Wolfarth wins Wal-Mart BFL tournament on James River - Major League Fishing

Wolfarth wins Wal-Mart BFL tournament on James River

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Ronald Wolfarth of Locust, N.C. Angler: Ron Wolfarth.
July 21, 2001 • MLF • Archives

RICHMOND, Va. – Ronald Wolfarth of Locust, N.C., outpaced 193 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 10 ounces to win $5,875 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Piedmont Division tournament on the James River.

Wolfarth edged out Michael Martinez of Lanexa, Va., by 1 pound, 13 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Osborn Landing. Martinez finished with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces to win $2,938. Wolfarth caught his limit by flipping a brown jig to wood cover in several creeks.

Jason Strobel of Clifton, Va., took third place and collected $1,469 with three bass weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces. John Seay Jr. of Sandston, Va., placed fourth and earned $1,273 with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 15 ounces, while Richard Owen of Chester, Va., placed fifth and earned $1,175 with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 12 ounces. Owen also earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Strobel won the boater Big Bass Award and collected an additional $965 with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass that he caught on a blue-flake colored worm.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,938 went to Jeremy Ives of Burgaw, N.C., who topped 193 competitors with four bass weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces.First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,938 went to Jeremy Ives of Burgaw, N.C., who topped 193 competitors with four bass weighing 6 pounds, 13 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,469 went to Donald Yarborough of Henderson, N.C., with five bass weighing 6 pounds, 6 ounces, while David Powroznik of Hopewell, Va., took third place and $734 with two bass weighing 6 pounds. Powroznik also won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $482 with a 3-pound, 11-ounce bass that he caught on a fire-tiger colored crankbait.

Overall, 447 bass were caught during the tournament, including 15 five-bass limits.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Kerr Lake Sept. 22-23 for the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament that will determine the Divisional Points Champion who will be awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the tournament will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Piedmont 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, Buckeye 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.