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BASS E50 Series: Lake Lewisville, TX

E50 Event # 3 of 4

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

Preview: Elite 50 Series Enters Uncharted Waters

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Lewisville, Texas — After more than 35 years of staging world-class professional bass fishing tournaments throughout America, it seems impossible that a top-notch lake has escaped the BASS traveling show, but that’s exactly the case with Lake Lewisville and the Bassmaster Elite 50 Tour.

Bass fishing’s all-star lineup comes to Lake Lewisville June 1-4 for the third stop of the 2005 Elite 50 season, and it will focus the bass world’s attention on one of Texas’ less-publicized lakes.

Lake Lewisville is 29,592 surface acres in size and has 233 miles of shoreline. With an average depth of 25 feet, the Corps of Engineers reservoir is one of the most popular recreation spots in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It’s located adjacent to Interstate 35, just 15 minutes north of downtown Dallas and 10 minutes from DFW International Airport.

A good largemouth fishery lives in this 51-year-old impoundment of the Trinity River in Denton County (the fastest growing county in Texas).

“It’s a party lake. It’s got a lot of big boats on it,” said Texas pro Alton Jones, who lives in Waco. “It’s kind of the playground for Dallas. Being there practicing on Memorial Day weekend, structure fishing should be a challenge.

“We have a lot of fisheries in north-central Texas that don’t get any publicity because of lakes like Lake Fork, Sam Rayburn and Ray Roberts. You don’t hear much about Lake Lewisville.”

Jones loves the fact that Lewisville will provide a rare element in Bassmaster tournaments — a largely unknown, unfamiliar watery battleground.

“I really doubt that there has been a pro who has fished a tournament on this lake or even spent any time on it,” said Jones, who spent two days scouting the lake before it went off-limits nearly a month ago. “It really evens the playing field.

“No one has the advantage of being able to dig back in their memory banks and say, ‘Boy, I know what to do on this lake in these conditions.’ It’s something you’re going to have to figure out as you go, and I personally like fishing those kinds of tournaments.

“This tournament will also have guys really thinking outside the box. We’ll probably catch fish doing some things that the local fishermen don’t do because we don’t have any preconceived notions. There’s going to be somebody coming down from New Jersey like (Michael) Iaconelli who’s going to do something that no one’s tried here, and it’s going to work.”

The Elite 50 pros will find plenty to like on Lake Lewisville.

“It’s a more varied lake than I expected,” Jones said. “It has a lot to offer. It’s got a lot of targets to throw at in the form of stumps, boat docks, rock shorelines. There’s plenty of stuff to fish. It’s not a place where you’re out there fishing and throwing at nothing.”

Jones expects the fishing action to rival or even surpass the most recent Elite 50 tournament on Arkansas’ Lake Dardanelle.

“I expect the catch to be real similar to what we saw at Dardanelle,” he said. “It’ll take about 10 pounds a day to make the cut, but somebody will catch an 18- to 20-pound limit one day. In fact, I think you’ll see quite a few limits.

“There’s plenty of fish there. I’ve looked at some tournament results, and they catch 20-pound sacks out there, so it’s got some good fish in it. We might event see some 8- to 10-pound bass.”

The Elite 50 Tour is the first time that an entire tournament trail matched the cream of the crop of today’s bass pros in limited-field events. The 50 top pros earned their Elite status through either their combined performance over the past three CITGO Bassmaster Tour seasons or based on a career of excellence that placed them atop of the BASS all-time money list.

At stake in the Lewisville event are the $100,000 top prize and valuable points toward qualifying for the 2005 and 2006 Classics. The top 10 pros in the Elite 50 standings after four tournaments will earn a ticket to both Classics.

Daily launches will occur at Sneaky Pete’s on Eagle Point Drive beginning at 10 a.m. CT each day. Weigh-ins will be at Lewisville Lake Park on Lake Park Road for the first two days of competition. On Friday and Saturday, weigh-ins will take place at Copperas Branch Drive in Highland Village. The Bassmaster Outdoor Expo will be held on Friday and Saturday, and a county fair and carnival will be held in conjunction with tournament events. Friday and Saturday evenings will end with fireworks shows over the lake.

Part one of the Bassmaster Elite 50 Series event on Lake Lewisville will be telecast on The CITGO Bassmasters on Saturday, June 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Part two will air on Saturday June 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

 

From BASS

Day 1: VanDam Dominates Day One

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Lewisville, Texas - They say everything is bigger in Texas. After an outlandish Day One limit of 24 pounds, two ounces at Lake Lewisville, 2001 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., would agree. Included in his limit was an absolute monster of a bass that tipped the scales at 11 pounds, 13 ounces - the biggest bass ever recorded from the lake.

