ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, August 13, 1993                   TAG: 9308130073
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: BIRMINGHAM, ALA.                                LENGTH: Short


BIFFLE LEADS BASS MASTERS

Tom Biffle overcame a bothersome fleet of spectator boats Thursday to claim the first-day lead in the 1993 BASS Masters Classic.

Biffle, of Wagoner, Okla., pulled in a limit of seven bass for a total of 17 pounds, 14 ounces. That was 4 ounces better than second-place David Fritts of Lexington, N.C.

Biffle said fans cruising around Lake Logan Martin to watch the $200,000, three-day competition were churning up the water and making it difficult to catch fish.

"It's gonna get tougher," said Biffle, who was helped along by a 5 pound, 2 ounce fish. "Today I think there were more boats on the water than there were on the last day last year."

George Cochran of Hot Springs, Ark., was in third place with a limit of 15 pounds, 6 ounces, followed by Ron Shuffield of Bismarck, Ark., with six fish weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces. Jay Yelas of Jasper, Texas, finished out the top five with seven fish totaling 12 pounds.

Defending champion Robert Hamilton Jr. of Brandon, Miss., placed in the middle of the 41-man pack with four bass weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces.

Four-time Classic champion Rick Clunn of Montgomery, Texas, was 37th after catching only two fish weighing a combined 1 pound, 15 ounces.



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