Anderson wins Wal-Mart BFL Cowboy Division opener - Major League Fishing

Anderson wins Wal-Mart BFL Cowboy Division opener

Image for Anderson wins Wal-Mart BFL Cowboy Division opener
Robert Anderson, Zwolle, La., topped 200 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Toledo Bend Reservoir with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces. The catch earned him $5,000 and 200 points in the Boater Division.
February 16, 2002 • MLF • Archives

MANY, La. – Robert Anderson, Zwolle, La., topped 200 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Toledo Bend Reservoir with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces. The catch earned him $5,000 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Anderson caught his limit on a black, blue and purple jig that he was casting to standing timber in 2 to 4 feet of water. The catch topped second-place boater Stan Burgay, Timpson, Texas, by 1 pound, 5 ounces. Burgay finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces worth $2,500. He also received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Harold Allen, Shelbyville, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,500); Bryan Fox, Pineland, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,200); George Clark, Center, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,000); and George Jeane Jr., Evans, La., (five bass, 14 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,000) rounded out the top-five boaters.

Wyatt Withers, Buna, Texas, earned boater big bass honors and $1,000 with an 8-pound, 9-ounce bass that he caught on a white and chartreuse crankbait. He finished in 46th place thanks to the bass, which was his only catch.

Joe Daw, Spring, Texas, claimed first place and $2,500 in the 200-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces.Joe Daw, Spring, Texas, claimed first place and $2,500 in the 200-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces. He squeaked by second-place co-angler Reed Sartin, Austin, Texas, by 3 ounces thanks to a Carolina-rigged Zoom French fry that he was fishing in grass 12 to 15 feet deep. Sartin finished with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 9 ounces worth $1,250.

Barry Helberg, Woodlands, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 4 ounces, $750); Gary Reimers, Frisco, Texas (five bass, 12 pounds, 6 ounces, $600); and Kenny Moser, Alba, Texas, (five bass, 12 pounds, 1 ounce, $550) rounded out the top-five co-anglers.

Co-angler George Bruyn, Fort Worth, Texas, earned big bass honors and $500 in his division with a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass. Bruyn placed 14th overall with two bass weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces.

Overall, 27 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Sam Rayburn Reservoir March 16 for the second of five Cowboy Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 28-29 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir 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 Cowboy Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on the Pearl River near Slidell, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Arkie, Bama and Mississippi divisions 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.