EUFAULA, Ala. – Mark Stillwell of Phenix City, Ala., topped 88 Boater Division competitors on Lake Eufaula this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 11 ounces. He earned $5,741 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Bama Division season finale.
Stillwell caught his limit on day two using a spinner bait. He out-fished runner-up Curtis Nichols of Weston, Ga., by 4 ounces to take the win. Nichols finished up with a four-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 7 ounces to win $2,870.
Matthew Herren of Trussville, Ala. (five bass, 8 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,055); Brannon Hurst of Oxford, Ala. (four bass, 8 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,316); and Brian Merriman of Falkville, Ala., (two bass, 7 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,076) rounded out the top five boaters.
Herren received a $500 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Jay Smith of Fort Payne, Ala., took boater big-bass honors and $880 for a 7-pound, 11-ounce bass he caught on a crankbait.
Edwin Hunt of Duluth, Ga., topped 88 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $2,870 thanks to a final-round catch of four bass weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,435 went to Jason McGregory of Moulton, Ala., with a five-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces, followed by John Howard of Alexander City, Ala., in third place with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 9 ounces worth $777.
Hunt won the co-angler big-bass award of $440 with a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Bama Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on the Pearl River near Slidell, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Arkie, Cowboy and Mississippi 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.