Giamanco outfishes Super Tournament field on Atchafalaya

MORGAN CITY, La. – Boater Larry Giamanco of Walker, La., won the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Louisiana Division Super Tournament on the Atchafalaya Basin with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 21 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned Giamanco $3,859 plus a $681 Ranger contingency bonus and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Wright Patman Lake Regional Championship in Texarkana, Texas, Oct. 25-27, where he could ultimately win a new 519VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.

Giamanco caught his bass throwing a spinnerbait in shallow water.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Bill England of Denham Springs, La. (10 bass, 20-11, $2,270); Mark Richard of Bridge City, La. (eight bass, 20-11, $1,515); Tommy Robicheaux of Erath, La. (10 bass, 19-11, $1,059); and Donald Braud of Pierre Part, La. (eight bass, 18-13, $908).

Bojack Anderson of St. Gabriel, La., took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $532 for a 3-pound, 8-ounce bass that we caught on Zoom Finesse Worm.

Ray Welch of Bossier City, La., earned $2,270 as the co-angler winner thanks to seven bass weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught while fishing a Zoom Speed Craw in shallow currents and scattered grass patches.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Troy West of Prairieville, La. (six bass, 13-9, $1,135); Kirby Hebert of New Iberia, La. (seven bass, 13-7, $757); Anthony Sinitiere of Franklin, La. (four bass, 10-13, $530); and Rene Planchard of Baton Rouge, La. (five bass, 10-9, $454).

Bill McCarty of Morgan City, La., earned $266 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 3-pound, 9-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 Wright Patman 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.