Green wins Walmart BFL Arkie Division on DeGray Lake

Ryals takes co-angler title

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. – Keith Green of Arkadelphia, Ark., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 16 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Arkie Division event on DeGray Lake. For his victory, Green earned $3,671.

“We caught fish all day long,” said Green. “Between my co-angler and I, we put 50 to 60 fish in the boat. I was fishing in the mid-lake area, from 1 to 6 feet of water. We were throwing a few different baits. I started out in the morning fishing topwater, using a Lucky Craft Sammy lure. I caught a limit on that, then I switched over to a white War Eagle jig with a Paca Craw jig trailer and had some success as well. I also caught a few on a Black’s Widow Maker Umbrella Rig. It was a great day to be out fishing.

“The weather was a little cloudy, and in the mid-70s (degrees),” Green continued. “Normally this time of year is going to make it a bed-fishing tournament, but the fish were definitely post-spawn. I honestly thought it was going to take more weight to win it based on my practice, but it worked out for me today.”

Rounding out the top 10 pros:

2nd: Dennis Bean, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 15-6, $1,835

3rd: Ryan Guthrie, Bono, Ark., five bass, 15-1, $1,224

4th: Steve Howard, Conway, Ark., five bass, 13-7, $856

5th: Brian Liles, Texarkana, Ark., five bass, 13-6, $734

6th: Kerry Milner, Bono, Ark., five bass, 12-14, $673 + $1,000 Evinrude Bonus

7th: Josh Ray, Alexander, Ark., five bass, 12-13, $612

8th: Danny Gwinn, Mount Ida, Ark., five bass, 12-4, $551

9th: Duke Gunnell, Benton, Ark., five bass, 12-3, $489

10th: Brock Bertrand, Fayetteville, Ark., five bass, 12-2, $428

Complete results can be found here.

Ryals wins co-angler title

Zack Ryals of Alexander, Ark., weighed in four bass totaling 10 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $1,835 in the co-angler division.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers:

2nd: Stan Cullipher, Malvern, Ark., five bass, 9-14, $918

3rd: Larry Carter, Little Rock, Ark., five bass, 9-13, $612

4th: Skip Grise, Hot Springs, Ark., four bass, 8-5, $428

5th: Benny Williams, Poteau, Okla., three bass, 7-5, $367

6th: Robert Percy, Hot Springs National Park, Ark., four bass, 7-3, $336

7th: Burl Garrett, Benton, Ark., five bass, 6-12, $306

8th: Fred Fowler, Sherwood, Ark., four bass, 6-11, $275

9th: Russell Richmond, Little Rock, Ark., two bass, 6-5, $229

9th: Stephen Tyson Jr., Camden, Ark., five bass, 6-5, $229

Complete co-angler results can be found here.

The next BFL Arkie Division tournament is scheduled for May 5 on Greers Ferry Lake in Greers Ferry, Ark. After the fifth Arkie Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 18-20 Regional Championship on the Red River in Natchitoches, La. Boaters will compete for a top award of a Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard and a Chevy Silverado, while co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.

The BFL is a 24-division circuit devoted to weekend anglers, with 120 tournaments throughout the season, five in each division. The top 40 boaters and co-anglers from each division qualify for a regional tournament and compete to finish in the top six, which then qualifies them for one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing – the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy. The 2012 BFL All-American is being held May 17 – 19 on the Potomac River in National Harbor, Md. Top winners in the BFL can move up to the EverStart Series or even the Walmart FLW Tour.

About FLW

FLW is the industry’s premier tournament-fishing organization, providing unparalleled fishing resources and entertainment to our sponsors, fans and host communities. FLW is offering anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money nationwide in 2012 over the course of 191 tournaments across five tournament circuits, each providing an avenue to the sport’s richest payday and most coveted championship trophy – the Forrest Wood Cup. FLW is committed to providing a lifestyle experience that is the “Best in Fishing, On and Off the Water,” through a variety of platforms including tournaments, outdoor expos and the world’s richest fantasy sports game – FLW Fantasy Fishing. For more information about FLW and FLW Fantasy Fishing, visit FLWOutdoors.com or FantasyFishing.com and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.