Christian wins Wal-Mart BFL Bulldog Division tourney - Major League Fishing

Christian wins Wal-Mart BFL Bulldog Division tourney

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Tony Christian of Hull, Ga., topped 194 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Sinclair with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him $4,886 and 200 points in the Boater Division. Angler: Tony Christian.
May 11, 2002 • MLF • Archives

MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. – Tony Christian of Hull, Ga., topped 194 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Sinclair with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him $4,886 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Christian also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program and a $1,000 bonus from GARMIN for using a fixed-mount GARMIN GPS/Sounder. He caught his limit, which earned him a total of $6,886 cash, on a white spinner bait and fluke while fishing docks and wood cover.

The catch topped second-place boater Chris Daves of Macon, Ga., by 4 pounds. Daves finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces worth $2,443. He also earned big bass honors and $970 with a 7-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a white floating worm.

David Lowery of Columbus, Ga. (five bass, 11 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,466); Kenny Holloway of Eatonton, Ga. (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,173); and Charlie Williams of LaGrange, Ga., (five bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,075) rounded out the top five boaters.

Brad Stalnaker of Milledgeville, Ga., claimed first place and $2,443 in the 194-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 15 ounces.Brad Stalnaker of Milledgeville, Ga., claimed first place and $2,443 in the 194-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 15 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Larry Stowers of Stockbridge, Ga., by 1 pound thanks to a green pumpkin Brush Hog that he was flipping to docks and stumps in Rocky and Allen creeks. Stowers finished with a five-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 15 ounces worth $1,221.

Robbie Osborne of Conyers, Ga. (five bass, 8 pounds, 9 ounces, $659); Russell Popham of Austell, Ga. (five bass, 8 pounds, 9 ounces, $659); and Vincent Martin of Woodstock, Ga., (five bass, 8 pounds, 8 ounces, $537) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Co-angler Rod Spicer of Cumming, Ga., earned big bass honors and $485 in his division with a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass. He finished 34th with two bass weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces.

Overall, 116 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit West Point Lake June 15 for the fourth of five Bulldog Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Oct. 5-6 on Lake Eufaula, 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 Bulldog Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition presented by BC Powder Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Wheeler Lake near Rogersville, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the LBL, Music City and Shenandoah 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.