BRISTOL, Tenn. (April 20, 2009) - Jim Thompson of Bluff City, Tenn., won the Bass Fishing League Volunteer Division bass fishing tournament on the South Holston Reservoir Saturday with a four-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces. The victory earned Thompson $3,963 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Norman Regional Championship in Lake Norman, N.C., Oct. 22-24, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
"I figured out a pattern nobody else had and was catching 20 pounds or so during practice," said Thompson. "I backed off during the tournament and expected to catch 20-25 pounds."
Thompson caught his limit throwing a crankbait.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Tim Saylor of Johnson City, Tenn. (3 bass, 13-4, $1,981); Tim Smiley of White Pine, Tenn. (3 bass, 8-15, $1,322); Wayne Coppage of Jonesboro, Tenn. (2 bass, 8-0, $925) and James Richardson of Johnson City, Tenn. (2 bass, 5-14, $793).
Keith Sykes of Clintwood, Va., and Tim Saylor took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, each earning $267 for a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass they caught.
William Kees Jr. of Coalfield, Tenn., earned $1,981 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to 1 bass weighing 4 pounds, 8 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Sammy Hurley of London, Ky. (1 bass, 4-7, $991); Brian Stringfield of Clinton, Tenn. (1 bass, 4-3, $662); Larry Minnick of Bristol, Tenn. (1 bass, 3-12, $462); and Adam Hooper of Powder Springs, Tenn. (1 bass, 3-9, $396).
William Kees Jr. earned $267 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 4-pound, 8-ounce bass.
The next Volunteer Division event will be held on Douglas Lake in Kodak, Tenn., May 9.