McDaniel wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Mississippi Division Opener on Ross Barnett Reservoir

Pro Tim McDaniel of Grenada, Miss., won the March 3 Wal-Mart tour event on Ross Barnett Reservoir. McDaniel won $4,944 after landing a five-fish limit weighing 18 pounds. Everett Culpepper of Purvis, Miss., won the co-angler division after recording a 10-pound, 1-ounce catch. Culpepper won $2,137 for his efforts. Anglers: Everett Culpepper, Tim McDaniel.

March 3, 2001 • MLF • Archives

BRANDON, Miss. – Tim McDaniel of Grenada, Miss., outpaced 148 competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds to win $4,944 and 200 points on the boater side of the March 3 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Mississippi Division opener on Ross Barnett Reservoir.

McDaniel edged out second-place angler Joe Alford of Brandon, Miss., by 1 pound, 2 ounces in the one-day event that launched from Tommy’s Landing. Alford finished with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 14 ounces to win $2,472.

McDaniel caught his limit using spinnerbaits and black/blue pig and jigs while fishing the river channel near Cane Creek.

Kenny Churchill of Jackson, Miss., took third place and collected $1,236 with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces. Churchill also won $500 as the highest scoring participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Dwight Cranford of Jackson, Miss., placed fourth and earned $1,071 with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 13 ounces, while Robert Bridges of Brandon, Miss., placed fifth and earned $989 with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces.

Neal Andrews of Hernando, Miss., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $740 with a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass that he caught on a crankbait.

Co-angler standings

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,137 went to Everett Culpepper of Purvis, Miss., who topped 122 competitors with three bass weighing 10 pounds, 1 ounce. Second place in the division and $1,068 went to Tim Carpenter of Jackson, Miss., with two bass weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Carpenter also won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $305 with a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a salted tubebait near Cane Creek.

Co-Angler Joel Ross of Brandon, Miss., took third place and $534 with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces.

Overall, 232 bass weighing 609 pounds, 13 ounces were caught during the tournament, including seven five-bass limits.

On March 31, the BFL will visit Pickwick Lake for the second of five events in the Mississippi Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 22-23 on Lake Ferguson, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Mississippi Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 16-20 on the Red River near Shreveport, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Cowboy, Okie and Arkie divisions for a shot at qualifying for the $250,000 All-American.

Awards for the 2001 BFL season could reach $5.7 million based on full fields at each tournament.