SCOTTSBORO, Ala. (Feb. 11, 2013) – Johnny Patterson of Grant, Ala., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 31 pounds, 12 ounces Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division event on Lake Guntersville. For his victory, Patterson earned $5,565.
“I had a two-pronged approach for the day,” said Patterson. “I had some big fish that I located deeper and targeted with the Alabama rig and also some shallower fish that I caught with a Rat-L-Trap. I started out with the deeper fish in the morning and later on in the day I went shallow and was able to catch a few more.
“My Lowrance electronics were key in finding the offshore structure where the bigger fish were holding in about 16 feet of water” Patterson continued. “It was typical Guntersville ledge fishing with an Alabama rig and Shadalicious swimbaits. Also my Hammer Micro Series rods really helped me get the most out of every cast.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Leon Knight, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 28-15, $2,783
3rd: Dennis Barnes, Boaz, Ala., five bass, 25-9, $1,853
4th: Brian Haynes, Hollywood, Ala., five bass, 25-3, $1,299
5th: Adam Clark, Trussville, Ala., five bass, 24-1, $1,113 + Evinrude Bonus: $300
6th: Scott Bates, Hiram, Ga., five bass, 23-10, $1,020
7th: Jeremy Stutts, Muscle Shoals, Ala., five bass, 23-1, $928
8th: Brent Crow, Hartselle, Ala., five bass, 22-8, $835
9th: Carl Hayes III, Sharpsburg, Ga., five bass, 22-0, $742
10th: Tim Buckner, Scottsboro, Ala., four bass, 21-15, $649
Creighton Johnson of Canton, Ga., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 25 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to win $2,783 in the co-angler division. Johnson also scored the big bass of the tournament with a 13-pound, 1-ounce fish. This bass was the biggest bass to be weighed in a BFL event for both pros and co-anglers since 1996.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Lyn Melton, Florence, Ala., five bass, 21-14, $1,391
3rd: Damien Willis, Jacksonville, Ala., five bass, 21-8, $926
4th: David Perron, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 21-2, $649
5th: Cliff Broadrick. Tullahoma, Tenn., five bass, 18-8, $557
6th: John Rice, New Market, Ala., five bass, 18-4, $510
7th: Brad Harmon, Ringgold, Ga., five bass, 18-1, $464
8th: Orville Cope, Treadway, Tenn., five bass, 17-9, $417
9th: Ronnie Brewer, Bedford, Ky., four bass, 17-5, $371
10th: Danny Moss, Glencoe, Ala., five bass, 16-7, $325
The next BFL Choo Choo Division tournament is scheduled for April 6 on Lake Guntersville in Scottsboro, Ala. After the fifth divisional tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 10–12 Regional Championship on Lake Lanier in Gainesville, Ga. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.