Myers Is Steady And Spectacular; Takes Lead As Jordon Pursues With Huge Sack At Elite Series On Winyah Bay!
Britt Myers, also of South Carolina, had another stellar day on Winyah Bay. Actually, he made another run to catch his fish in the Cooper River a coupe of hours south of the take off point. But the reward was a sack that weighed 21-7 and when added to the 16-8 he started with yesterday gives him a total weight of 37-15 and a healthy cushion of over 5 pounds on the rest of the field.
Myers wasn't the only angler to bust the 20-pound mark today. Kelly Jordon stunned everyone with a 24-pound, 7-ounce bag.
If not for a light limit (8-5) yesterday, Jordon could be in command at the midway point of this tourney. As it is he has 32-12 and is ounces ahead of Brett Hite (32-2).
Keith Combs is 4th with 26-1 and Randall Tharp is 5th with 25-8.
As noted by a chagrinned angler who chose to fish closeby, it seems there are two different tournaments going on given the disparity of weights in favor of those making the long, risky run to Cooper River.
First day leader Carl Jocumsen fell to 16th as he brought in a lone bass weighing a pound and a half. He has a total of 21-3. He broke off a few small fish today. Those small fish are like gold in a tight tournament such as we are watching this week. He fished hard and pushed until he absolutely had to begin the long return trip. The run didn't pay off for him today, but he was upbeat about the job ahead as he will get to take another crack at this fishery tomorrow.
Only the top 51 anglers will get that opportunity. It took a 2-day total of 17 pounds to do so.
Of his day Myers said, "First cast of the day - I pulled up ou there and got my waypoint and made a long cast and I looked at y camera guy, he was getting everything ready, and when I did I thought I had some hydrilla on (his lure) but when I pulled back it pulled back and that was the big fish - first cast of the day.
"Most people say that's bad luck but I'll take it," grinned Myers.
He added that, "Today things went good. I had a time when I could read the tides, I could call my shots."
But that long run reared its uugly head. "On the way back, we're running 100 miles, and I slung an ear on a prop. I hit something, actually, and damaged my prop. I beached it really hard. The tide had me stuck against the bank, my shoes were stuck in the mud and I was panicking. But I got it loose and made it back."
When asked if this is the week when he'll win an Elite Series tourney, Myers said, "If it is, it is. I'll have a great time either way."
The official release and weights from B.A.S.S.:
GEORGETOWN, S.C. — Britt Myers fully understands the amount of risk that comes with making a near two-hour boat run to access his fishing spots, but today it paid off in a big way.
Myers of Lake Wylie, S.C., brought in a heavy five-bass limit that weighed 21 pounds, 7 ounces, which catapulted him into the lead with a two-day total of 37-15 during the Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Winyah Bay presented by GoRVing.
After a weather delay on Thursday, Friday’s take-off was on time and preceded a beautiful spring day that produced some impressive bass.
Kelly Jordon of Flint, Texas, weighed the heaviest limit of the tournament so far with 24-7 pushing his two-day total to 32-12. Brett Hite of Phoenix, Ariz., is in third with 32-2, while Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, is holding down fourth place with 26-1. Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., round out the Top 5 with 25-8.
With two days remaining, Myers won’t divulge specific details yet, but he is confident that the right bass will still be where he’s fishing for at least one more day.
“After a good day on Thursday, I really zeroed in on a specific area that was holding a lot of big bass,” Myers said. “I found this spot during practice, but I wasn’t really sure of the fish quality because I avoided setting the hook hoping the same fish would bite again once the tournament began.”
Myers was targeting bass in deep and shallow water, bass that were spawning and bass that were just roaming. But the tide impacted which particular group of fish he focused on, and when he targeted them.
“Today it was all about the timing,” he said. “When the tide was perfect, the biggest fish would eat, which I figured out on Thursday. I capitalized on what I learned today, and I really think I can put myself into position to do it again tomorrow — and hopefully on Sunday for the win.”
Myers believes that if he can catch 13 to 14 pounds each of the final two days, he should be able to claim the championship. However, after Jordon brought in 24-7 during Friday’s weigh-in, it’s hard to predict what might happen.
Jordon had the kind of day that a tournament bass fisherman dreams about.
“I’m the type of angler who swings for the fence at every event,” Jordon said. “It’s cost me big time in the past, but today it definitely paid off. So much of the success in this sport hinges on simple decisions, and I learned something valuable yesterday that made me think I could replicate it again today.”
On Thursday, Jordan weighed only one big bass for 8-5, which revealed what he thought might be a workable pattern. That gut feeling helped put the Texas angler in second place leading into Saturday’s semi-final round.
“I am going to fish the same pattern again tomorrow,” he said. “But, it’s hard to say whether the same caliber fish will bite or not. Because this fishery is so expansive, once you decide where you’re going to fish, you’re pretty much committed. I’m going to gamble and see if I can do it again.”
Hite said that the Winyah Bay area reminded him of the California Delta, which is one of his favorite fisheries.
“I was confident that this event would play out much like a tournament on the California Delta, but you really can’t be sure until you catch some fish,” Hite said. “I found an area that had very similar characteristics to what I’d look for out West, and it’s holding a big school of nice fish.”
Hite is confident that his pattern will hold up for a couple more days. He is one of the many anglers who are making a long run to access prime waters, which naturally comes with risk of travel delays.
“So far the traveling aspect of this tournament has been a breeze, which really keeps me confident in making good decisions and staying on the right fish,” he said. “That kind of confidence doesn’t come easy, but it helps tremendously. I’m excited to see how Saturday shapes up.”
After Saturday’s semi-final round, the Top 12 anglers will advance to Championship Sunday for a shot at the $100,000 prize.
Myers also earned the Livingston Lures Leader award of $500 for leading the second day of the event.
Daily take-offs are scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex, with weigh-ins scheduled at the same location at 3:30 p.m.
2016 Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Winyah Bay presented by Go RVing 4/7-4/10
Winyah Bay, Georgetown SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 37-15 110
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 21-07
2. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 6 32-12 109
Day 1: 1 08-05 Day 2: 5 24-07
3. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 32-02 108
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 19-11
4. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 26-01 107
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 12-04
5. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10 25-08 106
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-13
6. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 22-07 105
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 11-10
7. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 22-05 104
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
8. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 10 22-00 103
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 12-03
9. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 9 21-14 102
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 5 14-13
10. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 21-14 101
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-09
11. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 21-14 100
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-05
12. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 21-10 99
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 08-10
13. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 10 21-08 98
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 14-05
14. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 21-08 97
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 13-01
15. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 10 21-05 96
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 12-06
16. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 6 21-03 95
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 1 01-08
17. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 9 20-14 94
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 4 11-01
18. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 20-10 93
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 11-03
19. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 20-10 92
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-00
20. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 20-08 91
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 06-02
21. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 10 20-08 90
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 08-03
22. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 20-04 89
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 11-03
23. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 19-15 88
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 11-05
24. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 19-12 87
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-01
25. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 10 19-10 86
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 08-04
26. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 10 19-10 85
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 10-10
27. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 9 19-08 84
Day 1: 4 06-10 Day 2: 5 12-14
28. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 19-06 83
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-04
29. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 19-02 82
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 09-14
30. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 19-00 81
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-13
31. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 18-14 80
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 10-14
32. David Williams Newton, NC 10 18-14 79
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 10-12
33. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 18-13 78
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 10-01
34. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 8 18-12 77
Day 1: 4 10-11 Day 2: 4 08-01
35. James Elam Tulsa, OK 7 18-11 76
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 5 16-02
36. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 8 18-11 75
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 3 12-01
37. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 18-10 74
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 10-00
38. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 18-08 73
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 09-03
39. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 10 18-07 72
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 08-05
40. Matt Reed Jr Madisonville, TX 6 18-05 71
Day 1: 1 03-09 Day 2: 5 14-12
41. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 9 18-05 70
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 5 09-10
42. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 10 18-03 69
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 10-10
43. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 8 18-00 68
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 5 10-02
44. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 8 18-00 67
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 5 09-12
45. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 17-15 66
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 09-10
46. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 17-15 65
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-05
47. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 17-15 64
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 08-11
48. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 17-03 63
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 10-02
49. Casey Scanlon Rocky Mount, MO 10 17-02 62
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-10
50. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 9 17-01 61
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 5 08-06
51. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 17-00 60
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 09-05
52. John Murray Spring City, TN 6 17-00 59
Day 1: 1 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-07
53. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 16-12 58
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 09-01
54. Billy McCaghren Jr Mayflower, AR 10 16-11 57
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 08-13
55. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 16-11 56
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 08-07
56. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 16-10 55
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 09-07
57. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 7 16-07 54
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 5 12-14
58. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 9 16-07 53
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 5 10-05
59. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 16-07 52
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 07-03
60. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 16-06 51
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 08-15
61. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 16-05 50
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 16-05
62. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 9 16-04 49
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-14
63. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 9 15-14 48
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 4 07-07
64. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 6 15-13 47
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 10-08
65. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 8 15-12 46
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 5 08-09
66. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 8 15-09 45
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 06-05
67. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 15-08 44
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 07-13
68. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 7 15-03 43
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 5 11-08
69. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 9 15-00 42
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 4 06-06
70. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 7 14-15 41
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 05-04
71. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 14-13 40
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 07-06
72. David Walker Sevierville, TN 7 14-05 39
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
73. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 9 14-05 38
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 4 04-14
74. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 8 13-13 37
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 4 07-15
75. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 7 13-06 36
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 03-11
76. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE 4 13-04 35
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 13-04
77. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 7 13-01 34
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 5 10-04
78. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 8 12-14 33
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 5 08-09
79. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 12-09 32
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 3 05-14
80. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 6 12-05 31
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 5 10-15
81. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 7 12-05 30
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 08-04
82. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 5 12-03 29
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-03
83. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 12-02 28
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-02
84. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 8 12-02 27
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 3 04-02
85. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 8 11-15 26
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 4 05-09
86. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 8 11-08 25
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 4 05-06
87. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 7 11-07 24
Day 1: 2 01-03 Day 2: 5 10-04
88. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 6 11-04 23
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 4 07-09
89. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 10-11 22
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-11
90. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 7 10-10 21
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 07-11
91. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 6 10-10 20
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 05-06
92. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 6 10-06 19
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 4 05-11
93. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 6 09-12 18
Day 1: 4 06-10 Day 2: 2 03-02
94. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 7 09-11 17
Day 1: 4 06-01 Day 2: 3 03-10
95. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 09-08 16
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 4 07-11
96. Jay Brainard Enid, OK 5 09-07 15
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 6 09-01 14
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 05-02
98. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 08-14 13
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 4 05-08
99. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 6 08-09 12
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 4 05-04
100. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 08-08 11
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-08
101. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 6 08-04 10
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 5 06-11
102. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 6 08-04 9
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 4 05-04
103. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 3 07-10 8
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
104. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 07-07 7
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 3 07-04 6
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 1 02-01
106. Matt Vermilyea Perrysburg, OH 5 06-10 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 06-10
107. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 4 04-04 4
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 2 02-02
108. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 1 02-06 3
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 1 01-08 2
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 58 400 780-05
2 75 470 978-09
----------------------------------
133 870 1758-14
Bassmaster High School All-State Qualifiers - Class Of 2016 Chosen
New Class Of Bassmaster High School All-State Qualifiers Chosen
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — High school students from across the country have been named to the 2016 class of Bassmaster High School All-State anglers. Students are selected for the honor based on their competition success, academics, leadership and community service.
To be considered for the Bassmaster High School All-State Fishing Team, a student must have been nominated by a parent, coach, teacher or other school official. Students currently enrolled in grades 10-12 with a current-year grade point average of 2.5 or higher are eligible.
“The All-State program not only measures an angler’s fishing accomplishments, but also his or her success in studies and extracurricular activities,” said Hank Weldon, senior manager of the B.A.S.S. High School program. “The students selected are very accomplished on and off the water. They are all very deserving of this award, and we’re proud to have them represent this year’s All-State teams.”
B.A.S.S. received more than 220 nominations from across the nation. From these, judges selected 64 student anglers from 36 states to make the All-State Fishing Teams.
A second panel of judges will narrow the field to select the 12 members of the 2016 Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team. Criteria include success in high school fishing tournaments, involvement in conservation efforts and other community service activities.
The 12 finalists will compete in a one-day Bassmaster All-American High School Bass Tournament held during the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster BASSfest event, a fan-favorite festival that will be held on Lake Texoma out of Durant, Okla.
Elite Series anglers will serve as teammates and “coaches” of the student anglers in the tournament. The high school standouts will be honored on the main BASSfest stage at the weigh-in. All will be profiled in Bassmaster Magazine, read monthly by 4.3 million people, as well as on Bassmaster.com.
Below is the list of the 64 All-State anglers, in order by state:
Parker Davis, Morris, Ala.
Hunter Penney, Boaz, Ala.
Nathan Cummings, Peoria, Ariz.
Julius Mazy, Phoenix, Ariz.
Josh Dugger, Pottsville, Ark.
Jake Dugger, Pottsville, Ark.
Mateo Antonio Gomez, Elk Grove, Calif.
Luke Johns, Folsom, Calif.
Colton Colwell, Windsor, Colo.
Morgan Fitzgerald, Salida, Colo.
Amber Horelick, Uncasville, Conn.
Russell Paul Butler, Dover, Fla.
Jacob Eaton, Fort Myers, Fla.
Clayton Childs, Bishop, Ga.
Cody Stahl, Griffin, Ga.
Trevor McKinney, Benton, Ill.
Dailus Richardson, Benton, Ill.
Blake Albertson, Bloomington, Ind.
Jordan Mullis, Bloomington, Ind.
Isaiah Minton, Marion, Iowa
Clay Torson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Thomas Heinen, Topeka, Kan.
Connor Nimrod, De Soto, Kan.
Mason Moore, Waynesburg, Ky.
Matthew Roberts, Slemp, Ky.
Logan Chaney, Lafayette, La.
Wesley Holt, Otis, La.
Thomas Behen, Biddeford, Maine
Joe McClosky, Swanton, Md.
Tyler Wallace, New Market, Md.
Max McQuaide, Tyngsborough, Mass.
Noah Peterson, Brainerd, Minn.
Matt Stearns, Lakeville, Minn.
Isaac Duncan, Summit, Miss.
Fisher Young, Smithville, Miss.
Dalton Combs, Ozark, Mo.
Trey Schroeder, St. Louis, Mo.
Jackson Ebbers, Cambridge, Neb.
Jeremy Bates, Chichester, N.H.
Trevor Topken, Allendale, N.J.
Julian Sosa-Carver, Mesilla Park, N.M.
Michael Arndt, Syracuse, N.Y.
Matthew Arndy, Syracuse, N.Y.
Hunter Hammermueller, Sanford, N.C.
Ethan Howard, Lucama, N.C.
Jake Biram, Tulsa, Okla.
Jacob Keenom, Meeker, Okla.
Logan Degree, Redmond, Ore.
Zachary Bezak, Brookville, Pa.
Nicholas Fulks, Canonsburg, Pa.
Daniel Clark, Travelers Rest, S.C.
Jacob Smith, Marietta, S.C.
Bailey Fain, Lenoir City, Tenn.
Austin Winter, Lenoir City, Tenn.
Joe Beebee, The Woodlands, Texas
Keegan Stroud, Fredericksburg, Texas
Max Bellinghiri, South Hero, Vt.
Rudd Rexford, Grand Isle, Vt.
Robert Kolby, Rhoadesvilles, Va.
Cullen Lamm-Hoover, Chesterfield, Va.
Grace Caldwell, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
Brad Knotts, Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
Bailey Bleser, Burlington, Wis.
Steve Niemi Jr., Scandinavia, Wis.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Toyota Texas Bass Classic Announces 2016 Angler Field For May Tournament
Frisco, TX (April 7, 2016) – As part of the 2016 Toyota Texas Fest presented by JBL (TTF), the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC) will feature 36 of the world’s best professional anglers from May 20 – 22, 2016 at Lake Ray Roberts in Denton, TX. The field for the tenth anniversary of TTBC is highlighted by defending champion Brent Ehrler and 2016 Bassmaster Classic champion Edwin Evers.
The field is made up of the top 15 anglers from the 2015 Angler of the Year (AOY) points from both the FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series as well as six exemptions. Other notable anglers include 2015 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Aaron Martens, 2015 FLW Angler of the Year Scott Martin and Keith Combs, three-time TTBC champion.
“Over the past nine years the priority of the TTBC has been to promote fishing, outdoor recreation and the conservation efforts of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department,” said Lenny Francoeur, tournament director. “Each year we host the world’s best anglers on Texas’ premier fisheries, and we are excited to see these anglers take on Lake Ray Roberts, one of the Texas’ top fisheries.”
The overall field is highlighted by a combined 16 Angler of the Year titles, including eight Bassmaster AOYs and eight FLW Tour AOYs; 19 major championship titles, including eight TTBCs, six Bassmaster Classics, and five Forrest Wood Cups; 179 tour wins and over $60 million in career earnings. The field will also include exemptions Randy Howell, Mike Iaconelli, Kelly Jordon, Terry Scroggins, Gerald Swindle and 2015 TTBC champion Brent Ehrler.
“Winning the Toyota Texas Bass Classic last year was one of the biggest achievements in my career,” said Ehrler. “The TTBC is the most difficult event to qualify for in professional bass fishing, and to raise the trophy on the final day, you had to have beaten the most elite group of anglers on the planet. I am excited to get back to Texas and defend my title on Lake Ray Roberts in May.”
Along with the coveted title of TTBC champion, the anglers will be competing for two additional awards. The angler who catches the single heaviest fish from any of the three days of competition will win the Toyota Tundra Big Bass Award and a new 2016 Toyota Tundra. The LEER Heavy Weight Award, a new LEER truck cap, will be given to the angler with the heaviest single-day weight from any one of the three days of the tournament.
2016 Toyota Texas Bass Classic - Final Field
Name Hometown Qualified Through
Tracy Adams Wilkesboro, North Carolina FLW Tour
Adrian Avena Vineland, New Jersey FLW Tour
Jason Christie Park Hill, Oklahoma Bassmaster Elite Series
Luke Clausen Spokane, Washington FLW Tour
Keith Combs Huntington, Texas Bassmaster Elite Series
John Cox Debary, Florida FLW Tour
Brent Ehrler Redlands, California 2015 TTBC champion
Edwin Evers Talala, Oklahoma Bassmaster Elite Series
Shinichi Fukae Palestine, Texas FLW Tour
Anthony Gagliardi Prosperity, South Carolina FLW Tour
Greg Hackney Gonzales, Louisiana Bassmaster Elite Series
Matthew Herren Ashville, Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Randy Howell Guntersville, Alabama Exemption
Mike Iaconelli Pittsgrove, New Jersey Exemption
Alton Jones Lorena, Texas Bassmaster Elite Series
Kelly Jordon Flint, Texas Exemption
Jordan Lee Vinemont, Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Dave Lefebre Erie, Pennsylvania FLW Tour
Bill Lowen Brookville, Indiana Bassmaster Elite Series
Justin Lucas Guntersville, Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Aaron Martens Leeds, Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Scott Martin Clewiston, Florida FLW Tour
Cody Meyer Auburn, California FLW Tour
Ish Monroe Hughson, California FLW Tour
Andy Morgan Dayton, Tennessee FLW Tour
Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Arkansas FLW Tour
Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, Idaho Bassmaster Elite Series
Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, Virginia Bassmaster Elite Series
Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Arizona Bassmaster Elite Series
Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Florida Exemption
Wesley Strader Spring City, Tennessee FLW Tour
Gerald Swindle Warrior, Alabama Exemption
Peter Thliveros St. Augustine, Florida FLW Tour
Bryan Thrift Shelby, North Carolina FLW Tour
Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Alabama Bassmaster Elite Series
Chris Zaldain San Jose, California Bassmaster Elite Series
CONTACT:
Kevin Wyman, Event Coordinator
(713) 580-3682 or [email protected]
Lenny Francoeur, Event Director
(704) 746-4754 or [email protected]
About the Event: The Toyota Texas Fest is a three-day outdoor festival that will take place May 20-22, 2016, at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. The mission of the event is to raise awareness and funding for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. One of the festival’s main events is the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), which is celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2016. TTBC is a world-class bass fishing tournament featuring the top 36 bass anglers competing on Lake Ray Roberts (Denton, Texas). Additionally, the festival will include exceptional entertainment and a wide variety of outdoor programming for the entire family. Activities include games and interactive displays at the Texas Parks and Wildlife Outdoor Adventures Area and an outdoor consumer expo featuring the latest products and services from event partners. Throughout each day, country music’s biggest stars including Lee Brice, Kip Moore, Big & Rich with Cowboy Troy and more, will entertain thousands of fans.
Our Cause: Proceeds benefit the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. For more information click here to visit the Texas Parks and Wildlife web site. www.tpwd.state.tx.us
Current sponsors: Toyota, JBL by Harman, Bass Pro Shops, NITRO Boats, GEICO, Anheuser-Busch, Embassy Suites Dallas Frisco Hotel Convention Center & Spa, Frisco Convention & Visitors Bureau.
For additional information, visit ToyotaTexasFest.com or call 1-866-907-0143. “Like” us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for tournament news, updates, contests and more.
Nick Aber Takes A 1-Ounce Lead Into Day 2 Of Flw Costa Series Event On Grand Lake.
At first Grand Lake was calm and then it got rough. What started as a fairly calm morning turned into a blustery northwest gale by afternoon, forcing anglers to make adjustments in the second event of the Costa FLW Series in the Southwest Division. The event is being presented by Evinrude and hosted by the City of Grove.
Things are tight atop the leaderboard with first and second place separated by only one ounce. Day one leader Nick Aber of Piedmont, Okla., brought 21 pounds, 4 ounces to set the early pace. His bag was anchored by a 6-pound, 10-ounce brute. Just behind him, Drew Barnes of Bella Vista, Okla., weighed 21-3.
Aber says he fishes Grand about 25 days a year, but today he fished a lot of new water he has never fished before.
“The fish are trying to move up and spawn and I’m trying to keep my bait up there in areas where they should be,†Aber said. “I have to hit about 20 places before I catch a good one.â€
In all, Aber caught 8 keepers on the day. He says there are plenty of small bucks up on the bank making beds, but it’s the staging females sitting out just a little deeper that he is targeting.
“The small bucks are up there in a foot and half of water just waiting on the females, but the females are not quite there just yet,†he says. “They are about 50 yards out behind the bucks, staging up and that’s kind of the pattern I’m running – little places a female might sit, waiting for things to warm up.â€
“The key for me is to cover a lot of water,†he adds. “I’m not grinding in one area. I have to hit dozens and dozens of those little transition spots and every now and then I’ll catch a good one. With these cooler nights coming I don’t think they're going to go to spawning just yet so I’m going to stick with my game plan tomorrow.â€
Myers leads co-anglers
In the co-angler Division, Robert Meyers of Broken Arrow, Okla., has taken the early lead with a five-bass limit weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces.
This Weeks Sportsman's Warehouse Tournament Report!!
Sportsman's Warehouse fishing manager Craig Baird showcases some great baits that are absolutley surely to be used this upcoming weekend at Tournaments all over the REGION!
Winyah Bay Is A Big Question Mark As Elite Series Pros Prepare For Challenge
On the eve of the 2nd stop along the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series trail I am excited.
We will learn much and be entertained by our favorite Elite Series anglers as they tackle a new fishery. Even local pros have mostly only fished for redfish and flounder at this place.
The pros will strike out across Winyah Bay, an estuarine body of water on South Carolina's coast. Some may simply strike out. Reports indicate that fishing is slower than expected, but the fish are indeed running small, as expected.
But, from a fan's perspective, it will be fun to watch the pros' decisions pan out this week. Of the few known variables on this new-to-the-Elite Series venue, the Cooper River holds the biggest bass in the system. It flows from the Santee Cooper Lakes and offers clearer water due to filtration effects of hydrilla. Clear water, or at least, clean water will be a factor this week as the system is still recovering from historic flooding that occured last autumn.
Problem is, the Cooper River is two hours away from the tournament launch in Georgetown. That boat ride down the Intracoastal Waterway will not be smooth given the windy forecast. Also, anglers who practices there have not seemed to be blown away by the size of the fish they have found.
But that seems to be the big storyline this week: will the long run gamble pay off for those who try it?
Eight-to-10-pound limits can be had nearby. The Cooper offers a legit shot at 18 pounds daily.
Can a guy do that 4-straight days and not suffer a breakdown or delays?
We'll find out starting tomorrow. Stay with AnglersChannel.com for updates and analysis all week.
Bass Announces Destinations For College Wild Card And National Championship
B.A.S.S. Announces Destinations For College Wild Card And National Championship
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Locations of the final two events in the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series schedule — the Wild Card tournament and the national championship — have been decided, B.A.S.S. announced today.
The nation’s best college anglers who qualify for the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops will be competing on Green River Lake, out of Campbellsville, Ky., July 28-30.
“We are so pleased that B.A.S.S. has chosen Campbellsville for their 2016 College Series National Championship,” said Alisha Nelson, executive director of the Taylor County Tourist Commission. “This event will bring anglers and their families to our community, and we're excited to share it with them. We hope they love our community as much as we do and come back to visit.”
Campbellsville University will play host to the more than 90 teams expected to compete.
“The staff at Campbellsville University realizes the importance of tourism and the economic impact sports tourism can bring to the community,” Nelson said. “They have gone above and beyond to make this tournament happen in Campbellsville. It wouldn't have been possible for us to host a tournament of this size without a partnership with Campbellsville University.”
“We are excited to take our national championship to central Kentucky,” said Bassmaster College Series tournament manager Hank Weldon. “With the support of such a great host and school, we expect this tournament to be the premier event in college fishing.”
At the national championship, the entire field competes on the first two days. On the third day, the field is trimmed to the Top 12 teams catching the heaviest cumulative five-bass daily limits.
National championship takeoffs will be held at Green River State Park, and weigh-ins will be on the Campbellsville University campus.
Following the championship round, members of the Top 4 teams compete individually in the Carhartt College Series Classic Bracket presented by Bass Pro Shops Aug. 4-6 on Kentucky Lake out of Paris, Tenn.
The top college angler in the Classic bracket competition earns an invitation to compete with the world’s top professional bass anglers in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Teams qualify for the championship through a series of conference regional tournaments that began in February. The final qualifier is the Carhartt College Wild Card presented by Bass Pro Shops event, which will be held on Lake Murray, Oklahoma, June 8-10 in conjunction with GEICO Bassmaster BASSfest on nearby Lake Texoma.
This event gives competitors who do not qualify for the championship through their regional a second shot at making the national championship.
Lake Murray is a 5,700-acre lake near Ardmore, Okla., and lies within Oklahoma’s oldest and largest state park, Lake Murray State Park. During the first two competition days, anglers will weigh in at the park. On the final day, competitors will weigh in on the BASSfest stage, and the top teams in the final standings are invited to the 2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship presented by Bass Pro Shops.
The championship, like all Carhartt Bassmaster College Series events, will be aired on the ESPNU network.
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Title Sponsor: Carhartt
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Presenting Sponsor: Bass Pro Shops
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Premier Sponsors: Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Berkley, GoPro, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury
2016 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Shimano, ABU Garcia, A.R.E. Truck Caps, Costa, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures
Justin Lucas Shows You The New Berkley Hardbaits!!
Elite Series Pro Justin Lucas shows us the New Hardbait Line-up from Berkley. Some neat looking stuff at a great price and you can get your hands on some at Sportsmans Warehouse or right here!!!
Olds & May Land Over 28 Pounds To Win Lake Ray Roberts Bass Champs Events, Top 267 Teams
What a day on Ray Roberts as 267 North Region Bass Champs teams converged April 2nd to fish for a portion of the purse of over $79,000 in cash and prizes to be awarded in this 101% payback event. Jerry Olds of Arlington, TX and Jason May of Grand Prairie blew the field away catching more than 28 pounds of bass, taking home over $20,000 in winnings.
This was the second event of four regular season tournaments for the North Region, and anglers were on their game bringing in seven sacks over the 20 pound mark and registered a double digit sow for big bass. Knowing the importance of the sponsor incentives, participants qualified for thousands of dollars more making paybacks even bigger. Ray Roberts was three feet high with all of the recent rains, and a cold front came through the night before. The morning started out windy, but by 10am had died down and the bite was on!
Jerry Olds and Jason May are fishing their first season with Bass Champs, and launched into their season with a 1st place win, cashing in over $20,000. “We have fished Ray Roberts a few times in the past, and had a few spots where we had caught some big fish. We started out in one of those spots. It is in the main lake and had a few bushes we were targeting.” They put two keepers in the boat fairly quickly, then Jerry got another bite by one of the bushes. “Jerry threw back on one side of the bush, and I threw in on the other side.” The fish bit Jason’s line. “It was pretty hairy there for a little while. I lost my balance when I set the hook, and nearly fell out of the boat. I got a good hookset on her, but just knew she was going to wrap up in the bush and break off! We managed to get her in the boat, then we were both freaking out and I was shaking.” That bass tickled the ten pound mark! “I retied my hook, but broke off on another good fish. When the bite slowed down, we headed to other areas to try,” Jason explained. Their other areas weren’t producing the fish they were looking for so they went back to their first spot throwing Texas rigged Zoom Baby Brush Hogs. “This spot had three bushes that we just kept rotating to, they just kept reloading with fish.” Their best cull of the day was exchanging a ‘swimmer’ with a five pounder. When they brought their creel to the scales, their big one was weighed first, locking in at 9.98 lbs. Adding in their other four, their total weight was 28.32 pounds, winning the tournament by nearly a five pound margin! Bass Champs presented the team with the guaranteed 1st place check for $20,000 and they also cashed in on the Power Pole and Captain Cash bonuses. “I’d really like to thank Arlington High School Bass Club. I am a captain for them, and they really keep me motivated and on my toes!”
