Cox and Carson Win 2014 Wolfson Tourney with over 30 pounds
Getting there is half the fun. Sometimes, it’s the better part of the challenge too.
John Cox and Keith Carson made a long run over wind-whipped waters in an aluminum boat to fish an hour-and-a-half. It was all the time they would need to outrun the other 447 boats, on the water and on the leader board, and win the 25th Annual Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament.
Cox and Carson caught 5 bass that weighed 30.14 pounds and won the top prize of $10,000.
Better yet, they helped to support a great cause. The Wolfson tournament has generated more than two million dollars for the hospital over the past quarter of a century. Local professional anglers often fish the Wolfson when their major league tournament schedule does not require them to be elsewhere. Cox is an FLW Tour pro. He has won at bass fishing’s highest level of competition. But today’s effort was worth more than the paycheck. “Any time there’s this kind of tournament, to help out the kids, everybody should come out to them,” said Cox as Carson nodded in agreement.
“We made a super-long run,” said Cox. “It was amazing how it all worked out.”
The duo braved 3-to-4-foot waves as they crossed massive Lake George. That makes for a sporty ride in any boat but lightweight aluminum rigs can be tossed about especially hard compared to long, heavy fiberglass boats. The morning ride wasn’t particularly bad but the ride back to weigh in had Cox and Carson hanging in and hanging on.
The Crestliner boat and 150hp 4-stroke Mercury outboard performed well on the 180-mile round trip which required 2 stops for gas. “We made it back with 10 minutes to spare,” noted Carson who drove the boat and, as Cox pointed out, “at least had the steering wheel to hang onto.”
Once they pulled into their fishing hole - a depression in a field of pencil reeds – Cox caught their biggest bass on his 3rd cast. He knew exactly where to pitch his beaver-style bait. “We had them staked-out,” said Carson about the spawning bass. “We went and found them on Thursday so we ran straight there. John caught the first one. It was about seven-and-a-half pounds. We caught the rest of them within the next hour. We knew where they were.”
Cox and Carson added some extra weight on their return trip. “We were coming back and flipped into a mat and caught a 4-pounder,” said Cox. They didn’t know it at the time, but they would have won even without that final fish. Their margin of victory was nearly 8 pounds.
Matt Beck and Jim Denton were the runners-up with 22.40 pounds and a check for $4,000. “We just went to (Lake) George, worked our way back,” said Denton before adding, “We caught one a crankbait; we caught one on just about everything. It was one of those days.”
Denton noted that he and Beck couldn’t fish their spots in George because of waves that pounded the area so they “punted”. The team executed on their opportunities. “We had 8 bites all day. We caught all 8 of them.”
Dennis Redd and Tommy Boston placed 3rd with 21.09 pounds. Their efforts were rewarded with a check for $3,000. “We started out north, went all the way to Green Cove Springs,” said Redd. The Lake City residents got after it early and caught their fish on frogs and spinnerbaits. Watermelon/red was the hot frog color according to Boston.
“We had them all by about 10 o’clock,” said Redd. “It died after 10. We caught one last fish about 3 o’clock today. We just fished grass points. I found some fish on Wednesday so we went up to where I found fish on points Wednesday and fished our way back to Palatka.”
Casey Geiger and Loren Murwin were 4th with 20.58 pounds.
Steven Nelson and Randy Cable had 20.18 pounds. They edged-out Eric Lewis and Phil Cury (20.17 pounds) for the 5th spot by 0.01 pounds.
William Boyd, Jr. and E.J. Bryant won big bass honors with a specimen that weighed 9.67 pounds.
Stanley Hunt and Rhonda Thagard won Thursday’s Lads & Lasses tourney with 27.99 pounds including the day’s biggest fish at 10.51 pounds.
Lee Stalvey, Jr. and Sara Stalvey placed 2nd with 20.49. Stanley Williams and Susan Marshall were 3rd with 20.48.
Michael Strange and Mark Blevins won Friday’s VIP tourney with 24.48 pounds. The also caught the biggest bass of the entire week at 11.75 pounds. Many folks said it looked bigger than that, but Tournament Director Mike Oglesbee, who agreed that the fish looked bigger, said “I had just had the scale certified that morning.”
Oglesbee keeps his scales accurate as he runs the OGS Tournament trail – more info at OGSTournamentTrails.com.
Jason Christie Wins Bassmaster Elite Series On Lake Dardanelle
Jason Christie thought he had lost the tournament. He'd had his chances. "I got caught up in emotion and tried to boat-flip a 7-pounder (earlier in the week) so today I made sure I got my hands on them."
Christie ended up with his hands on a big blue trophy and a six-figure paycheck as he won the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Lake Dardanelle with a week-long total weight of 72 pounds, 3 ounces (19-2 today).
He had to de-throne friend Gerald Swindle form the hot seat in order to do it. Swindle had the day's biggest bag at 20-1 which gave him a total of 71-15, just 4 ounces shy of the winning weight.
Greg hackney's weight declined for a 4th straight day and he lost his grasp on the tournament lead, which he had held on days 2 and 3. He ended the tournament in 3rd place with a 71-11 total, 4 ounces behind Swindle and a half-pound off Christie's mark.
Hackney said he was grinding in one main area and he wasn't sure how much more it could produce. It gave up 21-13 on Day 1, followed by 18-1 on Day 2. Day 3 was worth 16-10 and today Hackney squeezed another 15-3 from his water.
The idea of settling in an area and keeping a lure wet was a popular one among pros who did well this week. A couple, including Swindle, noted that the better fish seemed to be out in front of the grass in which most anglers expected to find them.
Rick Clunn found most of his fish a step deeper too - 3-to-6 feet, as deep as 10. He caught many on an RC4 squarebill crankbait. When conditions called for it, Clunn used a Lucky Strike spinnerbait. When the fish started grabbing the trailer hook he got the clue to switch the crankbait.
Clunn finished 4th with 70-15 (15-4 today).
Keith Combs was 5th with a total weight of 68-3. He may want to credit Hackney with an assist, as he caught some of his fish on Hackney's signature 'Hack Attack Jig'.
As the Top 12 weighed-in and talked today, 3 keys to success this week came to light:
1 - Throw a big bait. Sacrifice numbers for the right type of fish.
2 - Hunker in an area and fish hard. While some guys were able to run around and still catch quality fish at times, the bite was often slow and you can't catch fish very well when your boat is on plane.
3 - Fish a step deeper. While there were many bass in shoreline grass, Swindle, Clunn and others said their best fish were 30-to-40 feet out in front of the greenery, generally 3-to-6 feet deep, sometimes deeper.
Your Final Top 12 standings:
| 1 | Jason Christie | 5 | 16- 7 | 5 | 16-10 | 5 | 20- 0 | 5 | 19- 2 | 20 | 72- 3 |
| 2 | Gerald Swindle | 5 | 18-12 | 5 | 14- 2 | 5 | 19- 0 | 5 | 20- 1 | 20 | 71-15 |
| 3 | Greg Hackney | 5 | 21-13 | 5 | 18- 1 | 5 | 16-10 | 5 | 15- 3 | 20 | 71-11 |
| 4 | Rick Clunn | 5 | 18- 5 | 5 | 17-14 | 5 | 19- 8 | 5 | 15- 4 | 20 | 70-15 |
| 5 | Keith Combs | 5 | 19-14 | 5 | 16-10 | 5 | 17-11 | 5 | 14- 0 | 20 | 68- 3 |
| 6 | Michael Iaconelli | 5 | 12- 9 | 5 | 18- 5 | 5 | 17-12 | 5 | 18- 8 | 20 | 67- 2 |
| 7 | Cliff Crochet | 5 | 13- 4 | 5 | 19-15 | 5 | 19- 2 | 5 | 14- 9 | 20 | 66-14 |
| 8 | Chris Zaldain | 5 | 17- 9 | 5 | 15- 3 | 5 | 16- 8 | 5 | 17- 6 | 20 | 66-10 |
| 9 | John Crews | 5 | 22- 9 | 5 | 16-12 | 5 | 11-11 | 5 | 14-14 | 20 | 65-14 |
| 10 | Paul Elias | 5 | 14- 9 | 5 | 13- 9 | 5 | 20- 7 | 5 | 16- 3 | 20 | 64-12 |
| 11 | Takahiro Omori | 5 | 16- 0 | 5 | 13- 2 | 5 | 20- 7 | 5 | 13-13 | 20 | 63- 6 |
| 12 | Skeet Reese | 5 | 16-14 | 5 | 13- 7 | 5 | 18- 7 | 5 | 11- 1 | 20 | 59-13 |
John Cox/Keith Carson win the 25th Annual Wolfson Tourney!
FLW Tour Pro John Cox and partner Keith Carson ran over 180 miles in an aluminum boat to catch 30 pounds of St Johns River bass and win the 2014 Wolfson Children's Hospital Bass Tournament. See them weigh-in, hear them tell their story!
Hackney Leads, Clunn Closes-In, As Bassmaster Elite Series Heads To Final Day On Dardanelle
"I honestly couldn't even say what I'm going to do tomorrow," said Hackney admiting that his local knowledge could hurt him. "I know too many places. Should i go here? Should I go there? The lake is full of fish."
So far, Hackney has used his experience on the lake to build a 3-day total weight of 56-8.
In addition to 'localitis' Hackney will have to fend off angling legend Rick Clunn who moved into 2nd today on the strength of a 19-8 sack. Clunn is now less than a pound behind with 55-11.
Red-hot Keith Combs climbed a notch to 3rd with a total of 54-3 and is 2 pounds, 5 ounces off the lead.
Clunn says that, while Dardanelle may be full of fish, the right size bass come in limited quantities. "You can't fish for 20, 30 or 40 bites a day. Those are the wrong fish. You've got to give up bites to get the good ones. Seven to 10 bites is absolutely the correct thing to be doing."
Here are your Top 12 who will fish on Sunday:
1. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 56-08 100
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 18-01 Day 3: 5 16-10
2. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 15 55-11 99
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 19-08
3. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 54-03 98
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 5 17-11
4. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 15 53-01 97
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 5 20-00
5. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 15 52-05 96
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 19-15 Day 3: 5 19-02
6. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 15 51-14 95
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 19-00
7. John Crews Salem, VA 15 51-00 94
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 11-11
8. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 15 49-09 93
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 20-07
9. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 15 49-04 92
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 16-08
10. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 48-12 91
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 18-07
11. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 15 48-10 90
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 17-12
12. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 15 48-09 89
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 20-07
2014 Wolfson Tournament Top 25 Teams
Your 2014 Wolfson Children’s Hospital Bass Tournament Top 25 Teams:
1 KEITH CARSON-JOHN COX 30.14
2 MATT BECK-JIM DENTON 22.40
3 DENNIS REDD-TOMMY BOSTON 21.09
4 CASEY GEIGER-LOREN MURWIN 20.58
5 STEVEN NELSON-RANDY CABLE 20.18
6 PHILCURY-ERIC LEWIS 20.17
7 SCOTT KING-JEFF WINKLEMAN 19.84
8 JOHN SOBIK III-JOHN OLIVA 19.50
9 DONNIE SMITH-JOEY THIGPEN 19.49
10 DAVID LEE-PAUL KILLEBREW 19.37
11 STEVEN MCENTYRE-JACK MOREY 19.20
12 MIKE WEIS-WILLIAM TAYLOR 18.42
13 ERIC ROBERTS-CHRIS CERCY 18.41
14 JOHN L. BROWN-TREVOR BROWN 18.14
15 JOHN KREMER-JOE KREMER 18.03
16 JODY MARRIOT-MARK RUBLE 17.99
17 THOMAS CRAINE-SCOOTER HICKS 17.78
18 WILLIAM BOYD JR-E.J. BRYANT 17.76
19 JONATHAN THOMPSON-HELLEN SELLARS 17.74
20 JOSH GLISSON-BUDDY GLISSON 17.48
21 KENNY KEMP-STEVE SHUMATE 17.10
22 DOUGLAS SARVER-BRYAN NIX 16.90
23 JEFF ZESIGER-CLYDE MCCOY 16.73
24 BEN BROUGHTON-MICHAEL BOYETTE 16.44
25 DAVID MCINTYRE-MICHAEL JOHNSON 16.40
In the boat with Greg Hackney! - how to skip and swim a jig
Get in the boat with Bassmaster Elite Series and FLW Tour Pro Greg Hackney as he demonstrates how, and why, to skip a jig on baitcasting gear and then swim it subsurface to provoke exciting strikes! Topics covered include rod selection, how to set the hook and much more. Want to be a better angler? Then you must see this!
Hackney Takes Over At Bassmaster Elite Series On Lake Dardanelle
Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Lake Dardanelle began with a fog delay and 37 degree air temperatures. Not sure what Greg Hackney thought of the weather, but he found the fishing to his liking.
Hackney weighed- 18 pounds, 1 ounce to take a 9 ounce lead over Day 1 leader John Crews. The two anglers have pulled away from the pack by a margin of more than 2 pounds.
The big story today, though, was Zell Rowland's 25-5 sack, anchored by the day's big bass at 6-10, which pushed him to 3rd place with a total weight of 37-1.
Rowland's fellow veteran Rick Clunn also made a move up the standings with 17-14 today (36-3 total) to 5th place.
Between the two legends sits red-hot Keith Combs, fresh off his record-setting performance at the TTBC. (Watch his historic weigh in here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=syoOBnwV0GU )
This week Combs has only needed 36-8 to place 4th at the half-way point in this tournament. In fact, consistency will be key for all anglers this week, as there many moves up and down the leaderboard today.
Your current Top 10:
| Place | Name | Day 1 | Day 2 | Total Fish | Total Weight | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish | Weight | Fish | Weight | ||||
| 1 | Greg Hackney | 5 | 21-13 | 5 | 18- 1 | 10 | 39-14 |
| 2 | John Crews | 5 | 22- 9 | 5 | 16-12 | 10 | 39- 5 |
| 3 | Zell Rowland | 5 | 11-12 | 5 | 25- 5 | 10 | 37- 1 |
| 4 | Keith Combs | 5 | 19-14 | 5 | 16-10 | 10 | 36- 8 |
| 5 | Rick Clunn | 5 | 18- 5 | 5 | 17-14 | 10 | 36- 3 |
| 6 | Keith Poche | 5 | 19- 9 | 5 | 15- 8 | 10 | 35- 1 |
| 7 | Randy Howell | 5 | 16-10 | 5 | 17-13 | 10 | 34- 7 |
| 8 | Cliff Crochet | 5 | 13- 4 | 5 | 19-15 | 10 | 33- 3 |
| 9 | Kenneth "Boo" Woods | 5 | 18- 8 | 5 | 14- 9 | 10 | 33- 1 |
| 10 | Jason Christie | 5 | 16- 7 | 5 | 16-10 | 10 | 33- 1 |
BOATS UNLIMITED NC TEAM TRAIL QUALIFIER #6 RESULTS - Falls Lake - May 10, 2014
1st Place: Billy Bledsoe & Brian McDonald of Fayetteville & Hope Mills...5 bass...27.68 lbs
Had a beautiful Saturday for the Boats Unlimited NC Team Tournament Bass Trail qualifier #6 at Falls Lake. 73 teams enjoyed the beautiful weather, a great day of catching bass and great fellowship!
It was about 67 degrees that morning with hardly no wind and around 87 that afternoon with 10 to 15 mph winds out of the SSE. Water temps ranged from 74 to 78 depending on the area fished.
The team of Billy Bledsoe & Brian McDonald, bladed their way to the winners circle catching 5 bass weighing 27.68 lbs. The seasoned team won $1,300 for 1st, TWT 1st place of $1,015 and the Boats Unlimited NC 1st Place Bonus of $750 for a grand total of $3,065. McDonald said most of their fish were caught on spinnerbaits. The winning team edged out the 2nd place team by only 7 one hundreths of a pound!!
Chuck Byrd & Seth Ellis took 2nd with 5 bass weighing 27.61 lbs winning $795, 2nd Place TWT of $435 and 1st Place Big Fish (7.75 lbs.) money $1,008 for at nice $2,238 in earnings!
232 fish were weighed in for a total of 736 pounds for an average of over 3 lbs. each. We had numerous fish over 6 lbs. and all the fish looked very healthy. Hot baits for the day were spinnerbaits, worm rigs & shallow running crankbaits. Most of the fish were caught in less than 6' of water.
I want to thank all the anglers that participated and all our sponsors that support this trail. The next Boats Unlimited NC Team Tournament Bass Trail tournament will be at Jordan Lake on May 31st, out of Flemingtown Landing Wildlife Ramp. This will be the final qualifier for the Boats Unlimited Spring Trail.
All the information on our tournaments can be found at http://piedmontbassclassics.com/
Now here are the full results:
1st Place: Billy Bledsoe & Brian McDonald of Fayetteville & Hope Mills...5 bass...27.68 lbs...$1,300
2nd Place: Chuck Byrd & Seth Ellis of Sanford & Lillington...5 bass...27.61 lbs...$795
3rd Place: William Small & Jules Cameron of Raleigh & Rolesville...5 bass...21.82 lbs...$565
4th Place: Ben Cannon & Chad Craven of Apex & Raleigh...4 bass...21.63 lbs...$515
5th Place: Bryce McClenney & Michael Christie of Cary & Fuquay Varina...5 bass...20.90 lbs...$458
6th Place: Kevin Woodall & William Tobias of Angier...5 bass...20.06 lbs...$400
7th Place: James Williams & Jerrick Fowler of Raeford...5 bass...19.93 lbs...$345
8th Place: Randy Fisher & Donnie Lowe of Hillsborough & Mebane...5 bass...18.19 lbs...$288
9th Place: Roger Clary & Justin Rhew of Butner & Durham...5 bass...18.07 lbs...$234
10th Place: Steve & Horton Upchurch of Raleigh...5 bass...18.02 lbs...$234
11th Place: Phillip Johnson & Geno McCree of Durham...5 bass...17.42 lbs...$178
12th Place: Dennis Reedy & Jeffrey Thomas of Siler City & Broadway...5 bass...17.12 lbs...$178
13th Place: Jeff Clifton & William Richards of Rolesville & Wendell...5 bass...16.85 lbs...$125
14th Place: Eric & Jennifer Christian of Graham...5 bass...16.50 lbs...$125
15th Place: Stewart Adams & Scott Dunn of Four Oaks...5 bass...15.93 lbs...$100
2nd Place: Chuck Byrd & Seth Ellis of Sanford & Lillington caught 5 bass weighing 27.61 lbs, including the 7.75 lb Big Fish!1st Place Big Fish..2nd Place Team above...7.75 lbs...$1,008
2nd Place Big Fish..7th Place Team above...7.74 lbs...$432
1st Place TWT..1st Place Team above...27.68 lbs...$1,015
2nd Place TWT..2nd Place Team above: 27.61 lbs...$435
Boats Unlimited Skeeter Boat Owner Bonus: Phillip Johnson of Durham...$250
Tow Boats US Award: Jerrick Fowler of Raeford: $50
Boats Unlimited 1st Place Bonus: 1st Place Team Above...$750
Contact Information:
Phil McCarson...Tournament Director---922 Valetta Rd.---Durham, NC 27712
Home: 919-471-1571 Cell: 919-971-5042
email: philsflags@msn.com http://piedmontbassclassics.com/index.html
Tournament Preview with AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh sheds some light on this weekends CBC up on Lake Hickory as well as a look back at the TTBC on Lake Fork...........what a tournament that was! All one click away!
Crews In Control At Bassmaster Elite Series On Lake Dardanelle
The veteran pro from Salem, VA pieced-together his bag one spot at a time. "One good one here, One good one there, and at the end of the day, it was looking really nice," said Crews. His biggest bass weighed 5-3.
Crews holds a 12-ounce lead over Greg Hackney.
