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FLW Tour: Ouachita River, LA

Tour Event # 3 of 6

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Preview: Next FLW Tour Stop: The Ouachita River

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MONROE, La. – The $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will make its third stop March 9-12 with a $900,000 event presented by 7 UP on the Ouachita River near Monroe, La. Hosted by the Monroe/West Monroe Convention and Visitors Bureau, the tournament features 400 anglers from the United States, Japan 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.
A vast fishery stretching some 605 miles, including the lower portion known as Black River, the Ouachita River offers bass anglers endless opportunities. Various water clarities, both river and backwater situations and mixes of vegetation and timber will provide for an entertaining shootout on the richly historic waterway. “The system fishes real tough when the water is high like it is right now,” said FLW Tour pro Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill. “But if you can find a small isolated backwater area, you can catch a good limit.”
The fish should be in a prespawn stage or even well into the spawn depending on how the weather lines up in the next several weeks. Regardless, Morgenthaler indicates the fishery is loaded with 3-pound bass and anglers shouldn’t have trouble finding keeper bass. “I’m not sure how locking through will affect this tournament, as I’ve never been able to lock out of this system before,” he said. “I hear you can catch a real big bag on Felsenthal if the conditions are right.”
While Morgenthaler readily admits that 20-pound limits will be caught in the tournament if the weather cooperates, he believes 22-25 pounds could be enough to make the final round cut.
Anglers will take off each morning at 7 from Forsythe Park in Monroe. Wednesday and Thursday’s weigh-ins will also be held at the park at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2701 Louisville Avenue, 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 Ouachita River event marks the third stop of the most lucrative professional bass-fishing trail in the world, 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 Ouachita River tournament will be broadcast to 82 million Fox Sports Net (FSN) subscribers as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sunday mornings at 11 Eastern time on Fox Sports Net (FSN).
The fourth regular-season FLW Tour stop, the Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake near Rogers, Ark., will be held April 13-16. Wheeler Lake near Florence, Ala., will host the fifth tour stop May 11-14 followed by the Chevy Open on the Potomac River in Charles County, Md., June 22-25.

 

Day 1: Herren Leads FLW Tour Event on Ouachita River

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MONROE, La. – Yamaha pro Matt Herren of Trussville, Ala., caught a five-bass limit weighing 24 pounds, 14 ounces to take the lead on opening day of the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop on the Ouachita River. The event, which is presented by 7 UP, features 200 pros in the hunt for a top award of $100,000 cash. Two hundred co-anglers are also competing for a top award of $20,000 cash.

Clouds loomed ominously in the horizon on the morning of day one, and anglers experienced everything from rain to hail and cool temperatures before the day was over. While some anglers reported having a slow morning until the clouds broke, a few anglers said they had their best luck in the worst of the weather.

Several boats raced more than 50 miles of sprawling river and locked through to the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arkansas with hopes of finding a big limit of bass away from the rest of the field. Ninety-eight boats locked through to begin the morning, however, so plans to escape the crowd quickly evaporated.

Herren made the long run to Felsenthal and found the fish willing to cooperate early and often. “It took over an hour to get up there, but it only took me an hour to catch my limit,” Herren said. “I could call my shots today. I literally knew on which pitch and flip I was going to catch a bass.” He culled several times after his initial limit.

Herren reported catching bigger bass in practice but remains concerned with how the current will lessen Thursday. “They’re supposed to stop pulling water Wednesday night and that could really affect me on Thursday,” he said. “This place fishes just like the Mobile Delta, so I feel like I know where the fish will position themselves in the current.”

Rounding out the top-five pros are BFGoodrich Tires pro David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn. (five bass, 20 pounds, 1 ounce); reigning Bassmaster Classic champion Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas (five bass, 19 pounds, 13 ounces); Todd Ary of Birmingham, Ala. (five bass, 18 pounds, 7 ounces); and Keith Pace of Monticello, Ark. (five bass, 17 pounds, 12 ounces).

Omori caught a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass Wednesday to earn Snickers Big Bass honors in the Pro Division. He earned $750 for his big bass.

Roy Altman Jr. of Augusta, Ga., leads the Co-angler Division thanks to his catch Wednesday of four bass that weighed 12 pounds, 2 ounces. He fished with Gary Yamamoto of Mineola, Texas, who is currently 60th on the pro side.

“Man we had a great day out there today,” Altman said. “All my success is due to my partner and his area.”

Yamamoto and Altman, both successful lure manufacturers in their own rights, made the run to Felsenthal, and Altman said it didn’t take long to start feeling good about the day.

