GOLCONDA, Ill. – Wayne Shaw of Urbana, Ill., topped 96 Boater Division competitors on the Ohio River this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces. He earned $5,998 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Illini Division season finale.
After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament in 14th place with an opening-day catch of four bass weighing 5 pounds, 12 ounces, Shaw out-fished runner-up Bill Walker of Mulkeytown, Ill., by 7 ounces to take the win. Shaw caught his limit on day two using a jig in 2 to 5 feet of water. He also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Walker qualified for the final round in 11th place with four bass weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces and finished up with a five-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces to win $2,999.
Danny Livingston of Advance, Mo. (five bass, 6 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,624); John Wright of Shelbyville, Ill. (five bass, 6 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,375); and Mike Deushane of East Peoria, Ill., (four bass, 6 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,125) rounded out the top five boaters.
Jeff Turner of Plainfield, Ill., won the boater big-bass award and collected $960 with a 4-pound bass.
Andy Allen of Newton, Ill., topped 96 competitors in the Co-Angler division to take first place and $2,999 thanks to a final-round catch of three bass weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,499 went to Chris Miller of Neoga, Ill., with a four-bass catch weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces, followed by Robert McWhorter of Belleville, Ill., in third place with three bass weighing 4 pounds worth $812.
Randy Spurlock of Vienna, Ill., won the co-angler big-bass award of $480 with a 3-pound, 3-ounce bass.
Walker is the Illini Division’s Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 1,021 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. Dave Dobill of Royalton, Ill., is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 965 points.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Illini Division 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 Michigan divisions for a shot at qualifying for the BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative postseason 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, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.