LAKE WYLIE, S.C. (March 23, 2009) - Gary Cline of Lexington, N.C., won the Bass Fishing League North Carolina Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Wylie Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 22 pounds, 12 ounces. The victory earned Cline $4,385 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.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jason Wilson of Bessemer City, N.C. (five bass, 18-15, $2,193); Dustin Clontz of Albemarle, N.C. (five bass, 17-14, $1,463); Todd Walters of Greensboro, N.C. (five bass, 17-12, $1,023) and Brian Travis of Conover, N.C. (five bass, 17-0, $877).
Christopher Guest of Shelby, N.C., took home the Boater Division Big Bass award, earning $620 for a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass he caught.
Jeff Rikard of Leesville, S.C., earned $2,193 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to four bass weighing 11 pounds, 11 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Andrew Beachley of Charlotte, N.C. (five bass, 11-9, $913); Terry Phillips of Stanley, N.C. (five bass, 11-9, $913); Larry Bullard of Wadesboro, N.C. (four bass, 11-8, $512); and Michael Smith of Clover, S.C. (five bass, 10-15, $439).
Scott Stallings of Kannapolis, N.C., earned $310 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass.
The next North Carolina Division event will be held on Kerr Lake in Henderson, N.C., May 9.
In BFL competition, boaters supply the boat and compete from the front deck against other boaters. Co-anglers compete from the back deck against other co-anglers.