Arning Jr. takes opening event on Rend Lake
Swetland wins co-angler title
BENTON, Ill. – Ray Arning Jr. of Walnut Hill, Ill., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 3 ounces Saturday to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Illini Division event on Rend Lake. For his victory, Arning Jr. earned $5,514.
Rounding out the top 10 pros:
2nd: John Wright, Shelbyville, Ill., five bass, 13-10, $1,757
3rd: Leroy McDuffie, McLeansboro, Ill., five bass, 13-7, $1,172 + $1,000 Evinrude Bonus
4th: Travis Gillett, Salem, Ill., five bass, 13-5, $820
5th: Robert Atchison, Whittington, Ill., five bass, 13-3, $703
6th: Kyle Danhausen, Kanakee, Ill., five bass, 12-10, $644
7th: Mike Barnes, Mackinaw, Ill., five bass, 12-9, $586
8th: Clifford Pass, Lenzburg, Ill., five bass, 12-8, $527
9th: Dan Shoraga, West Frankfort, Ill., five bass, 12-2, $469
10th: Anton Silvester, Staunton, Ill., four bass, 11-15, $410
Complete results can be found here.
Swetland takes co-angler title
Mike Swetland of Tamaroa, Ill., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 12 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to win $1,757 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers:
2nd: Roy Bradford, Bushnell, Ill., five bass, 11-10, $879
3rd: Dennis Heape, Tamaroa, Ill., five bass, 9-14, $585
4th: Jim Randle, Decatur, Ill., five bass, 8-7, $410
5th: George Osha, Steger, Ill., four bass, 8-4, $336
5th: Michael Radake, Cape Girardeau, Mo., four bass, 8-4, $336
7th: Brendon Delaney, Highland, Ill., four bass, 7-6, $293
8th: Terry Holsapple, Greenup, Ill., four bass, 7-2, $264
9th: Mike Anderson, Woodlawn, Ill., four bass, 6-11, $234
10th: Don McKinsey, Pontiac, Ill., three bass, 6-9, $205
Complete co-angler results can be found here.
The next BFL Illini Division tournament is scheduled for June 23 on Lake Shelbyville in Shelbyville, Ill. After the fifth Illini Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 4-6 Regional Championship on Cherokee Lake in Morristown, Tenn. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. The 2012 BFL All-American is being held May 17 – 19 on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
About FLW
FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2012 over the course of 191 tournaments across five tournament circuits, each providing an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water,” through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and the world’s richest fantasy sports game – FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.