An announcement was made at the pretournament meeting that start off would be delayed for this year’s regional because of sunrise time. Director Willie Edmonds andCoDirectorDaveMossmanhad the safety of the tournament anglers in mind when fog rolled in at 6:00am. They were concerned a longer delay was going to be required. Mossman could not see the boats staged for take-off in the back of the bay.

However, it was only a few short minutes and the fog lifted a quick as it arrived. Director Edmonds and his field of 91 USA Bassin’ teams experience sunshine and partly cloudy skies.Increasing clouds cover threatened a chance of rain about the time of weight-in but sunshine parted the clouds to create great weather for all aspects of the Western Tennessee Regional tournament.

Old Hickory Lake now 57 years old would offer USA Bassin’ anglers almost 22,500 acres to fish for 8 hours and bring their best to the scales at Bull creek ramp. Last year’s Western Tennessee regional would not be the best finish for Billy Hinson and Donnie Rubel. The two would only manage 28th place. However, the Tennessee USA Bassin team from Cookville and Mt. Juliet was able to take top honors in the 2011 Regional on Old Hickory with a 17.28 bag of big mouth bass.

The weight of the two gave the team a win by over three pounds. Big fish for team Hinson and Rubel was just a little over four pound. Almost one third of the 76 teams fishing this year’s Western Tennessee Regional caught a 5 fish limit. 99 percent of the regional catch was returned to Old Hickory Lake alive.

Over 250 bass were brought to weight-in at Bull Creek Ramp. USA Bassin’ anglers Terry Key and Robert Null was able to land the Big Bass of the tournament with a 5.36 lb largemouth. The two fished fast up the creek catching 5 fish and never culled a fish. The two had told each other they would leave the area at 2 O’clock to be at Bull Creek ramp by check-in.

 At 2:00 O’clock sharp the Big Bass caught by Terry Key was on the very last cast of the day. The five fish brought in by Key and Null weighted in at 14.14 and was good for a second place finish. Director Edmonds would like to thank everyone that made this year’s Western Kentucky Regional a huge success. Thank you goes out to Shari and Jay Holsapple for all the dedicated work the two have given Willie during each and every regional.

 Jay served as weight-master and Shari assisted with anglers and their paperwork. The Holsapples are always working an event for Bassin’. It is summed up best when Willie said “If they are not running a tournament they’re fishing in one somewhere on the trail every weekend”.  Also Willie would like to give a big shout out of thanks to Kyle Palmer for running fish to the holding tank during weight-in. Kyle is pictured here with his Dad Freddy during registration.