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The Final Report
Bassmaster Classic: Lake Wylie, NC
We hear
people speak about "The American
Dream" occasionally, but all to often it is just that - talk. However, some
don't just talk. Takahiro Omori, originally from Japan, migrated to the US
in 1992 to pursue his dream of becoming a professional bass fisherman.
Setting in Emory, TX, Omori entered tournaments, learned English, and
managed to qualify for the BASS Tour. Finally, after 18 years of waiting,
the Classic was his. The American Dream, for Omori, was
made complete.
The American Dream - Fulfilled
Unlike Ike, Omori did not break dance after his victory. Instead, overcome
by emotion, he pounded the stage repeatedly and cried before 13,200 fans and
on national television. I've waited 18 years for my dream to come true
since I was 15.
The money is great, but it's not about the money. It's the trophy,
really. It's awesome. Omori fished the same water as 4th
place finished Dean Rojas, also of Texas. "Takahiro and I pass by each other
at times during the day," Rojas commented. "It's a pretty good-sized area,
but he's in sight of me pretty much the whole day."
Omori
agrees with Rojas: "Me and Dean are pretty much fishing the same area, so
whoever gets the best bites (Sunday) will win," he said. It is obvious which
of the two got the best bites.
 
So, what did it take to win the Classic? A variety of lures and a good area.
Omori utilized Yamamoto and Zoom creature baits, Lunker Lure jigs, and
Bagley Balsa BII crankbaits the first two days while targeting fallen trees
in shallow water. When the final day came along, Omori
abandoned the jig and creature baits and used the crankbait exclusively. He
caught bass at 1:45, 2:10 and 2:12 on the lure, and sealed his victory.
"I had lost two 5-pounders (earlier in the day) and I thought it cost me the
Classic, Omori remarked. "But I never give up. With fishing, you never know
what is going to happen." Indeed.
The Stats:
| Day |
Rank |
Weight |
| 1 |
1 |
16-02 |
| 2 |
2 |
25-10 |
| 3 |
1 |
39-02 |
Second Again
 
Aaron Martens has finished second again. Martens finished second behind Jay
Yelas a few years ago on Lay Lake, and now on Lake Wylie found himself once
again in second. This time, however, Martens was just under three pounds
behind the champion.
"Sure, I'm disappointed," said Martens. Who would not be? "I
had a good tournament and caught a lot of fish this week. I just didn't get
enough big bites."
Watch Martens during future championships. He is ready to
win.
Enough bass for second came from fishing near the Highway 49
bridge with a homemade spinnerbait with a Zoom Fluke plastic body attached.
The Stats:
|
Day |
Rank |
Weight |
|
1 |
8 |
13-03 |
|
2 |
4 |
23-12 |
|
3 |
2 |
26-06 |
KVD - 3rd
 
