The Full Story

BASS Tour: Table Rock Lake, MO

Tour Event # 4 of 6

Preview | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4

Preview: BASS Tour Event #4 on Table Rock

Some of the best bass anglers in America take their act to one of the best bass lakes in the country March 4-7 for the upcoming Bassmaster Tour event presented by on Table Rock Lake.

At stake is a $100,000 top prize and valuable points toward qualifying for the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Classic and the new Bassmaster Elite 50 series.

Situated on the Arkansas-Missouri border, the 46-year-old impoundment of the White River provides 52,300 acres of haven for three bass species. Table Rock is home to quality populations of largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass.

Tour pro Brian Snowden is currently 6th place in the BASS AOY standings. Watch him closely during this event - he may do very well. Snowden guides on Table Rock, and has certainly been on a roll this year.

Other local anglers like veteran Missouri pro Stacey King are anxious to show the fishing world that Table Rock has recovered nicely from a nasty bout with Largemouth Bass Virus.

"It's really coming back," King said. "We've had a couple years of pretty good
spawns here and high water during the spawn or right after the spawn so the
fish have gotten off a pretty good spawn and then had enough cover in the water
that the small fry have had a chance to recover and live, and get up to a size
they can maintain on their own.

"So really we're starting to see quite a few more quality fish than we did for
a couple of years. And numbers on largemouth are real good, too.

"I think it's the best spotted bass fishery in the world. I don't know of any
place that is a big lake like this that has more quality spotted bass from one
end to the other. I know there's lots of wonderful spotted bass fisheries in
the country, but a lake that's got so much water in it and it just has the spot
numbers in here are phenomenal."

Just how cooperative the big lake will be during the Bassmaster event depends
on Mother Nature.

"It all depends on the weather," King said. "If we can have a little warming
trend before, the fishing will be wonderful. You'll see fish caught on several
different patterns, and there will be a lot of good quality sacks of fish. Good
spots, smallmouth and largemouth.

"If it's real cold, it will be a dead winter-type deal. There will still be
some good sacks caught, but a lot of the field will have a real tough time if
it's cold weather."

Southwestern Missouri has been enjoying a mild winter. The extended forecast
calls for more of the same.

The tournament will be the eighth BASS stop on Table Rock. Reigning Angler of
the Year Jay Yelas was the victor the last time the Tour visited (2001) with 43
pounds, 13 ounces.

Daily weigh-ins take place at What's Up Dock Marina at 2:45 p.m. Anglers launch
beginning at 6:30 a.m.

THE CITGO BASSMASTERS ON ESPN2
Fans can catch the fourth event of the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail
on Table Rock Lake, Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2.


 

Day 1: Rain Shortened Day for Anglers at Table Rock

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. - All-stars packed the leader board after day one of the CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer on Table Rock Lake, Thursday, with former CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion Paul Elias leading the pack.

Elias, of Pachuta, Miss., weighed 20 pounds, 5 ounces of bass in front of crowds at the What's Up Dock Marina, said a good practice early in the week gave him a leg up, despite severe weather that delayed Thursday's launch by an hour.
 

"Where I caught these fish, I knew they were in there," Elias said. "I caught
a few good ones in there in practice and left them alone, and there's still
some fish in there. I had four others hit my bait today. They hit it pretty
hard, but didn't get it, didn't even touch a hook.

"I think I can catch some, but the wind is really going to howl (Friday). It
won't hurt me there. I had some jerkbait fish, and it'll hurt me there."

Elias' catch was the heaviest of the day, earning him the $1,000 Busch
Heavyweight award, given to the participating angler with the heaviest catch
each day of the event. Elias is currently qualified for September's Busch
Shootout, a $100,000 tournament on a mystery lake. Pros with the top 10
Heavyweights after the Tour and Bassmaster Elite 50 seasons will qualify for
the tournament. Elias's catch bumped Oklahoma's Edwin Evers out of the top 10.

Mark Tucker of Arkansas was second Thursday with 18-10, and considered himself
lucky to have boated that many fish after the delayed takeoff. Despite the
delay, he was grateful for the stormy weather.

"A delay always hurts you because you lose fishing time," he said. "I think
the fishing's getting a little bit better. I caught some fish in practice, but
I didn't catch fish quite this size. The fish have gotten a little bigger. I
think the water warming up has helped it quite a bit.

