For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VIDA WINS WAL-MART BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION TOURNAMENT
WEST OLIVE, Mich. (Aug. 5, 2002) – Kevin Vida from Clare, Mich., topped
112 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Grand River
with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him
$3,348 and 200 points in the Boater Division.
Vida caught his limit using a green pumpkin worm near weed beds. The
catch topped second-place boater Mark Flick of Plainwell, Mich., by 7
ounces. Flick finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch
weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces worth $1,674. Vida also received a $1,000
bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the
Ranger Cup incentive program.
Edward Rogers Jr. of Grand Rapids, Mich. (five bass, 11 pounds, 1
ounce, $1,004); Donald Hewkin of Zion, Ill. (five bass, 11 pounds,
$803); and David Likens of Angola, Ind., (five bass, 9 pounds, 13
ounces, $736) rounded out the top five boaters.
Clark Wolfe of Grove City, Ohio, and Ted Angers of Clinton Township,
Mich., tied for boater big-bass honors with a 4-pound, 3-ounce bass.
Both received $280 for their big bass. Wolfe finished in 17th place
overall with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and Angers placed
12th with a two-bass catch weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces.
Jeff Murray of Elkhart, Ind., claimed first place and $1,674 in the
112-competitor Co-angler Division with four bass weighing 8 pounds, 11
ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Richard Browning of
Roseville, Mich., by 1 pound, 1 ounce. Browning finished with a
four-bass catch weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces worth $837.
Homer Stephens of Noblesville, Ind. (four bass, 7 pounds, 9 ounces,
$502); Greg Schutkovske of Valparaiso, Ind. (three bass, 7 pounds, 7
ounces, $402); and David Hasty of Toledo, Ohio, (three bass, 4 pounds,
12 ounces, $368) rounded out the top five co-anglers.
Co-angler David Painter of Kendallville, Ind., earned big-bass honors
and $280 in his division with a 4-pound, 5-ounce bass. He finished
seventh thanks to the one bass.
Overall, seven five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.
The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Detroit River Aug. 24 for the fourth
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.