2nd place was won by Kody Haverkamp of Grapevine, TX and Ryan Emmert of Aubrey, TX. “We did some pre-fishing before the tournament, but didn’t do any good,” Kody began. “We had caught some in an area a few weeks before so decided to start there.” It was in the back of a pocket in a main creek arm with isolated stumps and trees 2’-6’ deep. Using Texas rigged Brush Hogs and Senko’s, they had a limit in the boat by 10am that weighed around 17 pounds that included their 7.83 lb kicker Kody caught. “The bite just died for about three hours after that. We left there and checked out some other spots, but ended up coming back to it.” The fish were ready when they came back, and they began culling by pounds. “Our best cull was exchanging a 4-1/2 pounder for a two pound bass.” They were able to make three culls to their final weight of 23.85 pounds, winning 2nd place and a check for $5,600. “We’ve been fishing Bass Champs on and off for around 6 years. We fish them when we can, but sometimes just have to work. This is the biggest check we’ve won so far! We’d like to thank our wives for allowing us to participate in this sport we love.”
Trent Menees of Saginaw, TX and Terry Bollom of Frisco took 3rd place with a 23.04 lb limit. “We love Ray Roberts, and have always done well there,” Trent began. We each did a little pre-fishing separately, and fished both of our spots during the tournament.” They were ready to wrangle potential big catches with 25# test line. “We were using a combination of Strike King Beavers, Brush Hogs, and Berkley Havoc baits.” They caught their first keeper, then soon after Trent caught their kicker weighing nearly eight pounds. By 10am they had a limit in the boat weighing 15-16 pounds. “We just kept looking for isolated stuff along the bank lines. If you could get to the banks, you could find them.” They caught about 18 keepers throughout the day, culling up to their 23.04 lb total and cashing in on a 3rd place check for $4,500. “Jeff and Chad do a great job with these tournaments, and we really enjoy fishing with them.” Trent would like to thank his sponsors for all they do, including Mortiz Chevrolet, Anglers Pro Tackle, Impulse Rod Co., Power Pole, Wave Away and Blue Sky Graphics.
Trevor Romans and Matt McMillan enjoyed a huge payday with their 4th place finish. Weighing in 21.32 lbs, they received $3,500 from Bass Champs, then Skeeter doubled their winnings being the highest finishing team in a qualified Skeeter boat. They also won the SportsmanÂ’s Auto Network bonus and the Fun N Sun bonus as well.
More sponsor winnings went to the 5th place winners Matt Moore and Shane Jansen. They won $2,500 for their 21.28 lb limit, then won the Lowrance Gen3 bonus and another $1,000 from SportsmanÂ’s Auto Network.
The top 36 teams cashed in on the winnings, the last $600 check going to Timothy King and Aaron Ashmore weighing in 14.32 pounds. Fun N Sun paid $100 to the first team out of the money, Scotty Galbreaith and Jason Galbreaith.
The biggest bass of the day was weighed in by Mark Child, fishing with Andy Sallee. His big catch tipped the scales to 10.65 lbs, winning $1,000 for that catch. He also won the DELO bonus, Costa Del Mar and UnderArmor bonuses as well!
Halfway through the season for the North Region, the Angler of the Year race is in full swing. The top five leaders are:
601 pts Trevor Romans & Matt McMillan
585 pts Drew Sloan & Terry Hawkins
575 pts Mark Biondi Jr & Mark Biondi Sr
570 pts Jacob Parker & Ryan Golden
553 pts Scotty & Jason Galbreaith
The North Region has two more events in the regular season. The next will be on April 30 at Cedar Creek, and the final event will be June 4 at Tawakoni. In the meantime, Bass Champs staff and crew are headed to Lake Travis for the third Central Region event on April 9. Remember, all Bass Champs tournaments are open to anyone who would like to fish for BIG paybacks, so donÂ’t miss out! Click to www.BassChamps.com or call 817-439-3274 for more information.
Berkley Launches Fantasy Fish Camp Contest So You Can Learn From The Pro's
Many ways to win this unique contest that starts now
COLUMBIA, S.C. (April 4, 2016) - It doesn't matter if it's friendly or for a check, Berkley anglers are always looking for ways to catch more fish. Berkley is offering all anglers a chance to live out the dream of competitive fishing through the Berkley Fantasy Fish Camp contest that is currently underway.
Forty finalists will have the opportunity to tell Berkley and the pros why they should be a part of its inaugural Fantasy Fish Camp. Four grand prize winners will receive an all-expense paid trip to Cassacoe, Ark., to learn from Berkley pros (Justin Lucas, Adrian Avena, Josh Bertrand and Hunter Shryock).
"This is a great opportunity for anglers of all skills looking to get better," said Justin Lucas, Berkley professional angler. "This contest is the perfect way to learn from the pros in an unbelievable setting. Berkley is one of the only companies that I know to do something like this, and all an angler has to do is submit photos for the various phases of competition."
Find out if you can hang with the best as four grand prize winners will receive the chance to live and learn from the Berkley pros themselves. There are two ways to enter simply visit facebook.com/berkleyfishing or visit Berkley-fishing.com/fantasyfishing fill out the on-line entry form and submit a photo.
There are eight different challenges throughout the contest ranging from "show us your biggest catch" to "show us your favorite fishing spot." At the end of each challenge five winners will be selected by a panel of judges to move onto the finals.
"This is a very unique concept for our sport and we're excited to give anglers a next level challenge. We are giving our fans a chance to not only fish with a pro but to learn what it takes to be a pro and evolve as an angler," said Joshua Silva, Senior Marketing Manager for Berkley.
Phase 1 Challenge One: Biggest Catch
o Start: 3/31/16
o Stop: 4/12/16
Phase 1 Challenge Two: Fishing Action Shot
o Start: 4/14/16
o Stop: 4/26/16
Phase 1 Challenge Three: Tackle box or bag (any brand or something handmade) or (purchase of a Berkley® branded item is NOT required)
o Start: 4/28/16
o Stop: 5/10/16
Phase 1 Challenge Four: Favorite Berkley® bait [purchase of a Berkley® bait is NOT required - your photo can include a Berkley® bait shown on our web site or Facebook page]
o Start: 5/12/16
o Stop: 5/24/16
Phase 1 Challenge Five: All Time favorite fishing photo
o Start: 5/26/16
o Stop: 6/7/16
Phase 1 Challenge Six: Favorite Set up - rod/reel/line combo(any brand) or (purchase of a Berkley® branded item is NOT required)
o Start: 6/9/16
o Stop: 6/21/16
Phase 1 Challenge Seven: Favorite Fishing spot
o Start: 6/23/16
o Stop: 7/5/16
Phase 1 Challenge Eight: Fishing superstition
o Start: 7/7/16
o Stop: 7/19/16
Ttt Last Regular Season Event On Lake Texoma On April 16Th!
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (April 4, 2016) - The Texas Team Trail (TXTT) presented by Cabela's will host its final regular-season event of the 2016 tournament season on Saturday, April 16, at Lake Texoma. The fishery straddles the Texas/Oklahoma border and offers anglers great opportunities for big bass.
Registration for the event is already underway - anglers can secure an opportunity to pre-fish Friday, April 15, by completing their registration online or via phone prior to midnight on Thursday, April 14. Additionally, all anglers that pre-register online at www.texasteamtrail.com will be entered into a drawing for a $100 Cabela's gift card. Due to the size of the lake, TXTT will be capping registration for the event at 250 teams.
The Lake Texoma event is the last of four 2016 qualifying events that guarantee a fully rigged, 18-foot boat, motor, trailer package as first-place prize. The winning anglers at Lake Texoma will walk away with a brand-new Stratos 189 VLO powered by an Evinrude 150 HO, valued at $30,000.
In addition to the payout, the event offers anglers an unprecedented opportunity in terms of sponsor bonuses and television coverage. The budget-friendly $250 entry fee, plus multiple contingency programs and a guaranteed, over-100% payback at every event provides tremendous value to the weekend angler.
Off-site registration is set for Friday, April 15, from 4-6 p.m. at the Hampton Inn & Suites Denison (3415 Ansley Blvd., Denison, TX 75020). At least one team member must attend, as boat numbers will be assigned during this time. The tournament will launch Saturday, April 16, at safe light from the Lake Texoma spillway boat ramp (Intersection of FM 1310 and US Hwy. 91) with teams returning to the ramp for the weigh-in. Anglers are encouraged to travel via FM 84 to FM 1310 for access to this area due to a recent road closure of Hwy. 91 south of the dam.
Anglers with questions or anyone interested in more details on the event are encouraged to visit www.texasteamtrail.com or call 210-281-1752 or 210-788-4143.
Texas Team Trail events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Cabela's, Ranger Boats, Lucas Oil, Evinrude, RAM, Mercury, Minn Kota, Triton Boats, Power-Pole, Amphibia, Arctic Ice, Stratos Boats, Lowrance, Navionics, Protect the Harvest, BoatU.S., General Tire, SuperClean, Garmin, Valley Fashions, T-H Marine, Atlas, G-Juice, Powertex Group.
2016 TXTT scheduled events:
April 16 - Lake Texoma (Limit 250 teams)
Championship - May 14-15 - Ray Roberts Lake
Costa Tags Holly Rush As New Ceo
Daytona Beach, FL – April 4, 2016 Costa Del Mar, the fastest growing US sun brand, is announcing the appointment of Holly Rush to the position of CEO effective April 25, 2016. This communication follows last month’s retirement announcement by Chas MacDonald, current President & CEO.
“Holly possesses a dynamic leadership style that fits well within the Costa culture. She has a great passion for building high performance teams and developing big brands,†said Eric Thoreux, President of the Sun and Readers / Photochromics division of Essilor, Costa’s parent company. “She has both the strategic vision and operational know-how to drive results that will lead Costa to its next stage of growth globally. We are excited to have Holly contributing to Essilor’s mission, Improving Lives by Improving Sight, in a world where 7.2 bn people need to protect their eyes from the sun. â€
Holly’s 25-year career spans the Luxury, Beauty and Consumer Goods markets, where she held key leadership roles at companies such as Duracell/Gillette, L’Oreal and most recently, Luxottica. Holly joined the Eyewear Industry in 2011 as Senior Vice President of Sales for Luxottica and was subsequently promoted to President of Wholesale North America in 2014.
She was named one of Vision Monday’s Most Influential Women in Optical (2012) and in 2015, received the Visionary Award from the Foundation Fighting Blindness. She is a passionate speaker on Leadership and Professional Development and was the keynote at the Optical Women’s Association event at Vision Expo in 2015.
Holly, her husband Michael and their two children will relocate to the Daytona Beach area from their current home in southern Connecticut.
About Costaâ„¢
As the leading manufacturer of the world’s clearest polarized performance sunglasses, Costa offers superior lens technology and unparalleled fit and durability. Still handcrafted today in Florida, Costa has created the highest quality, best performing sunglasses for outdoor enthusiasts since 1983.
For Costa, conservation is all about sustainable fishing. Many fisheries that should be vibrant and healthy are all but devoid of native fish because they have fallen victim to poor fishing practices, unregulated development, lack of watershed protection or all of the above. Costa works with partners around the world to help increase awareness and influence policy so that both the fish and fishermen of tomorrow will have healthy waters to enjoy. Costa encourages others to help in any way they can.
For more information, contact 1-800-447-3700 or visit the company’s web site at www.costadelmar.com. Join the conversation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/costasunglasses, on Instagram at www.instagram.com/CostaSunglasses, or on Twitter @CostaSunglasses.
Ranger Announces 2016 Operation Troop Salute Sales Incentive
FLIPPIN, ARK. (April 4, 2016) -In recognition and appreciation of the thousands of service men and women across the country, Ranger Boats is offering engine horsepower rebates and other exclusive items to current and former military personnel through the 2016 "Operation Troop Salute" sales program. The retail promotion, available on qualifying new boat purchases made from authorized Ranger dealers, runs April 1 through December 31, 2016. 
For more details on "Operation Troop Salute" or to see the 2016 Ranger models, contact a local Ranger Boats dealer or visit www.rangerboats.com.
Buck Keltner Weighs In 7.5Lb Big Bass To Win The Big Bass Tour Event On Table Rock Lake
When Buck Keltner weighed in his 7.56 Largemouth during the 12:00 to 1:00 hour on Table Rock Lake on Saturday, He took over the top spot and never gave it up. Keltner had to wait through nine more hourly weigh-ins. The closest one to compete with Keltner after he took over the top spot Brandon Buckle and his 6.58 pound bass. Keltner takes home a fully rigged Nitro Z8 complete with Mercury Pro XS motor and the works.
Congratualtions Buck!
Full Hourly and Overall results below:
| Leaders | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | BUCK KELTNER | 7.56 |
| 2 | KEITH NEWSOM | 7.29 |
| 3 | RANDY HADDOCK | 6.68 |
| 4 | BRANDON BUCKLE | 6.58 |
| 5 | TODD LICARE | 6.43 |
| 6 | BRANDON BUCKLE | 6.35 |
| 7 | BRANDON PATTERSON | 5.91 |
| 8 | MARK HOLT | 5.9 |
| 9 | LES MORRIS | 5.8 |
| 10 | DARREN COMBS | 5.53 |
| Saturday 8-9 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | RYAN BUTLER | 5.18 |
| 2 | JAMES BAILEY | 4.93 |
| 3 | JEFF LEE | 4.78 |
| 4 | ROBERT POTTER | 4.52 |
| 5 | JEFF MOSELEY | 4.3 |
| 6 | RANDY COLVIN | 4.27 |
| 7 | DUSTIE COOK | 4.16 |
| 8 | BRAD FRAMPTON | 4.11 |
| 9 | MITCH WHITEHEAD | 3.97 |
| 10 | CHARLES SWAN | 3.76 |
| 11 | JASON NEWBERRY | 3.67 |
| 12 | GUY FRAHM | 3.64 |
| Saturday 9-10 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | KEITH NEWSOM | 7.29 |
| 2 | JIM BRADFORD | 5.1 |
| 3 | STEVE SHERRILL | 4.77 |
| 4 | DERRICK LOWE | 4.61 |
| 5 | WES BAPTISTE | 3.95 |
| 6 | THOMAS HEISCHMIDT | 3.72 |
| 7 | JESSE JELINEK | 3.65 |
| 8 | KENNY GENN | 3.54 |
| 9 | DUSTIN LIPPE | 3.34 |
| 10 | JUSTIN BENNETT | 3.21 |
| 10 | HORACE HAYNES | 3.21 |
| 12 | CHUCK MCCANN | 3.2 |
| Saturday 10-11 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | BRANDON BUCKLE | 6.35 |
| 2 | DARREN COMBS | 5.53 |
| 3 | CORY DAVIS | 4.5 |
| 4 | GENE KLUMPER | 4.32 |
| 5 | JOHN OHLHAUSEN | 4.3 |
| 6 | JUSTIN HILL | 4.1 |
| 7 | CHRIS ADAMS | 3.85 |
| 8 | BRANDON ROBINSON | 3.72 |
| 9 | CAMERON BOLINGER | 3.56 |
| 10 | BRANDON WALKER | 3.52 |
| 11 | DYLAN MCMAINS | 3.43 |
| 12 | RAY CAIRUS | 3.19 |
| Saturday 11-12 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | RANDY HADDOCK | 6.68 |
| 2 | LES MORRIS | 5.8 |
| 3 | JIM TROGDON | 5.31 |
| 4 | MIKE PURSE | 4.64 |
| 5 | MITCH WHITEHEAD | 4.57 |
| 6 | RODNEY JOHNSON | 4.27 |
| 7 | GLEN LAWSON | 4.11 |
| 8 | LARRY WALKER | 3.94 |
| 9 | RYAN BUTLER | 3.85 |
| 10 | WESLEY POLCA | 3.81 |
| 11 | CALEB TEIG | 3.75 |
| 12 | BRANDON RUMMEL | 3.54 |
| Saturday 12-1 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | BUCK KELTNER | 7.56 |
| 2 | PHILLIP MILAM | 5.31 |
| 3 | GREY RYAN | 4.75 |
| 4 | BRIAN CUNNINGHAM | 4.29 |
| 5 | WILLIAM VERMONT | 4.23 |
| 6 | KEVIN MILLER | 4.2 |
| 7 | BRANDON HILL | 4.19 |
| 8 | KEVIN MCCLELLAN | 3.93 |
| 9 | MIKE STEVENS | 3.9 |
| 10 | RICK GEUJEN | 3.83 |
| 11 | RONNIE THOMPSON | 3.73 |
| 12 | DUSTIN LIPPE | 3.71 |
| Saturday 1-2 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | BRANDON BUCKLE | 6.58 |
| 2 | RAY KAESTNER | 5.28 |
| 3 | DAN KOLLBAUM | 4.59 |
| 4 | KEVIN DICKEY | 4.44 |
| 5 | JACK STACK | 4.37 |
| 6 | JEFF LEE | 4.27 |
| 7 | BRANDON ANTON | 4.26 |
| 8 | CHARLEY HAREM | 3.91 |
| 9 | TREY HUFF | 3.76 |
| 10 | DOUG EATON | 3.74 |
| 10 | GREG RYAN | 3.74 |
| 12 | JUSTIN LAYTON | 3.71 |
| Saturday 2-3 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | BRANDON PATTERSON | 5.91 |
| 2 | JOEY CURTIS | 4.57 |
| 3 | JASON COLEY | 4.24 |
| 4 | TOM BUEHLER | 4.1 |
| 5 | ROWDY UNRUH | 3.97 |
| 6 | BILLY BIRD | 3.91 |
| 7 | JOE MCBRIDE | 3.87 |
| 8 | RICK EMMITT | 3.86 |
| 9 | RAY CAIRUS | 3.81 |
| 10 | ANDREW KEENAN | 3.8 |
| 10 | GIL BRYANT | 3.8 |
| 10 | CORY LAFFERTY | 3.8 |
| Sunday 8-9 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | SCOTT HILL | 5.04 |
| 2 | RICK CALLAHAN | 4.8 |
| 3 | MIKE PURSE | 4.35 |
| 4 | DWIGHT GATES | 4.02 |
| 5 | BRANDON HILL | 3.96 |
| 6 | JUSTIN MCCREARY | 3.58 |
| 7 | BRAD HAMMER | 3.42 |
| 8 | DANNY LOVELAND | 3.26 |
| 8 | DALE MANNING | 3.26 |
| 10 | JAMES KAMINSKI | 3.03 |
| 11 | RANDY ROBB | 3.01 |
| 12 | BRIAN FINLEY | 2.97 |
| Sunday 9-10 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | KEVIN MCCLELLAN | 5.3 |
| 2 | CHAD IGOU | 5.11 |
| 3 | DAVID BEASON | 4.66 |
| 4 | BRADY MEREDITH | 3.95 |
| 5 | TYLER STEWART | 3.63 |
| 6 | TOM STATLER | 3.55 |
| 7 | DERICK VAHEY | 3.46 |
| 8 | RICK CALLAHAN | 3.32 |
| 9 | RICH COOPER | 3.17 |
| 10 | RYAN BUTLER | 3.11 |
| 11 | RON BERRY | 3.1 |
| 12 | GARY BRACH | 3.07 |
| Sunday 10-11 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | RYAN FISCHER | 4.97 |
| 2 | SHAWN FREEMAN | 4.77 |
| 3 | J.D. CROW | 4.22 |
| 4 | KEVIN BRIGHTWELL | 4.17 |
| 5 | RICK GEUJEN | 4.11 |
| 6 | STEVE SHERRILL | 3.84 |
| 7 | RONNIE LAWSON | 3.82 |
| 8 | RICK JONES | 3.74 |
| 9 | THOMAS HEISCHMIDT | 3.7 |
| 10 | KEVIN NELSON | 3.49 |
| 11 | BRADY MEREDITH | 3.47 |
| 12 | TYLER STEWART | 3.32 |
| Sunday 11-12 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | JEFF LODWICK | 5.4 |
| 2 | JARED STONER | 4.7 |
| 3 | JAYME STARK | 4.31 |
| 4 | JERRY DUDLEY | 4.24 |
| 5 | RICHIE ROBINSON | 4.12 |
| 6 | BRANDON PATTERSON | 3.95 |
| 7 | CHARLIE FREDRICK | 3.81 |
| 8 | JODY SMITH | 3.58 |
| 9 | KEN GROSS | 3.56 |
| 10 | GUY FRAHM | 3.41 |
| 11 | DAN POTTER | 3.39 |
| 12 | SCOTT HILL | 3.14 |
| Sunday 12-1 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | MARK HOLT | 5.9 |
| 2 | JESSE CLINKINGBEARD | 4.92 |
| 3 | KENNY PATTERSON | 4.27 |
| 4 | TOM BLAKEMORE | 3.97 |
| 5 | ANDREW HARNSTROM | 3.84 |
| 6 | JOE BRAUNEIS | 3.78 |
| 7 | AARON HODGE | 3.68 |
| 8 | CORY LAFFERTY | 3.56 |
| 9 | FRANK LINVILLE | 3.5 |
| 10 | SCOTT BAILEY | 3.42 |
| 11 | ALVIN JORDAN | 3.3 |
| 12 | CODY MILLICAN | 3.2 |
| Sunday 1-2 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | CRAIG YOCUM | 4.89 |
| 2 | WOLFGANG ALBRECT | 4.75 |
| 3 | BRIAN MACKESTY | 4.38 |
| 4 | VANNETTA GROETKE | 4.29 |
| 5 | JAKE WILLIAMS | 4.23 |
| 6 | KEVIN DICKEY | 4.21 |
| 7 | DWAYNE LONG | 3.99 |
| 8 | ANDREW KNUTSON | 3.92 |
| 9 | LEE BRYANT | 3.52 |
| 10 | STEVE SHERRILL | 3.51 |
| 10 | ROY BRYANT | 3.51 |
| 12 | AUSTIN MCCRACKEN | 3.34 |
| Sunday 2-3 | ||
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
| 1 | TODD LICARE | 6.43 |
| 2 | DUSTIN LIPPE | 5.46 |
| 3 | GIL BRYANT | 4.51 |
| 4 | BRANDON HILL | 4.3 |
| 5 | MATHEW LOVEALL | 4.03 |
| 6 | ROGER WILSON | 3.96 |
| 7 | KIETH ESSEK | 3.89 |
| 8 | GREG LAFFERTY | 3.81 |
| 9 | PETE OGLESBY | 3.67 |
| 10 | NICK HANTHORN | 3.62 |
| 11 | NICK KENNEDY | 3.54 |
| 12 | KURT PRALLE | 3.51 |
Siu Edwardsville For The Win!
Zach Hartnagel and Dalton Wesley of Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville knew a good thing when they found it Friday in the opening round of the FLW College Fishing Open on Kentucky Lake, and parlayed it into a winning stringer in the second round. The Illinois anglers wound up with 35 pounds, 5 ounce to win the tournament’s title ahead of Bethel University’s Carter McNeil and Cole Floyd, who had 33-1. Dallas Baptist University’s Cold Benedict and Trent Newman capped their consistent two-day performance with a third-place showing of 32-6.
Ostensibly a Kentucky Lake tournament, the event might as well have been called the Open on Barkley Lake by Hartnagel and Wesley, as they caught limits of 19-1 and 16-4 fishing coves inside what the locals call Old Kuttawa Harbor on the north end of that Cumberland River impoundment. The two discovered the area Friday afternoon, and filling out a quick limit convinced them that it held the potential weight to guarantee a high finish. They were in third place after the opening round behind St. Ambrose University of Davenport, Ia., and Illinois State University.
Reaching their spot Saturday, and returning from it to the weigh-in at Moors Resort & Marina in the midsection of Kentucky Lake was a bit of a boating adventure for Hartnagel and Wesley because of a blustery west wind that scoured the lakes and the canal that connects them. However, in between boat rides the Cougars had the advantage of being able to fish relatively still waters, while to varying degrees their competition had to deal with the wind-whipped bays of Kentucky Lake as best they could.
“We were worried about how bad the wind would be in there, but it really didn’t bother us at all,” recalls Wesley of the Lake Barkley hotspot. “We just went around and around because we knew the fish were there. They weren’t up for chasing after baits, though, so we had to slow way down.”
St. Ambrose University’s team of brothers Cole and Tanner Atkinson, who led Friday’s opening round, was victimized by the wind – both in reaching their fishing water near Blood River and in presenting crankbaits properly once they got there.
“The wind muddied up the water where we were fishing Friday and it was just too windy to properly fish the points where we caught our better fish on crankbaits,” says Tanner. “So we had to go to Plan B, except we couldn’t adjust and didn’t really have anything else going for us.”
Hartnagel and Wesley didn’t exactly mop up on bass either, but were able to take advantage of roving prespawn bass that moved along riprapped banks. The anglers had five bass when they left their best area at 12:30. Playing it safe, they decided to return early to the vicinity of Moors and then upgraded one of their smaller fish.
“We caught eight keepers on Saturday and seven on Friday,” notes Wesley. “The fishing was slower, and we had to slow down our retrieves. Also, there were two tournaments going on in Barkley, so we had to share the water with a lot of local fishermen. It took us a while to get that last keeper, but when we did I told Zach, ‘well, that’s all we can do; it’s up to the other teams now.’”
Hartnagel, who threw squarebills and “homemade” shaky head baits while Wesley used a Strike King Rodent (black and blue), says that the bass seemed to become active when the sun came out of the clouds periodically, but that the action dropped off to nothing when the clouds returned. The water where they fished was murky, but not muddied.
The biggest bass brought to the scales in the Open’s final round was a 7-pound, 15-ounce largemouth boated by James Kuhns of Bellarmine University. He caught it on a chrome Rat-L-Trap.
Saturday was a day of redemption for some of the teams that had faltered in the opening round, but also a day of disappointment for others striving to earn one of the 15 berths to the 2017 FLW College Fishing National Championship.
The teams that made it included:
1. SIU-Edwardsville, Zach Hartnagel and Dalton Wesley
2. Bethel University, Carter McNeil and Cole Floyd
3. Dallas Baptist University, Colt Benedict and Trent Newman
4. University of Alabama, Ethan Flack and Caiden Sinclair
5. University of Louisiana-Monroe, Thomas Soileau and Hunter Freeman
6. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Stephen Smith and Graham Burke
7. Mississippi State, Jeff Roman Clayton IV and Cody Peak
8. St. Ambrose University, Cole Atkinson and Tanner Atkinson
9. Illinois State University, Taylor Umland and Justin Schick
10. University of Tennessee, Jay Emmert and Anthony Johnson
11. Valdosta State University, Max Gresham and Cody Cleary
12. University of South Carolina, Patrick Walters and Gettys Brannon
13. Murray State University, Nathan Adams and Shon Messmer
14. Bryan College, Nathan Bell and Dylan Kear
15. Eastern Kentucky, Tate Clements and Gavin Draper
FULL RESULTS
Bfl Weekend Wrap-Up - Volunteer, Cowboy, Bulldog & Hoosier - April2, 2016
The BFL (Bass Fishing League) held 4 events this past weekend. The Volunteer Division held their second event of the year on South Holston Lake. The Cowboy Division had theirs on Lake Sam Rayburn, The Bulldog Division in Georgia was on Lake Sinclair and the Hoosier Division opened up on Lake Patoka.
Lots of good weights were posted in each event, which saw a tie in the Cowboy division that had to use a tie breaker. A single ounce margin of victory in the Hoosier opener and two 21 pound bags for the wins in the Bulldog and Volunteer Divisions.
Winners are listed below.
Cowboy Division:
Dicky Newberry - 22.6 pounds: Photo Courtesy of FLW
Bulldog Division:
Frank Jordan Jr. 21.11
Hoosier Division:
Calvin Davidson 16.0
Volunteer Division:
Tim Hicks 21.6 pounds: Photo Courtesy Tim Hicks Fishing
Jeff Fitts Mounts Massive Comeback To Win The Flw Costa Event On Lake Dardanelle
Jeff Fitts' Day 1 was not waht he was hoping for and found himself in 90th place heading into day 2. Needing a comback, Fitts experienced motor trouble which left him to fish closer to the launch area. It seemed to have worked as he vaulted from 90th into the top 10 and ultimately the win on Day 3. Read FLW's Press Release below.
In a field of 190, going from 90th place to first isn’t exactly a zero-to-hero deal, but c’mon – how could you not be impressed with the incredible comeback victory Jeff Fitts orchestrated with a winning weight of 48 pounds, 10 ounces at the Costa FLW Series Central Division tournament presented by Mercury on Lake Dardanelle.
