Thompson wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Ohio River - Major League Fishing

Thompson wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Ohio River

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Doug Thompson of Caledonia, Ohio, captured first place at the June 30 Wal-Mart BFL tour event on the Ohio River. Thompson, who recorded a final catch of 9 pounds, 11 ounces, won $4,519.
June 30, 2001 • MLF • Archives

MAYSVILLE, Ky. – Doug Thompson of Caledonia, Ohio, outpaced 129 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces to win $4,519 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Buckeye Division tournament on the Ohio River.

Thompson edged out Greg Scythes of Ironton, Ohio, by 11 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Maysville River Park. Scythes finished with a three-bass catch weighing 9 pounds to win $2,259. He also won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $645 with a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass that he caught while flipping to wood cover. Thompson caught his limit out of grass using a white and chartreuse spinnerbait.

Terry Squire of Medina, Ohio, took third place and collected $1,130 with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces. Joe Balog of Independence, Ohio, placed fourth and earned $979 with four bass weighing 7 pounds. Wes Campbell of Dayton, Ohio, and Randy Weaver of Piqua, Ohio, tied for fifth and earned $828 each with 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Campbell had three bass, and Weaver had four bass.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,224 went to Joe Birmingham Sr. of Follansbee, W.Va., who topped 127 competitors with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces.First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,224 went to Joe Birmingham Sr. of Follansbee, W.Va., who topped 127 competitors with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,112 went to Hubert Akers of Ceredo, W.Va., with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces, while Eric Scott of Mogadore, Ohio, took third place and $556 with three bass weighing 3 pounds, 13 ounces.

Akers won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $317 with a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass that he caught while flipping a centipede to brush.

Boater Robert Otto of Dayton, Ohio, won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished in 18th place with two bass weighing 4 pounds, 11 ounces.

Overall, 213 bass were caught during the tournament, including two five-bass limits.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Tanners Creek July 21 for the fourth of five events in the Buckeye Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 8-9 on Sandusky Bay, 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 Buckeye 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 Northeast, 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.