Industrial League Bass Tournament
The 17th Annual West Tennessee Industrial League Bass Tournament was held on Sunday, September 23rd at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV and Tent Campground on the scenic Tennessee River's beautiful Kentucky Lake. Two hundred and sixty two (262) 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. After the huge prizes and payoffs, and tournament expenses, the balance was sent as a cash donation to the NYC Disaster Relief Fund.
Twenty two (22) West Tennessee companies and bordering companies in Middle Tennessee were represented by one hundred and thirty one (131) 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. One hundred and seventy (170) fish were checked in, weighing an amazing 347.59 pounds. Weigh-in figures are up 32% from last year's tournament totals. Only one fish was on the fatality list. A great job by all the bass enthusiasts in the catch-and-release program!
Inland Container, of New Johnsonville, Tennessee, placed first in the tournament and received the coveted "Best of the Best" rotating trophy for 2001. 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 Inland Container were: Eric Hensley and David Hensley; Tommy Chappell and Jeremy Conrad; and John Curtis and Scott Patterson. Their combined weights of 16 fish, weighed a total of 33.71 pounds to win the 2001 coveted trophy.
The huge rotating trophy will be displayed in the lobby of Inland Container plant for the next twelve months. Maytag of Jackson, came in second with 30.55 pounds. Dupont of New Johnsonville, came in third with 30.36 pounds. TVA of New Johnsonville, placed fourth with 30.24 pounds.
Winning the individual team competition was Volvo Penta's Monty Daniel and Patty Daniel. This husband-and-wife duo's collection hammered the scales at 16.84 pounds.
Maytag's own Michael Gaskin and Doug Watts came in second with 14.85 pounds. Father-and-son team, Joe Jackson and Eric Jackson, fishing for Anvil International of Henderson, came in third with 14.41 pounds.
The Big Bass Pool was won by Inland Container's John Curtis and Scott Patterson, who checked in the "biggest bucket mouth" bass weighing 5.52 pounds.
Father-and-daughter team, Phil Cannady and Shelly Cannady (pictured at left) of Mechanical Pipe and Supply of Nashville, placed second with their bass that topped the scales at 5.38 pounds. This was Shelly's first tournament, and she "rocked the boat" on her dad when SHE caught the big fish!
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 and three different states gathered together in Camden, Tennessee for this 17th annual event held at Birdsong Resort, Marina and Lakeside RV and Tent Campground.
Next year's dates for the 18th 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 29, 2002. 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.
Keeping Your Tournament-Caught Bass Alive
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