When Tournament Director Ron Lappin announced Fitts’ victory, the winner’s head-in-hands expression bespoke an obvious convergence of joy, relief and amazement. Tournament winners are always happy, yes, but this win was different. It was an unabashed, odds-defying triumph for which Fitts ultimately thanked divine intervention.
A recap will help solidify the story: Day one, Fitts weighs three fish for 7 pounds, 7 ounces. He follows a day later with 23-15 – the event’s heaviest limit – and races up from 90th to sixth. In the final round, Fitts turns in the top performance and seals the deal with a 17-pound, 4-ounce limit.
“After the first day, I would’ve said, ‘No way I’d be standing here the winner,’” says the champ, who now has 10 top-10 finishes with FLW. “From my practice, I knew I had the potential to catch a 25-pound bag, but until you do it, that’s just potential.”
A slow start in the lower end of the lake on day one prompted him to run up the Arkansas River to the heralded backwaters of Spadra Creek. That’s when things started heading downhill.
“I picked up a rod with 12-pound line and started pitching treetops,” Fitts recalls. “I broke off a 5-pounder in a treetop, and I lost a couple of 3-pounders. I don’t even know why I had 12-pound line on my rod. I was down on myself because I knew I should have had 16 to 17 pounds.”
Fitts eventually scratched up three keepers on day one, but as if starting the second day in 90th place weren’t tough enough, he experienced engine trouble right out of the gate on Friday morning.
Bummer … or was it?
Unable to run, Fitts limped over to a couple of pockets between Lake Dardanelle State Park and Illinois Bayou. Noting that these adjacent areas produced all of his day-two and day-three fish, Fitts says he instantly liked what he saw.
“I’m from Florida, so grass plus cold front equals bass,” the Keystone Heights resident says. “When I pulled into the first pocket, I saw grass mats, and I knew I could catch fish there.”
Armed with a 7-foot, 8-inch Vexan heavy flipping rod and 65-pound-test Seaguar Smackdown braid, he flipped and pitched a Strike King Rage Bug in black/blue or summer craw rigged on a 5/0 Trokar Big Nasty flipping hook with a 1 1/2-ounce Strike King tungsten weight. The day-two bite started quickly and ended up delivering a dream day for an angler who really needed a shot of positive.
“On my third flip, I caught a 3-pounder. I went 10 feet and caught a 5. I went another 10 feet and caught a 5 1/2,” Fitts recalls. “By then I had 13 to 14 pounds in the boat, and I hadn’t been fishing 10 minutes. I was on top of the world.
“At 10:10, I put my fifth fish in the boat, and at 3:10 I flipped my last 4-pounder and culled the 3-pounder that was my first fish. That gave me the 23-15.”
With no compelling reason to ditch what was working, Fitts ran back to those special pockets on day three and closed out a Cinderella performance with a 12-ounce margin of victory over second-place pro Daniel Kweekul.
“In my opinion, it was 100-percent God talking to me, because I was on my way to Spadra Creek,” Fitts says of his day-two turnaround. “I was going to come back down around 12 o’clock and finish out the day flipping. I couldn’t go, so I went flipping, and there it was.”
Top 10 Pros
1. Jeff Fitts – Keystone Heights, Fla. – 48-10 (13) – $48,000
2. Daniel Kweekul – Bryant, Ark. – 47-14 (15) – $19,500
3. Teddy Bogard – Pine Bluff, Ark. – 47-00 (15) – $14,000
4. Todd Castledine – Nacogdoches, Texas – 45-03 (11) – $12,000
5. Evan Barnes – Hot Springs, Ark. – 44-12 (15) – $11,000
6. Zach King – Clarksville, Ark. – 43-00 (13) – $9,000
7. Christopher Jones – Bokoshe, Okla. – 40-02 (14) – $7,800
8. Greg Jones – Wentzville, Mo. – 39-07 (13) – $6,800
9. Joe McClary – Kirkwood, Mo. – 32-02 (11) – $5,800
10. Brandon Hunter – Benton, Ky. – 31-14 (11) – $4,400
Wiggins Wins Bassmaster Southern Open On Smith Lake
Local stick Jesse Wiggins used a shaky head to catch spawning spotted bass early in the day and then ran upriver in pursuit of largemouth with a walking topwater plug to cull his way to a weather-shortened win at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Smith Lake in Alabama. The official press release from B.A.S.S. follows:
JASPER, Ala. –– During the past two years Jesse Wiggins taught first round leader Jordan Lee a lot about fishing Smith Lake. But Wiggins didn’t share every trick in his book.
Wiggins rallied from second place to win the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open here today with a two-day total of 34 pounds, 2 ounces. Lee, who started the day in first place after a 20-10 bag Friday, managed a limit weighing only 9-15 and finished fourth.
“Jesse is really good here,” Lee said. “We’ve fished a couple of tournaments together, and he’s taught me a lot about this lake. It doesn’t surprise me that he won.”
Wiggins, who is from nearby Cullman, Ala., relied on two lures: a 3/16-ounce homemade shaky head jig with a 4-inch green pumpkin Senko and a topwater lure similar to a Zara Spook.
The victory earned Wiggins $52,877, including a Triton Boat and Mercury outboard package, plus a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro. Wiggins must compete in Southern Open #3 at Tennessee’s Douglas Lake next month to finalize the Classic berth.
“I’ll be there with bells on,” Wiggins said.
Lee, who grew up in Cullman and now lives in Grant, Ala., wasn’t the only angler who struggled Saturday. The number of five-bass limits caught dropped from 164 Friday to 150, but the number of bites shrunk considerably more, even for Wiggins.
“Overall I caught way less today,” Wiggins said. “Yesterday I had a limit that weighed 16 pounds in the first 20 minutes. Today I had a limit at 9 o’clock, but luckily they were all 3-pounders.”
Wiggins weighed all spotted bass Saturday; his five bass Friday, which weighed 18-15, included a 5-pound and a 4-pound largemouth.
“I threw the shaky head in the morning for bedding fish,” Wiggins said. “I couldn’t see them, but I knew where to throw it. Later in the day, I’d go up the river and throw that topwater bait in the pockets. I caught those two largemouth on it yesterday and a spot on it today.”
Brent Crow of Hartselle, Ala., jumped from 12th place to finish second with 32-0. Michael Johnson of Talking Rock, Ga., rallied from 43rd place with an 18-1 limit to finish third with a total of 31-14. He was followed by Lee and Bradley Dortch of Windermere, Fla., who both had 30-9.
The usual format for a Bassmaster Open tournament has the full field fishing two days, then the Top 12 fishing Saturday to determine the pro and co-angler champions. Due to heavy thunderstorms in the Smith Lake area Thursday, competition was canceled for that day, reducing it to a two-day tournament with the full field of 179 boats participating both days.
Jody White of Gilbertsville, Ky., won the $30,000 Triton boat and Mercury package in co-angler competition with a two-day total of 19 pounds. White started the day in ninth place, but caught a three-bass limit weighing 9-10, the third-biggest bag of the day, to take the title.
Over the two days, White’s six bass came on three different lures. Two were caught on a green pumpkin Strike King Ocho wacky rigged with a nail weight. Two came on a 2.8-inch Keitech Swing Impact Fat swimbait rigged on a 1/8-ounce shaky head jig, and the other two were caught on a white vibrating jig coupled with a pearl-colored Strike King Menace trailer.
Jonathan Harris of Moody, Ala., weighed the biggest bag in the co-angler division Saturday with 10-5 and took second place with a total of 17-14. Teb Jones of Hattiesburg, Miss., was third with 17-4, followed by Don Harvey of Franklin, Tenn., with 16-15 and Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala., with 16-13.
Big bass in the pro competition and $750 went to Lee for the 7-13 that anchored his 21-10 bag Friday. The Livingston Lures leader award of $250 was won by Wiggins.
On the co-angler side, Harris took the $250 big bass award with a 4-14 Saturday. White won the $250 Livingston Lures leader award.
2016 2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open Smith Lake 3/31-4/2
Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 10 34-02 200 $52,887.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 15-03
2. Brent Crow Hartselle, AL 10 32-00 199 $18,139.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 15-13
3. Michael Johnson Talking Rock, GA 10 31-14 198 $13,604.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 18-01
4. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 10 30-09 197 $12,922.00
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 09-15
5. Bradley Dortch Windemere, FL 10 30-09 196 $10,621.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 16-11
6. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 10 30-06 195 $9,069.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 16-05
7. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 10 30-06 194 $7,637.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 15-01
8. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 30-03 193 $6,086.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 13-13
9. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 10 30-01 192 $4,535.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 11-14
10. Matt Stefan Junction City, WI 10 30-01 191 $4,177.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 17-06
11. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 10 29-15 190 $3,819.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-02
12. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 10 29-13 189 $3,580.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 18-15
13. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10 29-13 188 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 13-09
14. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 10 29-03 187 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 13-10
15. Mark Rose West Memphis, AR 10 29-01 186 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 11-10
16. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 10 28-05 185 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 12-06
17. David Smith Del City, OK 10 28-03 184 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 14-13
18. Tim Arnold Cullman, AL 10 28-00 183 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 12-06
19. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 28-00 182 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 12-10
20. Matt Brown Corbin, KY 10 28-00 181 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 15-05
21. John Cox Debary, FL 10 27-15 180 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-04
22. Bill Day II Frankfort, KY 10 27-14 179 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 08-15
23. Alton Jones Jr. Lorena, TX 10 27-14 178 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 12-13
24. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 10 27-12 177 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 12-04
25. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 27-09 176 $2,983.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 13-00
26. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 27-05 175 $2,625.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 13-15
27. Charlie Evans Berea, KY 10 27-04 174 $2,625.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 13-07
28. David Perdue Wirtz, VA 10 27-02 173 $2,625.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 10-10
29. David Hudson Jasper, AL 10 27-00 172 $2,625.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 10-12
30. Jason Rice Swannanoa, NC 10 27-00 171 $2,625.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-04
31. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 10 26-12 170 $2,267.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 11-12
32. Kazunori Okuma Moriyama-Shi Shiga JAPA 10 26-12 169 $2,267.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-09
33. Anthony Gagliardi Prosperity, SC 10 26-09 168 $2,267.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 11-01
34. Seiji Kato Shiga JAPAN 10 26-08 167 $2,267.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 13-07
35. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 10 26-07 166 $2,267.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 12-03
36. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 10 26-01 165 $1,909.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 10-15
37. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 26-01 164 $1,909.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-09
38. Ryan Davidson Branchland, WV 10 25-15 163 $1,909.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 12-03
39. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 10 25-11 162 $1,909.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 08-14
40. Jade Keeton Killen, AL 10 25-08 161 $1,909.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 16-01
41. Jp Prouty Satellite Beach, FL 10 25-08 160
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 10-05
42. Jeff Shelton Hanceville, AL 10 25-06 159
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 10-06
43. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 10 25-06 158
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 12-03
44. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 25-04 157
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-04
45. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 10 24-15 156
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-07
46. Preston Johnson Rice Lake, WI 10 24-14 155
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-07
47. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 10 24-13 154
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 08-14
48. Clabion Johns Jr Covington, GA 10 24-12 153
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-14
49. Scott Canterbury Springville, AL 10 24-11 152
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-00
50. Samuel Fish Calera, AL 10 24-11 151
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-04
51. Scott Luster Prattville, AL 10 24-09 150
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 09-00
52. Deron Patrick Cullman, AL 10 24-09 149
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 10-05
53. Gabriel Keen Caryville, TN 10 24-07 148
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 08-15
54. Patrick Bone Cleveland, GA 10 24-04 147
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 14-13
55. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 10 24-03 146
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 10-00
56. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 10 24-02 145
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 08-14
57. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 24-02 144
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 09-04
58. Kyle Worsham Cherokee, AL 10 24-02 143
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 13-09
59. Chris Adams Oviedo, FL 10 23-15 142
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-03
60. Ricky Shepherd Mosheim, TN 10 23-14 141
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 12-06
61. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 23-14 140
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 12-02
62. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 10 23-14 139
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-14
63. Eric Panzironi Longwood, FL 10 23-13 138
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 11-12
64. Bradley Sears Covington, GA 10 23-12 137
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-15
65. William Shipes Williston, SC 10 23-10 136
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 11-04
66. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 23-10 135
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-05
67. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 10 23-10 134
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 12-01
68. James Christian Dickson, TN 10 23-09 133
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 09-07
69. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 10 23-08 132
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 12-04
70. Derek Hudnall Baton Rouge, LA 10 23-06 131
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 07-14
71. Greg Buie Athens, AL 10 23-05 130
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 13-07
72. Al Farace Jr Cockeysville, MD 10 23-04 129
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 09-09
73. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 10 23-04 128
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 09-15
74. Lee Black Danville, AL 10 23-03 127
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 10-01
75. Mike Jackson San Mateo, FL 10 23-02 126
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 08-12
76. Douglas Workman Cleveland, GA 10 23-01 125
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 11-00
77. Wesley Strader Spring City, TN 10 23-00 124
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 09-10
78. Kyle Fox Lakeland, FL 10 23-00 123
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-12
79. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 9 22-13 122
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 4 05-13
80. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 22-13 121
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 08-08
81. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 22-12 120
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 11-03
82. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 10 22-07 119
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 09-09
83. Arnie Lane Lakeland, FL 10 22-06 118
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 10-15
84. Brian Elder Locust Grove, GA 10 22-03 117
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 11-00
85. Bill Weidler Bessemer, AL 9 22-02 116
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 5 14-11
86. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 22-02 115
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 14-00
87. Jordan Card Knoxville, TN 10 22-02 114
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-12
88. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 10 21-13 113
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 12-10
89. Sven Hilland Cape Town SOUTH AFRICA 10 21-13 112
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 11-00
90. Danny Lavoie Franklin, GA 10 21-11 111
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 08-05
91. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 10 21-11 110
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 11-14
92. Rex Chambers Baileyton, AL 10 21-10 109
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 12-08
93. Kendal Beaty Spring City, TN 10 21-09 108
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 08-10
94. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 10 21-07 107
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 07-10
95. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 21-06 106
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-01
96. Jim Tomsovic Sparta, WI 10 21-05 105
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 10-14
97. Lionel Botha Palm Bay, FL 10 21-04 104
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-08
98. Chris Heath North Augusta, SC 10 21-04 103
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 10-15
99. John Brazzell Winter Garden, FL 10 21-03 102
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 05-06
100. AJ Slegona Jr Walker Valley, NY 8 21-02 101
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 3 06-13
101. Josh Douglas Mound, MN 10 21-02 100
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 10-06
102. Che Johnson Rochester, MN 10 20-14 99
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 08-07
103. Jamey Caldwell Carthage, NC 10 20-13 98
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 10-07
104. Mitch Liss Saint Cloud, FL 10 20-12 97
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 12-15
105. Michael Murphy Lexington, SC 10 20-10 96
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 08-04
106. Roland Martin Naples, FL 10 20-08 95
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 09-00
107. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 10 20-08 94
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 09-08
108. Kyle Schutta Forest Lake, MN 10 20-07 93
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 10-03
109. Andrew Iversen Maple Plain, MN 9 20-06 92
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 4 08-03
110. Randy Elliott Bowie, MD 10 20-06 91
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 09-07
111. Patrick Pierce Jacksonville, FL 10 20-04 90
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 11-08
112. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 10 20-03 89
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 08-13
113. Shin Fukae Palestine, TX 10 20-01 88
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 08-09
114. Kyle Glasgow Jr Guin, AL 10 20-00 87
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 07-07
115. Greg Pugh Cullman, AL 10 19-15 86
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 08-14
116. Wil Hardy II Harlem, GA 10 19-13 85
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-02
117. Gary Clouse La Vergne, TN 8 19-09 84
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 3 07-08
118. Clayton Batts Warner Robins, GA 9 19-08 83
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 4 08-02
119. Chris Neau Gretna, LA 10 19-07 82
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 07-11
120. Kazuki Kitajima Orlando, FL 10 19-06 81
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 10-09
121. Jon Canada Pelham, AL 10 19-04 80
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 10-11
122. Matt Fair Ocoee, FL 10 19-04 79
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 08-13
123. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 19-03 78
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 06-11
124. Jon Englund Farwell, MN 10 19-03 77
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 09-07
125. Rick Shannon Woodlawn, TN 10 19-01 76
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 11-03
126. Derek Yasinski Senoia, GA 10 18-15 75
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 10-03
127. Paul Pagnato Jr Reston, VA 9 18-08 74
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 4 07-08
128. Jesse Tacoronte Orlando, FL 10 18-07 73
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 09-15
129. Sam George Athens, AL 9 18-05 72
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-11
130. Eric Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN 10 18-04 71
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 05-13
131. Ryan Hoover Valrico, FL 9 18-03 70
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 10-03
132. Christopher Murphy Warrenton, VA 10 18-02 69
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 08-08
133. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 17-13 68
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 07-12
134. Tom Huynh Moorehead, MN 10 17-09 67
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 07-05
135. Billy Briere Mooresville, IN 9 17-04 66
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 4 08-09
136. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 10 17-02 65
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 07-12
137. Jeff Barth Marshfield, WI 10 17-01 64
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 5 10-01
138. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 10 17-00 63
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 07-03
139. Jimmy Johnson La Crosse, WI 10 16-13 62
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 06-04
140. Parker Cann Abbeville, SC 9 16-08 61
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 4 08-03
141. William Hensley Chattaroy, WV 7 16-06 60
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 2 02-11
142. Dylan Fulk Concord, NC 10 16-00 59
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 08-04
143. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 10 16-00 58
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 08-01
144. Kendall Newson Lagrange, GA 10 15-14 57
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 06-14
145. Eric Jackson Walling, TN 9 15-14 56
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 09-00
146. Clay Dyer Fayetteville, TN 10 15-12 55
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 06-02
147. James Bailey Warrenton, VA 9 15-12 54
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 4 06-15
148. Grayson Smith Clarksville, TN 10 15-06 53
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 07-13
149. Steve York Bronson, MI 9 15-05 52
Day 1: 4 06-04 Day 2: 5 09-01
150. Russell Ludwig IV Auburn, GA 10 15-04 51
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 06-10
151. Rich Howes Oviedo, FL 10 15-03 50
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 07-06
152. Ronnie Green Sebring, FL 10 15-01 49
Day 1: 5 05-12 Day 2: 5 09-05
153. Cody Detweiler Orlando, FL 9 14-13 48
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 4 05-10
154. Donald Herwick III Springboro, OH 7 14-11 47
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 2 05-01
155. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 8 14-04 46
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 3 04-06
156. Carroll Blevins Jonesboro, GA 9 14-00 45
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 5 06-05
157. Chris Moody Brooks, GA 10 13-11 44
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 5 07-01
158. Gerald Sensabaugh Kingsport, TN 5 13-06 43
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 9 13-03 42
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 4 04-12
160. Larry Gaines Valparaiso, FL 6 13-01 41
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 07-08
161. Ray Hashimoto San Francisco, CA 5 12-11 40
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
162. Hunter Eubanks Inman, SC 8 12-09 39
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 5 08-04
163. Chris Hensley Marbury, AL 8 12-07 38
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 3 04-10
164. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 8 12-03 37
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 4 05-12
165. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 12-01 36
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
166. Trevor Lo Maplewood, MN 9 11-12 35
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 5 06-01
167. Jeffrey Brooks Boca Raton, FL 8 11-05 34
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 3 04-13
168. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 10-07 33
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
169. Guy Eaker Sr. Cherryville, NC 6 10-06 32
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 5 07-15
170. Jeff Cox Saline, MI 5 10-01 31
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
171. Toby Lillard Clarksville, TN 9 09-15 30
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 4 03-05
172. Travis Dehart Greenville, SC 8 09-13 29
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 3 03-08
173. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 09-03 28
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
174. Aaron Owens Birmingham, AL 5 09-02 27
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
175. Trait Crist Fort Worth, TX 7 09-01 26
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 06-02
176. Rick Pierce Mountain Home, AR 7 08-10 25
Day 1: 2 02-00 Day 2: 5 06-10
177. Dustin Neat Dunnville, KY 5 08-09 24
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
178. Darrell Pons Gainesville, FL 5 06-10 23
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 06-10
179. Bob Morin Seymour, TN 3 02-13 22
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 164 866 2053-01
2 150 819 1732-05
----------------------------------
314 1685 3785-06
2016 2016 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open Smith Lake 3/31-4/2
Smith Lake, Jasper AL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jody White Gilbertsville, KY 6 19-00 200 $30,000.00
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 3 09-10
2. Johnathan Harris Moody, AL 6 17-14 199 $6,097.00
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 10-05
3. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 6 17-04 198 $4,415.00
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 09-04
4. Don Harvey Franklin, TN 6 16-15 197 $2,983.00
Day 1: 3 10-07 Day 2: 3 06-08
5. Todd Lee Jasper, AL 6 16-13 196 $2,745.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 07-09
6. Dan Taylor Shinglehouse, PA 6 16-10 195 $2,625.00
Day 1: 3 09-11 Day 2: 3 06-15
7. Rodney Tapp Inman, SC 6 16-09 194 $2,446.00
Day 1: 3 09-13 Day 2: 3 06-12
7. Jordan Wiggins Addison, AL 6 16-09 194 $2,446.00
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 3 09-13
9. Luke Patterson Middleburg, KY 6 16-06 192 $2,267.00
Day 1: 3 10-00 Day 2: 3 06-06
10. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 6 16-00 191 $2,029.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 3 07-10
11. Radney Atchison Prattville, AL 6 15-13 190 $1,790.00
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 3 06-04
12. Gus Kneidinger Prospect, PA 6 15-11 189 $1,671.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 08-01
13. Tony Sears Dahlonega, GA 6 15-06 188 $1,432.00
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 09-01
14. Wesley Smith Vinemont, AL 6 15-05 187 $1,313.00
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 3 07-07
15. Rodney Rice Narrows, VA 6 15-02 186 $1,193.00
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 3 08-05
16. Joey Aderhold Birmingham, AL 6 15-01 185 $1,074.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 08-09
17. Joey Thomasson Columbia, SC 6 15-00 184 $835.00
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 08-11
18. Shane Love Crooksville, OH 6 14-11 183 $716.00
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 07-03
19. Charles Anderson Rocky Face, GA 6 14-10 182 $716.00
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 07-09
20. Wayne Hauser Mooresville, NC 6 14-10 181 $597.00
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 07-06
21. Chaz Carrington Virginia Beach, VA 6 14-09 180 $507.00
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 3 05-15
22. Joe Koch Kewaskum, WI 6 14-08 179 $507.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 08-00
23. Shawn Carnahan Gilbert, AZ 6 14-08 178 $507.00
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 07-09
24. Kent Biggs Morristown, TN 6 14-07 177 $507.00
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 3 04-14
25. Justin Stephenson Jasper, AL 6 14-05 176 $507.00
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 3 07-05
26. Pete Patterson Kingsport, TN 6 14-04 175 $507.00
Day 1: 3 08-12 Day 2: 3 05-08
27. Casey O'Donnell Scottsboro, AL 6 14-03 174 $507.00
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 07-14
28. Steven Roosen Charlotte, NC 6 14-00 173 $507.00
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 06-12
29. Jason Patterson Bluffton, IN 6 13-15 172 $507.00
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 3 05-04
30. Mike Spears Jasper, AL 6 13-14 171 $507.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 07-05
31. Miles Smith Birmingham, AL 6 13-13 170 $507.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 06-03
32. Daniel Buswell II Fayetteville, GA 6 13-07 169 $507.00
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 3 05-03
33. Ronald Young Round Rock, TX 6 13-07 168 $507.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 3 06-00
34. Ben Humphries Jasper, AL 6 13-07 167 $507.00
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 3 06-07
35. Wayne Norman Jacksboro, TN 6 13-06 166 $507.00
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 3 04-11
36. Kenny Sammons Pinetta, FL 6 13-06 165 $507.00
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 3 05-11
37. Scott Wiley Jr Bay Minette, AL 6 13-05 164 $507.00
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 3 05-00
38. Charles Fochtman Moneta, VA 6 13-04 163 $507.00
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 3 05-08
39. Geoff Percival Lincoln, AL 6 13-04 162 $507.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 07-02
40. William Gaston Sylacauga, AL 6 13-04 161 $507.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 3 07-01
41. Andrew Mcclintock Wellford, SC 6 13-04 160
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 3 06-08
42. Zach George Hastings, MI 6 13-04 159
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 06-11
43. Michael Cruce Bremen, AL 5 13-03 158
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 2 04-03
44. Lynn Oswalt Jasper, AL 6 13-03 157
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 3 04-09
45. Jerry Allen Jasper, AL 6 13-03 156
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 04-10
46. Clint Harrison II Georgetown, TN 6 13-01 155
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 06-00
47. Taylor Schneider Matthews, NC 6 12-15 154
Day 1: 3 09-05 Day 2: 3 03-10
48. Christopher Lemon Mooresville, IN 6 12-15 153
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 3 04-11
49. Jerry Morris Jr Charlotte, NC 6 12-15 152
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 3 05-00
50. Jim Sulcer Jr Athens, AL 6 12-14 151
Day 1: 3 08-09 Day 2: 3 04-05
51. Bruce Griffin Jasper, AL 6 12-14 150
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 3 04-15
52. Lee Mcclendon Jr Trussville, AL 6 12-12 149
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 3 05-13
53. Jerry Cook Prattville, AL 6 12-10 148
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 3 05-10
54. Tom Stark III Angola, IN 6 12-09 147
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 3 05-03
55. Mark Bartosch Clarksville, TN 6 12-07 146
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 3 04-03
56. Clayton Stoering Waterville, MN 6 12-07 145
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 04-14
57. Skeeter Miller Whittier, NC 5 12-06 144
Day 1: 3 10-04 Day 2: 2 02-02
58. Kevin Murphy Orange Beach, AL 6 12-06 143
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 03-14
59. Linda Higginbotham Palm Coast, FL 6 12-06 142
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 07-07
60. Marlon Crowder Tampa, FL 6 12-04 141
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 3 05-01
61. JJ Polak Oxford, GA 6 12-03 140
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 06-05
62. Beecher Strunk Somerset, KY 6 12-02 139
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 07-03
63. Justin Defoe Cullman, AL 6 11-14 138
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 05-03
64. Benjie Seaborn Guin, AL 5 11-13 137
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 2 05-02
65. Alan Engberg Greenville, AL 6 11-13 136
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 05-07
66. Cory Johnson Crane Hill, AL 6 11-13 135
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 06-05
67. Benny Widerman Deltona, FL 6 11-13 134
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 06-04
68. Jonathan Raney Tullahoma, TN 6 11-12 133
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 3 04-15
69. Sam Fish Alexander City, AL 6 11-11 132
Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 3 03-10
70. Scotty Allen Mantachie, MS 4 11-11 131
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 1 04-04
71. Cody Pellegrin Hattiesburg, MS 6 11-11 130
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 05-02
72. Blake Oswalt Jasper, AL 6 11-11 129
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 3 05-11
73. Dexton Gregory Cullman, AL 6 11-10 128
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 06-08
74. Dustin Seaborn Guin, AL 6 11-10 127
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 05-06
75. Edward Ruth AL 6 11-09 126
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 3 07-12
76. Richard Arnold Owens Cross Roads, AL 6 11-08 125
Day 1: 3 07-09 Day 2: 3 03-15
77. Nick Spantgos Topeka, KS 6 11-07 124
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 07-04
78. Jeffrey Worth Longwood, FL 6 11-07 123
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 06-08
79. Barry Maner Trinity, AL 4 11-06 122
Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 1 02-04
80. Jarrod Anderson Delcambre, LA 6 11-06 121
Day 1: 3 08-07 Day 2: 3 02-15
81. Stephen Davis Blacksburg, VA 6 11-06 120
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 3 05-13
82. Andrew Allen Theodore, AL 6 11-04 119
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 05-07
83. Luke Koch Campbellsport, WI 5 11-03 118
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 2 03-15
84. Tony Quick Cullman, AL 6 11-03 117
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 3 06-06
85. David Earnest Oakman, AL 6 11-02 116
Day 1: 3 07-12 Day 2: 3 03-06
86. Robert Holcomb Longwood, FL 6 11-02 115
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 05-00
87. Brandon Bolton West Point, MS 4 11-01 114
Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 1 00-14
88. Carlton Tipp Jr Grand Bay, AL 6 11-00 113
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 3 04-03
89. Chad Mccarty Tipp City, OH 6 10-15 112
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 3 05-14
90. Daniel Phillips Lawrenceville, GA 6 10-14 111
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 03-09
91. Michael Vice Rossville, IL 6 10-14 110
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 3 03-12
92. Greg Mauldin Archdale, NC 5 10-14 109
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 2 04-03
93. Matt Mattingly Gravel Switch, KY 6 10-14 108
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 3 06-00
94. Josh Olson Chippewa Falls, WI 6 10-14 107
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 05-09
95. Jenny Sander Byron, GA 6 10-12 106
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 3 04-04
96. Scap Cicero Wetumpka, AL 5 10-11 105
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 2 03-11
97. Mark Wethington Liberty, KY 6 10-11 104
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 04-07
98. Charles Healan Waleska, GA 6 10-11 103
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 04-13
99. Chuck Thurlow Auburn, AL 6 10-10 102
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 3 03-06
100. Chris Farmer Mathews, AL 5 10-08 101
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 2 03-02
101. Darrell Pons II Gainesville, FL 6 10-07 100
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 06-08
102. Ryan Crawley Troy, AL 6 10-06 99
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 05-12
103. James Powell Johnson City, TN 6 10-05 98
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 3 05-07
104. Roy Hurst Jr Birmingham, AL 4 10-04 97
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 3 08-15
105. Matt Justice Fair Play, SC 6 10-04 96
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 3 05-07
106. Eric Davis Athens, AL 6 10-03 95
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 3 03-06
107. Charlie Ginda Edison, NJ 6 10-03 94
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 05-09
108. Daniel Kendrick Chatsworth, GA 6 10-02 93
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 3 06-04
109. Jimmy Hayes Fayetteville, NC 6 10-01 92
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 06-02
110. Ronald Twardowski Marshfield, WI 6 09-15 91
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 3 04-09
111. Jeff Hartung Beechgrove, TN 4 09-13 90
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 1 01-08
112. Brandon Stooksbury Locust Grove, GA 6 09-12 89
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 3 02-07
113. Clay Ellis II Ozark, AL 5 09-11 88
Day 1: 3 08-07 Day 2: 2 01-04
114. Tim Kellam Crittenden, KY 5 09-11 87
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 3 04-10
115. Bailey Boutries Daphne, AL 6 09-11 86
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 3 04-14
116. Jamie Butler Jasper, AL 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 08-10
117. Joshua Bauer Random Lake, WI 6 09-10 84
Day 1: 3 04-00 Day 2: 3 05-10
118. Bill Hunter Murfreesboro, TN 6 09-10 83
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 05-09
119. Eulon Lee Jr. Eclectic, AL 6 09-09 82
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 03-05
120. Marshall Hughes Port Neches, TX 6 09-09 81
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 05-08
121. Jonathan Barnette Jasper, AL 5 09-07 80
Day 1: 3 06-15 Day 2: 2 02-08
122. Russell Sapp III Lincoln, AL 5 09-06 79
Day 1: 2 01-14 Day 2: 3 07-08
123. Hillary Hughes Hughson, CA 5 09-05 78
Day 1: 3 06-14 Day 2: 2 02-07
124. Chad Durden Trussville, AL 6 09-01 77
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 3 04-13
125. Roy Kelly Petal, MS 6 09-00 76
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 3 03-08
126. Ramon Quick Cullman, AL 5 08-15 75
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 2 01-15
127. Brad Gandee Mcdonough, GA 6 08-14 74
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 3 04-07
128. Mark Dyer Slidell, LA 6 08-11 73
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 3 04-15
129. Miriam Donohoo San Mateo, FL 6 08-11 72
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 04-02
130. Daniel Beebe Jr Niota, TN 6 08-06 71
Day 1: 3 03-01 Day 2: 3 05-05
131. Tyler Moore Walterboro, SC 5 08-03 70
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 3 04-13
132. Steven Kellam Dry Ridge, KY 6 08-02 69
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 3 03-09
133. Joe Moore Kissimmee, FL 6 08-01 68
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 03-06
134. Richard Purvis Clermont, FL 4 07-15 67
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 1 01-14
135. Bill Bruce Hendersonville, TN 4 07-11 66
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 1 01-02
136. Scott Crews Wetumpka, AL 4 07-11 65
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 1 01-04
137. Ledell Wade Jr Clarksville, TN 5 07-11 64
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 2 01-12
138. Anthony Smith Cleveland, GA 6 07-11 63
Day 1: 3 04-12 Day 2: 3 02-15
139. Tyler Hicks Jasper, AL 6 07-10 62
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 3 03-09
140. Jimmy Lee Jasper, AL 4 07-07 61
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 1 00-15
141. Tomas Gomez Kissimmee, FL 4 07-06 60
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 2 03-14
142. Hunter Cockram York, SC 3 07-05 59
Day 1: 3 07-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. Jimmy Crum Afton, TN 6 07-05 58
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 3 04-00
144. Fredrick Requarth Dayton, OH 4 07-02 57
Day 1: 1 02-02 Day 2: 3 05-00
145. Barry Brunges Gainesville, FL 4 06-15 56
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 3 05-09
146. Tom Balachvili Brooklyn, NY 5 06-14 55
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 2 01-09
147. Vern Moss Jr Niles, MI 3 06-12 54
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
148. Jonathan Tubbs Irondale, AL 3 06-11 53
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
149. Chris Harris Groveland, FL 4 06-04 52
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 3 04-08
150. Randy Futch Dunnellon, FL 2 06-03 51
Day 1: 1 04-05 Day 2: 1 01-14
151. David Stevens Eddyville, KY 5 06-00 50
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 2 02-09
152. Hollywood Hobson Clermont, FL 4 05-15 49
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 2 02-05
153. Cody Brand Cullman, AL 3 05-13 48
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Eddie Johns Anniston, AL 4 05-13 47
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 3 03-10
155. Tim Lollar Cullman, AL 4 05-11 46
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 3 04-00
156. Daniel Richardson Palm Harbor, FL 3 05-10 45
Day 1: 3 05-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Alan Blondino Rustburg, VA 3 05-10 44
Day 1: 1 02-07 Day 2: 2 03-03
158. Mike Joint Kissimmee, FL 4 05-09 43
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 2 02-11
159. Ronald Wiggins Palatka, FL 4 05-09 42
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 3 02-13
160. Brandsford Dean Spring City, TN 3 05-06 41
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. Ike Taylor Westerville, OH 3 05-05 40
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
162. David Eden Adams, TN 4 05-01 39
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 03-08
163. Gregory O'Neal Winchester, TN 3 04-14 38
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 2 03-11
164. Christian Thompson Lake City, FL 4 04-14 37
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 1 01-05
165. Walter Swafford Winter Garden, FL 3 04-05 36
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
166. Mark Moretz Hertford, NC 3 04-05 35
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 1 01-04
167. Keith Honeycutt Temple, TX 3 04-01 34
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. John Riddling III Melrose, FL 3 04-00 33
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-00
169. Adam Sumner Mount Dora, FL 2 03-11 32
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Roman Holmes Vancleave, MS 4 03-11 31
Day 1: 2 02-00 Day 2: 2 01-11
171. Todd Mahoney Whitesburg, GA 3 03-06 30
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
172. Randy Vann Cedartown, GA 2 03-06 29
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Peter Saraf Kissimmee, FL 3 03-04 28
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-04
174. Jeff Keever Decatur, GA 2 02-15 27
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 01-08
175. David Chamberlain Trenton, NJ 1 01-08 26
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Sawyer Adams Seymour, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Barrett Briley Lester, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Shane Byrom Newnan, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
176. Zach Kirby Shelbyville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 149 481 1042-02
2 130 442 815-01
----------------------------------
279 923 1857-03
|
|
Cbc High Rock Wrap Up With Director Brett Collins
CBC Tournament Director Brett Collins re-caps what turned out to be a fantastic day on High Rock with lots of quality and the first ever back to back winners in the history of the CBC!!
