For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WAL-MART BASS FISHING LEAGUE MICHIGAN DIVISION SET FOR SUPER TOURNAMENT
WOODHAVEN, Mich. (Aug. 26, 2002) – Bass anglers hungry for a lucrative
championship berth will feast upon the Detroit River Sept. 14-15 for the
Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Michigan Division’s two-day Super
Tournament, the final regular-season event of the 2002 season.
After completing four one-day regular-season events, Michigan Division
anglers will square off from Elizabeth Park in Woodhaven, Mich., for a
two-day battle that will eliminate all but the top 30 boaters in the
division. A full field will compete on day one, but only the top 20
percent will advance to day two.
Up to $9,600 cash will be awarded to the winning boater, with the
winning co-angler receiving up to $4,800 cash.
During the one-day regular-season tournaments, each angler who
received weight credit earned points, with the winning boater or
co-angler receiving 200 points, second place receiving 199, third place
receiving 198 and so on. During the Super Tournament, however, the
stakes are raised, as the winning angler receives 300 points, second
place receives 298, third place receives 296 and so on. These points
determine angler standings.
The top 30 boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings
will advance to regional competition presented by Yamaha Oct. 15-19 on
Kentucky Lake near Gilbertsville, Ky., where they will compete against
qualifying anglers from the Great Lakes, Hoosier and Illini divisions.
The top six finishers from this event will advance to the 2003 Wal-Mart
BFL All-American championship.
The highest-finishing boater in regional competition will take home a
new Ranger boat powered by Evinrude or Yamaha as well as a new Chevy
truck. The winning co-angler will receive an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered
Ranger boat. By advancing to the All-American, the winners will compete
in one of the most prestigious and lucrative events in bass fishing – an
event that boasts a $100,000 cash award to the winning boater and
$50,000 cash to the winning co-angler.
Anglers who enter all five regular-season Michigan Division
tournaments but do not advance to the regional can fish the Chevy Trucks
Wild Card Regional Nov. 5-9 for a shot at the 2003 All-American. The
2002 All-American champion, Eddie Waits of Pine Bluff, Ark., qualified
through the Wild Card.
Bill Clark of Allegan, Mich., leads the Michigan Division boater
contingent heading into the Super Tournament, 25 points ahead of David
Reault of Livonia, Mich. On the co-angler side, Barry Baldwin of Dayton,
Ohio, holds a seven-point lead over David Hasty of Toledo, Ohio.
Nationwide, the BFL is divided into 26 divisions. Under the BFL’s
boater and co-angler format, boaters supply the boats, fish from the
front deck and control boat movement throughout the competition.
Co-anglers fish from the back deck and are competing against other
co-anglers.
As the nation’s leading provider of affordable, close-to-home weekend
tournaments, the BFL is widely credited with opening competitive bass
fishing to the masses. It also serves as a steppingstone for anglers who
wish to advance to the EverStart Series and ultimately the Wal-Mart FLW
Tour – bass fishing’s most lucrative tournament series. Each year the
top 30 BFL boaters and co-anglers from each division are eligible to
advance to the EverStart Series. All-American champions are eligible for
Wal-Mart FLW Tour competition. The top 10 pros and co-anglers from each
of the EverStart Series’ three divisions are eligible to advance to the
Wal-Mart FLW Tour. Former BFL anglers who have become fishing superstars
on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour include Kellogg’s pro Clark Wendlandt, Chevy
pro Tommy Biffle and four-time FLW Tour champion David Fritts.
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, Maxwell House, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid,
Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren,
U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.
To enter a tournament or to find more information about the Wal-Mart
Bass Fishing League, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call 270-252-1000.