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The Full Story
BASS Tour:
Harris Chain of Lakes, FL
Tour Event # 2 of 6
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Preview: Next Stop: Harris
Chain
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 Leesburg,
Fla. — The $618,000 CITGO Bassmaster Tour moves a few miles north from Lake
Toho to Leesburg and the Harris Chain of Lakes next week (Feb. 3-6) for its
second stop on the road to the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Classic.
It will be the third consecutive year that the BASS Pros will visit the
Harris Chain, the once beleaguered eight lakes that seem to have almost
completely recovered from the problems and tough fishing of the early 1990s.
“The Harris Chain proved last year that it’s come way back from being down
in the early ‘90s,” BASS Tournament Director Trip Weldon said. “It’s a lot
like Toho in that if the conditions are right, it can provide excellent
fishing. Fishing was certainly good last year.”
Last January, the Harris Chain showed its stuff during the season-opening
Tour event. The results of that tournament surprised even the most
knowledgeable anglers — including Tour pro Jim Bitter, who’s fished the
lakes for more than 30 years. The Harris Chain surrendered three
60-pound-plus catches. Just a year earlier, Skeet Reese won a three-day
event with a total of just 36 pounds, 12 ounces. Even that was dramatically
better than the 14-pound, 10-ounce tally posted by Mike Folkestad over three
days in 1992 to win the BASS Florida Invitational.
Last year’s winner, Marty Stone, collected 61-12 mostly by flipping and
pitching a 6 1/2-inch straight-tailed worm to the outside edge of Kissimmee
grass in five to six feet of water in Lake Harris. In the final round, Stone
moved to a shallow grass line where he burned a spinnerbait and paused it
along the weed edge.
Two 10-pound-class bass were weighed in at last year’s event (by Alton Jones
and Mark Rizk) along with a couple of 9-pounders. As the practice period
drew to a close, a warming trend and approaching full moon sent the big
females to their shallow-water beds or to predictable offshore staging areas
where they waited to spawn.
This year, Florida fishing experts don’t expect to experience the same
spawning frenzy since the weather has been cold and the full moon arrived a
week before the tournament.
“I think we hit it dead on the head last year for prime fishing,” said
Florida’s Bernie Schultz, a 22-year veteran of the BASS wars. “I think the
fish moved up and spawned there just like they did on Toho when [Dean] Rojas
won [in 2001].
“I don’t think they’ve spawned [this year]. Some have probably, but I don’t
think they all have. I think the fish will be caught in the same manner that
they were caught last year – along the shoreline in the major lakes or in
canals.”
Last year’s runner-up, Arkansas’ Scott Rook, caught 60-9 by targeting
shallow arrowhead plants, lily pads and other shoreline vegetation in the
Ocklawaha River (above Lake Griffin). Third-place finisher Brent Chapman
(60-2) of Kansas had 256-acre Lake Denham all to himself. Former Classic
champions Michael Iaconelli and Tommy Martin finished fourth and fifth,
respectively, by fishing Lake Harris.
At stake in this event is a $100,000 top prize and valuable points toward
this summer’s CITGO Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh.
Daily weigh-ins take place at Venetian Gardens on Lake Harris at 3:15 p.m.
ET on Thursday and Friday and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Anglers
launch at 7:00 a.m. ET from Hickory Point on Little Lake Harris.
From BASS
Day
1: One for the Ages
Back to top
 LEESBURG,
Fla. --- Chalk one up for the old guys.
The first day of the Citgo Bassmaster Tour event on Lake Harris Chain looked
more like a quantum leap to the days of old, than the new, ever-changing
-peach-fuzzed face of tournament bass fishing.
Jim Bitter of Fruitland Park, Fla. leads the tournament with a heavyweight
stringer of 26 pounds, 12 ounces. But more importantly, and maybe telling to
the outcome of this event, is that Bitter, 62, leads a whole slate of old
guys.
Aaron Martens, 33, of Castaic, Calif. is second with 26 pounds, 3 ounces.
He’s one of the few young guns in the mix with all the graybeards like Tommy
Martin, 64, of Hemphill, Texas in third with 19 pounds, 2 ounces. Adding to
the geriatrics on the leader board is Larry Nixon, 54, of Bee Branch, Ark.
in fifth with 16 pounds, 14 ounces. And Stacey King, 55, of Reeds Springs,
Mo. is sixth 16-11.
It gets even better. Before you get out of the top 10, George Cochran, 55,
(8th place, 16-7 and Jimmy Houston, 60, (9th place, 16-6) make an appearance
amidst a few twenty- and thirtysomething anglers.
"For a minute there, I thought I had stepped back in time,’’ said Gerald
Crawford, a 25-year veteran of covering Bassmaster events.
Crawford may not have, but a few of the fishermen definitely have made that
step.
"We older guys can still catch fish,’’ Martin said. "I think these newer
guys tend to use newer techniques and forget some of the old things that
still catch fish. At least they did today.’’
Martin said in the recent past many of the tournaments have been dominated
by new techniques, and consequently, newer anglers. Some of those newer
techniques include sight fishing, which was expected to dominate this event,
along with pitching and flipping.
"You don’t see many people just fishing slow and casting away from the
fish,’’ Martin said.
But as simple as that may sound, Martin said a lot of the newer anglers
don’t really do that. To back up his claim, of the older generation anglers
on the leader board, almost all of them are casting a Texas-rigged soft
plastic worm and working it slowly across the bottom.
Conversely, many of the anglers who reported not doing so well, were
pitching or flipping soft plastics, techniques that put the angler on top of
the fish,
"Just fishing a soft plastic worm is an old technique that Roland Martin and
Tommy Mann made famous,’’ Martin said. "It still works and some of us have
forgotten that.’’
