GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – David Young of Mayfield, Ky., topped 79 Boater Division competitors on Kentucky and Barkley lakes this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 7 ounces. He earned $5,412 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League LBL Division season finale.
After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament in fourth place with an opening-day catch of three bass weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce, Young out-fished runner-up Tommy Ellis of Paris, Tenn., by 2 pounds, 2 ounces to take the win. Young caught his limit on day two using a chartreuse and white spinner bait. He also won a $1,000 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program and another $1,000 from GARMIN for using a fixed-mount GARMIN GPS/sounder.
Ellis qualified for the final round in fifth place with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces and finished up with a three-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 5 ounces to win $2,706.
Ramie Colson Jr. of Cadiz, Ky. (five bass, 9 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,466); Stephen Whitaker of Scottsville, Ky. (three bass, 9 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,240); and Steve Hinesley of Farmersburg, Ind., (three bass, 7 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,015) rounded out the top five boaters.
Colson won the boater big-bass award and collected $790 with a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass that he caught on a 1/2-ounce jig.
Patrick Smith of Murfreesboro, Tenn., topped 79 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $2,706 thanks to a final-round catch of five bass weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,353 went to John Elliott Jr. of Paducah, Ky., with a four-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 11 ounces, followed by Michael McAtee of Waverly, Ky., in third place with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces worth $733.
Richard Meuth of Henderson, Ky., won the co-angler big-bass award of $395 with a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass.
Young is the LBL Division’s Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 1,083 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. Dan Edington of Gilbertsville, Ky., is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 981 points.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the LBL Division will advance to regional competition presented by BC Powder Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Wheeler Lake near Rogersville, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bulldog, Music City and Shenandoah 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.