VanDam cruised to a seven-pound, two-ounce advantage over Oklahoma"s Edwin Evers at the Bassmaster Elite 50 event near Dallas.

"I love Texas!" VanDam exclaimed after weighing in the biggest bass he has ever caught in competition. "The state absolutely has the best fishing in the country, and I just love this fishery."

VanDam"s tournament can already be considered a success. His big bass earns him an extra $1,000 after taking Purolator Big Bass honors on the day. Additionally, his Wednesday catch earned him the Busch Heavyweight catch of the day and another $1,000.

The three-time CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year appears well on his way to making the cut to the top 12 anglers that comes after the second round. Unfortunately for VanDam, the weights will be zeroed after the first two days and the competitors will start over from scratch.

"We know about the weights being zeroed before coming into this tournament, so that doesn"t take away from my day," VanDam said. "All in all, I have to say today went pretty well, and I"m extremely happy."

Although VanDam wasn"t too forthcoming with information on his tackle and techniques, he did offer a few details.

"I"m using a worm, and I have it rigged a special way," he said. "I"m keying on water anywhere from the bank down to ten feet deep. In the deeper areas, I"m looking for hard bottoms with rock, wood or clay."

Nearly lost in the shadows of VanDam"s record-breaking day was Evers, who won a CITGO Bassmaster Tour stop at Lake Norman earlier this year. He"s alone in second place after catching a very respectable limit of 17 pounds. His bag included a five pound largemouth taken on a Bass Pro Shops flipping tube. The key to Evers" day was variety.

"I had 12 rods on my deck when the day started," Evers said, "and I must"ve caught a fish on every one of them."

Evers affinity for variety also extended to the water he fished. He caught fish in as little as six inches of water and as deep as 20 feet. Helping the Oklahoma pro"s cause was the familiarity he feels with the lake.

"This lake really reminds me of Lake Texoma," Evers said. "I grew up fishing there, and I feel really comfortable with this lake. I just have to go out and go fishing here."

A pound behind Evers in third place is Alabama"s Randy Howell, who caught all of his bass on a slip-shot rigged lizard. His bag included a pair of five pounders and came in four to eight feet of water on points.

"I"ve got a pattern that should hold up," Howell said. "I visited a spot I had yet to fish in practice and caught one of my five pounders there."

Rounding out the top five are 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion Michael Iaconelli (15-6) and 2004 CITGO Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle (13-11).

This week"s visit to Lake Lewisville marks the first in BASS history. The tournament has already been a huge success. Forty-one of the 50 anglers brought limit catches to the scales, and the lake now has a new largemouth bass record thanks to VanDam.

Regardless of where any of the anglers finish in the standings, they all earn a check in the Elite 50 events. First place will receive $100,000. From there, the prize money gradually scales back until even the 50th place angler gets $5,000.

The anglers will launch at 10:00 a.m. at Sneaky Pete"s for the three remaining days of the tournament. Weigh-ins will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Lake Lewisville Park.

Part one of the Bassmaster Elite 50 Series event on Lake Lewisville will be telecast on The CITGO Bassmasters on Saturday, June 11 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Part two will air on Saturday June 18 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

