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Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Elkins wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Michigan Division tournament
Detroit (July 1, 2002) — Michael Elkins of Parchment, Mich., topped 135
Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake St. Clair with
five bass weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch earned him $3,748 and 200
points in the Boater Division.
Elkins caught his limit on a tube around weed beds. The catch topped
second-place boater Bill Clark of Allegan, Mich., by 2 pounds, 3 ounces.
Clark finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 14
pounds, 6 ounces worth $1,874.
Dick Shaffer of Celina, Ohio (five bass, 13 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,124);
Alexander Nowyorkas Jr. of Burton, Mich. (five bass, 12 pounds, 9 ounces,
$900); and David Reault of Livonia, Mich., (five bass, 12 pounds, 7 ounces,
$825) rounded out the top five boaters. Reault received a $500 bonus from
Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup
incentive program.
Douglas Cummings of Harrison Township, Mich., earned boater big bass honors
and $675 with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass that he caught using a topwater shad
in 4 feet of water. He finished in 8th place overall with four bass weighing
11 pounds, 1 ounce.
David Pence of Swayzee, Ind., claimed first place and $1,877 in the
133-competitor Co-angler Division with four bass weighing 12 pounds, 1
ounce. He surpassed second-place co-angler Steve Contini of Lima, Ohio, by 7
ounces using watermelon tube jigs. Contini finished with a five-bass catch
weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces worth $938.
Barry Baldwin of Dayton, Ohio (five bass, 11 pounds, 6 ounces, $563); Andrew
White Jr. of Westland, Mich. (five bass, 11 pounds, 4 ounces, $450); and
Richard Browning of Roseville, Mich., (five bass, 11 pounds, 2 ounces, $413)
rounded out the top five co-anglers.
Baldwin earned big bass honors and $333 in his division with a 3-pound,
15-ounce bass.
Overall, 70 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.
The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Detroit River July 13 for the second 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, Coleman, 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. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley, Eagle Claw,
Hover-Lure, Laker, Maxwell House, Plano and Solar Bat.
For complete results, visit http://www.flwoutdoors.com