Christie wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Grand Lake

Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., outpaced 148 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces to win $4,944 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Okie Division tournament on Grand Lake. Angler: Jason Christie.

June 30, 2001 • MLF • Archives

GROVE, Okla. – Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., outpaced 148 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces to win $4,944 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Okie Division tournament on Grand Lake.

Christie edged out Paul Smith of Copan, Okla., by 14 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Red 11 Port. Smith finished with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 8 ounces to win $2,472. Christie’s limit also earned him a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla., took third place and collected $1,236 with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces. David Hale of Spavinaw, Okla., and Steve Winters of Derby, Kan., tied for fourth and earned $1,030 each with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 12 ounces.

Randy Kelly of Inola, Okla., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $740 with a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass that he caught while flipping a tube to brush in 1 to 2 feet of water.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,341 went to Gary Hurd of Dewey, Okla., who topped 137 competitors with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,171 went to Russ Gregory of Chickasha, Okla., with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces, while Brandon Christian of Grove, Okla., took third place and $585 with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce.

Paul McMahan of Collinsville, Okla., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $342 with a 4-pound, 11-ounce bass that he caught on a yellow and brown crankbait while fishing points in 4 to 8 feet of water.

Overall, 455 bass were caught during the tournament, including 29 five-bass limits.

The Wal-Mart BFL will return to Grand Lake Sept. 8-9 for a two-day Super Tournament that will determine the Divisional Points Champion who will be awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the conclusion of the season ending tournament will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Okie Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 16-20 on the Red River near Shreveport, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Cowboy, Arkie and Mississippi divisions 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.