Tidwell wins Walmart BFL event on Lake Russell - Major League Fishing

Tidwell wins Walmart BFL event on Lake Russell

Smith winning co-angler
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Boater Michael Tidwell of Walhalla, S.C., earned $4,428 as winner of the April 2 BFL Savannah River Division tournament on Lake Russell. Angler: Michael Tidwell.
April 2, 2011 • MLF • Archives

Boater Michael Tidwell of Walhalla, S.C., caught a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 4 ounces April 2 to win $4,428 in the BFL Savannah River Division tournament on Lake Russell. Tidwell was fishing the backs of coves near Bearver Dam Creek with Zoom Trick Worms to sack his limit.

Rounding out the remaining top 10 boaters:

2nd: Jonathan Botts, Abbeville, S.C., five bass, 12-11, $2,214

3rd: Chris Baxter, Winder, Ga., five bass, 12-2, $2,478*

4th: Jason Burroughs, Hodges, S.C., five bass, 12, $1,033

5th: Mike Harris, Watkinsville, Ga., five bass, 11-13, $886

6th: William Fordree, Six Mile, S.C., five bass, 11-6, $812

7th: Anthony Brooks, Cornelia, Ga., five bass, 11-3, $701

7th: Jody Hughes, Baldwin, Ga., five bass, 11-3, $701

9th: Keith Hutto, Martinez, Ga., five bass, 10-15, $590

10th: Julious Lively Jr., Lincolnton, Ga., five bass, 10-14, $517

*Includes a $1,000 Evinrude bonus

Smith winning co-angler

Britt Smith of Hodges, S.C., earned $2,214 as winner of the Co-angler Division in the April 2 BFL Savannah River event.

Britt Smith of Hodges, S.C., caught a five-bass limit weighing 11 pounds, 5 ounces to win $2,214 in the Co-angler Division. Smith was using spinnerbaits in the backs of pockets to catch his limit.

Rounding out the remaining top 10 co-anglers:

2nd: Jeff Rikard, Leesville, S.C., five bass, 9-12, $1,107

3rd: George Myers, Duluth, Ga., five bass, 9-3, $738

4th: Nathaniel Moore, Fairview, N.C., five bass, 8-14, $517

5th: Tracy Webb, Elberton, Ga., five bass, 8-13, $443

6th: Tommy Milligan, Seneca, S.C., five bass, 8-10, $387

6th: Chris Nunziato, Elberton, Ga., five bass, 8-10, $387

8th: Bill Hawkins, Piedmont, S.C., three bass, 8, $332

9th: Drew Williams, Clemson, S.C., five bass, 7-15, $295

10th: Michael Smith, Piedmont, S.C., five bass, 7-13, $258

Coming up

The next BFL Savannah River Division tournament is scheduled for April 30 on Lake Hartwell in Lavonia, Ga. After the fifth Savannah River Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 20-22 Regional Championship on Lake Chickamauga in Chattanooga, Tenn. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger 198VX with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy pick-up, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger 198VX.

For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow FLW Outdoors on Facebook at Facebook.com/BassFishingLeague and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWOutdoors.

About FLW Outdoors

FLW Outdoors is the largest tournament-fishing organization in the world, offering anglers worldwide the opportunity to compete for millions over the course of 191 tournaments in 2011. FLW Outdoors has taken fishing mainstream with the world’s richest fantasy sports game, FLW Fantasy Fishing at FantasyFishing.com, where competitors can play for free as well as sign up for Player’s Advantage to gain an edge.