Wal-Mart BFL Mississippi Division tournament won by Ratcliff

Todd Ratcliff of Meridian, Miss., won the BFL Mississippi Division’s third regular-season stop, held May 17 on the Columbus Pool near Columbus. Ratcliff led the field of 119 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces. Angler: Todd Ratcliff.

May 17, 2003 • MLF • Archives

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Todd Ratcliff of Meridian claimed $3,476 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Mississippi Division’s third regular-season stop, held Saturday on the Columbus Pool near Columbus. Ratcliff led the field of 119 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces. Ratcliff caught his bass Saturday flipping a spinner bait.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Anthony Fulgham of Ethelsville, Ala. (four bass, 13 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,738); Chuck Koski of Brandon (five bass, 13 pounds, $1,182); James Hays of Meridian (five bass, 12 pounds, $904); and Ken Murphy of Meridian (five bass, 11 pounds, 10 ounces, $765).

Fulgham claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Rickey McKenzie of Flowood topped 113 Co-angler Division competitors with a four-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces that he caught on a white and chartreuse spinner bait in stained water and pockets off the main channel. McKenzie earned $1,684 for the win.

Tied for second place were Marcus Young of Meridian (five bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce) and Jerry Riddle Jr. of Jayess (four bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce). Each received $707 for their catch. Michael Miller of Meridian finished fourth with a three-bass catch weighing 8 pounds that earned him $438. Charles Conn of Pearl finished fifth with a three-bass catch weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces that earned him $371.

Mark Peagler of Flowood earned boater big-bass honors and $595 with a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass, and Michael Pfeiffer of Columbus earned co-angler big-bass honors and $283 in his division with a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass.

The Mississippi Division will make its fourth regular-season stop June 21 on Lake Ferguson in Greenville. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 6-7 on Ross Barnett Reservoir in Brandon. 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 Mississippi Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Louisiana, Music City and Savannah River 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.