Edwards tops tournament in Wal-Mart BFL Hoosier Division

T.J. Edwards of Waldron, Ind., topped 176 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors June 22 on Lake Monroe with two bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces and took home a check for $4,546. Rich Fye of Galveston, Ind., claimed first place and $2,273 in the 176-competitor Co-angler Division with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces. Angler: T.j. Edwards.

June 29, 2002 • MLF • Archives

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – T.J. Edwards of Waldron, Ind., topped 176 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Monroe with two bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him $4,546 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Edwards caught his bass flipping a worm to bushes. The catch topped second-place boater Gary Byard of Versailles, Ind., by 13 ounces. Byard finished the one-day tournament with a four-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces worth $2,273.

Todd Hensley of New Albany, Ind. (three bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,364); David Willsey of Greenwood, Ind. (four bass, 8 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,091); and Gary McGhee of Metamora, Ind., (two bass, 8 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,000) rounded out the top five boaters.

McGhee earned boater big bass honors and $880 with a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass that he caught using a Cotton Cordell Rattlin’ Spot. Hensley received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Rich Fye of Galveston, Ind., claimed first place and $2,273 in the 176-competitor Co-angler Division with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 5 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Mark Barnard of Laurel, Ind., by 10 ounces. Barnard finished with a two-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces worth $1,136.

Andy Heinkelein of Cincinnati (three bass, 7 pounds, 8 ounces, $682); David Crone of Georgetown, Ind. (three bass, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, $545); and Ray Olsen of Memphis, Ind., (three bass, 6 pounds, 4 ounces, $500) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Barnard earned big bass honors and $440 in his division with a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Ohio River July 27 for the fourth 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.

Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, GARMIN, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley, Eagle Claw, Hover-Lure, Laker, Maxwell House, Plano and Solar Bat.