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FLW Tour: Lake Okeechobee, FL

Tour Event # 1 of 6

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

Preview: FLW Tour to Kick Off on Lake Okeechobee

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The $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will kick off its 10th year of competition Jan. 19-22 with a $900,000 event presented by EverStart Batteries on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla. Hosted by Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort, the tournament features 400 anglers from the United States, Japan, Spain and Australia, with 200 of the world’s best bass pros fishing for a top award of $100,000 cash. Two hundred co-anglers will also compete for a top award of $20,000 cash.
The nation’s most lucrative bass-fishing circuit has kicked off nine of the past 10 seasons from Lake Okeechobee, but don’t expect the sprawling Florida fishery to be too familiar to competitors. After experiencing several hurricanes last summer, the lake is high and significant amounts of vegetation are gone.
“There is a lot less vegetation in areas that were really good last year,” said pro Ray Scheide, winner of last year’s FLW Tour stop on Lake Okeechobee. “Anglers will probably be bunched up in the few remaining areas that have vegetation and clear water. If someone can find a little clear water and separates himself from the pack, he has a good chance of winning. Flipping is always a key technique when you go to Okeechobee, but there may be a more prevalent spinnerbait and crankbait bite this year because of more off-colored water.”
Anglers take off each morning from Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina and Resort at 7 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1005 W. Sugarland Highway in Clewiston beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
The community is invited to attend the free Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.
The full field competes in the two-day opening round for one of 10 slots in Friday’s competition based on their two-day accumulated weight. Weights are cleared for day three, and co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in. The top 10 pros continue competition Saturday, with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers.
The Okeechobee event marks the beginning of the most lucrative FLW Tour season to date, as the popular tournament series features a $7.6 million purse in 2005, including four $900,000 events and two $1.25 million open events during the regular season. Each event leads up to the $1.5 million Forrest L. Wood Championship and Outdoor Show, which will be held July 13-16 on Lake Hamilton near Hot Springs, Ark. The prestigious championship features 48 pros, 48 co-anglers and bass fishing’s largest guaranteed cash award – a $500,000 first-place prize for the winning pro. Held in conjunction with the tournament is a world-class outdoor show featuring 140 booths and displays for everything from crankbaits to bass boats.
Coverage of the Lake Okeechobee tournament will be broadcast to 82 million Fox Sports Net (FSN) subscribers as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television program. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. Eastern time on FSN.
The second regular-season FLW Tour stop will be held Feb. 9-12 on Lake Toho near Kissimmee, Fla., followed by a stop March 9-12 on the Ouachita River near Monroe, La., and the Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake near Rogers, Ark., April 13-16. Wheeler Lake near Florence, Ala., will host the fifth tour stop May 11-14 followed by the Potomac River Open in Charles County, Md., June 22-25.

Day 1: Rookie Lane Leads FLW Tour Opener

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CLEWISTON, Fla. – The Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s 10th anniversary season is officially under way on Lake Okeechobee with rookie pro Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., leading the pack thanks to an opening-day limit of five bass weighing 23 pounds, 8 ounces. Lane, who is fishing his first FLW Tour event after earning 11 top-10s in EverStart Series and Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competition the last three years, opened a 12-ounce lead over second-place pro Jerry Green of Justiceburg, Texas, in his quest for a $100,000 payday in the first of seven FLW Tour events that will award a record $7.6 million in 2005.

“This feels pretty good considering it’s my first (FLW Tour) tournament,” Lane said. “I was a little shaky going out there this morning, but I put a big one in the boat, then another, and I figured I could play with these boys.”

Lane earned the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $750 in the Pro Division with an 8-pound, 15-ounce largemouth. He also caught an 8-pound, 9-ounce bass Wednesday while flipping a Gambler BB Cricket to matted vegetation and casting Senkos and worms between the floating mats. One particular 10-foot by 10-foot area produced his big bass and a 3-pounder in a matter of minutes.

“I was culling 12- and 13-inch bass all day,” he said. “Then I caught the two big ones and sat down and smiled for about 30 minutes.”

Despite less than ideal conditions that left 48 of the 400 anglers representing the United States, Japan, Spain and Australia without a single fish, 102 pros and 29 co-anglers managed to reel in five-bass limits, including nine that topped 15 pounds. Overall, however, the lake was relatively stingy, producing 1,170 bass weighing 1,964 pounds, 10 ounces compared to last year’s opening-day haul of 1,589 bass weighing 3,170 pounds, 5 ounces.

Last year’s hurricanes had a significant impact on the lake, as high winds and water swept away large areas of vegetation and stirred up fine sediment that is reluctant to settle out of the water. A strong cold front that passed through the region Tuesday also contributed to the difficult fishing, as water temperatures dropped into the mid 50s to low 60s. Considering these environmental factors, anglers are limited to a few small areas of the massive lake where clear water – and keeper largemouths – can be found.

“The lake is fishing the smallest it has ever fished,” said Clewiston native and BFGoodrich Tires pro Scott Martin, who is 1 ounce out of the top 10 with five bass weighing 14 pounds 8 ounces. “One area we’ve fished all week has been clear, but the wind calmed down today and the lake backed up into it mudding the water, so conditions are changing daily. The person who can best predict those changes is going to win.”

Green (five bass, 22 pounds, 12 ounces); Pedigree pro Greg Pugh of Cullman, Ala. (five bass, 19 pounds, 13 ounces); Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan. (five bass, 19 pounds, 12 ounces); and Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas, (five bass, 17 pounds, 9 ounces) rounded out the top five pros.

Jim Short of Ocean Pines, Md., leads the Co-angler Division thanks to his catch of five bass that weighed 12 pounds, 14 ounces. He fished with pro Mark Pack of Mineola, Texas, who is had five bass weighing 12 pounds, 15 ounces and is currently 14th on the pro side.