Maybe so, maybe not. While the tournament standings seem to be a referendum
on old guys beating up on young ones, a little of both is working.
Bitter leads the event in what he called "an old fashioned" way of fishing.
But Martens, who is breathing down his neck, admits to sight fishing. And
has hinted that his sight fishing technique is something new and different.
Which one wins out in this war of the ages may never be settled, but this
tournament may see some old school lessons regardless of what the young guns
do.
Rank Name Hometown
Bass Weight Pts. Winnings
1. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 5 26-12 305 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-12
2. Aaron Martens Castaic, Calif. 5 26-03 295
Day 1: 5 26-03
3. Tommy Martin Hemphill, Texas 5 19-02 290
Day 1: 5 19-02
4. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 5 18-02 285
Day 1: 5 18-02
5. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 3 16-14 280
Day 1: 3 16-14
6. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 16-11 276
Day 1: 5 16-11
7. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 5 16-10 272
Day 1: 5 16-10
8. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 5 16-07 268
Day 1: 5 16-07
9. Jimmy Houston Cookson, Okla. 5 16-06 264
Day 1: 5 16-06
10. Andre Moore Scottsdale, Ariz. 5 16-05 260
Day 1: 5 16-05
10. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 5 16-05 260
Day 1: 5 16-05
12. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 5 16-00 254
Day 1: 5 16-00
13. Curt Lytle Zuni, Va. 5 15-10 251
Day 1: 5 15-10
14. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 5 15-06 248
Day 1: 5 15-06
15. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 5 15-01 245
Day 1: 5 15-01
16. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 4 14-13 243
Day 1: 4 14-13
17. Mark Rogers Naples, Fla. 5 14-01 241
Day 1: 5 14-01
18. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 5 14-00 239
Day 1: 5 14-00
19. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. 5 13-07 237
Day 1: 5 13-07
20. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 5 13-05 235
Day 1: 5 13-05
20. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 5 13-05 235
Day 1: 5 13-05
22. Harold Allen Shelbyville, Texas 5 13-03 231
Day 1: 5 13-03
23. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 4 13-01 229
Day 1: 4 13-01
23. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 4 13-01 229
Day 1: 4 13-01
25. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 4 12-07 225
Day 1: 4 12-07
25. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 3 12-07 225
Day 1: 3 12-07
27. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, Texas 5 12-00 221
Day 1: 5 12-00
28. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 5 11-15 219
Day 1: 5 11-15
29. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 3 11-13 217 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-13
30. O T Fears III Sallisaw, Okla. 5 11-10 215
Day 1: 5 11-10
31. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 5 11-04 213
Day 1: 5 11-04
32. Marcel Veenstra Brighton, Mich. 5 11-02 211
Day 1: 5 11-02
33. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 3 11-00 209
Day 1: 3 11-00
34. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 5 10-15 207
Day 1: 5 10-15
35. Chip Hawkins White Hall, Ark. 5 10-10 205
Day 1: 5 10-10
35. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 4 10-10 205
Day 1: 4 10-10
37. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 2 10-09 201
Day 1: 2 10-09
38. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 2 10-08 199
Day 1: 2 10-08
39. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 4 10-03 197
Day 1: 4 10-03
40. John Crews Jetersville, Va. 5 9-12 195
Day 1: 5 9-12
41. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 3 9-11 193
Day 1: 3 9-11
42. Ken Cook Lawton, Okla. 5 9-10 191
Day 1: 5 9-10
43. Tom Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 4 9-09 189
Day 1: 4 9-09
44. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 2 9-07 187
Day 1: 2 9-07
45. Woo Daves Spring Grove, Va. 5 9-06 185
Day 1: 5 9-06
46. Robert Lee Angels Camp, Calif. 4 9-04 183
Day 1: 4 9-04
47. Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff, Calif. 4 9-01 181
Day 1: 4 9-01
48. Bink Desaro Boise, Idaho 1 9-00 179
Day 1: 1 9-00
49. Cody Bird Granbury, Texas 2 8-14 177
Day 1: 2 8-14
49. Roland Martin Naples, Fla. 1 8-14 177
Day 1: 1 8-14
51. Robert Hamilton Jr Hattiesburg, Miss. 5 8-09 173
Day 1: 5 8-09
51. Byron Velvick Boulder City, Nev. 2 8-09 173
Day 1: 2 8-09
53. Brent Chapman Shawnee, Kan. 5 8-08 169
Day 1: 5 8-08
54. Rick Morris Lanexa, Va. 2 8-05 167
Day 1: 2 8-05
55. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 5 8-02 165
Day 1: 5 8-02
56. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 5 8-00 163
Day 1: 5 8-00
57. Morizo Shimizu Murrita, Calif. 4 7-14 161
Day 1: 4 7-14
58. Mark Rose Marion, Ark. 4 7-11 159
Day 1: 4 7-11
59. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 5 7-06 157
Day 1: 5 7-06
60. Dion Hibdon Stover, Mo. 3 7-05 155
Day 1: 3 7-05
60. Mike Auten Benton, Ky. 1 7-05 155
Day 1: 1 7-05
62. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 4 7-04 151
Day 1: 4 7-04
63. Gary Yamamoto Mineola, Texas 4 7-03 149
Day 1: 4 7-03
63. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 3 7-03 149
Day 1: 3 7-03
65. David Dudley Lynchburg, Va. 4 7-01 145
Day 1: 4 7-01
65. Pete Gluszek Franklinville, N.J. 4 7-01 145
Day 1: 4 7-01
65. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 4 7-01 145
Day 1: 4 7-01
68. Danny White Milledgeville, Ga. 3 6-15 139
Day 1: 3 6-15
69. Charlie Youngers Oviedo, Fla. 2 6-14 137
Day 1: 2 6-14
70. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 5 6-10 135
