BFL Mississippi Division tournament won by McCulley
GREENVILLE, Miss. – Brad McCulley of Batesville claimed $3,108 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Mississippi Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on Lake Ferguson near Greenville. McCulley led the field of 102 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds.
McCulley caught his bass Saturday using a Scum Frog. 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 Mark Peagler of Flowood (four bass, 14 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,544); James Hays of Meridian (five bass, 12 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,057); Bryan Gibson of Arlington, Tenn. (four bass, 11 pounds, 12 ounces, $808); and Jason Swanner of West Memphis, Ark. (five bass, 11 pounds, 10 ounces, $684).
Hays also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Curtis Powell of Brandon topped 101 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 5 ounces that he caught using a Zoom Lizard. Powell earned $1,539 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Scott Watts of Southaven (five bass, 11 pounds, 10 ounces, $769); Brad Petty of Columbus (five bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces, $523); Lynn Watts of Pelahatchie (five bass, 9 pounds, 8 ounces, $400); and Scott Phillips of Laurel (three bass, 8 pounds, 3 ounces, $338).
McCulley earned boater big-bass honors and $510 with a 6-pound bass, and Phillips earned co-angler big-bass honors and $253 in his division with a 4-pound, 6-ounce bass.
The Mississippi Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 6-7 on Ross Barnett Reservoir in Brandon. 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 Mississippi 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 Louisiana, 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.
Editor’s Note: Ranger Cup award winners are pending verification by Ranger Boats and thus are unofficial at this time.