The man from Kalamazoo, MI, finished 3rd on Lake Wylie, just 11 ounces
behind Martens. "The competition is so good now to the point that you can't
make any mistakes and you've got to be on top of your game," Kevin VanDam
said. "That's what makes the Classic so great."
VanDam's success hinged upon fishing deep rocks on Lake
Wylie with a Strike King Series 6 crankbait and 10-inch Zoom worms.
The Stats:
|
Day |
Rank |
Weight |
|
1 |
13 |
10-13 |
|
2 |
7 |
22-05 |
|
3 |
3 |
35-11 |
As For the Rest...
Dean Rojas of Grand Saline, TX, fished the same general area as Omori, but
could not put enough bass in the boat to win. Rojas placed 4th with 15 bass
weighing 35-05. Kelly Jordon of Mineola, TX, placed 5th with 15 bass
weighing 34-07. Rojas and Jordon earned $35,000.00 and $25,000.00,
respectively.
Standings:
For more complete standings, please
refer to The Full Story or each individual day's story on the
National Tournament News
page. Day 1:
| Rank |
Name |
Hometown |
Bass |
Weight |
| 1 |
Takahiro Omori |
Emory, TX |
5 |
16-02 |
| 2 |
Michael Iaconelli |
Runnemede, NJ |
4 |
15-15 |
| 3 |
Dean Rojas |
Grand Saline, TX |
5 |
15-08 |
| 4 |
Denny Brauer |
Camdenton, MO |
5 |
15-07 |
| 5 |
Tommy Biffle |
Wagoner, OK |
5 |
15-02 |
| 6 |
Zell Rowland |
Montgomery, TX |
5 |
13-07 |
| 7 |
Jason Quinn |
Clover, SC |
5 |
13-04 |
| 8 |
Aaron Martens |
Castiac, CA |
5 |
13-03 |
| 9 |
Mark Tucker |
Saint Louis, MO |
5 |
12-13 |
| 10 |
Marty Stone |
Linden, NC |
5 |
12-06 |
| 11 |
Thad Takes |
Center Point, IA |
5 |
11-14 |
| 12 |
Chad Brauer |
Osage Beach, MO |
5 |
11-00 |
| 13 |
Kevin VanDam |
Kalamazoo, MI |
5 |
10-13 |
| 14 |
Dustin Wilks |
Rocky Mount, NC |
5 |
10-12 |
| 14 |
Stacey King |
Reeds Spring, MO |
5 |
10-12 |
| 16 |
Brent Chapman |
Shawnee, KS |
4 |
10-07 |
| 17 |
Russ Lane |
Prattville, AL |
5 |
10-05 |
| 18 |
Steve Sennikoff |
Forney, TX |
5 |
10-04 |
| 19 |
Kelly Jordon |
Mineola, TX |
5 |
9-15 |
| 20 |
John Murray |
Phoenix, AZ |
5 |
8-15 |
| 20 |
Mark Kile |
Tonto Basin, AZ |
4 |
8-15 |
| 22 |
Harold Allen |
Shelbyville, TX |
4 |
8-12 |
| 22 |
Skeet Reese |
Auburn, CA |
3 |
8-12 |
| 24 |
Edwin Evers |
Mannsville, OK |
5 |
8-03 |
| 25 |
Mike McClelland |
Bella Vista, AR |
4 |
6-15 |
Day 2:
| Rank |
Name |
Hometown |
Bass |
Weight |
| 1 |
Dean Rojas |
Grand Saline, TX |
10 |
26-04 |
| 2 |
Takahiro Omori |
Emory, TX |
10 |
25-10 |
| 3 |
Jason Quinn |
Clover, SC |
10 |
24-01 |
| 4 |
Aaron Martens |
Castaic, CA |
10 |
23-12 |
| 5 |
Marty Stone |
Linden, NC |
10 |
23-02 |
| 6 |
Stacey King |
Reeds Spring, MO |
10 |
22-09 |
| 7 |
Kevin VanDam |
Kalamazoo, MI |
10 |
22-05 |
| 8 |
Tom Biffle |
Wagoner, OK |
8 |
21-08 |
| 9 |
Kelly Jordon |
Mineola, TX |
10 |
21-01 |
| 10 |
Denny Brauer |
Camdenton, MO |
6 |
19-14 |
| 11 |
Davy Hite |
Prosperity, SC |
7 |
19-13 |
| 12 |
Brent Chapman |
Shawnee, KS |
8 |
19-08 |
| 13 |
Dustin Wilks |
Rocky Mount, NC |
10 |
18-13 |
| 14 |
David Walker |
Sevierville, TN |
8 |
18-05 |
| 15 |
Skeet Reese |
Auburn, CA |
8 |
18-03 |
| 16 |
Steve Sennikoff |
Forney, TX |
9 |
17-11 |
| 17 |
John Murray |
Phoenix, AZ |
9 |
17-09 |
| 18 |
Randy Blaukat |
Lamar, MO |
8 |
16-14 |
| 19 |
Thad Takes |
Center Point, IA |
7 |
16-08 |
| 20 |
Zell Rowland |
Montgomery, TX |
7 |
16-07 |
| 21 |
Chad Brauer |
Osage Beach, MO |
7 |
16-02 |
| 22 |
Russ Lane |
Prattville, AL |
9 |
15-15 |
| 22 |
Michael Iaconelli |
Runnemede, N.J. |
4 |
15-15 |
| 24 |
Jay Yelas |
Tyler, TX |
9 |
15-12 |
| 25 |
Kevin Wirth |
Crestwood, KY |
8 |
15-08 |
Day 3:
| Rank |
Name |
Hometown |
Bass |
Weight |
Winnings |
| 1 |
Takahiro Omori |
Emory, TX |
15 |
39-02 |
$200,000.00 |
| 2 |
Aaron Martens |
Castaic, CA |
15 |
26-06 |
$50,000.00 |
| 3 |
Kevin VanDam |
Kalamazoo, MI |
15 |
35-11 |
$40,000.00 |
| 4 |
Dean Rojas |
Grand Saline, TX |
15 |
35-05 |
$35,000.00 |
| 5 |
Kelly Jordon |
Mineola, TX |
15 |
34-07 |
$25,000.00 |
| 6 |
Jason Quinn |
Clover, SC |
15 |
33-14 |
$20,000.00 |
| 7 |
Denny Brauer |
Camdenton, MO |
11 |
33-09 |
$16,000.00 |
| 8 |
Stacey King |
Reeds Spring, MO |
15 |
33-00 |
$15,000.00 |
| 9 |
Marty Stone |
Linden, NC |
14 |
32-07 |
$14,000.00 |
| 10 |
John Murray |
Phoenix, AZ |
14 |
32-04 |
$13,000.00 |
| 11 |
Skeet Reese |
Auburn, CA |
13 |
31-09 |
$12,000.00 |
| 12 |
Davy Hite |
Prosperity, SC |
11 |
30-12 |
$12,000.00 |
Big Bass:
|
Day |
Name |
City, State |
Weight |
Award |
|
1 |
Michael Iaconelli |
Runnemede, NJ |
7-04 |
$1,000.00 |
|
2 |
Davy Hite |
Prosperity, SC |
5-06 |
$1,000.00 |
|
3 |
Michael Iaconelli |
Runnemede, NJ |
4-14 |
$1,000.00 |
|
Final |
Michael Iaconelli |
Runnemede, NJ |
7-04 |
$2,000.00 |
By Brandon Shook
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