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The Full Story
FLW Tour: Beaver
Lake, AR
Tour Event # 4 of 6
Preview | Day 1 |
Day 2 | Day 3 |
Day 4
Preview: FLW Tour to Visit
Beaver Lake
Back to top
 ROGERS,
Ark. – The $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will stop in Rogers April 13-16
for the eighth annual Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson. Hosted by the Rogers
Advertising and Promotion Commission, the $1.25 million 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 $200,000 cash. Two hundred
co-anglers will also compete for a top award of $40,000 cash.
To add even more excitement to the Wal-Mart Open, Tyson Foods, Inc. is
tagging six “Power Bass” and releasing them into Beaver Lake before the
competition. One of the six fish will be worth $200,000 to any pro or
co-angler who catches it during the four-day contest, which matches the
purse of the pro winner of the Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson. The remaining
five fish are each worth $5,000. If a tagged fish is caught, no one will
know its worth until the weigh-in at the end of each day. The tagging of the
fish is painless and the tag will dissolve and fall off in about 30 days.
“Because the event is right here in our back yard, Tyson wants to inject a
little Power into the competition,” said Bob Corscadden, Tyson’s senior vice
president and chief marketing officer. “Our fingers are crossed that the
money fish ends up in a boat.”
When anglers who favor sight fishing first saw the 2005 schedule, they
smiled when glancing at the dates for the Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson on
Beaver Lake. Lingering cold fronts, however, have kept water temperatures in
the high 40s and low 50s, and sight fishing might not be the dominating
pattern. “I think sight fishing will play a big part in the tournament,”
said Castrol pro Carl Svebek III of Siloam Springs. “But, there will be
several different ways to approach this tournament.”
While undoubtedly waves of smallmouths, largemouths and spotted bass will be
going to the beds or cruising shallow spawning areas when the tour arrives,
other factors will determine the dominant patterns at the onset of the
tournament. The most important factor this time of year is water level. When
the water goes well above normal pool, sight fishing can become more
difficult while other techniques become more effective.
“Right now it’s at normal pool,” said FLW Tour co-angler Vandy Cameron of
Rogers. “It’s taking 16 to 18 pounds to win tournaments right now on Beaver.
Guys are catching quality bass on crankbaits, jerkbaits and jigs.”
Anglers take off each morning from Prairie Creek Marina 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 2110 West Walnut in Rogers beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
Immediately following the weigh-in Friday, fans are invited to a free
concert featuring country-music recording-artist Craig Morgan. Morgan’s
current single “That’s What I Love About Sundays” hit No. 1 on the country
radio charts last week.
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.
This is the most lucrative FLW Tour season to date, as the popular
tournament series celebrates its 10th anniversary with a $7.6 million purse,
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 in 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 Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson will be broadcast to 82
million FSN subscribers as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program.
“FLW Outdoors” airs Sundays at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
Wheeler Lake near Decatur, Ala., will host the fifth tour stop May 11-14
followed by the Chevy Open in Charles County, Md., June 22-25.
Day
1: Guido in First
Back to top
 ROGERS,
Ark. – With a $1.25 million purse and $200,000 going to the winning pro,
it’s one of the biggest and most anticipated tournaments in bass fishing,
surpassed only by the $1.5 million Forrest L. Wood Championship, and it’s
finally under way. The eighth annual Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson began
with cloudy skies and cool temperatures, but the action quickly heated up
when legendary angler Guido Hibdon of Gravois Mills, Mo., placed five bass
weighing 18 pounds, 4 ounces on the scale Wednesday afternoon.
All but six pros caught fish on opening day, and the majority of anglers, 77
to be exact, are hovering between 8 pounds and 10 pounds, 15 ounces. That
puts more than a third of the pro field one 5-pounder away from making the
all-important 10th-place cut, which stands at 13 pounds, 1 ounce. Several
fish over 5 pounds have already crossed the stage.
Of the 400 anglers competing, 174 five-bass limits were weighed, including
135 in the Pro Division alone. Those anglers who landed atop the leader
board like Hibdon and Jeremiah Kindy of Benton, Ark., who is currently
second with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces, are now well positioned
to make the final-round cut Thursday as fishing conditions should continue
to improve with the onset of warmer weather.
“I started the day catching a bunch of little spots that I knew wouldn’t do
me any good,” said Hibdon, who has earned a Bassmaster Classic title and
four FLW Tour top-10s in his storied career. “So I decided to go do what I
knew I should be doing all along. I went largemouth fishing, and I moved
around quite a bit.”
Hibdon caught the majority of his bass using a melon/pepper Guido Bug
finesse jig in 20 to 30 feet of water while Kindy caught four largemouths
and one meanmouth on an original Wiggle Wart crankbait cast to secondary
points.
“I only have 10 of the original Wiggle Warts left, and I’m going to keep
riding them as long as I can,” said Kindy, a Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League
Arkie Division standout who finished 10th at last month’s FLW Tour stop on
the Ouachita River in Monroe, La. “In the last three years I’ve won more
than $30,000 on the bait. The new Wiggle Wart work fine, but I have
confidence in the old originals.”
Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla., (five bass, 14 pounds, 15 ounces); Chris
McCall of Jasper, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 11 ounces) and Cody Bird of
Granbury, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 4 ounces) rounded out the top five
pros.
Kindy earned the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $750 in the Pro Division
with a 5-pound, 8-ounce largemouth.
In the Co-angler Division Mike Hawks of Galax, Va., leads the tournament
thanks to a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 12 ounces. He fished with
pro Robert Karbas Jr. of Wake Forest, N.C., who caught five bass weighing 11
pounds, 7 ounces and is currently in a three-way tie for 28th place.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mark Phillips of Fayetteville, Ark.
(five bass, 9 pounds, 15 ounces); Jeff Baffa of Tinley Park, Ill. (five
bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces); Tee Watkins of East Point, Ky. (five bass, 8
pounds, 13 ounces); and Sondra Rankin of Paducah, Ky. (five bass, 8 pounds,
12 ounces).
Land O’Lakes angler Judy Israel of Clewiston, Fla., claimed the Snickers Big
Bass award and $500 in the Co-angler Division with a 5-pound, 13-ounce
largemouth that she caught on a finesse worm while fishing with pro Lee
Skipper of Lancaster, S.C., who is currently in 185th place with one bass
weighing 2 pounds, 11 ounces.
Israel gained national acclaim last year as the first and only woman to win
an FLW Tour event. That accomplishment could be challenged this week,
however, as three women are currently in the top 20. Rankin is fifth, Mary
Parnell of Casselberry, Fla., is seventh and Kim Bain from Queensland,
Australia, is 18th.
Beaver Lake yielded a catch of 1,343 bass weighing 2,260 pounds, 2 ounces
Wednesday. Over 99 percent of the bass were released alive.
Anglers will take off from Prairie Creek Marina at 7 each morning.
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 2110 West Walnut in Rogers beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
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 Friday and
Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The free
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. Immediately following Friday’s weigh-in, fans are invited to a free
concert featuring country-music recording-artist Craig Morgan. Morgan’s
single “That’s What I Love About Sunday” recently hit No. 1 on the country
radio charts.
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
$40,000 while the winning pro earns $200,000. Pros finishing as low as 50th
place earn $10,000.
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 payout, and features a
world-class outdoor show.
Complete coverage of the Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson will be broadcast on
FSN May 8 and May 15 as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television
program. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs every Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern time
on FSN.
Rank Name Hometown Bass Weight
1 GUIDO HIBDON GRAVOIS MILLS, MO 5 18 4
2 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 5 15 2
3 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 5 14 15
4 CHRIS MCCALL JASPER, TX 5 14 11
5 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 5 14 4
6 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 5 13 7
7 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 13 6
8 BRENNAN BOSLEY BENTON, AR 5 13 3
9 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 5 13 2
10 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 5 13 1
11 KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE, FL 5 12 15
12 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 5 12 13
13 TOM MANN JR BUFORD, GA 5 12 12
14 TAKAHIRO OMORI EMORY, TX 5 12 11
15 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 5 12 8
16 LUKE CLAUSEN SPOKANE, WA 5 12 5
17 CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE, TN 5 12 1
18 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 5 12 0
19 TODD FAIRCLOTH JASPER, TX 5 11 14
20 TRACY ADAMS WILKESBORO, NC 5 11 13
20 JIM NOLAN BULL SHOALS, AR 5 11 13
22 DALE TEANEY WILLIAMSBURG, OH 5 11 12
23 LEE BAILEY JR AMSTON, CT 5 11 11
24 SEAN MINDERMAN SPOKANE, WA 5 11 9
24 SHINICHI FUKAE OSAKA JAPAN 566-0072, 5 11 9
24 JAMES A PARKER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 5 11 9
27 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 5 11 8
28 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 5 11 7
28 ROBERT KARBAS JR WAKE FOREST, NC 5 11 7
28 DION HIBDON STOVER, MO 4 11 7
31 AL GAGLIARDUCCI AGAWAM, MA 5 11 2
32 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 5 11 0
33 JIMMY MILLSAPS CANTON, GA 5 10 15
34 DANNY CORREIA MARLBOROUGH, MA 5 10 14
