Spivey wins season opener on Grand Lake St. Mary’s

The 2004 BFL Buckeye Division season kicked off May 15 on Grand Lake St. Mary’s near Celina, Ohio, and boater David Spivey of Hamilton, Ohio, claimed the win. Angler: David Spivey.

May 15, 2004 • MLF • Archives

CELINA, Ohio – The 2004 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division season kicked off Saturday on Grand Lake St. Mary’s near Celina, and David Spivey of Hamilton claimed the win thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce. He bested 163 Boater Division competitors to earn $4,291 and 200 points.

Spivey caught his tournament-winning bass using a 1/8-ounce black and blue tube. He caught a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass that earned him Boater Division big-bass honors and $815, and he also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Bombardier also awarded him $1,000 for using an Evinrude Direct Injection outboard.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Kenny Dials of Oak Harbor (five bass, 13 pounds, 6 ounces, $2,145); Steve Floyd of Sabina (five bass, 12 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,459); Jason Geiger of Arcanum (five bass, 12 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,116); and Keith Wheelock of Beaver Creek (five bass, 12 pounds, $944).

Ed Shannon of Cincinnati earned $2,061 as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to a five-bass catch that weighed 12 pounds, 13 ounces. He edged past 153 Co-angler Division competitors thanks to a black and blue jig. He also earned $383 as the co-angler big-bass winner with a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jeff Oaks of Medway (five bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,031); Brian King of Lorain (five bass, 9 pounds, 3 ounces, $701); Michael Mathers of Pickerington (five bass, 7 pounds, 10 ounces, $536); and Tom Laveque of Saginaw, Mich. (three bass, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, $454).

The Buckeye Division’s next stop will be June 5 on the Ohio River in Lawrenceburg, Ind. Each BFL division features four one-day events followed by a two-day Super Tournament to round out the regular season. The top 30 Buckeye Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Kerr Lake regional near Henderson, N.C., Oct. 5-9, where they will compete against Carolina, Northeast and Savannah River division anglers for a slot in the 2005 All-American. The winning boater at the All-American receives $100,000 cash, making it one of the most lucrative and prestigious championship events in bass fishing.

Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points, with 200 points going to the winner, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on except for Super Tournaments, which award 300 points to the winner, 299 for second, 298 for third, and so on. These points determine angler standings. The Buckeye Division boater who amasses the most points at the end of the regular season will earn $1,000 as the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, and the co-angler earning the most points will earn $500 as the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division.

The $6.3 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League features 24 divisions nationwide. In BFL competition, boaters and co-anglers are randomly paired, with boaters supplying the boat and fishing against other boaters and co-anglers fishing from the back deck against other co-anglers. For more information or to enter a tournament, call (270) 252-1000 or browse this Web site.

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’s sponsor page.