Crews has a lot of water to himself, a factor that allowed him to go "just bouncing around" in a dozen key areas. "I don't think fishing pressure is going to be too terribly bad."
About an hour into the competition the light bulb went 'on' for Crews. "I'd been fishing one way for most of the morning. Then I changed baits and caught a four-and-a-half or 5 and saw what (type of cover) it was on so that clued me in a little bit into what I should be doing."
The type of cover the fish was on likely includes grass, as Crews says this has helped the fishing on Dardanelle since he last fished the lake in 2009. "There's more shoreline grass. Any time you get that, it's going to be good for the fishery."
In contrast to Crews, Hackney didn't have a limit until 11:30. "I really thought this morning that I must be rotating behind somebody because (in practice) the fish had been biting really good. Those first couple of hours, I was a little tense."
In similar fashion to Crews, Hackney keyed on a small hint from the fish en route to his heavy total weight. "They were relating just a hair differently to the cover than they had been. I fished slow and steady and it came together. It got better as the day progressed, but not wide open as far as numbers as it was in practice."
Your Day 1 Top 10:
1. John Crews Salem, VA 5 22-09 100
Day 1: 5 22-09
2. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 21-13 99
Day 1: 5 21-13
3. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 5 20-01 98
Day 1: 5 20-01
4. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 19-14 97
Day 1: 5 19-14
4. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 19-14 97
Day 1: 5 19-14
6. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 19-09 95
Day 1: 5 19-09
7. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 19-07 94
Day 1: 5 19-07
8. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 19-00 93
Day 1: 5 19-00
9. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 18-12 92
Day 1: 5 18-12
10. Boo Woods Oneida, KY 5 18-08 91
Day 1: 5 18-08
Greg Hackney and Doug Miller tell Vance about Grosse Savanne - 100 bas per day? . . . 3-to-5 pounds apiece!
Doug Miller heads-up the Wildlife department at Grosse Savanne, a premier property in Southwest Louisiana, where you can fish for bass in the morning, giant redfish and world record speckled sea trout in the afternoon, hunt ducks and gators. And when you're done with the fun afield you will dine on world class cuisine with a Cajun flavor! Bassmaster Elite Series Pro and FLW Tour Pro Greg Hackney tells Vance McCullough about his experience on the soon-to-be-world-famous slice of Sportsman's Paradise.
Hot, Clear Lake Hickory Could Make Fishing Tough For Carolinas Bass Challenge Nc Division
Bradley Rhodes and Chris Dorian caught 16.64 lbs to win on Hartwell May 10
Although he lives less than half an hour from Lake Hickory and actually works in sight of the lake, David Williams has not had a chance to practice recently for the Carolinas Bass Challenge North Carolina Division tournament there this Saturday.
“It's probably been two or three weeks ago since I was on the lake and did a little striper fishing. I have not done any bass fishing on Hickory this year,” said Williams who lives in Maiden and works at Riverview Sports right at the Lake Hickory dam.
Since he has not had any time on the lake this year and anglers can't practice the week prior to a CBC tournament, Williams said his fishing strategy Saturday will be “a guessing game.”
“I'll probably look for some topwater fish early, then try to run some points and look for some shad spawning,” he said.
One thing he knows for certain: the tournament Saturday is going to be vastly different from the CBC-NC tournament held about the same time last year.
“Last year we had flooding rains and that brought all the fish up shallow. But this year, it's just the opposite. We've had really hot weather and no rain, so the water is really clear and it is getting hot fast. Clear water always makes for a lot tougher fishing,” he said. “ I'm thinking it's going to drive a lot of the fish out deep.”
But, that could be the key to success, he noted.
“Lake Hickory is one of the better lakes to drag a jig or throw a crankbait during the hot weather months after they move out from the spawn,” he said.
“I was hoping we would get a bunch of rain. We had a big storm front come through two weeks ago and we were supposed to give five inches or so of rain out of it, but it rained all around us and we did not get any rain at all.”
Williams and his father, Gerald Williams, are about 10 spots out of first place in the North Carolina Division, but they only trail the leaders by 41 points, a gap easily covered with a high finish in the next tournament or two.
The father-son duo have been fishing tournaments together since David was a teenager and his dad was taking him fishing from the time he could walk, Williams said.
“He did not push me into fishing tournaments; I pushed him. I was competitive and I kept asking him to go fish a tournament with me. I remember fishing some of the earlier tournaments when we were competing in the parent-child divisions.”
Carolinas Bass Challenge - North Carolina Division
Sat, May 17, 2014
Lake Hickory
Whittenburg Access
www.carolinasbasschallenge.com
Anglers Better Be Willing To Change Day To Day In Elite Series On Lake Dardanelle
Whoever wins the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Lake Dardanelle this week had better be very versatile, said one of the most versatile pros on the B.A.S.S. circuit.
With the weather situation roiling Dardanelle this week, anglers will likely have to fish differently each of the four days of the tournament, said Davy Hite of Ninety Six, S.C., who has a pretty strong record on the Arkansas reservoir.
“The weather has been kind of nasty,” Hite said while practicing Tuesday morning. “We've had a whole bunch of rain and we are looking for more. The temperature is supposed to make a pretty big change. It was in the mid-80s yesterday and is dropping into the 60s today. Tomorrow the low is expected to be 41 degrees with a high of 52 degrees That is a really big change for the middle of May.”
But, Hite added, the rain will probably have more of an effect on the fishing than the temperature this week.
“I don't think the cool-down is going to change the water temperature a whole lot, but all that rain will. This lake has a lock and dam on each end, so they might let the lake come up a few feet or suck it out as fast as it comes in. It's really going to change the fish, depending on what they do with the water.”
With the water level rising and possibly falling just as fast, combined with a very unseasonable cool front, things will likely change day to day, said Hite who won the Elite Series tournament on Lake Dardanelle during the same time of year in 2005 and finished 18th in late March 2009.
“This is going to be a really interesting tournament,” the two-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year said. “I don't think anybody can fish the same pattern four days in a row the way things are changing.”
Although he has never fished Dardanelle under the circumstances that prevail this week, Hite is hoping his proven versatility will help him fish to a high finish here. Currently ranked 51st in AOY points, he needs to finish strong in the last half of the Elite season if he hopes to qualify for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic at Lake Hartwell in his home state.
“This is the turning point in the season. I have to fish one tournament at a time and have some good finishes the rest of the year,” said Hite who won the 1999 Bassmaster Classic on the Louisiana Delta. “I made a mistake in fishing what I wanted to at Toledo Bend two weeks ago and it really bit me. I made a bad choice on the area of the lake I chose to fish.”
But, added Hite, who has notched eight tournament wins in his 20-year career, a win automatically puts an angler in the Classic, so nobody is ever completely out of the race.
“With the Classic on Lake Hartwell this year I'd certainly rather be weighing fish than working the show,” he said.
Bassmaster Elite Series
May 15-18, 2014
Lake Dardanelle
Clear Lake Bass In All Phases Of Spawn For Carhartt Western B.a.s.s. College Conference Regional
Catching five quality bass a day should prove to be no problem for the 40 or so teams of collegiate anglers in the Carhartt Western B.A.S.S. College Conference Regional tournament on California's famous Clear Lake this week.
Getting that big bite each day will probably be the difference, said Guillermo “Memo” Nunez of the New Mexico State Team.
Nunez, a rising junior majoring in business, and teammate Tanner Cooper, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering, spent the first three days of this week checking out the fishing on Clear Lake, the first time either of them had ever fished the acclaimed big bass waters.
“We don't think it will be hard to catch 15 pounds a day, but the difference between 15 to 20 pounds to 25 pounds is pretty significant,” Nunez said. “We've caught a lot of quality fish in practice, but at Clear Lake it takes the big ones to win.”
Nunez said the bass are in all three phases – pre-spawn, spawn and post-spawn.
“You can catch them just about any way you want to fish. It's just a matter of finding that big bite,” he said.
The situation on Clear Lake is 180 degrees different from the situation on Lake Amistad a year ago when Nunez and Cooper won the 2013 Carhartt Central Regional title. New Mexico State switched from the Central Division to the Western Division this year, which opened the possibility of them winning titles in two divisions in consecutive years.
“We definitely would like to win here on Clear Lake,” Nunez said. “Last year was our first legitimate tournament fishing together and it was a lot of fun. It would be pretty cool to win both divisions. As far as I am aware that has not been done before.”
At Amistad last May the water temperature was in the 50s and Nunez and Cooper caught most of their fish off ledges adjacent to deep water.
“We were casting up on flats and catching pre-spawn fish exclusively,” he said. “But here the water is up in the mid-70s and a lot of the fishing is pretty shallow compared to what we are used to.”
Hank Weldon, college tournament manager, estimated a field of 40 boats for the regional, which will qualify the Top 10 finishers for the 2014 Carhartt Bassmaster College Series National Championship July 31-Aug. 2 on Georgia's Chatuge Reservoir. He said he expects some tough competition for those 10 berths.
Carhartt Western B.A.S.S. College Conference Regional
May 15-16, 2014
Clear Lake, CA
Record Breaker-Keith Combs Sets The All Time 3 Day Weight Record On Stage After Winning His 3Rd Ttbc With 110 Lbs!
The all time greatest 3 day weight in the history of Tournament Bass Fishing.............thats what KEITH COMBS did this past weekend on LAKE FORK--with the final weigh-in right here!!
Ike Holds Up A Kicker At The Dock At This Years Ttbc On Lake Fork!
We watch the top dogs come in on Day 3 at the TTBC, and just so happen to catch IKE hold up one of many Kicker fish caught this weekend!!
Bradly Rhodes and Chris Dorian win the CBC on Hartwell with 16.64 LBS-Full results here!
Carolinas Bass Challenge SC Division Qualifier #5 - Lake Hartwell
Bradley Rhodes and Chris Dorian brought in 16.64 lbs with a 5.52 lb Big Fish to take First Place and Big Fish money giving them a pay day totaling $9,300!
William and David Blanton earned the $5,000 Top Finishing Skeeter Bonus with 16.52 lbs giving them 2nd Place overall and a Total of $8,500 in Winnings.
Below are the Complete Results from the CBC SC Division Qualifier #5 on Lake Hartwell:
| Place | Team Name | Team # | Fish Weighed | Net Weight | Big Fish | Points | Winnings |
| 1 | Bradley Rhodes - Chris Dorian * | 51 | 5 | 16.640 | 5.520 | 310 | $9,300* |
| * Includes $1,000 Big Fish Bonus! | |||||||
| 2 | William Blanton - David Blanton * | 97 | 5 | 16.520 | 0.000 | 309 | $8,500* |
| * Includes $5,000 Skeeter Bonus!! | |||||||
| 3 | Darren Jeter - Eric Jeter | 102 | 5 | 15.960 | 0.000 | 308 | $2,100 |
| 4 | Derek Lehtonen - Andrew Fowler | 18 | 5 | 15.820 | 5.250 | 307 | $1,500 |
| 5 | Michael Anders - Jon Anders | 103 | 5 | 15.600 | 0.000 | 306 | $1,000 |
| 6 | Greg Glouse - Joe Anders | 29 | 5 | 15.350 | 0.000 | 305 | $800 |
| 7 | Brian Tidwell - Michael Tidwell | 26 | 5 | 15.290 | 3.850 | 304 | $600 |
| 8 | Kevin Fulmer - Mark Richardson | 43 | 5 | 15.200 | 4.780 | 303 | $550 |
| 9 | Trad Whaley - Michael Zuber | 44 | 5 | 14.950 | 4.710 | 302 | $500 |
| 10 | Jim Sanders - Shannon Jones | 107 | 5 | 14.520 | 0.000 | 301 | $450 |
| 11 | Cain Waller - Mark Waller | 63 | 5 | 14.170 | 0.000 | 300 | $375 |
| 12 | Anthony Marks - Joe Marks | 33 | 5 | 14.080 | 0.000 | 299 | $350 |
| 13 | Austin Johnson - Andrew McClintock | 23 | 5 | 14.050 | 4.110 | 298 | $325 |
| 14 | Eric Grigg - Marc Grigg | 46 | 5 | 13.970 | 0.000 | 297 | $300 |
| 15 | Bobby Stanfill - Chip Grice | 54 | 5 | 13.940 | 0.000 | 296 | $275 |
| 16 | Keith Gray - Shawn Gray | 93 | 5 | 13.490 | 0.000 | 295 | $250 |
| 17 | Ronald Moss - Justin Harvey | 89 | 5 | 13.390 | 0.000 | 294 | $225 |
| 18 | Mack Cook - Patrick Cook | 49 | 5 | 13.230 | 0.000 | 293 | |
| 19 | Andy Wicker - Steve Wicker | 3 | 5 | 13.210 | 0.000 | 292 | |
| 20 | Chuck Harrison - Darrin Birchfield | 62 | 5 | 12.870 | 0.000 | 291 | |
| 21 | Thomas Hardwick - Tommy Williams | 79 | 5 | 12.800 | 0.000 | 290 | |
| 22 | Ronnie McCoy - Jason McCoy | 38 | 5 | 12.740 | 0.000 | 289 | |
| 23 | Andrew Boykin - Chris Anderson | 82 | 5 | 12.580 | 0.000 | 288 | |
| 24 | Charlie Sansbury - Ben Lee | 98 | 5 | 12.200 | 0.000 | 287 | |
| 25 | Stan Gunter - Will Smith | 4 | 5 | 12.130 | 0.000 | 286 | |
| 26 | Tony Richardson - Rick Steckleberg | 85 | 5 | 11.770 | 0.000 | 285 | |
| 27 | Larry Moss - JB Wicker | 99 | 5 | 11.760 | 0.000 | 284 | |
| 27 | Bill Grier - Robby Byrum | 104 | 5 | 11.760 | 0.000 | 284 | |
| 29 | Randy Mathis - Jody Jones | 106 | 5 | 11.680 | 0.000 | 282 | |
| 30 | Kevin Ashley - Keith Ashley | 96 | 5 | 11.570 | 0.000 | 281 | |
| 31 | Marty Quesada - James Rose | 53 | 5 | 11.520 | 0.000 | 280 | |
| 32 | Jason Hadden - Norm Attaway | 1 | 5 | 11.500 | 0.000 | 279 | |
| 33 | Jimmy Drumm - Ben Parker | 35 | 5 | 11.360 | 0.000 | 278 | |
| 34 | Mike Brehm - Craig Rozema | 47 | 5 | 11.340 | 0.000 | 277 | |
| 35 | Conrad Bolt - George Parker | 56 | 5 | 11.280 | 0.000 | 276 | |
| 36 | Chuck Hensley - Larry Christopher | 81 | 5 | 11.170 | 0.000 | 275 | |
| 37 | Kevin Rake - Terry Morris | 66 | 5 | 11.020 | 0.000 | 274 | |
| 38 | Jason Burroughs - Alan Bennett | 57 | 5 | 10.990 | 0.000 | 273 | |
| 39 | Kiel Kelly - Chuck Whittaker | 100 | 5 | 10.700 | 0.000 | 272 | |
| 40 | Wayne Frierson - Ronnie Mueller | 34 | 5 | 10.630 | 0.000 | 271 | |
| 41 | Tim Watson - Travis Garrett | 20 | 5 | 10.420 | 0.000 | 270 | |
| 42 | Wesley Cashwell - Shane Doughtie | 16 | 5 | 10.290 | 0.000 | 269 | |
| 43 | Jason Turner - Rick Carson | 11 | 5 | 10.240 | 0.000 | 268 | |
| 44 | Gary Michaud - Doc McDaniel | 32 | 5 | 10.170 | 0.000 | 267 | |
| 45 | Roger Medlock - Todd Lawrence | 48 | 4 | 10.150 | 0.000 | 266 | |
| 46 | Chad Hastings - Dan Whitehouse | 78 | 5 | 10.120 | 0.000 | 265 | |
| 47 | John Gutierrez - Rodney Tapp | 21 | 5 | 10.090 | 0.000 | 264 | |
| 48 | Brian Hall - Doug Stallings | 28 | 5 | 9.930 | 0.000 | 263 | |
| 49 | Johnny Johnson - Ron Carson | 27 | 5 | 9.460 | 0.000 | 262 | |
| 50 | Alan Fletcher - Danny Johnson | 65 | 5 | 9.260 | 0.000 | 261 | |
| 51 | O'Neal Johnston - Richard Bradshaw | 75 | 5 | 9.170 | 0.000 | 260 | |
| 52 | Grayson Mathis - Derek Schlotterback | 60 | 5 | 9.050 | 0.000 | 259 | |
| 53 | Hunter Hicks - Mike Stephens | 101 | 5 | 9.020 | 0.000 | 258 | |
| 54 | Derrick Compton - Dustin Compton | 2 | 5 | 8.950 | 0.000 | 257 | |
| 55 | Keith Porter - Jason Threatt | 39 | 5 | 8.880 | 0.000 | 256 | |
| 56 | Mike Allman Sr. - Mike Allman Jr. | 6 | 5 | 8.830 | 0.000 | 255 | |
| 57 | Ken McFarland - Darryl Watson | 36 | 5 | 8.740 | 0.000 | 254 | |
| 58 | Gene Parker - Stanley Harkins | 71 | 5 | 8.710 | 0.000 | 253 | |
| 59 | Amin Jaber - Brian Nichols | 15 | 5 | 8.530 | 0.000 | 252 | |
| 60 | Randy Hall - David Wray | 76 | 5 | 8.400 | 0.000 | 251 | |
| 61 | Shayne McFarlin - Justin David | 30 | 5 | 8.290 | 0.000 | 250 | |
| 62 | David Teel - Chris Ramsey | 95 | 5 | 8.270 | 0.000 | 249 | |
| 63 | John Pelinski - Michael Richardson | 12 | 5 | 8.100 | 0.000 | 248 | |
| 64 | John Branstetter - Troy Buffington | 58 | 5 | 7.990 | 0.000 | 247 | |
| 65 | Chris Wells - Keith Satterfield | 64 | 5 | 7.980 | 0.000 | 246 | |
| 66 | David Hutcherson - Coy Watts | 42 | 5 | 7.150 | 0.000 | 245 | |
| 67 | Johnny Player - Robert Hall | 41 | 5 | 6.690 | 0.000 | 244 | |
| 68 | Paul Selle - Parker Miller | 92 | 4 | 6.660 | 0.000 | 243 | |
| 69 | Clint Jackson - Heath Rhinehart | 68 | 4 | 6.470 | 0.000 | 242 | |
| 70 | Juddie Revels - David Oxendine | 5 | 3 | 6.460 | 0.000 | 241 | |
| 71 | Ron Brown - Bobby Brown | 59 | 5 | 6.360 | 0.000 | 240 | |
| 72 | Ferris Jennings - Larry Michalec | 72 | 5 | 5.570 | 0.000 | 239 | |
| 73 | David Kneece - Terry Thomas | 50 | 2 | 3.490 | 0.000 | 238 | |
| 74 | Buddy Walden - Troy Lytle | 7 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 75 | Bo Chappell - | 8 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 76 | Robert Guest - David Heatherly | 9 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 77 | Billy Martin - Brian Scruggs | 10 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 78 | Ryan Bowman - Roy Stuart | 13 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 79 | Russ Padgett - Meredith Havird | 14 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 80 | Rick McLean - Robert Ross | 17 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 81 | Wayne King - Max Terry | 19 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 82 | Scott Heavener - John Parker | 22 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 83 | William Frazer - Bryan Frazer | 24 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 84 | Deron Donohoo - Johnny Houser | 25 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 85 | John English - Victoria English | 31 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 86 | Robby Hipps - Rodney Chastain | 37 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 87 | Eric Bozeman - Clint Proudfoot | 40 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 88 | Tim Jones - Chris Bennett | 45 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 89 | David Few - Tracy Schiff | 52 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 90 | Carl Whitfield - Darrell Barton | 55 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 91 | Blake Campbell - Larry Martin | 61 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 92 | Cliff Tilley - David Hensley | 67 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 93 | Jeff Glover - Charles Murphy | 69 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 94 | Lee Sawyer - Cole Winn | 70 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 95 | Adam Rice - Buddy Rice | 73 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 96 | Beau Dixon - Andy Sease | 74 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 97 | Brandon Temples - Paul Gettys | 77 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 98 | Brad Nappier - Nathan Luke | 80 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 99 | Hampton Anderson - Zack Davis | 83 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 100 | Donald Poteat - Johnny Allen | 84 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 101 | Mark Swez - Lamar Williamson | 86 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 102 | Daniel Howell - Russell Anderson | 87 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 103 | Clay Riddle - Eddie Bundrick | 88 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 104 | Toby Keisler - Joel Watts | 90 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 105 | Eddie Smith - Michael Carson | 91 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 106 | Casey Nicholson - Dustin Ross | 94 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
| 107 | Daniel Jordan - Lyn Langston | 105 | 0 | 0.000 | 0.000 | 237 | |
Mann and Baltzell take the Alabama River on the ABT with 20.51 and win $10,000
CAMDEN, Ala. — Winning a bass tournament is always a thrill, especially when its one of the largest in the state and on your home lake, like the one Jeremy Baltzell and Joey Mann won Saturday.
