MONETA, Va. - The 2004 Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division tournament season kicked off Saturday on Smith Mountain Lake near Moneta, and Brian Bylotas of Olyphant, Pa., claimed the win thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 3 ounces. He bested 199 Boater Division competitors to earn $5,011 and 200 points.
Bylotas caught his tournament-winning bass using hair jigs and spinnerbaits. He also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Charles Ginda of Fords, N.J. (five bass, 13 pounds, 12 ounces, $2,506); Chris Jennings of Altavista (four bass, 13 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,704); Grant Goldbeck of Gaithersburg, Md. (five bass, 13 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,303); and Brian Stacy of Radford (four bass, 12 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,102).
Ray Tweedy of Appomattox claimed Boater Division big-bass honors and $995 thanks to a 6-pound, 7-ounce bass that he caught on a crankbait.
Daniel Mox of Glen Burnie, Md., earned $2,505 as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to a three-bass catch that weighed 10 pounds, 9 ounces. He edged past 199 Co-angler Division competitors thanks to a Lucky Craft Pointer.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jerry Comperatore of Tarentum, Pa. (three bass, 9 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,253); Brad Campbell of Lynchburg (three bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce, $852); William Uzzell of Covington (four bass, 7 pounds, 14 ounces, $651); and Mickey Pettry of Manassas (three bass, 7 pounds, 7 ounces, $551).
Campbell earned $498 as the Co-angler Division big-bass winner with a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass.
The Shenandoah Division's next stop will be May 8 on the Potomac River in Woodbridge. Each BFL division features four one-day events followed by a two-day Super Tournament to round out the regular season. The top 30 Shenandoah Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Wheeler Lake regional near Rogersville, Ala., Oct. 19-23, where they will compete against Bulldog, LBL and Mountain division anglers for a slot in the 2005 All-American.