SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. (June 23, 2003) - Brian Holt of Newport claimed $3,825 as the winner of the Bass Fishing League Mountain Division's fourth regular-season bass fishing tournament, held on Douglas Lake near Sevierville. Holt led the field of 138 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces. Holt caught his bass Saturday using a crankbait.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Mark Mauldin of Cleveland (five bass, 17 pounds, $1,913); Rusty Smith of Somerset, Ky. (five bass, 10 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,301); Keith Monson of Burgin, Ky. (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $995); and Anthony Roy of Lancaster, Ky. (five bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $842).
John Devere of Berea, Ky., claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Billy Gardner of Livingston topped 133 Co-angler Division competitors with a three-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught using a DD-22 crankbait. Gardner earned $1,873 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Kevin Burns of Sevierville (five bass, 12 pounds, 2 ounces, $937); Jerry Shepard of Knoxville (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces, $637); Jarrod Hembree of Berea, Ky. (five bass, 9 pounds, 9 ounces, $487); and Larry Cable of Marryville (four bass, 8 pounds, 15 ounces, $412).
Guy Siler of Rutledge earned boater big-bass honors and $690 with a 5-pound bass, and Gardner earned co-angler big-bass honors and $333 in his division with a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass.
The Mountain Division's final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 27-28 on Cherokee Lake in Morristown. 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.