"I'm not catching them any one way, but I'm cranking some, I'm fishing a jig
some, I'm doing a lot of different things with some isolated schools of fish,
but it's not a deep, dark secret or anything. Wind and rain are always good on
these lakes."

Missouri's Chad Brauer, Arizona's John Murray, and Florida's Roland Martin
rounded out the top five Thursday with weights of 16-6, 15-9 and 15-3,
respectively.

On the amateur side, Arkansas's Billy McCaghren Jr. leads after day one with
12-2. Missouri's Jeff Stevens and Arkansas's John Harris are close on his
heels with 12-1 and 11-1, respectively.

Jarrett Edwards of Del Norte, Colo., had the big bass Thursday earning him
$1,000 on the pro side for the Purolator Big Bass of the Day. If his 6-18
lunker can hold out for all four days of the tournament, he will earn an
additional $1,000 from Purolator. On the amateur side, Ohio's Mitchell Lakes
caught a 5-11 bass that put $500 in his pocket for the Purolator Big Bass.

The CITGO Bassmaster Tour event on Table Rock Lake will continue through
Sunday. Friday's launch begins at 6:30 a.m. from the What's Up Dock Marina.
Weigh-in will also be held at the What's Up Dock Marina beginning at 2:45 p.m.

Fans can watch "The CITGO Bassmasters" telecast of the Table Rock Lake
tournament on Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2.

The CITGO Bassmaster Tour events this season feature the highly interactive and
family friendly BASS Sponsor Expo area. Sponsors present interactive exhibits
and provide a fun family experience for all ages. The Expo will take place from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 12 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday at What's
Up Dock Marina.

The CastingKids program presented by CITGO will be held in conjunction with the
BASS Sponsor Expo Saturday, from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the What's Up Dock
Marina. Children between the ages of 7 and 14 can participate in the contest
with the chance to earn a scholarship.

Day 1 Pro Standings

Rank	Name	Hometown	Bass	Weight
1	Paul Elias	Pachuta, MS	5	20-05
2	Mark Davis	Mount Ida, AR	5	18-10
3	Chad Brauer	Osage Beach, MO	5	16-06
4	John Murray	Phoenix, AZ	5	15-09
5	Roland Martin	Naples, FL	5	15-03
6	Edwin Evers	Mannsville, OK	4	14-09
7	Tom Burns	Carbondale, IL	5	14-05
8	Jack Wade	Knoxville, TN	5	14-01
9	Takahiro Omori	Emory, TX	5	13-12
10	David Walker	Sevierville, TN	3	12-11
11	Kevin VanDam	Kalamazoo, MI	4	12-10
12	Todd Auten	Lake Wylie, S.C.	3	12-02
12	Kevin Wirth	Crestwood, KY	4	12-02

 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz

14. Mike Auten Benton, Ky. 4 12-00
Day 1: 4 12-00
14. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5 12-00
Day 1: 5 12-00
16. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 4 11-10
Day 1: 4 11-10
17. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 3 11-08
Day 1: 3 11-08
18. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 4 11-02
Day 1: 4 11-02
19. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 5 10-09
Day 1: 5 10-09
20. Harold Allen Shelbyville, Texas 3 10-04
Day 1: 3 10-04
21. Danny Correia Marlborough, Mass. 3 9-09
Day 1: 3 9-09
22. Chris Baumgardner Gastonia, N.C. 4 9-06
Day 1: 4 9-06
23. John Crews Jetersville, Va. 3 9-01
Day 1: 3 9-01
24. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 3 9-00
Day 1: 3 9-00
25. Jarrett Edwards Del Norte, Colo. 2 8-15 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 8-15
25. Gerald Gostenik Dearborn, Mich. 3 8-15
Day 1: 3 8-15
27. Mike O'Shea Westlake Village, Cali 3 8-13
Day 1: 3 8-13
28. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 3 8-11
Day 1: 3 8-11
29. Ken Cook Lawton, Okla. 3 8-06
Day 1: 3 8-06
30. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 4 8-04
Day 1: 4 8-04
30. Mark Rogers Naples, Fla. 4 8-04
Day 1: 4 8-04
32. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 3 8-03
Day 1: 3 8-03
33. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 3 8-02
Day 1: 3 8-02
34. Art Ferguson III Saint Clair Shores, Mi 3 8-00
Day 1: 3 8-00
35. Charles Ingram Santa Fe, Tenn. 4 7-13
Day 1: 4 7-13
36. Scott Suggs Alexander, Ark. 3 7-11
Day 1: 3 7-11
37. Duke McCardle Marietta, Ga. 3 7-06
Day 1: 3 7-06
38. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 2 7-04
Day 1: 2 7-04
39. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 2 7-02
Day 1: 2 7-02
40. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 3 6-15
Day 1: 3 6-15
41. Stephen Daniel Clewiston, Fla. 3 6-14
Day 1: 3 6-14
42. Doug Garrett Cabot, Ark. 2 6-07
Day 1: 2 6-07
43. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 3 6-04
Day 1: 3 6-04
44. Mark Shepard Labelle, Fla. 2 6-03
Day 1: 2 6-03
45. Woo Daves Spring Grove, Va. 2 6-02
Day 1: 2 6-02
46. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 2 6-01
Day 1: 2 6-01
47. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 2 6-00
Day 1: 2 6-00
48. Lance Vick Mineola, Texas 2 5-15
Day 1: 2 5-15
49. Randall Romig Barto, Pa. 2 5-14
Day 1: 2 5-14
50. Brent Chapman Shawnee, Kan. 2 5-11
Day 1: 2 5-11
 

