Caruso wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Lake Eufaula

Brian Caruso of Oklahoma City, Okla., took home first place in the Boater Division at the June 9 Wal-Mart BLF tournament on Lake Eufaula. Caruso, who turned in a catch weighing 12 pounds, 15 ounces, won $4,676.

June 9, 2001 • MLF • Archives

EUFAULA, Okla. – Brian Caruso of Oklahoma City, Okla., outpaced 140 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 15 ounces to win $4,676 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Okie Division tournament on Lake Eufaula.

Caruso edged out Wayne Diffee of Oakhurst, Okla., by 2 pounds, 14 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Eufaula Cove. Diffee finished with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 1 ounce to win $2,338. Caruso caught his limit under cloudy skies while fishing a neon slugo around bushes in 4 feet of water.

Mike Tyner of Stillwater, Okla., took third place and collected $1,169 with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces. Matt Carroll of Tulsa, Okla., and John Vick of Inola, Okla., tied for fourth and earned $974 each with five bass weighing 9 pounds. Vick also won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Tyner won the boater Big Bass Award and collected an additional $700 with a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass that he caught on a 3/8-ounce jig with a hand-poured blue trailer.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,341 went to Jim Dillingham of Oklahoma City, who topped 137 competitors with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 8 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,171 went to Evan Williams of Shawnee, Okla., with three bass weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces, while Jerry Eakle of Quinton, Okla., and Ken Scott of Coweta, Okla., tied for third and collected $546 each with three bass weighing 5 pounds, 14 ounces.

Richard Holland of Tulsa, Okla., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $342 with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass that he caught on a purple tube.

Overall, 274 bass were caught during the tournament, including seven five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit Grand Lake Sept. 8-9 for a two-day Super Tournament that will decide the Divisional Points Champion who will be awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the conclusion of the season ending tournament will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Okie 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, Arkie and Mississippi 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.