Napier wins Wal-Mart BFL Mountain Division tournament

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Arlie Napier from Middlesboro, Ky., topped 121 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Cherokee Lake with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces. The catch earned him $3,475 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Napier, who also received a $1,000 bonus from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin GPS/Sounder, caught his limit on a blue and chartreuse crankbait off ledges in 23 to 25 feet of water. The catch topped second-place boater Rex Huff of Corbin, Ky., by 3 pounds, 4 ounces. Huff finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces worth $1,738.

Rounding out the top five boaters were: Guy Siler of Rutledge, Tenn., five bass weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce worth $1,043; Jeffery Lewis of East Bernstadt, Ky., five bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces worth $799; and Mark Mauldin of Cleveland, Tenn., four bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces worth $799.

Chuck Welch of Knoxville, Tenn., earned boater big bass honors and $605 with a 4-pound, 11-ounce bass that he caught on a Carolina rig. He finished in eighth place overall with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces.

Jim Forshee of Lexington, Ky., received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished sixth place with a four-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 7 ounces.

Freddy Adkins of East Bernstadt, Ky., claimed first place and $1,742 in the 119-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce. He surpassed second-place co-angler Johnny Taylor of Kodak, Tenn., by 2 pounds, 12 ounces. Taylor finished with a three-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 5 ounces worth $871.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers were: Scott Sevier of Corbin, Ky., three bass weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces worth $523; Brent Pennington of Liberty, Ky., two bass weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces worth $418; and Bart Vaughn of Lexington, Ky., two bass weighing 5 pounds, 2 ounces worth $383.

Co-angler David Pendygraft of Danville, Ky., earned big bass honors and $297 in his division with a 4-pound, 6-ounce bass. He finished seventh thanks to the one bass.

Overall, six five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Cherokee Lake for a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 14-15. Following the tournament, the boater with the most points 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 Mountain Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 15-19 on Kerr Lake near Henderson, N.C., where they will go up against top competitors from the Buckeye, Northeast and Savannah River divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American. The All-American is one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling.

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

Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, Alpo Pet Foods, BC Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, Garmin, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley, Eagle Claw, Hover-Lure, Laker, Maxwell House, Plano and Solar Bat.