From BASS

Day 2: Elias Widens Lead During Day Two on Table Rock

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. - Former world champion Paul Elias gained ground on Table
Rock Lake Friday, ending the day two a full 4 pounds, 5 ounces ahead of his
closest competitors at the CITGO Bassmaster Tour event presented by Busch Beer.
The Mississippi angler and 1982 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion's 37 pounds,
8 ounces is comfortably ahead of nine-time Angler of the Year Roland Martin and
1995 Classic champ Mark Davis, who are tied with 33-3.

"I started spinnerbaiting the bank and caught two big spots there," Elias said.
"That's another little ace in the hole there. I feel like I've got enough
areas that, if I'm on it enough, I should catch five."

Martin, of Florida, and Arkansas's Davis were happy to make Friday's cut to the
Top 12 anglers and stay within striking distance of the lead.

"It all boils down to catching a big fish and I didn't catch one," Davis said.
"I did not see any other anglers yesterday, but today, it got pretty crowded.
That hurt me a little bit."

Martin, who was running and gunning much of day two, said the windy conditions
helped a lot.

"You have to have three or four things," Martin said. "You have to have wind,
you have to have shade and you have to have a shady bank, and they're hitting
on spinnerbaits and jigs only in the shade; they won't hit in the sun. I
caught them all day. I had a limit by about 10:30."

The Purolator Big Bass of the day went to South Carolina's Jason Quinn. His
7-10 lunker earned him a $1,000 bonus and, if it holds through Sunday's finale,
will earn him an additional grand as the Purolator Big Bass of the Tournament.
On the amateur side, North Carolina's Terry Chapman had the Purolator Big Bass,
earning him $500.

The Busch Heavyweight of the day went to Missouri's Stacey King. His 18-4
catch earned him an additional $1,000 for the tournament. If that weight
remains in the top 10 through the rest of the Tour and Bassmaster Elite 50
series, he will have the opportunity to fish in the $160,000 Busch Shootout
tournament on a mystery lake In September.

The field of 12 who made the cut for day three also includes Texas's Takahiro
Omori (30-5), Arizona's John Murray (28-10), South Carolina's Todd Auten
(27-11), Alabama's Gerald Swindle (27-2), Illinois's Tom Burns (26-5),
Illinois's Chad Morganthaler (25-5), Arkansas's George Cochran (23-12),
Missouri's Chad Brauer (23-9) and Tennessee's Jack Wade (23-7).

John Harris of Arkansas leads the amateur side of the competition going into
the amateurs' final day. His two-day catch of 15-14 leads Missouri's David
Manglesdorf (15-3) and Colorado's Bob Bjorklund (13-3).

The CITGO Bassmaster Tour event on Table Rock Lake will continue through
Sunday. Launch begins at 6:30 a.m. from the What's Up Dock Marina. Weigh-in
will also be held at the What's Up Dock Marina beginning at 2:45.

