GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (July 28, 2014) – Craig Hipsher of Benton, Ky., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 22 pounds, 13 ounces Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League LBL Division tournament on Kentucky and Barkley lakes. For his victory, Hipsher earned $3,756.
“I kind of got lucky,” said Hipsher, who has 10 career top-10 finishes on Kentucky Lake in BFL competition. “The last bite I got in practice game me a clue that the fish were chasing. The next morning when we went out my plan was to fish deep ledges with a jig and a worm. But it was cloudy and the wind was blowing and I thought the fish could be up on the shallow flats.
“So, I started on a little 4-foot deep flat in the middle of the lake and threw a ¾-ounce Accent Fishing Products spinnerbait with double willow leaf blades. By 6:40 a.m. I had caught about 19 pounds. Those spinnerbaits have a very thin wire. Every time I would catch two or three that were over 4 pounds, I would change spinnerbaits. I went through four spinnerbaits.
“My goal this season was to win the LBL division Angler of the Year title” said Hiphser. “I practiced a lot for this event and my plan was to run brush piles with a jig and a worm. But, I went with my gut and it worked. I guide on the lake and I fish about 300 days per year. Some days things just go right and when that happens you are meant to win. I was a hero for a day, but tomorrow I might blank.”
Hipsher said that he caught four of his big fish with the aforementioned spinnerbait and one of his bass in deep water on a on a Luck-E-Strike Ringleader Worm. Hipsher also made sure to credit Shiner Bock for extensively supporting his fishing career. Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Terry Bolton, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 22-9, $1,878 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
3rd: David Young, Mayfield, Ky., five bass, 20-8, $1,253
4th: Robert Behrens Jr., Dyersburg, Tenn., five bass, 17-12, $813
4th: Edward Gettys, Columbia, Tenn., five bass, 17-12, $813 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
6th: Billy Schroeder, Paducah, Ky., five bass, 17-5, $689
7th: Brent Anderson, Kingston Springs, Tenn., five bass, 16-10, $626
8th: Ronny Webb, Dyersburg, Tenn., five bass, 16-8, $563
9th: Kyle Hackemack, Georgetown, Ind., five bass, 14-1, $469
9th: Eli Torres, Festus, Mo., five bass, 14-1, $469
Darrell Carroll of Independence, Ky., weighed in a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 14 ounces Saturday to win $1,878 in the co-angler division. Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Michael Luce, Ledbetter, Ky., five bass, 13-1, $939
3rd: John Wilkerson, Nashville, Tenn., three bass, 12-0, $627
4th: Jeff Johnston, Nashville, Tenn., four bass, 11-7, $438
5th: Jeff Scrimager, Mattoon, Ill., four bass, 9-13, $376
6th: Brennon Binkley, Nashville, Tenn., two bass, 9-3, $344
7th: Jerry Wittmer, Louisville, Ky., three bass, 8-9, $313
8th: Stan Evans, Newburgh, Ind., two bass, 7-15, $282
9th: Steve Ward, Simpsonville, Ky., two bass, 7-13, $250
10th: Kyle Radake, Cape Girardeau, Mo., three bass, 7-12, $219
The top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 9-11 Regional Championship on Lake Cherokee in Morristown, Tenn. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518C with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.