Walters wins Wal-Mart BFL Bulldog Division tournament

Lamontie Walters of Warner Robins, Ga., won the BFL Bulldog Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held June 14 on West Point Lake near Lanett. Walters led the field of 187 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 14 ounces. Angler: Lamontie Walters.

June 14, 2003 • MLF • Archives

LANETT, Ala. – Lamontie Walters of Warner Robins, Ga., claimed $4,746 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Bulldog Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on West Point Lake near Lanett. Walters led the field of 187 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 14 ounces.

Walters caught his bass Saturday flipping a buzzbait. As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, Walters also claimed a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats, and 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 Rodger Beaver of Leesburg, Ga. (five bass, 14 pounds, 8 ounces, $2,373); Brad Worthy of Winston, Ga. (five bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,613); Mike Cleveland of Monticello, Ga. (five bass, 13 pounds, $1,234); and Patrick Pierce of Jacksonville, Fla. (four bass, 12 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,044).

Steve Alex of Valley topped 180 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 11 ounces that he caught Texas-rigging a lizard. Alex earned $2,303 for the win.

In second place was Joel Milner of Talbotton, Ga., with a five-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 12 ounces that earned him $1,151. Mark Thomas of Chipley, Fla., placed third with a three-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 7 ounces that earned him $783. Fourth place was Jess McCranie of Eastman, Ga., with a four-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 15 ounces that earned him $599. Tied for fifth place were Casey Morris of Roopville, Ga. (five bass, 10 pounds, 7 ounces) and Chad Wise of Dothan (four bass, 10 pounds, 7 ounces). Each received $461 for their catch.

Butch Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., earned boater big-bass honors and $935 with a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass, and James Scott of Franklin, Ga., earned co-angler big-bass honors and $450 in his division with a 7-pound, 2-ounce bass.

The Bulldog Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 20-21 on Lake Eufaula in Eufaula. 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 Bulldog Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 14-18 on Old Hickory Lake near Gallatin, Tenn., where they will go up against top competitors from the Carolina, Hoosier and Illini 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.