Cbc High Rock Champs One On One-Duncan And Woody Take Home $14,000 In Cash!
Unbelievable tournament for CBC CHamps Donnie Woody and Dale Duncan-they join us and break down what they did Sat to lock up their second consecutive win for the first time ever on the CBC Series!
Donnie Woody And Dale Duncan Win Cbc On High Rock-First Ever Back To Back Champs-Take Home $14,000-Full Results And Pics Here!
2nd place team of Chris Wagner and Chase Deal
3rd place and BF winners Chris Corriher and Randy Christie!
Find the BF here......wont take long!
Crowd Shot of Weigh-in on High Rock| Place | Team Name | Team # | #Fish | Net Weight | Big Fish | Points | Skeeter Bonus | Winnings | ||
| 1 | Dale Duncan - Donnie Woody | 34 | 5 | 22.620 | 5.550 | 310 | $4,000 | $14,000 | ||
| 2 | Chris Wagner - Chase Deal | 6 | 5 | 22.520 | 6.160 | 309 | $3,000 | $8,000 | ||
| 3 | Chris Corriher - Randy Christy | 154 | 5 | 22.400 | 6.670 | 308 | $1,000 - BF | $4,500 | ||
| 4 | Jeremi Beatty - Clint Benbow | 53 | 5 | 20.750 | 5.740 | 307 | $2,500 | |||
| 5 | Brendon Schneider - Kyle James | 50 | 5 | 20.480 | 0.000 | 306 | $2,000 | |||
| 6 | Robert Mixon - Robert Lambert | 35 | 5 | 19.810 | 0.000 | 305 | $1,250 | |||
| 7 | CJ Johnston - Matt Stanley | 4 | 5 | 19.760 | 0.000 | 304 | $1,100 | |||
| 8 | James Ball - Kyle Whisnant | 147 | 5 | 19.600 | 5.330 | 303 | $1,000 | |||
| 9 | Scott Faulkner - TONY BREWER | 118 | 5 | 19.040 | 0.000 | 302 | $900 | |||
| 10 | Scott Henley - Neil McDonald | 64 | 5 | 17.740 | 6.530 | 301 | $2,000 | $2,800 | ||
| 11 | Steve Sink - Tony Foster | 51 | 5 | 17.290 | 0.000 | 300 | $1,000 | $1,625 | ||
| 12 | Jason Quinn - Tony Colacurcio | 26 | 5 | 17.280 | 0.000 | 299 | $575 | |||
| 13 | Greg Sims - Michael Huffman | 97 | 4 | 16.920 | 5.880 | 298 | $550 | |||
| 14 | Bernie Davis - bobby snyder | 32 | 5 | 16.840 | 0.000 | 297 | $525 | |||
| 15 | Dennis Hensley - Steve Yoder | 1 | 5 | 16.830 | 0.000 | 296 | $475 | |||
| 16 | Roger Hoover - Scott Hamrick | 108 | 5 | 16.770 | 0.000 | 295 | $450 | |||
| 17 | Jeff Hager - darrel hager | 124 | 4 | 16.640 | 6.380 | 294 | $400 | |||
| 18 | Thomas Vickers - Brian Huskins | 146 | 5 | 16.570 | 0.000 | 293 | $350 | |||
| 19 | Thomas Simmerson - Doug Young | 55 | 5 | 16.540 | 6.380 | 292 | $325 | |||
| 20 | Thomas Hardwick - Tommy Williams | 21 | 4 | 16.440 | 6.530 | 291 | $300 | |||
| 21 | David Wright - Jeff Coble | 99 | 5 | 16.350 | 0.000 | 290 | $290 | |||
| 22 | Tim Hawley - Joe Hamilton | 152 | 5 | 16.280 | 0.000 | 289 | $275 | |||
| 23 | Roger Pope - Michael Smith | 37 | 5 | 16.090 | 0.000 | 288 | $260 | |||
| 24 | Derick Livingston - Jonathan Spivey | 23 | 5 | 16.070 | 0.000 | 287 | $250 | |||
| 25 | James Wall - Jimmy Wall | 73 | 5 | 16.030 | 0.000 | 286 | $240 | |||
| 26 | Patrick Tierney - Maurice Freeze | 100 | 5 | 15.970 | 5.350 | 285 | $230 | |||
| 27 | byron brush - Byron Brush Sr. | 78 | 5 | 15.950 | 0.000 | 284 | $220 | |||
| 28 | Billy Scoggins - Eddie Parker | 98 | 5 | 15.940 | 0.000 | 283 | $210 | |||
| 29 | Terry Trivet - Derek Tolley | 171 | 5 | 15.670 | 0.000 | 282 | $200 | |||
| 30 | Jordan Jones - David Brookshire | 8 | 5 | 15.660 | 0.000 | 281 | ||||
| 31 | Donald Poteat - JOHN ALLEN | 10 | 4 | 15.630 | 5.360 | 280 | ||||
| 31 | Chris Graham - Ricky Byrd | 151 | 5 | 15.620 | 0.000 | 280 | ||||
| 33 | Eric Moser - Travis O'Quinn | 153 | 5 | 15.620 | 0.000 | 278 | ||||
| 34 | Jacob Moore - Thomas Moore | 57 | 5 | 15.580 | 0.000 | 277 | ||||
| 35 | Chris Albright - Mike Graham | 164 | 5 | 15.320 | 0.000 | 276 | ||||
| 36 | Jimmy Cummings - Dean Collins | 86 | 5 | 15.100 | 5.770 | 275 | ||||
| 37 | Sonny Beam - Eric Weir | 106 | 5 | 14.980 | 0.000 | 274 | ||||
| 38 | Scott Griffin - Jerry Goble | 148 | 4 | 14.870 | 0.000 | 273 | ||||
| 39 | Jerry Craig - Bobby Latuch | 117 | 5 | 14.850 | 5.400 | 272 | ||||
| 40 | Derek Cummings - Victor Lynch | 126 | 5 | 14.820 | 0.000 | 271 | ||||
| 41 | Nathan Webber - Hunter Harwell | 22 | 5 | 14.810 | 0.000 | 270 | ||||
| 42 | Keith Speece - Wendell Ireland | 93 | 5 | 14.790 | 0.000 | 269 | ||||
| 43 | Jason Wilson - Kelly Logan | 76 | 5 | 14.670 | 0.000 | 268 | ||||
| 44 | Daniel Ruppe - Jacob Reome | 5 | 5 | 14.530 | 0.000 | 267 | ||||
| 45 | Matt Markland - Tracy Markland | 170 | 4 | 14.220 | 0.000 | 266 | ||||
| 46 | Bryan Lewis - Butch Zadlo | 102 | 5 | 13.910 | 0.000 | 265 | ||||
| 47 | Wesley Cashwell - Shane Doughtie | 90 | 5 | 13.870 | 0.000 | 264 | ||||
| 48 | Travus Lovell - James Roten | 29 | 5 | 13.750 | 4.020 | 263 | ||||
| 49 | Ronnie White - Gerald Ritchie | 128 | 5 | 13.700 | 0.000 | 262 | ||||
| 50 | Rob Digh - Chuck Camps | 25 | 5 | 13.660 | 0.000 | 261 | ||||
| 51 | Brett McLean - Mac McLean | 18 | 5 | 13.400 | 0.000 | 260 | ||||
| 52 | Eddie Smith - Michael Carson | 116 | 5 | 13.350 | 0.000 | 259 | ||||
| 53 | Israel Gibson - Grant McPeters | 17 | 5 | 13.260 | 0.000 | 258 | ||||
| 54 | Tyler Beam - Eric Self | 113 | 4 | 13.240 | 0.000 | 257 | ||||
| 55 | Greg Osborne - Wyatt Blevins | 119 | 5 | 13.190 | 0.000 | 256 | ||||
| 56 | Brian Tidwell - Michael Tidwell | 130 | 5 | 12.990 | 0.000 | 255 | ||||
| 57 | Kevin Toler - Rodney Lambert | 174 | 5 | 12.810 | 0.000 | 254 | ||||
| 58 | Mark Lamb - Robert Griswold | 70 | 4 | 12.760 | 0.000 | 253 | ||||
| 59 | Dan Funderburk - Rod Cozart | 69 | 5 | 12.730 | 0.000 | 252 | ||||
| 60 | Brian Travis - Ashley Brotherton | 39 | 4 | 12.660 | 0.000 | 251 | ||||
| 61 | Anthony Monaco - Justin McBrayer | 7 | 3 | 12.640 | 5.070 | 250 | ||||
| 62 | Graham Rushing - Artie Phillips | 121 | 4 | 12.620 | 0.000 | 249 | ||||
| 63 | Eric Jeter - Darren Jeter | 103 | 5 | 12.480 | 0.000 | 248 | ||||
| 64 | Tim Gaines - Mike Bryant | 11 | 4 | 12.240 | 0.000 | 247 | ||||
| 65 | David Blanton - William Blanton | 75 | 5 | 12.230 | 0.000 | 246 | ||||
| 66 | Alfred Keisling, Sr - Chad Poteat | 63 | 5 | 11.910 | 0.000 | 245 | ||||
| 67 | Kevin Chandler - Bradley Chandler | 13 | 5 | 11.900 | 0.000 | 244 | ||||
| 68 | Wayne Ingram - Chris Brown | 115 | 5 | 11.780 | 0.000 | 243 | ||||
| 69 | Todd Walters - Jason Threadgill | 38 | 5 | 11.750 | 0.000 | 242 | ||||
| 70 | Brent White - Cody Andrews | 112 | 5 | 11.700 | 0.000 | 241 | ||||
| 71 | GEORGE HIRAPETIAN - ARAM HIRAPETIAN | 138 | 5 | 11.640 | 0.000 | 240 | ||||
| 72 | Steve Addington - Matt Stout | 45 | 5 | 11.460 | 0.000 | 239 | ||||
| 73 | Larry Horton - Ricky Shrewsbury | 110 | 3 | 11.420 | 0.000 | 238 | ||||
| 73 | Adam Fillmore - Chris Carnes | 145 | 3 | 11.420 | 0.000 | 238 | ||||
| 75 | Scott Sellers - Randy Childers | 94 | 4 | 11.320 | 0.000 | 236 | ||||
| 76 | Chris Myatt - Jim Bramhall | 136 | 3 | 11.310 | 0.000 | 235 | ||||
| 77 | Randall Wallace - Andrew Wallace | 85 | 3 | 11.200 | 6.630 | 234 | ||||
| 78 | Tanner Stirewalt - Logan Phillips | 127 | 5 | 11.070 | 0.000 | 233 | ||||
| 79 | Alton Rockett - Randy Huffman | 66 | 4 | 10.860 | 0.000 | 232 | ||||
| 80 | Adam Greer - Shae jones | 137 | 3 | 10.750 | 5.720 | 231 | ||||
| 81 | John Robeson - Jimmy Tatum | 14 | 3 | 10.600 | 5.710 | 230 | ||||
| 82 | Steven Austin - Roger Wood | 156 | 3 | 9.200 | 0.000 | 229 | ||||
| 83 | Marcus Leech - Tim Chapman | 3 | 4 | 9.160 | 0.000 | 228 | ||||
| 84 | Nick Miller - Brandon Brickweg | 20 | 2 | 8.780 | 6.600 | 227 | ||||
| 85 | Larry LeHew - Greg Deal | 61 | 2 | 8.560 | 5.410 | 226 | ||||
| 86 | Ronald Farrow - Roger Farrow | 142 | 3 | 8.400 | 0.000 | 225 | ||||
| 87 | Dusty Taylor - Keaton Hawks | 163 | 4 | 8.370 | 0.000 | 224 | ||||
| 88 | Ronnie Britt - Chris McDuffie | 150 | 4 | 8.340 | 0.000 | 223 | ||||
| 89 | Allen Robbins - Jerry Robbins | 84 | 4 | 8.000 | 0.000 | 222 | ||||
| 90 | Ryan Bentley - greg berst | 166 | 3 | 7.990 | 0.000 | 221 | ||||
| 91 | Buddy Black - Russell Kiser | 114 | 3 | 7.390 | 0.000 | 220 | ||||
| 92 | Mike Clark - Chris Anderson | 135 | 2 | 7.330 | 5.910 | 219 | ||||
| 93 | James Carriker - Brad Smith | 24 | 3 | 6.890 | 0.000 | 218 | ||||
| 94 | Jordan Wright - Chris Casey | 12 | 4 | 6.660 | 0.000 | 217 | ||||
| 95 | Phil Hennessee - Jon Digh | 132 | 2 | 5.310 | 0.000 | 216 | ||||
| 96 | todd sosebee - steve postell | 83 | 2 | 5.150 | 0.000 | 215 | ||||
| 97 | joe floyd - Phil Brown | 19 | 1 | 5.110 | 5.110 | 214 | ||||
| 98 | Allen Snyder - Darren Gay | 44 | 3 | 4.980 | 0.000 | 213 | ||||
| 99 | Tyler Hoopaugh - Chris Hoopaugh | 109 | 2 | 4.270 | 0.000 | 212 | ||||
| 100 | Bryan Welch - Mark Inman | 159 | 1 | 4.160 | 4.160 | 211 | ||||
| 101 | Dale Surrett - Lee Endicott | 62 | 2 | 3.730 | 0.000 | 210 | ||||
| 102 | Mark Swink - austin petty | 162 | 1 | 3.650 | 3.650 | 209 | ||||
| 103 | Fred Kauffman - Sam Gladden | 158 | 1 | 2.460 | 0.000 | 208 | ||||
| 104 | Dan English - David Gibson | 161 | 1 | 1.340 | 1.340 | 207 | ||||
| 105 | Michael Webster - Guy Eaker | 2 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Joel Ketcham - scott ketcham | 9 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Duke Denison - Jamie Denison | 15 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Andy Brode - Scott Wyatt | 16 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Craig Chambers - Keith Ogden | 27 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Nick Beaver - Roger Beaver | 28 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Brent Berry - Steve Shaw | 30 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Scott Plattenberger - Bryan plattenberger | 31 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Mike Seawright - John parker | 33 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | James Clements - Rick Carson | 36 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Will Petty - Barry Bost | 40 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Darrell Parks - Thomas Johnson | 41 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Jason Dew - Thomas Elliott | 42 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Rodney Bell - Tommy Jones | 43 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Chris Dover - Robert Fowler | 46 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Phillip Hedrick - Jack Vanderford | 47 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Mikey Bowlby | 48 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Thomas Waterhouse - Justin Goodyear | 49 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Corey Shaylor - Brandon Kersnowski | 52 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Thomas Gavin - Mike Sprouse | 54 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Marvin Godard - Robert Adams | 56 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Robin Parker - brandon gibson | 58 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Neil Sheehan - Travis Young | 59 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Shawn Crosby - robert brooks | 60 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Phillip Frady - Dirk Porter | 65 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Reggie Guffey - Tommy Chapman | 67 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Mason Boyd - Rick Falls | 68 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Michael Cribb - Roger Cribb | 71 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Louie Hull - Chuck Montgomery | 72 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Grayson Barber - Rick Reid | 74 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Adam Ridings - Michael Ridings | 77 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Mike Ray - Orlando Giles | 79 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Reginald Pickett - Larry Kirk | 80 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Perry Wycuff - Josh Wycuff | 81 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Steven Gawthrop - KENNETH MARTIN | 82 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Danny Mason - Lionel Mason | 87 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Thomas Richmond - Fredera Dibb Wylie | 88 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Richard Greene - Jimmy Holland | 89 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Gary Rose - Jerry Collins | 91 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Wayne Skipworth - Don Sprinkle | 92 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Dempsey Carter - Ted Mobley | 95 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Jason Lowman - Cody Lail | 96 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Drew Stankwytch - Brandon Childress | 101 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | James Martin - Cliff Kirby | 104 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Trip Emerson - Kevin Hyler | 105 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Doug Easton - Pete Bejte | 107 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Paul Guthrie - Robert Church | 111 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Jeff Queen - Carroll Queen | 120 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Brandon Williams - Christian Shoda | 122 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Brandon Sykes - Jeff McQuaige | 123 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Gene Sparks - Shannon Stowe | 125 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | billy marshall - keith davis | 129 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Parks Jones - Daniel Hill | 131 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Jeff Jennings - Pierce Jennings | 133 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Mike Steele - Joshua Sanders | 134 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Craig Rozema - Ricky Parrish | 139 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Robert Walser - Mack Lowe | 140 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Randy Weddington - Ronnie Smith | 141 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Darrell Fisher - William Gregory | 143 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Ricky Self - Ben Stanton | 144 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Tom McCombs - curtis lail | 149 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Thomas Ludwick - Thomas File | 155 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Derrick Compton - Justin Reid | 157 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Todd Sumner - Robert Parrish | 160 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Dennis Reedy - Jeffrey Thomas | 165 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Joshua Queen - Mike Queen | 167 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Greg Whittington - Danny Hucks | 168 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | David Clanton - Brent Sanders | 169 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Tyler Dover - Billy Dover | 172 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 | ||||
| 105 | Robert. ( Mitch) Drew - Butch Drew | 173 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 206 |
Castledine Stays On Top, Leads Top 10 Into Final Day Of Flw Costa Event On Dardanelle
After sacking up a day-one limit of 22-3, the event’s second-largest bag (behind Jeff Fitts’ day-two catch, 23-15), Castledine added 15-14 and retained the lead he set a day earlier with an expanded margin of 4 pounds, 5 ounces.
Considering that he did this with only four fish on day two, Castledine was clearly in the right neighborhood. He’s not keen on sharing that address just yet, but he did stress that slowing down proved essential on a day when falling water levels and lower temperatures had the fish in a funky mood.
“I’m usually pretty good about figuring out how to do something different, but when it got tough in practice I never really could,” Castledine says. “Today, James Watson and I were in the same area, and he kinda put me on a little deal. He basically told me to slow down a lot more. We both hate slowing down, but that helped out.”
Castledine is fishing offshoots of a larger bay where deeper, clear water runs close to shallow cover, such as brush, laydowns and points. He believes his areas were hosting fish in all stages of the spawn.
“I think it was half-and-half, prespawn and spawning fish, and I think there were a couple that were spawned out,” Castledine adds. “I think the ones that were on beds got picked off, and the prespawners got hard to catch today.”
Keeping his cards low on the bait specifics, Castledine admits he used a mix of reaction baits and pitching presentations. Casting distance played a key role in some of the scenarios he fished.
Bites were few and far between, but he had his shot at No. 5.
“I’ve been throwing fluorocarbon, and I threw into some cover where I never should have thrown fluorocarbon, and I broke one off,” he says. “I had four other bites [that he missed], but they’re still in there, and I think they’ll hit tomorrow.”
Castledine had his area to himself on day one and saw a little more company today. Yet, he found several opportunities.
“I was worried about the fishing pressure from other people being in there,” he says. “But I had some other bites in there, and I’m excited about fishing tomorrow. It’s going to be interesting.”
Top 10 Pros
1. Todd Castledine – Nacogdoches, Texas – 38-01 (9)
2. Zach King – Clarksville, Ark. – 33-12 (10)
3. Greg Jones – Wentzville, Mo. – 33-10 (10)
4. Daniel Kweekul – Bryant, Ark. – 33-01 (10)
5. Christopher Jones – Bokoshe, Okla. – 32-01 (10)
6. Jeff Fitts – Keystone Heights, Fla. – 31-06 (8)
7. Teddy Bogard – Pine Bluff, Ark. – 31-05 (10)
8. Joe McClary – Kirkwood, Mo. – 29-15 (10)
9. Brandon Hunter – Benton, Ky. – 28-07 (9)
10. Evan Barnes – Hot Springs, Ark. – 28-04 (10)
Watson Takes Over Co-angler Lead
Flexibility and adjustment were the key ingredients in Michael Watson’s recipe for success. After catching a limit that weighed 11 pounds, 7 ounces today, the Chicago co-angler moved into the top spot with a total of 21-14.
“Everything I caught my fish on yesterday did not carry over today,” Watson says. “I definitely changed a lot of stuff and adjusted throughout the day as the bite changed. I caught some decent fish, culled one time and came in with a decent weight.”
Watson says that he and his pro stayed around similar shallow cover all day, but narrowing down a couple of specifics on fish positioning helped his cause.
“I was able to change some lure presentations based on the mood of the fish,” he explains. “Some fish wanted something slow; some wanted something moving.
“There’s a lot of pressure on the fish, so I was just trying to throw something different the fish haven’t seen.”
Remaining mum on bait specifics, Watson says that he caught fish on three different baits.
“I caught my best fish in the morning, another after that; then I caught a couple more midday and two more at the end of the day to fill out my limit,” he said.
Top 10 Co-anglers
1. Michael Watson – Chicago, Ill. – 21-14 (8)
2. Rob Crane – Fairview Heights, Ill. – 20-06 (7)
3. Roger Olson Jr. – Eagle River, Wis. – 19-05 (6)
4. Drew Sagely – Rogers, Ark. – 19-00 (6)
5. Kyle Landers – Benton, Ark. – 18-11 (8)
6. Rusty Reinoehl – Robinson, Ill. – 18-04 (7)
7. Alan Bernicky – Joliet, Ill. – 17-15 (6)
8. Sawyer Grace – Russellville, Ark. – 17-04 (5)
9. Ricky Watkins – Springdale, Ark. – 16-04 (6)
10. Kevin Raposo – Doniphan, Mo. – 15-09 (4)
Elite Sophomore Lee Claims Lead In Smith Lake Bass Open Event
Jordan Lee Claims First-Day Lead In Smith Lake Open
JASPER, Ala. — Jordan Lee was so certain the big largemouth bass he’d found in practice Tuesday wouldn’t be there today that he’d didn’t even look for it until 1:30 p.m. on Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Southern Open at Smith Lake.
It’s a good thing he looked. That 7-pound, 13-ounce bass anchored Jordan’s first-place 20-pound, 10-ounce bag, and took big bass honors as well.
Due to the strong thunderstorms that cancelled the tournament’s scheduled first day yesterday, raised the lake level about a foot and dirtied the water, there were plenty of reasons for Lee to doubt the big female would still be on the spawning bed where he’d first spotted her during practice.
“I couldn’t see her today, but I knew right where she’d been sitting,” Lee said. “I made three or four flips in there before she bit.