“It always feels good to be leading these things,” said Short, who caught his bass on 7-inch and 10 1/2-inch Zoom worms and Lake Fork tubes and craws. “It means that you don’t have to work so hard to catch up. You still have to work, but being in first and leading by 2 pounds is a heck of a lot better than being 2 pounds out of the cut and trying to make cup ground.”

Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Roy Altman Jr. of Augusta, Ga. (five bass, 10 pounds, 12 ounces); Tim Peek of Sharpsburg, Ga. (five bass, 10 pounds); Tyrone Phillips of Little Rock, Ark. (five bass, 9 pounds, 11 ounces); and Frank Meyer of Marianna, Fla. (five bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces).

Larry Dix of Bella Vista, Ark., claimed the Snickers Big Bass award and $375 in the Co-angler Division Wednesday with a 7-pound, 5-ounce bass that he caught on a Senko.

Anglers competing in the $900,000 tournament presented by EverStart Batteries will take off from Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina in Clewiston each morning at 7. Thursday’s weigh-in will also be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1005 W. Sugarland Highway in Clewiston beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

The community is invited to attend the free Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.

Following Thursday’s competition, the field will be narrowed from 200 competitors per division to 10, and weights will be cleared for Friday’s competition. Co-angler competition concludes Friday based on the heaviest one-day weight, and pros continue competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight. The winning co-angler earns $20,000 while the winning pro earns $100,000.

Anglers are also competing this week for valuable points that determine Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year standings and the field for the 2005 Forrest L. Wood Championship, set for July 13-16 in Hot Springs, Ark., on Lake Hamilton. The $1.5 million championship presented by Castrol awards the winning pro $500,000 cash, the sport’s largest award, and features a world-class outdoor show.

Complete coverage of the FLW Tour’s stop on Lake Okeechobee will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net (FSN) Feb. 6 and Feb. 13 as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. Following the Feb. 6 debut, “FLW Outdoors” will air every Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern time on FSN.

