PEORIA, Ariz. – David Newby, 47, of Peoria, Ariz., outpaced 66 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce to win $2,913 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Colorado River Division opener on Lake Pleasant.
Newby edged out John Murray of Phoenix, Ariz., by 7 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Regional Park. Murray finished with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces to win $1,457. Newby caught his limit fishing worms around the dam.
Craig Dinsdale of Dana Point, Calif., took third place and collected $728 with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces. Jack Trahan of Kingman, Ariz., placed fourth and earned $631 with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 9 ounces, while Jerry Wallace Jr. of Goodyear, Ariz., placed fifth and earned $583 with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces.
Gayle Janes of Palm Desert, Calif., and Dinsdale tied for the boater Big Bass Award and collected $165 each with a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,324 went to Mark Merkel, 40, of Payson, Ariz., who topped 60 competitors with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces. Second place in the division and $662 went to Larry Fitzpatrick of Rio Rico, Ariz., with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces, while Barry Fenstermacher of Mesa, Ariz., took third place and $331 with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 15 ounces.
Dennis Miller, 38, of Las Vegas, Nev., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $150 with a 7-pound bass that he caught using a spinnerbait in deep water around mid lake.
Boater Roger Neukam of Las Vegas, Nev., won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger cup incentive program. He finished in sixth place with five bass weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces.
Overall, 309 bass weighing 496 pounds, 12 ounces were caught during the tournament, including 31 five bass limits.
On March 31, the BFL will visit Lake Havasu for the second of five events in the Colorado River Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Oct. 6-7 on Lake Mead will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Colorado River Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 23-27 on Lake Shasta near Redding, Calif., where they will go up against top competitors from the Western Division for a shot at qualifying for the $250,000 All-American.
Awards for the 2001 BFL season could reach $5.7 million based on full fields at each tournament.