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Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Johnson wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Michigan Division tournament
Woodhaven, Mich. (July 15, 2002) — Miles Johnson of Beaver Creek, Ohio,
topped 120 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Detroit
River with five bass weighing 23 pounds. The catch earned him $3,447 and 200
points in the Boater Division.
Johnson caught his limit flipping green tubes to grass and rocks. The catch
topped second-place boater Bill Clark of Allegan, Mich., by 2 pounds, 6
ounces. Clark finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch
weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces worth $1,723.
Jim Parker of Jonesville, Mich. (five bass, 19 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,034);
Kevin Vida of Clare, Mich. (five bass, 17 pounds, 14 ounces, $827); and
David Reault of Livonia, Mich., (five bass, 17 pounds, 13 ounces, $758)
rounded out the top five boaters.
Johnson earned boater big bass honors and $600 with a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass.
He also received a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing
participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Stephen Roth of Syracuse, Ind., claimed first place and $1,723 in the
120-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 3
ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Christopher Majerle of
Riverview, Mich., by 12 ounces thanks to his white and green tubes. Majerle
finished with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces worth $862.
Peter Merckx of Westland, Mich. (five bass, 16 pounds, 2 ounces, $517);
Stephen Gill of Mishawaka, Mich. (five bass, 14 pounds, 12 ounces, $414);
and William Lass of Caledonia, Mich., (five bass, 14 pounds, 5 ounces, $379)
rounded out the top five co-anglers.
Co-angler Kurt Preibisch of St. Clair Shores, Mich., earned big bass honors
and $300 in his division with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass. He finished 21st
overall with four bass weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces.
Overall, 95 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.
The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Grand River Aug. 3 for the third of five
Michigan Division events. The boater with the most points after the division
’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 14-15 on the Detroit
River, will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” Points Leader and awarded
$1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will
receive $500.
The top 30 Michigan Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional
competition presented by Yamaha Oct. 15-19 on Kentucky Lake near
Gilbertsville, Ky., where they will go up against top competitors from the
Great Lakes, Hoosier and Illini divisions for a shot at qualifying for the
Wal-Mart BFL All-American — one of the most lucrative post-season
tournaments in competitive angling.
2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.
Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder,
BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart
Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, Garmin, Kellogg’s,
Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats,
Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha
Outboards.