Rank Name       Hometown Bass Weight
1 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 5 23 8
2 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 5 22 12
3 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 5 19 13
4 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 5 19 12
5 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 5 17 9
6 J T KENNEY FROSTBURG, MD 5 16 10
7 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 5 16 6
8 CHAD MORGENTHALER COULTERVILLE, IL 5 16 5
9 WARREN WYMAN CALERA, AL 5 15 8
10 JACK D BELL KANE, PA 5 14 9
11 SCOTT R MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 5 14 8
12 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 5 14 0
13 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 13 2
14 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 5 12 15
15 DAVID GIVENS HERNANDO, FL 5 12 10
16 LUKE CLAUSEN SPOKANE, WA 5 12 9
17 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 5 12 6
17 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 5 12 6
19 MICHAEL JOHNSON TALKING ROCK, GA 4 12 3
20 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 5 12 1
21 TIM CARROLL OWASSO, OK 5 11 14
22 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 5 11 7
23 LEE SKIPPER LANCASTER, SC 5 11 4
23 DALE EVANS RIDGEVILLE, SC 5 11 4
25 TOM MANN JR BUFORD, GA 3 11 2
26 ROBERT KARBAS JR WAKE FOREST, NC 5 10 14
27 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 4 10 12
28 DAN MANSKY YOUNGSTOWN, OH 5 10 9
29 JODY CORDELL FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 5 10 6
30 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 5 10 5
31 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 5 10 4
31 TODD FAIRCLOTH JASPER, TX 5 10 4
33 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 5 10 3
34 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 5 10 1
35 JIM CARNELL MUSKOGEE, OK 5 10 0
35 ROGER A BOLER SLIDELL, LA 5 10 0
35 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 5 10 0
35 CHRIS ELLIOTT GLOUCESTER, NC 5 10 0
39 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 5 9 15
40 BILLY BOWEN JR OCALA, FL 4 9 13
41 JAMES A PARKER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 5 9 12
42 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 4 9 10
43 TONY COUCH BUCKHEAD, GA 5 9 7
44 STEPHEN L TOSH JR MODESTO, CA 3 9 6
44 JASON ABRAM CHUCKEY, TN 5 9 6
44 JOHN (ZELL) ROWLAND MONTGOMERY, TX 5 9 6
47 KIM STRICKER HOWELL, MI 5 9 5
47 DALE TEANEY WILLIAMSBURG, OH 5 9 5
47 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 5 9 5
47 KEN WICK STAR, ID 5 9 5
47 ISHAMA MONROE HUGHSON, CA 5 9 5
52 CURT LYTLE ZUNI, VA 5 9 3
52 RUSS MORAN MURFREESBORO, TN 3 9 3
54 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 4 9 2
54 KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE, FL 5 9 2
56 RICHARD BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 9 0
56 VIC VATALARO KENT, OH 5 9 0
58 RANDY ALEXANDER LONDON, KY 5 8 15
59 DAVID P DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 5 8 14
60 JOHN SAPPINGTON WILLARD, MO 5 8 12
60 RICK MARSH HIGH POINT, NC 5 8 12
62 WILLIAM P DROWN ROSELAND, FL 1 8 9
63 MIKE SURMAN BOCA RATON, FL 5 8 7
63 DENNIS MAGOTO WAYNESVILLE, OH 5 8 7
63 PETE THLIVEROS JACKSONVILLE, FL 5 8 7
63 JOE SMALL MARION, AR 5 8 7
63 LLOYD T PICKETT JR BARTLETT, TN 5 8 7
68 DANNY CORREIA MARLBOROUGH, MA 3 8 6
69 GLENN BROWNE OCALA, FL 5 8 5
70 RAMIE COLSON JR CADIZ, KY 4 8 4
71 LEE BAILEY JR AMSTON, CT 5 8 3
72 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 5 8 2
72 ANTHONY GAGLIARDI PROSPERITY, SC 5 8 2
74 ASA GODSEY CLEWISTON, FL 5 7 15
74 SANDY MELVIN BOCA GRANDE, FL 5 7 15
76 ROB KILBY HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 7 14
77 TOSHINARI NAMIKI MINEOLA, TX 5 7 12
77 SHAD SCHENCK WAYNETOWN, IN 5 7 12
79 RAY SCHEIDE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 5 7 11
80 TOM MONSOOR LA CROSSE, WI 5 7 10
81 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 5 7 9
81 SEAN MINDERMAN SPOKANE, WA 5 7 9
83 ROBERT SHERRY SAINT CHARLES, IL 5 7 8
83 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 5 7 8
83 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 4 7 8
86 AARON MARTENS LEEDS, AL 5 7 7
87 CHARLIE HARTLEY GROVE CITY, OH 5 7 5
88 TERRY TUCKER GADSDEN, AL 5 7 4
88 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 5 7 4
90 CHUCK ECONOMOU REDINGTON SHORES, FL 5 7 2
90 RICK CLUNN AVA, MO 5 7 2
90 AL GAGLIARDUCCI AGAWAM, MA 5 7 2
93 SEAN HOERNKE MAGNOLIA, TX 4 7 1
94 MIKE LEBLANC COLCHESTER, VT 5 6 15
94 DAVE LEFEBRE ERIE, PA 5 6 15
96 JOHN MURRAY PHOENIX, AZ 5 6 13
96 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 6 13
96 BRENT EHRLER REDLANDS, CA 5 6 13
96 BRENNAN BOSLEY BENTON, AR 5 6 13
100 CHIC AYDELETTE THOMASVILLE, NC 5 6 12
101 STEVE DANIEL CLEWISTON, FL 5 6 8
102 KATSUTOSHI FURUSAWA TOKYO JAPAN 1920153, 5 6 5
102 JONATHAN NEWTON ROGERSVILLE, AL 4 6 5
102 CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE, TN 5 6 5
105 HARMON DAVIS MARLOW, OK 5 6 4
105 GUIDO HIBDON GRAVOIS MILLS, MO 5 6 4
107 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 3 6 2
108 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 5 6 1
109 GARY RIFFLE PARIS, TX 5 6 0
110 TERRY SEGRAVES KISSIMMEE, FL 5 5 15
110 MARCEL VEENSTRA BRIGHTON, MI 4 5 15
112 EMILY H SHAFFER MOUNT JULIET, TN 5 5 14
113 RANDY BLAUKAT LAMAR, MO 5 5 13
113 JIM MOYNAGH CARVER, MN 4 5 13
113 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 5 5 13
116 ART BERRY HEMET, CA 3 5 12
117 GLENN CHAPPELEAR ACWORTH, GA 3 5 11
117 JIMMY HOUSTON COOKSON, OK 4 5 11
119 TAKAHIRO OMORI EMORY, TX 4 5 10
119 DAVID WALKER SEVIERVILLE, TN 4 5 10
121 DAVID J WRIGHT LEXINGTON, NC 4 5 8
121 ALFRED WILLIAMS JACKSON, MS 5 5 8
121 CHARLES KING SHREVEPORT, LA 5 5 8
124 DAVID TRUAX BEAUMONT, TX 3 5 6
124 WES THOMAS HANOVER, IN 4 5 6
124 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 5 5 6
124 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 4 5 6
128 TOBY HARTSELL LIVINGSTON, TX 4 5 4
129 ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 4 5 2
129 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 5 5 2
129 ALLEN CAUTHEN LANCASTER, SC 3 5 2
132 TODD ARY BIRMINGHAM, AL 3 5 1
132 MORIZO SHIMIZU SUITA, OSAKA JAPAN 81, 4 5 1
134 TERRY BOYD CINCINNATI, OH 4 4 14
135 MARCUS CLOUSE HENDERSON, NV 3 4 12
135 JACOB POWROZNIK PRINCE GEORGE, VA 4 4 12
137 DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH, KY 3 4 11
137 KAREN SAVIK ST. LOUIS PARK, MN 3 4 11
139 NICK GAINEY CHARLESTON, SC 3 4 10
139 KENNETH STRICKLAND GREENSBORO, NC 3 4 10
141 SCOTT DOBSON CLARKSTON, MI 4 4 9
141 TRACY ADAMS WILKESBORO, NC 4 4 9
143 SHINICHI FUKAE OSAKA JAPAN 566-0072, 3 4 5
144 PAUL ELIAS LAUREL, MS 3 4 3
145 JACKIE DAVIS WILLARD, MO 4 4 1
145 RICH TAUBER CAMARILLO, CA 4 4 1
147 CHRIS MCCALL JASPER, TX 4 4 0
148 MIKE WURM HOT SPRINGS, AR 2 3 14
148 MASAKI SHIMONO SHIGA-PREF JAPAN, 4 3 14
150 WALT STARLING LIVE OAK, FL 3 3 13
150 LEWIS DENNEY INDIAN MOUND, TN 3 3 13
152 DWAYNE HORTON KNOXVILLE, TN 3 3 11
152 RICKY SHUMPERT LEXINGTON, SC 4 3 11
152 BOBBY CURTIS SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 4 3 11
155 JIM NOLAN BULL SHOALS, AR 2 3 10
156 GREG GULLEDGE MONTICELLO, AR 3 3 9
156 TONY DEFILIPPO LAKE ANN, MI 3 3 9
158 RICK LILLEGARD PICKTON, TX 3 3 8
159 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 3 3 7
159 SAM SWETT COVINGTON, LA 2 3 7
161 TIM SHMIGAL AKRON, OH 3 3 6
162 BERNIE SCHULTZ GAINESVILLE, FL 3 3 5
163 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 3 3 4
164 MARK GOINES SHADY POINT, OK 3 3 0
165 RANDY MORRIS GARFIELD, AR 2 2 14
166 JOHN W CREWS SALEM, VA 2 2 11
167 KEITH PACE MONTICELLO, AR 2 2 9
167 PAUL A WHITMAN JR DALLAS, TX 2 2 9
169 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 2 2 8
170 MARY T DIVINCENTI CLINTON, LA 2 2 7
171 DAVID SMITH DEL CITY, OK 2 2 5
172 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 2 2 4
173 NICK GREBB ROSEVILLE, CA 3 2 2
174 DEREK YAMAMOTO TEMPE, AZ 2 2 0
175 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 2 1 15
176 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 2 1 14
177 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 2 1 13
178 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 1 1 12
179 GLENN E MILLER NEWBORN, GA 1 1 11
179 DION HIBDON STOVER, MO 1 1 11
181 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 1 1 8
182 BOBBY LANHAM SCOTTSDALE, AZ 1 1 7
182 CHARLIE WEYER WEST HILLS, CA 1 1 7
184 RUSTY SALEWSKE ALPINE, CA 1 1 3
184 SIMON MORROW ALEXANDER CITY, AL 1 1 3
184 JOHN TANNER QUITMAN, TX 1 1 3
184 DAVID COOKE MOORESVILLE, NC 1 1 3
188 PAT FISHER DANIELSVILLE, GA 1 1 1
189 MICHAEL T BROWN ROCKY FACE, GA 1 1 0
189 ELTON LUCE JR BROOKELAND, TX 1 1 0
191 ROBERT H PEARSON HERNDON, VA 1 0 15

