Quinlin wins Wal-Mart BFL Hoosier Division tourney

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Mike Quinlin of Mooresville claimed $3,746 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on Monroe Lake near Bloomington. Quinlin led the field of 133 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces.

Quinlin caught his bass Saturday flipping a jig. As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, Quinlin also claimed a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats.

Rounding out the top five boaters are George Jones of Cincinnati (three bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,873); Carl Wooton of Bloomington (two bass, 10 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,274); Michael Baker of Greenwood (three bass, 9 pounds, 15 ounces, $974); and Curt Hughes of Greenwood (four bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $824).

Chuck Baker of Catlin, Ill., topped 133 Co-angler Division competitors with a three-bass catch weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces that he caught using a Wave worm. Baker earned $1,873 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are James Clear of Columbus (three bass, 5 pounds, 9 ounces, $937); Bob Ungren of Jeffersonville (three bass, 5 pounds, 8 ounces, $637); Wayne Fackler of Brandenburg, Ky. (one bass, 5 pounds, $487); and Roy Brand of Nineveh (two bass, 4 pounds, 15 ounces, $412).

Baker earned boater big-bass honors and $665 with a 6-pound bass, and Fackler earned co-angler big-bass honors and $333 in his division with a 5-pound bass.

The Hoosier Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 20-21 on Patoka Lake in Birdseye. Following the regular season, the boater with the most points will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points following the regular season will earn $500.

The top 30 Hoosier Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 14-18 on Old Hickory Lake near Gallatin, Tenn., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bulldog, Carolina and Illini divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.

As much as $6 million will be awarded in the 2003 Wal-Mart BFL.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its six tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.com.

Editor’s Note: Ranger Cup award winners are pending verification by Ranger Boats and thus are unofficial at this time.