LAWRENCEBURG, Ind. - The 2004 Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division tournament season kicked off Saturday on the Ohio River near Lawrenceburg, and Ronnie Hinesley of Sulphur Springs claimed the win thanks to a four-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces. He bested 202 Boater Division competitors to earn $5,000 and 200 points.
Hinesley caught his tournament-winning bass flipping a Stanley jig in the shallow creeks. He earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, and he also earned $1,000 from Bombardier for using an Evinrude Direct Injection outboard.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Bill Bauer of Carmel (five bass, 7 pounds, 6 ounces, $2,500); Steve Neal of Aurora (four bass, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,700); Sean Wieda of Cincinnati (five bass, 7 pounds, $1,300); and Craig Mills of Hamilton, Ohio (four bass, 6 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,100).
Arthur Brown of Rising Sun claimed Boater Division big-bass honors and $1,000 thanks to a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a blue/black Stanley jig.
Matt Linton of South Bend earned $2,493 as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to a four-bass catch that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces. He edged past 198 Co-angler Division competitors thanks to a tube he was flipping slow and shallow.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Rod Yoder of West Lafayette (three bass, 4 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,247); Mark Nies of Cannelton (two bass, 4 pounds, $848); Joel Carey of Louisville, Ky. (one bass, 3 pounds, 7 ounces, $648); and Brian Jackson of Mason, Ohio (one bass, 3 pounds, 5 ounces, $548).
Carey earned $495 as the Co-angler Division big-bass winner with his 3-pound, 7-ounce bass.
The Hoosier Division's next stop will be May 22 on Patoka Lake in Birdseye. Each BFL division features four one-day events followed by a two-day Super Tournament to round out the regular season. The top 30 Hoosier Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Kentucky Lake regional near Gilbertsville, Ky., Oct. 12-16, where they will compete against Choo Choo, Great Lakes and Michigan division anglers for a slot in the 2005 All-American.