“That big one made my day. You don’t catch many of those in Smith Lake.”
Lee, who lives in Grant, Ala., but grew up in nearby Cullman, admits he isn’t as familiar with Smith Lake as he should be. He’s spent much more time on Lake Guntersville.
“I’ve kicked myself for not coming here more often,” Lee said. “I really don’t know this lake as well as I should.”
But you wouldn’t guess that by looking at Friday’s leaderboard. Bill Day II of Frankfort, Ky., and Jessie Wiggins of Cullman, Ala., are tied for second place with 18-15. Like Lee, Day’s bag was anchored by another big largemouth, a 7-12.
Day had the perfect illustration for how much Smith Lake changed after the storms moved through the area Thursday, and how much the anglers had to change with it.
“I was using 8-pound-test line during practice, and I was using 25-pound test today,” Day said. “That tells you how different it is. Tomorrow I may go back to 8-pound. Things are changing really fast, so I’m just going to start all over again.”
The remainder of the top five includes Allen Brooks of Canton, Ga., fourth with 18-3, and Mark Rose of West Memphis, Ark., fifth with 17-7.
Smith Lake’s abundant spotted bass population showed up in a big way. Of the 179 pro anglers competing, 164 caught limits, mostly all spots.
On the co-angler side, only 10 ounces separates first and fifth place. Don Harvey of Franklin, Tenn., leads with a three-bass limit weighing 10-7, followed by Skeeter Miller of Whittier, N.C., with 10-4; Brandon Bolton of West Point, Miss., with 10-3; Luke Patterson of Middleburg, Ky., with 10-0; and Rodney Tapp of Inman, S.C., with 9-13.
There were 149 three -bass limits caught in the co-angler competition. Don Harvey of Franklin, Tenn., and Randy Futch of Dunnellon, Fla., tied for big bass honors, each with a 4-5.
Due to the cancellation of fishing on Thursday, this will be a two-day tournament that will conclude with the full field fishing again Saturday. Champions in both divisions will be crowned at the completion of the Smith Lake Dam Site Access weigh-in, which begins at 2:30 p.m. CDT.
Castledaine Leads Flw Costa Event With 22.3Lbs On Day 1 On Dardanelles
Wise & Ivey Win Goodyear Bass Club Event On Falls Lake With 25.01Lbs!
The second stop on the 2016 Goodyear Bass Club Trail was at Falls Lake today, 3/29/2016. We had another good turnout with 22 boats, if you are looking for a trail to fish during the week check us out. We appreciate the support from everyone and our trail is growing.
With that said its safe to say most of us had a awesome day on the water and there was some great bags brought to the scales.
Our next tournament is April 12th at Jordan Lake, we will be launching out of Ebenezer Boat Ramp. Safe Light to 3pm!
We pay out 3 places but these are the top 5, The results are as follows:
1st Place (Pictured Above)
Jesse Wise and Ashely Ivey
5 Fish
25.01lbs
& BIG FISH
7.73lbs
2nd Place
Rick Ohlson & Bill Manning
5 Fish
24.29lbs
3rd Place
Tim Shabram & Steve Belch
5 Fish
21.99lbs
4th Place
Jonathan Phillips & Curtis Vaughn
5 Fish
19.27lbs
5th Place
Josh Whitford & Ed Wentland
5 Fish
17.40lbs
Phillips And Vaughn Smash Em' At Jordan Lake With 29+ To Win The First Collns Bass For Cash Series Of 2016
Phillips & Vaughn Win BFCS Season Opener
Jonathan Phillips and Curtis Vaughn took home the top spot in the first event of 2016 for the Collins Inc. – Bass For Cash Series with a massive five fish limit of 29.99 lbs anchored by an 8.24 lb kicker. The duo netted $906.00 for their efforts.
Randy Broughman and Bobby Kinsey secured the second position with their limit of fish weighing in at 22.52 lbs, including the eventual lunker for the event at 8.56 lbs, granting the tandem $523.00 for the second spot and an additional $155.00 in cash / $100 gift certificate from Outdoor Accessories Unlimited for their lunker catch.
Ronald and Ronnie Clark finished the day in the third position with their catch of 22.18 lbs and earned $349.00. Steve Vann and Richard Lewis filled the fourth spot with 19.58 lbs and picked up $279.00 for their catch. Rounding out the final paying position was the team of Charlie Creech and Jamie Rose with their catch of 18.40 lbs earning the tandem $267.00 for their efforts.
Thanks to Ranger Boats and Amsoil representative Josh Lanaville for the daily door prizes at this event.
Thanks to Stevens Sausage for their efforts in providing the food items served during the afternoon weigh-in period.
Random Event Photos
Weekend Wrap Up With Ac Pro Staffer Rob Digh-Clarks Hill Weights Highlighted Easter Weekend!
Another solid Tournament weekend in the books as AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh breaks down why some of thes lakes are starting to wake up and really produce good quality fish!!
Bassmaster Team Championship Heads To Kentucky Lake Nov. 30-Dec. 3Rd 2016
Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship Set For Kentucky Lake
PARIS, Tenn. –– Kentucky Lake, site of the 2015 Zippo BASSfest presented by A.R.E. Truck Caps, has been selected to host another special B.A.S.S. competition — the 2016 Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship.
Top anglers from participating team tournament trails across the country will have a chance to win a national team title and a berth in the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro when they compete in the third annual team championship tournament Nov. 30-Dec. 3, at Kentucky Lake.
“Team tournament fishing is growing rapidly across the nation, and we’re glad to offer a championship that enables the most outstanding pairs of anglers from throughout the country to prove their skills in a test of the best bass teams,” said Bruce Akin, B.A.S.S. CEO. “Kentucky Lake is a great tournament lake that is popular with the Bassmaster Elite Series pros, and these grass-roots bass anglers will love it, too.”
The Henry County Alliance will host the championship at Kentucky Lake in Paris, Tenn. The daily takeoffs and weigh-ins will be held at Paris Landing State Park. Takeoffs will be at 6:45 a.m. ET, and weigh-ins will be at 2:45 p.m. ET each day.
“Henry County is excited to host the 2016 Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship at Paris Landing on beautiful Kentucky Lake,” said David Hamilton, CEO of Henry County Alliance. “Kentucky Lake is considered one of the top lakes for bass fishing and will provide the perfect setting for the anglers to compete for the championship.”
The four-day tournament will qualify one angler for the 2017 GEICO Bassmaster Classic. The top two-angler team will also be crowned as the national champion of the event.
Teams across the nation qualify for the championship through various independently operated team trails sanctioned by B.A.S.S. (A list of sanctioned trails is available at Bassmaster.com.)
The team portion of the competition, Nov. 30-Dec. 1, pits the two-angler teams against one another to determine the national team champion. On Dec. 2-3, the six anglers from the Top 3 teams will compete individually in the Bassmaster Team Championship Classic Fish-Off. The winner of the individual competition earns a bid to the “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing” the following year.
In last year’s championship at Lake Guntersville, Alabama, teammates Chris Risner and Timothy Eaton from Michigan were crowned the best duo in bass fishing and advanced to the Classic Fish-Off. However, Thomas Martens of Lago Vista, Texas, won the fish-off and qualified for the 2016 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro that was held on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees out of Tulsa, Okla.
“Last year’s tournament was a huge success with nearly 200 anglers competing,” said Jon Stewart, director of the B.A.S.S. Nation. Stewart expects this year’s event will be just as large.
“Kentucky Lake is a perfect location for the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship,” he said. “We will have teams competing from Maine to California and Minnesota to Texas, and the central location of the lake is ideal. And it doesn’t hurt that it’s one of the best bass lakes in the country and ranked No. 12 on Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes.”
The team championship will mark 12th time for B.A.S.S. to conduct a professional Bassmaster tournament on Kentucky Lake, a 160,000-acre impoundment of the Tennessee River that straddles the border between Tennessee and Kentucky.
For more information on how a team trail can be sanctioned for the Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship, contact Stewart at [email protected].
South Carolina College Anglers Win Flw Championship, Qualify For 2016 Ranger Cup Event
FLIPPIN, ARK. (March 28, 2016) -University of South Carolina's Hampton Anderson and Chris Blanchette became the first team to qualify for the 2016 Ranger Cup University Team of the Year Challenge after winning the FLW College Fishing National Championship on March 19. The anglers' swing-for-the-fence approach on Lake Keowee paid dividends with the team bringing in a three-day total of 38 pounds, 15 ounces.
Kvd Wins Major League Fishing Summit Cup!!!
From Zero to Hero
La Crosse, Wisconsin. (Mar. 28, 2016) – Kevin VanDam once again shows why he is arguably the greatest angler of all time.
This past weekend while competing in Major League Fishing’s General Tire Summit Cup in La Crosse Wisconsin, Kevin catapulted from dead last to first in turn capturing his second Summit Cup Championship
Despite being down by almost 28 pounds, KVD employed his newest weapon the KVD J300 Deep Jerkbait in Crystal Shad and changed the game.
He preceded to catch 40 fish for a total of 74 pounds 9 ounces to win the event over second place finisher, and fellow Strike King teammate, Todd Faircloth.
Strike King's Greg Hackney also finished the event in 4th place. Here is a link to video shot from Kevin's boat. http://www.majorleaguefishing.com/video_list.aspx?et=8715&id=19753&pid=6eFMJC%2fH4nA_37F8PEf&cat=99
For more information on Strike King products, please visit www.strikeking.com or your preferred fishing tackle retailer.
For more information on Major League Fishing, Please visit
www.majorleaguefishing.com with more ALL-NEW Major League Fishing episodes each week at 2pm et on Outdoor Channel till the end of June.
Photos Courtesy of Major League Fishing
Lowe & Hollifield Win Fishers Of Men Tournament On Clarks Hill With 21.47Lbs!!!
God is so good and has allowed our division to grow very rapidly and that is awesome. We actually outgrew our events host property but the folks at PlumBranch Baptist were so kind that they actually came out to Abbeville First Baptist and helped to serve. Thanks so much to Abbeville First Baptist Church as they hosted not only 88 Team series teams but an additional 12 teams fishing the legacy event. Because of you we will see 5 folks in heaven as we had 5 folks raise their hands to receive Christ. This is what its all about guys the fishing is secondary. Bryan Holder pastor of The Mill Church in Pickens SC brought our message. Speaking on we are Barabus a lot of folks clearly were able to understand the Easter message in a whole new light. (Thanks Bryan you are a great FOM Chaplain and a better friend, Love you bro.)
Where here are the results:
1 Matt Lowe / Mark Hollifield 5 21.47 $5,612.50
2 Kim Neal / dam Neal 5 6.29 20.71 $1,867.50
3 Howard Bouknight / Mike Bouknight 5 19.80 $1,000.00
4 Chris Rodwell / Jon Hair 5 5.12 19.31 $494.00
5 Jason Maxwell / Chip Pearson 5 7.12 18.69 $860.00
6 Phillip Anderson / Andy Lake 5 18.57 $395.00
7 Mark Vaughn / Clark Richardson 5 18.09 $346.00
8 Perry Mattress / Dennie Johnson 5 7.12 17.46 $541.00
9 Chad Griffin / Jason McClendon 5 6.40 17.42 $297.00
10 Jerry Kotal / Daryl McClellon 5 5.50 17.14 $297.00
Well the weather was awful with the rain and the fog but it surely turned the stripers on. Everyone I talked to that caught them spoke about how many stripers they had to cull through to catch the good large mouths. Congrats to all the winners above as you guys earned it. I also appreciate everyone making the trip down to Clarks Hill and pray that the new teams that have come on board will join us for the last two events. I would love to send 80-90 teams to the regional on Lake Keowee in Sept.. It local for us and one of should win that puppy go to national win it going to the BASS championship and hopefully a shot to BASS master classic. Somebody has to win it why not you.
A huge thank you goes out to each of you for selling the gun raffle tickets last year and you can see what it has done for our division. That is credit to God, and you guys no one else. We have the plans in place for next year and next year we could be guaranteed for 7-10K and event and be able to pay the top 10 in points hundreds if we have your help. Enough about that will give you more details at the Super tournament in May.
Lastly wanted to update you on Hartwell next month. WE MAY HAVE A CHURCH ISSUE FOR THE EVENT. PLEASE KEEP UP WITH THE WEBSITE AND WE WILL UPDATE IT. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A CHURCH IN THE ANDERSON AREA THAT CAN FEED THIS HUGE CROWD AND HOST OVER 200 PEOPLE. IT WILL HAPPEN AS WE HAVE SOME FEELERS OUT NOW BUT BE IN PRAYER ABOUT THAT. I WILL POST UP THE ANSWER AS SOON AS I HAVE IT. GOD IS GOOD AND ALREADY KNOWS WHERE WE WILL BE. THE FEEDING IS THE HARD PART.
Fishers of Men would like to thank all of our fine sponsors; BassCat Boats, Mercury, Stren, Pflueger,
Strike King Lure Company, Farm to Feet, Marshall’s Marine, Kings Home, Power-Pole, Raymarine,Duckett Fishing, Buckeye Lures, T&H Maine, Gator Guards, Solar Bat, Kistler Rods, HydroWave, Enigma,Jacobs Glass, Rayjus Sportswear and Rejuvenade.
Once again thanks so much to all of our sponsors and our SC Upstate sponsors as well that include : Palmetto Boat Center, Gradys Great outdoors, CandL Services, Rainbow Baits, Rhodes blade runners, Anderson county parks and recreation, Lowrance, Enigma Fishing
Praise God for drawing 5 more souls to him on Friday night! As Bryan Holder (one of our FOM Chaplains) shared the truth with our teams, God revealed the truth of who we are and how simple it is to surrender to him for eternal salvation!!
Power Pole Continues Bass Sponsorship As A Supporting Sponsor
Power-Pole Continues Supporting Sponsor Role With B.A.S.S.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — JL Marine Systems, Inc., the Florida-based manufacturer of the Power-Pole® brand of shallow water anchors, has inked a deal to sponsor B.A.S.S. tournaments for 2016.
The deal with B.A.S.S. entitles the Power-Pole brand to serve as a supporting sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Opens, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series and Costa Bassmaster High School Series. JL Marine Systems has been a supporting sponsor of Bassmaster tournaments since 2011.
“Power-Pole shallow water anchors, is proud to continue its sponsorship with B.A.S.S.,” said Robert Shamblin, vice president of JL Marine Systems, which is based in Tampa, Fla. “The combination of tournaments, television shows, magazines and website together with the best anglers in the world provides a fantastic platform for us to showcase our products,”
“B.A.S.S. has enjoyed a longtime relationship with Power-Pole shallow water anchors” said B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin. “They continue to work with us to grow the sport, and we value their partnership as much as our members value their products.”
JL Marine Systems will offer contingency and rebate programs to all Bassmaster anglers at the various levels of B.A.S.S. competition. The company will continue its popular Power-Pole Captain’s Cash contingency program for Bassmaster Elite Series, Opens and College Series competitors. The contingency program will also be available for the anglers competing in the B.A.S.S. Nation Regionals and the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
Anglers who sign up for the Power-Pole Captain’s Cash program can collect bonus money if they are the highest finisher in any of these B.A.S.S. events and they own a Power-Pole anchor. The Captain’s Cash rewards for each B.A.S.S. event are $1,000 for the Elite Series, $500 for the Opens and B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, and $250 for the College Series and B.A.S.S. Nation Regionals.
JL Marine is also offering to all Bassmaster College Series and High School Series anglers a rebate program for the entire line of Power-Pole anchors. B.A.S.S. Nation adult and high school anglers who qualify for their state team to compete in the B.A.S.S. Nation Regionals will also be eligible for the Power-Pole pro staff program. “Once they sign up for the program, they are eligible for our pro staff pricing,” Shamblin said.
Power-Pole is also conducting a “Win A Power-Pole Of Your Choice” drawing this season. Fishing fans are invited to sign up for the contest at the Power-Pole booth at Bassmaster Elite Series events throughout the season.
Among Power-Pole’s newest innovations, introduced at this year’s Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, was a new lithium battery pack for the Micro Anchor, the all-electric anchor system designed for small craft such as fishing kayaks. Also highlighted in the booth was the complete line of Power-Pole brand anchors (Blade, Signature Series, Pro Series II, Sportsman II and Micro Anchor) ranging from 4- to 10-foot models and Power-Pole Drift Paddles.
For more information on Power-Pole brand products, visit www.power-pole.com.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Lowrance Signs Multiyear Agreement To Continue Bassmaster Sponsorship
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Lowrance, a world leader in marine electronics and GPS navigational systems, and B.A.S.S. will continue their long-standing relationship after striking a deal on a multiyear sponsorship agreement.
Lowrance has signed on to continue as a supporting sponsor of the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation events and the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series for 2016-2018. For the first time, Lowrance will also be a supporting sponsor of the Costa Bassmaster High School Series, the fast-growing circuit that gives high school anglers a chance to qualify for a national championship and compete for scholarship money.
“As one of the first sponsors in B.A.S.S. history, Lowrance is honored to continue this tradition, as we expand our support for the growing high school division, which represents the future of fishing,†said Gordon Sprouse, marketing director of Navico Americas, owner of the Lowrance brand.
“Through Lowrance innovation, we will continue to provide cutting edge solutions –– like StructureScan® 3D –– that continue to make Lowrance the No. 1 brand on the Elite Series tournament trail,†Sprouse said. “We will also continue with our rewarding Insight Genesis College Cup program for B.A.S.S. college anglers, while expanding a similar program for high school teams, called Varsity Rewards –– all designed to improve our country’s lake maps by awarding prizes in exchange for sonar logs that are converted into high-definition lake maps.â€
Lowrance has been a marine electronics leader since it invented the first consumer sonar device, “The Little Green Box,†in 1957. The company introduced its first GPS receivers in 1991, and in 1995 Lowrance created GlobalMap 2000 — the world’s first LCD product to offer integrated GPS, mapping and sonar capabilities.
“It’s great for B.A.S.S. to continue our longstanding relationship with Lowrance,†said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “They’re a leader in the electronics industry, and have worked side-by-side with B.A.S.S. to help grow the sport of fishing through the years.â€
Lowrance highlighted its flagship HDS Gen 3 fishfinder/chartplotter series with Lowrance StructureScan® 3D sonar imaging and introduced two new series of electronics at its booth in the Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods, March 4-6 in Tulsa, Okla. The HDS Gen 3 models are multifunction displays that allow users to network their boat’s entire electronics system and fully control trolling motor and outboard motor steering with Lowrance SmartSteer™. Also spotlighted at the booth were the new Lowrance Elite Ti Series, a family of touch-screen fishfinder/chartplotter stand-alone multifunction units, and the Lowrance HOOK Series, a value line of fishfinders, chartplotters and combos equipped with the essential features at a sensible price.
Lowrance also showcased the new Mercury Marine VesselView® Link, a small module that connects a Mercury engine data directly with Lowrance HDS displays, scheduled for availability this summer.
About Lowrance
The Lowrance brand (www.lowrance.com) is entirely owned by Navico Inc. (www.navico.com). An international corporation, Navico is currently the world’s largest marine electronics company and is the parent company to leading marine electronics brands: Lowrance, Simrad and B & G.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Butch Trimmer & Don Boivin Took Their First Ever Win With Pbc Weighing In 5 Bass At 28.24 Lbs
PIEDMONT BASS CLASSICS $10,000 SPRING TEAM BASS TRAIL QUALIFIER #2 RESULTS
Saturday March 19th, 2016 ~ Jordan Lake ~ Farrington Point Wildlife RampThe 2016 Piedmont Bass Classics $10,000 Spring Team Bass Trail Qualifier #2 at Jordan Lake produced another
great turnout for the PBC Trails!! The weather turned out great with air temps about 49 degrees in the am on up
to 54 in the pm. The predicted rain held off except for one little sprinkle. Water temps ranged from 62 to 67.
Winds were quiet in the am and blowing up to about 8 in the pm. A whopping total of 80 teams participated with
nearly all of them weighing in fish. Jordan will only get better in the next few weeks. Spring fishing is just about to
explode!!Butch Trimmer & Don Boivin took their first ever win with PBC weighing in 5 bass at 28.24 lbs. for a total of
$1,344 in winnings. The team found a hot hole with 67 degree water early on and it was loaded with some nice bass
which were busting top water lures at that location!
Seth Ellis & Jamey Caldwell took 2nd place with 5 fish weighing 27.47 lbs. They also won 1st Place TWT, 1st
Place Big Fish (8.44 lbs.) and the Tow Boats US Membership Award for a grand total of $3,633.
2nd Place Team...Ellis on left...Caldwell not pictured
3rd Place Team,
Tony Fofi & Dave Murdock, had 5 weighing 26.81 lbs. and along with 2nd Place TWT, they took home $1,345!!
The 2nd Place Big Fish (8.20 lbs.) was caught by the team of Johnny Wilder & Mike Harris netting them $474.290 fish were weighed in for a total of 1,079 pounds for an average of 3.72 lbs. each. Most of the fish were caught
on WLS shaky heads, crankbaits, Bass Alarm Buzz Baits, Shanes A-rigs, Sharp Shooter jigs and jerk baits in 8
foot of water or less. Water temps are very important now and bass are starting to bed in the shallower water.I want to thank all the anglers that participated and all our sponsors that support this trail. Our next tournament is
Saturday March 26th, the Piedmont Bass Classics Easter Open at Falls Lake out of Ledge Rock Wildlife Ramp.
All the info can be found at this link:
http://piedmontbassclassics.com/2016EasterOpenShootut.html
Following that will be the Piedmont Bass Classics $10,000 Spring Team Bass Trail Qualifier #3, Saturday April
2nd also at Falls Lake.
All the information on our tournaments can be found http://piedmontbassclassics.com/
Now here are the full results:
1st Place: ......Butch Trimmer & Don Boivin of Fayetteville...5 bass...28.24 lbs...$1,344
2nd Place: ......Seth Ellis & Jamey Caldwell of Sanford & Carthage...5 bass...27.47 lbs...$832
3rd Place: ......Tony Fofi & Dave Murdock of Spring Lake & Sanford...5 bass...26.81 lbs...$640
4th Place: ......Bobby Matthews & Mitch Hargrove of Durham & Dunn...5 bass...25.42 lbs...$576
5th Place: ......Eric Bland & John Anton of Tarboro & Chapel Hill...5 bass...23.84 lbs...$512
6th Place: ......Kevin Woodall & William Tobias of Angier...5 bass...23.83 lbs...$448
7th Place: ......Chris & H.T. Eakins of Selma & Angier...5 bass...23.49 lbs...$384
8th Place: ......Mark Herndon & Jay Garrard of Bahama & Durham...5 bass...23.46 lbs...$320
9th Place: ......Larry Hipps & Dean Larson of Cary & Wendell...5 bass...22.77 lbs...$270
10th Place: ......Mark Sherrer & Chris Wood of Raleigh...5 bass...22.46 lbs...$234
11th Place: ......Keith Deal & Ricky Kenworthy of Holly Springs & Cary...5 bass...22.25 lbs...$205
12th Place: ......Rick Sossoman & Doug Stallings of Oak Ridge & Stem...5 bass...21.80 lbs...$160
13th Place: ......Bobby Houser & Randy Leonard of Raleigh & Wendell...5 bass...21.34 lbs...$135
14th Place: ......Ron Szaro & Bobby Gregory of Clayton & Fuquay-Varina...5 bass...21.07 lbs...$125
15th Place: ......Keith & Alden Patterson of Mebane...5 bass...20.73 lbs...$115
16th Place: ......Todd Durham & Mark Beck...5 bass...20.34 lbs...$1001st Place Big Fish..2nd Place Team above...8.44 lbs...$1,106
2nd Place Big Fish..Johnny Wilder & Mike Harris of Stem & Oxford...8.20 lbs...$474
1st Place TWT..2nd Place Team above...27.47 lbs...$1,645
2nd Place TWT..3rd Place Team above: 26.81 lbs...$705Tow Boats US Award: Seth Ellis of Sanford : $50
Contact Information:
Phil McCarson...Tournament Director---922 Valetta Rd.---Durham, NC 27712
Home: 919-471-1571 Cell: 919-971-5042
email: [email protected] website: http://piedmontbassclassics.com/
The Shimano/b.a.s.s. Youth Conservation Initiative Funds B.a.s.s. Nation Projects In 2016
The Shimano/B.A.S.S. Youth Conservation Initiative Funds B.A.S.S. Nation Projects In 2016
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — B.A.S.S. Nation clubs in New Mexico and Florida will be the beneficiaries of the 2016 Shimano/B.A.S.S. Youth Conservation Initiative grants announced at the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame Banquet during the recent Bassmaster Classic in Tulsa, Okla.
“Shimano has once again shown its commitment to the B.A.S.S. Nation and to educating youth on the value and need for conservation,” said Gene Gilliland, B.A.S.S. Conservation Director.
“Through the Shimano grant program, we will be providing funds to do some really great projects that benefit fishery resources and provide opportunities for young anglers to get hands-on conservation experience.”
The Albuquerque, N.M., Hawg Hunters Bass Club plans to construct a fishing pier on Escondida Lake Park pond in Socorro, N.M., allowing disabled anglers better access to the pond.
Mesilla Valley High School and New Mexico State University fishing team anglers will help build the pier that will be adjacent to many recently installed fish-attracting habitat structures that are placed close to shore. Adult mentors from the Albuquerque club, the Socorro Valley Bass club, New Mexico B.A.S.S. Nation, New Mexico Game & Fish Department and the Disabled American Veterans will assist the youth members in the project.
A pair of projects will receive funding to renovate donated pontoon boats and turn them into live-release vessels that will be used for tournament fish releases and as barges to help with the installation of artificial habitat structures.
The New Mexico B.A.S.S. Nation and the Lakeland Junior Bassmasters from Florida will each refurbish old pontoon boats by reinforcing the pontoon tubes and decking, overhauling outboard motors and adding fiberglass holding tanks with aeration systems. Junior club members, high school and college anglers will be trained in state-of-the-art fish care protocols and will help tournament officials in their states with weigh-ins and live release operations.
Shimano pioneered the first live-release boats more than 30 years ago and continues to support their use in all Bassmaster tournament circuits.
Grant proposals were judged by Gilliland, B.A.S.S. Nation staff and by representatives from Shimano.
“We received 10 proposals this year from Nation clubs in nine states, and it is always difficult to pick our winners,” explained Gilliland. “These three top proposals showed the best use of B.A.S.S. members, youth organizations and made significant use of matching funds and donated materials.”
The Shimano/B.A.S.S. Youth Conservation Initiative, unveiled in 2014, has provided almost $36,000 in funding for projects to restore fisheries habitat through the introduction of native aquatic plants, install artificial habitat structures, develop urban fishing opportunities and battle invasive species that threaten aquatic resources.
About Shimano
Shimano American Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Shimano, Inc., a worldwide leader in the manufacturing of fishing tackle, and is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. Along with its new fishing division operations in Ladson, S.C. where it also has a distribution center, the firm also has sales, service and distribution operations in Peterborough, Ontario, manufactures its PowerPro braided fishing line in Grand Junction, Colo., G.Loomis fishing rods in Woodland, Wash. Shimano also handles the sales, marketing and distribution of Jackall Lures in the U.S. and Canada. For more information, please visit www.shimano.com.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
Plano Signs On As Title Sponsor For Mississippi River Elite Event Sept. 8-11, 2016
Plano Signs On As Title Sponsor For Mississippi River Elite Event
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Tackle storage magnate Plano Molding Co., Inc., has secured the title sponsorship of the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series season finale.
The final event of the regular Elite Series season will take place Sept. 8-11 on the Mississippi River in La Crosse, Wis.
“We’re pleased to partner with Plano Molding Co. on our finale Elite event,†said Bruce Akin, CEO of B.A.S.S. “B.A.S.S. appreciates their dedication to equip anglers at every level with the tools they need for tackle management to make the most out of their fishing experience.â€
“Plano is excited to again have the opportunity to join B.A.S.S. as a title sponsor of the Elite Series event in La Crosse, Wis.,†said Ben Rand, Plano Molding Co. director of marketing. “The Elite Series continues to be best in class, and brings the most talented anglers from across the country. Our partnership with B.A.S.S. allows us the opportunity to keep Plano front of mind for our passionate and valued customers throughout the year.â€
The La Crosse tournament will be the third time for the city to host a Bassmaster Elite Series event. During the June 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series River Rumble, Texan Todd Faircloth caught 20 Mississippi River bass weighing 62 pounds, 4 ounces to win the tournament. The river also produced two more 60-pound totals as Mississippi’s Cliff Pace finished second with 61 pounds and Terry Butcher of Oklahoma took third with 60-11.
Catching more than 60 pounds was also the benchmark for the June 2013 River Rumble at La Crosse. Oklahoman Tommy Biffle clinched the victory by catching 20 bass totaling 64-2 while Aaron Martens of Alabama took second with 61-11. The average bass weight for the previous two La Crosse events was 2.61 pounds for 2012 and 2.46 pounds for 2013.
As part of the title sponsorship deal, Plano exhibited its products at the 2016 Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods March 4-6 at Tulsa, Okla., and will also display them during the Elite Series season finale at La Crosse. Highlighted in Plano’s booth at the Classic and Elite event was the company’s cornerstone StowAway boxes and two new products — the A-Series QuickTop and M-Series tackle bags.