Day 2: Kennedy Leads Round One on Lake Okeechobee

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CLEWISTON, Fla. – Pedigree pro Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 35 pounds, 14 ounces to lead round one of the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop on Lake Okeechobee presented by EverStart Batteries. The full field was cut to 10 pros and 10 co-anglers for Friday’s semifinal round where weights will be zeroed. Pros fish Friday and Saturday, and the pro with the heaviest two-day cumulative weight wins $100,000. The co-angler title, and a $20,000 first-place prize, will be awarded at the conclusion of Friday’s competition.

Conditions – weather, water and fishing – were nearly identical to those seen on day one. The weather was not ideal but not bad – mostly clear skies, a stiff breeze, a very chilly morning and mild afternoon. The lake was very murky with isolated, heavily pressured areas of clear water. Most of the 200 boats were packed into a half-dozen spots, with the Monkey Box being the most popular area. Effective techniques on Thursday included Texas-rigged plastics, Senkos/Flashes, spinnerbaits and lipless crankbaits. Largemouths are in all phases of the spawn.

“This is just awesome,” said Kennedy, who jumped from 39th place with a day-two weight of 25 pounds, 15 ounces. “I caught an 8-pounder, a 7-pounder and a 6-pounder by flipping.

“I fished the Monkey Box area and I’ll be there all day tomorrow. It was crowded today like it was yesterday, but there won’t be near as many people there tomorrow.”

Kennedy finished fourth in the EverStart Series event on Lake Okeechobee two weeks ago. He also had a big day two at that event, bringing 27 pounds, 5 ounces to the scales.

Rounding out the top-five pros are Yamaha pro Kelly Jordan of Mineola, Texas (10 bass, 30 pounds, 8 ounces); BFGoodrich Tires pro Chad Grigsby of Colon, Mich. (10 bass, 30 pounds, 8 ounces); Yamaha pro Dean Rojas of Grand Saline, Texas (10 bass, 30 pounds); and Toshinari Namiki of Mineola, Texas (10 bass, 29 pounds, 7 ounces).

Castrol pro Bobby Curtis of Siloam Springs, Ark., caught an 11-pound monster largemouth Thursday – tied for the second largest bass ever recorded in FLW Tour history – to earn Snickers Big Bass honors in the Pro Division. He earned $750 for his big bass.

Bob Bjorklund of Aurora, Col., leads the Co-angler Division thanks to his two-day catch of six bass that weighed 21 pounds, 8 ounces. Bjorklund caught 20 pounds, 7 ounces Thursday – anchored by an 8-pound, 14-ounce lunker – to jump an incredible 133 places to take the lead. He only weighed one bass Wednesday that weighed 1 pound, 1 ounce.

Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Nick Hamra of Chesterfield, Mo. (nine bass, 21 pounds, 2 ounces); Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas (six bass, 20 pounds, 2 ounces); William Bridges of Tallapoosa, Ga. (three bass, 18 pounds, 5 ounces); and Jimmey Shelton of Wellington, Fla. (seven bass, 17 pounds, 10 ounces).

Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., claimed the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division Wednesday thanks to a 10-pound, 2-ounce bass that earned him $375.

Anglers will take off from Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina in Clewiston each morning at 7. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1005 W. Sugarland Highway in Clewiston beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.

The community is invited to attend the free Family Fun Zone Friday and Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday, features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.

Following Thursday’s competition, the field was narrowed from 200 competitors per division to 10, and weights were cleared for Friday’s competition. Co-angler competition concludes Friday based on the heaviest one-day weight, and pros continue competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight.

Anglers are also competing this week for valuable points that determine Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year standings and the field for the 2005 Forrest L. Wood Championship, set for July 13-16 in Hot Springs, Ark., on Lake Hamilton. The $1.5 million championship presented by Castrol awards the winning pro $500,000 cash, the sport’s largest award, and features a world-class outdoor show with more than 140 booths and displays for everything from crankbaits to bass boats.

