Twenty-nine states represented
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – For 100 of the nation’s hottest weekend bass anglers May 10-12 will be an ultimate fishing fantasy as they take an expenses-paid trip to Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Ark., for the $345,000 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American.
Many of the competitors, who come from 29 states, have labored through five regular season tournaments and a regional championship to make it to the prestigious All-American. Their effort, however demanding, will have been time well spent as the winning boater will receive $100,000 eligibility to advance to the 2002 Wal-Mart FLW Tour – the most lucrative bass fishing series in history. The top co-angler will collect $50,000 and eligibility to advance to the Co-Angler Division of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour.
Unlike their pro counterparts, who often have lucrative endorsement deals and fish for a living, Wal-Mart BFL anglers are representative of average working Americans. They are true competitors who come from all walks of life. And, above all, they love to fish. In that respect they are like 55 million other Americans who throw a hook and line into the water each year. These anglers, however, are some of the best bass fishermen in the country.
All-American qualifiers represent the best of thousands of participants in 22 BFL divisions nationwide. Each boater and co-angler earned a berth in the championship by finishing 30th or better in his division after four one-day qualifying tournaments and a two-day super tournament in 2000. Each boater and co-angler then had to finish eighth or better at one of five three-day regional championships. A sixth (Western) regional advanced four boaters and co-anglers to the All-American, and six boaters and co-anglers who failed to qualify for a regional championship advanced through the Chevy Trucks Wild Card Regional.
“Qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American is one of the most difficult challenges a bass angler can undertake,” says Charlie Evans, chief operating officer for Operation Bass. “The people who qualify are some of the best tournament anglers in the country.”
The full field of 50 boaters and 50 co-anglers will compete for two days at the All-American with only the top five boaters advancing to the final day. Competition will start May 10 following one day of practice on Lake Hamilton. The boater with the heaviest one-day catch on Saturday will be crowned the champion. The co-angler with the heaviest two-day total catch Friday will be declared the winner of that division.
Four boaters and four co-anglers at the All-American will also be vying for the CITGO National Points Championship. Boaters Jeremiah Kindy of Benton, Ark.; Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga.; Jim Carnell of Muskogee, Okla.; and Paul Redwine of Crab Orchard, Tenn., each topped their division during the regular season. As divisional points champions they will be competing for the CITGO title and $10,000. Co-anglers Billy Joe Boley of Dover, Ark.; Rob Sierschula of Huber Heights, Ohio; Randy Kelly of Inola, Okla.; and August Pflum of Fond Du Lac, Wis., each topped their division and will be competing for the CITGO co-angler title and $5,000. The CITGO National Points Championship goes to the highest finishing divisional points leader (boater and co-angler) at the All-American.
Last spring Wal-Mart announced its title sponsorship of the popular Red Man Tournament Trail series, which has acted as a proving ground for bass fishing’s brightest stars since the first All-American in 1983. Many All-American champions, including Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park, Texas, who was recently featured on a special collectors edition Kellogg’s Corn FlakesÒ box with NASCAR great Terry Labonte, have gone on to be top contenders in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour.
Awards for the 2001 Wal-Mart BFL season could reach $5.7 million based on full fields at each tournament. Additionally, Ranger Boats will award a new Ranger 518VX Comanche bass boat to the highest placing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program at the All-American. Ranger Cup participants are also eligible to win a $500 to $1,000 bonus at each regular season Wal-Mart BFL tournament.
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Tournament field: BFL All-American, May 10-12, Lake Hamilton