Baltzell and Mann won the Alabama Bass Trail South Division tournament on the Alabama River that was staged out of Roland Cooper State Park in Camden with a five-fish limit that weighed 20.51 pounds. Baltzell and Mann are from Camden.
“It’s always great when you win one, but this one means a little bit more,” Mann said.
Coby Carden and Chris Rutland finished second with 19.89 pounds. Ken Sessions and Greg Sessions were third with 19.24 pounds.
Baltzell and Mann won $10,000 plus $250 for being the highest placing team that wore Alabama Bass Trail apparel during the tournament. Carden and Rutland won $5,000. Sessions and Sessions won $4,000.
Baltzell said he and Mann used a variety of baits, including spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and plastic frogs. “We were junk fishing.” Mann said the best bites came on spinnerbaits.
“We caught our best fish early, then the bite slowed down. That’s when we started throwing a little bit of everything and going from spot to spot trying to catch some more big fish,” Baltzell said. Their catch was anchored by a 5.28 pounds largemouth.
Carden said the early bite was the best for he and Rutland. “We had all our best fish before 8:00, then the bite dropped off.,” Carden said. “We needed one more big fish. We caught some more fish after the bite dropped off, but were never able to cull up again.” Carden and Rutland caught their best fish on spinnerbaits.
Sessions and Sessions also used spinnerbaits to catch their keepers. “We probably caught 40 fish, but they were all about the same size. We only culled eight or nine times,” Ken Sessions said.
Josh Aaron and Derrick Roberts finished in fourth place with 18.58 pounds. Charles Phillips and Mike Norwood finished fifth with 18.45 pounds.
Gregg Giggers and Barry Landrum had the big fish for the tournament, a 6.95 pounds largemouth. Griggers said he caught the big fish on a swim jig. “She smoked it pretty good, It was a fun catch.”
Rounding out the top 10 were David Caylor and Allen Hayes with 17.90 pounds, Ben Etheredge and Patrick Currie, 17.88 pounds, Kevin Dees and Jim Smith, 17.85 pounds, Chad Schroeder and Chase Schroeder, 17.75 pounds, and Adam Waid and Brad Martin, 17.25 pounds.
The final regular season tournament for the South Division is June 7 on Lay Lake in Pell City.
The next North Division tournament is May 31 on Wheeler Lake in Decatur. Here is your TOP 30 Below:
| 1 | JOEY MANN-JEREMY BALTZELL | 5/5 | 20.51 | 5.28 | 20.51 | 200 | 10000 | |
| 2 | CHRIS RUTLAND-COBY CARDEN | 5/5 | 19.89 | 19.89 | 199 | 5000 | ||
| 3 | KEN SESSIONS-GREG SESSIONS | 5/5 | 19.24 | 6 | 19.24 | 198 | 4000 | |
| 4 | JOSH AARON-DERRICK ROBERTS | 5/5 | 18.58 | 4.95 | 18.58 | 197 | 3000 | |
| 5 | CHARLES PHILLIPS-MIKE NORWOOD | 5/5 | 18.45 | 4.69 | 18.45 | 196 | 2000 | |
| 6 | DAVID CAYLOR-ALLEN HAYES | 5/5 | 17.9 | 17.9 | 195 | 1000 | ||
| 7 | BEN ETHEREDGE-PATRICK CURRIE | 5/5 | 17.88 | 17.88 | 194 | 900 | ||
| 8 | KEVIN DEES-JIM SMITH | 5/5 | 17.85 | 17.85 | 193 | 800 | ||
| 9 | CHAD SCHROEDER-CHASE SCHROEDER | 5/4 | 18.75 | 1 | 17.75 | 192 | 700 | |
| 10 | ADAM WAID-BRAD MARTIN | 5/5 | 17.25 | 17.25 | 191 | 600 | ||
| 11 | JARROD DOWNEY-TOMMY BRIDGES | 5/5 | 16.76 | 16.76 | 190 | 500 | ||
| 12 | BRIAN GRAHAM-JOHNEY WEAVER | 5/5 | 16.75 | 16.75 | 189 | 500 | ||
| 13 | ANTHONY GOGGINS-CJ KNIGHT | 5/5 | 16.62 | 3.99 | 16.62 | 188 | 500 | |
| 14 | LARRY BLOUNT-ROBERT BLOUNT | 5/5 | 16.53 | 16.53 | 187 | 500 | ||
| 15 | DALE WESTMORELAND-LANCE YOUNGBLOOD | 5/5 | 16.4 | 6.19 | 16.4 | 186 | 500 | |
| 16 | MITCH MCCALL-JIMMY SIMMONS | 5/5 | 16.01 | 5.73 | 16.01 | 185 | 500 | |
| 17 | WILL RIGSBY-GREG SMITH | 5/5 | 16 | 6.1 | 16 | 184 | 500 | |
| 18 | WAYNE MILLER-RICK HAYNIE | 5/5 | 15.98 | 5.41 | 15.98 | 183 | 500 | |
| 19 | JACK TIBBS-DURWARD HENDERSON | 5/5 | 15.9 | 15.9 | 182 | 500 | ||
| 20 | MICHAEL PRESLEY-LAMAR INGRAM | 5/5 | 15.82 | 15.82 | 181 | 500 | ||
| 21 | JESTON ANDERSON-ROBBIE ROBINSON | 5/5 | 15.48 | 15.48 | 180 | |||
| 22 | GREG GRIGGERS-BARRY LANDRUM | 5/5 | 15.46 | * 6.95 | 15.46 | 179 | ||
| 23 | CHRIS WARD-HERBERT WARD | 5/5 | 15.32 | 15.32 | 178 | |||
| 24 | DALE ROGERS-BOBBY COX | 5/5 | 15.19 | 15.19 | 177 | |||
| 25 | LOWELL EVERETT-LAWRENCE CURD | 5/5 | 15.08 | 4.71 | 15.08 | 176 | ||
| 25 | WAYNE MCDADE-RICHARD HOWELL | 5/5 | 15.08 | 15.08 | 176 | |||
| 27 | PAM MARTIN-WELLS-STEVEN WELLS | 5/5 | 15.07 | 15.07 | 174 | |||
| 28 | JOHN POLLARD-DALLAS WELDON | 5/5 | 15.03 | 15.03 | 173 | |||
| 28 | NICHOLAS TURNER-JOE LAY | 5/5 | 15.03 | 15.03 | 173 | |||
| 30 | KENNY SMITH-JAMES PURVIS | 5/5 | 14.97 | 4.52 | 14.97 | 171 |
Great Pic's from the TTBC on Lake Fork this weekend
Here are some good pics we took on Sat & Sun at the TTBC on Lake Fork:
Jason Christie and Justin Lucas share the Hot Seat!
Stetson Blaylock pulls in Sunday afternoon
Justin Lucas finishing up Sunday before the Weigh-in
Showtime!
Combs wins record 3rd TTBC-Sets all time 3 day weight record with 110 Lbs!
Defending champion earns third TTBC title in four years at Lake Fork
QUITMAN, TX (May 11, 2014) – The world championship of bass fishing, the Toyota Texas Bass Classic was decided by a world record-breaking performance from two-time winner and defending TTBC Champion Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas. Combs broke the tour-level world record today with a amassing 110 pounds following three days of competition at historic Lake Fork. The previous record for a 5-bass-limit was set in 2000 at Clear Lake, California by Byron Velvick with 83 pounds, 5 ounces. Combs’ total over three days broke the record by a staggering 26 pounds, 11 ounces.
“To get 100 pounds in four days is a major accomplishment, and to do it in three is unheard of, it's nothing about the angler but it’s a testament to this lake,” Combs said. “I wasn’t the only one here to crack 100 pounds on 15 bass, so that just tells you how strong and how well-managed this lake is.”
After standout performances from Combs in the first two days of TTBC competition, he entered Sunday with a four pound lead, however Stetson Blaylock, Russ Lane, Jason Christie and Randy Haynes overtook him and the lead spot saw multiple anglers in first place during an early morning flurry of big catches.
Lane was the first pro to top 90 pounds, tallying 96, which was then quickly topped by Blaylock with a 93 while Combs sat at 88 pounds. Justin Lucas was the sixth pro to top 80 while Mark Rose added a couple weighers around 10 a.m. By noon, the top seven of the Tundra Ten were within 10 pounds.
As wind picked up around the noon, the big six, seven and eight pounders that Lake Fork is famous for, started to show up. Combs bounced through several spots producing four or more catches at each.
"Midday, I got into a little rhythm but was only catching one fish per spot. I'd run, catch one, run again, catch one. I told my onboard judge, 'I'm feeling it,' and I got a little groove on,” said Combs. “I said to my judge, 'It's happening for me right now.'"
Combs was on track to collect his second Century Bag (100+lbs) of his eight year career, recording 102 pounds and regaining the lead with an 8-8 (over 24 inches) in the afternoon. Blaylock made a late afternoon run with catches at 7-8, 4-8 and 5-12 within five minutes of each other, earning him the first Century Bag of his young professional career but it proved not enough to catch Combs. Blaylock finished second at 102 pounds, 8 ounces.
Combs’ world record performance also claimed two individual statistic awards, his 42 pound bag performance on Friday earned him the LEER Heavyweight Award (largest single day weight) while his 10 pound 14 ounce catch Friday won him the ATX Wheels Big Bass Award. Combs will receive a LEER Truck Cap and a set of premium ATX Wheels for his efforts.
"You really never know what you're going to catch. Every time I set the hook today, I thought it was going to be a 10 pounder,” said Combs. “In your mind, there's no doubt of the potential Lake Fork has on any cast. There aren't many places we fish on the pro tours where that happens."
The tournament remains a non-entry fee event, with all 50 competing anglers taking home guaranteed prize money. In addition, the TTBC continued its focus on conservation and adhere to strict catch, weigh and immediate release format that has earned the event national praise for its conservation efforts over the past eight years. The program highlights the efforts of Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and after a $250,000 contribution this weekend, TTBC has given $2 million in donations to the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department to fund youth education and outreach programs.
Three days of world championship bass fishing also included performances from three of country music’s brightest stars. Little Big Town, Justin Moore and Pat Green entertained thousands of fans throughout the weekend. Free family fun was also a highlight of the event, with activities in the Bass Pro Shops Kids Zone and TPWD Outdoor Adventures Area. CLICK ON ATTACHMENT BELOW FOR FINAL RESULTS
Day 3 Toyota Texas Bass Classic News and Notes
With such tremendous weights these first 2 days, the big question on Day 3 and the final day of the TTBC is can the top 10 anglers that made the cut go back out and haul in 35+ Lbs? Well, according to reports, they already have! Here are some notes I've come accross while being out here:
-Lake Fork is widely regarding as one of the top 3 fisheries in the state, and thats saying something when you're talking about the state of Texas!
-Lake Fork is 27,000 acres, so just a tad smaller than Lake Norman
-there is a 16-24 inch slot limit on this lake, however, these pro's are allowed to catch a fish within that slot and count it, but then immediately throw back in. In most tournaments with slot limits (as you all know), you can't count any fish caught within that specific slot limit.
-I have never seen so many 5 Lb fish come in here that basically means you are out of the running..............now think about that for a minute!
-The winds are HOWLING again today-probably in the 20-25 kt range easy..................
-Weigh-in starts at 4pm CST and the winning angler goes home with 150k worth of cash and prizes.
-All proceeds from this tournament go to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission
We will take some pics and video at the weigh-in soon.............here is a pic from last nights crowd at the weigh-in....probably at least 10,000 and today will be the same.
Pictures from the TTBC at Lake Fork
I have to say that when arriving here today the first thing that gets your attention is the massive amount of space they have allocated for this event. Hundred's of acres all on the water with a BIG TIME stage set up for the bands and weigh-in later today and tomorrow. There are bands that play all afternoon and tonight after the weigh-in, and good bands at that. With the tremendous weights that were brought in yesterday, look for more of the same today with partly clooudy to overcast skys and strong winds. Here are some pictures of the stage from the customer lounges that are available to everyone:
Elite Series Pro Greg Hackney patterns Kentucky Lake's spring bass - fishing report!
Doug Miller (L) and Tracy Salmon prove that big bass are shallow on Kentucky Lake right now.
Greg Hackney shows that the big crappie are up shallow too.
I just spent a couple of wonderful days on Kentucky Lake, courtesy of Dr. Bob Wooten from Memphis and Clay Connor of Xpress Boats.
I fished with Elite Series Pro Greg Hackney and we filmed a segment for an upcoming episode of the Progressive Bass Wrap Up TV Show. Check your local listings if you want to ride along with Hackney as he pre-fishes the FLW Tour event coming up this summer on Kentucky Lake.
Local tournament ace, Tracy Salmon also helped us crack the code. And Doug Miller, who manages an incredible piece of Sportsman’s Paradise known as Grosse Savanne, took a break from fishing his lake where he routinely catches 50-plus bass up to 7 pounds apiece to sample the bassing on Kentucky Lake.
We fished south of Paris, TN and found a reliable pattern.
Lake is a full pool and water temps range from mid-60’s in the main lake to 70 in backwaters.
Hackney fishes the type of bushes that hold spawning bass right now.
“Flat pockets” said Hackney when discussing where he and Salmon had whacked them. To further refine the pattern, I would add that most of the quality fish are swimming in and around flooded bushes in the backs of those pockets and with a full moon on Tuesday we should see them lock down and spawn. Many are still white as they have just moved up from deep water. The spawn is on.
Fish that haven’t made it back to the bushes seem to be staging on the deep side of emergent grass toward the mouths of coves.
You can fish the whole pattern with two lures: a buzzbait and a swimming jig. If one doesn’t work for 10 minutes, try the other. Color doesn’t seem to matter much but we used jigs in some shade of green pumpkin or black/blue. White buzzbaits.
Pretty soon the fish will dump eggs and start moving back to the first points leading toward offshore ledges where Hackney plans to find them during the FLW Tour tourney.
Everything is a little behind because of a late, cold winter. That means you can find them shallow a bit longer this year.
Doug Miller lands one.
Early May Sportsman's Warehouse report with Fishing Mgr Craig Baird
Sportsman's Warehouse Fishing Manager Craig Baird gets us caught up on the Post Spawn patterns and lures that seem to be working pretty well around the region. Craig loves the floating worm and has a great example right here!
Arey Expects 'phenomenal' Fishing On Post-Spawn Bass In Toyota Texas Bass Classic On Lake Fork
Fishing during the Toyota Texas Bass Classic on Lake Fork May 9-11 should be phenomenal, according to FLW Tour pro Matt Arey of Shelby, N.C., who will be fishing in his first competition on the fabled Texas lake.
“The only time I have fished it was when I went over there and spent a couple of days on the water after the Sam Rayburn tournament (in late March),” Arey said. Arey finished 38th at Rayburn, but followed that with a win on Beaver Lake April 10 and is now ranked 16th in the FLW Tour AOY standings.
“When I was there the fish were coming up to spawn, so it is definitely going to be post spawn for us. I don't think the fish will be all the way out deep. They will be on the secondary stuff on the way out,” he said.
“The shad spawn might also play a role in the tournament,” added Arey who hopes to improve on his outcome in the two previous TTBCs he has fished. Arey finished 32nd in 2012 and 42nd last year in the TTBC, both on Lake Conroe.
“Lake Conroe is an absolutely phenomenal fishing lake, but we were there at the absolute worst time (October) and I struggled in both those tournaments, but I am looking forward to turning it around at Lake Fork,” he said.
When he starts practice Arey said he will do a lot of riding and graphing the deep structure.
“I'll be trying to find those little groups of big females that have done their thing, areas that can stand three or four days of pressure. I really need to dial into one or two of those areas. I plan to practice shallow and deep, but I think the tournament will be won deep,” he said.
The slot limit will also play a major role in the outcome of the tournament, he said. Due to the 16- to 24-inch slot limit on Lake Fork, there are no professional competitions held there, so this will be the first time, since the 2008 TTBC, that professional anglers will take to the water for a pro competition.
“Because of the slot limit there will be a lot of 3- and 4-pounders we can keep in the bag so there will be a lot of 20-pound bags weighed in,” said Arey who qualified by being one of the top 15 anglers in the PAA Tournament Series AOY points. The three-day tournament combines the top 15 in Angler of the Year (AOY) points from all three major tournament trails including the Bassmaster Elite Series, FLW Tour, and PAA Tournament Series.
The anglers will compete on Lake Fork for three days, with the field being reduced to the top-10 for the final round on Sunday, May 11. The tournament is a non-entry fee event and all 50 competing anglers will receive guaranteed prize money.
“It's going to be a power fishing tournament,” Arey said. “I plan to get down there and throw big baits – and catch big fish. It should be a blast.”
Toyota Texas Bass Classic
May 9-11, 2014
Lake Fork
Sabine River Authority
http://www.toyotatexasbassclassic.com
Big Draw, Excellent Fishing Expected For Anglers Choice Virginia Division Tournament On Smith Mountain Lake
The Virginia Division of the Anglers Choice Team Trail started off in late February in a snowstorm so some anglers could not safely travel to SmithLake to fish, but now it's springtime and the tournament Saturday on Smith Lake is lining up to be a big one, both in terms of the number of anglers fishing it and the fishing being outstanding.
“I think it's going to be a huge tournament,” said tournament director Chris Lucas, who said the recent Virginia-North Carolina dual weekend on Kerr Reservoir set records for the number of anglers entered. “We had 226 teams for the Virginia Division ornamental on Saturday and 176 for the Carolina Division on Sunday. Almost 400 teams in two days was just amazing.”
And he anticipates another huge turnout with outstanding fishing for Saturday's Virginia Division tournament on Smith Lake, he said.
“I fished the Oakley Big Bass tournament up there this past weekend and you could see a few fish up, a few beds here and there but the big wave had not come up yet. The temperature was 60 degrees and today (Thursday) it was up to 64 degrees. With the milder weather and with the full moon coming May 14 they may be all over the place for our tournament on May 10.
“If the weather continues to be decent I think we will have another big draw,” he said. “If you plan to fish it, you might want to get pre-registered. The numbers are going to be high and if you want to get out early that morning, you had better get your name in soon.”
Because a good many anglers missed the opening tournament because of the snowstorm, Lucas scheduled a wild card tournament for the weekend before the May 10 tournament so anglers could get qualified for the championship.
“The wild card does not count for points,” he said. “It is being held just to make sure everybody gets to fish for a boat. It looks like we will have 50-60 teams in the wild card.”
