Dillon Wins Walmart Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division on Indiana’s Lake Patoka
OutdoorHub 06.10.13
Terry Dillon of Danville, Ind., weighed in four bass totaling 13 pounds, 15 ounces Saturday to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division event on Lake Patoka. For his victory, Dillon earned $4,000.
“I lost my fifth fish that would have filled my limit,” said Dillon. “I thought for sure that it was going to hurt me. These weights are not typical here right now. I think that the bass are scattered and in three or four different patterns, and none of them are very good right now.”
Dillon said that he has years of experience on Lake Patoka, and he decided to make a run up the Patoka River to fish the off-color water.
“I had a really bad practice period,” Dillon said. “The main lake was very clear, and I thought that my best bet would be to make the run up the river.”
Dillon said that he targeted the grass on the banks that would normally be exposed, but were holding fish because of the high water levels. Three of his bass came on a G-Finish silver and black back-colored Rebel Pop-R and his fourth keeper fish came on a white spinnerbait.
“I live within two hours of the lake,” Dillon went on to say. “Typically it takes 16 to 18 pounds to win a tournament out here, so weights are down. I’m happy that my knowledge of the lake paid off for me in this event.”
Rounding out the top 10 pros were:
2nd: Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, five bass, 12-5, $2,000
3rd: John Schroering, Dubois, Ind., five bass, 11-2, $1,334
4th: Calvin Davidson, Plainfield, Ind., four bass, 10-10, $933
5th: Todd Hensley, New Albany, Ind., four bass, 10-8, $800
6th: Don Troy, Rockville, Ind., four bass, 9-13, $733
7th: David Spivey, Hamilton, Ohio, three bass, 9-5, $667 + $300 Evinrude Bonus
8th: Shawn Bruntlett, Indianapolis, Ind., three bass, 8-11, $600
9th: Scott Bateman, Washington, Ind., three bass, 8-8, $533
10th: Jeff McCarnan, Henderson, Ky., three bass, 8-6, $467
Lucas McDaniel of Carmel, Ind., weighed in three bass totaling 7 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win $2,000 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Mike Mosby, Petersburg, Ind., two bass, 6-12, $1,000
3rd: Leslie Coleman, Columbus, Ind., one bass, 5-14, $666
4th: Daniel Fromme, Jasper, Ind., one bass, 5-5, $433
4th: Carl Pieper, Leesburg, Ind., two bass, 5-5, $433
6th: Tyler Olson, Charlestown, Ind., two bass, 4-12, $367
7th: Gerald Shaw, Pendleton, Ind., two bass, 4-6, $333
8th: Jason Thornton, Corydon, Ind., one bass, 4-0, $300
9th: Larry Kitchel, Logansport, Ind., one bass, 3-11, $267
10th: Roy Lester, Hamilton, Ohio, one bass, 3-7, $233
The next BFL Hoosier Division tournament is scheduled for July 27 on the Ohio River at Rocky Point in Cannelton, Ind. After the last divisional tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 10-12 Regional Championship on Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Ky. 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 one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. The 2013 BFL All-American is being held June 27–29 on Nickajack Lake in Chattanooga, Tenn. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
