SMYRNA, Tenn. (June 8, 2009) - John Hopkins of Hendersonville, Tenn., won the Bass Fishing League Music City Division bass fishing tournament on Percy Priest Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces. The victory earned Hopkins $3,122 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Clarks Hill Lake Regional Championship in Appling, Ga., Oct. 15-17, where he could ultimately win a new Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Hopkins said he fished the main lake area and focused on water 12 to 13 feet deep using a crankbait.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Steve Mull of Lebanon, Tenn. (five bass, 16-13, $1,561); Kevin Yarbrough of Greenbrier, Tenn. (five bass, 15-15, $1,043); Andrew Crabtree of Cane Ridge, Tenn. (five bass, 14-13, $728) and Mickey Beck of Lebanon, Tenn. (five bass, 12-10, $624).
Elmus Johnson of Smithville, Tenn., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $375 for a 6-pound, 7-ounce bass he caught.
Joe McConnell Jr. of Christiana, Tenn., earned $1,561 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 21 pounds that he caught on a crankbait.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Brandon Strunk of La Vergne, Tenn. (four bass, 15-0, $781); Greg Trobaugh of Rickman, Tenn. (three bass, 11-6, $521); Bo Johnson of Gallatin, Tenn. (three bass, 10-11, $364); and Kirk Lafferty of Columbia, Tenn. (five bass, 10-4, $312).
Chris Hicks of Hendersonville, Tenn., earned $187 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass.
The next Music City Division event will be a two-day Super Tournament held on Old Hickory Lake in Gallatin, Tenn., Sept. 19-20.