Carroll wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Fort Gibson Lake

Matt Carroll of Tulsa, Ok., won the May 5 Wal-Mart BFL tournament in the Angler Division on Fort Gibson Lake after recording a catch of 15 pounds, 7 ounces.

May 5, 2001 • MLF • Archives

WAGONER, Okla. – Matt Carroll of Tulsa, Okla., outpaced 162 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces to win $5,192 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Okie Division tournament on Fort Gibson Lake.

Carroll edged out Larry Smith of Vian, Okla., by 4 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Taylor’s Ferry North. Smith finished with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces to win $2,596. Carroll caught his limit using a black and blue lizard in 2 to 4 feet of water near rock banks and wood cover.

Lee Sanders of Stillwater, Okla., took third place and collected $1,298 with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 11 ounces. Terry Butcher of Talala, Okla., placed fourth and earned $1,125 with five bass weighing 12 pounds, while Michael Thompson of Tulsa, Okla., placed fifth and earned $1,039 with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces. Thompson also won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Russ Reagan of Edmond, Okla., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $810 with a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass that he caught on chartreuse and white buzzbait.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,596 went to Roy Barrett of Claremore, Okla., who topped 162 competitors with two bass weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,298 went to Steve Bradfield of Claremore with three bass weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce, while Gary Seachord of Beatrice, Neb., took third place and $649 with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces.

John Krisulevicz of Broken Arrow, Okla., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $405 with a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a black tube bait.

Overall, 233 bass were caught during the tournament, including six five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit Lake Eufaula on June 9 for the fourth of five events in the Okie Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 8-9 on Grand 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 Okie Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 16-20 on the Red River near Shreveport, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Cowboy, Arkie and Mississippi 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.