Killen, Ala. - OCT 20, 2002 (Southern Fishing) The final standings for the Southern Fishing All Star Bassin' Team were determined by the last qualifying bass fishing event, the Lakeshore Garden Club Bass Open, October 19, 2002, on Pickwick Lake in Northwest Alabama. The qualifiers with the best six weights out of a ten tournament trail are:
- 62.235 lbs. - All Star "rookie" Buddy Willingham, Tuscumbia, AL. 2002 Slider Top Star Award, $100
- 54.145 lbs. - Jimmy Robb, Killen, AL, 2000 & 2001 Travis Boating Center-Southern Fishing Top Rod Champion (Slider & Family Ford cosponsors).
- 53.5575 lbs. - Tony Datuin, Rogersville, AL
- 53.5575 lbs. - Donnie Beck, Killen, AL
- 51.7775 lbs. - Brett Putman, Lexington, AL. 2002 Family Ford Top Hawg Award $250.00
- 49.57 lbs. - Bryan Reeves, Moulton, AL
These six bass anglers will compete in the Southern Fishing Travis Boating Center Championship on Wilson Lake (THIS IS A SITE CHANGE), in Northwest Alabama, out of Lock Six (THIS IS A SITE CHANGE) on November 2, 6:30 AM to 3 PM. The championship is cosponsored by Charlie Brewer Slider Company and Family Ford.
Each Top Rod competitor will fish with an observer in six designated areas. The All Stars will not know the location of the areas until the night before the championship. Each contestant will fish an area for one hour and then move to the next area. The public is invited to the weigh-in at the Lock Six Boat Ramp off Hwy 72 in Killen, AL.
No Top Rod Champion has repeated the accomplishment in the four years of the Top Rod Championship contest with the exception of Top Rod Jimmy Robb who captured the title in 2000 and 2001. Robb has also won the Family Ford Top Hawg Award for catching the biggest bass of the year in qualifying tournaments among All Star contenders. His bass was a 6 pound, 2.5 ounce largemouth caught from Wilson Lake.
The top six will be treated to a banquet on November 1,6 PM at Outpost 72, Hwy 72 in Killen, AL, where they will receive the prizes from the Southern Fishing All Star sponsors including: Charlie Brewer Slider Company, Family Ford, Bass Assassin Lures, Mango Tackle,Smelly Jelly, Strike Zone Lures, Daiichi Bleeding Bait (tm) hooks, Screen Connection and Southern Fishing.
2002 FINAL STANDINGS Southern Fishing Publications All Star Bassin' Team
Total pounds and names
FINAL STANDINGS - BEST SIX TOURNAMENTS OF TEN
October 20, 2002
1. 62.235 - Buddy Willingham, Tuscumbia, AL Slider Top Star Award $100 2. 54.145 - Jimmy Robb, Killen, AL 1999 &2000 Travis Boating Center- Southern Fishing Top Rod Champion (Slider & Family Ford cosponsors) 3. 53.5575- Tony Datuin, Rogersville, AL 4. 53.5575- Donnie Beck, Killen, AL 5. 51.7775- Brett Putman, Lexington, AL Family Ford Top Hawg Award $250.0 6. 49.57 - Bryan Reeves, Moulton, AL 7. 48.7125 - Steve Gautney, Florence, AL 8. 44.99 - Sammy Mitchell, Russellville, AL 9. 36.2725 - Monty Yeager, Florence, AL 10. 33.4275 David Daily, Tuscumbia, AL 11. 28.26 - Randy Jackson, Florence, AL 12. 22.99 - Bobby Boyd, Russellville, AL 13. 22.255 - Laney Poss, Russellville, AL 14. 13.25 - Fred Bevis, Florence, AL 15. 12.98 - Henry George, Muscle Shoals, AL 16. 12.65 - Brad Ritter, Lexington, AL 17. 10.63 - Dennis Evans, Florence, AL 18. 10.63 - Rocky Rockhill, Tuscumbia, AL 19. 9.04 - Joe Nix, Muscle Shoals, AL 20. 8.1875 - Bobby Erwin, Killen, AL 21. 3.9375 - Ronnie Leatherwood, Florence, AL 22. 2.08 - Donald Voss, Rogersville, AL 22. 2.08 - Titus Grisham, Rogersville, Competitors showing no pounds not listed.