Dearman takes Sam Rayburn Super Tournament - Major League Fishing

Dearman takes Sam Rayburn Super Tournament

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Slade Dearman of Onalaska, Texas, topped 154 Boater Division competitors on Sam Rayburn Reservoir to earn $8,088 and 300 points for the win at the BFL Cowboy Division season finale. Angler: Slade Dearman.
September 28, 2002 • MLF • Archives

JASPER, Texas – Slade Dearman of Onalaska, Texas, topped 154 Boater Division competitors on Sam Rayburn Reservoir this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 5 ounces. He earned $8,088 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division season finale.

Dearman out-fished runner-up Jim Behnken of Garden Ridge, Texas, by 2 pounds, 9 ounces to take the win. Behnken finished up with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces to win $4,044. Behnken also earned a $500 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Kraig Welborn of Deridder, La. (five bass, 13 pounds, 9 ounces, $2,191); John Christ of Huntsville, Texas (five bass, 11 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,854); and George Jeane Jr. of Evans, La., (four bass, 11 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,517) rounded out the top five boaters.

Chris Wilkerson of Livingston, Texas, took boater big-bass honors and $1,540 for an 8-pound, 2-ounce bass.

Darryl Hunter of Kingwood, Texas, topped 153 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $1,540 during the BFL Cowboy Division season finale.Darryl Hunter of Kingwood, Texas, topped 153 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $1,540 thanks to a final-round catch of four bass weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Second place in the division and $2,009 went to Bobby Parrish of Center, Texas, with a four-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces, followed by Neil Ward Jr. of Cypress, Texas, in third place with two bass weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces worth $1,088.

Barry Helberg of The Woodlands, Texas, won the co-angler big-bass award of $765 with a 7-pound, 2-ounce bass.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Cowboy 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, Bama 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.