Day 1: 5 6-10
70. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 4 6-10 135
Day 1: 4 6-10
72. Frank Scalish Cleveland, Ohio 3 6-09 131
Day 1: 3 6-09
73. Jason Reyes Humble, Texas 2 6-06 129
Day 1: 2 6-06
74. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 4 6-02 127
Day 1: 4 6-02
75. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 4 6-01 125
Day 1: 4 6-01
76. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 4 6-00 123
Day 1: 4 6-00
76. David Gliebe Stockton, Calif. 2 6-00 123
Day 1: 2 6-00
78. Brett Hite Phoenix, Ariz. 4 5-15 119
Day 1: 4 5-15
79. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 3 5-12 117
Day 1: 3 5-12
80. Randy Dearman Onalaska, Texas 2 5-09 115
Day 1: 2 5-09
81. Jack A Gadlage Benton, Ky. 2 5-08 113
Day 1: 2 5-08
82. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 3 5-07 111
Day 1: 3 5-07
82. Homer Humphreys, Jr Minden, La. 2 5-07 111
Day 1: 2 5-07
84. Chris Bielert Danbury, Conn. 5 5-06 107
Day 1: 5 5-06
84. Paul Elias Pachuta, Miss. 2 5-06 107
Day 1: 2 5-06
86. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 3 5-03 103
Day 1: 3 5-03
87. Mark Rizk Arab, Ala. 2 5-02 101
Day 1: 2 5-02
88. Lee Bailey Hebron, Conn. 4 5-01 99
Day 1: 4 5-01
88. Preston Clark Palatka, Fla. 3 5-01 99
Day 1: 3 5-01
88. Jack Wade Knoxville, Tenn. 2 5-01 99
Day 1: 2 5-01
91. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 2 5-00 93
Day 1: 2 5-00
92. Terry Adams Morgan City, La. 3 4-15 91
Day 1: 3 4-15
93. Tom Mann, Jr Buford, Ga. 2 4-11 89
Day 1: 2 4-11
94. Tommy Stiles Mc Minnville, Tenn. 3 4-10 87
Day 1: 3 4-10
95. Jarrett Edwards Del Norte, Colo. 2 4-08 85
Day 1: 2 4-08
96. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 3 4-07 83
Day 1: 3 4-07
97. Darryl Burkhardt Gresham, Ore. 2 4-06 81
Day 1: 2 4-06
98. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 2 4-05 79
Day 1: 2 4-05
99. Chris Baumgardner Gastonia, N.C. 1 4-04 77
Day 1: 1 4-04
100.Eric Nethery Acworth, Ga. 3 4-02 76
Day 1: 3 4-02
100.Todd Auten Lake Wylie, S.C. 2 4-02 76
Day 1: 2 4-02
102.Kyle Mabrey Birmingham, Ala. 3 4-01 74
Day 1: 3 4-01
102.Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 3 4-01 74
Day 1: 3 4-01
104.Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 2 4-00 72
Day 1: 2 4-00
104.Steve Daniel Clewiston, Fla. 1 4-00 72
Day 1: 1 4-00
106.Chris Daves Hopewell, Va. 1 3-15 70
Day 1: 1 3-15
107.Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 2 3-14 69
Day 1: 2 3-14
108.Brooks Rogers Quitman, Texas 2 3-11 68
Day 1: 2 3-11
109.Mike McClelland Vella Vista, Ark. 3 3-10 67
Day 1: 3 3-10
110.Scott Suggs Alexander, Ark. 3 3-09 66
Day 1: 3 3-09
111.Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 3 3-08 65
Day 1: 3 3-08
111.Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 2 3-08 65
Day 1: 2 3-08
113.Charlie Weyer West Hills, Calif. 2 3-05 63
Day 1: 2 3-05
114.Zachary Thompson Orinda, Calif. 2 3-01 62
Day 1: 2 3-01
115.Steve Sennikoff Forney, Texas 2 3-00 61
Day 1: 2 3-00
115.Terry Baksay Monroe, Conn. 1 3-00 61
Day 1: 1 3-00
117.Joe Thomas Milford, Ohio 2 2-14 59
Day 1: 2 2-14
118.Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, Texas 2 2-13 58
Day 1: 2 2-13
119.Thad Takes Center Point, Iowa 1 2-08 57
Day 1: 1 2-08
120.Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, Md. 2 2-06 56
Day 1: 2 2-06
121.Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 2 2-04 55
Day 1: 2 2-04
121.Sean Hoernke Magnolia, Texas 2 2-04 55
Day 1: 2 2-04
121.Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 2 2-04 55
Day 1: 2 2-04
121.Johnny Lesesne Blue Ridge, Ga. 1 2-04 55
Day 1: 1 2-04
125.Jay Kendrick Ooltewah, Tenn. 1 2-03 51
Day 1: 1 2-03
126.Bradley Stringer Huntington, Texas 1 2-02 50
Day 1: 1 2-02
127.Jeff Magee Mendenhall, Miss. 2 1-13 49
Day 1: 2 1-13
127.Randy Blaukat Lamar, Mo. 1 1-13 49
Day 1: 1 1-13
129.Frank Ippoliti Smithsburg, Md. 1 1-12 47
Day 1: 1 1-12
129.Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 1 1-12 47
Day 1: 1 1-12
129.David Mansue Robbinsville, N.J. 1 1-12 47
Day 1: 1 1-12
132.Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 1 1-09 44
Day 1: 1 1-09
133.Roger Boler Slidell, La. 1 1-03 43
Day 1: 1 1-03
134.Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 1 1-02 42
Day 1: 1 1-02
135.Art Ferguson III Saint Clair Shores, Mi 1 1-00 41
Day 1: 1 1-00
135.Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 1 1-00 41
Day 1: 1 1-00
137.Mike Hicks Mineral, Va. 1 0-14 39
Day 1: 1 0-14
138.Louis Iribarren Port Jervis, N.Y. 1 0-13 38
Day 1: 1 0-13
139.Jimmy Mason Rogersville, Ala. 1 0-12 37
Day 1: 1 0-12
140.David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 1 0-11 36
Day 1: 1 0-11
141.Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 1 0-10 35
Day 1: 1 0-10
142.R J Bennett Roseville, Calif. 2 0-00 34
Day 1: 2 0-00
142.Tim Carroll Owasso, Okla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Jesse Draime Long Beach, Miss. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Doug Garrett Cabot, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Gerald Gostenik Dearborn, Mich. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Tim Loper Terry, Miss. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Mike O'Shea Westlake Village, Cali 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Jason Quinn Clover, S.C. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Ray Sedgwick Cross, S.C. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Norio Tanabe Tokyo 153, Japan 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
142.Randy Yarnall Womelsdorf, Pa. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
By Steve Bowman, FishFactory.com
Day
2: Still Bitter
Back to top
 LEESBURG,
Fla. --- You can chalk another day up for the old-timers.
