SMYRNA, Tenn. (March 7, 2005) - Boater Jason Pernell of White Bluff earned $3,816 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Music City Division bass fishing tournament on Percy Priest Lake. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Music City Division events and featured 120 boaters vying for the win, which earned Pernell 200 points in the Boater Division. Pernell's winning catch of five bass weighed 19 pounds, 7 ounces. He threw a jig on a spinning reel in 6-8 feet of water.
Finishing second was Jarrod Simon of Hendersonville with four bass weighing 15 pounds, 9 ounces that earned him $1,908. David Barnett of Murfreesboro claimed $1,249 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces. In fourth was Terry Steele of Sparta, with five bass weighing 14 pounds worth $971, and finishing fifth and earning $798 was Scott Lefevers of Mount Juliet, with four bass weighing 13 pounds, 13 ounces.
Tim Staley of Dowelltown took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $600 for a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a Shad Rap in shallow water.
Michael Penix of Lewisburg earned $500 as the Ranger Cup Award winner. Clifford Wellman of Antioch earned $1,732 as the co-angler winner, thanks to three bass weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces that he caught on a black finesse worm in deep water near the dam. Wellman also earned $263 for winning the co-angler big-bass award with a 7-pound, 3-ounce bass. Tied for second were Curtis Cline of Westmoreland (two bass, 8 pounds, 14 ounces, $716) and Ken Mayes of Cookeville (four bass, 8 pounds, 14 ounces, $716). Jason Larkin of Cottontown finished in forth and earned $441 with two bass weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces. Finishing in fifth and earning $362 was Rorey Halliburton of Sparta with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces.
The Music City Division's next event will be held April 9 on Center Hill Lake near Silverpoint, followed by an event on Kentucky Lake near Paris May 21. The fourth qualifying event will be held on Old Hickory Lake near Gallatin June 18. The Music City Division will wrap up its regular season Oct. 1-2 with a two-day Super Tournament also held on Old Hickory Lake near Gallatin.