Rank Name    Hometown     Bass Weight Pts. Winnings

1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 24-02 305 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-02
2. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 5 17-00 295
Day 1: 5 17-00
3. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 5 16-00 290
Day 1: 5 16-00
4. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 5 15-06 285
Day 1: 5 15-06
5. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 5 13-11 280
Day 1: 5 13-11
6. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 5 13-07 276
Day 1: 5 13-07
7. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 5 13-05 272
Day 1: 5 13-05
8. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 5 13-02 268
Day 1: 5 13-02
9. Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 5 13-01 264
Day 1: 5 13-01
10. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 5 12-12 260
Day 1: 5 12-12
10. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 5 12-12 260
Day 1: 5 12-12
12. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5 12-10 254
Day 1: 5 12-10
13. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 5 12-07 251
Day 1: 5 12-07
14. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 5 12-04 248
Day 1: 5 12-04
15. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 5 12-01 245
Day 1: 5 12-01
15. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 5 12-01 245
Day 1: 5 12-01
17. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 5 11-15 241
Day 1: 5 11-15
18. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 5 11-13 239
Day 1: 5 11-13
19. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 5 11-12 237
Day 1: 5 11-12
20. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 5 11-11 235
Day 1: 5 11-11
21. Roland Martin Naples, Fla. 5 11-09 233
Day 1: 5 11-09
22. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 5 11-08 231
Day 1: 5 11-08
23. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 5 11-07 229
Day 1: 5 11-07
24. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 11-00 227
Day 1: 5 11-00
25. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 5 10-10 225
Day 1: 5 10-10
26. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 5 10-09 223
Day 1: 5 10-09
27. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 5 10-06 221
Day 1: 5 10-06
28. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 5 9-12 219
Day 1: 5 9-12
29. David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 5 9-11 217
Day 1: 5 9-11
30. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 9-07 215
Day 1: 5 9-07
31. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 5 9-03 213
Day 1: 5 9-03
32. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 5 9-02 211
Day 1: 5 9-02
33. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 5 9-01 209
Day 1: 5 9-01
34. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 5 9-00 207
Day 1: 5 9-00
34. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 5 9-00 207
Day 1: 5 9-00
36. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 5 8-13 203
Day 1: 5 8-13
36. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 5 8-13 203
Day 1: 5 8-13
38. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 5 8-11 199
Day 1: 5 8-11
39. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 5 8-08 197
Day 1: 5 8-08
39. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 4 8-08 197
Day 1: 4 8-08
41. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 4 8-00 193
Day 1: 4 8-00
42. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 5 7-13 191
Day 1: 5 7-13
42. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 4 7-13 191
Day 1: 4 7-13
44. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 5 7-01 187
Day 1: 5 7-01
45. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 4 7-00 185
Day 1: 4 7-00
46. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 3 6-01 183
Day 1: 3 6-01
47. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 2 5-07 181
Day 1: 2 5-07
48. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 3 4-14 179
Day 1: 3 4-14
49. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 3 4-07 177
Day 1: 3 4-07
50. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 1 2-01 175
Day 1: 1 2-01
 

From ESPN Outdoors

Day 2: VanDam is on a Roll

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Lewisville, Texas - Kevin VanDam is on such a roll that it almost doesn't matter what he does.

After a record-setting opening day, he coasted Thursday in the Bassmaster 50 Elite Tournament in Lewisville, spending four hours scoping out the next day's course.

It hardly mattered. He got the same results, bringing in a catch of 15 pounds and 14 ounces to top all anglers for the second straight day. His two-day total of 40 pounds swamped the other 49 competitors. He led the second-place finisher, Mike Iaconelli, by almost 13 pounds.

Although he won last year's Elite 50 overall title, VanDam's yet to win an individual series title. That led him to thoroughly investigate the six-hole course for Friday. By the rules, VanDam gets to choose which hole he wants to start on.

"I think I've made up my mind," he said. "But I want to check out the weather forecast first. I've got some holes I really like. I do love the format. You've got to get on the fish quick; you've got to get on a pattern quick; and you've got to cover water fast. That's the way I like it."

Anglers Thursday faced similar conditions to opening day. Temperatures climbed into the 90s and the humidity was high. But no one came close to matching VanDam's opening-day catch of an 11 pound, 13-ounce largemouth bass. It was the largest fish caught so far in the series. Officials said it also topped the previous record catch at Lake Lewisville. However, VanDam hasn't decided yet whether to file the necessary paperwork with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to officially claim the record.

Mike Iaconelli moved into second place by bringing in a 12-pound haul. His two-day total was 27 pounds and 6 ounces. He celebrated by bolting off the weigh-in stage and running right past reporters. Iaconelli wanted a chance to scout the six-hole course before dark.

Pursued, he was asked why he pushed so hard, given he was in fourth place starting the day, and didn't take a look-see earlier.

"That's right where I'm headed," Iaconelli said.

There was one sure way to slow him down, though. A fan waved a copy of his book, "Fishing on the Edge," which shows a tattooed Iaconelli nose to nose with a largemouth bass. By most accounts, it's an even match.

"How are you doing today, beautiful?" Iaconelli said, stopping to sign a copy of his book in the hands of four-year-old Jayeden Strickland. She and the book belonged to Kevin Strickland, of Princeton, a small community north of Dallas, who brought along his son, Heath.

Strickland, who admits he's old school, said he still admires the flamboyant Iaconelli.

"You have to warm up to him," Strickland said. "But he brings diversity to the sport. He's very good for it. And, as he's shown, he can stack the fish up."