Day 2 Pro Standings

Rank	Name	Hometown	Bass	Weight
1	Paul Elias	Pachuta, MS	10	37-08
2	Mark Davis	Mount Ida, AR	10	33-03
2	Roland Martin	Naples, FL	10	33-03
4	Takahiro Omori	Emory, TX	10	30-05
5	John Murray	Phoenix, AZ	10	28-10
6	Todd Auten	Lake Wylie, S.C.	7	27-11
7	Gerald Swindle	Hayden, AL	9	27-02
8	Tom Burns	Carbondale, IL	10	26-05
9	Chad Morgenthaler	Coulterville, IL	7	25-05
10	George Cochran	Hot Springs, AR	10	23-12
11	Chad Brauer	Osage Beach, MO	7	23-09
12	Jack Wade	Knoxville, TN	7	23-07

The following anglers did not qualify to fish the final two days.

13. Brent Chapman Shawnee, Kan. 7 22-11 251 $5,400.00
Day 1: 2 5-11 Day 2: 5 17-00
14. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 9 22-04 248 $5,300.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 4 10-04
15. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 6 21-10 245 $5,200.00
Day 1: 1 3-11 Day 2: 5 17-15
16. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 8 21-02 243 $5,100.00
Day 1: 3 6-04 Day 2: 5 14-14
17. Scott Suggs Alexander, Ark. 7 20-15 241 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 7-11 Day 2: 4 13-04
18. Mike McClelland Vella Vista, Ark. 8 20-13 239 $4,900.00
Day 1: 3 5-04 Day 2: 5 15-09
19. Mark Rogers Naples, Fla. 8 19-11 237 $4,800.00
Day 1: 4 8-04 Day 2: 4 11-07
20. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 6 19-08 235 $4,700.00
Day 1: 4 14-09 Day 2: 2 4-15
21. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. 6 19-07 233 $4,600.00
Day 1: 3 12-11 Day 2: 3 6-12
22. Art Ferguson III Saint Clair Shores, Mi 8 19-06 231 $4,500.00
Day 1: 3 8-00 Day 2: 5 11-06
23. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 8 18-15 229 $4,400.00
Day 1: 3 9-00 Day 2: 5 9-15
24. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 7 18-07 227 $4,300.00
Day 1: 3 11-08 Day 2: 4 6-15
25. Stacey King Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 18-04 225 $5,200.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 18-04
26. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 6 18-01 223 $4,100.00
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 5 16-01
27. Mark Shepard Labelle, Fla. 6 18-00 221 $3,850.00
Day 1: 2 6-03 Day 2: 4 11-13
27. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 5 18-00 221 $3,850.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 18-00
29. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 6 17-08 217 $3,700.00
Day 1: 4 12-02 Day 2: 2 5-06
30. Jarrett Edwards Del Norte, Colo. 4 17-05 215 $4,600.00
Day 1: 2 8-15 Day 2: 2 8-06
31. Jordan Paullo Coventry, Conn. 5 16-13 213 $3,500.00
Day 1: 1 3-07 Day 2: 4 13-06
32. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 6 16-12 211 $3,400.00
Day 1: 1 2-11 Day 2: 5 14-01
33. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 6 16-10 209 $3,300.00
Day 1: 2 6-00 Day 2: 4 10-10
34. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 7 16-09 207 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 5-09 Day 2: 5 11-00
35. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 4 16-05 205 $3,100.00
Day 1: 1 3-03 Day 2: 3 13-02
36. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 4 16-04 203 $3,000.00
Day 1: 2 7-04 Day 2: 2 9-00
37. Brett Hite Phoenix, Ariz. 6 16-02 201 $2,900.00
Day 1: 1 2-15 Day 2: 5 13-03
38. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 5 15-14 199 $2,800.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 4 13-13
39. Jimmy Houston Cookson, Okla. 6 15-13 197 $2,700.00
Day 1: 2 4-15 Day 2: 4 10-14
40. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 7 15-12 195 $2,600.00
Day 1: 2 3-08 Day 2: 5 12-04
41. Tim Horton Tuscumbia, Ala. 6 15-11 193 $2,500.00
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 5 13-11
42. Robert Lee Angels Camp, Calif. 6 15-03 191 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 4 9-13
43. Randall Romig Barto, Pa. 6 15-02 189 $2,400.00
Day 1: 2 5-14 Day 2: 4 9-04
44. Stephen Daniel Clewiston, Fla. 7 15-01 187 $2,400.00
Day 1: 3 6-14 Day 2: 4 8-03
45. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 5 15-00 185 $2,350.00
Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 4 13-01
46. Aaron Martens Castaic, Calif. 5 14-13 183 $2,350.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 14-13
47. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 14-11 181 $2,300.00
Day 1: 4 12-10 Day 2: 1 2-01
48. Ken Cook Lawton, Okla. 5 14-09 179 $2,300.00
Day 1: 3 8-06 Day 2: 2 6-03
49. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, Ala. 5 14-08 177 $2,200.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 14-08
49. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 4 14-08 177 $2,200.00
Day 1: 1 1-07 Day 2: 3 13-01
 

From BASS

Day 3: Martin Takes Lead After Three Days on Table Rock

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. – With 19 wins over his career, BASS legend Roland Martin
holds the record for most BASS tournament victories. Heading into Sunday’s
final round of the CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer, he stands
poised to break his own record.