Complete coverage of the FLW Tour is broadcast to 82 million Fox Sports Net (FSN) subscribers as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
 

Rank Name        Hometown  Day 1 Weight Day 2 Weight Total Weight Winnings
1 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 9 15 25 15 35 14
2 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 17 9 12 15 30 8
3 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 16 6 14 2 30 8
4 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 14 0 16 0 30 0
5 TOSHINARI NAMIKI MINEOLA, TX 7 12 21 11 29 7
6 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 19 13 8 8 28 5
7 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 13 2 14 10 27 12
8 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 22 12 4 13 27 9
9 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 11 7 15 6 26 13
10 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 23 8 2 11 26 3
11 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 19 12 6 3 25 15 11500.00
12 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 10 12 14 11 25 7 11500.00
13 RICK CLUNN AVA, MO 7 2 16 15 24 1 11500.00
14 J T KENNEY FROSTBURG, MD 16 10 7 2 23 12 11500.00
15 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 10 4 13 7 23 11 11500.00
16 LUKE CLAUSEN SPOKANE, WA 12 9 11 0 23 9 11000.00
17 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 10 0 12 12 22 12 11000.00
18 DALE EVANS RIDGEVILLE, SC 11 4 11 6 22 10 11000.00
19 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 12 6 9 9 21 15 11000.00
20 CHAD MORGENTHALER COULTERVILLE, IL 16 5 5 7 21 12 11000.00
21 SCOTT R MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 14 8 7 4 21 12 10750.00
22 TIM CARROLL OWASSO, OK 11 14 9 8 21 6 10750.00
23 TODD FAIRCLOTH JASPER, TX 10 4 11 1 21 5 10750.00
24 ANTHONY GAGLIARDI PROSPERITY, SC 8 2 13 2 21 4 10750.00
25 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 12 1 9 3 21 4 10750.00
26 DAVE LEFEBRE ERIE, PA 6 15 14 2 21 1 10500.00
27 BILLY BOWEN JR OCALA, FL 9 13 10 7 20 4 10500.00
28 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 12 6 7 6 19 12 10500.00
29 CHRIS ELLIOTT GLOUCESTER, NC 10 0 9 12 19 12 10500.00
30 JOHN (ZELL) ROWLAND MONTGOMERY, TX 9 6 10 2 19 8 10500.00
31 BOBBY CURTIS SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 3 11 15 9 19 4 10250.00
32 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 7 9 11 9 19 2 10250.00
33 DAVID GIVENS HERNANDO, FL 12 10 6 7 19 1 10250.00
34 DALE TEANEY WILLIAMSBURG, OH 9 5 9 12 19 1 10250.00
35 RICK MARSH HIGH POINT, NC 8 12 10 3 18 15 10250.00
36 JACK D BELL KANE, PA 14 9 4 2 18 11 10250.00
37 ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 5 2 13 4 18 6 10250.00
38 RAY SCHEIDE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 7 11 10 9 18 4 10250.00
39 DAN MANSKY YOUNGSTOWN, OH 10 9 7 10 18 3 10250.00
40 DENNIS MAGOTO WAYNESVILLE, OH 8 7 9 11 18 2 10250.00
41 ISHAMA MONROE HUGHSON, CA 9 5 8 13 18 2 10000.00
42 JIM CARNELL MUSKOGEE, OK 10 0 8 1 18 1 10000.00
43 DANNY CORREIA MARLBOROUGH, MA 8 6 9 11 18 1 10000.00
44 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 5 13 12 3 18 0 10000.00
45 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 10 1 7 15 18 0 10000.00
46 GLENN BROWNE OCALA, FL 8 5 9 10 17 15 10000.00
47 TOM MANN JR BUFORD, GA 11 2 6 9 17 11 10000.00
48 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 9 5 8 6 17 11 10000.00
49 MARCUS CLOUSE HENDERSON, NV 4 12 12 13 17 9 10000.00
50 DAVID WALKER SEVIERVILLE, TN 5 10 11 14 17 8 10000.00
51 ASA GODSEY CLEWISTON, FL 7 15 9 8 17 7 2750.00
52 MIKE SURMAN BOCA RATON, FL 8 7 9 0 17 7 2750.00
53 DWAYNE HORTON KNOXVILLE, TN 3 11 13 11 17 6 2750.00
54 KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE, FL 9 2 8 2 17 4 2750.00
55 ROBERT SHERRY SAINT CHARLES, IL 7 8 9 11 17 3 2750.00
56 TONY COUCH BUCKHEAD, GA 9 7 7 11 17 2 2750.00
57 RANDY BLAUKAT LAMAR, MO 5 13 11 1 16 14 2750.00
58 RAMIE COLSON JR CADIZ, KY 8 4 8 10 16 14 2750.00
59 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 10 3 6 8 16 11 2750.00
60 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 7 4 9 6 16 10 2750.00
61 TODD ARY BIRMINGHAM, AL 5 1 11 6 16 7 2750.00
62 JIM NOLAN BULL SHOALS, AR 3 10 12 11 16 5 2750.00
63 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 8 2 8 2 16 4 2750.00
64 STEPHEN L TOSH JR MODESTO, CA 9 6 6 11 16 1 2750.00
65 KIM STRICKER HOWELL, MI 9 5 6 12 16 1 2750.00
66 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 7 8 8 6 15 14 2750.00
67 JOHN MURRAY PHOENIX, AZ 6 13 9 0 15 13 2750.00
67 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 6 13 9 0 15 13 2750.00
69 AARON MARTENS LEEDS, AL 7 7 8 6 15 13 2750.00
70 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 9 2 6 9 15 11 2750.00
71 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 7 8 8 1 15 9 2750.00
72 WARREN WYMAN CALERA, AL 15 8 0 0 15 8 2750.00
73 SANDY MELVIN BOCA GRANDE, FL 7 15 7 9 15 8 2750.00
74 ROBERT KARBAS JR WAKE FOREST, NC 10 14 4 9 15 7 2750.00
75 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 10 5 5 2 15 7 2750.00
76 LLOYD T PICKETT JR BARTLETT, TN 8 7 6 14 15 5
77 MICHAEL JOHNSON TALKING ROCK, GA 12 3 2 15 15 2
78 CHRIS MCCALL JASPER, TX 4 0 11 1 15 1
79 GLENN E MILLER NEWBORN, GA 1 11 13 5 15 0
80 ROB KILBY HOT SPRINGS, AR 7 14 6 15 14 13
81 KEN WICK STAR, ID 9 5 5 7 14 12
82 MIKE LEBLANC COLCHESTER, VT 6 15 7 12 14 11
83 CHARLIE HARTLEY GROVE CITY, OH 7 5 7 6 14 11
84 DAVID P DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 8 14 5 10 14 8
85 VIC VATALARO KENT, OH 9 0 5 7 14 7
86 TERRY SEGRAVES KISSIMMEE, FL 5 15 8 6 14 5
87 RANDY ALEXANDER LONDON, KY 8 15 5 5 14 4
88 ALFRED WILLIAMS JACKSON, MS 5 8 8 10 14 2