At least VanDam was a bit more revealing Thursday. He disclosed details of what equipment he used to catch the record-breaking bass. He used a Strike King worm (watermelon red and green pumpkin) rigged on a jighead, a seven-foot spinning rod with an eight-pound Bass Pro Shop's fluorocarbon line.

But it was the worm, which floats high in the water and appears to be standing, that had VanDam's mouth salivating.

"The key was that worm," VanDam said. "It's so buoyant. It's so much more softer than plastic and has many times the action. You can really make the tail dance."

The 10 anglers who will cast along with VanDam and Iaconelli on Friday are: Edwin Evers, 27 pounds and 1 ounce; Kenyon Hill, 26 pounds and 3 ounces; Aaron Martens, 26 pounds and 1 ounce; Gerald Swindle, 25 pounds and 10 ounces; Dustin Wilks, 25 pounds and 7 ounces; Randy Howell, 25 pounds and 4 ounces; Kevin Wirth, 25 pounds and 2 ounces; Luke Clausen, 24 pounds and 12 ounces; Brian Snowden, 24 pounds and 10 ounces; and Larry Nixon, 24 pounds and 5 ounces.

With the weights zeroed, the 12 anglers will start even fishing the six-hole course for seven hours. During the eighth and final hour, anglers will be allowed anywhere on the course.

The top six finishers will compete for the title and a $100,000 top prize on Saturday.


Rank Name   Hometown      Bass Weight Pts. Winnings
1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 40-00 310 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-02 Day 2: 5 15-14
2. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 10 27-06 295
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 12-00
3. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 10 27-01 290
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 10-01
4. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 10 26-03 285
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 14-12
5. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 10 26-01 280
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-10
6. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 10 25-10 276
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-15
7. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 10 25-07 272
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-05
8. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 10 25-04 268
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 9-04
9. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 10 25-02 264
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 12-14
10. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 10 24-12 260
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-00
11. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 10 24-10 257
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-10
12. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 10 24-05 254
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-04
13. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 10 23-06 251 $5,700.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 13-00
14. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 10 22-09 248 $5,550.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 12-00
14. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 10 22-09 248 $5,550.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 11-01
16. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 10 22-05 243 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 9-09
17. Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 10 22-03 241 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 9-02
18. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 10 21-10 239 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 9-15
19. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 9 21-08 237 $5,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 9-09
20. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 10 21-04 235 $5,300.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 7-13
20. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 10 21-04 235 $5,300.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 8-10
22. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 10 20-09 231 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-02 Day 2: 5 11-07
23. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 10 20-06 229 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 5 10-10
24. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 10 20-03 227 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 8-02
25. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 10 20-01 225 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-01 Day 2: 5 11-00
25. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 10 20-01 225 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-07 Day 2: 5 10-10
27. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 10 19-15 221 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 8-03
27. Roland Martin Naples, Fla. 9 19-15 221 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 4 8-06
29. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 10 19-06 217 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 5 10-06
29. David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 10 19-06 217 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 5 9-11
31. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 10 18-13 213 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 8-13 Day 2: 5 10-00
32. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 10 18-07 211 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 7-13 Day 2: 5 10-10
33. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 10 18-04 209 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 8-08 Day 2: 5 9-12
34. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 10 18-01 207 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-03 Day 2: 5 8-14
35. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 9 17-12 205 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 4 7-02
36. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 9 17-09 203 $5,100.00
Day 1: 4 7-00 Day 2: 5 10-09
37. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 9 16-15 201 $5,100.00
Day 1: 4 7-13 Day 2: 5 9-02
38. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 7 16-14 199 $5,100.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 2 5-01
39. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 10 16-12 197 $5,100.00
Day 1: 5 8-11 Day 2: 5 8-01
40. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 10 16-06 195 $5,100.00
Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 5 7-06
41. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 9 15-10 193 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 8-13 Day 2: 4 6-13
42. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 7 15-02 191 $5,000.00
Day 1: 2 5-07 Day 2: 5 9-11
43. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 6 14-12 189 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 1 1-07
44. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 8 14-05 187 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-01 Day 2: 5 8-04
45. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 6 11-13 185 $5,000.00
Day 1: 4 8-00 Day 2: 2 3-13
46. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 7 10-09 183 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 4-14 Day 2: 4 5-11
47. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 7 9-11 181 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 7-01 Day 2: 2 2-10
48. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 4 8-08 179 $5,000.00
Day 1: 4 8-08 Day 2: 0 0-00
49. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 4 5-06 177 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 4-07 Day 2: 1 0-15
50. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 2 3-10 175 $5,000.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 1 1-09
 

By Mark England, FishFactory.com

Day 3: Ike Barely Leads Day Three

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Lewisville, Texas - Friday at the Bassmaster Elite 50 Tournament was a tale of not the one, but the ones that got away. Two top anglers walked across the weigh-in stage in Lewisville, Texas with their hands empty.

