Wal-Mart BFL Illini Division tournament won by Black

Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., registered the heaviest sack of bass in the Boater Division of the June 22 Wal-Mart BFL Illini Division tournament on Lake Shelbyville. Angler: Michael Black.

June 22, 2002 • MLF • Archives

SHELBYVILLE, Ill. – Michael Black of Toledo, Ill., topped 142 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Shelbyville with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces. The catch earned him $3,884 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Black caught his limit on a green pumpkin jig in 8 to 10 feet of water. The catch topped second-place boater James Tiernan of Paris, Ill., by 1 pound. Tiernan finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 15 ounces worth $1,942. Black also received a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program and a $1,000 bonus from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin GPS/Sounder.

Rusty Reinoehl of Robinson, Ill. (four bass, 15 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,165); Mike Deushane of East Peoria, Ill. (five bass, 13 pounds, 15 ounces, $932); and Terry Bishop of St. Joseph, Ill., (five bass, 12 pounds, 14 ounces, $854) rounded out the top five boaters.

Alan Hingson of Atwood, Ill., earned boater big bass honors and $710 with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass that he caught flipping a black and blue jig to bushes on the south end of the lake. He finished in 44th place overall thanks to the one bass.

Jeff Motter of Springfield, Ill., claimed first place and $1,928 in the 141-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Mike Hockett of Centralia, Ill., by 6 ounces thanks to worms and brown lizards that he was casting in 10 feet of water. Hockett finished with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds worth $964.

Shane Osman of Anna, Ill. (five bass, 9 pounds, 9 ounces, $578); Greg Coleman of Butler, Ill. (four bass, 9 pounds, 7 ounces, $463); and Lowell Lide of Orland Park, Ill., (five bass, 8 pounds, 14 ounces, $424) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Co-angler Jon McClurken of Pinckneyville, Ill., earned big bass honors and $353 in his division with a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass. He tied for seventh overall with a three-bass, 8-pound, 7-ounce catch.

Overall, 20 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Shelbyville July 20 for the fourth of five Illini Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 14-15 on the Ohio River, 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 Illini Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition presented by Yamaha Oct. 15-19 on Kentucky Lake near Gilbertsville, Ky., where they will go up against top competitors from the Great Lakes, Hoosier and Michigan 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.

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.