The A-Series QuickTop is equipped with a molded see-through ABS lid atop a soft tackle bag that includes four Plano StowAway 3600 or 3700 utility boxes. The new M-Series consists of two tackle bags, a Hydro-Flo Tackle Bag with the Hydro-Flo Base that allows water to drain out of the bag’s bottom for drying or rinsing lures, and a Messenger Bag featuring eight exterior pockets, a molded insert for storing a 3600 box and inside storage for up to nine StowAway boxes.
Plano Molding is a Plano Synergy Holdings, Inc. brand. The company revolutionized the tackle storage business in 1952 by creating the first molded plastic tackle box. In addition to Plano Molding, Plano Synergy brands include Ameristep, Avian-X, Barnett Crossbows, Caboodles, Creative Options, Evolved, Flextone, Frabill, GroundEFX, Halo Optics, Wildgame Innovations and Zink Calls. Information about all of Plano’s products is available at www.planomolding.com.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
22 Year Old, Gary Green Wins Mega-Bass Derby On Lake Fork With A 10.02Lb Stud!
| By: Patty Lenderman |
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Skeeter Bass Champs hosted their annual Mega Bass tournament, presented by the SportsmanÂ’s Auto Network on Lake Fork March 21, 2016 - the largest one day Bass tournament in the world that keeps getting bigger. Over 1900 anglers from over 30 states and more than $200,000 paid back in cash and prizes in single day for amateur anglers only. Twenty two year old Gary Green of Glenwood, Arkansas caught the biggest bass of the day - a double digit sow, taking home $15,000 cash AND a new Skeeter Boat!
The day began on a very cold morning, and as the tournament progressed so did the wind. Some tried to hold and fish their spots in the wind while others vied for protected coves. Lake Fork is a slot lake, so anglers can only weigh fish less than 16” long or over 24”. All others in-between those measurements must be released immediately and not weighed in. The big ones were biting, and several bass over the slot were caught giving those lucky anglers a big payday! The first weigh hour was 8am. Bob Roberts of Longview, TX won the first $15,000 check with his 9.35 pound sow. “I just got lucky,” Roberts exclaimed. “I got on the lake at 6:45am, went to my spot and got set up.” His spot was in the middle of an open field, having a slight hump and sparse grass. “I threw a Carolina rigged watermelon candy Zoom trick worm in about 5’ of water.” He made a long cast, and within the first 10 minutes of fishing he got the bite. “When I was working it back to the boat, it felt like it got hung up. Then it started swimming off!” Bob was fishing by himself in this tournament, his wife and partner Bobbie could not make it. He wrangled his big sow safely to the boat on his own and brought it in to weigh and win the first hour. “I’d rather be lucky than good – and today I got lucky!” Bob has fished every Mega Bass event Bass Champs hosts, and the Skeeter Owner tournament and the Berkley Big Bass events. “Bass Champs puts on great events, and I like fishing all of them!” The 9am hour was won by Rockwall, TX angler Jonathan Ham. His day started off fast and furious as well. “I was fishing a dock with a swim jig. She bit within about the first 6 minutes of fishing!” His big fish tipped the scales at 8.65 pounds, giving him a $15,000 payday! Terry Long of Bridgeport, TX added to his $500 hourly check, weighing in a 2.08 lb. bass, by winning the Crossed Industries bonus for another $3,000! The 10am hour was the only hour of the day where only ‘unders’ were weighed. The top bass that hour weighed in at 2.35 pounds, caught by Jim Holmes of Prosper, TX for a $15,000 paycheck. “It was very windy and very cold,” Prosper began. “I just went fishing and caught a few fish.” Jim decided to fish flats in 12’ of water with Texas rigged watermelon red baby brush hogs. “They bit well first thing in the morning. I caught a few slot fish, then a weigher. I kept fishing for a few more hours, then came on in to weigh it.” Great decision – he won the hour with the only under the slot fish of the day! “I’m going to give my wife $5,000 of it and then figure out what I want to do with the rest.” Jim would like to thank Sartins Marine and Breaking Bass Swim Baits for their support. The 11am hour saw not only big bass but an even weight winner as well. Scott Morton of Nacogdoches, TX caught a sow that weighed 8.26 lbs to win 1st place of the hour and $15,000. “My dear friend Josh Jamison talked me into fishing this tournament, he had fished a few of the Mega Bass tournaments before,” Morton explained. “I have never fished a tournament before and this was my first time on Lake Fork.” They headed to the bridge, and anchored. “We just started fishing. I was dragging a 12” worm on a 7/0 hook. I really didn’t expect to catch anything, but I figured if you’re going to go for big bass, you’ve got to use a big bait.” The wind and waves allowed them to fish a slow drift, dragging the anchor along. “I drug my worm for about 150 yards, then it felt like it had hung up on a stick or something. I tugged to get it loose, and it tugged back!” Scott split the winnings with his fishing partner, but dedicated the event to his grandmother. “Her name is Irene Harold, and we just lost her this past week. She was 77 years old. I know she was with me and smiling on me today.” Juan Hernandez of Gilmer, TX took 2nd place overall in this hour for $1,000, and also won and additional $500 for weighing a 3.00 even weight bass. The biggest fish of the day, a double digit mega bass was weighed in during the noon hour. Gary Green of Glenwood, Arkansas made the long trip to fish the event and it paid off big. “I decided to just go fishing, and hope to get a bite.” He was fishing shallow water banks, 5’-6’ deep in a cove with a floating worm. “I was fishing with my brother and my dad. She bit around 9am, and I knew it was a big fish as soon as I set the hook!” Waiting a couple of hours before weighing in the big sow, once the scales locked in she was 10.02 lbs, the biggest fish caught in the tournament! Bass Champs presented him with a $15,000 check AND a new Skeeter ZX200 powered by Yamaha and equipped with Lowrance, Power Pole and Minn Kota. “I’d like to thank God first and foremost overall,” Gary stated. “I’d also like to thank my family.” With only two weigh in hours remaining, two bass over the slot were tallied during the 1:00 hour. Jerry “Benton” Hall of Lewisville, TX had the biggest one weighing 9.71 pounds for the $15,000 check. “It was cold – very cold – and windy,” Benton recalled. “The start time for the tournament was 6:30am, but I decided to wait until 7:00.” Once he got on the water, he headed to the back of a creek. “I was looking for pre-spawn areas. I found where this creek intersected with a point, and had a 15’-20’ drop-off.” He tied on a deep diving crank bait. Fishing along the creek channel, he threw to water 5’ deep at a secondary point at the edge of the drop off when she bit. Fishing with his lifelong buddy Mark Smith, together they got the fish in and secured in the livewell. “It was my first fish of the day – I just got lucky. The weather deteriorated pretty quick after that.” Staying back at the holding tanks along with the tournament winner, Benton waited until the 1:00 hour to weigh. “This is my biggest fish ever! I really enjoy fishing this event. It’s the right time of year, has a great payout, and is always well run by the Bass Champs crew. I hope to continue fishing it for many years to come!” Jerry Archer of Poetry, TX took 2nd place that hour with his big catch weighing in at 8.67 pounds. The final hour also had to big fish over the slot weighed in, and was won by Larry Ladnier of Rockwall Texas with his 9.55 lb. sow. “My partner Steve Foushee and I headed to a spot quite a ways from the weigh in. We were fishing points and flats in 2’ to 12’ as out of the wind as we could.” Larry had a Texas rigged Berkley Power Worm tied on, using a Lew’s rod & reel combo. “I caught a lot of slot fish and unders, but nothing to weigh in. Steve caught a lot of slot fish as well.” That all changed when Larry set the hook at 2:10. “She was BIG! We were pretty far from the weigh in, so as soon as we got her locked down, we battened down the hatches and headed in. We only made it with five minutes to spare!” David Sorrels of Linden, TX was sitting in the $15,000 seat with his 9.06 pound catch just waiting on the clock to run out and the scales to close. Larry bumped him into the 2nd place seat to win top spot of the last hour. “I really needed this – I just retired from Bass Pro Shops at the end of January!” He would like to thank his partner Steve as well as his wife for her support. Biobor sponsored several bonus checks each hour, and when it was all said and done over $200,000 in cash and prizes was paid out in this richest one day hourly bass tournament in the world. “We’d like to congratulate all of the winners and thank everyone for making the journey, and for some a really long journey to come fish the Mega Bass event with us, presented by the Sportsman’s Auto Network. It was a great day, and a lot of big fish were weighed in. This annual event just keeps getting bigger and better every year. We hope everyone had a lot of fun and plan on fishing again next year!” – Chad Potts, Bass Champs President. There are more upcoming opportunities to win some big money with Bass Champs! There are still several Bass Champs tournaments remaining in the team trails, with some specialty events coming up as well. Don’t miss out! Sign up today. For more information click to www.BassChamps.com or call 817-439-3274 |
| Angler | City | State | Weight | Prize Amount | |
| GARY GREEN | Glenwood | AR | 10.02 |
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| JERRY HALL | Lewisville | TX | 9.71 |
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| LARRY LADNIER | Rockwall | TX | 9.55 |
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| BOB ROBERTS | Longview | TX | 9.35 |
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| JONATHON HAM | Rockwall | TX | 8.65 |
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| SCOTT MORTON | Nacogdoches | TX | 8.26 |
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| JIM HOLMES | Prosper | TX | 2.35 |
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| DAVID SORRELLS | Linden | TX | 9.06 |
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| JERRY ARCHER | Poetry | TX | 8.67 |
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| JUAN HERNANDEZ | Gilmer | TX | 3.00 |
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| STEPHEN FATHERREE | Alba | TX | 2.81 |
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| CURT CULBERTSON | Fort Worth | TX | 2.65 |
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| TONY SISK | Diana | TX | 2.54 |
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| TERRY MACDONALD | Lawton | OK | 2.28 |
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| CARL DENNIS | Mesquite | TX | 2.60 |
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| BLAINE COVINGTON | Fort Worth | TX | 2.58 |
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| NATHAN BATCHELOR | Mt Pleasant | TX | 2.48 |
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| CHRIS UNRUH | Lakin | KS | 2.34 |
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| CLIFTON BIRMINGHAM | Gloster | LA | 2.33 |
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| COLIN THOMPSON | Huntsville | TX | 2.32 |
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| ROBERT STOVER | Clifton | TX | 2.26 |
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| LANDON MARKUM | Paradise | TX | 2.55 |
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| HAYDEN DECKER | Huntsville | TX | 2.31 |
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| COREY STOKES | Weatherford | TX | 2.30 |
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| BENSON MOORE | Forney | TX | 2.28 |
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| JEFF COLE | North Lake | TX | 2.25 |
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| BRENT JOHNSON | Dike | TX | 2.24 |
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| BRANDON JENNIGES | North Richland Hills | TX | 2.26 |
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| LEE RICE | Victoria | TX | 2.26 |
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| ROBERT ORDWAY | Yantis | TX | 2.51 |
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| MICHAEL BABBITT | Channelview | TX | 2.30 |
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| DARRELL CAMPBELL | Trophy Club | TX | 2.27 |
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| RONNIE KECK | Willis | TX | 2.24 |
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| JAMES MARTIN JR | Troup | TX | 2.18 |
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| CHARLES JAMES | Cooper | TX | 2.21 |
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| GARY ALLEN | Nacogdoches | TX | 2.21 |
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| DAVID HARRIS | Mesquite | TX | 2.24 |
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| ABIGAIL SISK | Diana | TX | 2.24 |
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| LAROYCE MCDANIEL | Sulphur Springs | TX | 2.21 |
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| TERRY LONG | Bridgeport | TX | 2.08 |
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| JOHN BYLER | Southlake | TX | 2.38 |
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| JOSH BUSBY | Emory | TX | 2.38 |
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| WILLIAM MAGGS | Roanoke | TX | 2.17 |
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| GERALD BARBOUR | East Tawakoni | TX | 2.17 |
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| TERRY MACDONALD | Lawton | OK | 2.20 |
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| JORDAN CRAFT | Muddy | IL | 2.20 |
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| AARON WILKERSON | Sulphur Springs | TX | 2.17 |
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| DENNIS PAULK | Abilene | TX | 2.17 |
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| ROBERT JOHNSON | Allen | TX | 2.11 |
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Benton Makes 12 Cut, Sharpens Decison-Making Skills At Bassmaster Elite Series On St Johns
Drew Benton fished his first Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on the St Johns River out of Palatka this past week. Having won an FLW Tour event on Okeechobee before, the young pro from Panama City, Florida knows how to close out a tourney, especially in his home state where he loves to sight fish, as he did around Lake George during the Elite derby.
Benton made the Top 12 cut and fished the final round against anglers such as Greg Hackney, the legendary Rick Clunn who won this tourney, and St Johns River stalwarts Terry 'Big Show' Scroggins and Cliff Prince.
In the face of this competition Benton weighed 3 limits in excess of 20 pounds over 4 days. Only a stumble on Day 2, when he stepped to the scale with a little over 12 pounds, kept him off the winning pace of slightly more than 80 pounds.
He knows where he messed up. "I fished used water," said Benton of his 2nd day decision. "I tried to catch them where I caught them the first day. They had been beaten up too badly. There were no big fish left."
Other top finishers, including runner-up Hackney, commented on the need to fish new water each day.
It was a tough lesson but one that will benefit Benton as he chases the 2016 Bassmaster Rookie of the Year Award. For now, he leads that race.
Logan Johnson & Jeremy Christian Win Abt North On Guntersville - Top 2 And Big Fish Interviews Here!
Former University of Alabama Fishing Team Teammates Squeek out the win in a close Alabama Bass Trail event on Lake Guntersville. Check it out, exclusively, here!
Matlock And Mcfarlin Win Ttt Event On Richland Chambers With 25.15 Pounds!
Bobby Stanfill Of Greenwood, Sc Wins The Aba D-96 Event On Clarks Hill Lake
Group picture from left to right; 1st place and Big Fish Winner Bobby Stanfill of Greenwood, SC / 2nd place Mike Strickland of Watkinsville, Ga. / 3rd place Phillip Anderson of Saluda, SC / 4th place Don Kneece of Saluda, SC / 5th place Chad Brounkowski of Greenwood, SC / 6th Place Larry Moss of Prosperity, SC.
First place, Bobby Stanfill of Greenwood, SC, was fishing the upper part of the lake. He caught his fish on jigs and spinnerbaits in shallow water.The tournament big fish came on the spinnerbait and weighed 5.89 pounds. Bobby’s 5 fish weighing 23.47 pounds won first place and first place option and the big fish pot for a total of $995.
Mike Strickland of Watkinsville, Ga. finished in second place fishing the upper part of the lake as well. He caught his fish on lipless crankbaits and a topwater bait. Steve’s 5 fish weighing 21.03 pounds won second place and second place option for a total of $529.
Phillip Anderson of Saluda, SC finished in third place with 5 fish weighing 18.77 pounds. His fish came on a jig fishing for bedding fish on the upper part of the lake. Phillip took home $167 for third place.
Don Kneece of Saluda, SC took fourth place flipping brush shallow on the upper part of the lake. He also fished the upper part of the lake weighing 5 fish at 17.59 pounds. Don won $130 for fourth place.
Chad Brounkowski of Greenwood, SC fished in fifth place with 5 fish weighing 16.78 pounds for $94.
The day was cloudy with a NNE wind at 5 to 10mph for most of the day. We started at 48 degrees and were at 55 degrees for the 3pm weigh-in. Water temps were in the low 60’s. The lake was clear but stained in the creeks and almost at full pool.
Here’s how we finished:
1 – Bobby Stanfill, Greenwood, SC – 5 fish 23.47 lbs. BF 5.89 lbs. 200 pts.
2 – Mike Strickland, Watkinsville, Ga. - 5 fish 21.03 lbs. 199 pts.
3 – Phillip Anderson, Saluda, SC – 5 fish 18.77 lbs. 198 pts.
4 – Don Kneece, Saluda, SC – 5 fish 17.59 lbs. 197 pts.
5 – Chad Brounkowski, Greenwood, SC – 5 fish 16.78 lbs. 196 pts.
6 – Larry Moss, Prosperity, SC – 5 fish 15.65 lbs. 195 pts.
7 – Paul Tickerhoof, Appling, Ga. – 5 fish 13.64 lbs. 194 pts.
8 – Evan Weaver, Lexington, SC – 5 fish 13.25 lbs. 193 pts.
9 – Larry Gaines, Ft. Walton Beach, FL – 5 fish 12.74 lbs. 192 pts.
10 – Gene Parker, Asheville, NC – 5 fish 12.70 lbs. 191 pts.
11 – Eddie Temples, Saluda, SC – 5 fish 12.60 lbs. 190 pts.
12 – David Griswold, Woodruff, SC - 5 fish 12.45 lbs. 189 pts.
13 – Steve Christie, Gray Court, SC – 5 fish 11.40 lbs. 188 pts.
14 - Pat Vance, Sumter, SC – 5 fish 11.09 lbs. 187 pts.
15 – Carlton Price, Leesville, SC – 5 fish 10.17 lbs. 186 pts.
16 – N. Werly Bray, Lexington, SC – 5 fish 9.73 lbs. 185 pts.
17 – Allen Murray, Reidsville, Ga. – 5 fish 9.46 lbs. 184 pts.
18 – Jay Treon, Greenwood, SC - 5 fish 9.35 lbs. 183 pts.
19 – Richard Presnell, Westminster, SC – 5 fish 9.04 lbs. 182 pts.
20 – Ed Matthews, Columbia. SC – 4 fish 7.64 lbs. 181 pts.
21 – Arthur McBride, Thomson, Ga. – 5 fish 7.10 lbs. 180 pts.
22 – Lou Engel, Ninety Six, SC – 3 fish 4.24 lbs. 179 pts.
23 – Bill Pinion, Fair Play, SC – 3 fish 3.71 lbs.
8 anglers did not weigh in fish - 50 pts.
Money
Bobby Stanfill – 1st place plaque $695 / 1st place option $145 / Big Fish plaque $155. Total - $995
Mike Strickland – 2nd place plaque $434 / 2nd place option $95. Total - $529
Phillip Anderson – 3rd place plaque - $167
Don Kneece – 4th place - $130
Chad Brounkowski – 5th place - $94
Larry Moss – 6th place ALX Rods Hat
Paul Tickerhoof – 7th place Parker Spinnerbait
ALX Rod Big Fish Leader for 2016
John Stevenson – 7.65 lbs. Lake Murray, February 28, 2015
ALX Rods Big Fish Award for the 2015 Season (New ALX IKOS Series Rod for Season Big Fish Winner www.alxrods.com )
Local Sponsors:
Our local sponsors will be providing products or money for products for the anglers fishing Division 96 tournaments. Please give them your support by looking to them first when considering your purchases. They are supporting you!
Kneece Investigations, LLC Saluda, SC www.kneeceinvestigations.com (864-445-3713) (one stop for both your Investigative and Surveillance Equipment needs)
ALX Rods Aiken, SC www.alxrods.com (803-645-5392) Email: [email protected] (ALX Rods are available locally at The Tackle Shop (Martinez, GA), Palmetto State Armory (Fernandina Road in Columbia, SC & also store in Mt. Pleasant, SC), Wacky Riggers (Salisbury, NC), Calyx Outdoors (Piedmont, SC) Grady’s Great Outdoors (Anderson, SC), Lake Hartwell Outdoor Center (Anderson, SC) and direct at www.alxrods.com )
Gene Parker’s Spinnerbaits Asheville, NC - the baits that Gene Parker used to win the 2011 ABA National Championship on Lake Murray, SC www.parkerbaittechnology.com (828-691-2277)
Results and news on www.aba-sc.com and see your photos on ‘facebook’ at D-96 American Fishing Tour
Upcoming ABA Tournaments:
D-94 Apr. 2, 2016 Savannah River Stokes Bluff
D-25 Apr. 3, 2016 Russell Hwy 72 Ramp
D-96 Apr. 10, 2016 Murray Dreher Island State Park
D-26 Apr. 17, 2016 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
D-25 Apr. 24, 2016 Clarks Hill Dorn Facility
D-96 May 1, 2016 Greenwood Greenwood State Park
D-25 May 14-15, 2016 Hartwell Green Pond 2-Day
D-96 May 21-22, 2016 Clarks Hill Dorn Facility 2-Day
D-26 May 29, 2016 Clarks Hill Wildwood Park
Weekend Bass Series - 2016 Ray Scott Championship – April 6-10, 2016 – Lake Hartwell, Green Pond Landing, Anderson, SC
Logan Johnson And Jeremy Christian Win 2016 Alabama Bass Trail Lake Gunterville
Guntersville, Ala. March 12, 2016 – The more than 300 angler field of the Alabama Bass Trail Northern Division had looked forward to this day since the schedule was announced; Lake Guntersville, the home of bass fishing history, perhaps the most prestigious and recognized fishery in the country.
Guntersville is known for giant bags of bass and heavy individual fish, and since the appearance of Guntersville on the schedule is smack dab in the middle of the expected prespawn period, expectations were for a high weight event. Despite the expectations, Mother Nature threw a curveball, and brought a cold front to town after two weeks of warm conditions, thus the fishing cooled slightly as well.
The one thing that you can guarantee, no matter how tough things are, is that somebody is going to figure them out, and somebody will always find a way to excel, no matter the conditions. The team that performed the best at the second event on the 2016 Alabama Bass Trail schedule was Logan Johnson and Jeremy Christian.
The pair posted a solid Lake Guntersville limit that weighed 26.87 pounds to take their first Alabama Bass Trail win. “We never would have thought that 26 pounds would be enough to win here at Guntersville,” said the pair. “But, now that were here, it really is special to win an event like this, this is a strong field, and it means a lot to be standing here as winners.”
The pair reported that they fished in the Brown’s Creek area, and that they threw mostly 1/2-ounce Chatterbaits paired with a Keitech swimbait as a trailer around grass clumps. Their big fish, a 7.55 pound largemouth was caught by Christian on a special run, 1/2-ounce Guntersville Shad colored Excalibur Xr50 One Knocker lipless crankbait.
“This is the biggest win I’ve ever had, and I’m really excited about it,” said Christian. “I know this is the most money Logan has won at a single event too, so this is really something we’re bot pretty happy about.”
Craig Grubbs and Matt Ferguson didn’t make things easy on the winners. The pair reported running to the midlake area to target grass clumps with lipless crankbaits as well. They reported using Royal Shad colored 1/2-ounce Strike King Red Eye Shad lipless crankbaits near the Waterfront area to produce a 26.45-pound limit to take home second place and $5,000; they had their weight by 9:30.
“We didn’t think 26 pounds would win, but when you catch that much weight early, you think you’ve got a shot,” they said. “We want to win one of these ABT events so badly, but when you catch a big bag, and somebody beats you, all you can do is tip your cap and tell them congratulations; we had a good day, and are pleased with the results overall.”
The team of Waylon Hancock and Timothy Little finished third with 24.90 pounds and took home $4,000. The $500 Mountain Dew Big Bass of the tournament was an 8.11-pound largemouth caught by the team of Michael and Cameron Naron. The fish helped them weigh 19.63 pounds to finish in ninth place and brought their total earnings to $1200.
The top 10 in the standings are below – the complete standings can be found at:http://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/lg-results/
| Place | Name | Weight | Big Fish | Winnings |
| 1 | Logan Johnson/Jeremy Christian | 26.87 | 7.55 | $10,000 |
| 2 | Craig Grubbs/Matt Ferguson | 26.45 | 7.49 | $5,000 |
| 3 | Waylon Hancock/Timothy Little | 24.90 | 6.43 | $4,000 |
| 4 | Damien Willis/Mark Steward | 23.42 | $3,000 | |
| 5 | Erick Sommers/Tommy Pegues | 22.75 | 5.89 | $2,000 |
| 6 | Jamie Smith/Michael Rains | 20.95 | $1,000 | |
| 7 | Rex Chambers/Ryan Salzman | 20.32 | $900 | |
| 8 | Deron Patrick/Cory Freeman | 20.05 | $800 | |
| 9 | Michael Naron/Cameron Naron | 19.63 | 8.11 | $700 |
| 10 | Linda Sands/Betty Stahl | 19.59 | 7.1 | $600 |
Next on the slate for the Southern Division is Pickwick Lake on April 23, 2016.
The sponsors of the 2016 Alabama Bass Trail include; Bill Penney Toyota, Phoenix Bass Boats, Garmin, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Wind Creek Hospitality – Wetumpka, Wind Creek Hospitality – Montgomery, Alabama Tourism Department, SCA Performance, Mt. Dew, Boat US, T-H Marine Supplies, AllState, TVA, Alabama Power, Fish Neely Henry Lake.com, Lew’s Fishing, Frogg Toggs, Crossed Industries, Alabama Foundation Specialist, Costa, YETI, Leer, E3 Apparel.
For information about Alabama Bass Trail and for complete tournament standings visit www.alabamabasstrail.org.
Legendary Rick Clunn Finishes Strong On St. Johns River, Becomes Oldest B.a.s.s. Winner At 69
PALATKA, Fla. — On Nov. 5, 1976, Missouri angler Rick Clunn claimed his first B.A.S.S. victory in the Bassmaster Classic on Lake Guntersville.
It was his first giant step toward becoming a true legend in the sport of professional fishing.
On Sunday, he won for the 15th time on the B.A.S.S. circuit — and in many ways, this step might have gone even further toward cementing his legacy.
Clunn, who will turn 70 in July, caught five bass that weighed 19 pounds during Sunday’s championship round and won the Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels easily with a four-day weight of 81-15. The win was bolstered by a monumental catch of 31-7 during Saturday’s semifinal round.
“I was certainly feeling some pressure after having such a big weight yesterday,” said Clunn, who finished 4 pounds ahead of second-place finisher Greg Hackney (77-15). “Through the years, you just learn to hide it better. Having my son (River) here helped a lot.”
After catching 16-11 and 14-13 the first two days, Clunn was in 31st place and seemed a longshot to make Sunday’s Top 12 championship cut. But the incredible catch of 31-7, which ranked as the third-best five-bass limit of his career, gave him the lead going into the final round with 62-15.
Though he had varied results during the four-day event, he said he used the same bait almost the whole time — a homemade bladed jig with a green skirt and a white Luck-E-Strike swimbait for a trailer. He said he calls the bait the “Trickster 2,” and he believed it would work after watching some local anglers fishing with live shiners earlier in the week.
“I actually watched shiner fishermen in Crescent Lake flipping shiners up under a dock, and they were catching fish,” Clunn said. “I saw that, and I tied on a big Luck-E-Strike swimbait. I flipped it up under a dock and caught about a 6-pounder. That got me on the shad-type baits.”
Though much of the field was sight fishing for bedding bass around the fishery’s grass-covered shorelines, Clunn chose a different approach. He used the bladed jig around the same type of cover in Lake George, enticing bites from fish he couldn’t see.
The key to his magical day Saturday was an hour’s worth of wind and rain that he said seemed to make the fish bite better.
He fished his bait on 65-pound braid with a 7-foot-6 Bass Pro Shops Johnny Morris CarbonLite rod — and he didn’t hesitate to manhandle big bass when they bit his homemade lure.
“I put a little bit different hook on my bait and a different split ring, so it’s better suited for handling big fish,” Clunn said. “When you’re fishing for big fish, it’s important to use the right equipment. I was swinging 6-pounders in the boat this week.”
For the first half of the tournament, it looked like it was Hackney’s tournament to lose.
The Louisiana pro caught 21-5 on Day 1 and grabbed the lead with a Day 2 catch of 18-1 that pushed his two-day mark to 39-6. He was still leading on Day 3 until Clunn — the last angler to weigh in — brought in his big bag.
“In a lot of ways, I think what Rick Clunn did on Saturday took the pressure off me,” said Hackney, who spent the week fishing for bedding bass with a topwater prop lure, a jig and a drop-shot rig. “If I had gone out today in the lead, I would have been a nervous wreck.
“But I knew all I could do today was catch what I could catch — and I’m thrilled with the week I had.”
Hackney was one of several pros — all of those who fished on Sunday and many who didn’t — who crowded around the weigh-in platform to watch Clunn make history.
The 69-year-old angler became the oldest to win a B.A.S.S. event, surpassing Shorty Evans, who won the Kentucky Invitational on Kentucky Lake in 1978 at age 65. Clunn also became the oldest to win a Bassmaster Elite Series event, moving past Denny Brauer who won on the Arkansas River in 2011 at age 62.
With his first win coming 39 years ago, Clunn also easily set the record for longest gap between his first victory and his most recent.
“I know I got a lot of support online last night from the over-60 crowd, and that sure means a lot,” said Clunn, who has four Bassmaster Classic titles and more than 400 total B.A.S.S. events on his resume. “Thank goodness there are lots of Baby Boomers. I may have the biggest fan base of all.”
Clunn was awarded $1,000 for the leading the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race at the end of the event.
Marty Robinson earned the Power-Pole Captain’s Cash award of $1,000 for being the highest-placing angler who is registered and eligible and uses a client-approved product on his boat.
Hackney earned the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500 for leading on the second day.
