Quinlin wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Ohio River

Pro Mike Quinlin of Mooresville, Ind., won the April 21 Wal-Mart BFL tour event at Rocky Point after registering a catch of 12 pounds, 1 ounce. Quinlin won $5,936 for his efforts. Angler: Mike Quinlin.

April 21, 2001 • MLF • Archives

CANNELTON, Ind. – Mike Quinlin of Mooresville, Ind., outpaced 195 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 1 ounce to win $5,936 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Hoosier Division opener on the Ohio River.

Quinlin edged out Marty Sisk of Evansville, Ind., by 15 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Rocky Point Marina. Sisk finished with a three-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 2 ounces to win $2,968. Quinlin, who also won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, caught his limit under overcast skies while fishing shallow bushes with jigs.

Chris Myers of Madison, Ind., took third place and collected $1,484 with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces. Dale Fess of Greenville, Ind., placed fourth and earned $1,286 with five bass weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Frank McClain of Scottsburg, Ind., and Karl Snyder of Cincinnati tied for fifth and earned $1,088 each with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces.

Sisk won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $975 with a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass that he caught on a spinnerbait while fishing shallow stumps.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,799 went to Edward Sipes of Selma, Ind., who topped 181 competitors with two bass weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Sipes also won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $452 with a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass. Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,400 went to Jason Gross of Scottsburg, Ind., with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces, while Mike Crays of Greenwood, Ind., took third place and $700 with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces.

Overall, 255 bass were caught during the tournament, including three five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit Lake Patoka May 19 for the second of five events in the Hoosier Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 22-23 on the Ohio River, 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 Hoosier Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 16-20 on the Ohio River near Paducah, Ky., where they will go up against top competitors from the LBL, Plains and Great Lakes 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.