GRAND HAVEN, Mich. – The Walmart Bass Fishing League is headed to the Grand River at Grand Haven July 30 for the third of five stops in the Michigan Division. As many as 400 boaters and co-anglers will compete for top awards of up to $9,500 and $3,000, respectively.
“This tournament is probably going to be won on either White or Muskegon Lake,” said EverStart pro Chad Pipken of Holt, Mich. “The fun thing about this tournament is the variety of ways you can catch bass. White Lake is known for the deep grass. I would stay along the outer edges and use a jig or crankbait.
“There is also a lot of shallow grass where you can flip,” Pipken went on to say. “If anglers stay in the main river they can fish shallow wood, docks or other structures. The river has gotten a lot healthier over the past couple of years but I still think the tournament is going to be won on either one of the lakes.
“Largemouths are probably an easier target, but there are some nice size smallmouths that hang out on the rocks where the river meets Lake Michigan. It should take about 15 to 16 pounds to win.”
Takeoffs and weigh-ins will be at Riverside Park located at 10317 North Cedar in Grand Haven. Takeoff is scheduled for 6 a.m. while weigh-in will begin at 2 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
The Walmart BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, offering bigger prizes to those who qualify for regional championships and those who make it to one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.
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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.