division event on Kentucky Lake. For his victory, Lashlee earned $3,028.

“When we got back to weigh-in I told my co-angler that there was no way I was going to win this tournament,” said Lashlee. “I figured it was going to take a 28- or 29-pound bag to win, so when I came in with my 22 pounds, I was pretty worried. I lost three real big fish, and usually in a tournament when you lose your three biggest fish that you have on, you’re not going to win. But today, the good Lord shined on me and I was able to pull it out.

“I had found a lot of fish on the beds during practice earlier this week, so I started out fishing shallow,” Lashlee continued. “After about a half hour of finding a lot of empty beds, I realized I needed to move out. I started targeting the staging areas right outside of the spawning areas, and I started catching a lot of fish. It was a great day up until 12:30 when I had battery problems. My trolling motor was dead, and I basically didn’t fish at all after 12:30.

“I caught all of my fish on Strike King lures,” Lashlee went on to say. “I was throwing a Series 5 crankbait, Chartreuse Sexy Shad colored. I also caught a few throwing a 41/2-inch Strike King Shad-A-Licious swimbait, and I caught one on a Strike King Rodent. I was fishing in 4 to 8 feet of water, and found them on the gravel, near real deep, subtle drops.”

Rounding out the top 10 pros:

2nd: Drew Boggs, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 19-9, $1,514

3rd: Tim Smiley, White Pine, Tenn., five bass, 17-11, $1,008

4th: Kevin Hatfield, Harlan, Ky., five bass, 16-1, $707

5th: Jeff Lokken, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 15-15, $606

6th: Brent Sain, Manchester, Tenn., five bass, 15-10, $555

7th: Robert Reagan, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 15-5, $505

8th: Bryan Dowdy, Arlington, Tenn., five bass, 15-0, $454

9th: Bryant Ailor, Knoxville, Tenn., five bass, 14-15, $404

10th: Lloyd Pickett Jr., Bartlett, Tenn., five bass, 14-12, $321

10th: Marty Shelley, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 14-12, $321

10th: Forrest Smith, Pickerington, Ohio, five bass, 14-12, $321

For a list of complete results, click here.

Simcox nets co-angler title

Matt Simcox of Alpine, Tenn., finished in first place in the Co-angler Division at the March 24 Walmart BFL Music City Division event on Kentucky/Barkley lakes. Simcox parlayed a total catch of 15 pounds, 12 ounces into more than $1,500 in winnings.Matt Simcox of Alpine, Tenn., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 15 pounds, 12 ounces Saturday to win $1,514 in the co-angler division.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers:

2nd: Charles Bennington, Scottsville, Ky., five bass, 14-9, $757

3rd: Craig Allen, Lebanon, Tenn., five bass, 13-13, $505

4th: Dick Russell, Chapel Hill, Tenn., five bass, 13-6, $353

5th: Jeff Emerton, Hillham, Tenn., five bass, 13-4, $303

6th: Steven Paul Brown, Tompkinsville, Ky., five bass, 13-3, $278

7th: Justin English, Owensboro, Ky., five bass, 12-8, $252

8th: Steve Melton, Shelbyville, Tenn., five bass, 11-12, $227

9th: Kibbee McCoy, Crossville, Tenn., five bass, 11-11, $202

10th: Derek Stone, Walling, Tenn., five bass, 11-4, $177

The next BFL Music City Division tournament is scheduled for April 28 on Lake Barkley in Dover, Tenn. After the fifth Music City Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Date Regional Championship on Water in City, State. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. The 2012 BFL All-American is being held May 17 – 19 on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

About FLW

FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2012 over the course of 191 tournaments across five tournament circuits, each providing an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water,” through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and the world’s richest fantasy sports game – FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.