SENECA FALLS, N.Y. – Todd Cole of Geneseo, N.Y., topped 116 Boater Division competitors on Cayuga Lake this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 7 ounces. He earned $6,729 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Northeast Division season finale.
After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament in 13th place with an opening-day catch of five bass weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces, Cole out-fished runner-up Roy Goodwin of Ontario, N.Y., by 1 pound, 15 ounces to take the win. Cole caught his limit on day two using a jig. He also earned a $1,000 bonus from GARMIN for using a fixed-mount GARMIN GPS/sounder.
Goodwin qualified for the final round in 17th place with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 3 ounces and finished up with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 8 ounces to win $3,365. He also earned a $500 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Dennis Sikorski of Griswold, Conn. (five bass, 14 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,823); Ken Golub of Pittsford, N.Y. (five bass, 13 pounds, 15 ounces, $1,542); and Dave Mease of Bethlehem, Pa., (five bass, 13 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,262) rounded out the top five boaters.
Richard Stephens of Rochester, N.Y., took boater big-bass honors and $1,160 for a 5-pound bass. He finished in 19th place overall.
Don Vantassel of North Egremont, Mass., topped 114 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $3,365 thanks to a final-round catch of five bass weighing 13 pounds, 5 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,682 went to Rex Magargle of Montgomery, Pa., with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces, followed by Chris Girouard of Center Barnstead, N.H., in third place with four bass weighing 10 pounds, 15 ounces worth $911.
Carl Semenza of Yatesville, Pa., won the co-angler big-bass award of $580 with a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass. He finished 22nd overall.
Dennis Sikorski of Griswold, Conn., is the Northeast Division’s Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 1,012 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. Eric Johnson of Bloomsburg, Pa., is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 1,035 points.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Northeast Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 15-19 on Lake Gaston near Littleton, N.C., where they will go up against top competitors from the Buckeye, Mountain and Savannah River divisions for a shot at qualifying for the BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative postseason 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, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.