MANFORD, Okla. – Bass anglers hungry for a lucrative championship berth will feast upon Keystone Lake Sept. 7-8 for the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Okie Division’s two-day Super Tournament, the final regular-season event of the 2002 season.
After completing four one-day, regular-season events, Okie Division anglers will square off from New Manford Ramp in Manford, Okla., 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.
As much as $9,600 cash will be awarded to the winning boater, with the winning co-angler receiving as much as $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 Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs, Ark., where they will compete against qualifying anglers from the Louisiana, Ozark and Gulf Coast 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 Okie 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.
Terry Butcher of Talala, Okla., leads the Okie Division boater contingent heading into the Super Tournament, 50 points ahead of Alton Wilhoit of Harrah, Okla. On the co-angler side, Don Hill of Muskogee, Okla., holds a 41-point lead over Gary Seachord of Beatrice, Neb.
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 BFL, browse this Web site or call (270) 527-4125.