89 RICKY SHUMPERT LEXINGTON, SC 3 11 10 4 13 15
90 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 9 10 4 2 13 12
91 PETE THLIVEROS JACKSONVILLE, FL 8 7 5 5 13 12
92 CURT LYTLE ZUNI, VA 9 3 4 8 13 11
93 STEVE DANIEL CLEWISTON, FL 6 8 7 1 13 9
94 TERRY TUCKER GADSDEN, AL 7 4 6 1 13 5
95 KATSUTOSHI FURUSAWA TOKYO JAPAN 1920153, 6 5 7 0 13 5
96 TOBY HARTSELL LIVINGSTON, TX 5 4 7 12 13 0
97 MARCEL VEENSTRA BRIGHTON, MI 5 15 7 1 13 0
98 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 12 15 0 0 12 15
99 JASON ABRAM CHUCKEY, TN 9 6 3 9 12 15
100 CHARLES KING SHREVEPORT, LA 5 8 7 7 12 15
101 DAVID SMITH DEL CITY, OK 2 5 10 9 12 14
102 TOM MONSOOR LA CROSSE, WI 7 10 5 4 12 14
103 SEAN HOERNKE MAGNOLIA, TX 7 1 5 12 12 13
104 RUSS MORAN MURFREESBORO, TN 9 3 3 8 12 11
105 RICHARD BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 9 0 3 11 12 11
106 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 5 6 7 5 12 11
107 DAVID COOKE MOORESVILLE, NC 1 3 11 7 12 10
108 GUIDO HIBDON GRAVOIS MILLS, MO 6 4 6 6 12 10
109 CHUCK ECONOMOU REDINGTON SHORES, FL 7 2 5 5 12 7
110 JAMES A PARKER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 9 12 2 10 12 6
111 LEE BAILEY JR AMSTON, CT 8 3 4 3 12 6
112 LEE SKIPPER LANCASTER, SC 11 4 1 0 12 4
113 ROGER A BOLER SLIDELL, LA 10 0 2 1 12 1
114 KEITH PACE MONTICELLO, AR 2 9 9 7 12 0
115 AL GAGLIARDUCCI AGAWAM, MA 7 2 4 13 11 15
116 CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE, TN 6 5 5 9 11 14
117 HARMON DAVIS MARLOW, OK 6 4 5 10 11 14
118 ALLEN CAUTHEN LANCASTER, SC 5 2 6 11 11 13
119 ART BERRY HEMET, CA 5 12 6 0 11 12
120 MIKE WURM HOT SPRINGS, AR 3 14 7 13 11 11
121 BERNIE SCHULTZ GAINESVILLE, FL 3 5 8 5 11 10
122 JOHN SAPPINGTON WILLARD, MO 8 12 2 13 11 9
123 JODY CORDELL FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 10 6 0 14 11 4
124 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 0 0 11 3 11 3
125 BRENT EHRLER REDLANDS, CA 6 13 4 5 11 2
126 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 3 4 7 13 11 1
127 PAUL ELIAS LAUREL, MS 4 3 6 14 11 1
128 JACOB POWROZNIK PRINCE GEORGE, VA 4 12 6 5 11 1
129 GLENN CHAPPELEAR ACWORTH, GA 5 11 5 5 11 0
130 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 6 1 4 14 10 15
131 SEAN MINDERMAN SPOKANE, WA 7 9 3 4 10 13
132 KENNETH STRICKLAND GREENSBORO, NC 4 10 5 14 10 8
133 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 1 15 8 8 10 7
134 DEREK YAMAMOTO TEMPE, AZ 2 0 8 7 10 7
134 JOE SMALL MARION, AR 8 7 2 0 10 7
136 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 3 7 7 0 10 7
137 JIM MOYNAGH CARVER, MN 5 13 4 10 10 7
138 JONATHAN NEWTON ROGERSVILLE, AL 6 5 4 0 10 5
139 WILLIAM P DROWN ROSELAND, FL 8 9 1 4 9 13
140 SHINICHI FUKAE OSAKA JAPAN 566-0072, 4 5 5 8 9 13
141 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 6 2 3 10 9 12
142 NICK GAINEY CHARLESTON, SC 4 10 5 2 9 12
143 PAT FISHER DANIELSVILLE, GA 1 1 8 9 9 10
144 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 2 4 7 5 9 9
145 ELTON LUCE JR BROOKELAND, TX 1 0 8 8 9 8
146 TAKAHIRO OMORI EMORY, TX 5 10 3 14 9 8
147 SHAD SCHENCK WAYNETOWN, IN 7 12 1 11 9 7
148 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 1 12 7 10 9 6
149 JAMES QUILLMAN PLANO, TX 0 0 9 5 9 5
150 TERRY BOYD CINCINNATI, OH 4 14 4 6 9 4
151 MASAKI SHIMONO SHIGA-PREF JAPAN, 3 14 5 4 9 2
152 JACKIE DAVIS WILLARD, MO 4 1 5 0 9 1
153 BRENNAN BOSLEY BENTON, AR 6 13 2 3 9 0
154 JIMMY HOUSTON COOKSON, OK 5 11 3 4 8 15
155 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 5 2 3 13 8 15
156 BOBBY LANHAM SCOTTSDALE, AZ 1 7 7 5 8 12
157 WALT STARLING LIVE OAK, FL 3 13 4 15 8 12
158 LEWIS DENNEY INDIAN MOUND, TN 3 13 4 14 8 11
159 SAM SWETT COVINGTON, LA 3 7 5 3 8 10
160 MICHAEL T BROWN ROCKY FACE, GA 1 0 7 9 8 9
161 TIM SHMIGAL AKRON, OH 3 6 5 1 8 7
162 GARY RIFFLE PARIS, TX 6 0 2 1 8 1
163 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 5 6 2 9 7 15
164 EMILY H SHAFFER MOUNT JULIET, TN 5 14 1 15 7 13
165 WES THOMAS HANOVER, IN 5 6 2 6 7 12
166 RANDY MORRIS GARFIELD, AR 2 14 4 12 7 10
167 SCOTT DOBSON CLARKSTON, MI 4 9 2 14 7 7
168 SCOTT DAVID GOODRICH, TX 0 0 7 5 7 5
169 NICK GREBB ROSEVILLE, CA 2 2 5 2 7 4
170 TERRY BAKSAY MONROE, CT 0 0 7 3 7 3
171 MARY T DIVINCENTI CLINTON, LA 2 7 4 10 7 1
172 SIMON MORROW ALEXANDER CITY, AL 1 3 5 13 7 0
173 CHIC AYDELETTE THOMASVILLE, NC 6 12 0 0 6 12
174 TRACY ADAMS WILKESBORO, NC 4 9 2 2 6 11
175 RUSTY SALEWSKE ALPINE, CA 1 3 5 3 6 6
176 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 1 13 4 7 6 4
177 BEN O CARROLL KISSIMMEE, FL 0 0 6 0 6 0
178 RICK LILLEGARD PICKTON, TX 3 8 2 8 6 0
179 TONY DEFILIPPO LAKE ANN, MI 3 9 2 2 5 11
180 DAVID J WRIGHT LEXINGTON, NC 5 8 0 0 5 8
181 KAREN SAVIK ST. LOUIS PARK, MN 4 11 0 12 5 7
182 DAVID TRUAX BEAUMONT, TX 5 6 0 0 5 6
183 STEVE NAAS INVERNESS, FL 0 0 5 4 5 4
184 MORIZO SHIMIZU SUITA, OSAKA JAPAN 81, 5 1 0 0 5 1
185 GREG GULLEDGE MONTICELLO, AR 3 9 1 6 4 15
186 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 1 14 2 14 4 12
187 DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH, KY 4 11 0 0 4 11
188 RICH TAUBER CAMARILLO, CA 4 1 0 0 4 1
189 MARK GOINES SHADY POINT, OK 3 0 1 1 4 1
190 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 1 8 2 8 4 0
191 STEPHEN H WILSON MISSION HILLS, CA 0 0 3 15 3 15
192 JOHN W CREWS SALEM, VA 2 11 0 14 3 9
193 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 2 8 0 14 3 6
194 JIMMY MILLSAPS CANTON, GA 0 0 2 14 2 14
195 CHARLIE WEYER WEST HILLS, CA 1 7 1 7 2 14
196 PAUL A WHITMAN JR DALLAS, TX 2 9 0 0 2 9
197 BILL MCDONALD INDIANAPOLIS, IN 0 0 2 6 2 6
198 JOHN TANNER QUITMAN, TX 1 3 1 3 2 6
199 DION HIBDON STOVER, MO 1 11 0 0 1 11
200 ROBERT H PEARSON HERNDON, VA 0 15 0 0 0 15