Robinson also won the Toyota Bonus Bucks of $3,000 for being the highest-placing eligible entrant in the program. The second-highest-placing eligible entrant, Brent Chapman, received $2,000.
Dick Cepek Rolling Forward Award of $1,000 will be presented to the angler who makes the largest gain in Toyota Angler of the Year points from tournament to tournament and will be determined after the Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Winyah Bay.
The Big Bass Award of $1,500 was presented to Cliff Prince for weighing in the overall biggest bass of the event — a 10-8 bass.
Robinson also earned the A.R.E. Top Angler Award of $1,000 for being the highest placing angler using A.R.E. products.
The local host for the event is the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Toyota, Berkley, GoPro
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Shimano, Academy Sports + Outdoors, A.R.E. Truck Caps, Carhartt
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
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Media Contact: Helen White, 205-313-0944, [email protected] or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, [email protected].
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Mud Hole Tackle Pro John Cox Hangs On For Hartwell Win!!
John Cox of Debary, Fla., loves fishing ponds. As a kid, he cut his teeth fishing ponds. The first bass club Cox ever joined was a johnboat-only-club that fished on small ponds. The first aluminum boat Cox owned had a blown outboard on it that he could not afford to get fixed. But that didn’t bother him one bit. After all, he just wanted to put the boat in on ponds where he could use the trolling motor to fish around the banks.
Maybe that helps explain why Cox has mostly run aluminum boats on the Walmart FLW Tour. It might also help explain why Cox usually seeks out smaller, limited access backwaters connected to lakes during Tour events.
“These big lakes confuse me,” Cox laughs. “I feel much more comfortable fishing in smaller backwaters off of a main lake or river.”
Today, Cox utilized just such a secluded backwater to come from second place and win the Walmart FLW Tour presented by Evinrude and hosted by the Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau at Lake Hartwell. His final-day weight of 16 pounds, 2 ounces was enough to nudge past Clark Wendlandt at the finish line by a mere 7 ounces. In four days, Cox accrued 67 pounds, 6 ounces to win the $100,000 payday.
This is the second time Cox has accessed an obscure area for a Tour win. His first Tour win was in 2011 at the Red River when he pushed his aluminum boat through a culvert into a backwater area to reach unpressured fish.
This week at Hartwell, Cox saved a small backwater area located far up the Seneca River in the hopes sparking off a final-day rally to win – and his plan worked.
“I’ve fished this place in other FLW Tour tournaments here at Hartwell,” Cox reveals. “It’s a small pond off the main river that is cut off by a sandbar. It’s a cool little pond, but it’s only big enough for a one-day catch. In low water it’s harder to get into because of the sandbar but with water high like it is now, it’s not a problem to access.”
Cox fished the pond in other Tour events during the qualifying days and it earned him a check. This year he decided to reverse his strategy and save the pond for the final day, if he made it that far.
“I went and checked it practice this year and had three good bites,” he says. “I decided right then to just save it as back up because there were plenty of bedding fish down the lake to catch for the first couple of days.”
During the first three days, Cox relied on his savvy sight-fishing skills to climb atop the leaderboard. On day two, he caught a 20-pound, 5-ounce bag that put him in the lead. That hefty limit was anchored by two brutes – one weighing 6-11 – that came from skipping a wacky rig around docks.
He fell to second behind Wendlandt on day three and sat just 1-pound, 5-ounces off the lead.
With deteriorating weather conditions for sight-fishing on day four, Cox felt the time was right to make the run up the river and get into a place he felt the most comfortable – a pond.
Cox knew he had made the right decision when his first fish of the day was 5-pounder that struck his bait twice. The first time, he had the fish on, but the hook flexed enough for the fish to wiggle free. He returned to the fish a bit later and caught her on the first cast. At that point he knew he had a chance to stage a comeback and retake the lead.
For the rest of the day Cox circled the pond just like he used to do back in his johnboat-only days. His primary weapon in the pond was a 3/8-ounce Z-Man ChatterBait (black and blue) with a Strike King Menace Grub trailer. In all, the pond produced about 8 keepers, including the 5-pounder, three 3-pounders and a 2 pounder – just enough to overtake Wendlandt.
During the first three days, Cox used wacky-rigged Yamamoto Senkos and Zoom Trick Worms (watermelon and green pumpkin) in the mid portion of the lake to skip docks and sight fish. The wacky rigs were fished on 10-pound test braid tied to 10-pound test leader and skipped with a SJ842-MHX spinning rod.
“That rod is a 7-foot, medium action and is perfect for skipping wacky rigs,” Cox says. “It has plenty of tip to skip and enough power to pull fish away from cover. It’s the rod I used to catch most of my weight the first three days.”
With his win, Cox now also leads the FLW Tour Angler of the Year race with 389 points.
Top 10 pros
1. John Cox – DeBary, Fla. – 67-6 (20) – $100,000
2. Clark Wendlandt – Leander, Texas – 66-15 (20) – $30,000
3. Jamie Horton – Centerville, Ala. – 62-9 (20) – $25,200
4. Jeff Gustafson – Keewatin, Ontario – 59-14 (20) – $20,500
5. Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C. – 59-8 (20) – $19,100
6. Darrel Robertson – Jay, Okla. – 59-3 (20) – $18,000
7. Larry Nixon – Bee Branch, Ark. – 57-14 (20) – $17,000
8. Cory Johnston – Cavan, Ontario – 56-5 (20) – $16,000
9. Peter Thliveros – Saint Augustine, Fla. – 55-0 (20) – $15,000
10. Powell Kemp – Scotland Neck, N.C. – 54-10 (20) – $14,000
Duncan And Woody Win Biggest Cbc Ever On Norman With 19.57 Lbs-Take Home $14,000 Cash-Full Results And Pics Here!
CBC Norman Champs Dale Duncan and Donnie Woody
Maurice Freeze and partner hold up their stringer
CBC Norman BF held by John Allen-6.09 LBS!!
Another Solid Sack at Norman Sat!
Great team effort here-impressive haul!!
| Place | Team Name | Team # | Fish Weighed | Net Weight | Big Fish | Points | Winnings | Skeeter BONUS | Total Winnings |
| 1 | Dale Duncan - Donnie Woody | 79 | 5 | 19.570 | 4.440 | 310 | $10,000 | $4,000 | $14,000 |
| 2 | Adam Waters - Dylan Fulk | 229 | 5 | 19.110 | 5.920 | 309 | $5,000 | $5,000 | |
| 3 | Craig Chambers - Keith Ogden | 196 | 5 | 18.940 | 5.480 | 308 | $3,500 | $3,500 | |
| 4 | Jacob Moore - Thomas Moore | 146 | 5 | 18.270 | 5.130 | 307 | $2,500 | $2,500 | |
| 5 | William Harris - Stanton Harris | 101 | 5 | 17.010 | 0.000 | 306 | $2,000 | $2,000 | |
| 6 | Stephen Griggs - Rodney Sorrell | 206 | 5 | 16.720 | 5.110 | 305 | $1,800 | $1,800 | |
| 7 | Grayson Barber - Rick Reid | 28 | 5 | 16.700 | 5.270 | 304 | $1,700 | $1,700 | |
| 8 | Patrick Tierney - Moe Freeze | 45 | 5 | 15.910 | 4.030 | 303 | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| 8 | Israel Gibson - Grant McPeters | 83 | 5 | 15.910 | 0.000 | 303 | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| 8 | Larry LeHew - Greg Deal | 186 | 5 | 15.910 | 4.610 | 303 | $1,500 | $1,500 | |
| 11 | Donald Poteat - JOHN ALLEN | 135 | 5 | 15.890 | 6.090 | 300 | $1,300 | $3,000 Skeeter + $1,000 BF | $5,300 |
| 12 | Kevin Chandler - Bradley Chandler | 88 | 5 | 15.870 | 5.740 | 299 | $1,200 | $1,200 | |
| 13 | Alfred Keisling, Sr - Robert Stilner | 183 | 5 | 15.850 | 0.000 | 298 | $1,100 | $1,100 | |
| 14 | Tommy Williams - Thomas Hardwick | 166 | 5 | 15.770 | 0.000 | 297 | $1,000 | $2,000 | $3,000 |
| 15 | Joshua Queen - Mike Queen | 58 | 5 | 15.620 | 5.740 | 296 | $900 | $900 | |
| 16 | kenneth shumate - deloris shumate | 100 | 5 | 15.060 | 5.120 | 295 | $800 | $800 | |
| 17 | Chris Graham - Ricky Byrd | 19 | 5 | 15.010 | 0.000 | 294 | $700 | $700 | |
| 18 | Mike Seawright - John parker | 4 | 5 | 14.800 | 0.000 | 293 | $600 | $600 | |
| 19 | Mike Clark - Chris Anderson | 47 | 5 | 14.720 | 5.070 | 292 | $550 | $550 | |
| 20 | GEORGE HIRAPETIAN - ARAM HIRAPETIAN | 204 | 5 | 14.570 | 5.170 | 291 | $525 | $1,000 | $1,525 |
| 21 | cole blythe - John Auten | 5 | 5 | 14.260 | 0.000 | 290 | $500 | $500 | |
| 22 | Matt Queen - Anthony Johnson | 155 | 5 | 13.990 | 0.000 | 289 | $470 | $470 | |
| 23 | Wesley Cashwell - Shane Doughtie | 197 | 5 | 13.940 | 0.000 | 288 | $450 | $450 | |
| 24 | Nathan Royal - David Brookshire | 50 | 5 | 13.840 | 5.090 | 287 | $422.50 | $423 | |
| 24 | Wayne Ingram - Chris Brown | 119 | 5 | 13.840 | 0.000 | 287 | $422.50 | $423 | |
| 26 | Roger Hoover - Scott Hamrick | 211 | 5 | 13.830 | 0.000 | 285 | $400 | $400 | |
| 27 | Jason Wilson - Kelly Logan | 158 | 5 | 13.790 | 0.000 | 284 | $380 | $380 | |
| 28 | Brian Tidwell - Michael Tidwell | 51 | 5 | 13.780 | 0.000 | 283 | $360 | $360 | |
| 29 | Jeremi Beatty - Clint Benbow | 121 | 5 | 13.750 | 0.000 | 282 | $340 | $340 | |
| 30 | Butch Zadlo - Bryan Lewis | 39 | 5 | 13.730 | 5.890 | 281 | $315 | $315 | |
| 30 | Adam Greer - Shae jones | 98 | 5 | 13.730 | 0.000 | 281 | $315 | $315 | |
| 32 | Robert Bauguess - Rodney Morrow | 85 | 5 | 13.710 | 0.000 | 279 | $300 | $300 | |
| 33 | Darrell Fisher - William Gregory | 118 | 5 | 13.620 | 0.000 | 278 | $280 | $280 | |
| 34 | Derek Cummings - Victor Lynch | 11 | 5 | 13.590 | 0.000 | 277 | $260 | $260 | |
| 35 | Greg Osborne - Wyatt Blevins | 126 | 5 | 13.320 | 0.000 | 276 | $250 | $250 | |
| 36 | Adam Ridings - Michael Ridings | 70 | 5 | 13.270 | 0.000 | 275 | $240 | $240 | |
| 37 | Sonny Beam - Eric Weir | 103 | 5 | 13.250 | 0.000 | 274 | $220 | $220 | |
| 38 | Rob Digh - Chuck Camps | 60 | 5 | 13.210 | 0.000 | 273 | $200 | $200 | |
| 39 | Kevin Toler - Rodney Lambert | 2 | 5 | 13.080 | 0.000 | 272 | |||
| 40 | Adam Fillmore - Chris Carnes | 14 | 5 | 13.060 | 0.000 | 271 | |||
| 41 | Brock Taylor - Brent Long | 9 | 5 | 12.960 | 0.000 | 270 | |||
| 42 | Brett McLean - Mac McLean | 115 | 5 | 12.890 | 0.000 | 269 | |||
| 43 | James Carriker - Brad Smith | 64 | 5 | 12.610 | 0.000 | 268 | |||
| 44 | Ronald Farrow - Roger Farrow | 16 | 5 | 12.580 | 3.850 | 267 | |||
| 45 | Mike Stephens - cody young | 117 | 5 | 12.550 | 0.000 | 266 | |||
| 46 | Scott Henley - Neil McDonald | 36 | 5 | 12.540 | 0.000 | 265 | |||
| 47 | Travis Young - Neil Sheehan | 3 | 5 | 12.520 | 0.000 | 264 | |||
| 48 | Marvin Godard - Robert Adams | 219 | 5 | 12.490 | 0.000 | 263 | |||
| 49 | David Wright - Jeff Coble | 91 | 5 | 12.480 | 0.000 | 262 | |||
| 50 | Bryan Welch - Mark Inman | 95 | 5 | 12.360 | 0.000 | 261 | |||
| 51 | Chris Wagner - Chase Deal | 52 | 5 | 12.330 | 0.000 | 260 | |||
| 52 | Steve Dyer - Derek Lilley | 12 | 5 | 12.320 | 0.000 | 259 | |||
| 53 | Jeff Johnson - Casey Howard | 10 | 5 | 12.300 | 0.000 | 258 | |||
| 54 | Vince Parker - Mark Parker | 173 | 5 | 12.130 | 0.000 | 257 | |||
| 55 | David Fortenberry - Jessie Towery | 205 | 5 | 12.100 | 0.000 | 256 | |||
| 56 | Jonathan strickland - Dustin Compton | 54 | 5 | 12.080 | 5.450 | 255 | |||
| 57 | Scott Sellers - Randy Childers | 108 | 5 | 12.070 | 0.000 | 254 | |||
| 58 | Brian Morgan - Josea Goble | 63 | 5 | 12.060 | 0.000 | 253 | |||
| 59 | Louie Hull - Chuck Montgomery | 23 | 5 | 11.910 | 0.000 | 252 | |||
| 60 | Jerry Craig - Bobby Latuch | 163 | 5 | 11.820 | 0.000 | 251 | |||
| 61 | Tyler Beam - Eric Self | 43 | 5 | 11.760 | 0.000 | 250 | |||
| 61 | Brandon Williams - Christian Shoda | 190 | 5 | 11.760 | 0.000 | 250 | |||
| 63 | Michael Huffman - Greg Sims | 25 | 5 | 11.720 | 0.000 | 248 | |||
| 64 | Darren Sigmon - Brian Huffman | 170 | 5 | 11.710 | 0.000 | 247 | |||
| 65 | Eddie Smith - Michael Carson | 75 | 5 | 11.680 | 0.000 | 246 | |||
| 66 | Fred Kauffman - Sam Gladden | 86 | 5 | 11.670 | 0.000 | 245 | |||
| 67 | Johnny Guffey - Wesley Bell | 125 | 5 | 11.620 | 0.000 | 244 | |||
| 68 | Danny Mason - Lionel Mason | 169 | 5 | 11.610 | 0.000 | 243 | |||
| 69 | Robert Walser - Mack Lowe | 109 | 5 | 11.580 | 0.000 | 242 | |||
| 69 | Don Sprinkle - Wayne Skipworth | 191 | 5 | 11.580 | 0.000 | 242 | |||
| 71 | Michael Smith - Roger Pope | 122 | 5 | 11.500 | 0.000 | 240 | |||
| 72 | Brent White - Cody Andrews | 44 | 5 | 11.490 | 0.000 | 239 | |||
| 73 | Steve Sink - Tony Foster | 152 | 5 | 11.440 | 0.000 | 238 | |||
| 74 | Mason Boyd - Rick Falls | 177 | 5 | 11.430 | 0.000 | 237 | |||
| 74 | Buddy Black - Russell Kiser | 181 | 5 | 11.430 | 0.000 | 237 | |||
| 76 | Nathan Webber - Hunter Harwell | 157 | 5 | 11.410 | 0.000 | 235 | |||
| 77 | William Blanton - David Blanton | 129 | 5 | 11.340 | 4.220 | 234 | |||
| 77 | Derick Livingston - Jonathan Spivey | 161 | 5 | 11.340 | 0.000 | 234 | |||
| 79 | greg berst - Ryan Bentley | 228 | 5 | 11.330 | 0.000 | 232 | |||
| 80 | Reggie Guffey - Tommy Chapman | 165 | 5 | 11.310 | 0.000 | 231 | |||
| 81 | Dusty Taylor - Keaton Hawks | 8 | 5 | 11.240 | 0.000 | 230 | |||
| 81 | Dwight Dellinger - Doug Dellinger | 120 | 5 | 11.240 | 0.000 | 230 | |||
| 83 | Tyler Hoopaugh - Chris Hoopaugh | 77 | 5 | 11.190 | 0.000 | 228 | |||
| 84 | Dan Funderburk - Rod Cozart | 156 | 5 | 11.160 | 0.000 | 227 | |||
| 85 | Bill Grier - Robby Byrum | 6 | 5 | 11.080 | 4.330 | 226 | |||
| 86 | Chris Dover - Robert Fowler | 72 | 5 | 11.060 | 0.000 | 225 | |||
| 87 | Allen Eaker - Jason Eaker | 80 | 5 | 11.010 | 0.000 | 224 | |||
| 88 | Barry Bost - Will Petty | 127 | 5 | 11.000 | 0.000 | 223 | |||
| 88 | Nathan White - Glen Eaves | 202 | 5 | 11.000 | 0.000 | 223 | |||
| 90 | Jimmy Cummings - Dean Collins | 133 | 5 | 10.990 | 0.000 | 221 | |||
| 91 | Alton Rockett - Randy Huffman | 26 | 5 | 10.980 | 0.000 | 220 | |||
| 91 | Dan English - David Gibson | 212 | 5 | 10.980 | 0.000 | 220 | |||
| 93 | Jason Quinn - Tony Colacurcio | 89 | 5 | 10.970 | 0.000 | 218 | |||
| 93 | Thomas Richmond - max price | 104 | 5 | 10.970 | 0.000 | 218 | |||
| 95 | Donnie Ott - Chris Vallance | 224 | 5 | 10.940 | 0.000 | 216 | |||
| 96 | Kenny Seagle - rodney adams | 35 | 5 | 10.930 | 0.000 | 215 | |||
| 96 | Marcus Leech - Tim Chapman | 78 | 5 | 10.930 | 0.000 | 215 | |||
| 98 | Mitch Burgin - Larry Houser | 147 | 5 | 10.920 | 0.000 | 213 | |||
| 98 | Charles Sipe - Kelly Johnson | 174 | 5 | 10.920 | 0.000 | 213 | |||
| 100 | Greg Bragg - Christopher Terry | 84 | 5 | 10.910 | 0.000 | 211 | |||
| 101 | Rodney Bell - Tommy Jones | 128 | 5 | 10.750 | 0.000 | 210 | |||
| 102 | Keith Speece - Wendell Ireland | 132 | 5 | 10.710 | 0.000 | 209 | |||
| 103 | Todd Walters - Jason Threadgill | 48 | 5 | 10.700 | 0.000 | 208 | |||
| 104 | Mark Swink - austin petty | 22 | 5 | 10.670 | 0.000 | 207 | |||
| 105 | Wayne Hauser - Sheldon Hipps | 131 | 5 | 10.660 | 0.000 | 206 | |||
| 106 | Mike Ray - Orlando Giles | 215 | 5 | 10.580 | 0.000 | 205 | |||
| 107 | Dennis Cable - Tim Harrison | 31 | 5 | 10.540 | 0.000 | 204 | |||
| 108 | Tom McCombs - curtis lail | 71 | 5 | 10.500 | 0.000 | 203 | |||
| 109 | Thomas Gavin - Mike Sprouse | 194 | 5 | 10.440 | 0.000 | 202 | |||
| 109 | Todd Garner - Shane Hartman | 223 | 5 | 10.440 | 0.000 | 202 | |||
| 111 | Thomas Vickers - Brian Huskins | 216 | 5 | 10.430 | 0.000 | 200 | |||
| 112 | Robert Mixon - Robert Lambert | 107 | 5 | 10.410 | 0.000 | 199 | |||
| 113 | Robin Collins - Ronnie White | 97 | 5 | 10.390 | 0.000 | 198 | |||
| 114 | Greg Whittington - Danny Hucks | 139 | 5 | 10.340 | 0.000 | 197 | |||
| 115 | Corey Shaylor - Brandon Kersnowski | 67 | 5 | 10.290 | 3.830 | 196 | |||
| 116 | Randall Wallace - Andrew Wallace | 134 | 5 | 10.280 | 0.000 | 195 | |||
| 117 | Graham Rushing - Artie Phillips | 94 | 5 | 10.270 | 0.000 | 194 | |||
| 118 | Derek Tolley - Terry Trivet | 142 | 5 | 10.240 | 0.000 | 193 | |||
| 119 | Anthony Monaco - Justin McBrayer | 110 | 5 | 10.180 | 0.000 | 192 | |||
| 120 | Mike Steele - Joshua Sanders | 168 | 5 | 10.150 | 0.000 | 191 | |||
| 121 | Eric Moser - Travis O'Quinn | 193 | 5 | 10.090 | 0.000 | 190 | |||
| 122 | Jason Dew - Thomas Elliott | 214 | 5 | 10.040 | 0.000 | 189 | |||
| 123 | bobby snyder - Bernie Davis | 18 | 5 | 9.970 | 0.000 | 188 | |||
| 123 | Allen Snyder - Darren Gay | 116 | 5 | 9.970 | 0.000 | 188 | |||
| 125 | todd sosebee - steve postell | 7 | 5 | 9.940 | 0.000 | 186 | |||
| 125 | Tony Nelson | 99 | 5 | 9.940 | 0.000 | 186 | |||
| 127 | Drew Stankwytch - Brandon Childress | 187 | 5 | 9.870 | 0.000 | 184 | |||
| 128 | Chris Martin - Mike Greene | 159 | 5 | 9.860 | 0.000 | 183 | |||
| 129 | Michael Cribb - Roger Cribb | 65 | 5 | 9.770 | 0.000 | 182 | |||
| 130 | Doug Punch - Rocky Franklin | 153 | 5 | 9.640 | 0.000 | 181 | |||
| 131 | Shawn Crosby - robert brooks | 73 | 5 | 9.610 | 0.000 | 180 | |||
| 132 | Perry Wycuff - Josh Wycuff | 180 | 5 | 9.550 | 0.000 | 179 | |||
| 133 | Eric Jeter - Darren Jeter | 140 | 5 | 9.520 | 0.000 | 178 | |||
| 134 | Tanner Stirewalt - Logan Phillips | 213 | 5 | 9.520 | 0.000 | 177 | |||
| 135 | Brian Travis - Ashley Brotherton | 17 | 5 | 9.510 | 0.000 | 176 | |||
| 136 | Tim Hollar - Bob Killian | 42 | 5 | 9.490 | 0.000 | 175 | |||
| 137 | John Johnikin - Leonard Johnikin | 130 | 5 | 9.480 | 0.000 | 174 | |||
| 138 | Tony Davis - Tim Bowman | 162 | 5 | 9.370 | 0.000 | 173 | |||
| 139 | Kyle Whisnant - James Ball | 113 | 5 | 9.340 | 0.000 | 172 | |||
| 140 | Mitchell Cook - Todd Huffman | 81 | 5 | 9.320 | 0.000 | 171 | |||
| 141 | Jason Gilfillan - Brian Whitworth | 32 | 5 | 9.310 | 0.000 | 170 | |||
| 142 | Klaus Hadschin - Jerry Hadschin | 66 | 5 | 9.300 | 0.000 | 169 | |||
| 143 | Phillip Hedrick - Jack Vanderford | 220 | 5 | 9.280 | 0.000 | 168 | |||
| 144 | Russell Hoyle - Jerry Pruitt | 69 | 5 | 9.200 | 0.000 | 167 | |||
| 144 | Jason Lowman - Cody Lail | 171 | 5 | 9.200 | 0.000 | 167 | |||
| 146 | Robin Parker - brandon gibson | 106 | 5 | 9.180 | 0.000 | 165 | |||
| 147 | Dale Surrett - Lee Endicott | 15 | 5 | 9.070 | 0.000 | 164 | |||
| 148 | Mark Lamb - Robert Griswold | 112 | 5 | 9.040 | 0.000 | 163 | |||
| 149 | Chris Richey - George Bost | 226 | 5 | 8.970 | 0.000 | 162 | |||
| 150 | Justin Reid - Derrick Compton | 218 | 5 | 8.960 | 0.000 | 161 | |||
| 151 | Shaun Hall - Kenneth Hall | 90 | 5 | 8.940 | 0.000 | 160 | |||
| 152 | william patterson - Chris Tinsley | 217 | 5 | 8.930 | 0.000 | 159 | |||
| 153 | Thomas Ludwick - Thomas File | 198 | 5 | 8.910 | 0.000 | 158 | |||
| 154 | James Wall - Jimmy Wall | 176 | 5 | 8.880 | 0.000 | 157 | |||
| 155 | Reginald Pickett - Larry Kirk | 29 | 5 | 8.780 | 0.000 | 156 | |||
| 156 | Allen Robbins - Jerry Robbins | 96 | 5 | 8.770 | 0.000 | 155 | |||
| 157 | Brandon Sykes - Jeff McQuaige | 172 | 5 | 8.750 | 0.000 | 154 | |||
| 158 | Phil Hennessee - Jon Digh | 144 | 5 | 8.660 | 0.000 | 153 | |||
| 159 | Dale Luckey - John Brown | 150 | 5 | 8.650 | 0.000 | 152 | |||
| 159 | Larry Horton - Ricky Shrewsbury | 227 | 5 | 8.650 | 0.000 | 152 | |||
| 161 | Thomas Johnson - Darrell Parks | 225 | 5 | 8.610 | 0.000 | 150 | |||
| 162 | Tracy Brown - Dennis Kennedy | 49 | 5 | 8.600 | 0.000 | 149 | |||
| 163 | Nolan Eller - Josh Huffman | 41 | 5 | 8.530 | 0.000 | 148 | |||
| 163 | Bryce Danielson - Tyler Austin | 111 | 5 | 8.530 | 0.000 | 148 | |||
| 163 | Matt Markland - Tracy Markland | 167 | 4 | 8.530 | 0.000 | 148 | |||
| 166 | Scott Plattenberger - Bryan plattenberger | 138 | 5 | 8.520 | 0.000 | 145 | |||
| 167 | Brandon Graham - alex palomba | 209 | 5 | 8.460 | 0.000 | 144 | |||
| 168 | Andy Brode - Scott Wyatt | 93 | 5 | 8.380 | 0.000 | 143 | |||
| 169 | Denny Parunak - Tony Blevins | 124 | 5 | 8.330 | 0.000 | 142 | |||
| 170 | Dempsey Carter - Ted Mobley | 178 | 5 | 8.280 | 0.000 | 141 | |||
| 171 | Richard Greene - Jimmy Holland | 203 | 5 | 8.270 | 0.000 | 140 | |||
| 172 | Chris Ellis - Mathew Frazier | 61 | 5 | 8.230 | 0.000 | 139 | |||
| 173 | Gary Rose - Jerry Collins | 59 | 5 | 8.140 | 0.000 | 138 | |||
| 173 | Paul Guthrie - Robert Church | 185 | 5 | 8.140 | 0.000 | 138 | |||
| 175 | Chris Boehme - Alan Rae | 141 | 5 | 8.130 | 0.000 | 136 | |||
| 176 | Mikey Bowlby | 160 | 5 | 8.100 | 0.000 | 135 | |||
| 177 | Billy Scoggins - Eddie Parker | 13 | 5 | 8.050 | 0.000 | 134 | |||
| 178 | Terry Herman - thomas wike | 179 | 5 | 8.000 | 0.000 | 133 | |||
| 179 | Brian King | 1 | 4 | 7.950 | 4.080 | 132 | |||
| 180 | Trip Emerson - Kevin Hyler | 189 | 5 | 7.900 | 0.000 | 131 | |||
| 181 | Duke Denison | 37 | 4 | 7.790 | 0.000 | 130 | |||
| 182 | Daniel Ruppe - Jacob Reome | 87 | 5 | 7.690 | 0.000 | 129 | |||
| 183 | Jim Bramhall - Jim Stevens | 221 | 5 | 7.670 | 0.000 | 128 | |||
| 184 | scott mcginnis - kyle inman | 30 | 5 | 7.450 | 0.000 | 127 | |||
| 185 | Cody Norman - Michael Norman | 82 | 5 | 7.390 | 0.000 | 126 | |||
| 186 | Gene Sparks - Shannon Stowe | 164 | 4 | 7.120 | 0.000 | 125 | |||
| 187 | Ted Newman - John Noonkester | 175 | 5 | 6.920 | 0.000 | 124 | |||
| 188 | Dwight Martinez - Randall Soles | 40 | 3 | 4.120 | 0.000 | 123 | |||
| 189 | byron brush - Byron Brush Sr. | 20 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 122 | |||
| 190 | Ricky Self - Ben Stanton | 21 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 121 | |||
| 191 | Randy Weddington - Ronnie Smith | 24 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 120 | |||
| 192 | Travis Ruff - Kelly Ruff | 27 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 119 | |||
| 193 | Michael Webster - Guy Eaker | 33 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 118 | |||
| 194 | James Martin - Cliff Kirby | 34 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 117 | |||
| 195 | Nick Miller - Brandon Brickweg | 38 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 116 | |||
| 196 | Tim Gaines - Mike Bryant | 46 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 115 | |||
| 197 | anthony lutz - anthony Lutz | 53 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 114 | |||
| 198 | Scott Griffin - Jerry Goble | 55 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 113 | |||
| 199 | Steven Austin - Roger Wood | 56 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 112 | |||
| 200 | Keith Berry - Jarrad Poarch | 57 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 111 | |||
| 201 | Remington Austin - Larry Austin | 62 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 110 | |||
| 202 | Brent Berry - Steve Shaw | 68 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 109 | |||
| 203 | Bron Hemphill - Nathan Dellinger | 74 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 108 | |||
| 204 | Mike Scott - Chris Johnson | 76 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 107 | |||
| 205 | Jimmy Propst - Caleb Propst | 92 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 106 | |||
| 206 | Milton Yancey - Larry Yancey | 102 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 105 | |||
| 207 | Larry Denton - Chris Guest | 105 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 104 | |||
| 208 | Ronald Jennings | 114 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 103 | |||
| 209 | Phillip Frady - Dirk Porter | 123 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 102 | |||
| 210 | James Clements - Rick Carson | 136 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 101 | |||
| 211 | Randy Christy - Chris Corriher | 137 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 100 | |||
| 212 | Roger Adams - Josh Adams | 143 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 99 | |||
| 213 | Jordan Wright - Chris Casey | 145 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 98 | |||
| 214 | Brandon Chandler - Austin Chandler | 148 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 97 | |||
| 215 | David Clanton - Brent Sanders | 149 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 96 | |||
| 216 | Craig Rozema - Ricky Parrish | 151 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 95 | |||
| 217 | Phil Brown - joe floyd | 154 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 94 | |||
| 218 | Chuck Morton - Michael Riggs | 182 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 93 | |||
| 219 | Travus Lovell - James Roten | 184 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 92 | |||
| 220 | John Robeson - Jimmy Tatum | 188 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 91 | |||
| 221 | Todd Sumner - Robert Parrish | 192 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 90 | |||
| 222 | Doug Easton - Pete Bejte | 195 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 89 | |||
| 223 | Carl Williams - Eddie Williams | 199 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 88 | |||
| 224 | David Winters - Russell Winters | 200 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 87 | |||
| 225 | Aric Dwyer - Robert Anderson | 201 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 86 | |||
| 226 | Bryce Danielson - Tyler Austin | 207 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 85 | |||
| 227 | Tim Hawley - Joe Hamilton | 208 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 84 | |||
| 228 | Bob Bolick - Rick Hedrick | 210 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 83 | |||
| 229 | Steve Addington - Matt Stout | 222 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 82 |
Cox Takes Over On Hartwell, Leads Top 20 Out On Day 3
The Walmart FLW Tour sightfest continued on day two at Lake Hartwell which is presented by Evinrude and hosted by the Anderson Convention & Visitors Bureau. Once again, brilliant blue skies with a few clouds and no wind graced the field and to hear the anglers tell it, there are still plenty of fish moving up – by the hour.