Lucas noted that the season is in the second half now, with the Smith Mountain tournament for the Virginia Division May 10, followed by Carolina Division tournament May 24 on High Rock, then another Virginia-Carolina combo weekend June 7-8 on Kerr. Beginning last year the Anglers Choice Team series was split into two divisions, one for Virginia and one for North Carolina, with four qualifiers in each division.
“The other aspect of out trail this year is that we are going to have two separate Classics, with a Ranger Boat for the winners on the Virginia side and a Triton for the winners on the North Carolina side. So, with the opportunity to fish both Classics, guys have two chances to win a boat.”
And, he added, about 80 teams so far have registered for the Bassmaster Trail to fish for the opportunity to qualify for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.
The Virginia Division Classic will be held Oct. 4-5 on Smith Mountain Lake.
Anglers Choice Marine Team Trail - VA Division
Sat, May 10, 2014
Smith Mountain Lake
Parkway Marina
Call Chris Lucas 276-358-0844
Alabama River Should Be Back To Normal For Alabama Bass Trail Tournament Saturday
Flooding in the Alabama River from heavy rains in the storm system that rolled across the South at the end of April is subsiding and levels should be back to normal by the time anglers begin practice this week for the Alabama Bass Trail South Division tournament near Camden, Ala., Saturday.
“I think the recent floods in the Millers Ferry area are going to subside just in time for the ABT anglers to arrive at mid-week,” said Kay Donaldson, tournament director for the Alabama Bass Trail.
A river level graph on the website, Riverdepth.com, shows the gauge height at Millers Ferry Lock and Dame near Camden rose about 8 feet during the heavy downpours last week. A National Weather Service graph shows the river levels were coming down quickly and will be back to normal by Wednesday.
“I am excited about this tournament for a lot of reasons,” Donaldson said. “First, I think Millers Ferry is an excellent spotted bass body of water and the weights should be phenomenal.”
She also noted that the people of Monroeville and Camden worked hard to bring the Alabama Bass Trail tournament to their area, adding that it is a real pleasure to hold the tournament in in the smaller communities, plus the fact that it can help economically.
“Wilcox County where Camden and Millers Ferry is located has a 37 percent unemployment rate so our tournament will bring a much needed economic boost to this community,” Donaldson said.
Earlier this year, Donaldson said research indicates each tournament could pump an estimated $500,000 into the local economy of the host city. “Anglers typically pre-fish, or scout a location, three or four days prior to a tournament, and during this time, they patronize restaurants, gas stations, and tackle shops. During a tournament, approximately $300 is spent each day on accommodations, gasoline, food and other supplies,” she said.
Registration for the tournament at Millers Ferry ends Wednesday at midnight or 200 boats.
Each tournament has a guaranteed first prize of $10,000, plus $23,000 to the top 20 places and $500 to big fish. There are also numerous bonus packages available to winning and placing anglers.
The Top 50 teams for both the Northern and Southern Divisions will advance to the 2014 ABT Team Championship Oct. 10-11 at Smith Lake in Jasper. Plus, the top 25 student boats overall will be in the final event. To be eligible for the championship, teams must enter all five qualifying events in their respective division.
The grand prize for the no-entry fee championship is a fully-rigged Phoenix 619 Pro Bass Boat with a 150-horsepower Mercury Outboard, valued at $40,000. Adding to that excitement level is an opportunity to advance to the Bassmasters Team Championship and possibly earn a berth in the Bassmaster Classic.
Donaldson also announced the 2015 ABT tournament schedule. The 10-lake, team-style tournament series will be held on ten of the lakes of the Alabama Bass Trail beginning next February 14, with the championship to be held on the 11th lake October 9-10, 2015.
“The Alabama Bass Trail tournament format has been wildly successful, pulling anglers from six states and creating an economic impact of over $1 million in the areas around the Trail’s lakes,” said ABT Program Director Kay Donaldson. “I am so proud of what our state has accomplished while promoting the sport of bass fishing. We have showcased these lakes to the world and provided a needed boost to the local economies.”
The most notable rules changes for 2015 include :
- All teams must register for all 5 events in a division.
- The field is increased to 225, up from 200 boats from 2014.
- All tournaments will observe a two-day off limits period on Monday and Tuesday prior to the tournament.
- The 10 regular season winners advance to the championship.
The full schedule and details are available on the ABT website; http://www.alabamabasstrail.org/tournament-series/next-season/
Alabama Bass Trail - South Division
Sat, May 10, 2014
Alabama River
Roland Cooper State Park
Call Kay Donaldson 855-934-7425
Bienville Big Bass Blast Tournament Series Back for 2nd Season!
Bienville Plantation just announced that they will have a tournament series again this year, as they did in 2013. Thousands of dollars were won by anglers who enjoyed world class bassing at the famed fishery last season. Following are dates and rules for 2014:
PRE-REGISTRATION & SIGN UP: Entry fee is $350.00 per team. Registration will begin April 29, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Team boat numbers will be assigned by the order in which entry fees and registrations are received and completed in full. Teams may sign up and pay at the Main Lodge during normal business hours, or any tournament event, or by mailing registration form completely filled out along with a check, money order, or credit card made out to: Bienville Plantation - 16673 SE 81st DRIVE, WHITE SPRINGS, FL 32096. Check or money order must be received SEVEN DAYS PRIOR TO TOURNAMENT DATE. Please specify the tournaments your team intends to participate in. Participant(s) only may pay cash at the ramp on the morning of the tournament.
TOURNAMENT DATES:
TOURNAMENT 1
MAY 24, 2014 (5 FISH WEIGH IN)
TOURNAMENT 2
JUNE 21, 2014 (TBD)
TOURNAMENT 3
JULY 19, 2014 (TBD)
TOURNAMNET 4
AUGUST 23, 2014 (TBD)
TOURNAMNET 5
SEPTEMEBER 20, 2014 (TBD)
PRE-FISHING RULES
1. Prior to launching boat all Participant(s) must have registered for the upcoming tournament and have read and fully understand all Pre-Fishing and Tournament Rules.
2. Each teams entry fee’s includes, but is limited to one (1) day of pre-fishing per team at no additional charge. Pre-fishing times are from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday and from 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday prior to each scheduled tournament. If you are a Participant(s), and a Bienville fishing member then normal fishing rules and times. Participants that are NOT members must call 24 hours prior to using their one-day pass for pre-fishing.
3. To pre-fish any other time is strictly prohibited unless:
a. Any participant in the tournaments can only fish one time during the week leading up to the tournament.
b. Participants in the tournament that are not members may not fish Lake Bienville the Friday prior to each tournament unless you have purchased The Tournament Lodging package, (please call for details - Participants in the tournament that are not members may not fish Lake Bienville that Friday 397-1989).
c. Non-members can purchase one day passes between the dates of May 15th through September 19th, 2014, on selected days for $350.00 per boat. All one day passes must be purchased 48 hours prior to the date you wish to fish. Last minute arrivals will not be allowed to fish – so please contact us to place your reservation.
4. All tournament Participant(s) must check-in prior to pre-fishing to receive a car pass at the Main Lodge prior to launching boat. The office will be open at 8:00 a.m. Bienville is private property and all vehicles must have fishing passes located on the driver’s side dashboard, and in plain site. Upon departure all Participant(s) must checkout and return the daily pass at the designated area prior to departing Bienville Plantation. Please have all paperwork filled out to expedite the process so you may get on the water sooner
5. All Bienville Bass pre-fishing idle speed only for safety reasons. This is a zero tolerance rule. At a minimum teams will be penalized up to one (3) pounds per/each occurrence, reduction of points, and/or disqualified from a tournament and/or the entire series. Any and all penalties and/or disqualifications is at the sole desecration of the designated tournament officials and/or director.
6. Subject to availability for registered teams for the upcoming tournament only: Bienville bass fishing guides will be available during the pre-fishing weeks for $450.00 per. Most of our guides have 5 or more years of experience on the tournament lake. If you use a guide it will count towards your teams one pre-fishing day
7. At no time shall participant during pre-fishing place any type of fish in the live well, unless you are a Bienville Plantation fishing member. Members may still keep their daily limits of pan fish, except on tournament day. A violation of this rule will result in immediate disqualification from entire series. Bienville Plantation is privately owned and all fish is the sole and exclusive property of Bienville Plantation and/or its affiliates.
8. Any unauthorized or non-permitted vehicles will be towed immediately at the owner expense without notice.
TOURNAMENT RULES
9. TOURNAMNET PAYOUT: The proposed payout is determined by the number of boats that enter the tournament for that day. The proposed payout will be based on the total weight of no more than three (3) fish with one out of every seven boats that enter the tournament that day (payout schedule is available upon request). Fifty percent of the entry fees will be paid out each week. If in the event one or more teams qualifies for a payout in total weight the first tie-breaker will be biggest fish each team weighed-in that day, the second tie break will be the lowest boat/team number. So register early to get a lower team number.
10. OVERALL TEAM BIG BASS: CASH ENTRIES THE MORNING OF TOURNAMNET ONLY. The side bet is for largest fish of the three (3) fish your team weighed in. This is a side bet and is NOT included in your team’s entry fee. The morning of each tournament prior to launch if any team wants to enter the big bass side bet it will be $50.00 per team (100% payout). This payout is for the biggest bass. If in the event there is one or more teams have the same weight for the big fish the tie break will be whichever team has the lowest boat/team number. So again register early!!
11. BIENVILLE BASS SERIES: All current tournament rules are included herein. Tournament rules maybe amended at anytime for any reason to ensure safety, fairness, sportsmanship, and the overall integrity of the Bienville Big Bass Series. If tournament rules are amended; those amendments will be added to end of the rules sheet and highlighted in bold prior to each tournament. It shall be each Participant(s)’s sole responsibility to have read all tournament information so that each Participant(s) understands all rules and/or items prior to each tournament. Bienville Bass Series (hereinafter referred to as BBS) rules will apply in all events unless superseded by federal, state or local laws. BBS reserves the right to refuse any entries or Participant(s) fees or entry forms for any reason at any time.
12. FINAL OUTCOME: Any and all BBS officials or its director’s decisions will be final in all matters, and are not subject to appeal.
13. LEGAL FISH TO BE WEIGHED: Only large-mouth bass will be weigh-in.
14. MANDATORY CHECK-IN & CHECK OUT POINTS: Each boat must go through a check-point in the morning prior to launch and a boat check-out prior to departure after trailering their boat. If a team does not go through both check points it will result in disqualification.
15. WEIGH-IN: Fishing must immediately cease upon entering the marina area prior to weigh-in. All boats must be in the designated weigh-in area no later than 3:00 p.m. If you arrive any later than 3:00 P.M. there will be a one (1) pound deduction for each minute you are late and if you are more than five minutes (5) late your team will be disqualified from tournament. After weigh-in the participant(s) must immediately proceed to the boat launch area and trailer their boat so they may go through checkout point.
16. IDLE SPEED ONLY: All BBS tournaments and lakes are idle speed only for safety reasons; teams may be penalized up to one (1) pound per/each occurrence and/or disqualified. All penalties and/or disqualifications are at the sole desecration of the designated tournament officials and/or director.
17. INSURANCE: All boats used in BBS tournaments must have a mandatory minimum of $100,000.00 liability insurance. This information needs to be submitted at time of registration or presented at check-in prior to each tournament. This is the user/owners responsibility.
18. ELIGIBILITY: Participation in the BBS is open to any individual. Any person age 17 or under must be a team partner with a parent or a person age 18 or older. Persons under 18 must have the signature of his/her parent or legal guardian on the tournament entry form. Any BBS participant(s) may fish alone but is required to pay full tournament entry fees and must fish at least one tournament in the season there designated partner. All Participant(s) that qualify for the Bienville Classic may fish only with their designated partner at the classic. Each team must designate the partner as the Angler and Co-Angler during their initial registration.
19. WEIGH-BAGS: All Participants must use care in handling and keeping fish alive for release after weigh-in. All fish will be brought to the weigh master in plastic bags with enough water to keep the fish covered until weigh-in. ALL TEAMS ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE THEIR OWN WEIGH BAGS FOR TRANSPORTING FISH TO WEIGH-IN.
20. FISH/BAG LIMITS: All tournaments will be a maximum of three (3) fish. Unless specified by tournament director. You may not have more than three (3) fish in your live well at any time. If you are caught with more than three (3) fish in your live well you may be immediately disqualified.
21. FISH SIZE LIMITS: All fish must be a minimum of 14 inches that will be measured on a PRO RULE with mouth closed and tail compressed (pinched). If a team brings a short fish to weigh-in the team will be disqualified. Teams may ask the tournament director for a courtesy check, if desired prior to presenting fish for weigh-in.
22. DEAD FISH: Each dead fish weighed in will be a ½ pound deduction off your total weight. No culling of dead fish at any time. If caught culling dead fish you will be immediately disqualified.
23. TACKLE & EQUIPMENT: You may not fish on or from any structure above the deck. All fishing must be done from boat deck. Only artificial lures may be used, except for pork products. No wading or trolling is allowed. All fish must be caught from the boat. All traditional rods & reels are allowed including fly rods and flipping poles. Only one rod and reel may be used at any given time by each angler. No rod may be left unattended with line or lure in water.
24. PERMITTED FISHING LOCATIONS: Anglers may not leave their boat except in a dire emergency. You must fish water that is available to all competitors. No fishing within 50 yards of any boat anchored, with trolling motor up. No fishing in areas designated off limits by tournament directors. No fishing within 50 yards of Launch Site.
25. TOURNAMENT TEAM CHECK-IN: Check-In is between 5:00 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. the morning of each tournament at Lake 14 boat ramp. Any team checking in after his announced check-in time will be disqualified for that tournament but will still receive participation points. All Participants must present valid picture identification.
26. TOURNAMENT HOURS: Approximately 6:45 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., this may be adjusted by tournament director. Each team will be assigned a boat number at sign-up the morning of each tournament.
27. EMERGENCY OR BREAKDOWN: One or both anglers must identify their fish with some sort of marker or separation system before entering the rescue boat with fish, to return to launch site. (No fishing from rescue boat, both teams may be subjected to a polygraph test).
28. BOAT & HORSEPOWER REGULATIONS: Each boat must have all required U.S. Coast Guard safety equipment. All boats must contain a properly working aerated live well space to maintain a live limit catch of bass. No boat will be allowed to launch unless it live wells is working properly. All boats must have an operating kill switch that must be attached to the operator at all times when the outboard motor is running and in gear. Violation of any of the above rules may be cause for penalties and/or disqualification. If running lights are not working you may be held at take off. BBS officials or directors reserve the right to refuse entry to any boats that does not meet tournament standards. No airboats, canoes, or pontoon boats are permitted.
29. SPORTSMANSHIP: Each team is expected to follow high standards of sportsmanship, safety, courtesy, and conservation. Any team found in violation of these rules or any federal, state, or local laws may be disqualified. The use, possession or consumption of any alcoholic beverages during tournament hours, which conclude upon the completion of payout, will not be tolerated and shall be cause for disqualification from current and future BBS events.
30. PROTEST & POLYGRAPH TEST: BBS Participant(s) may submit a protest during the tournament morning prior to launch or immediately following the weigh-in of the last team’s catch, but before the start of the awards presentation. Protests shall be in writing and accompanied by a $200.00 deposit. The burden of proof of a rules infraction will be the responsibility of the angler filling the protest. This deposit will be refunded providing the protest is upheld; otherwise, the deposit shall be forfeited to BBS. Any particpant(s) may be required to submit to a Polygraph or truth verification test. Failure to submit to either of these tests will result in disqualification from this tournament and will not be eligible to fish in any future BBS tournaments. Any angler making an accusation against another contestant without submitting a written protest accompanied by a $100.00 deposit may be subject to disqualification from current and future Bienville Bass Tournaments.
31. CELLULAR PHONES AND RADIOS: Cellular phones and radios are encouraged for safety reasons. Cellular phone maybe used for navigation or structure locations only. You are prohibited to use Cellular Phones or radios for any other reasons during tournament hours unless in the case of an emergency or communications with the tournament director.
32. BIENVILLE CLASSIC QUALIFICATION & POINTS: The maximum number of teams to fish in the Bienville Classic will be no more than (30) teams. Each team must meet the criteria below to qualify for the Bienville Classic.
(1) BIENVILLE CLASSIC QUALIFICATION: Teams must have paid entry fees into at least four (4) out of five (5) tournaments to qualify for the Bienville Classic.
(2) POINTS: Every qualifying team that paid an entry fee will receive participation point plus additional bonus points for how they finish in each of the BBS tournaments. At the conclusion of the BBS tournaments, the tournament director will total and calculate each team’s points less one drop, (lowest score of the five (5) tournaments or a no show at which point the top thirty (30) teams, (no ties) in points will qualify for the Classic.
33. CLASSIC BOAT NUMBERS: Boat numbers for the Bienville Classic will be assigned in order of finish per the points series totals.
34. TOURNAMENT ENTRY FEES: The entry fee is $350.00 with $140.00 contributed to Lake Bienville Tournament Management fee, $35.00 to the classic fund, and $175.00 of the entry fee to be the cash payback for each tournament.
35. BIENVILLE CLASSIC PAYOUT: BBS is withholding 10% of the entry fee from each of the first five tournaments. Those proceeds will be added to the Bienville Classic payout. The payout for the Classic will be as follows: 1st place 30%, 2nd place 25%, 3rd place 17%, 4th place 10%, 5th place 8%, Big Fish 6%, 2nd Big Fish 4%.
36. SCORING SYSTEMS: Each team’s weight will be measured in the pounds and hundredths of ounces. The highest weight will be 1st place and will receive 100 points for the event. Each descending weight will receive (1) point less than the previous weight until twenty-fifth place. From twenty-sixth place to the last boat in the field that weighs in a fish will receive a minimum of (70) points. All teams that paid an entry fee into the tournament and did not weigh a fish will receive 65 points.
Powroznik Wins Bassmaster Elite Series On Toledo Bend
Jacob Powroznik delivered that punch Sunday in the form of two good-sized bass in the last hours of competition of the four-day Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend.
“I’m speechless. That doesn’t happen very often,” said Powroznik as he accepted his first Bassmaster Elite Series trophy after competing in only four events in his first year on the top-level tour — and on a fishery on which he had never before competed.
From Port Haywood, Va., Powroznik claimed the first-place prize of $100,000 and an instant-in for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic, his first world championship qualification.
“To get into the Classic feels like someone just gave me a million dollars,” said Powroznik after he stepped off the stage and got his voice back. “You don’t get many opportunities to win one of these events. It’s so hard to do. To do it my first year is a blessing.”
After leading on Friday, Powroznik was stumped in Saturday’s round by a disappearing shad spawn bite that had helped him considerably in the early morning hours of competition. Then he was smoked out of a promising spawning bass area by a controlled burn of Texas shoreline forest. Going into the Sunday finals, Powroznik had dropped more than 2 1/2 pounds behind the leader, two-time Bassmaster Toledo Bend champ Dean Rojas.
But Powroznik recovered nicely. In the final round, he decided to concentrate solely on bass on spawning beds. His strategy worked to the tune of 19-11, and a 79-12 tournament total.
Thanks to his two key keepers, he won by a margin of 2 pounds, 6 ounces over Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill., who made a last-hour lunge at the trophy by producing 21-14, Sunday’s heaviest bag of bass. Rising from 10th place, Morgenthaler ended in the runner-up spot with a total of 77-6.
Taking third place was Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., another first-year Elite pro who had never before competed on Toledo Bend. Tharp finished with 76-10.
Fourth place was snapped up by Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., at 74-7. The current leader in the season-long points race for the 2014 Toyota Angler of the Year title, Davis sewed up his fourth consecutive Top 5 finish this season.
