SOUTH HILL, Va. - The 2004 Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division season kicked off Saturday on Lake Gaston near South Hill, and Rodney Sorrell of Stokesdale, N.C., claimed the win thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 14 ounces. He bested 210 Boater Division competitors to earn $5,000 and 200 points.
Sorrell is a Piedmont Division veteran who also fishes the Eastern Division of the EverStart Series. He has nine top-10 finishes to his credit, including the win.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Greg Stallings of Dry Fork (five bass, 18 pounds, 1 ounce, $2,500); Mike McDonald of Randleman, N.C. (five bass, 16 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,700); Robert Walser of Lexington, N.C. (five bass, 13 pounds, 15 ounces, $1,300); and Jimmy Coleman of Monroe (five bass, 13 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,100).
Philip Wolcott of Midlothian claimed Boater Division big-bass honors and $1,000 thanks to a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass. McDonald earned $500 from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Jon Moss of Danville earned $2,500 as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to a four-bass catch that weighed 11 pounds, 8 ounces. He edged past 210 Co-angler Division competitors to claim the win.
Rounding out the top four co-anglers are Darrel Varner of Thomasville, N.C. (four bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,250); Wayne Frierson of Columbia, S.C. (three bass, 9 pounds, 2 ounces, $850); and Ben Cannon of Apex, N.C. (four bass, 8 pounds, 4 ounces, $650). Tied for fifth were Harvey Reece of Chesterfield (five bass) and Bill Butler of Hopewell (three bass). Both men caught 7 pounds, 14 ounces of bass to earn $500 each.
Clark Bondurant of Mount Airy, N.C., earned $500 as the Co-angler Division big-bass winner with a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass.