Nelson nets Walmart BFL title on Lake Hartwell
Co-angler Cothran grabs top spot during Savannah River Division contest
LAVONIA, Ga. – Chris Nelson of Social Circle, Ga., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division event on Lake Hartwell. For his victory, Nelson earned $5,519.
Best of the rest
Rounding out the top 10 pros:
2nd: Jerry Kotal, Elberton, Ga., five bass, 18-4, $2,760
3rd: Jim Smith, Bowersville, Ga., five bass, 18-3, $1,837
4th: Mike Cooper, Easley, S.C., five bass, 17-8, $1,288
5th: Josh Dorr, Pickens, S.C., five bass, 16-6, $1,104
6th: Brock Taylor, Pendleton, S.C., five bass, 16-2, $1,012
7th: Jonathan Botts, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 15-7, $920
8th: Randy Childers, Anderson, S.C., five bass, 15-5, $828
9th: Michael Turner, Hartwell, Ga., five bass, 15-2, $736
10th: Jody Hughes, Baldwin, Ga., five bass, 15-1, $644
Click here for complete boater results.
Cothran wins co-angler title
Bryan Cothran of Belton, S.C., weighed in four bass totaling 14 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to win $2,760 in the co-angler division.
Best of the rest
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers:
2nd: Michael Gula, Greer, S.C., five bass, 14-7, $1,380
3rd: Jeff Penland, Leicester, N.C., four bass, 12-0, $918
4th: Carl Freeman, Fairview, N.C., five bass, 11-12, $644
5th: Adam Fincher, Roebuck, S.C., three bass, 11-4, $552
6th: Willard Berry Smith Jr., Anderson, S.C., five bass, 10-12, $506
7th: Carl Chavis, Fort Mill, S.C., five bass, 10-11, $460
8th: Derek Freeman, Anderson, S.C., four bass, 10-10, $414
9th: Darren Jeter, Marshall, N.C., five bass, 10-8, $345
9th: Tim Whitaker, Fairview, N.C., four bass, 10-8, $345
Click here for complete co-angler results.
The next BFL Savannah River Division tournament is scheduled for April 6 on Lake Russell in Elberton, Ga. After that tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 Regional Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga. 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 2013 BFL All-American is being held June 27-29 on the Nickajack Lake in Chattanooga, Tenn. 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 anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2013 over the course of 220 tournaments across five tournament circuits, four of which provide an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show and is broadcast to more than 559 million households worldwide, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoors-sports television show in the world. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water.” For more information about FLW visit FLWOutdoors.com and look for FLW on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing, on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing, Pinterest and YouTube.