Moving up from 12th place, Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., finished fifth with 73-12. Rojas, the third-day leader, ended in sixth place. His bite died Sunday, and he managed only 10-9. His total was 73-4. Day 1 leader Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande, Calif., finished in 11th place.
One of Powroznik’s game-saving bass was a 7-13 largemouth, which turned out to be the largest single fish of the day. He spent an hour trying to coax the female off a spawning bed. Determined to not give up, he remembered a tip he’d been given: offer a white bait. He dug deep into his bait boxes and found a 4-inch white crawfish imitation.
“She attacked it,” he said.
With the almost 8-pounder in his livewell, Powroznik said he was able to put the frustration of the previous day behind him.
Although smaller at about 5 pounds, his second key catch was “the highlight of my tournament,” Powroznik said. He caught it on his very last flip of the day.
“I found it earlier, and it would not take my bait,” he said. “I eased back in there later, and backed up into some shade. I had 10 minutes left to fish. I hopped the bait one time, and she ate it.”
The 5-pounder allowed him to cull a 1 1/2-pound bass, giving him the margin of victory.
Powroznik’s go-to lure for spawning bass was a 4-inch Berkley Power Hawg in the green pumpkin or red bug color. He rigged it with a 4/0 Mustad hook and 1/2-ounce Elite Tungsten weight.
“It’s my favorite bed-fishing bait. The thing I like about it is it falls straight down, it doesn’t veer off to the left or right,” he said.
The Toledo Bend event was the fourth of nine that will determine the 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year winner. Now with 392 points, Davis leads Lintner by 42 points, Todd Faircloth by 52 and Powroznik by 65. While a 42-point lead is considered healthy, Davis isn’t making room on his trophy shelf just yet. He doesn’t really want to even talk much about it.
“It’s still too early,” Davis said.
Davis is already a three-time Angler of the Year. He first won the title in 1995, the same year he was the Bassmaster Classic champion, a feat not duplicated until 2010, when Kevin VanDam first won the pair of titles. Davis went on to win AOY again in 1998 and in 2001.
Powroznik held his lead in the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race. Going into the Toledo Bend event, Powroznik had five points on Morgenthaler; Powroznik now leads by six points.
Bonuses that Elite pros earned at the Toledo Bend Reservoir event were:
* Toyota Bonus Bucks award of $3,000 to the highest eligible finisher: Powroznik
* Toyota Bonus Bucks award of $2,000 to the second-highest eligible finisher: Tharp
* Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Bonus of $1,000 to the leader in the Elite Series points race: Davis
* Berkley Heavyweight Award of $500 for the best five-fish limit: First-day leader Lintner for his Day 1 big bag of 25-7.
* Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament worth $1,000 plus another $500 for wearing Carhartt apparel: Chris Zaldain of San Jose, Calif., for his 8-12 of Day 1.
* Power-Pole Captain’s Cash award of $1,000 to the highest finisher equipped with a Power-Pole anchoring system : Powroznik
* Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500 for being the Day 2 leader: Powroznik
* Rigid Industries Jackpot of $1,750: J Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., for his Day 1 weight of 25-0. Rigid offers a daily prize of $250 to anglers registered for the program who produce a 25-pound or heavier bag. Unclaimed daily awards roll over into the next tournament day of the season; the rollover amount now stands at $750.
The local hosts of the Elite event were the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Sabine River Authority, Cypress Bend Resort, TanMar and other local businesses.
The Bassmasters on ESPN2 will feature the Toledo Bend event May 18 from 8 to 9 a.m. ET.
The next stop for the Bassmaster Elite Series is May 15-18 in Russellville, Ark., on Lake Dardanelle.
2014 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend 5/1-5/4
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many LA.
Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 20 79-12 100 $100,500.00
Day 1: 5 24-14 Day 2: 5 23-06 Day 3: 5 11-13 Day 4: 5 19-11
2. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 20 77-06 99 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 24-13 Day 3: 5 11-12 Day 4: 5 21-14
3. Randall Tharp Port Saint Joe, FL 20 76-10 98 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 24-13 Day 3: 5 17-04 Day 4: 5 18-04
4. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 20 74-07 97 $16,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 22-09 Day 3: 5 15-14 Day 4: 5 18-02
5. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 20 73-12 96 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 21-11 Day 3: 5 17-06 Day 4: 5 19-05
6. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 20 73-04 95 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 24-15 Day 3: 5 17-14 Day 4: 5 10-09
7. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 20 73-00 94 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 15-05 Day 4: 5 16-06
8. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 20 70-11 93 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 18-00 Day 4: 5 14-06
9. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 20 68-08 92 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 5 16-09 Day 4: 5 11-04
10. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 20 68-07 91 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 5 20-14 Day 4: 5 13-08
11. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 17 67-03 90 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-07 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 17-08 Day 4: 2 07-07
12. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 20 65-07 89 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 20-06 Day 4: 5 09-08
CARHARTT BIG BASS
Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 08-12 $1,000.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT
Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 25-07 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 102 524 1596-09
2 97 513 1446-11
3 45 245 697-12
4 11 57 180-04
----------------------------------
255 1339 3921-04
Louisiana Lagniappe For Dean Rojas Puts Him In Lead In Bassmaster Elite Event On Toledo Bend
Actually, that something extra was very large: a 7-pound, 2-ounce largemouth bass. And it proved to be the catch that made all the difference for Rojas on the third day of the May 1-4 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite on Toledo Bend.
Because of the big cull his 7-2 made possible, Rojas turned his day around. The so-so limit he would have had became a good day’s catch of 17-14.
Best of all, the 7-2 helped him to a 2-10 advantage over Friday leader Jacob Powroznik.
“I was fortunate to have that big one today that separated me from having a small limit,” said Rojas, who’s from Lake Havasu City, Ariz.
It helped that Powroznik tripped. He managed just 11-13 Saturday. Those bass put his total at 60-1, good enough for second, but not enough to stay in the catbird seat, the spot Rojas captured with his 62-11 total going into the final competition on Sunday.
But the Elite event hasn’t come down to a Rojas-Powroznik face-off. The pro in third place, Jared Lintner of Arroyo Grande, Calif., trailed Rojas by less than 3 pounds. Lintner, the first-day leader, produced 17-8 Saturday for a 59-12 total.
Randall Tharp, 4-5 out of the lead, may not be as big a threat, but when Toledo Bend is still producing big spawning bass, anything can happen. The pro from Port St. Joe, Fla., stepped into fourth place, up from sixth place with 58-6.
Fifth after Saturday’s round was Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, an old hand on Toledo Bend. Faircloth has a three-day tally of 57-4, just about 5 1/2 pounds out of first.
The leader in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the race, Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., was seventh after three days, a position that will help him protect his 30-point lead over Lintner. Lintner, though, could gain ground if he ends up with a much better finish than does Davis.
A big crowd turned out at Cypress Bend Park to see which 12 pros of the 50 semifinalists would qualify for Sunday’s championship round, when the stakes are a first-place prize of $100,000 and an instant qualification for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic.
Rojas had to work for the 7-2. He spotted her on a spawning bed Saturday.
“When I Power-Poled down, I must have spooked it,” he said. “She would just wander around — even came up to the boat and looked at me — but she wouldn’t commit.”
Rojas let her “rest.” He left the bedding area, then returned about 50 minutes later.
“This time, my boat position was a lot different. I stayed way back, off to the side, and threw my (Big Bite) WarMouth up there. I was far enough away, I couldn’t really see. On the second pitch, the line felt heavy, and I thought I had her.”
Rojas set the hook and began to reel the bass to the boat. But as the fish got closer to him, he saw that it was the male that had chased his Warmouth.
“But as I was fighting him, I saw a green coloration in the water moving toward the area where I caught him. I released the male and made one more pitch up there. I never saw her eat it, but she started to swim with it, and the fight was on.”
“That was the game-changer. Without that fish, I’d have an 11-pound limit,” he said.
“I just need to find one more tomorrow,” said Rojas, adding that he planned to zero in on bedding bass on his final day of competition — working, if necessary, the several areas he has staked out.
Powroznik’s shad spawn bite — a key to his 20-plus-pound weights the first two days — didn’t happen Saturday in the several areas he planned to try it.
“There were no shad there,” said the pro from Port Haywood, Va. “It’s just part of that deal. Tomorrow they could be right back up there, and I could catch another big bag (of bass feeding on shad). You’ve got to try it for at least an hour and a half or two hours in the morning. To win this thing, you have to make that big gamble.”
Then, when he went to one spot he knew held big spawning females, the smoke from a controlled burn of forestland on the Texas shore was so thick he could not see.
He targeted other bedding fish the rest of the day, but the big bite eluded him.
Saturday’s largest bass was Rojas’ 7-2. But the 8-12 posted Thursday by Chris Zaldain of San Jose, Calif. — one of the Top 12 who will compete Sunday — led the competition for Carhartt Big Bass award, worth up to $1,500.
Lintner continued to lead the Berkley Heavyweight bonus competition for $500 for his big bag on Thursday of 25-7.
“Championship Sunday” will begin at 6:20 a.m., when the dozen finalists will take off from Cypress Bend Park. They will return to the park by 3 p.m., and weigh their catches beginning at 3:15 p.m. The all-day action will be covered by Bassmaster.com with from-the-water catch reports, videos and blogs; updates from the War Room presented by Lowrance; photo galleries; and more. Live, streaming video of the weigh-in and a real-time leaderboard will gear up at 3:15 p.m.
Also on Sunday, the Bassmaster Elite Series Expo will continue with demos, giveaways and products from the tour’s sponsors, including free boat rides in Nitro, Triton and Skeeter boats powered by Yamaha and Mercury engines. The rides will be offered after takeoff is complete and continue until 2:30 p.m. The event’s title sponsor, Evan Williams Bourbon, will offer free tastings.
All activities will be at Cypress Bend Park (GPS help: 3463 Cypress Bend Drive, Many, LA 71449). There’s no admission charge, and free shuttles from parking areas will be provided.
The local hosts of the Elite event are the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Sabine River Authority, Cypress Bend Resort, TanMar and other local businesses.
The Bassmasters on ESPN2 will feature the Toledo Bend event May 18 from 8 to 9 a.m. ET.
2014 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend 5/1-5/4
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many LA.
Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 15 62-11 100
Day 1: 5 19-14 Day 2: 5 24-15 Day 3: 5 17-14
2. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 15 60-01 99 $500.00
Day 1: 5 24-14 Day 2: 5 23-06 Day 3: 5 11-13
3. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 59-12 98
Day 1: 5 25-07 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 17-08
4. Randall Tharp Port Saint Joe, FL 15 58-06 97
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 24-13 Day 3: 5 17-04
5. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 57-04 96
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 5 16-09
6. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 56-10 95
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 15-05
7. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 15 56-05 94
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 22-09 Day 3: 5 15-14
8. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 15 56-05 93
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 18-00
9. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 15 55-15 92
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 20-06
10. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 15 55-08 91
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 24-13 Day 3: 5 11-12
11. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 54-15 90
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 19-10 Day 3: 5 20-14
12. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 15 54-07 89
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 21-11 Day 3: 5 17-06
13. Glenn Browne Ocala, FL 15 50-15 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 21-00
14. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 50-08 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 13-13
15. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 15 50-03 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 5 15-05
16. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 15 49-15 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 19-08 Day 3: 5 15-00
17. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 15 49-10 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 19-12
18. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 15 49-08 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 15-15
19. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 49-00 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 17-14
20. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 48-14 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 17-07 Day 3: 5 18-03
21. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 15 48-06 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 21-08 Day 3: 5 17-01
22. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 15 48-05 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 14-03
23. Randy Howell Springville, AL 15 48-01 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 10-14
24. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 14 47-06 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-00 Day 2: 4 07-11 Day 3: 5 14-11
25. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 14 47-04 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 4 06-13
26. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 15 46-08 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 5 15-01
27. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 46-08 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 13-06
28. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 15 46-02 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 11-00
29. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 15 46-01 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 16-06
30. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 46-00 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 15-10
31. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 15 45-13 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 15-08
32. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 15 45-12 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 11-07
33. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 15 44-15 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 10-14
34. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 44-10 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 14-06
35. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 15 44-05 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 10-12
36. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 15 44-02 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 10-10
37. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 15 43-15 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 14-07
38. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 15 43-06 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 5 13-00
39. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 43-02 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 12-11
40. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 14 43-02 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 4 13-02
41. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 15 43-01 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 12-13
42. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 14 42-14 59 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 20-05 Day 3: 4 08-02
43. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 15 42-05 58 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 11-06
44. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 15 41-09 57 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 10-11
45. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 15 41-07 56 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 5 12-09
46. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15 41-04 55 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 10-05
47. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 15 41-00 54 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 10-09
48. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 15 39-06 53 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 10-03
49. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 14 37-02 52 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 4 06-06
50. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 14 35-09 51 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 4 05-07
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 102 524 1596-09
2 97 513 1446-11
3 45 245 697-12
----------------------------------
244 1282 3741-00
Oakley Big Bass Leader (6.47 Lb Kicker) Will Be Tough To Beat Out On Sunday
Oakley Big Bass Tournament Director Scott Gordon takes a few minutes with us after a great 1st day on Norman with Mark Holman holding the lead with a 6.47 Lb whopper that he weighed-in the last hour.............Scott talks about the challenge for Sunday as well as the impressive hourly payouts this weekend!
2014 Warriors On The Water Champions Will Blanton And Cory Kidwell On Ac After Their Big Win!
Kudo's to Will Blanton and Cory Kidwell on their big win at Jordan Lake Friday afternoon..........their 20.13 LB bag was impressive on this lake, and we grab both anglers after they collected their hardware!
Mark Holman leads Oakley Big Bass on Norman with a 6.47 Lb Kicker-will it hold up Sunday? Top 10 here-
The Oakley Big Bass Tour has come back to Lake Norman for the 4th straight year and is off to a great start with 580 anglers showing up to try and cash in on the impressive hourly payouts as well as the $30,000 Grand Prize of a boat-motor-trailer pkg. Day one was cruising along and in the last 2 hours we had 1 five and 1 6 Lb kicker that have made things very interesting going into Sunday. Mark Holman brought in an impressive 6.47 Lb fish the last hour and not only won the hour ($1000) but also took the overall lead in the Tournament. With blue bird skys and temps rising Sunday, that is not going to be an easy weight to eclipse. Here are some pic's as well as the top 10 from today:
Oakley Big Bass Lake Norman Fish held by Mark Brown
Overall Leaders
| Rank | Angler | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | MARK HOLMAN | 6.47 |
| 2 | DAVID STOVER | 5.66 |
| 3 | MARK BROWN | 5.17 |
| 4 | ROBERT HOYT JR | 5.10 |
| 5 | MARSHALL PARKER | 5.06 |
| 6 | JASON DEW | 4.95 |
| 7 | KELLY JOHNSON | 4.83 |
| 8 | RYAN PARDUE | 4.78 |
| 9 | FRED MILLER | 4.62 |
| 10 | HUNTER MCKEE | 4.59 |
Will Blanton and Cory Kidwell win the 9th Annual Warriors on the Water at Jordan Lake-Full Results here!
The 9th Annual Warriors on the Water Bass Tournament blasted off Friday morning at Jordan Lake with 150 boats taking to the water all with a soldier on deck. Overcast skys gave way to blue bird skys in the afternoon and with that came some very good bags. For the 1st time ever, we have a back to back Champion in Will Blanton. His co-angler was Cory Kidwell who had never fished the Tournament before..........but we think thats going to change after this big win! Their 20.13 Lb sack included a 7.6 Lb BF that sealed the win! More sponsors than ever were on hand to be a part of what has become the premier Military apreciation Tournament in the country. If you haven't ever participated in this event, you need to mark the calander and make sure you come out and give back to these great Men and Women who serve this great nation of ours. Pics below as are the results (attached).
2014 Warriors on the Water Champions Will Blanton and Cory Kidwell
2nd Place team of Jimmy Hayes and Ryan Webster
2014 Warriors on the Water Top 5 Teams and Hardware!
Lintner Leads Elites On Toledo Bend
He was especially extreme in his choice of fishing lines from lightweight to unbreakable. “I caught them on 10-pound fluorocarbon and 80-pound braid,” said the Californian from Arroyo Grande. “I didn’t get very many bites with the braid, but they were good ones.”
Good enough to help him amass 25 pounds, 7 ounces of bass to take the lead by 7 ounces over J Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., who weighed 25-0 for second place.
In third after one round was Elite Series rookie Jacob Powroznik of Port Haywood, Va., with 24-14. Fourth place was taken by another Californian, Chris Zaldain of San Jose. His weight was 22-6, including an 8-12 on 6-pound-test line in an around-the-boat chase that “took forever” but was, he said, probably less than two minutes in real time.
The 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion, Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., settled into fifth place at 22-4.
The opening day of the Elite event was a day of big bass and big bags: The Top 13 on the leaderboard all broke the 20-pound mark. Only four pros did not produce a five-bass limit.
Lintner, currently in second place behind veteran pro Mark Davis of Arkansas in the season-long Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, said he returned Thursday to a spot he found in practice, “and just got fortunate.”
When he arrived in the spot, he had a 12-plus-pound limit in his livewell. That was at about noon. Two hours later, he had culled all but one of those to build his weight to his 25-plus. The largest bass weighed 6-14.
“I happened on the right area at the right time,” he said. “The fish move in and out of the area. And with the wind blowing, the fish haven’t been pressured there. You couldn’t fish it the past two days with the wind. There were 3- to 4-foot waves blowing up there.”
Lintner said he fished exactly how he likes to Thursday. “Shallow” was the only detail he would reveal on that topic. But he did hint that he tapped into his experience on California fisheries to figure out Toledo Bend.
“The way the lake sets up now, it’s more like the Clear Lake and Delta fisheries — for me,” he said.
Tucker boated all his weight within the first 45 minutes of competition. His largest, a 7-10, was the fourth fish in a flurry that left him almost dazed.
“It was chaotic and crazy,” he said. “They were biting one after another, and they were all big. That’s probably the fastest I’ve caught that much weight ever in my life.”
Oddly enough, he had not intended to start on that magic spot.
“I stopped on my first spot and found (another angler) already there,” Tucker said. “I thought, ‘You know, I’m not going to do this.’ I took off about 300 yards away to my second spot. So he did me a favor by being there.”
The four-day competition resumes Friday when the full field will return to Cypress Bend Park for the takeoff at 6:20 a.m. CT. The weigh-in will start at 3:15 p.m. CT at the same location.
Elite pros are after a first-place prize of $100,000 and an instant qualification for the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. The pros are also competing for points that count toward a Classic entry and the 2014 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
With his 8-12, Zaldain became the frontrunner for the Carhartt Big Bass award of up to $1,500. Tucker won the Rigid Industries Jackpot of $1,750 as the angler registered for the bonus who broke the 25-pound mark. Lintner leads the event’s Berkley Big Bag bonus competition for $500.
On Saturday and Sunday, the Bassmaster Elite Series Expo will feature demos, giveaways and products from the tour’s sponsors, including free boat rides in Nitro, Triton and Skeeter boats powered by Yamaha and Mercury engines. The rides will be offered after takeoff is complete and continue until 2:30 p.m.
Saturday’s activities include the 3 p.m. screening of the newest GeoBASS video from Costa, musical entertainment beginning after the weigh-in, and a Jason Cassidy concert from 7 to 9 p.m., which will be followed by fireworks.
All activities are at Cypress Bend Park (GPS help: 3463 Cypress Bend Drive, Many, LA 71449). There’s no admission charge for Bassmaster events, and free shuttles from parking areas will be provided.
The local hosts include the Sabine Parish Tourist Commission, Louisiana Office of Tourism, Sabine River Authority, Cypress Bend Resort, TanMar and other local businesses.
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2014 Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend 5/1-5/4
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many LA.
Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 25-07 100
Day 1: 5 25-07
2. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 25-00 99
Day 1: 5 25-00
3. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 5 24-14 98
Day 1: 5 24-14
4. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 22-06 97
Day 1: 5 22-06
5. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 22-04 96
Day 1: 5 22-04
6. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 22-02 95
Day 1: 5 22-02
7. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 5 22-01 94
Day 1: 5 22-01
8. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 21-14 93
Day 1: 5 21-14
9. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 21-10 92
Day 1: 5 21-10
10. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 21-05 91
Day 1: 5 21-05
11. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 20-13 90
Day 1: 5 20-13
12. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 5 20-08 89
Day 1: 5 20-08
13. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 20-05 88
Day 1: 5 20-05
14. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 19-14 87
Day 1: 5 19-14
15. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 5 19-13 86
Day 1: 5 19-13
16. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 19-04 85
Day 1: 5 19-04
17. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 19-03 84
Day 1: 5 19-03
18. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 19-01 83
Day 1: 5 19-01
19. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 5 18-15 82
Day 1: 5 18-15
20. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 18-14 81
Day 1: 5 18-14
21. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 18-05 80
Day 1: 5 18-05
22. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 18-04 79
Day 1: 5 18-04
23. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 18-01 78
Day 1: 5 18-01
24. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 18-00 77
Day 1: 5 18-00
24. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 18-00 77
Day 1: 5 18-00
26. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 17-14 75
Day 1: 5 17-14
27. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 17-09 74
Day 1: 5 17-09
28. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 17-07 73
Day 1: 5 17-07
29. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 17-05 72
Day 1: 5 17-05
29. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 17-05 72
Day 1: 5 17-05
31. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 17-03 70
Day 1: 5 17-03
32. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 16-14 69
Day 1: 5 16-14
32. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 16-14 69
Day 1: 5 16-14
34. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 16-12 67
Day 1: 5 16-12
35. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 5 16-11 66
Day 1: 5 16-11
36. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 16-06 65
Day 1: 5 16-06
36. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 16-06 65
Day 1: 5 16-06
38. Randall Tharp Port Saint Joe, FL 5 16-05 63
Day 1: 5 16-05
39. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 16-01 62
Day 1: 5 16-01
40. Glenn Browne Ocala, FL 5 16-00 61
Day 1: 5 16-00
41. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 15-15 60
Day 1: 5 15-15
42. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 15-12 59
Day 1: 5 15-12
43. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 15-09 58
Day 1: 5 15-09
43. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 15-09 58
Day 1: 5 15-09
45. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 5 15-07 56
Day 1: 5 15-07
46. Tracy Adams Wilkesboro, NC 5 15-07 55
Day 1: 5 15-07
47. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 15-06 54
Day 1: 5 15-06
47. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 15-06 54
Day 1: 5 15-06
49. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 15-01 52
Day 1: 5 15-01
50. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 14-15 51
Day 1: 5 14-15
51. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 14-14 50
Day 1: 5 14-14
52. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 14-13 49
Day 1: 5 14-13
53. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 14-09 48
Day 1: 5 14-09
54. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 14-07 47
Day 1: 5 14-07
54. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 14-07 47
Day 1: 5 14-07
54. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 14-07 47
Day 1: 5 14-07
57. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 14-04 44
Day 1: 5 14-04
58. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 14-03 43
Day 1: 5 14-03
59. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 14-01 42
Day 1: 5 14-01
60. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 13-15 41
Day 1: 5 13-15
61. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 13-14 40
Day 1: 5 13-14
62. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 13-13 39
Day 1: 5 13-13
63. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 13-12 38
Day 1: 5 13-12
64. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 5 13-11 37
Day 1: 5 13-11
65. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 13-10 36
Day 1: 5 13-10
66. Boo Woods Oneida, KY 5 13-08 35
Day 1: 5 13-08
67. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 13-07 34
Day 1: 5 13-07
67. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 13-07 34
Day 1: 5 13-07
69. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 13-05 32
Day 1: 5 13-05
70. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 13-04 31
Day 1: 5 13-04
71. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 13-02 30
Day 1: 5 13-02
72. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 12-15 29
Day 1: 5 12-15
73. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 12-13 28
Day 1: 5 12-13
73. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 12-13 28
Day 1: 5 12-13
75. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 12-12 26
Day 1: 5 12-12
76. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 12-10 25
Day 1: 5 12-10
77. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 12-09 24
Day 1: 5 12-09
77. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 12-09 24
Day 1: 5 12-09
79. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 12-06 22
Day 1: 5 12-06
80. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 12-03 21
Day 1: 5 12-03
81. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 12-00 20
Day 1: 5 12-00
82. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 11-14 19
Day 1: 5 11-14
82. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 11-14 19
Day 1: 5 11-14
84. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 11-13 17
Day 1: 5 11-13
85. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 11-12 16
Day 1: 5 11-12
86. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 11-08 15
Day 1: 5 11-08
87. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 5 11-06 14
Day 1: 5 11-06
87. Casey Scanlon Lanexa, KS 5 11-06 14
Day 1: 5 11-06
89. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 11-02 12
Day 1: 5 11-02
90. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 11-01 11
Day 1: 5 11-01
91. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 5 11-00 10
Day 1: 5 11-00
92. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 10-13 9
Day 1: 5 10-13
92. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 10-13 9
Day 1: 5 10-13
94. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 5 10-09 7
Day 1: 5 10-09
95. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 10-07 6
Day 1: 5 10-07
96. Trevor Romans Plano, TX 5 10-06 5
Day 1: 5 10-06
97. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 5 10-05 4
Day 1: 5 10-05
98. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 4 09-14 3
Day 1: 4 09-14
99. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 09-13 2
Day 1: 5 09-13
100. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 3 09-13 1
Day 1: 3 09-13
101. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 09-12 0
Day 1: 5 09-12
102. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 08-14 0
Day 1: 5 08-14
103. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 08-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-13
104. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 07-14 0
Day 1: 5 07-14
105. Joel Baker Talala, OK 4 06-02 0
Day 1: 4 06-02
106. David Smith Del City, OK 3 05-08 0
Day 1: 3 05-08
107. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
107. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 102 524 1596-09
----------------------------------
102 524 1596-09
Flw Announces 2015 Tour Dates; Locations To Be Revealed At Icast Show
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March 5-8
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March 26-29
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April 23-26
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May 14-17
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June 4-7
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June 25-28
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Aug. 20-23 – Forrest Wood Cup
Following Day 1 Cancellation, FLW Reschedules Entire James River Rayovac Tourney
High Water Cancels Day One Of Rayovac Flw Series On The James River
Bass (And Shad) Spawning Just In Time For Oakley Big Bass Tournament On Lake Norman
The really neat thing about the Oakley Big Bass Tournament Trail is that the big bite in a tournament can come at any time – in the last few minutes of fishing, or, in the case of Louie Hull of Casar, N.C., first thing in the morning.
“I don't know if there is any advantage, early or late. You are liable to catch the big fish of the tournament any time during the day,” said Hull, a veteran Lake Norman angler and creator of custom painted and hand-tied Shooter Lures.
In the Oakley Big Bass Tournament on Lake Norman last year, Hull caught the big fish of the tournament a half hour after the tournament began. He landed a 6-pound, 2 ounce largemouth that fell for a black and blue Shooter Jig.
He and fishing partner Andy Bailey drove away that day with a $30,000 boat, motor and trailer rig for the biggest fish in the Oakley Big Bass tournament.
Anglers in the tournament on Lake Norman Saturday and Sunday should find the fishing excellent at all hours of the tournament day.
“Lake Norman has been on fire lately,” Hull said. “I think it will be mostly shallow fishing. The spawn is a little late so there should be some fish on the bed, and it's about time for the shad spawn, so there could be a good bite on fish feeding on shad.”
Hull said he plans to concentrate on largemouths because, “you have to catch a big fish to win,” and he will key on the shad spawn with either a white Shooter Jig or a swim bait, in addition to throwing a topwater bait.
The Oakley Big Bass series is open to amateur anglers only. Professional anglers and guides on the tournament waters who have guided professionally for a fee in the last 12 months are not eligible.
Entry fees are $100 for a one-day entry, $150 for both days. The winner with the overall big bass of the tournament will take home a 2014 Nitro Z7 with Mercury 150HP Pro XS, valued at $30,000.
Hourly payouts have been increased this year with a total two-day hourly purse of $35,000. Hourly payouts will go to seven places each hour: 1st $1000, 2nd $500, 3rd $300, 4th $250, 5th $200, 6th $150, 7th $100 (based on 400 total entries). Weigh in Times: 8-9 a.m., 9-10am, 10-11 a.m., 11-12 a.m., 12-1 p.m., 1-2 p.m., and 2-3 p.m.
The rest of the schedule for the Oakley Big Bass Tournament series this year includes: May 17-18, Table Rock Lake, Mo.; June 14-15, Grand Lake, Okla.; Sept. 27-28, Lake Murray, S.C.; Oct. 4-5, Lake Douglas, Tenn.; Oct. 18-19, Lake Guntersville, Ala.; and Oct. 25-26, St. John's River, Fla.
Oakley Big Bass Tournament Trail
May 3-4, 2014
Lake Norman
Queen's Landing
Call Mark Jones 214-605-4600
Texas Team Trail Growing By Leaps And Bounds With 220 Boat Average In Third Year
In 2013 the Texas Team Trail averaged 185 boats per tournament, but in this the third year of the popular series, the trail is averaging 220 boats at each tournament.
“We've grown considerably,” said tournament director Mike Hastings. “We consider 225 teams a full field for a tournament, so we are really excited. It's great to see substantial growth like this.”
And, Hastings added, he expects another huge entry for the fourth and final qualifier Saturday on Lake Livingston.
The Texas Team Trail draws a big entry, in part because all the tournaments are nationally televised, with the programs also airing on a lot of local networks, so there is a tremendous amount of exposure.
“We guarantee a boat for first place in the qualifiers. That is a boat, motor, trailer and electronics, ready to fish. At the championship, two fully-rigged boats are guaranteed, one for first place and one for second place.”
The winning anglers at Lake Texoma will walk away with a brand-new Triton 18XS powered by an Evinrude 150 HO, valued at $27,500.There are also bonus awards for qualified owners from Ranger, Triton, Stratos and Evinrude,” he said.
“It's all made possible by the sponsors and you can go to the website to see the complete list,” he said. “They are all important to us. Cabelas is our title sponsor and we also have tremendous support from Ranger, Triton and Stratos. Evinrude is also a major sponsor.”
Hastings said he expects there will be a lot of “shallow water junk fishing” in Saturday's tournament because historically this time of year on Lake Livingston the fish are shallow and hit about anything.
“If there is something in the water flip a worm or a jig at it or drag a spinnerbait by it. It's pretty straightforward shallow water fishing without exception this time of year.”
To fish the series each angler must pay a $30 membership fee, then each team pays a $250 entry fee to fish each tournament. The Texas Team Trail Anglers Advantage Program also allows each team, for an additional $100 entry, to compete in an additional payout bracket, with a $100 percent payback.
Anglers who pre-register online get an additional bonus – practice time. If they are registered online before midnight Thursday they are allowed to pre-fish on Friday. Anglers who register online or via phone prior to midnight Thursday will also be entered into a drawing for a Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor. In addition, anglers that opt to register online at www.texasteamtrail.com will be entered into a drawing for a Mustang Survival inflatable PFD.
Following the Lake Livingston the anglers will move on to the Championship June 7-8 on Toledo Bend Lake.
Texas Team Trail
Sat, May 3, 2014
Lake Livingston
Waterfront Lodge
Tremendous Video With Bass Chasing Frog
Dont know what Lake this was on but i believe somewhere in SC. Its awesome
Murray State University Wins Flw College Fishing Central Conference Event On Carlyle Lake
Henry Brings More Than 30 Pounds on Final Day to Win Rayovac on Guntersville.
Browning Repeats At Red River
For the second straight year Browning has won the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open on the Red River. In 2013, he rallied from 12th place to first on the final day, but this year he only had to climb from second place to repeat as the Open champion.
The Bassmaster Elite Series pro finished with 44 pounds, 3 ounces earning the top prize of a Nitro Z-9/Mercury 225 Pro XS valued at $40,000 and $7,765 in cash. He received the Toyota Bonus Bucks prize of $1,500 for being the highest placing eligible Toyota pro, and he also earned the Power-Pole Captain’s Cash award of $500.
Aaron Johnson, of Shreveport, La., also earned a Toyota Bonus Bucks prize of $1,000 for being the second-highest placing Toyota pro.
The area Browning caught all of his big fish on the final day of the tournament in 2013 proved to be the key spot for Browning this year also. The Arkansas pro started Saturday with a small limit while his co-angler partner, Keith Glasby, of Ovilla, Texas, got off to a fast start.
“Keith (who won the co-angler division) was putting it on me pretty hard and heavy, and I just kept telling myself to just breathe,” Browning said. “It was one of those deals where you have an area and a bait that you have a lot of confidence in, but if you start to scramble you are more than likely going to tank. I just kept that little plug in my hand and kept winding it around.”
Browning remained patient knowing that the sun would position his fish close to the wood cover from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “There was a magic moment of about 30 to 45 minutes when it all happened,” said Browning, who was able to cull all of the fish he had caught earlier.
On Thursday, Browning caught most of his fish on a 1/2-ounce chartreuse-and-white War Eagle spinnerbait when the wind was blowing. But when the skies turned sunny and calm on Friday and Saturday, Browning relied on the same lure (a sexy shad 3.5-inch square-bill crankbait) that made him a winner last year.
Flipping a Texas-rigged Missile Baits Tomahawk plastic worm in a lovebug color to stumps produced a second-place finish for Gerald Spohrer of Gonzales, La.
“I pretty much stuck with the same thing (all three days),” said Spohrer, who finished with 40-12. “I didn’t scramble as much today as I had been doing the last couple of days.”
The rest of the Top 5 in the pro division included Johnson, Shreveport, La., in third place with 40-2; Elite Series pro Keith Combs, Huntington, Texas, fourth, 37-11; and Chad Wiley, Pineville, La., fifth, 34-14.
Co-angler Glasby won his second Open co-angler title with 22-8 and took home a Triton 17 Pro/Yamaha F115LA rig worth $25,000.
“My bread and butter was a little Bandit Series 100 crankbait in chartreuse with a black back,” said Glasby, who also won the 2012 Open as a co-angler at Lewisville Lake. “Today I switched up fishing behind Stephen Browning who is so efficient, so I went with a little (Carolina) rig with a Senko on it.”
Catching a 7-13 largemouth earned Johnson the Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament award of $500.
The Livingston Lures Leader Award of $250 for finishing as the top pro on Day 2 was presented to Spohrer. Logan Latuso, the Day 2 leader on the co-angler side, received a Livingston Lures gift pack worth $250.
Anglers in both divisions who advance the most places up the leaderboard from Day 1 to Day 2 receive the Allstate Good Hands, Great Day award. Pro division angler Gary Clouse, of La Vergne, Tenn., collected $250 by jumping 108 places from 160th to 52nd. Co-angler Mike Robinson, of Carter, Okla., picked up $150 by climbing 127 places from 156th to 29th.
The host for the event is the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission.
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Spoher Takes Lead At Bassmaster Open On Red River
A change in his practice methods for the Bass Pro Shops Central Open #2 presented by Allstate on the Red River is paying off for Gerald Spohrer.
Last year the Gonzalez, La., angler ran the banks in practice and tried to make a milk run of spots during the tournament. However, he found crowds on most of those spots and eventually finished 49th in the Open.
This year, Spohrer looked for more offshore targets in practice, a strategy that has him leading the pro division with 28 pounds, 14 ounces.
“I spent my whole practice fishing stuff where I thought the tournament would be won,” he said. “I know this river very well, and I have a lot of experience here. I gambled and found some sweet spots that were holding some big ones.” Whenever he got a bite in practice, he marked a waypoint in the oxbows he was fishing, and each competition day he has keyed on those waypoints.
The change in weather from clouds and wind Thursday to sunshine and a light breeze on Friday made it easier for the 32-year-old Spohrer to work his area. “I had a problem with the wind yesterday,” said Spohrer, who had a 13-5 limit the first day. “It was blowing about 25 mph out of the south, and I was fishing the northern end of an oxbow.”
The rough water made it difficult to see the stumps he was trying to target, but today he was able to locate the stumps easier and caught a heavier limit (15-9) while flipping to wood cover. “The sun is positioning the fish on the stumps,” Spohrer said. Thursday and Friday he spent a couple of hours fishing the stump field to catch bigger fish and then moved to other spots to complete his limit.
“Tomorrow I might just stay in that area all day,” Spohrer said.
Defending 2013 Red River Central Open champion Stephen Browning barely made the Top 12 cut last year but is currently sitting in second place with 28-8 this year. The Bassmaster Elite Series pro said he is doing the same thing he did the final day of last year’s event. Only this time, he has a crowd with him. “I had a lot of company today, but it is what it is,” he said. “You can’t claim the whole pond. I just kept my head down and kept fishing.”
The rest of the Top 5 in the pro division are Elite Series pro Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla., in third place with 27-8; first-day leader Aaron Johnson, Shreveport, La., fourth, 27-7; and Tommy Murray, Bedford, Texas, fifth, 26-0.
Co-angler Logan Latuso, of Gonzalez, La., kept his lead by catching a small limit of 4 pounds, 11 ounces to give him a two-day total of 17 pounds. The Louisiana angler failed to catch a fish until 12:30 p.m. and finally completed his limit by about 2 o’clock.
“I was able to fish about the same stuff today, but I had to really slow down today because it was a lot tougher bite,” he said.
The Allstate Good Hands, Great Day award of $250 was presented to pro angler Gary Clouse, of La Vergne, Tenn., in honor of climbing the most positions in the standings from Day 1 to Day 2.
Michael Robinson, of Carter, Okla., earned the co-angler Allstate Good Hands, Great Day award of $150 for his jump in the standings on Day 2.
The Livingston Lures Leader award of $250 was presented to the pro angler in the lead on Day 2, Spohrer. The leader of the Day 2 co-angler side, Latuso, received a Livingston Lures gift pack valued at $250.
Tomorrow’s launch will be held at the Red River South Marina, 200 Red River South Marina Drive, Bossier City, La.. The weigh-in will move to the Bass Pro Shops, 100 Bass Pro Drive, in Bossier City, and will begin at 3:30 p.m. CT.
