Wehner wins Wal-Mart BFL Hoosier Division opener

Jeff Wehner (left) of Noblesville, Ind., topped 196 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Ohio River with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him $4,936 and 200 points in the Boater Division. J.D. Kyle of Greenwood, Ind., claimed first place and $2,437 in the 192-competitor Co-angler Division with three bass weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces. Anglers: Jeff Wehner, Jd Kyle.

April 27, 2002 • MLF • Archives

CANNELTON, Ind. – Jeff Wehner of Noblesville, Ind., topped 196 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Ohio River with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him $4,936 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Wehner caught his limit on black and blue jigs that he was swimming through shallow weeds. The catch topped second-place boater Bill Lowen of Addyston, Ohio, by 2 pounds, 6 ounces. Lowen finished the one-day tournament with a three-bass catch weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces worth $2,468. He also earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Dale Fess of Greenville, Ind. (three bass, 6 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,333); Tom Kellems of Cannelton, Ind. (three bass, 6 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,333); and Curt Hughes of Greenwood, Ind., (two bass, 6 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,086) rounded out the top five boaters.

Bill McDonald of Indianapolis, Ind., earned boater big bass honors and $980 with a 6-pound, 2-ounce bass that he caught on a black and red tube. He finished in sixth place overall with the one fish.

J.D. Kyle of Greenwood, Ind., claimed first place and $2,437 in the 192-competitor Co-angler Division with three bass weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Andy Heinkelein of Cincinnati, Ohio, by 3 pounds, 15 ounces. Heinkelein finished with a two-bass catch weighing 4 pounds, 15 ounces worth $1,218.

Jeramiah Sifers of Sellersburg, Ind. (two bass, 4 pounds, 5 ounces, $731); David Zarick of Seymour, Ind. (one bass, 3 pounds, 5 ounces, $585); Andy McKinley of Rising Sun, Ind. (two bass, 3 pounds, 4 ounces, $487) and Mike Williams of Lexington, Ky., (one bass, 3 pounds, 4 ounces, $487) rounded out the top five co-anglers spots.

Kyle earned co-angler big bass honors and $480 with a 4-pound bass.

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

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Patoka May 18 for the second of five Hoosier Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 7-8 on the Ohio River, 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 Hoosier Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition presented by Yamaha Oct. 15-19 on Kentucky Lake near Gilbertsville, Ky., where they will go up against top competitors from the Great Lakes, Illini and Michigan 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.