Martin, who holds nine Angler of the Year titles, leaped into the lead Saturday
with a three-day total catch of 52 pounds, 1 ounce. If Martin wins on Sunday,
the $100,000 prize purse will put his all-time BASS winnings over $1 million,
boosting him into the BASS Millionaires’ Club, something that Martin has wanted
for a long time.

“I retired one time, 10 or 12 years ago and I came back and I’ve since done
pretty well on the Tour, but I’ve done terrible this year,” Martin said. “This
has just been the worst year I’ve ever had. I’m way down in the (Angler of the
Year) points and this is the best tournament that I’ve had, so I’ve felt like,
well, maybe I will retire but I’m not going to retire for sure until I hit the
million dollar mark.”

Martin, who is fishing a jig and a spinnerbait, stayed with the patterns to
bring in 18-14 Saturday and take the Busch Heavyweight catch of the day, worth
an additional $1,000 from Busch Beer. If his catch is one of the 10 heaviest
at the end of the Tour and Bassmaster Elite 50 series, he will have the
opportunity to fish the $160,000 Busch Shootout tournament on a mystery lake in
September.

But for now, the goal is to stay at the top of the field, which could be a
tricky proposition.

“I’ve narrowed it down to a very narrow window,” Martin added. “It’s a precise
water temperature, water clarity and type of pocket and the wind has to be a
certain way. You know all those things are critical, and I pretty well know
what to look for.”

Arkansas’ Mark Davis, who tied with Martin for second place on Friday, stayed
in the number two spot to make Saturday’s cut to the Super Six. His three-day
catch of 49-10 keeps him in the hunt for the victory.

“I’m in there,” said Davis, a former Angler of the Year and CITGO Bassmaster
Classic champion. “I’ve got a shot. That’s all you can ask for in a four-day
tournament, to have a chance to win going into the last day. It’s easy to have
a good day here and it’s also easy to have a bad day. I could have stayed
where I was yesterday … and I wouldn’t have caught anything, but when you’ve
got that confidence and you’ve got that momentum going, you have to keep riding
it.”

Alabama’s Gerald Swindle jumped from 11th to take the third spot with 17-13
sack that included a 7-3 bass, earning him $1,000 from Purolator for the
Purolator Big Bass of the day. His three-day catch of 44-15 is a mere 6 ounces
ahead of fourth place South Carolinian Todd Auten with 44-9. Mississippi’s
Paul Elias (40-5), who led the first two days, and Illinois’ Chad Morganthaler
(39-1) were fifth and sixth.

Competition concluded on the amateur side Saturday with North Carolina’s Terry
Chapman taking home $36,000 in cash and merchandise as well as a year’s worth
of CITGO gasoline. Chapman was thrilled with the win, especially since he had
never fished on Table Rock before.

“I’ve read for years and years about the lake and I’ve always wanted to fish
here and when it came up on the schedule, I hoped I got picked for it,” Chapman
said. “It kind of favors Beaver Lake, which I’ve fished a whole lot, but
nothing like where I live. I actually won a pro/am on Lake Murray back in ’96.
I’m retired, I don’t want to do anything but fish, and I love it.”

The $500 Purolator Big Bass award on the amateur side went to Arkansan John
Harris, who weighed in a 5-pound, 6-ounce lunker.

The CITGO Bassmaster Tour event on Table Rock Lake will conclude Sunday.
Launch begins at 6:45 a.m. from the What’s Up Dock Marina. Weigh-in will also
be held at the What’s Up Dock Marina beginning at 3 p.m.

Fans can watch "The CITGO Bassmasters" telecast of the Table Rock Lake
tournament on Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2.

The CITGO Bassmaster Tour events this season feature the highly interactive and
family friendly BASS Sponsor Expo area. Sponsors present interactive exhibits
and provide a fun family experience for all ages. The Expo will take place from
12 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Sunday at the What’s Up Dock Marina.