Jim Bitter still leads after two days in the Citgo Bassmaster Tour event on
the Harris Chain of Lakes. He didn’t catch them as good as Friday, weighing
in only 13 pounds, 9 ounces, which was almost half of his first-day
stringer. But it didn’t matter much. A lot of the young guns, threatening to
run past Bitter and a brace of older anglers, stumbled.
At the top of that list was Aaron Martens, who could only manage one fish (
2 pounds, 4 ounces) after weighing in 26-pounds plus on day one. Martens
managed to stay in the top 12 finishing the day in 10th place with 28
pounds, 7 ounces.
While he was stumbling a few more of the old timers were picking up the
pace. George Cochran, for instance, weighed in 20 pounds, 6 ounces to move
into second with 36 pounds, 13 ounces. He is followed by Todd Faircloth in
third with 36-7. Guy Eaker, 65, (the oldest angler in the field) is fourth
with 33-4. Larry Nixon is fifth with 33-0 and Peter Thliveros rounds out the
top six with 33-0.
While a lot of fun has been poked at the anglers from each age group, with
comments like this from Bitter explaining the keys to his success: "I’m
slowing down."
But the reality of it is there may actually be something to the age factor
and how it will impact this event.
"We old guys just fish slower,’’ Cochran said. "When the weather gets bad,
it suits us to get an area and just slow down.’’
That was the exact ticket that most of the leaders pointed to, slowness
along with the fact that most are throwing plastic worms.
"Those old guys are a bunch of worm draggers,’’ said Randy Howell. "And
every time we have bad weather in Florida they kick everybody’s tail.’’
The weather, which was expected to be mild and partially sunny for Friday,
was instead heavy overcast skies with temperatures in the 40s and winds
blowing 10- to 15-miles per hour.
"It was miserable,’’ said Kevin VanDam. "And when it’s this cold in Florida
and you have to slow down, it’s absolutely torture.’’
Slow and methodical, though, seemed to be the keys, along with being in one
of two areas. Almost the whole semifinal field is sharing water. Bitter,
Cochran and Eaker, for example, are all in Yale Canal, fishing within sight
of each other. While Nixon, Skeet Reese (7th place), Tommy Martin (8th
place) and Martens are fishing within sight of each other on Lake Harris.
"There are a ton of fish in this lake, but they are only in a few little
areas,’’ said Gerald Swindle, who wasn’t in one of those few areas and
finished in 62nd place.
With the competition on top of each other and the weights shifting around
between those anglers, it’s hard to get a handle on who has the inside line
on winning the event.
The overriding pattern for catching fish has been casting or pitching
plastic worms around Kissimmee grass on Lake Harris and a variety of shallow
cover in Yale Canal.
"To have a shot at winning, you’ve got to have the big fish every day, maybe
two of them,’’ said Nixon. "You may even need three of them. I’ve weighed in
two six pounders on both days and I’m 7 pounds back.’’
