Lowenthal takes Louisiana Division tournament in BFL

Marc Lowenthal of Prairieville won the BFL Louisiana Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held June 14 on the Red River near Natchitoches. Lowenthal led the field of 86 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces. Angler: Marc Lowenthal.

June 14, 2003 • MLF • Archives

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Marc Lowenthal of Prairieville claimed $2,828 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Louisiana Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on the Red River near Natchitoches. Lowenthal led the field of 86 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces.

Lowenthal caught his bass Saturday using a watermelon-red Brush Hog. He earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Trey Morgan of Goldonna (five bass, 13 pounds, $1,414); Marvin Alleman of Morgan City (five bass, 12 pounds, 8 ounces, $961); Ronnie Sharp of Covington (five bass, 12 pounds, 4 ounces, $735); and Chad Hesnor of Ville Platte (five bass, 12 pounds, 3 ounces, $622).

Morgan also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Bill Fussell of Thibodaux topped 86 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces that he caught using a chartreuse and white spinner bait. Fussell earned $1,414 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Leavitt Hamilton of Prairieville (five bass, 12 pounds, $707); Gary Paline of Watson (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces, $481); Eric Cadella of Metairie (five bass, 10 pounds, 4 ounces, $368); and Roger Dousay of Livingston, Texas (four bass, 10 pounds, $311).

Lowenthal earned boater big-bass honors and $430 with a 5-pound, 12-ounce bass, and Dousay earned co-angler big-bass honors and $215 in his division with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass.

The Louisiana Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 13-14 on the Atchafalaya Basin in Belle River. Following the regular season, the boater with the most points will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points following the regular season will earn $500.

The top 30 Louisiana Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Mississippi, Music City and Savannah River divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.

As much as $6 million will be awarded in the 2003 Wal-Mart BFL.