JASPER, Ind. – Boater Scott Spayd of Ferdinand, Ind., won the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division Super Tournament on Patoka Lake with a two-day catch of seven bass weighing 24 pounds, 3 ounces. The victory earned Spayd $5,156 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.
Spayd was throwing a black and blue jig to catch his limit.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio (nine bass, 22-11, $3,033); Justin Brown of Borden, Ind. (seven bass, 22-3, $2,024); Frank McClain of Scottsburg, Ind. (eight bass, 21-8, $1,415); and Aaron Ault of Delphi, Ind. (eight bass, 20-12, $1,213).
Tom Forrester of Bloomington, Ind., took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $832 for a 5-pound, 10-ounce bass.
Brian Daugherty of Brookville, Ind., earned $3,033 as the co-angler winner thanks to six bass weighing 17 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught while throwing a Rat-L-Trap in and around grass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Alan Woodford of Winslow, Ind. (five bass, 16-7, $1,517); Mark Heidt of Versailles, Ind. (six bass, 15-15, $1,010); Rocky Martin of Richland, Ind. (six bass, 15-14, $708); and William Southworth of Shelbyville, Ind. (six bass, 14-5, $607).
Steven Littrell of Avon, Ind., earned $416 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass.
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.