Haslett wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Lake Shelbyville

SHELBYVILLE, Ill. – Shane Haslett of Beecher City, Ill., outpaced 123 competitors Saturday with four bass weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces to win $4,309 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Illini Division tournament on Lake Shelbyville.

Haslett edged out Bret Dawkins of Moweaqua, Ill., by 2 pounds, 2 ounces in the one-day event that set out from the 9th Street ramp. Dawkins finished with a four-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 9 ounces to win $2,154. Haslett caught his limit, including a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass that earned him $615 as the biggest bass in the Boater Division, using buzzbaits and spinnerbaits.

Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., and Mark Watson of Springfield, Ill., tied for third place with 13 pounds and collected $1,005 each. Black had three bass that also earned him $500 from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Watson had five bass.

Bill Leasher of Neoga, Ill., placed fifth and earned $862 with four bass weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,998 went to Jack Clapp of Oakland, Ill., who topped 108 competitors with four bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces. Second place in the division and $999 went to Bob Rask of Victoria, Ill., with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 15 ounces, while Nick Gasparovic of Lowell, Ind., took third place and $500 with five bass weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces.

Chris Rentfro of Mattoon, Ill., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $270 with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass that he caught on a Carolina-rigged lizard while fishing in Eagle Creek.

Overall, 223 bass were caught during the tournament, including two five-bass limits.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Ohio River July 21 for the fourth of five events in the Illini Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 15-16 on Rend Lake, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points by the end of the season will collect $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Illini 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, Ozark and Choo Choo 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.