Jackson wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Lake Mohave

Pro Andrew Jackson of Las Vegas, NV, won the April 21 Wal-Mart BLF tour event at Lake Mohave after recording a catch of 16 pounds. Jackson won $2,304 for his efforts.

April 21, 2001 • MLF • Archives

Laughlin, Nev. – Andrew Jackson of Las Vega, Nev., outpaced 42 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 16 pounds to win $2,304 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Colorado River Division tournament on Lake Mohave.

Jackson edged out Ray Lillard of Needles, Calif., by 1 pound, 1 ounce in the one-day event that set out from Katherine’s Landing. Lillard finished with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces to win $1,152. Jackson, a first time BFL winner, caught his limit on crankbaits and worms. He also won the boater Big Bass Award and collected an additional $220 with a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass.

Jack Trahan of Kingman, Ariz., took third place and collected $576 with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 9 ounces. Dennis Kolender of Henderson, Nev., placed fourth and earned $500 with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce, while Tim Klinger of Boulder City, Nev., placed fifth with five bass weighing 14 pounds.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,074 went to Fletcher West of Fort Mohave, Ariz., who topped 42 competitors with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Second place in the division and $537 went to Gary Collins of Moorpark, Calif., with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces, while Debbie Blanchard of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., took third place and $268 with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 1 ounce.

BFL rookie Michael Tatum of Phoenix won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $102 with a 4-pound, 3-ounce bass that he caught out of Cottonwood Cove.

Boater Gayle Janes of Palm Desert, Calif., won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished in seventh place with four bass weighing 13 pounds, 1 ounce.

Overall, 151 bass were caught during the tournament, including 12 five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit Lake Mead June 9 for the fourth of five events in the Colorado River Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Oct. 6-7 on Lake Mead, 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 Colorado River Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 23-27 on Lake Shasta near Redding, Calif., where they will go up against top competitors from the Western Division 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.