“I zeroed both days at the last tournament, so I just prayed to catch a keeper in this tournament,” Altman said. “I threw my Buckeye spinnerbait by one of those cypress trees, and I saw this huge fish come out of the tree after it. I wrestled her into the boat and got her in the livewell when I noticed the boat had spun around back to that same tree. I threw in there again and caught a 2-1/2 pounder off the same tree. At that point Gary laughed and said, ‘Don’t throw in there again,’”

Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala. (five bass, 12 pounds); Merle Wells Jr. of Hammond, N.Y. (five bass, 11 pounds, 13 ounces); Sondra Rankin of Paducah, Ky. (five bass, 11 pounds, 1 ounce); and the co-angler champion from the last tournament, Ken Chapman of Woodlawn, Tenn. (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces).

Altman claimed the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division Wednesday thanks to that huge bass that hit his spinnerbait -- a 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth worth $375.

Anglers will take off from Forsythe Park in Monroe 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 2701 Louisville Avenue in Monroe 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.

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 Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
 

Rank Name   Hometown   Bass Weight

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

Day 2: Herren Retains Lead on Ouachita River

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MONROE, La. – Matt Herren of Trussville, Ala., retained his lead in the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop presented by 7 UP on the Ouachita River Thursday with a two-day total of nine bass weighing 36 pounds, 6 ounces. The Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Bama Division standout and two-time Forrest L. Wood Championship qualifier now leads 10 pros into the final two days of competition. All 10 finalists will start back at zero weight Friday, and the pro with the heaviest two-day cumulative weight will earn $100,000 Saturday. The winning co-angler will earn $20,000 cash Friday.

Herren made a return trip to Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arkansas on day two to mine the same productive water that produced a tournament-leading catch of five bass weighing 24 pounds, 14 ounces Wednesday. This time the 70 mile run paid off with four bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces. His fifth fish, a 6-pounder, pulled off.

“I fished one hour, caught four, then left to look for new water,” said Herren, who has earned 11 BFL top-10s since 1996. “When the current runs through these swamps, it positions the fish and makes them real predictable. But today we lost the current because the water is back at normal pool in Felsenthal.”

Herren is using a prototype Davis M-Series jig and a Net Bait chunk trailer. He also appears to have two patterns working – one producing fish that are relating to current and another producing spawning bass. Exactly what the patterns are, however, will remain a mystery for now. “I’m fishing a certain kind of tree in a certain kind of place,” he said.

Mike Hawkes of Sabinal, Texas, jumped from seventh into second with the day’s second heaviest limit – 17 pounds, 7 ounces – for an opening-round total of 10 bass weighing 34 pounds, 7 ounces. The day’s heaviest catch, however, belonged to Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., who jumped from 141st to 20th with a 19-pound, 12-ounce limit that boosted his total to seven bass weighing 23 pounds, 14 ounces.

Jeremiah Kindy of Benton, Ark., claimed the No. 3 qualifying spot with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 32 pounds, 13 ounces. He landed 16 pounds, 8 ounces Wednesday and 16 pounds, 5 ounces Thursday while fishing in the same area of Felsenthal as Herren. “We’ve probably caught 70 pounds in one little drain,” Kindy said.

Mickey Bruce of Buford, Ga. (10 bass, 30 pounds, 3 ounces) and William Davis of Russellville, Ala. (10 bass, 29 pounds, 8 ounces) rounded out the top five pros.

The Energizer Keeps on Going Award went to Lawry’s pro Jason Kilpatrick for jumping from 56th place on opening day to qualify for the final round as the No. 8 angler with 10 bass weighing 28 pounds, 14 ounces.

Robert Karbas Jr. of Wake Forest, N.C., earned the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $750 in the Pro Division with a 7-pound largemouth that he caught swimming a homemade 1/2-ounce jig while fishing in Felsenthal. Karbas also earned the overall Snickers Big Bass award of $1,000 for catching the heaviest bass in either division during the opening round.

Robert Hester II of Walnut Cove, N.C., leads the Co-angler Division thanks to a two-day catch of seven bass weighing 17 pounds, 11 ounces. Hester caught four bass weighing 8 pounds, 12 ounces Wednesday while fishing with Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., then added three bass weighing 8 pounds, 15 ounces to his total Thursday while fishing with Hackney.

“I don’t care if I catch a fish tomorrow,” Hester said. “This is my first top 10, and I’m just thrilled to be going out.”

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Merle Wells Jr. of Hammond, N.Y. (nine bass, 16 pounds, 10 ounces); Roy Altman Jr. of Augusta, Ga. (six bass, 15 pounds, 14 ounces); Bruce Dale of Jamestown, Ohio (seven bass, 13 pounds, 10 ounces); and Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala. (six bass, 13 pounds, 8 ounces).