Several leaders said they found new fish today and others have even commented they have watched fish swim up and lock down right in front of their eyes.
Though the weatherman continues to threaten with rain over the weekend, pros are in a state of bed-fishing bliss, with leaders claiming they plan to sight-fish right on into the weekend.
With sight fishing in full effect, it’s no wonder that the lead spot has been overtaken by John “Eagle Eye” Cox, an angler known for his sight-fishing savvy on the FLW Tour. Today Cox weighed in 20 pounds, 5 ounces for a two-day total of 37 pounds, 1 ounce.
While Cox did sight fish quite a bit today, he did admit that his two biggest fish came from, “just fishing” while looking for beds. One of those big ones registered 6-pounds, 11 ounces on the scales.
“I pulled up to fish for a 3-pounder on bed, looked over at the nearest dock, and thought, ‘that dock looks pretty good;’ I cast over there and caught that big one off the dock. I guarantee you, it was the female spawning with the 3-pounder on the bed.”
Cox reported catching 10 keepers on the day and he weighed in all largemouths. Of the ones he weighed in, the three smallest ones were sight-fish and the two biggest came while “just fishing.”
The 6-11 was his second fish of the day, which provided him the luxury of saving many of the ones he found today for tomorrow.
“I found a bunch of news ones today that wouldn’t really help me,” Cox says. “I probably have 10 fish located for tomorrow. And even if the weather turns nasty, I’m still going to fish for them. I know exactly where they are and I’m not so sure I couldn’t just fish around in those areas and catch more on some other lures.”
Top 10 pros
1. John Cox – DeBary, Fla. – 37-1 (10)
2. Darrel Robertson – Jay, Okla. – 34-13 (10)
3. Larry Nixon – Bee Branch, Ark. – 33-13 (10)
4. Capt. Blake Smith – Lakeland, Fla. – 33-6 (10)
5. Clark Wendlandt – Leander, Texas – 33-0 (10)
6. Peter Thliveros – Saint Augustine, Fla. – 32-2 (10)
7. Anthony Gagliardi – Prosperity, S.C. – 31-10 (10)
8. Jamie Horton – Centerville, Ala. – 31-4 (10)
9. Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C. – 31-2 (10)
10. Scott Martin – Clewiston, Fla. – 30-13 (10)
Hackney Leads As The Board Shuffled And Many Fell Behind.
As is often the case in sight fishing derbies, the second round of the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Florida’s St Johns River was a much tougher day at the office for most of the 110 competing pros.
The biggest factor? The low-hanging fruit got picked on Day1.
Randall Tharp shed some light on the subject. “Yesterday I was in an area where there were thousands of fish. It seemed like every white spot had a fish on it. Today I went to the same area and didn’t see a fish.” Tharp rallied late to cull up to his weight of 12-8 today, which gave him a total of 35-2 and put him safely in the cut at 14th place.
“They went through ‘em like a vacuum cleaner yesterday,” said Jacob Powroznik of the eel grass laden spawning flats that ring Lake George. He did not rebound well enough to make the cut.
As fortunes changed Day 1 leader Brandon Lester fell to 6th with a 14-2 limit but with a total weight of 37-15 he is only a pound and 7 ounces off the lead.
How do you succeed in Florida tournaments? Drew Benton of Panama City put it into perspective: “I went looking for a big one and never found it. Tomorrow I’ll go see if I can find another one.” Without those big ‘uns you end up with 9-14 as Drew did today instead of the 22-15 he weighed yesterday.
Benton fell from 2nd to 24th but with 32-13 he is just a big bite away from taking the lead when action resumes Saturday morning.
Speaking of the lead, it now belongs to Greg Hackney with 39-6 (18-1 today).
Terry Scroggins holds down 2nd place with 38-8 (21-10 today).
Jordan Lee (below) is 3rd with 38-7 (17-8 today). Marty Robinson put 19-12 on the scale and ran his total to 38-5 – good for 4th.
Brent Ehrler is in the 5th position with 38-3 following an 18-pound, 11-ounce performance today.
Hometown angler Scroggins is known for his hospitality when Palatka hosts Elite Series tourneys. He’ll cook for his buddies off the water. On the water, however, he’ll take their money. ‘Big Show’ weighed 21-10 today (38-8 total) to place 2nd for the time being. “I’ve been running south each day to catch a limit and then running north. There’s a small window when I can see ‘em (on the heavily tide-influenced north end) and its getting shorter every day.”
After Hackney took the lead from Scroggins he was quick and quite as he exited the stage. Those guys that won’t talk usually have something special going on. We’ll keep an eye on the Hack Attack this weekend.
Many anglers suffered slow starts. Even some of the successful guys went fishless until 10 or 11 o’clock. A lot of guys caught - and in some cases missed - the biggest bass of the day in the closing hour.
Edwin Evers says he missed a couple of opportunities to get quality fish in the boat but he managed to get another giant in the boat today to go along with one from yesterday. The fat girl boosted his total weight to 33-7 (13-2 today) and put him in the 19th spot. The reigning Classic Champ will be looking gun down several competitors and make Sunday’s Top 12 round.
There was definitely a strong late bite and the guys who capitalized on it now sit atop the standings.
Lee caught a 4-pounder and a 6-plus-pounder in the last hour and took a temporary lead before settling into 3rd.
Chris Zaldain climbed into the cut (42nd place) on the strength of a late-breaking pattern. He laments what could have been. “If I would’ve had 20 more minutes,” pleaded Zaldain who said he was throwing a Vision 110 jerkbait in the fastest current he could find. And hooking up with big bass.
By contrast, Justin Lucas caught a big bag today. He filled his limit early and never looked back. The 22-13 effort gave him a total weight of 36-10 and put him in 9th place.
The best showing of the day came as local favorite Cliff Prince rallied the crowd to their feet. He found a bona fide giant weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces to anchor a 23-pound, 1-ounce sack. “It finally came together. I should’ve had a giant bag but I messed up a couple of them up.”
Prince said that in past Elite Series tourneys on his home water he has lost a few monsters. Today he brought one back to Palatka. It was a great rebound from his start of only 10-12 yesterday. With a total weight of 33-13 Prince will launch in 18th place tomorrow.
SOME RANDOM NOTES:
Topwaters are producing big bites.
Later flights caught ‘em better.
Clunn is looking for postspawn fish. Not sure he’ll be a threat to win, but he does have the momentum coming to him as the sight bite slows and big females leave beds. Clunn begins tomorrow in 31st place, 7 pounds, 14 ounces off the lead.
Shaw Grigsby did 19-2 today to make the cut. On a day when the bed bite got tougher he made a comeback. Does this spell trouble for the rest of the field? He’s tied with fellow Florida veteran Bernie Schultz at 31-11 for 28th place. Look out the Sunshine State veterans!
Ken Iyobe is an underrated sight fisherman. He has his own TV show in Japan. He proved he can find them in Florida. Made the cut.
2016 Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels 3/17-3/20
St. Johns River, Palatka FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 39-06 110
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 18-01
2. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 38-08 109
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 21-10
3. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 10 38-07 108
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 17-08
4. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 38-05 107
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 19-12
5. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 10 38-03 106
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 18-11
6. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 37-15 105
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 5 14-02
7. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 37-02 104
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 18-13
8. Billy McCaghren Jr Mayflower, AR 10 37-01 103
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 17-00
9. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 36-10 102
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 22-13
10. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 36-05 101
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 17-05
11. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 35-15 100
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 20-13
12. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 10 35-14 99
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 18-06
13. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 35-05 98
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 16-10
14. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10 35-02 97
Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 5 12-08
15. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 34-08 96
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 19-01
16. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 10 34-05 95
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 16-01
17. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 33-15 94
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 15-01
18. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 33-13 93
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 23-01
19. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 33-07 92
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 13-02
20. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 33-04 91
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 11-10
21. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 33-03 90
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 16-10
22. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 33-01 89
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 15-15
23. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 32-15 88
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 13-00
24. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 10 32-13 87
Day 1: 5 22-15 Day 2: 5 09-14
25. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 32-05 86
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 14-02
26. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 32-01 85
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 19-01
27. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 10 32-00 84
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 17-09
28. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 10 31-11 83
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 19-02
29. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 31-11 82
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 18-15
30. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 10 31-08 81
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 11-11
31. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 31-08 80
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 14-13
32. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 31-07 79
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 09-13
33. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 31-07 78
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 11-15
34. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 31-04 77
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 17-15
35. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 31-03 76
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 13-09
36. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 31-03 75
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 16-02
37. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 31-01 74
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 14-11
38. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 30-14 73
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 15-06
39. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 10 30-11 72
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 13-06
40. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 30-06 71
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 15-02
41. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 10 30-00 70
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 10-14
42. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 10 29-14 69
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 16-11
43. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 10 29-12 68
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-15
44. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 29-10 67
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 09-01
45. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 29-04 66
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 07-14
46. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 29-02 65
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 09-04
47. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 29-02 64
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 11-15
48. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 29-01 63
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 08-01
49. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 8 29-00 62
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 3 06-02
50. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 28-12 61
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 08-11
51. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 28-12 60
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 14-13
52. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 28-06 59
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 14-00
53. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 28-05 58
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 12-05
54. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 10 28-05 57
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 12-08
55. Jay Brainard Enid, OK 10 28-00 56
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 10-00
56. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 10 28-00 55
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 13-01
57. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 27-03 54
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 11-08
58. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 26-15 53
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 12-09
59. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 26-10 52
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 15-06
60. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 10 26-07 51
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 07-00
61. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 9 26-07 50
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 4 07-15
62. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 10 26-03 49
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 12-04
63. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 9 26-01 48
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 4 09-13
64. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 10 25-11 47
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 13-12
65. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 25-10 46
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 08-06
66. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 25-10 45
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 13-14
67. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 10 25-08 44
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 11-01
68. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 25-03 43
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 09-11
69. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE 10 25-02 42
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 16-12
70. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 25-01 41
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-05
71. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 25-00 40
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 10-07
72. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 24-11 39
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 09-02
73. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 10 24-10 38
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 07-15
74. Casey Scanlon Rocky Mount, MO 9 24-10 37
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 4 10-01
75. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 9 24-09 36
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 4 08-04
76. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 10 24-03 35
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 13-06
77. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 23-15 34
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 10-13
78. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 10 23-07 33
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 09-05
79. David Walker Sevierville, TN 10 22-15 32
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-03
80. David Williams Newton, NC 10 22-14 31
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 13-07
81. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 22-13 30
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 10-15
82. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 22-11 29
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 08-07
83. Matt Vermilyea Perrysburg, OH 9 22-11 28
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 4 08-15
84. James Elam Tulsa, OK 10 22-11 27
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 13-10
85. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 22-11 26
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 11-15
86. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 10 22-10 25
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 08-04
87. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 22-10 24
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 12-06
88. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 10 22-09 23
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 10-04
89. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 22-03 22
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 08-01
90. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 10 22-02 21
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 09-01
91. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 10 20-15 20
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 11-03
92. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 10 20-02 19
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 06-13
93. Matt Reed Jr Madisonville, TX 10 20-02 18
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 11-07
94. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 10 20-02 17
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 09-04
95. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 19-15 16
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 08-04
96. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 10 19-14 15
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 06-14
97. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 9 19-04 14
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 4 09-04
98. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 8 19-01 13
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 3 11-01
99. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 19-00 12
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 11-10
100. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 18-14 11
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 06-05
101. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 9 18-09 10
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 4 06-01
102. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 18-09 9
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 07-12
103. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 10 18-09 8
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 09-10
104. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 8 18-06 7
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 3 07-11
105. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 17-13 6
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 07-03
106. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 17-00 5
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 05-12
107. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 7 11-10 4
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 2 03-01
108. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 11-08 3
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 6 11-01 2
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 1 02-04
110. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 2 04-06 1
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Elite Rookie Jay Brainard Feels He Is Where He Is Supposed To Be.
Brainard, Where he feels he’s supposed to be.
When 28-year-old, Elite Series Rookie Jay Brainard launched his boat on the opening day of the 2016 Elite Series, he claimed to feel no butterflies. “Its just another tournament day, another launch. The nervous part hit later on when I caught my first fish, That’s when I started to get a little shaky.”
Brainard, the 2015 Central Open Points Champion was ready to go once his Crossed Industries wrapped Bass Cat Eyra finally hit the water. “For Rookies, when you find out you have qualified for the Elites, the time crunch to get everything done, sponsorships, vehicles, boat, motor, gear etc. is so tight.” “I was a nervous wreck just trying to get down here (St. Johns) for official practice.” Brainard said. “Once we launched and got going I was good. I was ready to go.”
From Enid, Oklahoma, the former Bull Fighter admitted to having a horrible practice. “I spent a lot of time down here prior to the cut-off and the conditions changed so much in that time that my official practice here this week was not great. When I pulled out of the campground on day one I decided I was just going fishing and do what I do best.”
A big fan of sight fishing, Brainard relied on a few areas he had seen some fish in practice but didn’t want to fish in the crowd. “That’s not what I wanted to do, but I pulled into an area where I had found a few and that’s when I saw that 6-1/2 pounder laying on the bed.” Excited about the opportunity at a good limit, Brainard went to work on the fish. “I made few flips to the fish with a soft plastic and then she finally bit. That’s when the nerves kicked in.”
Photo courtesy of BASS
Weighing in a limit worth 18 pounds on his first day on the job, good enough for 30th place, has Brainard excited for what today holds. “(Thursday) felt good. It felt good to be back in my office so to speak. I was able to settle down and do a few different things and it just made me more comfortable with what lies ahead.
Photo Courtesy of BASS
Brainard's title sponsor this year is newly formed Crossed Industries. Crossed is bringing the automotive side to the fishing side to help anglers do more to their towing vehicles as well as their boats. “it’s a really neat deal (crossed) and I am very thankful and very blessed to be associated with some of the top names in the industry, Strike King Lure Company, Bass Cat Boats, Mercury Marine, 13 Fishing, to name a few. They are like family to me.” “Working with those caliber folks and being on the Elite Series, I feel like I’m where I’m supposed to be.” Brainard concluded.
Follow along all day here on AnglersChannel.com as the Elite Series Cut day is underway on the St Johns river. The field will be cut down to the top 50 after todays weigh-in.
Lester Leads Tight Field Heading Into Day 2 Of The Slugfest On The St. Johns River.
Lester Leads Tight Field on First Day of 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series
Brandon Lester brought 23 pounds, 13 ounces of St Johns River bass to the scale in Palatka, Fla. to take the Day 1 lead at the first Elite series derby of 2016.
Lester’s lead of less than a pound is substantial in light of the tight weights that dominate the leader board. His competitors follow with 3 sacks of better than 22 pounds, 5 more that are heavier than 21 and another 5 that are north of the 20 pound mark. After that the weights remain packed down the 110 man field. Ties, even 3-way ties, are numerous.
Lester, who weighed in the days first 9-pound class fish actually found the fish late on the final practice day. “I originally thought that fish was around 6 to 6-1/2 pounds when I found her yesterday (Wednesday) Then when I hooked her today and got her in the boat I realized I was way off.”
Elite Series rookie Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla. is 2nd with 22-15. Benton fishing his first tournament on the St. Johns River was pretty excited about his day and his chances tomorrow. “The weather will dictate a lot of what I do tomorrow. I need to go out and catch all I can early and then see what the rest of the weekend holds. The clouds don’t bother me as much as the wind, I’m looking at them like most of the field and would like for the wind to stay down.”
Veteran pro Cliff Crochet is sitting in 3rd with 22-14 and is “feeling good.” Says Crochet. “Its great to get out of the gate on a good start, everyone is at zero and the hardest thing to do is climb out of a hole, so I am glad to kick this year off to a good start.” Crochet added, “Its like being in a tie game and hitting a 3-pointer, its exciting, unlike being down by 20 points and hitting a 3-pointer, that ain’t exciting…”
Crochet will be one to watch as he told us he was not fishing in the crowds, but had his own little deal going. “I’m looking for certain things and certain areas and then I go to work, I’m covering water..”
Veteran Randall Tharp had 22-10. Good enough for 4th place.
Cliff Pace and Jason Williamson (what did we say about those ties) round out the top 5 with 21-10 apiece.
Newly-crowned Classic Champ Edwin Evers had the day’s biggest bass at 9 pounds, 13 ounces. She anchors a 20-5 sack that is good for 12th place. They say momentum is a big deal in the sport of bass fishing. Evers is giving some credibility to that assertion.
Nobody zeroed today. Only one angler failed to catch a 5-fish limit. The river is fishing extremely well and we should be in for a show this week!
Of course, this means that everybody still has a shot at this thing. The guys who find a couple of the big girls tomorrow will be fishing on Saturday. There will be movement in the standings by this time tomorrow.
As for technique, it looks as though the majority were sight fishing, with a few guys doing something else, but for all intent and purpose, this is a hunting derby. Lake George was crowded and, due to warm weather, anglers weren’t the only ones out there. Jet skiers and airboaters paraded around and over the spawning flats.
Lester foud the big one today, Can he do it again tomorrow? Who will join him on Sunday after the cut is made?
We will find out tomorrow! Check back here at Anglerschannel.com
Robertson Leads The Field With Over 20 Pounds - Top 30 Are Stacked Tight. Kavros Leads Co-Anglers!
Today the pros finally got to mash the gas and see exactly what Hartwell could produce. On a scale of 1 to 10 for sight-fishing conditions, today ranked a 10 plus with bright blue sunny skies and not a breath of wind. Anglers were not confined to just pockets or coves for sight-fishing; they could have sight-fished on main-lake shoals if they wanted.
The result was a weigh-in dominated by bass that were being looked at when they were caught. Hartwell showed out with multiple 15-pound bags. In fact, 27 limits topped the scales at 15 pounds or better on the pro side. The top 20-cut after day one stands at 15 pounds, 10 ounces.
In all there was only one bag that cracked the 20-pound mark. That limit belonged to Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla., who brought in 20 pounds, 6 ounces.
Robertson did his share of peeping today, but his three biggest bass actually came off docks.
Ironically, Robertson had every intention of going far north and fishing the stained water after his practice period. But when he got an early boat draw last night, he decided to go pluck a few bedders from the clear water first because he knew he would be the first one to them.
“Several years ago I got burned on this lake trying to sight-fish,” Robertson recalls. “I had a bunch of fish found, but I had a late boat number, and by the time I got down there, everything had been picked off. So initially, I had not planned to go to the clear water today. But once I got an early draw, I decided to go check a few I had found on beds, and they were still there.”
Robertson sight-fished a limit for about 12 pounds, but was able to upgrade by replacing three of them with big bruisers that were sunning under docks.
“All week I’ve seen fish cruising around and floating up real high under docks,” Robertson says. “I got really blessed today and caught three big ones that way. Two of them came from under the same dock.”
If you’re wondering why Robertson is so vocal about exactly how he caught his leading limit, it’s because he does not even plan to go do it again tomorrow. He says his plan since practice has been to utilize different parts of the lake each day, and he is going to stick with it by going somewhere totally different tomorrow.
“I’m going way up one of the rivers tomorrow,” Robertson reveals. “I don’t think I could even catch 15 pounds tomorrow where I was today. I was real blessed today in that clear water, and I’m not going to push my luck so I’m going 180 degrees the other way.”
Kavros takes co-angler lead with 12-14
Never say Chuck Kavros doesn’t heed what he’s been taught.
The co-angler from Grass Valley, Calif., practiced with Cody Meyer for the Hartwell event – an experience Kavros dubbed “going to the 'Cody Meyer School of Fishing.'”
“I learned a lot from him,” says Kavros, whose 12-14 bag leads by 2 ounces over Neil Farlow. “The biggest lesson was that if I did this one thing all day I’d catch a lot of fish, and some of them would be good ones.”
The student did his teacher proud, sticking with one key technique that he wanted to keep quiet. Kavros had a limit by 10 a.m., but the bite got tough for him and his pro, Mike Surman, until 1:30 p.m. In the final hour, Kavros was able to cull three key fish to get to his leading weight.
Lester Jumps Out To Slim Lead In St Johns River Slugfest! (Bass Report)
Early Big Fish Lifts Lester Into Lead In Elite Series Opener On The St. Johns River
PALATKA, Fla. — During the final round of practice for the Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Tennessee angler Brandon Lester found a giant largemouth bass on a spawning bed.
He was so excited about the fish that he texted some of his family members and told them to pay attention to Bassmaster.com when the tournament began, because he thought he could make something special happen early.
Hopefully they took it to heart.
Lester went straight to the big fish Thursday morning — and caught it on his fourth cast — to set the tone for a fantastic day of sight fishing. The bass, which weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces, anchored a five-fish limit that tipped the scales at 23-13 and gave Lester the opening-round lead.
“Honestly, I thought the fish was about a 6 1/2- or 7-pounder,” said Lester, who is seeking his first B.A.S.S. win. “Once they get over 7 pounds, when they’re sitting in the water, it’s hard to tell.”
When anglers find fish on spawning beds one day, it’s usually a safe bet they’ll still be there the next. So Lester went prepared to fish for the giant bass Thursday morning with a heavy rod, strong braided line and a big lure.
After seeing that the big female fish wasn’t interested in heavy tackle, he switched to a lighter spinning rig in hopes of catching the smaller male bass that was guarding the bed.
But things didn’t work out like he planned.
“I picked my spinning rod up with a little wacky rig,” Lester said. “The male grabbed it, and I missed him twice. I pitched back in there, and the bait started swimming off again. When I set the hook, it was the big fish.”
That left Lester to battle a gigantic bass on a lighter rod with 12-pound-test line — in a tournament where landing nets aren’t allowed.
“It was chaos for a minute,” he said. “But it worked out OK.”
With much of the field sight fishing for bedding bass, it could be difficult for anglers to duplicate their Day 1 results when Friday’s second round begins. Many of the fish that were located during practice were caught Thursday, and it’s hard to say for sure if more will move up during the tournament.
Still, Lester said he feels good about his prospects — and he doesn’t believe the approaching cold front will have much of an effect on the spawning cycle.
“We’re coming up on the full moon, so hopefully that’ll overtake the cold front,” he said. “The water is 76 degrees, so it should be warm enough that the cold front won’t drop it down — at least not enough to run the fish off the beds.”
Elite Series newcomer Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., is second with 22-15, and Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., is third with 22-14. Crochet suffered a 4-ounce penalty for weighing in a dead fish.
If the weather does turn nasty with wind and rain, Benton said it could actually work in his favor.
“A lot of the guys who can catch them when it’s slick and sunny are kind of struggling a little bit,” Benton said. “But when it’s cloudy and windy, that’s kind of when I excel. I’ve got young eyes, and I can see them a little bit better."
Benton conceded, however, that the bedding fish could grow scarce after Friday’s second round.
“I spent the last half of the day marking some fish, and I plan to go out Friday and catch as much weight as I can,” he said. “Then I’ll just kind of scramble around the last two days.
“That’s the thing about sight fishing tournaments — you’ve kind of got to burn them and look for new fish as the week goes on.”
Despite the dead-fish penalty, Crochet had one of the better days he’s had in recent memory. After earning only one check on the Elite Series in 2015, he’s within striking distance of his first career win with B.A.S.S.
“About halfway through last year, I could tell things just weren’t going right,” Crochet said. “I’ve been waiting for a day like this pretty much since the end of the 2014 season.
“It’s been a long time coming.”
2016 Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels 3/17-3/20
St. Johns River, Palatka FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 23-13 0
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
2. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 22-15 0
Day 1: 5 22-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
3. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 22-14 0
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
4. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 22-10 0
Day 1: 5 22-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
5. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 21-10 0
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
5. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 21-10 0
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
7. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 21-06 0
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
8. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 21-05 0
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
9. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 21-00 0
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
10. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 5 20-15 0
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
11. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 20-09 0
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
12. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 20-05 0
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
13. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 20-01 0
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
13. Billy McCaghren Jr Mayflower, AR 5 20-01 0
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
15. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 19-15 0
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
16. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 19-14 0
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
17. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 5 19-13 0
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
18. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 19-08 0
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
18. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 5 19-08 0
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
20. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 19-07 0
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
21. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 19-02 0
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
22. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 19-00 0
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
23. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 18-14 0
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
24. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 18-11 0
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
25. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 18-09 0
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
26. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 5 18-08 0
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
27. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 18-05 0
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
28. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 18-04 0
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
29. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 18-03 0
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
30. Jay Brainard Enid, OK 5 18-00 0
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
31. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 17-10 0
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
32. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 5 17-08 0
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
33. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 5 17-05 0
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
34. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 17-04 0
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
35. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 17-03 0
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
36. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 17-02 0
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
37. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 16-14 0
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
38. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 16-11 0
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
38. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 16-11 0
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
40. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 16-09 0
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
41. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 16-06 0
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
42. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 16-05 0
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
43. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 5 16-04 0
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
44. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 16-00 0
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
45. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 5 15-13 0
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
46. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 15-11 0
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
47. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 15-09 0
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
48. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 15-08 0
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
49. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 15-08 0
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
50. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 15-07 0
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
51. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 15-04 0
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
52. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 15-02 0
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
53. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 15-01 0
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
54. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 14-15 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
55. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
56. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
57. Casey Scanlon Rocky Mount, MO 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
58. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 5 14-07 0
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
58. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 5 14-07 0
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
60. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 5 14-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
60. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 14-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
60. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 14-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
63. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 14-04 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
64. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
64. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
66. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 13-15 0
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
66. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 13-15 0
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
68. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Matt Vermilyea Perrysburg, OH 5 13-12 0
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 13-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
70. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 13-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
72. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 5 13-03 0
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
73. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 13-02 0
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 5 13-01 0
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
75. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
77. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
77. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
79. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
80. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 12-09 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
80. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 12-09 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
82. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
83. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 5 12-05 0
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
84. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
85. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 11-14 0
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
86. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 11-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
87. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 11-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 11-04 0
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 5 10-14 0
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
92. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
93. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 10-13 0
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
94. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 10-12 0
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
95. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 10-12 0
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
96. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 5 10-11 0
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 10-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 10-04 0
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
99. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 10-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
100. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 09-12 0
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
101. David Williams Newton, NC 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
102. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 09-01 0
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
104. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 08-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Matt Reed Jr Madisonville, TX 5 08-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
106. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 08-09 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
107. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE 5 08-06 0
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
108. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 07-06 0
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
110. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 2 04-06 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
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