Mayr wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Potomac River

Stephan Mayr of Arlington, Va., won the top prize in the Boater Division at the June 9 Wal-Mart BFL tourney on the Potomac River. Mayr, who turned in a catch of 17 pounds, 1 ounce, won $6,000.

June 9, 2001 • MLF • Archives

MARBURY, Md. – Stephan Mayr of Arlington, Va., outpaced 200 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 1 ounce to win $6,000 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Northeast Division opener on the Potomac River.

Mayr edged out David Barker of Frederick, Md., by 1 pound, 13 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Smallwood State Park. Barker finished with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 4 ounces to win $3,000. Mayr caught his limit under clear skies using crankbaits around wood and rock structures.

Johnny Schaefer of Woodbridge, Va., took third place and collected $1,500 with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 1 ounce. Shorty Vaow of Trumansburg, N.Y., placed fourth and earned $1,300 with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 15 ounces, while Mike Hoskings of Dumfries, Va., placed fifth and earned $1,200 with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces.

Donald Ringer of Oakland, Md., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $1,000 with a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass that he caught on a firetiger-colored crankbait.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $3,000 went to Tony Kronebusch of Manassas, Va., who topped 200 competitors with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,500 went to John Boyle of Brackney, Pa., with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces, while Richard Misilvey of Patton, Pa., took third place and $750 with four bass weighing 8 pounds, 14 ounces.

James Magee of Franklinville, N.J., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $500 with a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass that he caught on a green pumpkin-colored trick worm.

Boater Steve Wisniewski of Arlin, N.J., won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished in 14th place with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 5 ounces.

Overall, 515 bass were caught during the tournament, including 18 five-bass limits.

The BFL will visit Lake Champlain July 14 for the second of five events in the Northeast Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 22-23 on Lake Champlain, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Northeast Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 9-13 on Chautauqua Lake near Jamestown, N.Y., where they will go up against top competitors from the Buckeye, Piedmont and Michigan 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.