Hughes wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Lake Stockton

Pro Chris Hughes (left) and co-angler Mike Barnett (right), both of Springfield, Mo., won their respective divisions at the April 21 Wal-Mart tour event at Lake Stockton. Hughes won $3,738 after landing a total catch of 11 pounds, 10 ounces while Barnett took home $1,869 after netting a catch of 8 pounds, 14 ounces. Anglers: Mike Barnett, Chris Hughes.

April 21, 2001 • MLF • Archives

Stockton, Mo. – Chris Hughes of Springfield, Mo., outpaced 98 competitors Saturday with four bass weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces to win $3,738 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Ozark Division tournament on Lake Stockton.

Hughes edged out Jay Marshall of Purdy, Mo., by 1 ounce in the one-day event that set out from Stockton State Park. Marshall finished with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces to win $1,869. Hughes caught his winning stringer using a white spinnerbait and black and brown jig.

Mike Schneiders of Jefferson City, Mo., took third place and collected $935 with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces. Ricky Scott of Vanburen, Ark., placed fourth and earned $810 with five bass weighing 11 pounds, while Billy Wilson of Coal Valley, Ill., placed fifth and earned $748 with four bass weighing 10 pounds, 6 ounces. Wilson also won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Cary Lodl of Scribner, Neb., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $490 with a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,869 went to Mike Barnett of Springfield, Mo., who topped 98 competitors with five bass weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,869 went to Phil Gardner of Camdentown, Mo., and Todd Lanning of Springfield, Mo., who received $701 each for catches weighing 7 pounds, 3 ounces. Gardner had one bass that also won him the co-angler Big Bass Award of $245. Lanning caught three bass.

The BFL will visit Lake Truman June 2 for the fourth of five events in the Ozark Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 22-23 on Bull Shoals Lake, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Ozark Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 9-13 on Weiss Lake near Cedar Bluff, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Carolina, Choo Choo and Illini divisions for a shot at qualifying for the $250,000 All-American.

Awards for the 2001 BFL season could reach $5.7 million based on full fields at each tournament.