HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (May 31, 2008) - Shayne Berlo, 38, of Vienna, Va., came from behind to win the BFL All-American bass fishing tournament on Lake Hamilton Saturday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 20-12. He jumped from second place to earn a $100,000 victory on the final day of competition thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 4-11.
"I thought someone would come in with a big fish today and blow this thing wide open, but that didn't happen," said Berlo, who works as a business development director. "I'm still absolutely amazed that I won."
Berlo opened the tournament in fifth place Thursday with five bass weighing 8-10 that he caught on a Rebel Pop-R and a Hunter Creek jig in root beer and pepper color. He then added five bass weighing 7-07 to his catch Friday using a wacky-rigged floating worm and the Hunter Creek jig to advance to the final round in second place. On Saturday he caught his bass swimming the jig around boat docks, willow grass lines and bluff banks. On previous days the bass preferred the bait on the bottom. "The fish were really keying on movement today, creating reaction strikes," Berlo said. "I probably fished over 100 boat docks today."
This was Berlo's second All-American and his first win in 10 BFL top-10 appearances. To qualify he finished 12th in the Shenandoah Division and then placed fourth in the Potomac River Regional. Today's victory boosts his career BFL winnings to more than $123,000. He will also advance to the Forrest Wood Cup in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17 for the chance to fish for $500,000.
"I'm obviously going to be the underdog in the Forrest Wood Cup, so there are no expectations," Berlo said. "I'm just going to do the best I can." Rounding out the top-10 boaters are Kevin Snider of Elizabethtown, Ky. (14 bass, 20-09, $50,000); Chris Martinkovic of Liberty Township, Ohio (15 bass, 20-07, $32,000); Greg Rikard of Leesville, S.C. (14 bass, 20-06, $21,000); Michael Conley of Bainbridge, Ga. (15 bass, 20-05, $26,000); Kim Carver of Milledgeville, Ga. (13 bass, 19-13, $11,000); Terry McWilliams of Greenfield, Ind. (14 bass, 19-03, $15,000); Mike Brueggen of Cashton, Wis. (15 bass, 19-00, $13,500); Brett Sellers of Denham Springs, La. (15 bass, 18-09, $8,000); and Ray Griffin of Henderson, N.C. (13 bass, 17-06, $14,000).
Snider also won a $40,000 Ranger 198VX bass boat powered by Yamaha as the highest finishing Ranger Cup participant.
Okie Division boater Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., finished 17th Friday and earned $9,150 with a two-day total of eight bass weighing 11-4. He also won the Yamaha Be the Best Award of $10,000 as the highest-finishing division points champion.
Overall, 44 bass weighing a total of 51 pounds, 4 ounces were caught by 10 boaters Saturday. The catch included six five-bass limits.
Robert Crosnoe, 40, of Inverness, Fla., won the Co-angler Division and $50,000 Saturday with a three-day total of 11 bass weighing 17-06. Crosnoe opened the tournament in first place Thursday with five bass weighing 8-14 that he caught on a Chatter Bait fished in muddy water in the back of creeks. He then added three bass weighing 2-13 to his catch Friday using a Carolina rigged Berkley creature bait to advance to the final round in fourth place. On Saturday he caught three bass weighing 5-11 while fishing with Griffin to take the win. Two of those fish came on the Carolina rig and the third was caught on a swimbait.
"This is a life-changing amount of money for me," said Crosnoe, who serves as a deputy sheriff. "It was my dream to come here and win. And I did. It still hasn't sunk in. It's unbelievable."
This was Crosnoe's first trip to the All-American. To qualify he finished 19th in the Gator Division and then won the Clarks Hill Regional. Today's victory boosts his career BFL winnings to more than $98,000. Like Berlo, he will also advance to the Forrest Wood Cup.
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers are Billy Cain of Jackson, Ill. (11 bass, 16-07, $15,000); Leavitt Hamilton of Prairieville, La. (13 bass, 15-07, $7,000); Blake Wilson of Prattsville, Ark. (12 bass, 15-06, $6,000); Allan Williams of Moncks Corner, S.C. (11 bass, 15-02, $5,000); Brett Wysock of Wilmington, Ill. (13 bass, 14-06, $4,000); Kenneth Hunnicutt of Jacksonville, Fla. (12 bass, 13-02, $3,500); Michael Roy of Ivy, Va. (eight bass, 12-14, $3,000); Chuck Rounds of Benton, Ky. (eight bass, 10-04, $3,000) and Chris Dozier of Collinsville, Miss. (eight bass, 8-10, $4,500).
Wysock, who competes in the Illini division, also won the Yamaha Be the Best Award of $5,000 in the Co-angler Division.
Cain earned the Big Bass award of $2,000 for the biggest bass of the tournament netted in a Frabill net. He caught a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass on opening day.
Overall, 27 bass weighing a total of 29 pounds, 9 ounces were caught by eight co-anglers Saturday. The catch included two five-bass limits.
Anglers from 26 states competed in the 25th annual All-American on Lake Hamilton this week. These anglers represent the best of more than 37,000 competitors who strive to make it to the championship each year. The heaviest three-day total weight determined the winners Saturday. Boaters control boat movement and fish from the front deck against other boaters while co-anglers compete from the back deck against other co-anglers. Boaters and co-anglers are randomly paired each day.