Bogy wins Wal-Mart BFL Arkie Division tourney

DUMAS, Ark. – Mike Bogy of Humphrey, Ark., topped 80 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Arkansas River with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce. The catch earned him $2,643and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Bogy caught his limit casting a spinner bait and flipping a tube to lay downs in 2 to 4 feet of water. The catch topped second-place boater Russell Carothers of Pine Bluff, Ark., by 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Carothers finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces worth $1,321.

Mark Hensiek of England, Ark. (five bass, 10 pounds, 3 ounces, $793); Tony Chesshir of Nashville, Ark. (three bass, 9 pounds, 14 ounces, $634); and Zachary King of Clarksville, Ark., (four bass, 9 pounds, 5 ounces, $581) rounded out the top five boaters.

Chesshir earned boater big bass honors and $400 with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass that he caught on a black and blue Strike King jig.

Richard Wood of Clarksville, Ark., received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished 13th with a three-bass catch weighing 7 pounds, 7 ounces.

Fred Martin of North Little Rock, Ark., claimed first place and $1,321 in the 80-competitor Co-angler Division with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Allen Highfill of Cabot, Ark., by 14 ounces thanks to a green pumpkin and chartreuse lizard on a Carolina rig. Highfill finished with a three-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces worth $661.

Brad Morgan of Mineral Springs, Ark. (five bass, 8 pounds, 3 ounces, $396); Billy Wayne Lawrence of Hackett, Ark. (five bass, 7 pounds, 14 ounces, $317); and Charles Weindel of Barling, Ark., (two bass, 7 pounds, 1 ounce, $291) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Martin and Weindel tied for co-angler big bass honors. Each man caught a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass and received $100.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Dardanelle June 22 for the fourth of five Arkie Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Oct. 5-6 on Lake Hamilton, 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 Arkie Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on the Pearl River near Slidell, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bama, Cowboy and Mississippi 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.