Mike Iaconelli, however, excelled on a tough windy day to grab the lead with a catch of 12 pounds and 13 ounces heading into the finals on Saturday.

Brian Snowden, whose catch weighed 11 pounds and 15 ounces, placed second.

The weather turned snarly Friday. After two days of sunshine, it got nasty at Lake Lewisville. Two dangerous storm cells in the area led officials to delay the start of fishing until 11 a.m. A six-hole course was still followed, but the fishing time was cut to an hour per hole. Contestants got "happy hour" extended to an hour and 20 minutes to fish wherever they wanted.

Even with the delay, Iaconelli got off to a hot start. He caught two fish at the No. 5 hole, where he plans to start on Saturday. He used a Berkley green pumpkin power worm and a 1/8-ounce True Tungsten jighead.

"The key is to get off to a good start," he said. "It really sets the tone for the day. I had a couple of keepers the first hole today. It got me motivated."

The 12-man field Friday was cut to six for the finals. After Iaconelli and Snowden, rounding out the field are Kevin VanDam, 8 pounds and 8 ounces; Larry Nixon, 7 pounds and 6 ounces; Edwin Evers, 6 pounds and 2 ounces; and Randy Howell, 5 pounds and 11 ounces.

Howell got into the finals with only three fish.

However, Howell's catch looked plenty good to Kevin Wirth and Dustin Wilks. Two of the sport's best had to trudge across the weigh-in stage Friday with only forced smiles to show the crowd.

Wirth, in his defense, said he did catch three catfish.

"I was kind of hungry out there," Wirth said. "If I'd had a skillet, I'd fried them for sure."

Gerald Swindle told a rowdy crowd of more than 1,000 people that he was "proud" to have at least caught one fish, which weighed in at 2 pounds and 7 ounces.

"You're looking at me like you're disgusted," Swindle told the announcer. "If you'd rode around with me for seven hours cranking bait, you really would have been disgusted. If any of you out there are going to be fishing in the area around Interstate 35, I can tell you where not to fish."

Anglers said that while storms may have moved out of the area Friday, the wind didn't go anywhere. Although Nixon made the finals, he called Lewisville "about as tough a course as I've ever fished."

"Fish don't like muddy water," Nixon said. "They can't see the bait."

VanDam, however, sounded almost mystical about his experience fishing in the wind.

"Yeah, it was blowing pretty good," he said. "But I like the wind. The wind is your friend. It can muddy the water. That's a problem. But it was probably due more to boat traffic. You just have to use the wind to your advantage."

That, to VanDam, means power fishing.

"You have to fish with power baits," he said. "Baits you can cast and retrieve."

VanDam had the momentum going into Friday. He already banked $4,000 in bonus money for winning the best single catch and overall catch honors on both the first and second day of competition.

And on opening day, he caught the largest bass of the Elite 50 series, an 11 pound and 13 ounce largemouth bass.

That catch was commemorated at the weigh-in Friday when two officials with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department surprised a startled but pleased VanDam. They walked onto the stage with the paperwork necessary for him to officially claim the honor of catching the largest bass ever at Lake Lewisville.

VanDam signed on the dotted line to a rousing ovation.

The finals Saturday will again feature the six-hole course, with the weights of each angler's catch carrying over. The six finalists will fish for an hour and 10 minutes at each hole, then have an hour to fish anywhere on the course.

The angler with the best two-day weight will net $100,000

Rank Name      Hometown       Bass Weight Pts. Winnings
1. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 5 12-13 305 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 12-13
2. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 4 11-15 295 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 4 11-15
3. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 8-08 300 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-02 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 8-08
4. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 4 7-06 285
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 4 7-06
5. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 4 6-02 280
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 10-01 Day 3: 4 6-02
6. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 3 5-11 276
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 9-04 Day 3: 3 5-11
7. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 3 5-09 272 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 3 5-09
8. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 3 4-08 268 $6,800.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 3 4-08
9. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 2 3-14 264 $6,600.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 2 3-14
10. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 1 2-07 260 $6,400.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 1 2-07
11. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 0 0-00 257 $6,100.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
11. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 0 0-00 257 $6,100.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 0 0-00
 

By Mark England, FishFactory.com

Day 4: VanDam Wins on Lewisville

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Lewisville, Texas - The wind blew hard again Saturday in the finals of the Lake Lewisville Bassmaster Elite 50 Tournament. Kevin VanDam, though, used it to sail to victory -- the only one of the six finalists to catch the limit. He caught the limit all four days.

