Williams wins Wal-Mart BFL tourney on Kentucky, Barkley lakes

Donnie Williams of Paris, Tenn., at left, topped 96 Wal-Mart BFL competitors Saturday on Kentucky and Barkley lakes with 17-pound, 4-ounce limit of bass worth $3,005. Co-angler Ed Rachford of Sellersburg, Ind., claimed first place and $1,503 with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces. Anglers: Donnie Williams, Ed Rachford.

July 13, 2002 • MLF • Archives

Williams caught his limit on a black and brown 3/4-ounce jig. The catch topped second-place boater Cliff Curd of Puryear, Tenn., by 6 ounces. Curd finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 14 ounces worth $1,503. Williams also earned boater big bass honors and $480 with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass.

David Young of Mayfield, Ky. (five bass, 13 pounds, 15 ounces, $902); Kevin Lasater of McKenzie, Tenn. (five bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $721); and Ray Barga of Gilbertsville, Ky., (five bass, 12 pounds, 8 ounces, $661) rounded out the top five boaters.

Young also received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Ed Rachford of Sellersburg, Ind., claimed first place and $1,503 in the 96-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler David Skinner of Milltown, Ind., by 8 ounces. Skinner finished with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 15 ounces worth $751.

Chad Allen of Vincennes, Ind. (two bass, 9 pounds, 2 ounces, $451); Ricky Brannum of Owensboro, Ky. (three bass, 8 pounds, 2 ounces, $361); and Dan Edington of Gilbertsville, Ky., (three bass, 8 pounds, $331) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Co-angler Terry Koerper of Lloyd, Ky., earned big bass honors and $240 in his division with a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass. He finished 18th thanks to the one bass.

Overall, eight five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Kentucky and Barkley lakes Sept. 14-15 for the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament. The boater with the most points after the Super Tournament 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 LBL Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition presented by BC Powder Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Wheeler Lake near Rogersville, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bulldog, Music City and Shenandoah 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, 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.