Day 3 Pro Standings

Rank	Name	Hometown	Bass	Weight
1	Roland Martin	Naples, FL	15	52-01
2	Mark Davis	Mount Ida, AR	15	49-10
3	Gerald Swindle	Hayden, AL	14	44-15
4	Todd Auten	Lake Wylie, S.C.	12	44-09
5	Paul Elias	Pachuta, MS	11	40-05
6	Chad Morgenthaler	Coulterville, IL	12	39-01

The following anglers did not qualify to fish the final day.

From BASS

Day 4: Mark Davis Rules on Table Rock Lake

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. - It's been a long wait for three-time CITGO Bassmaster
Angler of the Year and CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion Mark Davis, but on
Sunday, Davis won the CITGO Bassmaster Tour event presented by Busch Beer on
Table Rock Lake, his first BASS victory since claiming the world championship
title at the 1995 Classic.

The Arkansan brought in a 17-pound, 8-ounce limit to claim the $100,000 victory
with a four-day weight of 67-2. Davis, who fished an antique Wiggle Wart
crawfish crankbait during the final round, had his five-bass limit by 8:40 a.m.
and was elated to get the victory with hopes that it's a sign of things to
come.

"It's always a weight off your shoulders to get a win," Davis said. "I think,
other than that, the only win I had was the Classic in 1995. It's always great
to get a win and the good part about this is, if you look, usually when a guy
breaks through and wins one, he usually goes ahead and wins two or three. It's
a confidence thing. You get on a roll and get momentum.

"Fishing is a lot like other sports. Some people look at fishing and see a guy
out on a boat casting and reeling, but I think there's a lot to be said for
momentum. When you get momentum going and you get confidence and know what's
going on, you just roll with that momentum."

Florida's Roland Martin, who finished in the lead on Saturday, was close behind
with 59-7, but had nothing to complain about considering the $38,000
second-place prize moved him into the BASS Millionaire's Club, something he had
been looking forward to for a long time.

"I got the million dollars," Martin said. "That was a big goal. That was a
big deal.

"I saw the weather report before the tournament," Martin added, "and saw that
there was a front moving in. I figured it would muddy up the water a bit and I
thought, 'This might be alright. Muddy water is my kind of thing.' I threw a
jerkbait in practice, but caught most of my fish on a spinnerbait this week."

Martin led going into day four, but had some trouble Sunday, bringing in only
one fish. That fish, however, was a 4-9 whopper worth $1,000 for Purolator Big
Bass of the day. South Carolina's Jason Quinn's 7-pound 10-ounce bass on day
two proved to be the biggest of the tournament, earning him an additional
$1,000 from Purolator for the Purolator Big Bass of the tournament.

Alabamian Gerald Swindle's four-day total of 55-66 was good enough for third
place, putting him solidly at the top of the CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the
Year standings with two events remaining on the Tour.

Illinois' Chad Morgenthaler brought in 14-6 that made him the Busch Heavyweight
of the day, earning him an additional $1,000 from Busch Beer. It was a little
shy of the 15-13 mark that would qualify him for September's Busch Shootout, a
$160,000 tournament that will pit the top 10 Heavyweights from the Tour and
Bassmaster Elite 50 series against one another and the top Heavyweights from
the CITGO Bassmaster Open Championship presented by Busch Beer (John Murray),
the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer, and the 2004 CITGO
BASS Federation Championship presented by Busch Beer.

South Carolina's Todd Auten and Mississippi's Paul Elias rounded out Sundays'
Super Six with 49-9 and 42-6 respectively.

Fans can watch "The CITGO Bassmasters" telecast of the Table Rock Lake
tournament on Saturday, March 13 at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2.
 

Day 4 Pro Standings

Rank	Name	Hometown	Bass	Weight	Points	Winnings
1	Mark Davis	Mount Ida, AR	20	67-02	305	$100,000.00
2	Roland Martin	Naples, FL	17	59-07	300	$40,000.00
3	Gerald Swindle	Hayden, AL	18	55-06	290	$25,000.00
4	Chad Morgenthaler	Coulterville, IL	17	53-07	285	$21,000.00
5	Todd Auten	Lake Wylie, S.C.	14	49-09	280	$15,000.00
6	Paul Elias	Pachuta, MS	12	42-06	286	$15,000.00

From BASS

By Brandon Shook