For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, communications director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BALOG WINS WAL-MART BASS FISHING LEAGUE SUPER TOURNAMENT ON DETROIT
RIVER
WOODHAVEN, Mich. (Sept. 16, 2002) – Joe Balog of Independence, Ohio,
topped 87 Boater Division competitors on the Detroit River this weekend
with a five-bass catch weighing 21 pounds, 5 ounces. He earned $5,676
and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Michigan
Division season finale.
After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament
in first place with an opening day catch of five bass weighing 21
pounds, 4 ounces, Balog out-fished runner up Steve Clapper of Lima,
Ohio, by 14 ounces to take the win. Balog caught his limit on day two
using a tube. He also earned a $1,000 bonus as the highest-finishing
participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Clapper qualified for the final round in second place with five bass
weighing 20 pounds, 14 ounces and finished up with a five-bass catch
weighing 20 pounds, 7 ounces to win $2,838.
Jim Wilson of Amhertsburg, Ontario (five bass, 19 pounds, 1 ounce,
$1,537); Scott Dobson of Waterford, Mich. (five bass, 18 pounds, 15
ounces, $1,301); and Mike Trombly of Perrysburg, Ohio, (two bass, 18
pounds, 13 ounces, $1,064) rounded out the top five boaters.
Balog took boater big-bass honors and $870 for a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass
he caught on a melon tube.
Jeff Bishop of Clinton Township, Mich., topped 87 competitors in the
Co-angler Division to take first place and $2,838 thanks to a
final-round catch of five bass weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces. Second
place in the division and $1,419 went to Stephen Roth of Syracuse, Ind.,
with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 10 ounces, followed by
Kenneth Taylor of Shelby Township, Mich., in third place with five bass
weighing 14 pounds worth $769.
Roth won the co-angler big-bass award of $435 with a 4-pound, 3-ounce
bass he caught using a tube.
Bill Clark of Allegan, Mich., is the Michigan Division’s Yamaha “Be
the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 1,015 points he earned
during five regular-season tournaments. Peter Merckx of Westland, Mich.,
is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He
earned $500 for his division-leading 968 points.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Michigan Division 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 BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative
postseason 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, U.S. Bank, Weed
Eater and Yamaha Outboards.