EUFAULA, Ala. – Darryl Stewart of Slocomb, Ala., outpaced 141 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 17 pounds to win $4,743 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Bama Division tournament on Lake Eufaula.
Stewart edged out Brian Woodham of Eufaula, Ala., by 6 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Lake Point State Park. Woodham finished with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 10 ounces to win $2,372.
Stewart also received a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
David Koski of Canton, Ga., took third place and collected $1,186 with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces. Charles Ingram of Eufaula, Ala., placed fourth and earned $1,028 with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 11 ounces, while James McMon of Jemison, Ala., placed fifth and earned $949 with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces.
Jeff Higginbotham of Hayden, Ala., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $710 with a 6-pound, 5-ounce bass.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,372 went to Rodney Taylor of Moultrie, Ga., who topped 142 competitors with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 2 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,186 went to Jason Crawford of Hanceville, Ala., with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 1 ounce, while Robbie Brown of Rocky Mount, N.C., took third place and $593 with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 10 ounces.
Jimmy Davis of Eclectic, Ala., won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $355 with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass.
Overall, 617 bass were caught during the tournament, including 52 five-bass limits.
The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Neely Henry Aug. 25 for the fourth of five events in the Bama Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 29-30 on Guntersville Lake, 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 Bama Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 23-27 on Wateree Lake near Camden, S.C., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bulldog, Mountain and Gator 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.