Bill Barrett of Sarasota, Fla., and Randy Clark of Mobile, Ala., tied for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division with 5-pound, 8-ounce fish. Each man earned $187.50 for his catch.

Anglers will take off from Forsythe Park in Monroe each morning at 7. Friday and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2701 Louisville Avenue in Monroe 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.

In addition to a top award of $100,000 and cash awards of at least $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division, anglers are also competing 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 payout, and features a world-class outdoor show.

Complete coverage of the FLW Tour is broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

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

Day 3: Namiki Leads Final Round

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MONROE, La. – Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arkansas was the place to be Friday for anglers competing in the final round of the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop presented by 7 UP on the Ouachita River. All 10 boats made the 60 mile run north from the launch site at Forsythe Park in Monroe. When they returned, it was Toshinari Namiki, 38, of Tokyo who led the pro field with a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 7 ounces.

The four-day event, which concludes Saturday, began with 200 pros and 200 co-anglers in the hunt for top awards of $100,000 and $20,000 cash, respectively, and was narrowed to the top 10 anglers in each division Thursday evening.

A cold front that passed through the region Wednesday made fishing somewhat tougher on competitors Thursday, as the number of limits dropped from 95 to 48. Weights also declined from 13 catches over 15 pounds to six. Things picked up again Friday, however, as anglers who survived the cut caught eight limits, including four over 15 pounds. The stage is now set for a showdown Saturday, as conditions are improving and just 2 pounds, 6 ounces separate the top two contenders.

“Conditions have changed every day,” said Namiki, who finished fourth at the FLW Tour season opener on Lake Okeechobee. “I think that I am lucky because I had one kicker fish, a 7-pounder. Matt (Herren) is fishing more consistent. I had a lucky bite. What will happen tomorrow? I don’t know.”

Namiki would not divulge his technique, but he did say that buck brush and trees are his targets in Felsenthal and that he is fishing within sight of another competitor.

Matt Herren of Trussville, Ala., caught five bass weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce on a prototype Davis M-Series jig with a Net Bait chunk trailer to secure the No. 2 spot heading into the final day of competition, while Mike Hawkes of Sabinal, Texas, caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces to grab the No. 3 spot.

Lawry’s pro Jason Kilpatrick of Satsuma, Ala. (five bass, 15 pounds) and Castrol pro Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla. (five bass, 12 pounds, 5 ounces) rounded out the top five pros.

Another angler to watch is FLW Tour rookie Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., who is making this third top-10 appearance in as many tournaments – a feat unmatched in FLW Tour history. Lane is currently sixth with four bass weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces.

James Davis Jr., 34, of Ferriday, La., took top honors and $20,000 in the Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 4 ounces. He caught the fish on a 3/8-ounce chartreuse and white Excalibur spinnerbait while fishing buck brush in Felsenthal with Robertson.

“I never let up,” said Davis, who fishes the Pro Division of the Texas Tournament Trail and last month missed a $73,500 win on Lake Amistad by just 1 ounce after catching an incredible 10 bass weighing 45 pounds, 2 ounces during the two-day event. “There was never a point that I thought I had it won, because I’ve been beaten before with 20 pounds in the livewell. If I’m catching them, I figure somebody else is, too.”

Davis has earned an EverStart Series and three TTT top-10s since 2001.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Merle Wells Jr. of Hammond, N.Y. (four bass, 8 pounds, 12 ounces, $10,000); Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala. (three bass, 7 pounds, 12 ounces, $9,000); Roy Altman Jr. of Augusta, Ga. (four bass, 4 pounds, 4 ounces, $8,000); and Bruce Dale of Jamestown, Ohio (two bass, 3 pounds, 11 ounces, $7,000).

Anglers will take off from Forsythe Park in Monroe at 7 Saturday morning. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2701 Louisville Avenue in Monroe beginning at 3 p.m.

The community is invited to join the worlds’ top bass anglers as they celebrate the FLW Tour’s 10th anniversary in the Family Fun Zone outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The free Family Fun Zone, which opens at 11 a.m., features interactive displays, product samples and games for the entire family to enjoy.

Weights were cleared Friday, and pros will continue competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight.

In addition to a top award of $100,000 and cash awards of at least $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division, anglers are also competing 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 payout, and features a world-class outdoor show.

