GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (March 17, 2003) - David Applegate Jr. of Morgantown topped 194 Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Kentucky and Barkley lakes with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 15 ounces. The catch earned him $4,885 and 200 points in the Boater Division.
Applegate caught his limit using a Prowler Pro Pitch tube bait around the Linton area. His catch topped second-place boater Kevin Lasater of McKenzie, Tenn., by 1 pound, 12 ounces. Lasater finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces worth $2,443. Lasater earned a $500 bonus from Ranger for being the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Mark Templon of Mumpus Mills, Tenn., earned $970 as the big-bass winner thanks to a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass.
Ray Barga of Gilbertsville (five bass, 16 pounds, 15 ounces, $1,661); John Morgan of Murray (four bass, 16 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,270); and Britt Cone of Benton (five bass, 15 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,075) rounded out the top five boaters.
Jerry Jones of Dyersburg, Tenn., claimed first place and $2,380 in the 186-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces. Jones caught his limit on a Bandit crankbait fishing rocky banks in the Kenlake area. He surpassed second-place co-angler Mike Rushing of Paducah by 2 pounds, 11 ounces. Rushing finished with a four-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces worth $1,190.
Mike Cole of Louisville (five bass, 14 pounds, 3 ounces, $809); Larry Martin of Clarksville, Tenn. (three bass, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, $619); and John Cambron of Sturgis (four bass, 12 pounds, 1 ounce, $524) rounded out the top five co-anglers.
Jimmy Thomas of Lavinia, Tenn., earned big-bass honors and $465 in his division with a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass.