Doolin wins Wal-Mart BFL Arkie Division tourney

ASHDOWN, Ark. – Jay Doolin of Texarkana, Texas, topped 84 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Millwood with three bass weighing 15 pounds, 4 ounces. The catch earned him $2,775 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Doolin caught his bass on a chartreuse worm and lizard while fishing stained water. The catch topped second-place boater Ronnie Ashley of Hot Springs, Ark., by 4 ounces. Ashley finished the one-day tournament with a three-bass catch weighing 15 pounds worth $1,387.

Martin Whitaker of Hensley, Ark. (three bass, 13 pounds, 15 ounces, $832); Mark Hensiek of England, Ark. (three bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $666); and Wendell Bennett of Searcy, Ark., (three bass, 12 pounds, 13 ounces, $610) rounded out the top five boaters.

Richard Coleman of Conway, Ark., earned boater big bass honors and $420 with an 11-pound, 15-ounce bass that he caught while flipping a Wal-Mart FLW Tour tube. He finished in sixth place overall thanks to the bass. He also earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Steve Landry of Doyline, La., claimed first place and $1,387 in the 84-competitor Co-angler Division with three bass weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Gerald King of Ozark, Ark., by 12 ounces. King finished with a three-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces worth $694.

Jeffrey Schlagle of Cabot, Ark. (three bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $416); Frank Coble of Conway, Ark. (three bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $333); and Melinda Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., (three bass, 9 pounds, 13 ounces, $305) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Co-angler Billy Wayne Lawrence of Hackett, Ark., earned big bass honors and $210 in his division with an 8-pound, 9-ounce bass. He finished seventh thanks to the fish.

No five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Arkansas River May 4 for the third of five Arkie Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Oct. 5-6 on Lake Hamilton, will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” Points Leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 Arkie Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on the Pearl River near Slidell, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Bama, Cowboy and Mississippi divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling.

2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.