Worley wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Super Tournament on Lake Truman

Steve Worley of St. Joseph, Mo., won the Boater Division at the Sept. 8-9 Wal-Mart BFL Super Tournament on Lake Truman. Worley, who netted a final-day catch of 9 pounds, 12 ounces, took home a check for $3,982. Angler: Steve Worley.

September 9, 2001 • MLF • Archives

CLINTON, Mo. – Steve Worley of St. Joseph, Mo., topped 48 competitors on Lake Truman this weekend with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces to win $3,982 and 400 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Plains Division season finale.

Worley caught his bass on the final day using a June bug-colored crankbait around shallow points and stumps.

Michael Reno of Topeka, Kan., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $480 with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass that he caught off a shallow stump on a green-pumpkin worm.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,942 went to Steve Marler of Fenton, Mo., who topped 44 competitors with a final round catch of two bass weighing 4 pounds, 4 ounces. Marler also won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $220 with a 3-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a spinnerbait while fishing ledges in 6 to 8 feet of water.

Reno also won $500 as the highest-finishing boater in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished in fourth place.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Plains 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, Hoosier and Great Lakes divisions for a shot at qualifying for the BFL All-American, which features an estimated purse of $345,000 and ranks as one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling. The top two boaters and co-anglers may also qualify for the Ranger M1 tournament in Mobile, Ala., Feb. 27-March 2, 2002, where they can win up to $1 million in the world’s richest freshwater tournament.

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

Sponsors of the 2001 Wal-Mart BFL are ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Black & Decker, Chevy Trucks, CITGO, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, Garmin, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Pepsi, Poulan, Pure Fishing, Ranger Boats, Snickers Cruncher Bar, Stren, Shop-Vac, Timex, US Bank, Visa, Weed Eater, Wrangler and Yamaha Outboards. ACDelco is an associate sponsor of the Wal-Mart BFL.