MAYSVILLE, Ky. – Boater Larry Davis Jr. of Xenia, Ohio, won the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division tournament on the Ohio River Saturday with a two-bass catch weighing 6 pounds, 10 ounces. The victory earned Davis $3,020 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Kentucky Lake Regional Championship in Gilbertsville, Ky., Oct. 18-20, where he could ultimately win a new 519VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Davis used a crankbait in and around grass beds to catch his bass.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Scott Cooke of Marengo, Ohio (five bass, 6-7, $1,777); James Hailstones of Cincinnati, Ohio (five bass, 6-0, $1,185); Jared Rhode of Port Clinton, Ohio (four bass, 4-13, $829); and Keith Wheelock of Beaver Creek, Ohio (four bass, 4-7, $711).
Davis took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $455 for a 3-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Ken Garbe of Loveland, Ohio, earned $1,777 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to two bass weighing 3 pounds, 14 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Bruce Ray of London, Ohio (one bass, 2-7, $888); Aaron Stahley of Milford, Ohio (one bass, 2-6, $592); Randy Gross of Franklin, Ohio (one bass, 2-5, $415); Mark Henderson of Martinsville, Ohio (two bass, 2-4, $340); and William Spivey of Middleton, Ohio (two bass, 2-4, $340).
Ray earned $227 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 2-pound, 7-ounce bass.
The division’s fourth event will be held Aug. 11 on Sandusky Bay in Sandusky, Ohio, and the final event of the regular season will be a two-day Super Tournament held Sept. 22-23 on Sandusky Bay in Sandusky.
Following the end of regular-season competition, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on year-end points standings in the division will advance to the no-entry-fee Kentucky Lake Regional Championship where they will compete against top qualifiers from three other BFL divisions. At the Regional Championship boaters will fish for a new Ranger boat and Chevy truck and co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger boat. The top six boaters and top six co-anglers at the Regional Championship will also advance to the 2008 All-American presented by Chevy. With a total purse of $1 million, a potential $140,000 cash prize going to the winning boater and as much as $70,000 going to the winning co-angler, the All-American is one of the most prestigious and lucrative events in bass fishing. The winning boater and winning co-angler at the All-American also advance to the no-entry-fee $2 million 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. This event, featuring a top award of $1 million, is the sport’s biggest championship.
The $8.8 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League features 28 divisions nationwide. In BFL competition, boaters and co-anglers are randomly paired. Boaters supply the boat and fish from the front deck against other boaters while co-anglers compete from the back deck against other co-anglers.
Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits will offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.
Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Walmart.com.
For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.