Walden takes BFL Mississippi Division event on Ross Barnett Reservoir - Major League Fishing

Walden takes BFL Mississippi Division event on Ross Barnett Reservoir

Beale wins co-angler title
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Boater Danny Walden of Columbus, Miss., used a total catch of 19 pounds, 12 ounces to win the March 31 Walmart BFL Mississippi River Division event on Ross Barnett Reservoir. Walden took home over $4,300 in prize money for his efforts.
March 31, 2012 • MLF • Archives

BRANDON, Miss. (April 2, 2012) – Danny Walden of Columbus, Miss., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 19 pounds, 12 ounces Saturday to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Mississippi Division event on Ross Barnett Reservoir. For his victory, Walden earned $4,359.

“I had two or three spots where I had found some good fish earlier this week,” said Walden. “Unfortunately, the water had been dropping all week, so my spot that usually had 2 to 3 feet of water only had 6 inches Saturday morning. We changed our gameplan and started trolling and running some of the deeper points I knew. I found a nice point about 4 feet deep that dropped off into 20 feet of water that had a pretty good current running over it. The fish were laying down in the deep water, and they would wait for the bait to wash down to them. You had to fish real slow and use a real light weight to look more natural. I had planned on this being a backup spot if my other areas didn’t work out, but it turned out to be my best spot.

“I was throwing a black Boogerman buzzbait, and a 6-inch Zoom junebug Lizard,” Walden continued. “The weather was overcast today until around 11 a.m., and it really had an effect on the fish. Once the sun came out the fish dropped down a little deeper and the bite was a lot harder to come by. I had all of my best bites while it was still overcast.”

Rounding out the top 10 pros:

2nd: Bradley Burns, Brandon Miss., five bass, 17-9, $2,179

3rd: Ray King, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 15-10, $1,452

4th: William McKay Jr., Brandon, Miss., five bass, 15-2, $1,017

5th: Jason Forman, Philadelphia, Miss., five bass, 15-0, $872

6th: Jeff Johnston, Marion, Ark., five bass, 14-15, $799

7th: Will Boatright, Philadelphia, Miss., five bass, 14-6, $726

8th: Roger Stegall, Iuka, Miss., five bass, 14-5, $654

9th: Justin Atkins, Columbus, Miss., five bass, 14-4, $545

9th: Brandon Bolton, West Point, Miss., five bass, 14-4, $545

Complete results can be found here.

Beale wins co-angler title

Tim Beale of Hernando, Miss., parlayed a total catch of 13 pounds, 1 ounce into a co-angler title at the March 31 Walmart BFL Mississippi River Division event on Ross Barnett Reservoir. For his efforts, Beale walked away with nearly $2,200 in winnings.Tim Beale of Hernando, Miss., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 13 pounds, 1 ounce Saturday to win $2,179 in the co-angler division.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers:

2nd: Larry Chastain, Laurel, Miss., five bass, 11-15, $1,090

3rd: Tim Davis, Laurel, Miss., five bass, 11-0, $725

4th: Matt Allen, Brandon, Miss., five bass, 10-7, $509

5th: Craig Johnson, Myrtle, Miss., five bass, 10-4, $436

6th: Blake Hodge, Water Valley, Miss., three bass, 10-3, $400

7th: Noel Allen Jr., Brandon, Miss., five bass, 9-15, $363

8th: Jerry Kirkman, Meridian, Miss., four bass, 9-13, $327

9th: Ray Higginbotham, Brooksville, Miss., five bass, 9-12, $291

10th: Ryan Lecompte, Marrero, La., three bass, 9-11, $254

Complete co-angler results can be found here.

The next BFL Mississippi Division tournament is scheduled for April 28 on Columbus Pool in Columbus, Miss. After the fifth Mississippi Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 18-20 Regional Championship on the Red River in Natchitoches, La. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. The 2012 BFL All-American is being held May 17 – 19 on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

About FLW

FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2012 over the course of 191 tournaments across five tournament circuits, each providing an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water,” through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and the world’s richest fantasy sports game – FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.