Complete coverage of the FLW Tour is broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

Rank Name         Hometown   Bass Day 3 Weight Winnings
1 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 5 20 7
2 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 5 18 1
3 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 5 16 2
4 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 5 15 0
5 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 5 12 5
6 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 4 10 12
7 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 4 9 14
8 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 5 9 10
9 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 3 9 2
10 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 5 7 10

Day 4: Namiki Wins on Ouachita River

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MONROE, La. – The stage was set for a showdown between Tokyo’s Toshinari Namiki and Matt Herren of Trussville, Ala., Saturday on the final day of the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop on the Ouachita River, and the contenders did not disappoint. Just over three pounds separated the two pros, with Namiki eking out a $100,000 win with a two-day total of eight bass weighing 30 pounds, 14 ounces.

Namiki opened the tournament with a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 4 ounces to place 21st then climbed to 10th Thursday with four bass weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces for a total of 26 pounds, 6 ounces. On Friday, with weights zeroed and the field cut from 200 pros and 200 co-anglers to the top 10 in each division, Namiki jumped into the lead with a limit weighing 20 pounds, 7 ounces. On Saturday he held on for the win with three bass weighing 10 pounds, 7 ounces.

“I still can’t feel anything,” said Namiki, who earned his first FLW Tour top 10 at the 2005 season opener on Lake Okeechobee. “I didn’t imagine I could win (with only three fish). I thought I would be second or third, maybe.”

Namiki fished the Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge in southern Arkansas along with the rest of the top 10 anglers. He was flipping a black tube to buck brush and cypress trees.

Herren, who led the first two days of competition before slipping to second Friday, earned $36,000 for finishing in the runner up position with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 27 pounds, 12 ounces. He caught the majority of his bass all week using a prototype Davis M-Series jig with a Net Bait chunk trailer. On opening day he landed the heaviest catch of the tournament – five bass weighing 24 pounds, 14 ounces – then added four bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces Thursday. On Friday Herren caught five bass weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce to enter the last day of competition in the No. 2 position. He was one of only three finalists to catch a limit Saturday.

Lawry’s pro Jason Kilpatrick of Satsuma, Ala. (nine bass, 23 pounds, 9 ounces, $25,000); Mickey Bruce of Buford, Ga. (eight bass, 23 pounds, 6 ounces, $20,000); and Mike Hawkes of Sabinal, Texas (seven bass, 22 pounds, 15 ounces, $18,000) rounded out the top five pros.

The effects of a cold front that passed through the region Wednesday all but disappeared for the final round Friday and Saturday.

Overall, 1,786 bass weighing 3,764 pounds, 8 ounces where brought to the scale this week, and more than 99 percent 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.

James Davis Jr., 34, of Ferriday, La., took top honors and $20,000 in the Co-angler Division Friday with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 4 ounces. He caught the fish on a 3/8-ounce chartreuse and white Excalibur spinnerbait while fishing buck brush in Felsenthal with Castrol pro Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla.

“I never let up,” said Davis, who fishes the Pro Division of the Texas Tournament Trail and last month missed a $73,500 win on Lake Amistad by just 1 ounce after catching an incredible 10 bass weighing 45 pounds, 2 ounces during the two-day event. “There was never a point that I thought I had it won, because I’ve been beaten before with 20 pounds in the livewell. If I’m catching them, I figure somebody else is, too.”

Davis has earned an EverStart Series and three TTT top-10s since 2001.

Merle Wells Jr. of Hammond, N.Y. (four bass, 8 pounds, 12 ounces, $10,000); Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala. (three bass, 7 pounds, 12 ounces, $9,000); Roy Altman Jr. of Augusta, Ga. (four bass, 4 pounds, 4 ounces, $8,000); and Bruce Dale of Jamestown, Ohio (two bass, 3 pounds, 11 ounces, $7,000) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

In addition to a top award of $100,000 and cash awards of $10,000 through 50th place in the Pro Division, 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 payout, and features a world-class outdoor show.

Complete coverage of the FLW Tour is broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time.

The next stop on the $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour is the Wal-Mart Open powered by Tyson on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark. The $1.25 million event hosted by the Rogers Advertising and Promotion Commission runs April 13-16.

Rank Name   Hometown Day 3 Weight Day 4 Weight Total Weight Winnings
1 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 20 7 10 7 30 14 100000.00
2 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 18 1 9 11 27 12 36000.00
3 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 15 0 8 9 23 9 25000.00
4 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 9 14 13 8 23 6 20000.00
5 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 16 2 6 13 22 15 18000.00
6 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 9 2 13 8 22 10 17000.00
7 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 12 5 9 1 21 6 16000.00
8 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 9 10 7 6 17 0 15000.00
9 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 10 12 5 6 16 2 14000.00
10 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 7 10 5 7 13 1 13000.00
 

All articles and photos from FLW

Compiled by Brandon Shook