VanDam's bass bag weighed in at 10 pounds and 4 ounces.

It easily leapfrogged him past Friday's leader, Mike Iaconelli, who could only land one bass, 3 pounds and 9 ounces. VanDam's win landed a $100,000 check.

The win was VanDam's first individual title in the Elite 50 series. And it wasn't easy, VanDam said. He didn't get off to a good start, quickly losing what he estimated at a three-pound bass.

"I thought, "Gosh, I don't need to do that,"" VanDam said. "I fought through the adversity to get it done. I really don't think I fished all that well, but, fortunately for me, a few guys slipped."

VanDam's two-day total of 18 pounds and 12 ounces beat out Brian Snowden. Snowden caught two bass Saturday totaling 5 pounds and one ounce for a two-day total of 17 pounds.

Larry Nixon, who only caught a single bass, one pound and 15 ounces, to finish fourth, noted, "A fisherman always has excuses."

But Randy Howell, who failed to land anything and ended up last, probably had the best excuse going Saturday.

"I was fishing a hole behind VanDam the whole day," Howell said. "I could see him catching fish in front of me. I'd get there and he'd already caught them. What can you say? He's just on right now."

Saturday was in many ways like Friday. Most anglers were bothered by windy conditions that muddied the water and could never got going. On Friday, only two anglers, Iaconelli and VanDam, caught the limit.

Edwin Evers, who caught one bass Saturday that weighed in at 1 pound and 13 ounces, lauded VanDam for his victory. Evers finished in fifth place.

"Luck had nothing to do with his win," Evers said. "He got a bite Friday that keyed him into something. You got to give him credit for that."

Evers said VanDam figured out how to fish in the shallow water at Lake Lewisville.

VanDam said he started out the day using spinner bait.

"Then I started flipping and ended up catching some fish," he said.

Diving into the minutia of the sport, VanDam credited his use of a #6 Indiana Blade, a spinning blade on spinner bait, in helping him win in the wind.

"It was critical," VanDam said. "You had to just crawl the bait to get a bite."

Earlier, VanDam told a raucous crowd that numbered in the thousands that he antagonized the fish in order to catch them.

"The fish in the lake have so much food," VanDam said. "So much shad. You've got to keep a bait in front of 'em, make them mad, to get them to bite."

A change of attitude also may have played a role in VanDam claiming his first win, although he did claim the overall 2004 Elite 50 title.

"Last year I had a plan," VanDam said. "Where the big money was paid was the points championship. This year, there is no money for the points championship. That's why I've gone to every event trying to win it."

Close to 70 boats followed VanDam and Iaconelli around the six-hole course Saturday. Tournament officials and anglers alike complimented them on their courtesy.

"There was an armada of spectators out there," VanDam said. "It was awesome."

A visibly disappointed Iaconelli said that, ironically, he caught more fish Saturday than Friday. Iaconelli, who ended up third, had a 15-ounce catch advantage over Snowden going into the final day.

"They just ended up being smaller," Iaconelli said. "But I had an opportunity to put more in the boat, and I just didn't capitalize on it."

From Lewisville, anglers head to the final Elite 50 event in 2005 at Lake Wissota, Wisconsin, June 15-18.

Besides the top prize, anglers were competing in Lewisville for points to qualify for the 2005 and 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Classic. The top 10 in the Elite 50 standings after four events will earn a spot in both classics.

VanDam's win gave him the points lead, 865 to 864, over Iaconelli.
 

Rank Name Hometown                 Bass Weight Pts. Winnings
1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 18-12 315 $106,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-02 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 8-08 Day 4: 5 10-04
2. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 6 17-00 295 $22,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 4 11-15 Day 4: 2 5-01
3. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 8 16-06 295 $13,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 12-13 Day 4: 3 3-09
4. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 5 9-05 285 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 4 7-06 Day 4: 1 1-15
5. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 5 7-15 280 $10,300.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 10-01 Day 3: 4 6-02 Day 4: 1 1-13
6. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 3 5-11 276 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 9-04 Day 3: 3 5-11 Day 4: 0 0-00

From FishFactory.com

Compiled by Brandon Shook