CLEWISTON, Fla. – Brent Propst of Port St. Lucie claimed $4,910 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Gator Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on Lake Okeechobee near Clewiston. Propst led the field of 195 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 28 pounds, 14 ounces.
Propst caught his bass Saturday pitching a Gambler Flapp’n Shad at the north end of the lake. He earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.
Rene Gonzalez of Lauderhill claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Rounding out the top five boaters are John Burke of Fort Lauderdale (five bass, 26 pounds, 4 ounces, $2,455); Bobby Lane of Lakeland (five bass, 22 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,670); James Medlin of West Palm Beach (five bass, 22 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,277); and Bryan Holden of Okeechobee (five bass, 22 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,080).
Mark Hester of Okeechobee topped 195 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 21 pounds, 5 ounces that he caught flipping with Gambler baits. Hester earned $2,455 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Andres Perez of Casselberry (five bass, 19 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,228); Terry Bell of Sebring (five bass, 18 pounds, 14 ounces, $835); Chuck Ervin of Sunrise (five bass, 18 pounds, 6 ounces, $638); and Gregory Gooden of Miami (five bass, 18 pounds, 1 ounce, $540).
Bob Broughton of Clewiston earned boater big-bass honors and $975 with a 8-pound, 5-ounce bass, and Billy Cason of High Springs earned co-angler big-bass honors and $488 in his division with an 8-pound, 14-ounce bass.
The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Oct. 4-5 on Lake Okeechobee in Okeechobee. Following the regular season, the boater with the most points will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points following the regular season will earn $500.
The top 30 Gator Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 21-25 on Clark Hill Lake near Thomson, Ga., where they will go up against top competitors from the Choo Choo, Mountain and Piedmont divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.
As much as $6 million will be awarded in the 2003 Wal-Mart BFL.
Editor’s Note: Ranger Cup award winners are pending verification by Ranger Boats and thus are unofficial at this time.