RICHMOND, Va. (July 28, 2003) - Jason Houchins of Stokesdale, N.C., claimed $4,508 as the winner of the Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division's fourth regular-season bass fishing tournament, held on the James River near Richmond. Houchins led the field of 173 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces. Houchins caught his bass Saturday pitching a 4-inch Ring Worm.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Ronald Wolfarth of Locust, N.C. (five bass, 11 pounds, 4 ounces, $2,254); Jacob Powroznik of Prince George (five bass, 11 pounds, $1,533); Tommy Little of Chester (five bass, 10 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,172); and Chris Baldwin of Lexington, N.C. (five bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $992).
Wolfarth also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Shawn Lookabill of Fredricksburg topped 173 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces that he caught flipping a black/brown jig. Lookabill earned $2,254 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mark Finley of Palmyra (five bass, 9 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,127); Truman White of Myersville, Md. (four bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce, $766); Phillip Banks of Dale City (five bass, 8 pounds, 9 ounces, $586); and James Brown of Chase City (five bass, 8 pounds, 6 ounces, $496).
Walter Hairston Jr. of Gwynn Oak, Md., earned boater big-bass honors and $865 with a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass, and Truman White of Myersville, Md., earned co-angler big-bass honors and $433 in his division with a 4-pound, 7-ounce bass.