JAMESTOWN, N.Y. (Oct. 13, 2003) - Gary Becker of St. Marys, Ohio, bested 113 Boater Division competitors this weekend at the Bass Fishing League Regional tournament on Chautauqua Lake to win a new Chevy truck and an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger 519VS Comanche bass boat. The postseason victory also earned him a slot in the 2004 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American, where he will compete for a top boater award of $100,000 cash.
Becker advanced to the regional by finishing the regular season ranked second in BFL Buckeye Division points standings. The top 30 boaters and co-anglers in the Buckeye Division competed against the top 30 Michigan, Northeast and Shenandoah division anglers for one of six slots in next year's All-American. They will join the top six from five other regionals plus the Chevy Trucks Wild Card for an All-American field of 42 boaters and 42 co-anglers.
Becker caught five bass Thursday weighing 20 pounds, 5 ounces to finish seventh, and he followed that up Friday with 23 pounds, 4 ounces to lead day two's competition with a two-day total of 43 pounds, 9 ounces. The top six finishers after day two competed a third day for position and prize money based on their total three-day weight, and Becker led the field with a three-day total of 67 pounds, 6 ounces. All six automatically earned a berth to the All-American.
Rounding out the top six boaters are Miles Johnson of Beaver Creek, Ohio (63 pounds, 5 ounces, $5,000); Butch Dobransky of Canton, Ohio (57 pounds, 15 ounces, $2,500); Mark Schafer of Williamstown, N.J. (57 pounds, 3 ounces, $2,000); Shayne Berlo of Vienna, Va. (49 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,500); and Dave Lefebre of Erie, Pa. (40 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,000).
Becker also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder during the event.
Rex Magargle of Turbotville, Pa., won an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger boat as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to his three-day total of 58 pounds, 11 ounces. He caught his bass on a green pumpkin tube in 10 feet of water. Magargle caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces on day one to finish eighth, and he finished third after day two thanks to another 20 pounds, 10 ounces that set his two-day total at 36 pounds, 12 ounces. Magargle will compete for a top co-angler award of $50,000 at the 2004 All-American.
Rounding out the top six co-anglers are Daniel Dobransky of Waynesburg, Ohio (51 pounds, 11 ounces, $2,500); Ronald Crochetiere of Springfield, Mass. (40 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,250); Gary Michalski of Naperville, Ill. (39 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,000); Dick Gum of Woodbridge, Va. (37 pounds, 10 ounces, $750); and Bill Schroeder of Jonesville, Mich. (28 pounds, 13 ounces, $500).