Wagner wins Columbus Pool Regional, advances to All-American

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Boater Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tenn., leads the list of six anglers who earned a ticket to the 2005 All-American at this weekend’s Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Columbus Pool Regional. Qualifying anglers from four BFL divisions advanced to the regional, and Wagner topped the leaderboard with a three-day catch of 13 bass weighing 24 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him a new Chevy truck and an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger boat.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers from the Cowboy, Illini, Music City and Seminole divisions comprised the Columbus Pool Regional field, and Wagner ranked 21st in Music City Division points standings to earn a regional berth. He caught 7 pounds, 6 ounces on day one and followed that up with another 11 pounds, 6 ounces on day two, and he wrapped up the win with a final-day catch that weighed 6 pounds, 1 ounce. He caught his tournament-winning bass on a Junior Scum Frog and a white spinnerbait.

Rounding out Boater Division anglers heading to the All-American are Jeff Wooldridge of Lafayette, La. (15 bass, 24 pounds, 1 ounce, $5,000); Eric White of Anderson, Ala. (11 bass, 23 pounds, 6 ounces, $2,500); Rick Byrnes of Tamaroa, Ill. (13 bass, 23 pounds, 4 ounces, $2,000); Ryan Worthington of Middleburg, Fla. (12 bass, 23 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,500); and Mark Richards of Houston (eight bass, 18 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,100).

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

Crosby, Texas, resident Tobe Prescott Jr. won the Co-angler Division with a three-day total of seven bass weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces. He caught his winning stringer on a Horny Toad in the lily pads. Prescott advanced to the regional from the Cowboy Division, where he ranked 29th in year-end points standings. He won an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger boat for his regional win.

Rounding out the top six co-anglers who will advance to the All-American are Joe Parker of Trenton, Fla. (10 bass, 15 pounds, 5 ounces, $2,500); Anton Silvester of Carbondale, Ill. (six bass, 14 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,250); Danny Joiner of Irving, Texas (nine bass, 12 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,000); Aaron McManaway of Altamont, Ill. (seven bass, 11 pounds, 6 ounces, $750); and Mark Heimburger of Sidney, Ill. (six bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces, $550).

All-American qualifiers from the Columbus Pool Regional will join competitors that advance from five other regionals plus the Chevy Trucks Wild Card for an All-American field of 42 boaters and 42 co-anglers. The All-American is one of the most prestigious and storied events in competitive bass fishing as well as one of the most lucrative – the winning boater will earn $100,000 cash and the winning boater will earn $50,000 cash. The location and date of the 2005 All-American will be announced at a later date.

In regional competition, the full field competes for two days to determine the top six that advance to day three, where they compete for position and prizes. All six automatically advance to the All-American.

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, call (270) 252-1000 or browse this Web site.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its eight 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.