Staff Reporter
Gadsden, AL---Determination was the key to winning for two local anglers, Lynn Johnson and Steve Body, at the 1998 year-end Bass Champions Team Challenge held September 22-26 on Lake Neely Henry, Gadsden, Alabama. The tournament began with three practice days to give the anglers an opportunity to find the hotspots in this 11,200 acre lake.

A payout of more than $175,000 in cash and prizes was awarded to the top 80 placements, First, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners received fully rigged 21-foot Hawk bass boats with Yahama motors and trophies. Also given away in a drawing, a 19-foot Hawk bass boat with a 150 horsepower Yahama motor.

Over 750 anglers fished for top honors at the BCTC year-end, bringing in 1,523 fish weighing some 2,427.45 pounds.

Grand Prize winners, Lynn Johnson of Atalla, Alabama and Steve Body of Gadsden, Alabama took home a fully-rigged 21-foot Hawk bass boat with a 225 horsepower Yahama. Let it be known that fishing a tournament among such distinct anglers and tough competition, is sometimes all it takes to give that one team the enthusiasm to give it their all.

Body and Johnson brought in a two-day total weight of 22.08 pounds to win the BCTC. "The competition was tough and the fishing was even harder," said Johnson. These guys brought in a stringer that weighed 9.94 pounds their first day out.

"The competition was great and it amazed us as to how these anglers [competition] could find structures to fish that take most anglers years to find," said Johnson. "We thoroughly enjoyed the tournament and feel that everything went very smoothly considering all the boats," said Body.

Body had debated having knee surgery prior to the tournament which would have caused him to miss the Bass Champions Team Challenge.

Having fished together for over 10 years, one has to be comfortable and confident with their teammate. Over the years, Body and Johnson have adjusted and fine-tuned each of their techniques to help them win tournaments. They have become quite a bass fishing team. "We only have one secret to catching the big ones, "keep flippin' and be patient." said Johnson. Since the BCTC, they have fished several tournaments winning over $1,000 using their new Hawk Boat.

In addition to their success in 1998, Body and Johnson have started the 1999 season off to a great start by acquiring three new sponsors as a result of their win at the 1998 Bass Champions Team Challenge. Their new sponsors are Nitro Tracker Marine - Weis Lake Landing/ Marine, Cameron Rods - Rick Heaton and Lonnie Stanley's Spinnerbaits and Jigs.