HENDERSON, N.C. – Mark Inman of Greensboro, N.C., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 15 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win the Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division bass fishing tournament on Kerr Lake. For his victory, Inman earned $5,337.
“I’ve had a sweet spot on this lake for over 30 years,” said Inman. “I know this lake almost as well as I know myself. I had a real good day of fishing, and I’m glad I had enough to get the win. The lake was flooded, and there was a lot of flooded bushes and structure. I just stayed on my trolling motor and went flipping for most of the day.
“I was flipping a green pumpkin jig, and also caught a few on a TB Custom Crank’s crankbait,” Inman continued. “Overby Marine of Kittrell, N.C., got me set up with my Mercury motor and that got me around the lake all day. I was flipping anything and everything I could find on wood. I caught 20 keepers today, and the bite was consistent – all day long. I threw an Alabama rig as well today, but didn’t catch anything that I weighed in off of it. I caught most of my fish from 2 to 4 feet of water today.”
Boater Mark Inman of Greensboro, N.C., took first place at the March 31 BFL North Carolina Division event on Kerr Lake with a total catch of 15 pounds, 6 ounces.
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Darren Gay, Richfield, N.C., five bass, 14-7, $1,668
3rd: Paul Rigsbee, Timberlake, N.C., five bass, 14-5, $1,112
4th: Robert Walser, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 13-15, $$779 + $1,000 Evinrude Bonus
5th: Danny Nifong, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 13-8, $639
5th: Donnie Woody, Marion, N.C., five bass, 13-8, $639
7th: David Farrington, Greensboro, N.C., five bass, 13-5, $556
8th: William Shelton III, La Crosse, Va., five bass, 13-2, $501
9th: Rod Poole, Salisbury, N.C., five bass, 13-0, $445
10th: Larry Inman, Greensboro, N.C., five bass, 12-13, $389
Robert Hipps of Troutman, N.C., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to win $1,668 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Arthur Ferguson, Lexington, N.C., five bass, 11-0, $834
3rd: Keith Revis, Candler, N.C., five bass, 10-13, $558
4th: Kevin Thomas, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 10-1, $389
5th: Curtis Sims, Woolwine, Va., five bass, 9-13, $334
6th: Ronnie Brown, Cherryville, N.C., five bass, 9-11, $306
7th: George Hirapetian, Charlotte, N.C., five bass, 9-10, $278
8th: Andrew Shundich, Cornelius, N.C., five bass, 9-2, $250
9th: Everett Brown, Wheelersburg, Ohio, five bass, 8-15, $208
9th: Tim Franks, Troy, N.C., five bass, 8-15, $208
The next BFL North Carolina Division tournament is scheduled for May 5 on Lake Wylie in Lake Wylie, S.C. After the fifth North Carolina Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 18-20 Regional Championship on Pickwick Lake in Florence, Ala. 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.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for the BFL All-American. The 2012 BFL All-American is being held May 17 – 19 on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the FLW Tour.