The 18th Annual West Tennessee Industrial League Bass Tournament

The 18th Annual West Tennessee Industrial League Bass Tournament was held on Sunday, September 29th at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV and Tent Campground on the scenic Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake. Two hundred and sixty four (264) fisherman from area companies were able to spend a fun-filled day on Kentucky Lake, catch a few fish, enjoy Benton County's vast shoreline and even make new friends.

Twenty (20) West Tennessee companies and bordering companies in Middle Tennessee were represented by one hundred and thirty two (132) boats. The "ooze off" went very smooth with flights beginning to leave at 7:00 a.m. in some light fog. Weigh-in time began at 4:00 p.m. and went on through 5:30 p.m. Three hundred and one (301) fish were checked in, weighing an amazing 582.09 pounds. Weigh-in figures are up 32% from last year's tournament totals. Only two fish were on the fatality list. A great job by all the bass enthusiasts in the catch-and-release program!

TVA, of New Johnsonville, Tennessee, placed first in the tournament and received the coveted "Best of the Best" rotating trophy for 2002. This colossal four-tiered trophy, tops 5 feet tall.

All participating teams' weights are considered when determining each company's "trophy teams." The top three teams' weights are totaled to select the winning company. The three trophy teams for TVA were: Danny and Karen Hudson, Big Sandy; Dennis Jordan, Huntingdon and Tony Hunt, New Johnsonville; and Matthew Nix, New Johnsonville, and Kevin Woodside, Waverly. Their combined weights made a total of 42.07 pounds to win the 2002 coveted trophy. Shown accepting the trophy for TVA are (left to right) Danny Hudson, Karen Hudson, Gayle Cooper and Terry Cooper.

The huge rotating trophy will be displayed in the lobby of TVA plant for the next twelve months. DuPont of New Johnsonville was the second place company winner with 38.18 and Norandal of Huntingdon brought in third with 37.45.

Winning the individual team competition was TVA's Danny and Karen Hudson. This husband-and-wife duo's collection hammered the scales at 17.43 pounds. Norandal's own Brian Travis and Chris Lutz came in second with 17.03 pounds. The Proctor and Gamble team of Greg Sanders and Ty Smith took third place with 16.71.

The Big Bass Pool was won by Norandal's Brian Travis and Chris Lutz, who checked in the "biggest bucket mouth" bass weighing 5.63 pounds. Second place went to TVA team Matthew Nix and Kevin Woodside. A tip of the scales to all the fishermen who made this huge event a Benton County success.

Tourism is serious business in Benton County. According to one area motel manager, "We had a flurry of bass fishermen over the weekend and, in fact, we attribute all the new business to the tournament. I imagine that other motels, restaurants and gas stations financially benefited as well." Fishermen from over fifty cities gathered together in Camden, Tennessee for this 18th annual event held at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV and Tent Campground.

Next year's dates for the 19th Annual West Tennessee Industrial League Bass Tournament to be held at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside Campground in Camden, Benton County Tennessee on Sunday, September 28, 2003. For photos and standings, log onto www.BirdsongResort.com and click on the TOURNAMENTS button. For more information contact: Bob Keast, Tournament Director at 255 Marina Road at Exit 133 of I-40, Camden Kentucky Lake, TN 38320.9699 or call 731.584.7880.





FIRST PLACE TEAM WINNERS - Husband and wife duo fishing for TVA, Danny and Karen Hudson, Big Sandy, took the first place position with their 17.43 lb. catch.















FIRST PLACE WINNER IN THE BIG BASS POOL - The Norandal team of Brian Travis, McKenzie, and Chris Lutz of Huntingdon took home the first place prize for "Big Bass." Their catch weighed in at 5.53 lbs. The team also took second position in the team winners of the tournament with their total weight at 17.03 lbs.













SHOWING OFF THE CATCH - Kaci Hollingsworth fished with her dad, Randy for Dupont. The father-daughter team made a day of it fishing the 2002 Industrial Tournament.