Vida victorious in BFL Michigan Division - Major League Fishing

Vida victorious in BFL Michigan Division

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Kevin Vida of Clare, Mich., topped 112 BFL competitors Aug. 3 on the Grand River, earning $3,348 and 200 points in the Boater Division. Angler: Kevin Vida.
August 3, 2002 • MLF • Archives

WEST OLIVE, Mich. – Kevin Vida from Clare, Mich., topped 112 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Grand River with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 13 ounces. The catch earned him $3,348 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Vida caught his limit using a green pumpkin worm near weed beds. The catch topped second-place boater Mark Flick of Plainwell, Mich., by 7 ounces. Flick finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces worth $1,674. Vida also received a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Edward Rogers Jr. of Grand Rapids, Mich. (five bass, 11 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,004); Donald Hewkin of Zion, Ill. (five bass, 11 pounds, $803); and David Likens of Angola, Ind., (five bass, 9 pounds, 13 ounces, $736) rounded out the top five boaters.

Clark Wolfe of Grove City, Ohio, and Ted Angers of Clinton Township, Mich., tied for boater big-bass honors with 4-pound, 3-ounce bass. Both received $280 for their big bass. Wolfe finished in 17th place overall with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces, and Angers placed 12th with a two-bass catch weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces.

Jeff Murray of Elkhart, Ind., claimed first place and $1,674 in the 112-competitor Co-angler Division of the Aug. 3 BFL tournament on the Grand River.Jeff Murray of Elkhart, Ind., claimed first place and $1,674 in the 112-competitor Co-angler Division with four bass weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Richard Browning of Roseville, Mich., by 1 pound, 1 ounce. Browning finished with a four-bass catch weighing 7 pounds, 10 ounces worth $837.

Homer Stephens of Noblesville, Ind. (four bass, 7 pounds, 9 ounces, $502); Greg Schutkovske of Valparaiso, Ind. (three bass, 7 pounds, 7 ounces, $402); and David Hasty of Toledo, Ohio, (three bass, 4 pounds, 12 ounces, $368) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Co-angler David Painter of Kendallville, Ind., earned big-bass honors and $280 in his division with a 4-pound, 5-ounce bass. He finished seventh thanks to the one bass.

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

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Detroit River Aug. 24 for the fourth of five Michigan Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 14-15 on the Detroit 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 Michigan 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, Hoosier and Illini 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, 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.