Day 3: Kennedy Retains Lead on Day 3

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CLEWISTON, Fla. – Pedigree pro Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 4 ounces Friday to retain his lead in the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop on Lake Okeechobee. The event, which is presented by EverStart Batteries, featured 200 pros in the hunt for a top award of $100,000 cash. Only 10 anglers remain, however, as the tournament draws to a close Saturday.

“I’m flipping a Gambler crawdad, but these clear skies are killing me,” said Kennedy, a former FLW Tour champion who finished fourth in the EverStart Series event on Lake Okeechobee just two weeks ago. “Yesterday when the clouds rolled in, the fish really turned on. During the EverStart, on the day I caught 27 pounds, I caught everything when a patch of clouds came over. There are guys around me and the fish are in there, so it will be interesting.”

Kennedy is using a 1 3/4-ounce weight and braided line with his bait.

Rounding out the top-five professionals are Skeeter pro Dean Rojas of Grand Saline, Texas (five bass, 16 pounds, 13 ounces); Yamaha pro Terry Bolton of Paducah, Ky. (five bass, 14 pounds, 10 ounces); Pedigree pro Greg Pugh of Cullman, Ala. (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces); and Ranger pro Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla. (five bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces).

Dwight Ameling of Sebring, Fla., handily won the Co-angler Division title and $20,000 by an astounding 11-pound, 9-ounce margin Friday thanks to a 7-pounder that boosted his five-bass catch to 14 pounds, 3 ounces.

“I threw about 30 feet of the bank and that big one hit,” said Ameling, who was fishing with Lane and whose primary pattern was flipping a Texas-rigged watermelon colored crawdad pegged with a 1-ounce weight. “That $20,000 will keep me fishing a lot of years.”

Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Jason Knapp of Uniontown, Pa. (two bass, 3 pounds, 4 ounces); Dino Caporuscio of Coto De Caza, Calif. (two bass, 3 pounds, 2 ounces); Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas (three bass, 2 pounds, 15 ounces); and William Bridges of Tallapoosa, Ga. (one bass, 1 pound, 8 ounces).

Anglers will take off Saturday morning at 7 from Roland and Mary Ann Martin’s Marina in Clewiston. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 1005 W. Sugarland Highway in Clewiston beginning at 3 p.m.

