In his first BFL All-American appearance, Brian Maloney of Osage Beach, Mo., went wire-to-wire to win the Walmart BFL All-American presented by Chevy with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 6 ounces. In a championship that came down to ounces, Maloney’s three-day total of 15 bass weighing 43-4 beat Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio, by only 6 ounces. Maloney took home $120,000 and earned a spot in the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart on Lake Lanier Aug. 11-14.
The BFL All-American is one of the longest-running championships in all of competitive bass fishing featureing the top 49 boaters and top 49 co-anglers from across the country. This year’s tournament was hosted by National Harbor.
Prior to fishing in this BFL tournament on the Potomac River, Maloney had never fished a tidal river system. Indicating that he fished what seemed like the “right thing to doâ€, he targeted shallow flats with contoured ditches. According to Maloney, the fish were pulling into the ditches during the outgoing tide.
“I went against the grain most of the week using darker colors and crankbaits,†said Maloney, who qualified through the Missouri TBF chapter. “People looked at me like I was lost or broken down, but I was just fishing. Unlike most of the rest of the field, I was fishing very aggressively, ‘streakin’ the paddletail’. I wanted the bass to react to me.
“This has just been an amazing week,†Maloney went on to say. “We were told that the fishing was going to be tough, and it was, but there were also a lot of other distractions. Helicopters flying overhead scaring the pants off you, a 21-gun cannon salute, local residents … it was crazy.
“Winning the BFL All-American is really a badge of honor. Few have won, and I have accomplished something that many want.â€
Maloney, who has worked for 30 years as a design engineer for AT&T, indicated that he would love to go pro, but didn’t know if he was ready for the lifestyle change. “Winning the championship hasn’t really sunk in yet, and there is a lot to consider, but I would love to fish as a pro. Right now I have to start studying Lake Lanier; it wasn’t even on my radar.â€
Rounding out the championship top 10 on the Potomac River are:
2nd: Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, 15 bass, 42-14, $29,000
3rd: David Williams, Maiden, N.C., 15 bass, 42-3, $23,000
4th: Dicky Newberry, Houston, Texas, 15 bass, 40-13, $21,000
5th: Conrad Bolt, Seneca, S.C., 15 bass, 38-1, $13,000
6th: Roger Fitzpatrick, Eldon, Mo., 15 bass, 37-3, $17,000
7th: Christopher Jones, Bokoshe, Okla., 13 bass, 36-1, $11,000
8th: Corey Saint, Lexington, Ala., 14 bass, 35-2, $10,000
9th: Scott Hamrick, Denver, N.C., 11 bass, 32-11, $9,000
10th: Marc Snyder, St. Johns, Mich., 12 bass, 28-14, $8,000
For a full list of results visit FLWOutdoors.com.
Overall there were 41 bass weighing 108 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 10 boaters Saturday. The catch included six five-bass limits.
James Waller of Cypress, Texas, won the Co-angler Division BFL All-American championship title with 13 bass weighing 33-11 worth $50,000. Bobby Drinnon of Rogersville, Tenn., took second place with 13 bass weighing 30-1 and won $15,000.
“This week has been an unreal week,†said Waller. “You learn so much as a co-angler, and I had amazing boaters. Chris (Jones) was phenomenal.â€
Waller indicated that his key bait this week was a green pumpkin with blue flakes-colored Zoom finesse worm.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers at the All-American are:
3rd: Brandon Booher, Bristol, Tenn., eight bass, 29-7, $6,000
4th: Scott Curvin, Jacksonville, Ala., 12 bass, 28-10, $5,000
5th: Donnie Woody, Marion, N.C., 12 bass, 26-15, $4,500
6th: Jake Akin, Powder Springs, Ga., 11 bass, 26-10, $4,000
7th: Wesley Taylor, Dechard, Tenn., 11 bass, 23-7, $3,500
8th: Brandon Temples, Ninety Six, S.C., eight bass, 22-8, $3,000
9th: Robert Cox, Tippecanoe, Ohio, nine bass, 22-3, $2,500
10th: Aaron Arning, Walnut Hill, Ill., nine bass, 20-11, $2,000
Overall there were 29 bass weighing 65 pounds even caught by 10 boaters Saturday. The catch included three five-bass limits.
