Torkleson wins Wal-Mart BFL Okie Division tourney

EUFAULA, Okla. – Chris Torkleson of Sand Springs, Okla., topped 150 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Eufaula with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces. The catch earned him $4,047 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Torkleson also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, boosting his total winnings to $5,047. He caught his limit on a 1/2-ounce white spinner bait while fishing water less than 1 foot deep. The catch topped second-place boater Terry Butcher of Talala, Okla., by 7 ounces. Butcher finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces worth $2,023.

Bob Noble of Nowata, Okla. (five bass, 11 pounds, $1,214); Ray Scheide of Cookson, Okla. (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces, $971); and Danny Giacomo of McAlester, Okla., (five bass, 10 pounds, 10 ounces, $890) rounded out the top five boaters.

Joe Perkins of Owasso, Okla., earned boater big bass honors and $750 with a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass that he caught on a watermelon colored Brush Hog. He finished in 50th place thanks to the fish.

Gary Horton of Enid, Okla., and John Stottlemyre of Edmond, Okla., tied for first place in the 148-competitor Co-angler Division with 7 pounds, 1 ounce each. Horton caught three bass on a white spinner bait, and Stottlemyre caught four bass on a black spinner bait. Both men received $1,497.

Randy Smith of Joplin, Mo. (four bass, 6 pounds, 14 ounces, $599); Kayse Potter of Stratford, Okla. (three bass, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, $479); and Ryan Stinchcomb of Greenwood, Ark., (three bass, 6 pounds, 5 ounces, $439) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Co-angler J.C. Worley of Idabel, Okla., earned big bass honors and $370 in his division with a 3-pound, 4-ounce bass. He finished 23rd thanks to the fish.

Overall, 14 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Grand Lake June 15 for the fourth of five Okie Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 7-8 on Keystone Lake, 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 Okie 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 Louisiana, 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.