BELLE RIVER, La. (Oct. 4, 2004) - Boater Bill Burns of Bastrop earned $5,997 Sunday as winner of the two-day, season-ending Bass Fishing League Louisiana Division Super Bass Tournament on the Atchafalaya Basin. His two-day total of 24 pounds, 10 ounces topped 94 fellow competitors in the Boater Division.
Burns caught 11 pounds, 5 ounces Saturday to advance to Sunday's competition, where he caught 13 pounds, 5 ounces to post the heaviest two-day weight and claim the win. Burns also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, and he earned another $1,000 from Bombardier because his boat was powered by an Evinrude Direct Injection outboard.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Kevin Voisin of Morgan City (23 pounds, 8 ounces, $2,999); Conrad Picou of Carencro (23 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,624); Roger Hudnall of Denham Springs (22 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,374); and Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part (22 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,125).
Frank Ducote of Livonia earned $940 as the Boater Division big-bass winner, thanks to a 5-pound, 8-ounce bass.
Kendall Vosburg of Jarreau earned $2,999 as winner of the Co-angler Division with a two-day total of 18 pounds, 11 ounces. This was his second career top-10 finish in the BFL and his first win after only two seasons fishing the trail.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Anthony Coye of Baton Rouge (16 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,499); David Kennedy of Baton Rouge (13 pounds, 8 ounces, $812); Rene Planchard of Baton Rouge (13 pounds, 7 ounces, $687); and Jerry Hartley of Morgan City (13 pounds, 5 ounces, $562).
Kevin King of Gonzales claimed co-angler big-bass honors with a 4-pound, 5-ounce bass. He earned $470 for his big bass.
Each of the BFL's 24 nationwide divisions features four one-day tournaments and one two-day Super Tournament within the regular season. In Super Tournament competition, the entire field competes on day one and the top 20 percent advances to day two, with the winners determined by the heaviest two-day catch weights. More money is awarded at Super Tournaments as well as more points that count toward year-end angler standings. In a Super Tournament, 300 points are awarded for first place, 299 for second, 298 for third, and so on.
Jody Floyd of Zachary earned $1,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" boater points champion in the Louisiana Division with 1,013 points for the season. King earned Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion honors and $500 in the Co-angler Division. He earned 994 points this season.