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open presented by Allstate 4/24-4/26
Red River, Shreveport/Bossier City LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 10 28-14 200 $250.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 15-09
2. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 28-08 199
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 13-09
3. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 27-08 198
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-12
4. Aaron Johnson Shreveport, LA 9 27-07 197
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 4 06-15
5. Tommy Murray Bedford, TX 10 26-00 196
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 10-10
6. Colby Hand Shreveport, LA 10 25-06 195
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 09-04
7. Kylie Sparks Denham Spgs, LA 10 25-06 194
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 15-06
8. Marvin Ettredge Shreveport, LA 10 25-02 193
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-02
9. John Frye Haughton, LA 10 23-13 192
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 09-10
10. Caleb Boudreaux Doyline, LA 10 23-01 191
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 10-09
11. Chad Wiley Pineville, LA 10 22-10 190
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 08-07
12. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 22-09 189
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-03
13. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 10 22-09 188 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-03
14. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 10 22-05 187 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 13-03
15. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 22-04 186 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 14-01
16. Justin Kerr Lk Havasu Cty, AZ 10 21-13 185 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 10-13
17. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 9 21-11 184 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 4 06-14
18. Jarred Fitch West Monroe, LA 10 21-10 183 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 10-09
19. James Stricklin Hot Springs, TX 10 21-07 182 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 11-10
20. Buz Craft Vidalia, LA 10 21-06 181 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 09-03
21. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 10 21-05 180 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 08-14
22. Eric Poindexter Eufaula, OK 10 21-04 179 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 12-00
23. Carl Jocumsen Queensland AUSTRALIA 10 21-00 178 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 11-08
24. James Biggerstaff Odessa, TX 10 21-00 177 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-07
25. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 20-15 176 $3,033.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 12-06
26. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 20-13 175 $2,669.00
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 5 11-10
27. Logan Sherrer Karnack, TX 10 20-08 174 $2,669.00
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 12-06
28. Steve Sennikoff Forney, TX 10 20-08 173 $2,669.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 11-00
29. Eddie Norris Mannford, OK 10 20-06 172 $2,669.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 09-09
30. Cody Martin Goldonna, LA 9 20-05 171 $2,669.00
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 4 08-07
31. Kenta Kimura Livingston, TX 9 20-04 170 $2,305.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 4 08-07
32. Jeff Avery El Dorado, AR 9 20-01 169 $2,305.00
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 5 12-06
33. Blake Betz Baton Rouge, LA 10 20-01 168 $2,305.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 08-15
34. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 20-01 167 $2,305.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-13
35. Lucas Ragusa Gonzales, LA 10 20-01 166 $2,305.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-06
36. Joel Baker Talala, OK 10 19-15 165 $1,941.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 10-14
37. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 10 19-15 164 $1,941.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-06
38. Larry Puckett Decatur, TX 8 19-13 163 $1,941.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 3 04-09
39. Jordan Lee Vinemont, AL 10 19-13 162 $1,941.00
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 10-11
40. Matt Lee Auburn , AL 10 19-11 161 $1,941.00
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 11-04
41. Mike Pedroza Sibley, LA 10 19-10 160
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 11-14
42. Eddy May Valley Center, KS 9 19-08 159
Day 1: 4 06-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
43. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 10 19-06 158
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-04
44. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 10 19-06 157
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 09-13
45. Jerry Hester Coushatta, LA 9 19-01 156
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 05-14
46. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 8 19-00 155
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 5 13-12
47. Timmy Reneau Del Rio, TX 10 18-09 154
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 06-01
48. Shane Williams Keithville, LA 10 18-08 153
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 09-10
49. Chip Gennaro Jr Wesson, MS 10 18-02 152
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 07-07
50. Troy Broussard Beaumont, TX 10 17-15 151
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 09-02
51. Bill Lee Harker Hts, TX 10 17-13 150
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 06-15
52. Gary Clouse La Vergne, TN 7 17-11 149 $250.00
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 5 14-06
53. Josh Douglas Shakopee, MN 10 17-09 148
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 07-14
54. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 17-08 147
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 06-10
55. Jeff Reynolds Calera, OK 10 17-08 146
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 5 09-12
56. Jeff Cloud Lubbock, TX 8 17-07 145
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 5 12-12
57. Scott Mcgehee Madison, MS 10 17-06 144
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 09-13
58. Scott Barnett Mansfield, TX 10 17-03 143
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 07-14
59. Josh Tidenberg Clovis, NM 10 17-01 142
Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 5 10-02
60. Brandon Mosley Choctaw, OK 10 16-14 141
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 07-07
61. Sam George Athens, AL 10 16-13 140
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 09-11
62. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 16-12 139
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 08-05
63. Rick Mabile Pierre Part, LA 10 16-09 138
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 07-12
64. Albert Collins Nacogdoches, TX 8 16-07 137
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 3 05-02
65. Tommy Loving Cypress, TX 6 16-07 136
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 3 07-08
66. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 10 16-04 135
Day 1: 5 06-15 Day 2: 5 09-05
67. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 16-00 134
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 07-02
68. Vu Au Tucson, AZ 7 15-15 133
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 2 02-15
69. Denny Brauer Del Rio, MO 9 15-15 132
Day 1: 4 05-13 Day 2: 5 10-02
70. Brian Potter Claremore, OK 10 15-14 131
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 09-07
71. Terry Peacock Royse City, TX 8 15-11 130
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 3 07-15
72. Billy Smith Tomball, TX 8 15-10 129
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 5 11-13
73. Jeffery Lemoine Des Allemands, LA 10 15-10 128
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 07-02
74. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 9 15-09 127
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 4 04-13
75. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 10 15-08 126
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-03
76. Stephen Mitchell Jonesville, LA 8 15-07 125
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 3 07-00
77. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 9 15-06 124
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 4 07-03
78. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 9 15-04 123
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 4 05-03
79. Doug Anderson Saint Louis, MO 10 15-04 122
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 06-13
80. C-Note Cnota Tucson, AZ 10 15-03 121
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 06-13
81. David Gillham Heath, TX 10 15-02 120
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 5 08-13
82. Kevin Lasyone Dry Prong, LA 10 15-02 119
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 08-05
83. James Biggs Richland Hills, TX 8 15-01 118
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 5 11-12
84. Gene Eisenmann Frisco, TX 9 15-01 117
Day 1: 4 07-14 Day 2: 5 07-03
85. Bradley Jameson Lovington, NM 9 14-14 116
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 4 07-12
86. Blaine Covington Fort Worth, TX 10 14-12 115
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 06-06
87. Patrick Pierce Jacksonville, FL 10 14-09 114
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 06-14
88. Jody Herring Meadville, MS 7 14-08 113
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 2 02-04
89. Andy Young Mound, MN 10 14-07 112
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 06-03
90. Jonathan Simon Orange, TX 8 14-05 111
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 3 04-12
91. Brian Mathis Fort Collins, CO 10 14-05 110
Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 5 08-06
92. Keith Surber Longview, TX 9 14-05 109
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 4 06-06
93. Tucker Owings Haslet, TX 10 14-01 108
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 5 07-13
94. Zack Fogle White Oak, TX 7 13-15 107
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 2 03-03
95. Jeromy Francis Magnolia, TX 10 13-15 106
Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 5 08-00
96. Randy Despino Colfax, LA 10 13-14 105
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 5 07-06
97. Gary Riffle Paris, TX 8 13-13 104
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 3 04-05
98. David Padgett Republican City, NE 8 13-09 103
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 5 09-11
99. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 10 13-06 102
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 06-02
100. Albert Earl White Crosby, TX 7 13-06 101
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 2 06-03
101. Homer Humphreys Jr. Minden, LA 7 13-06 100
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 3 06-10
102. Chase Brooks Rankin, TX 7 13-01 99
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 2 03-12
103. Doug Vahrenberg Higginsville, MO 8 13-00 98
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 5 08-03
104. Mike Pharr Shreveport, LA 8 12-15 97
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 5 07-09
105. Terrell Foster Natchez, MS 8 12-14 96
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 3 04-13
106. Gary Vining Morgan City, LA 10 12-14 95
Day 1: 5 07-10 Day 2: 5 05-04
107. Trait Crist Fort Worth, TX 7 12-12 94
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 4 06-09
108. Mark Child Mansfield, TX 6 12-08 93
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 1 03-10
109. Christoper Mitchell Bossier City, LA 6 12-07 92
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 4 09-00
110. Ryan Williams Tyler, TX 6 12-04 91
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 1 01-06
111. Chris Berry Houston, TX 8 12-04 90
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 5 07-15
112. Ron Wells Claremore, OK 9 12-04 89
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 4 05-00
113. Craig Workman Fort Worth, TX 9 11-15 88
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 4 05-07
114. Don Stringer Huntsville, TX 8 11-14 87
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 3 04-07
115. Carl Cavalier Avondale, LA 8 11-13 86
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 5 07-04
116. Greg Yates Sunnyvale, TX 5 11-10 85
Day 1: 4 10-05 Day 2: 1 01-05
117. Dannie Barlow Madison, MS 7 11-09 84
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 2 02-01
118. Jerod Hawkes Eagle Pass, TX 8 11-06 83
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 3 04-10
119. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 11-05 82
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Tyler Wilson Carlsbad, NM 7 11-05 81
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 2 03-03
121. Greg Ingram Owasso, OK 4 11-00 80
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 1 02-10
122. Matthew Delaney Pollock, LA 9 11-00 79
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 4 04-00
123. Ralph Laster Camdenton, MO 8 11-00 78
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 3 04-07
124. Frank Ramsey Cary, IL 8 10-15 77
Day 1: 5 07-00 Day 2: 3 03-15
125. James Caldemeyer Gilmer, TX 7 10-12 76
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 3 04-13
126. Bo Keith Haughton, LA 5 10-11 75
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
127. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 6 10-11 74
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 1 01-06
128. David Gregg Palestine, TX 6 10-08 73
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 2 03-15
129. Shane Powell Midland City, AL 6 10-07 72
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 1 02-05
130. Tandy Harlan Shreveport, LA 6 10-06 71
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 1 01-05
131. Randall Sitz Prosper, TX 8 10-06 70
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 5 07-02
132. Tyler Stewart West Monroe, LA 8 10-06 69
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 3 04-00
133. Mac McDaniel Roxie, MS 7 10-05 68
Day 1: 4 04-14 Day 2: 3 05-07
134. Steven Schmidt Madison, NE 6 10-04 67
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 3 03-14
135. Derek Fulps Broken Arrow, OK 5 10-02 66
Day 1: 4 09-02 Day 2: 1 01-00
136. Daniel Rodriquez New Braunfels, TX 7 10-02 65
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 4 05-03
137. TR Andreas Kerrville, TX 8 10-01 64
Day 1: 4 04-14 Day 2: 4 05-03
138. Thomas McMillan Choudrant, LA 8 09-15 63
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 3 03-10
139. Rick Gillespie Vidalia, LA 8 09-14 62
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 5 05-06
140. Stephen Johnston Hemphill, TX 7 09-06 61
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 3 03-13
141. Brian Ankrum Uvalde, TX 6 08-14 60
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 4 06-09
142. Roy Sanford Brookeland, TX 5 08-10 59
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
143. David Sherrer Elm Grove, LA 5 08-08 58
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
144. Greg Mansfield Burnsville, MN 7 08-08 57
Day 1: 4 03-15 Day 2: 3 04-09
145. Rick Dusek Wylie, TX 7 08-03 56
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 2 02-03
146. William Oshinn Granite Bay, CA 5 08-02 55
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
147. Cole Garrett Winnfield, LA 4 08-01 54
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
148. Tommy Durham Whitney, TX 7 08-01 53
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 2 02-06
149. Jeff Acker Duncanville, TX 6 08-01 52
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 03-12
150. Bob Fair Oologah, OK 6 07-15 51
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 4 06-02
151. Ryan Heavener Tulsa, OK 5 07-13 50
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 3 04-15
152. Rick Hanna Hereford, TX 5 07-12 49
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 1 01-00
153. Scott Maness Minden, LA 7 07-06 48
Day 1: 2 02-00 Day 2: 5 05-06
154. Cody Ryan Greaney Manchaca, TX 5 07-00 47
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 2 02-12
155. Todd Risinger West Monroe, LA 4 06-15 46
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 3 05-06
156. Jeff Jerome Mcpherson, KS 5 06-14 45
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 4 05-04
157. Lisa Sternard Clarksville, TN 5 06-02 44
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Jay Grave Linn Creek, MO 3 05-10 43
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 03-13
159. Ed Whaley Montgomery, TX 3 05-08 42
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 2 04-02
160. Darrell Newman Bruceville, TX 4 05-07 41
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 05-07
161. Cody Brazzel Shreveport, LA 3 05-06 40
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
162. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 5 05-06 39
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 2 02-00
163. Larry Byrd Lake Charles, LA 3 05-04 38
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
164. Craig Duvall Denham Springs, LA 3 05-03 37
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Dave Mansue Hemphill, TX 4 05-00 36
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 05-00
166. Debra Hengst San Antonio, TX 3 04-15 35
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 2 03-08
167. Michael Murphrey Jonesboro, LA 4 04-14 34
Day 1: 4 04-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Johnny Johnson Destin, FL 1 04-11 33
Day 1: 1 04-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
169. Jason Lieblong Conway, AR 3 04-06 32
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
170. Sammy Burks Joplin, MO 2 03-14 31
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
171. Roger Richter Muskogee, OK 3 03-13 30
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
172. Jan Heavener Sherwood, AR 3 03-11 29
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Dewayne Lewis Arlington, TX 3 03-10 28
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 01-13
174. Kendall Newson Decatur, GA 3 03-09 27
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 1 01-05
175. Jon Englund Farwell, MN 3 03-06 26
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-06
176. Jason Lawson Corrigan, TX 2 02-14 25
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Bert Worrell Hallsville, TX 2 02-11 24
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
178. Brent Bonadona Port Allen, LA 2 02-08 23
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
179. Derick Kuyrkendall Bergheim, TX 1 01-13 22
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
180. Justin Russell El Dorado, KS 1 01-08 21
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
181. Adrian Yeo Colorado Springs, CO 1 01-01 20
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
182. Jason Baggett Mansfield, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 116 751 1380-11
2 87 637 1157-10
----------------------------------
203 1388 2538-05
2014 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open presented by Allstate 4/24-4/26
Red River, Shreveport/Bossier City LA.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 6 17-00 200
Day 1: 3 12-05 Day 2: 3 04-11
2. Ken Coats Claremore, OK 6 16-00 199
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 3 07-14
3. Toby Hartsell Afton, OK 6 15-02 198
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 3 08-00
4. Noel Allen Jr Brandon, MS 6 14-12 197
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 3 08-15
5. Kent Dotson Clever, MO 6 14-07 196
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 3 06-12
6. Keith Glasby Ovilla, TX 6 14-02 195
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 3 06-10
7. Bill Bonner Wetumpka, AL 6 13-10 194
Day 1: 3 08-05 Day 2: 3 05-05
8. Kenneth Moore Red Oak, TX 6 13-08 193
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 07-04
9. Jean-Christophe David Bordeaux LA Bodeaux FRA 6 13-06 192
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 3 06-00
10. Bryan Hester Bossier City, LA 6 13-05 191
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 3 09-01
11. Jason Cutrer Natchez, MS 6 13-04 190
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 3 05-00
12. JP Kimbrough Bossier City, LA 6 13-01 189
Day 1: 3 09-03 Day 2: 3 03-14
13. Joe Lee Grand Prairie, TX 6 13-01 188 $1,456.00
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 3 06-04
14. Chris Nettles Haughton, LA 6 12-15 187 $1,335.00
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 3 05-09
15. Luis Suarez Elgin, TX 5 12-10 186 $1,213.00
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 08-01
16. Bob Walton Longview, TX 6 12-10 185 $1,092.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 05-00
17. Gary Reynolds Blossom, TX 6 12-09 184 $849.00
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 07-07
18. Luke Koch Campbellsport, WI 6 12-09 183 $728.00
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 3 06-10
19. Jarrad Nickolite Shakopee, MN 6 12-08 182 $728.00
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 08-09
20. Bradley Biggerstaff Odessa, TX 6 12-08 181 $607.00
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 3 06-10
21. Jim Bruffey Keithville, LA 5 12-04 180 $516.00
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 2 03-09
22. Adam Boyd Humble, TX 6 12-03 179 $516.00
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 08-04
23. Robert Brooks Ardmore, OK 6 12-02 178 $516.00
Day 1: 3 07-00 Day 2: 3 05-02
24. Destin Demarion Grove City, PA 6 12-02 177 $516.00
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 3 06-15
25. Sam Chapman Norman, OK 5 11-11 176 $516.00
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 3 08-00
26. Ernest Smoak Keatchie, LA 6 11-10 175 $516.00
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 05-06
27. Chris Pearson Marthaville, LA 6 11-07 174 $516.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 05-00
28. Justin Halper Wichita, KS 6 11-02 173 $516.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 04-11
29. Michael Robinson Carter, OK 4 11-01 172 $666.00
Day 1: 1 01-03 Day 2: 3 09-14
30. Jason Williams Lisbon, LA 5 10-14 171 $516.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 2 04-03
31. Garrett Perkins Mamou, LA 5 10-10 170 $516.00
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 2 02-11
32. Christopher Dirgo Rosamond, CA 6 10-10 169 $516.00
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 04-03
33. Aaron Leon Henderson, NV 6 10-09 168 $516.00
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 3 04-00
34. Seth Russell Harleton, TX 6 10-08 167 $516.00
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 3 04-12
35. Adam Hunt Baton Rouge, LA 6 10-07 166 $516.00
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 3 04-07
36. Bud Varnadore Minden, LA 6 10-05 165 $516.00
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 3 06-01
37. James Kiser Montgomery, TX 6 10-04 164 $516.00
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 3 03-09
38. Will Major Port Allen, LA 4 10-03 163 $516.00
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 1 01-06
39. Mike Briseno Elgin, TX 6 10-03 162 $516.00
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 3 06-00
40. James Lonadier Benton, LA 6 10-01 161 $516.00
Day 1: 3 03-04 Day 2: 3 06-13
41. Robert Parkison Marshall, TX 6 10-01 160
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 3 04-02
42. James Grave Linn Creek, MO 5 09-15 159
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 3 06-08
43. Steve Corbin Bacliff, TX 6 09-15 158
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 3 04-08
44. Grover Chambliss JR Leander, TX 6 09-14 157
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 04-10
45. Charles Helm Wichita, KS 6 09-14 156
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 3 04-15
46. Chris Karlowsky Flower Mound, TX 5 09-11 155
Day 1: 3 06-09 Day 2: 2 03-02
47. Kenneth Moser Alba, TX 6 09-11 154
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 03-09
48. Jeff Lantz Haughton, LA 6 09-10 153
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 3 05-00
49. George Hodges Jr Bossier City, LA 4 09-06 152
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 1 02-10
50. Pig Savario Prairieville, LA 6 09-06 151
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 3 04-04
51. Buddy Hardin Nederland, TX 5 09-05 150
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 2 04-10
52. Billy Gray Haynesville, LA 6 09-00 149
Day 1: 3 05-00 Day 2: 3 04-00
53. Rick Parker Kaufman, TX 5 08-15 148
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 3 06-04
54. Jay Lawson Corrigan, TX 6 08-14 147
Day 1: 3 04-14 Day 2: 3 04-00
55. Danny Golden Lumberton, TX 4 08-12 146
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 2 03-06
