KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. – Brennan Bosley of Benton, Ark., topped 93 Boater Division competitors on Table Rock Lake this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 1 ounce. He earned $5,934 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Ozark Division season finale.
After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament in first place with an opening-day catch of five bass weighing 13 pounds, 8 ounces, Bosley out-fished runner-up Jeff Martin of Galena, Mo., by 8 ounces to take the win. Bosley caught his limit on day two using a brown and purple jig. He also earned a $1,000 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Martin qualified for the final round in 12th place with four bass weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces and finished up with a four-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces to win $2,967.
Joe Gundel of Seligman, Mo. (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,607); Jerry Snider of Reeds Spring, Mo. (four bass, 9 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,360); and David McCormick of Shawnee, Kan., (four bass, 9 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,113) rounded out the top five boaters.
Eddie Fisher of Springfield, Mo., took boater big-bass honors and $930 for a 4-pound, 3-ounce bass.
David Tierney of Fayetteville, Ark., topped 93 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $2,967 thanks to a final-round catch of four bass weighing 10 pounds, 3 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,483 went to Sam Hare of Yellville, Ark., with a three-bass catch weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces, followed by Mike Finkbiner of Springfield, Mo., in third place with two bass weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces worth $803.
Mark Greene of Springfield, Mo., won the co-angler big-bass award of $465 with a 4-pound, 3-ounce bass.
Jimmy Davis Jr. of Willard, Mo., is the Ozark Division’s Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 997 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. Billy McCaghren Jr. of Mayflower, Ark., is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 1,008 points.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Ozark Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 29-Nov. 2 on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs, Ark., where they will go up against top competitors from the Louisiana, Okie and Gulf Coast 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.