Lively wins co-angler title
Bo Price of Westminster, S.C., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 14 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to win the Walmart Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division event on Lake Russell. For his victory, Price earned $3,794 plus a $2,000 Ranger bonus.
“I have worked so hard to win one of these; this feels special,” said Price. “Things just came together for me on Saturday. Typically there is a strong shallow bite, and I am a deep-water fisherman. I have always been consistent on Russell fishing deep, but it never seemed to be enough in the past. Today it was.”
Price thanked an hour-long fog delay and a cold front that moved through for shutting down the shallow bite. Price indicated the shallow bite is usually good early, and with the fog delay it was completely shut down and opened the door for his deep-fishing pattern. He was targeting pre-spawn bass in about 35 feet of water with Strike King Series 6XD crankbaits and homemade football-head jigs.
Lake Russell BFL winner, Bo Price of Westminster, S.C.
“I was fishing against some great fisherman,” Price continued. “God really blessed me today in making things go my way.”
Rounding out the top 10 boaters were:
2nd: Richard Phillips Asheville, N.C. five bass 12-6
3rd: Brandon Cobb Greenwood, S.C. five bass 12-4 $1,265 plus $1,000 Evinrude bonus
4th: Eddie Whitten Jr. Six Mile, S.C. five bass 11-14 $885
5th: Cason Mabry Clinton, S.C. five bass 11-13 $759
6th: Jerry Kotal Elberton, Ga. five bass 11-11 $696
7th: Stacy Lowe Belton, S.C. five bass 11-10 $632
8th: Dan Roberts Flowery Branch, Ga. five bass 11-2 $569
9th: Greg Glouse Liberty, S.C. five bass 10-15 $506
10th: Mick Rhinehart Pelzer, S.C. five bass 10-14 $443
Anthony Lively of Lincolnton Ga., weighed a five-bass limit totaling 11 pounds, 6 ounces Saturday to win $1,897 in the co-angler division.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers were:
2nd: Michael Smith Piedmont, S.C. five bass 9-0 $949
3rd: Tony Hudson Liberty, S.C. five bass 8-6 $633
4th: Roger A Jr Deveau, Green Ville S.C. four bass 8-4 $443
5th: Adam Fincher Roebuck ,S.C. five bass 8-2 $379
6th: Bill Hawkins Piedmont, S.C. five bass 7-11 $332
Jeff Penland Leicester, N.C. five bass 7-11 $332
8th: Graham Rogers Cleveland, Ga. five bass 7-9 $285
9th: Charles Pruitt Greenwood, S.C. five bass 7-2 $253
10th: David Faulkner Greenbille, S.C. five bass 7-1 $221
The next BFL Savannah River Division tournament is the two-day super tournament scheduled for Sept. 22-23 on Lake Hartwell in Lavonia, Ga. After this fifth and final event in the Savannah River Division tournament is complete, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on point standings will qualify for the Oct. 4-6 Regional Championship on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Fla. 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 the FLWOutdoors or FantasyFishing websites and look for FLW on Twitter and Facebook.
By: Julie Huber,