The community is invited to attend the free Family Fun Zone Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The Family Fun Zone, which opens at 11 a.m., features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.

Following the two-day opening round, the field was narrowed from 200 competitors per division to 10, and weights were cleared for Friday’s competition. Pros continue competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight.

Anglers are also competing this week for valuable points that determine Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year standings and the field for the 2005 Forrest L. Wood Championship, set for July 13-16 in Hot Springs, Ark., on Lake Hamilton. The $1.5 million championship presented by Castrol awards the winning pro $500,000 cash, the sport’s largest award, and features a world-class outdoor show with more than 140 booths and displays for everything from crankbaits to bass boats.

Complete coverage of the FLW Tour is broadcast to 82 million Fox Sports Net (FSN) subscribers as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

Rank Name       Hometown Bass Weight
1 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 5 17 4
2 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 5 16 13
3 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 5 14 10
4 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 5 10 13
5 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 5 9 10
6 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 5 7 13
7 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 4 7 12
8 TOSHINARI NAMIKI MINEOLA, TX 1 6 8
9 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 2 3 0
10 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 0 0 0

Day 4: Jordon Wins FLW Tour Season Opener

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CLEWISTON, Fla. – Pro Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas, caught four bass weighing 23 pounds in the final hours of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour season opener presented by EverStart Batteries on Lake Okeechobee to earn the first $100,000 winner’s check of the tour’s 10th anniversary season – a season in which the top bass anglers in the world will earn $7.6 million in seven events.

Jordon opened the tournament with a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces to place fifth then climbed to second Thursday with a limit weighing 12 pounds, 15 ounces. On Friday, with the field cut to the top 10 and weights zeroed, he slipped to sixth with a limit weighing just 7 pounds, 13 ounces. His final day heroics, however, boosted his two-day total to 30 pounds, 13 ounces to claim the win.

“This is one of my favorite lakes in the entire country,” said Jordon, who is a three-time Bassmaster Tour winner and three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier. “I had the most amazing 30 minutes of fishing in my life today. All the fish I weighed in, I caught in 30 minutes. It was just one of those deals where everything just lined up.”

Jordon caught all of his bass Saturday on a Junebug Lake Fork Craw Tube mated to a 1 3/8-ounce tungsten weight that he was flipping into a dense hydrilla mat in an area of the Monkey Box that produced the majority of his fish all week.

While plenty of bass weighing more than 8 pounds where brought to the scales this week, including an 11-pounder caught by Castrol pro Bobby Curtis of Siloam Springs, Ark., and a 10-pound, 2-ounce bass caught by 17-year-old co-angler Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., the “Big O” was relatively stingy due to suspended sediments kicked up by high winds and water from last year’s hurricanes. A recent cold front also contributed to the tough conditions.

Curtis’ bass tied with an 11-pounder caught in 1998 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir by Ray Beck of Beaumont, Texas, as the second largest bass ever caught on the FLW Tour. The record bass weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces was caught in 1996 on the Santee Cooper Lakes by Jim Nolan of Bull Shoals, Ark.

The angler who catches the overall largest bass during the 2005 season will win a $5,000 Snickers Big Bass award.

Rounding out the top five anglers are Pedigree pro Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala. (10 bass, 26 pounds, 9 ounces, $36,000); Yamaha pro Dean Rojas of Grand Saline, Texas (seven bass, 19 pounds, 8 ounces, $25,000); Toshinari Namiki of Mineola, Texas (10 bass, 19 pounds, 5 ounces, $20,000); and Yamaha pro Terry Bolton of Paducah, Ky. (seven bass, 17 pounds, 11 ounces, $18,000).

During the tournament, 2,415 bass weighing a total of 4,165 pounds, 10 ounces were brought to the scale. More than 99 percent of the bass were released alive. If the tour maintains a 98 percent live-release rate throughout the season, Energizer will donate $25,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network.

Toshinari Namiki of Mineola, Texas, earned the Energizer Keeps on Going Award and a $500 Wal-Mart gift card for advancing to the final round as the No. 5 seed after finishing 77th on opening day.

Dwight Ameling of Sebring, Fla., handily won the Co-angler Division title and $20,000 Friday by an astounding 11-pound, 9-ounce margin thanks to a 7-pounder that boosted his five-bass catch to 14 pounds, 13 ounces.

Ameling, who was fishing with Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., during the final round of co-angler competition, was flipping a Texas-rigged watermelon crawdad pegged with a 1-ounce weight. Lane finished the tournament in seventh place with a total of nine bass weighing 14 pounds, 7 ounces.

Anglers were also competing this week for valuable points that determine Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year standings and the field for the 2005 Forrest L. Wood Championship, set for July 13-16 in Hot Springs, Ark., on Lake Hamilton. The $1.5 million championship presented by Castrol awards the winning pro $500,000 cash, the sport’s largest award, and features a world-class outdoor show with more than 140 booths and displays for everything from crankbaits to bass boats.

Complete coverage of the FLW Tour stop on Lake Okeechobee will be broadcast on Fox Sports Net as part of the “FLW Outdoors” program debuting Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. Eastern time. “FLW Outdoors” will air every Sunday at 11 a.m. on FSN.

Rank Name     Hometown Day 3 Weight Day 4 Weight Total Weight Winnings
1 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 7 13 23 0 30 13 100000.00
2 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 17 4 9 5 26 9 36000.00
3 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 16 13 2 11 19 8 25000.00
4 TOSHINARI NAMIKI TOKYO, JP 6 8 12 13 19 5 20000.00
5 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 14 10 3 1 17 11 18000.00
6 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 10 13 6 4 17 1 17000.00
7 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 9 10 4 13 14 7 16000.00
8 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 7 12 2 12 10 8 15000.00
9 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 3 0 6 15 9 15 14000.00
10 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 0 0 0 14 0 14 13000.00

From FLW