Watson wins Wal-Mart BFL Western Division tourney

SHASTA LAKE, Calif. – Chuck Watson of Maryville, Calif., topped 59 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Shasta with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces. The catch earned him $2,234 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Watson caught his limit while fishing wind-swept points. The catch topped second-place boater Gary Haraguchi of Fremont, Calif., by 6 ounces. Haraguchi finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce worth $1,117.

Greg Gutierrez of Red Bluff, Calif. (five bass, 10 pounds, 6 ounces, $670); Jim Davis of Gilroy, Calif. (five bass, 10 pounds, $536); and Jesse Hoover of San Leandro, Calif., (five bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $492) rounded out the top five boaters.

Jeffrey Lamy of San Jose, Calif., earned boater big bass honors and $295 with a 3-pound, 14-ounce bass. He finished in 11th place overall with five bass weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces.

Steven smith of Acampo, Calif., received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished seventh with a five-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 6 ounces.

Dwayne Bell of Palo Cedro, Calif., claimed first place and $1,117 in the 59-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Russell Jeffers of Grass Valley, Calif., by 3 pounds, 11 ounces. Jeffers finished with a five-bass catch weighing 7 pounds, 12 ounces worth $559.

Carlos Delgado of Knightsen, Calif. (five bass, 7 pounds, 10 ounces, $335); Darren Adams of San Jose, Calif. (five bass, 7 pounds, 4 ounces, $268); Geoff Gibson of San Jose, Calif. (five bass, 7 pounds, $223); and Roy Lim of San Bruno, Calif., (five bass, 7 pounds, $223) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Bell earned co-angler big bass honors and $147 with a 3-pound bass.

Overall, 101 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Clear Lake Oct. 12-23 for the Western Division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament, after which the boater with the most points 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 Western Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Nov. 12-16 on Lake Havasu near Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where they will go up against top competitors from the Colorado River division 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.