Johnson tops Boater Division at Wal-Mart BFL tourney on Detroit River - Major League Fishing

Johnson tops Boater Division at Wal-Mart BFL tourney on Detroit River

July 13, 2002 • MLF • Archives

WOODHAVEN, Mich. – Miles Johnson of Beaver Creek, Ohio, topped 120 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on the Detroit River with five bass weighing 23 pounds. The catch earned him $3,447 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Johnson caught his limit flipping green tubes to grass and rocks. The catch topped second-place boater Bill Clark of Allegan, Mich., by 2 pounds, 6 ounces. Clark finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces worth $1,723.

Jim Parker of Jonesville, Mich. (five bass, 19 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,034); Kevin Vida of Clare, Mich. (five bass, 17 pounds, 14 ounces, $827); and David Reault of Livonia, Mich., (five bass, 17 pounds, 13 ounces, $758) rounded out the top five boaters.

Johnson earned boater big bass honors and $600 with a 5-pound, 4-ounce bass. He also received a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Stephen Roth of Syracuse, Ind., claimed first place and $1,723 in the 120-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces.Stephen Roth of Syracuse, Ind., claimed first place and $1,723 in the 120-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Christopher Majerle of Riverview, Mich., by 12 ounces thanks to his white and green tubes. Majerle finished with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces worth $862.

Peter Merckx of Westland, Mich. (five bass, 16 pounds, 2 ounces, $517); Stephen Gill of Mishawaka, Mich. (five bass, 14 pounds, 12 ounces, $414); and William Lass of Caledonia, Mich., (five bass, 14 pounds, 5 ounces, $379) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Co-angler Kurt Preibisch of St. Clair Shores, Mich., earned big bass honors and $300 in his division with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass. He finished 21st overall with four bass weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces.

Overall, 95 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Grand River Aug. 3 for the third of five Michigan Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 14-15 on the Detroit 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 Michigan 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 Illini 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, 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.