56. Bruce White La Ward, TX 5 08-11 145
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 2 03-05
57. Mark Cowart Kearney, MO 6 08-05 144
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 03-01
58. Michael Campbell Mansfield, LA 6 08-05 143
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 3 03-10
59. Paul Sims JR Shreveport, LA 4 08-04 142
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 1 01-00
60. Ron Miller Houston, TX 6 08-04 141
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 3 03-15
61. Nick Milligan Wagoner, OK 5 08-01 140
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 2 02-15
62. Matthew Loetscher Many, LA 3 07-13 139
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 06-00
63. Corey Martin Pride, LA 5 07-12 138
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 2 03-15
64. Casey Crotty El Dorado, AR 4 07-11 137
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 3 04-05
65. Brendan Kennell Del Rio, TX 5 07-10 136
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 2 03-00
66. Rondell Joseph Pearland, TX 4 07-09 135
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 3 05-12
67. Justin Padgett Republican City, NE 4 07-05 134
Day 1: 3 06-06 Day 2: 1 00-15
68. William Dowden Leesville, LA 5 07-05 133
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 3 04-10
69. Houston Hill Fort Worth, TX 5 07-05 132
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 2 03-03
70. Scott Bunday Plano, TX 5 07-04 131
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 3 04-12
71. Peyton Igo Minden, LA 3 07-01 130
Day 1: 2 05-08 Day 2: 1 01-09
72. Andy Sallee Cleburne, TX 6 07-01 129
Day 1: 3 03-09 Day 2: 3 03-08
73. Ben Mccormick Shreveport, LA 4 07-00 128
Day 1: 3 05-15 Day 2: 1 01-01
74. Justin Stone Hamlin, TX 5 07-00 127
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 3 04-12
75. Matt Fitzhugh Terry, MS 5 06-15 126
Day 1: 3 03-10 Day 2: 2 03-05
76. Charles Heavener Sherwood, AR 4 06-14 125
Day 1: 3 05-14 Day 2: 1 01-00
77. Chris Hosier Fort Smith, AR 2 06-13 124
Day 1: 1 05-08 Day 2: 1 01-05
78. Clint May La Porte, TX 5 06-13 123
Day 1: 2 01-12 Day 2: 3 05-01
79. Jeff Jackson Longville, LA 6 06-13 122
Day 1: 3 02-15 Day 2: 3 03-14
80. John Hayen North Richland Hills, T 5 06-12 121
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 02-04
81. Larry Crist Fort Worth, TX 5 06-12 120
Day 1: 3 03-13 Day 2: 2 02-15
82. Spencer Johnson Riverton, UT 4 06-11 119
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 3 04-11
83. Jordan Burks Joplin, MO 5 06-11 118
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 2 02-13
84. Matt Commerford Alexandria, MN 3 06-10 117
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-10
85. Tyson Patrick Mccamey, TX 1 06-10 116
Day 1: 1 06-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
86. John Roberson Shreveport, LA 4 06-09 115
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 1 01-01
87. Lloyd McDaniel Roxie, MS 5 06-08 114
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 2 01-15
88. Jack Norton Charlestown, IN 5 06-08 113
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 3 03-04
89. Ray Thomasson Jr El Dorado, AR 4 06-07 112
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 1 01-15
90. Jeremy Creel Benton, AR 4 06-07 111
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 2 02-14
91. Albert Hudson Austin, TX 4 06-06 110
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 3 05-07
92. Andy Magoun Ferriday, LA 4 06-06 109
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 3 04-09
93. Bobby Mcgee Coldwater, MS 4 06-06 108
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 3 04-08
94. Dwayne Luby Cypress, TX 5 06-04 107
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 3 04-00
95. Colt Farris Joshua , TX 5 06-04 106
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 2 02-08
96. Joseph Watson Shreveport, LA 5 06-04 105
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 3 03-10
97. Taylor Gauntt Sachse, TX 4 06-03 104
Day 1: 3 04-15 Day 2: 1 01-04
98. Joe Koch Kewaskum, WI 3 06-02 103
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
99. John Moon Brookeland, TX 4 06-02 102
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 1 01-15
100. Shawn Carnahan Gilbert, AZ 5 06-02 101
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 2 02-03
101. Hagen Henson White Oak, TX 3 06-00 100
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-00
101. Terry Wilson Carlsbad, NM 3 06-00 100
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
103. Kevin Jennings Calhoun, LA 4 06-00 98
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 3 04-09
104. Steven Pounds Shreveport, LA 5 05-15 97
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 3 04-02
105. Roderick Randall Rowlett, TX 3 05-15 96
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 2 04-02
106. Ryan Wiggins Pineville, LA 3 05-13 95
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 2 03-01
107. Gilbert Martinez Borger, TX 2 05-11 94
Day 1: 2 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
108. Rusty Sumrow Winona, TX 3 05-10 93
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 1 02-08
109. Treven Hightower Mannford, OK 3 05-08 92
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Brian Washburn Mcqueeney, TX 3 05-08 92
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-08
111. Gunny Schuler Azle, TX 4 05-08 90
Day 1: 3 04-03 Day 2: 1 01-05
112. Jarvis Ellis Albany, GA 2 05-08 89
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 1 03-10
113. Kb Barnett Overton, TX 4 05-07 88
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 1 00-15
114. Bobby McDill Raleigh, MS 3 05-07 87
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 1 01-13
115. James Littleford Seabrook, TX 4 05-07 86
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 2 02-06
116. Larry Beauboeuf Natchitoches, LA 3 05-05 85
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
117. Nick Spantgos Topeka, KS 4 05-05 84
Day 1: 3 04-07 Day 2: 1 00-14
118. Bill McCoun Amarillo, TX 4 05-05 83
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 3 04-05
119. James Gallman Shreveport, LA 3 05-04 82
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
120. Dustin Wrona Tulsa, OK 4 05-04 81
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 2 02-05
121. Greg Strahm Shelbyville, TN 3 05-01 80
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
122. Chris Louviere Iowa, LA 5 05-01 79
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 2 02-04
123. Ron Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 4 05-01 78
Day 1: 3 02-07 Day 2: 1 02-10
124. Craig Crim Victoria, TX 3 05-00 77
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 05-00
125. Rick Newton Mansfield, TX 4 05-00 76
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 3 03-08
126. Joe Schonhoff Slidell, LA 4 04-15 75
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 1 00-13
127. Bo Rhodes Flower Mound, TX 4 04-15 74
Day 1: 3 03-05 Day 2: 1 01-10
128. David Larson Mound, MN 3 04-13 73
Day 1: 3 04-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
129. Nathan Medlin Rayville, LA 4 04-11 72
Day 1: 3 03-10 Day 2: 1 01-01
130. Dustin Robison Anacoco, LA 3 04-09 71
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
131. Matt Neiburg Blair, NE 3 04-08 70
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
132. Kenny Butts Oklahoma City, OK 3 04-08 69
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 1 01-04
133. Kirk Williams Stonewall, LA 3 04-07 68
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-07
134. Ryuichi Hasegawa Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 4 04-06 67
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 3 03-00
135. Michael Page Shreveport, LA 3 04-05 66
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
136. Ryan Barnes Fort Collins, CO 3 04-04 65
Day 1: 3 04-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
137. Jerry Biggs Euless, TX 3 04-04 64
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 2 03-07
138. Chris Obryan Harned, KY 2 04-04 63
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 1 02-04
139. Richard Gandy Longview, TX 4 04-03 62
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 3 03-02
140. Lance Andreas Rockwall, TX 3 04-02 61
Day 1: 3 04-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
141. Joe Brozak Orange, TX 3 04-01 60
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
142. Robert Keith Oklahoma City, OK 3 04-00 59
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-00
143. Larry Nors Ganado, TX 2 03-14 58
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 03-14
144. Jeremy Gallman Haughton, LA 4 03-14 57
Day 1: 3 02-13 Day 2: 1 01-01
145. Justin Perry Rayville, LA 3 03-14 56
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 2 02-06
146. Dale Thayne Seguin, TX 3 03-10 55
Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 1 01-03
147. Nutt Mcnutt Bossier City, LA 3 03-10 54
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 2 02-05
148. Chris Jeffery Sedan, KS 3 03-09 53
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 1 01-04
149. Jimmy Patterson Amarillo, TX 4 03-08 52
Day 1: 3 02-07 Day 2: 1 01-01
150. Denny Wilkins Lubbock, TX 3 03-05 51
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 2 02-04
151. Michael Bell Kilgore, TX 2 03-03 50
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 1 00-14
152. Larry Jones Bokoshe, OK 2 03-01 49
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
153. Rick Harris Lubbick, TX 2 02-15 48
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
154. Matt Michel Gonzales, LA 2 02-14 47
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 1 01-13
155. Charles Anderson Marble Falls, TX 2 02-14 46
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 1 01-06
156. Chet Peterson Saint Amant, LA 2 02-13 45
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
157. Bud Robinson Carter, OK 2 02-12 44
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
158. Mark Bounds Bethany, OK 2 02-11 43
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
159. Larry Lacewell Henderson, TX 2 02-11 42
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 1 01-04
160. Skip Ibbotson Green Forest, AR 2 02-10 41
Day 1: 2 02-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
161. Craig Brown Flower Mound, TX 1 02-09 40
Day 1: 1 02-09 Day 2: 0 00-00
162. Bill Mcnutt Henry, IL 1 02-07 39
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-07
163. Russell Dorion Jr Lafayette, LA 2 02-06 38
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
163. Ralph Heavener Jr Tulsa, OK 2 02-06 38
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
165. Kandie Candelaria Canyon Lake, TX 2 02-05 36
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 1 00-15
166. Don Rolland Princeton, LA 2 02-05 35
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 1 01-01
167. Drake Wehrs Truth Consq, NM 2 02-04 34
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 0 00-00
168. Torica Whitty Leesville, LA 2 02-03 33
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
169. Bill Walls Spring, TX 2 02-01 32
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-01
170. Robert Prebeck Norwood, MO 1 01-12 31
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
171. Emile Gennaro Sr Wesson, MS 1 01-09 30
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-09
172. Daniel Brock D Hanis, TX 1 01-05 29
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
173. Wendell Prothow Humble, TX 1 01-03 28
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-03
174. John Hayes Sherwood Park ALBERTA C 1 01-02 27
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
175. Terry Graham Flower Mound, TX 1 01-00 26
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
175. JC Thompson Calera, OK 1 01-00 26
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Tom Bever Boulder, CO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Harry Holloway Dayton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. David Markham Brownwood, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Richard Poteet Hillsboro, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Richard Stringer Midland, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
177. Bobby Williams Lubbock, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 98 393 690-04
2 76 329 559-13
----------------------------------
174 722 1250-01
Weekend Tournament Preview with AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh
AC Pro Staffer Rob Digh breaks down all the tournaments accross the region for this and next weekend.........one very common theme-the fish are biting almost everywhere! Click on the video for the FULL PREVIEW!!
Johnson Leads Bassmaster Open On Red River
Aaron Johnson of Shreveport, La., takes the lead on Day 1 of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Central Open #2 presented by Allstate. Johnson brought 20 pounds, 8 ounces of Red River bass to the scales at Thursday's weigh-in.
Aaron Johnson, of Shreveport, La., has a strategy that other local anglers might want to try when fishing tournaments on their home waters.
Johnson decided to skip the final day of practice for the Bass Pro Shops Central Open #2 presented by Allstate on the Red River and went to work instead. Even though he lives close to the river, Johnson said he limits the amount of time he spends on the water.
“The river is pretty rough on my equipment, so I don’t come here that often unless I have a tournament,” said the 41-year-old Johnson. The sales and marketing manager practiced on Saturday but skipped Sunday to spend time with his family. He then resumed practicing Monday and Tuesday and found five spots that were holding bass.
His strategy of fishing the river “only when I have to” paid off today as Johnson amassed a five-fish limit weighing 20 pounds, 8 ounces to take the lead in the boater division of the second Central Opens of 2014. His catch included a 7-13 largemouth that currently leads the Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament race.
Today’s cloudy weather caused the fish to react differently than what Johnson discovered in practice. “I really wanted the sunshine, but it was just out a little bit,” said Johnson, who won a Central Open in 2008 at Kentucky Lake. “The fish really weren’t setting up on the cover, but I was able to figure out how to get them to bite (in the cloudy weather),” he said. “Once I got that figured out, I popped them pretty good.”
A 45-mile one-way run and lock negotiation limited Johnson’s fishing time today. The local angler estimated he had only about 3 1/2 hours to fish, but he made the most of his time. He also has plenty of options available for tomorrow as he only hit one of his five spots today. “I will probably bounce around a little bit more tomorrow just because I have a later flight, so I should have a lot more time to cover more areas,” he said.
Another Shreveport angler, Colby Hand, moved into second place on the pro side with a 16-2 limit. The 36-year-old construction worker said he had a “so-so” practice catching only a couple of good fish here and there, but never really established a pattern.
“I didn’t make any adjustments today really,” said Hand, who ran to about five spots and caught his limit by about 9 a.m.
Rounding out the Top 5 on the pro side are Tommy Murray, Bedford, Texas, in third place with 15-6; Larry Puckett, Decatur, Texas, fourth, 15-4; and Elite Series pro, Stephen Browning, Hot Springs, Ark., fifth, 14-15.
Co-angler Logan Latuso, of Gonzales, La., hopes to repeat what his father Robbie Latuso, a longtime B.A.S.S. Nation angler, did back in 2009 when he won the non-boater division of the Central Open at Toledo Bend. The 20-year-old Latuso, who works for his dad and attends a community college, leads the non-boater division with a three-fish limit weighing 12-5. “I had to grind it out and had the three right bites,” Logan said.
The local host for this event is the Shreveport-Bossier Sports Commission. Friday and Saturday’s takeoff, as well as Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the Red River South Marina, 200 Red River South Marina Drive, Bossier City, La. The final day weigh-in will move to the Bass Pro Shops at 101 Bass Pro Drive, in Bossier City.
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Jeff Holland Shares Our Sport on Iconic, Mysterious Lake X
Holland shares his day on the legendary lake with numerous photos in his excellent blog post on JeffHollandFishing.com. Take a look: http://jeffhollandfishing.blogspot.com/?m=1
With the heart of a teacher, Holland is free with the information he gains from the tournament trails. He regularly shares this info in his blog.
This past weekend he got to share his knowledge first-hand as a boat captain in the youth tournament on Lake X.
Be sure to call-in as Jeff makes a guest appearance this Saturday morning on the Fishing Florida Radio Show. Jeff will help the guys give away prizes to callers.
For more about the Fishing Florida Radio Show check out their web site: http://www.fishingfloridaradio.com/calendar.html
Late Spring Could Be What Montgomery Needs In Elite Tournament On Toledo Bend
Andy Montgomery is hoping the late spring might actually work in his favor in the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Toledo Bend Reservoir this week.
His best finish on the lake that straddles the Louisiana-Texas border was 2nd place in a Professional Anglers Association (PAA) tournament in October 2009. The Blacksburg, S.C., pro led after the second day, but came up just .54 of a pound short on the third day.
A year and a half later, in April 2011, he notched his second best finish on the lake, weighing a total of 66 pounds for 6th place in an Elite Series tournament.
“I executed my game plan almost to perfection and with just a little luck I could have won the tournament,” he said after finishing 6th.
His worst outing on the 185,000 reservoir on the Sabine River came in June or 2012 when he finished 53rd.
But, with conditions running three weeks to a month later than normal, Montgomery is hoping the bass are in about the same spot on their schedule that they were three years ago when he finished 6th.
If so, he could possibly replicate that successful outing and, with that little luck he needed in 2011, maybe win the Toledo Bend Elite tournament.
“As late as the spring is there should be a lot of fish spawning and maybe even some fish in pre-spawn,” he said. “Most likely the tournament will be won offshore because that is where you will find the big groups of fish that you can actually win tournaments on, so I will spend a lot of time offshore. But I am going to look for bedding bass too.”
Montgomery said a lot of fish will probably be caught off the beds the first day of the tournament and then anglers will have to look for them in other areas or find unfished bedding spots.
“Toledo Bend has got a lot to offer. There is shallow wood, shoreline grass, milfoil, hydrilla, stands of timber. It's a good tournament lake because we can spread out and not have to fish on top of each other like we were on the St. John's River.”
Currently ranked 23rd in the Bassmaster Elite Angler of the Year standings, Montgomery said he hopes to stay inside the Bassmaster Classic cutoff, which is typically around the top 35 anglers. After finishing 11th at Seminole in mid-March and 25th on the St. John's River a week later, one fish in the third Elite tournament of the year cost him a chance for real breathing room in the AOY race, he said.
“I had one bite at Table Rock tournament (in early April) that would have made a world of difference...just one bite,” he said.
Montgomery hooked a 5-pounder that got his line tangled in a cedar tree and he could not get him out. That was the difference between a possible top 50 finish and 71st place, which held him down in AOY points.
Montgomery said when practice opens Monday he plans to spend a little time scouting the lake, then spend some time checking out the fish along the banks and then “get a feel for what to do in the tournament.”
Evan Williams Bourbon Bassmaster Elite at Toledo Bend
May 1-4, 2014
Toledo Bend Reservoir
Cypress Bend Park
Usc Team Hoping For 100 Boats In Second Anglers @ Usc Bass Open On Lake Wylie
Last year the first Anglers @ USC Bass Open on Lake Wylie drew more than 80 boats and the collegiates are hoping their second Bass Open Saturday will bring more than 100 teams to the SC-NC border lake.
“Last year we had a boat come all the way from New Jersey to fish the tournament,” said Gettys Brannon, tournament director for the University of South Carolina Fishing Team. That young angler and his teammate have announced plans to come back for this year's tournament, Brannon said.
“We're bringing the new Skeeter this year and I'm sure Liam West and I will have a better showing come tourney day,” tweeted Trevor Topken of New Jersey recently.
Entry fee for the tournament is $120 per boat, with an optional $20 for big fish. There will be a 90 percent payback to the anglers, with 10 percent going to fund activities of the fishing club.
“The money we make is how we go fishing,” Brannon said. “This year we've already gone to a tournament at Lake Okeechobee and one at Clarks Hill. Then we have one coming up at Guntersville and another at Pickwick Lake in Alabama.”
Registration will be held at Hunt, Fish, Paddle (www.huntfishpaddle.com), starting at 5 p.m. Friday, and continue before the tournament, beginning at 5 a.m. Saturday, said Adam Filmore, owner of the
specialty fishing, bow hunting and paddlesports outdoor adventure retailer at Lake Wylie.
“We'll have coffee and donuts for the anglers starting at 5 o'clock that morning,” Filmore said.
Anglers should find fishing very good for the tournament, he added.
“The fish are starting to move up and some have already moved up. They are catching fish in the spawning pockets and some off the main lake drops now,” Filmore said.
2nd Annual Anglers @ USC Bass Open
Sat, Apr 26, 2014
Lake Wylie
Buster Boyd Access Area
Call Gettys Brannon at 864-490-7864
www.facebook.com/fishing.southcarolina
Kyle Page Tournament Moves To Saturday In Hopes Of Increasing Entry And Money For Families In Need
Although bad weather forced the annual MSKP Kyle Page tournament to move from its scheduled April date to June 2 last year, 180 teams of anglers showed up to fish and support the charitable goals of the tournament.This year the tournament will be held on May 3, moving from Sunday to Saturday for the first time in the 17-year history of the tournament.
“We are hoping to get at least the same number of boats this year and hopefully, by moving it to a Saturday, we will have more participation in boats and in the crowd at the weigh-in,” said Shelly Page, mother of Kyle Page, the now-17-year-old for whom the tournament is named.
The first “Kyle Page Open Team Bass Tournament” was held in 1997 to benefit the Page family, which faced mounting medical bills after Kyle was born with spina bifida, a birth defect of the spine. The tournament was a huge success raising over $10,000 for Kyle's family.
After seeing the success of the tournament and the outpouring of the community, Kyle's dad, the late Joel Page, a local bass tournament fisherman, asked to continue the tournament to raise money for other families in need of assistance to care for children with special medical needs. For nearly two decades the tournament has been a staple of the springtime tournament scene at Lake Murray.
“Over the years we have given away about $500,000 to close to 80 families,” Shelly Page said.
During good economic times the tournament assisted three or more families every year, but it lost some major sponsors during the economic downturn in recent years and for now will support two families, she said.
Teams pay a $150 entry fee, which includes two big fish and first place is guaranteed $5,000. While the anglers are the primary source of money for the Kyle Page Foundation, other supporters, fishing fans and participants are also needed, and Shelly Page said there will be a lot going on for the entire family. “We are going to have a Bouncy House for the kids and the same two bands we had last year will be performing, The Part Timers and Dixieland Crossroads. The Mid-Carolina Branch of the Quality Deer Management Association, which has been great to us, donated some money to the effort and they will be cooking hamburgers.”
Meanwhile, Shelly Page said she hoped her son, Kyle, who has served as the inspiration for the charitable effort, will be healthy enough to attend the weigh-in.
“We held the first tournament when he was three months old and he turned 17 last month, but he is in a hospital bed right now. He's had five surgeries, including major back surgery, since the tournament last year. Hopefully, by the day of the tournament he will be good enough to go.”
Tournament registration forms for the 18th Annual MSKP Kyle Page Tournament are now available at Boland's True Value in Chapin and Wilson's II in Little Mountain.
MSKP Kyle Page Foundation Bass Tournament
Sat, May 3, 2014
Lake Murray
Dreher Island State Park
Call 803-917-9318
www.facebook.com/MSKPFoundation