Rank Name Hometown Bass
Weight Pts. Winnings
1. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 10 40-05 310 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-12 Day 2: 5 13-09
2. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 10 36-13 295
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 20-06
3. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 10 36-07 290
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 18-05
4. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 10 33-04 285
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 17-14
5. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 8 33-00 280
Day 1: 3 16-14 Day 2: 5 16-02
6. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 10 32-09 276
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-09
7. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 9 31-00 272
Day 1: 4 13-01 Day 2: 5 17-15
8. Tommy Martin Hemphill, Texas 10 30-12 268
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 11-10
9. Andre Moore Scottsdale, Ariz. 10 30-01 264
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 13-12
10. Aaron Martens Castaic, Calif. 6 28-07 260
Day 1: 5 26-03 Day 2: 1 2-04
11. Mark Rogers Naples, Fla. 9 27-15 257
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 4 13-14
12. John Crews Jetersville, Va. 10 27-14 254
Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 5 18-02
13. Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff, Calif. 9 27-11 251 $5,400.00
Day 1: 4 9-01 Day 2: 5 18-10
14. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 9 27-02 248 $5,300.00
Day 1: 4 14-13 Day 2: 5 12-05
15. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 10 26-14 245 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 13-09
16. Roland Martin Naples, Fla. 6 26-10 243 $5,100.00
Day 1: 1 8-14 Day 2: 5 17-12
17. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 8 26-09 241 $6,000.00
Day 1: 3 4-01 Day 2: 5 22-08
18. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 10 26-04 239 $4,900.00
Day 1: 5 8-00 Day 2: 5 18-04
19. Jimmy Houston Cookson, Okla. 10 25-07 237 $4,800.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 9-01
20. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. 10 25-06 235 $4,700.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-15
21. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 9 25-05 233 $4,600.00
Day 1: 4 10-10 Day 2: 5 14-11
22. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 8 25-03 231 $4,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 3 8-14
23. Chip Hawkins White Hall, Ark. 9 25-00 229 $4,400.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 4 14-06
24. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 8 24-14 227 $4,300.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 3 11-09
25. Art Ferguson III Saint Clair Shores, Mi 5 23-09 225 $5,200.00
Day 1: 1 1-00 Day 2: 4 22-09
26. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 6 23-03 223 $4,100.00
Day 1: 2 10-08 Day 2: 4 12-11
27. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 10 23-00 221 $3,900.00
Day 1: 5 7-06 Day 2: 5 15-10
28. Robert Hamilton Jr Hattiesburg, Miss. 10 22-11 219 $3,800.00
Day 1: 5 8-09 Day 2: 5 14-02
29. Tom Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 8 22-05 217 $3,700.00
Day 1: 4 9-09 Day 2: 4 12-12
30. Harold Allen Shelbyville, Texas 8 22-04 215 $3,600.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 3 9-01
31. Curt Lytle Zuni, Va. 9 21-04 213 $3,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 4 5-10
32. Roger Boler Slidell, La. 6 20-11 211 $3,400.00
Day 1: 1 1-03 Day 2: 5 19-08
33. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 7 20-09 209 $3,300.00
Day 1: 2 3-08 Day 2: 5 17-01
34. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 8 20-07 207 $3,200.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 3 6-07
35. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 7 20-03 205 $3,100.00
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 2 3-09
36. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 10 20-01 203 $3,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 9-02
37. Gary Yamamoto Mineola, Texas 9 19-10 201 $2,900.00
Day 1: 4 7-03 Day 2: 5 12-07
38. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 9 19-07 199 $2,800.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 7-08
39. Mark Rizk Arab, Ala. 6 19-05 197 $2,700.00
Day 1: 2 5-02 Day 2: 4 14-03
40. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 7 19-02 195 $2,600.00
Day 1: 2 5-00 Day 2: 5 14-02
41. O T Fears III Sallisaw, Okla. 8 18-15 193 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 3 7-05
42. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 9 18-14 191 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 6-00 Day 2: 5 12-14
43. Tom Mann, Jr Buford, Ga. 7 18-13 189 $2,400.00
Day 1: 2 4-11 Day 2: 5 14-02
44. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 8 18-10 187 $2,400.00
Day 1: 4 10-03 Day 2: 4 8-07
45. Paul Elias Pachuta, Miss. 7 18-07 185 $2,350.00
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 5 13-01
45. David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 5 18-07 185 $2,350.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 18-07
47. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 6 18-05 181 $2,300.00
Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 5 16-12
48. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 8 18-03 179 $2,300.00
Day 1: 3 3-08 Day 2: 5 14-11
49. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 6 18-02 177 $3,200.00
Day 1: 3 11-13 Day 2: 3 6-05
50. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 5 18-01 175 $2,200.00
Day 1: 3 11-00 Day 2: 2 7-01
51. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 6 18-00 173 $2,150.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 1 1-05
52. Joe Thomas Milford, Ohio 7 17-15 171 $2,150.00
Day 1: 2 2-14 Day 2: 5 15-01
53. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 9 17-11 169 $2,050.00
Day 1: 4 7-04 Day 2: 5 10-07
53. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 5 17-11 169 $2,050.00
Day 1: 2 9-07 Day 2: 3 8-04
55. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 7 17-08 165 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 8-02 Day 2: 2 9-06
56. Brent Chapman Shawnee, Kan. 10 17-02 163 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 8-08 Day 2: 5 8-10
57. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 8 17-00 161 $1,950.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 3 5-12
58. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 6 16-15 159 $1,925.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 1 1-14
59. Mike Auten Benton, Ky. 6 16-12 157 $1,925.00
Day 1: 1 7-05 Day 2: 5 9-07
60. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, Texas 8 16-09 155 $1,925.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 3 4-09
61. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 7 16-05 153 $1,925.00
Day 1: 4 13-01 Day 2: 3 3-04
62. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 9 16-04 151 $1,925.00
Day 1: 4 6-01 Day 2: 5 10-03
63. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 8 16-03 149 $1,925.00
Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 5 10-07
64. Jack A Gadlage Benton, Ky. 5 15-10 147 $1,925.00
Day 1: 2 5-08 Day 2: 3 10-02
64. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 4 15-10 147 $1,925.00
Day 1: 3 12-07 Day 2: 1 3-03
66. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 6 15-07 143 $1,925.00
Day 1: 3 4-07 Day 2: 3 11-00
67. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 8 15-03 141 $1,925.00
Day 1: 4 7-01 Day 2: 4 8-02
67. David Mansue Robbinsville, N.J. 3 15-03 141 $1,925.00
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 2 13-07
69. Dion Hibdon Stover, Mo. 8 14-14 137 $1,925.00
Day 1: 3 7-05 Day 2: 5 7-09
70. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 8 14-12 135 $1,925.00
Day 1: 4 6-10 Day 2: 4 8-02
71. Ken Cook Lawton, Okla. 8 14-10 133 $1,925.00
Day 1: 5 9-10 Day 2: 3 5-00
72. Morizo Shimizu Murrita, Calif. 7 14-09 131 $1,806.17
Day 1: 4 7-14 Day 2: 3 6-11
72. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 6 14-09 131 $1,806.17
Day 1: 4 12-07 Day 2: 2 2-02
72. Ray Sedgwick Cross, S.C. 5 14-09 131 $1,806.17
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 14-09
72. Darryl Burkhardt Gresham, Ore. 5 14-09 131 $1,806.17
Day 1: 2 4-06 Day 2: 3 10-03
76. Doug Garrett Cabot, Ark. 5 14-07 123
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 14-07
77. Zachary Thompson Orinda, Calif. 7 14-03 121
Day 1: 2 3-01 Day 2: 5 11-02
77. Chris Daves Hopewell, Va. 6 14-03 121
Day 1: 1 3-15 Day 2: 5 10-04
79. Pete Gluszek Franklinville, N.J. 9 13-15 117
Day 1: 4 7-01 Day 2: 5 6-14
80. Lee Bailey Hebron, Conn. 8 13-13 115
Day 1: 4 5-01 Day 2: 4 8-12
81. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 6 13-11 113
Day 1: 3 9-11 Day 2: 3 4-00
82. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 6 13-10 111
Day 1: 1 1-00 Day 2: 5 12-10
82. Cody Bird Granbury, Texas 5 13-10 111
Day 1: 2 8-14 Day 2: 3 4-12
84. Jesse Draime Long Beach, Miss. 5 13-09 107
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 13-09
85. Charlie Youngers Oviedo, Fla. 5 13-07 105
Day 1: 2 6-14 Day 2: 3 6-09
86. Mark Rose Marion, Ark. 8 13-04 103
Day 1: 4 7-11 Day 2: 4 5-09
87. Scott Suggs Alexander, Ark. 7 12-13 101
Day 1: 3 3-09 Day 2: 4 9-04
88. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 6 12-10 99
Day 1: 1 0-11 Day 2: 5 11-15
88. Louis Iribarren Port Jervis, N.Y. 6 12-10 99
Day 1: 1 0-13 Day 2: 5 11-13
90. Frank Ippoliti Smithsburg, Md. 5 12-07 95
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 4 10-11
91. Mike McClelland Vella Vista, Ark. 8 12-05 93
Day 1: 3 3-10 Day 2: 5 8-11
91. Frank Scalish Cleveland, Ohio 7 12-05 93
Day 1: 3 6-09 Day 2: 4 5-12
91. Marcel Veenstra Brighton, Mich. 6 12-05 93
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 1 1-03
94. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 6 12-01 87
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 5 10-05
95. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 7 12-00 85
Day 1: 2 2-04 Day 2: 5 9-12
96. David Dudley Lynchburg, Va. 8 11-13 83
Day 1: 4 7-01 Day 2: 4 4-12
97. Byron Velvick Boulder City, Nev. 3 11-10 81
Day 1: 2 8-09 Day 2: 1 3-01
98. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 7 11-08 79
Day 1: 2 4-00 Day 2: 5 7-08
98. Randy Yarnall Womelsdorf, Pa. 5 11-08 79
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 11-08
100.Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 5 11-04 76
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 3 6-15
101.Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 6 11-03 75
Day 1: 3 7-03 Day 2: 3 4-00
102.Danny White Milledgeville, Ga. 5 10-15 74
Day 1: 3 6-15 Day 2: 2 4-00
103.Jarrett Edwards Del Norte, Colo. 5 10-14 73
Day 1: 2 4-08 Day 2: 3 6-06
104.Homer Humphreys, Jr Minden, La. 5 10-10 72
Day 1: 2 5-07 Day 2: 3 5-03
105.Steve Sennikoff Forney, Texas 5 10-07 71
Day 1: 2 3-00 Day 2: 3 7-07
106.Bink Desaro Boise, Idaho 2 10-06 70
Day 1: 1 9-00 Day 2: 1 1-06
107.David Gliebe Stockton, Calif. 4 10-05 69
Day 1: 2 6-00 Day 2: 2 4-05
108.Todd Auten Lake Wylie, S.C. 5 10-03 68
Day 1: 2 4-02 Day 2: 3 6-01
109.Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 5 10-01 67
Day 1: 3 5-03 Day 2: 2 4-14
110.Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 7 9-11 66
Day 1: 5 6-10 Day 2: 2 3-01
110.Chris Baumgardner Gastonia, N.C. 3 9-11 66
Day 1: 1 4-04 Day 2: 2 5-07
112.Kyle Mabrey Birmingham, Ala. 6 9-08 64
Day 1: 3 4-01 Day 2: 3 5-07
113.Preston Clark Palatka, Fla. 6 9-07 63
Day 1: 3 5-01 Day 2: 3 4-06
114.Woo Daves Spring Grove, Va. 5 9-06 62
Day 1: 5 9-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
115.Chris Bielert Danbury, Conn. 8 9-05 61
Day 1: 5 5-06 Day 2: 3 3-15
116.Robert Lee Angels Camp, Calif. 4 9-04 60
Day 1: 4 9-04 Day 2: 0 0-00
117.Jason Reyes Humble, Texas 4 9-00 59
Day 1: 2 6-06 Day 2: 2 2-10
118.Brett Hite Phoenix, Ariz. 6 8-15 58
Day 1: 4 5-15 Day 2: 2 3-00
118.Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 6 8-15 58
Day 1: 3 5-07 Day 2: 3 3-08
120.Terry Adams Morgan City, La. 6 8-13 56
Day 1: 3 4-15 Day 2: 3 3-14
121.Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 5 8-08 55
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 8-08
