Jones wins Wal-Mart BFL Colorado River Division opener on Lake Havasu

Micah Jones of Kingman, Ariz., won first place in the Boater Division at the Wal-Mart BFL tour event on Lake Havasu. Jones, who landed a five-fish catch weighing 12 pounds, won $2,496. Angler: Micah Jones.

February 2, 2002 • MLF • Archives

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – Micah Jones, Kingman, Ariz., topped 66 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Havasu with a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds. The catch landed Jones $2,496 and 200 points in the tournament’s Boater Division.

Jones caught his limit, which topped second place boater Michael Lionetti, Henderson, Nev., by 6 ounces, while pitching a red tube bait. Lionetti finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces worth $1,248.

Darius Arberry, Las Vegas, Nev., took third and $749 with two bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces. Arberry also earned boater big bass honors and $355 with a 7-pound largemouth that he caught on a 5/8-ounce jig while fishing shallow stumps. James Savoini, Prescott, Ariz., and Jack Trahan, Kingman, Ariz., tied for fourth with identical five-bass limits weighing 10 pounds, 1 ounce. Savoini and Trahan each received $574. Trahan also earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Dennis Miller, Las Vegas, Nev., took first place and $1,110 in the 66-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 10 ounces. Clay Hubbard, Rancho Mirage, Calif., finished second with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces worth $555. Danny Hensley, Parker, Ariz. (three bass, 5 pounds, 12 ounces, $333); Tony Richards, Vista, Calif. (three bass, 5 pounds, 8 ounces, $266); and Jason Marquez, Lake Havasu, Ariz. (two bass, 5 pounds, 3 ounces, $244), rounded out the top-five co-anglers.

Bill Provax, Gilbert, Ariz., earned co-angler big bass honors and $152 with a 3-pound, 15-ounce bass that he caught on a purple 3/8-ounce jig while fishing shallow stumps in the lake’s lower end.

Overall, seven five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Martinez March 9 for the second of five Colorado River Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 14-15 on Lake Mead, will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” Points Leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top-30 Colorado River Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Nov. 12-16 on Lake Havasu where they will go up against top competitors from the Western Division for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling.

2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.

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