Ebarb wins Louisiana Division tournament

MANY, La. – Wayne Ebarb, Many, La., topped 71 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Toledo Bend with five bass weighing 25 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him $2,496 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Ebarb caught his limit, including a 7-pound, 6-ounce bass that earned him big bass honors and $355, on a crawfish colored crankbait that he was casting to points in the northern section of the lake. The catch topped second-place boater Wade Leblanc, Gonzales, La., by an incredible 9 pounds, 7 ounces. Leblanc finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce worth $1,248.

Phil Hennigan, Center, Texas (five bass, 15 pounds, 7 ounces, $749); Jamie Laiche, Gonzales, La. (five bass, 13 pounds, 3 ounces, $599); and Carl Gautreaux, Lafayette, La., (five bass, 12 pounds, 15 ounces, $549) rounded out the top-five boaters.

Harley Wilson, Beckville, Texas, received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished 12th with a four-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces.

Mike Blanchard, Dulac, La., claimed first place and $1,219 in the 67-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Bobby Barreraz, Center, Texas, by 3 pounds, 15 ounces. Barreraz finished with a three-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces worth $610.

Milton Breaux, Crowley, La. (three bass, 9 pounds, 4 ounces, $366); Chad Gautreau, Ventress, La. (three bass, 8 pounds, 13 ounces, $293); and Bryan Jansen, Shelbyville, Texas, (three bass, 8 pounds, 9 ounces, $268) rounded out the top-five co-anglers. Jansen also earned big bass honors and $167 in his division with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Belle River April 6 for the third of five Louisiana Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 21-22 on Bayou Black 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 Louisiana Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs, Ark., where they will go up against top competitors from the Okie, Ozark and Gulf Coast 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.