121.Jason Quinn Clover, S.C. 4 8-08 55
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 8-08
123.Jack Wade Knoxville, Tenn. 4 8-06 53
Day 1: 2 5-01 Day 2: 2 3-05
124.Rick Morris Lanexa, Va. 2 8-05 52
Day 1: 2 8-05 Day 2: 0 0-00
125.Steve Daniel Clewiston, Fla. 3 8-04 51
Day 1: 1 4-00 Day 2: 2 4-04
126.Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 5 7-15 50
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 7-15
127.Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 6 7-13 49
Day 1: 4 6-02 Day 2: 2 1-11
128.Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 6 7-12 48
Day 1: 1 1-02 Day 2: 5 6-10
129.Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 4 7-11 47
Day 1: 2 3-14 Day 2: 2 3-13
130.Sean Hoernke Magnolia, Texas 5 7-07 46
Day 1: 2 2-04 Day 2: 3 5-03
131.Randy Blaukat Lamar, Mo. 3 7-04 45
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 2 5-07
132.Brooks Rogers Quitman, Texas 5 6-13 44
Day 1: 2 3-11 Day 2: 3 3-02
133.Randy Dearman Onalaska, Texas 3 6-09 43
Day 1: 2 5-09 Day 2: 1 1-00
134.Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 6 6-05 42
Day 1: 2 2-04 Day 2: 4 4-01
135.Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, Texas 4 6-04 41
Day 1: 2 2-13 Day 2: 2 3-07
135.Jay Kendrick Ooltewah, Tenn. 3 6-04 41
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 2 4-01
135.Terry Baksay Monroe, Conn. 2 6-04 41
Day 1: 1 3-00 Day 2: 1 3-04
138.Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 5 6-03 38
Day 1: 1 0-10 Day 2: 4 5-09
139.Johnny Lesesne Blue Ridge, Ga. 3 6-01 37
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 2 3-13
140.Charlie Weyer West Hills, Calif. 3 5-07 36
Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 1 2-02
141.Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 3 5-00 35
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-00
142.Tommy Stiles Mc Minnville, Tenn. 3 4-10 34
Day 1: 3 4-10 Day 2: 0 0-00
143.Tim Carroll Owasso, Okla. 3 4-07 33
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 4-07
144.Tim Loper Terry, Miss. 4 4-03 32
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 4-03
145.Eric Nethery Acworth, Ga. 3 4-02 31
Day 1: 3 4-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
146.Bradley Stringer Huntington, Texas 2 3-15 30
Day 1: 1 2-02 Day 2: 1 1-13
147.Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 2 3-11 29
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 3-11
148.Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, Md. 3 3-09 28
Day 1: 2 2-06 Day 2: 1 1-03
149.Mike Hicks Mineral, Va. 2 2-14 27
Day 1: 1 0-14 Day 2: 1 2-00
150.Jeff Magee Mendenhall, Miss. 3 2-09 26
Day 1: 2 1-13 Day 2: 1 0-12
151.Thad Takes Center Point, Iowa 1 2-08 25
Day 1: 1 2-08 Day 2: 0 0-00
152.Norio Tanabe Tokyo 153, Japan 1 2-07 24
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-07
153.R J Bennett Roseville, Calif. 3 2-01 23
Day 1: 2 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-01
154.Gerald Gostenik Dearborn, Mich. 1 2-00 22
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-00
155.Jimmy Mason Rogersville, Ala. 2 1-15 21
Day 1: 1 0-12 Day 2: 1 1-03
156.Mike O'Shea Westlake Village, Cali 1 1-05 20
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 1-05
157.Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
By Steve Bowman, FishFactory.com
Day
3: Todd on Top
Back to top
 LEESBURG,
Fla. --- After two days of old school week at the Citgo Bassmaster Tour
event on Harris Chain of Lakes, a young guy has jumped into the lead.
Todd Faircloth posted a 15 pound, 13 ounce stringer and shot over the older,
more seasoned leaders with a total of 52 pounds, 3 ounces. The young gun
from Texas, though, didn’t do it with some new-fangled tactic or technique.
He did it the way most anglers have for years, he took lessons from the old
guys, and caught his limit dragging a soft-plastic Gary Yamamoto Cut-Tail
worm around lily pads.
For the record that has been the prevailing pattern for all the over 40 guys
who have stayed at the top of the standings.
"These guys (read ‘older competitors in the field’) have a good
understanding of Florida waters and what you have to do to catch them when
the weather turns bad,’’ Faircloth said. "And in this case, that means
fishing soft plastics slow and deliberate.’’
It was almost too slow for Faircloth, who didn’t have a fish until noon, but
still managed a hefty sack in the waning hours of the day’s competition.
While he was soaring, the older competitors were stumbling or running out of
gas. Behind him is Peter Thliveros in second with 49 pounds, 6 ounces. If
Faircloth can be considered "new school" and the first two days leader, Jim
Bitter is old school, Thliveros would have to be middle school. He posted
the heaviest stringer of the day with 16 pounds, 13 ounces.
Bitter could only manage 8 pounds, 12 ounces and has fallen to third place
with 49 pounds, 1 ounces. Larry Nixon (13 pounds, 9 ounces) is fourth with
46-9, Guy Eaker (11 pounds, 14 ounces) is fifth with 45-2 and Aaron Martens
(13 pounds, 14 ounces) is sixth with 42-5.
Faircloth’s weight upset the trend of aged veterans leading this tournament
and in the process may have provided a little insight into what is happening
on the lake.
Going into the final day, the majority of the semifinalists were fishing in
two spots. One the north bank of Lake Harris known as the "Airport Bank" was
being shared by Nixon, Martens, Skeet Reese (8th place, 39-5) and Tommy
Martin (10th place, 37-5), they along with a slew of other competitors had
taken literally hundreds of pounds of fish from a 4-mile stretch. Meanwhile,
Bitter, Eaker, and George Cochran (7th place, 41-10) along with another
brace of competitors on the first two days were sharing water in Yale Canal.
By anybody’s measure those two places had the fish to win the event. Bitter
weighed 26-pounds out of Yale, while other competitors numbering as many as
20 boats weighed in limits. It was the same on the Airport Bank.
"The truth of the matter is, it looks like we’re running out of fish,’’
Nixon said. "We’ve been hitting them and hitting them and they may finally
be petering out.’’
