Ellison takes Okie event on Grand Lake - Major League Fishing

Ellison takes Okie event on Grand Lake

Slaton wins co-angler title
Image for Ellison takes Okie event on Grand Lake
Blake Ellison of Inola, Okla., won the Sept. 15-16 Okie Division Super Tournament on Grand Lake with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 2 ounces. Ellison cashed a check worth close to $5,200 in winnings.
September 16, 2012 • MLF • Archives

GROVE, Okla. – Blake Ellison of Inola, Okla., weighed a two-day total of 10 bass for 29 pounds, 2 ounces to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Okie Division Super Tournament on Grand Lake in Grove, Okla., on Sunday. For his victory, Ellison earned $5,197.

“I was fishing a few different areas with a few different patterns,” said Ellison. “On the first day I started out fishing up the river, but it was rainy and drizzled all day, so I had to scramble to find the clear water. I moved deeper and found the clearer water, throwing a shaky head and topwater baits. I fished the breaklines, in 8 to 12 feet of water.

“On day two it cleared up a little bit, and I was able to fish shallow,” Ellison continued. “I was flipping shallow wood and cover on flats using junebug-colored beaver-style baits. The fishing was a little better on Saturday, as I boated over 20 keepers on Saturday and only 15 on Sunday.”

Ellison credits his experience and decision making with getting him the win.

“I fished a lot out here last fall,” he said. “And I had one day of practice last week. I knew that I could find them shallow, but during practice I really concentrated on finding them in the clear water in case it rained. I think that working the multiple patterns and keeping an open mind were the keys to my victory in this tournament.”

Rounding out the top 10 pros:

2nd: Chris Torkleson, Sand Springs, Okla., 10 bass, 27-7, $2,598

3rd: Preston Frazell, Glenpool, Okla., nine bass, 27-0, $1,733

4th: Lee Sanders, Stillwater, Okla., 10 bass, 26-15, $1,213

5th: Zack Birge, Blanchard, Okla., nine bass, 26-13, $1,039

6th: Rick Kelley, Ada, Okla., 10 bass, 26-0, $953

7th: Craig Smith, Dewey, Okla., eight bass, 25-2, $866

8th: Jason Wedel, Lowell, Ark., eight bass, 24-6, $780

9th: Jeff Bullinger, Sapulpa, Okla., 10 bass, 23-15, $693

10th: Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., 10 bass, 23-13, $606

Complete results can be found here.

Slaton captures co-angler title

Co-angler Charley Slaton of Valliant, Okla., won the Sept.15-16 Okie Division Super Tournament on Grand Lake with a total weight of 25 pounds, 6 ounces. He took home nearly $2,600 in prize money. Charley Slaton of Valliant, Okla., weighed in nine bass totaling 25 pounds, 6 ounces Sunday to win $2,599 in the co-angler division.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers:

2nd: Darin Comstock, Denison, Texas, 10 bass, 22-13, $1,299

3rd: Brad Reynolds, Lowell, Ark., nine bass, 22-0, $867

4th: Donnie Cox, Chouteau, Okla., nine bass, 20-0, $606

5th: Dylan Duncan, Kansas, Okla., eight bass, 17-4, $520

6th: Jerry Liebst, Wichita, Kan., nine bass, 17-3, $476

7th: T.J. Martin, Broken Arrow, Okla., nine bass, 16-4, $433

8th: Dana Kifer, Stillwater, Okla., seven bass, 15-8, $390

9th: Matthew Alberty, Tahlequah, Okla., six bass, 14-6, $346

10th: Travis Edwards, Edmond, Okla., seven bass, 13-8, $303

Complete co-angler results can be found here.

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. 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.