Fredieu wins Louisiana Division season opener on Atchafalaya Basin

The 2004 BFL Louisiana Division season kicked off Feb. 21 on the Atchafalaya Basin near Morgan City, and James Fredieu of Saint Martinville claimed the win thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces. Angler: James Fredieu.

February 21, 2004 • MLF • Archives

MORGAN CITY, La. – The 2004 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Louisiana Division season kicked off Saturday on the Atchafalaya Basin near Morgan City, and James Fredieu of Saint Martinville claimed the win thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces. He bested 164 Boater Division competitors to earn $4,317 and 200 points.

Fredieu caught his tournament-winning bass by flipping a 5/8-ounce black and red tube through mats in Bayou Sally. He also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats and a $500 bonus from Yamaha for his participation in the Ranger Cup incentive program and for running a Yamaha outboard. Garmin also awarded Fredieu a $1,000 bonus as part of the Garmin Grand contingency program for using only Garmin electronics during the tournament.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Chad Porto of Donaldsonville (five bass, 13 pounds, 7 ounces, $2,158); Jody Floyd of Zachary (five bass, 13 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,468); Ross Cagle of Downsville (five bass, 13 pounds, $1,122); and Stacy Leonard of Pierre Part (five bass, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, $950).

Blake Foret of Amelia claimed Boater Division big-bass honors and $820 thanks to a 6-pound, 8-ounce bass that he caught on a creature bait that he was filliping to hydrilla. He finished the tournament in seventh place with a total of three bass weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces.

Alvin Pennison of Morgan City earned $2,076 as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to a five-bass catch that weighed 9 pounds, 2 ounces. He edged past 156 Co-angler Division competitors by flipping a June bug Brush Hog around grass mats.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are John Stephens of Baton Rouge (three bass, 7 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,038 Ted Eichin of New Orleans (four bass, 7 pounds, 10 ounces, $706); David White of Lafayette (four bass, 7 pounds, 6 ounces, $540); and Kevin King of Gonzales (three bass, 6 pounds, 13 ounces, $457).

Curtis Fletcher of Albany earned $390 as the Co-angler Division big-bass winner with a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass that he caught on a Zoom Craw Worm while fishing in Bayou Black. He finished the tournament in 10th place on the strength of the catch.

The Louisiana Division’s next stop will be April 3 on Bayou Segnette in Westwego. Each BFL division features four one-day events followed by a two-day Super Tournament to round out the regular season. The top 30 Louisiana Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Toledo Bend regional near Many, Oct. 12-16, where they will compete against Arkie, Okie and Ozark division anglers for a slot in the 2005 All-American. The winning boater at the All-American receives $100,000 cash, making it one of the most lucrative and prestigious championship events in bass fishing.

Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points, with 200 points going to the winner, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on except for Super Tournaments, which award 300 points to the winner, 299 for second, 298 for third, and so on. These points determine angler standings. The Louisiana Division boater who amasses the most points at the end of the regular season will earn $1,000 as the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, and the co-angler earning the most points will earn $500 as the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division.

The $6.3 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League features 24 divisions nationwide. In BFL competition, boaters and co-anglers are randomly paired, with boaters supplying the boat and fishing against other boaters and co-anglers fishing from the back deck against other co-anglers. For more information or to enter a tournament, call (270) 252-1000 or browse this Web site.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its six tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.com’s sponsor page.