When the tournament started, a sizable wave of spawning bass were hitting
the bank, some bedding others staging. But a cold front on Friday morning
and an extremely cold Friday night stopped the wave in its tracks. But all
the boats and dragging plastic worms seems to have taken its toll.
The two anglers fishing away from that enormous amount of pressure are
Faircloth and Thliveros, both who feel like they are catching fish that are
spawning or staging, even though the water is too dingy to see them.
The big question for the remaining six is what a warm evening on Saturday
night might do to the fishing.
"The fish that are up have been spawning for a few days, so that usually
means a change,’’ Bitter said. "The males are already getting really hard to
catch, so that kind of bite may be over.’’
Or maybe not, if the warm night picks up the action where it left off. If it
does, the tournament will boil down to those fishing in the area where big
stringers were a constant for two days, or to those anglers who have stayed
away from the fray to catch consistent weight.
To a man, all of the anglers are dragging either Texas- or Carolina-rigged
plastic worms around Kissimmee grass or other shallow cover.
Rank Name Hometown
Bass Weight Pts. Winnings
1. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 15 52-03 315
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 15-12
2. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 15 49-06 295 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 16-13
3. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 13 49-01 290 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-12 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 3 8-12
4. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 13 46-09 285
Day 1: 3 16-14 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 13-09
5. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 14 45-02 280
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 4 11-14
6. Aaron Martens Castaic, Calif. 11 42-05 276
Day 1: 5 26-03 Day 2: 1 2-04 Day 3: 5 13-14
7. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 12 41-10 272 $12,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 20-06 Day 3: 2 4-13
8. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 14 39-05 268 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 13-01 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 5 8-05
9. Mark Rogers Naples, Fla. 12 39-04 264 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 4 13-14 Day 3: 3 11-05
10. Tommy Martin Hemphill, Texas 13 37-05 260 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 3 6-09
11. Andre Moore Scottsdale, Ariz. 11 30-14 257 $6,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 1 0-13
12. John Crews Jetersville, Va. 10 27-14 254 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 0 0-00
By Steve Bowman, FishFactory.com
Day
4: Thliveros Takes It
Back to top
 LEESBURG,
Fla. --- Wouldn’t you know it? After a week of a battle between the
old-school guys and the new-school guys of bass fishing, the middle school
guy jumps up and wins.
Peter Thliveros, 44, of Jacksonville, Fla. weighed in a stunning four-fish
stringer totaling 19 pounds, 15 ounces to win the Citgo Bassmaster Tour
event on the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Thliveros’ four-day total of 69 pounds, 5 ounces was just 1 pound, 11 ounces
more than Jim Bitter, who had lead the tournament for two days, but faltered
on the third and mounted his own impressive comeback on the final day.
Bitter finished second after posting a final stringer, 18 pounds, 9 ounces
to give him a total 67 pounds, 10 ounces. His stringer included the day’s
largest bass, an 8 pound, 9 ounce lunker.
Behind them were Todd Faircloth, who dropped out of the lead with a 12pound,
3 ounce stringer and a 64 pound, 6 ounce total. Guy Eaker was fourth with
60-14 and Larry Nixon (46-9) and Aaron Martens (42-5) zeroed and finished
fifth and sixth respectively.
Peter Thliveros found his winning formula by concentrating on lily pads in
the Dead River and two canals off of Lake Eustis.
“The key was fishing the first third of the canals, rather than going to the
back,’’ Thliveros said.
He caught his fish each day starting on the banks of the canals with a Team
Supreme spinnerbait and then move to the middle of the canals and the lily
pads during the middle of the day, where he fished a Texas-rigged Zoom Baby
Brush Hawg and a paddle-tail worm. And to add another factor to the age-game
he said he fished the worm in an “old-fashioned Florida style of fishing.”
Which means he would lightly pick up the plastic worm, shake it and let it
drop back to its original position.
“The fish were moving in and out,’’ Thliveros said. “Some were spawning,
maybe some were staging, I don’t know. But to catch them you had to move
really slow. It was like watching paint dry. I would let my bait stay put
for at least 30 seconds before I moved it. I’ve never fished so slow in my
life.’’
It might have been slow for Thliveros, but his 19 pound, 15 ounce stringer
was caught rather quickly, all of them were caught by noon on the final day.
While Thliveros had the tournament locked up, Bitter wasn’t going down
without a fight. He caught his first three-day stringers out of Yale Canal,
but during each day a contingent of fishermen, including other competitors
slowly crowded him out of the water.
“I thought all night that those fish had been beat up really bad,’’ Bitter
said. “So, rather than go back to the Canal, I ran up the river.”
The tactic sort of paid off. Bitter caught his limit, but they weren’t very
big. And with less than hour to go before he had to head to the weigh in he
returned to Yale Canal. Once again, he found a local fisherman sitting on
his most productive bank.
The angler, though, waved Bitter in allowing him to fish and five minutes
later Bitter had hooked up with the 8 pounder.
Rank Name
Hometown Bass Weight Pts. Winnings
1. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 19 69-05 305
$102,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 16-13 Day 4: 4 19-15
2. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 18 67-10 305 $40,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-12 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 3 8-12 Day 4: 5 18-09
3. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 19 64-06 295 $23,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 18-05 Day 3: 5 15-12 Day 4: 4 12-03
4. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 19 60-14 285 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 4 11-14 Day 4: 5 15-12
5. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 13 46-09 280 $15,000.00
Day 1: 3 16-14 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 13-09 Day 4: 0 0-00
6. Aaron Martens Castaic, Calif. 11 42-05 276 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-03 Day 2: 1 2-04 Day 3: 5 13-14 Day 4: 0 0-00
By Steve Bowman, FishFactory.com
Compiled by Brandon Shook
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