34 DAVID P DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 5 10 14
34 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 5 10 14
37 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 5 10 11
37 ROB KILBY HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 10 11
39 RICK MARSH HIGH POINT, NC 5 10 10
39 DWAYNE HORTON KNOXVILLE, TN 5 10 10
41 CHARLES KING SHREVEPORT, LA 5 10 9
42 SEAN HOERNKE MAGNOLIA, TX 5 10 8
42 BRENT EHRLER REDLANDS, CA 5 10 8
44 SCOTT R MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 5 10 7
45 DAVID J WRIGHT LEXINGTON, NC 5 10 6
46 GARY RIFFLE PARIS, TX 5 10 5
46 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 5 10 5
48 ROBERT SHERRY SAINT CHARLES, IL 5 10 1
48 STEPHEN L TOSH JR MODESTO, CA 5 10 1
50 RICKY SHUMPERT LEXINGTON, SC 5 10 0
51 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 5 9 15
51 DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH, KY 5 9 15
53 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 3 9 14
53 CHARLIE WEYER WEST HILLS, CA 5 9 14
55 ZELL ROWLAND MONTGOMERY, TX 5 9 13
56 MARK HARDIN CANTON, GA 5 9 11
56 JOHN W CREWS SALEM, VA 4 9 11
56 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 5 9 11
59 TOM MONSOOR LA CROSSE, WI 5 9 10
60 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 5 9 9
60 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 5 9 9
62 VIC VATALARO KENT, OH 5 9 8
62 BERNIE SCHULTZ GAINESVILLE, FL 5 9 8
64 TONY COUCH BUCKHEAD, GA 5 9 7
65 JACOB POWROZNIK PRINCE GEORGE, VA 5 9 6
65 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 5 9 6
65 RAY SCHEIDE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 5 9 6
68 KEN WICK STAR, ID 5 9 5
68 DAVE LEFEBRE ERIE, PA 5 9 5
68 DALE EVANS RIDGEVILLE, SC 5 9 5
71 RANDY BLAUKAT LAMAR, MO 5 9 3
72 JIM CARNELL MUSKOGEE, OK 5 9 2
72 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 5 9 2
72 DAN MANSKY YOUNGSTOWN, OH 5 9 2
75 NICK GREBB ROSEVILLE, CA 5 9 0
76 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 5 8 15
77 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 5 8 14
77 HARMON DAVIS MARLOW, OK 5 8 14
77 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 5 8 14
80 MARCEL VEENSTRA BRIGHTON, MI 5 8 13
80 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 5 8 13
80 MICHAEL JOHNSON TALKING ROCK, GA 5 8 13
83 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 4 8 12
83 MIKE WURM HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 8 12
83 AARON MARTENS LEEDS, AL 5 8 12
86 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 5 8 11
86 MARCUS CLOUSE LAS VEGAS, NV 5 8 11
86 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 5 8 11
86 TERRY SEGRAVES KISSIMMEE, FL 5 8 11
90 RUSTY SALEWSKE ALPINE, CA 5 8 10
90 JOHN SAPPINGTON WILLARD, MO 4 8 10
90 RICK LILLEGARD PICKTON, TX 5 8 10
90 SAM SWETT COVINGTON, LA 5 8 10
94 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 5 8 9
94 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 5 8 9
96 JACKIE DAVIS WILLARD, MO 5 8 8
97 SCOTT DOBSON CLARKSTON, MI 5 8 6
98 JOHN MURRAY PHOENIX, AZ 4 8 5
98 SANDY MELVIN BOCA GRANDE, FL 5 8 5
98 DAVID SMITH DEL CITY, OK 5 8 5
98 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 5 8 5
98 CURT LYTLE ZUNI, VA 5 8 5
103 DAVID COOKE MOORESVILLE, NC 5 8 4
103 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 5 8 4
105 ANTHONY GAGLIARDI PROSPERITY, SC 4 8 1
105 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 4 8 1
107 LLOYD T PICKETT JR BARTLETT, TN 5 8 0
107 TODD ARY MOODY, AL 5 8 0
107 DAVID GIVENS HERNANDO, FL 4 8 0
110 J T KENNEY FROSTBURG, MD 5 7 13
111 SIMON MORROW ALEXANDER CITY, AL 5 7 11
112 DEREK YAMAMOTO TEMPE, AZ 4 7 9
113 JIMMY HOUSTON COOKSON, OK 5 7 8
113 WES THOMAS HANOVER, IN 5 7 8
115 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 5 7 7
116 RICK CLUNN AVA, MO 5 7 5
116 ROGER A BOLER SLIDELL, LA 5 7 5
116 TIM CARROLL OWASSO, OK 5 7 5
119 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 5 7 2
120 DAVID LAUER SOUTH BEND, IN 5 7 1
120 ART BERRY HEMET, CA 5 7 1
122 JODY CORDELL FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 5 7 0
123 TOBY HARTSELL LIVINGSTON, TX 5 6 15
124 TERRY TUCKER GADSDEN, AL 5 6 13
125 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 5 6 12
126 JIM MOYNAGH CARVER, MN 4 6 11
127 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 5 6 10
127 KEITH PACE MONTICELLO, AR 5 6 10
129 CHAD MORGENTHALER COULTERVILLE, IL 5 6 9
129 STEVE DANIEL CLEWISTON, FL 5 6 9
129 MIKE SURMAN BOCA RATON, FL 5 6 9
132 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 2 6 8
133 RANDY ALEXANDER LONDON, KY 4 6 7
133 ALFRED WILLIAMS JACKSON, MS 5 6 7
135 KENNETH STRICKLAND GREENSBORO, NC 5 6 6
135 MASAKI SHIMONO SHIGA-PREF JAPAN, 5 6 6
135 GLENN BROWNE OCALA, FL 5 6 6
138 BILL MCDONALD INDIANAPOLIS, IN 5 6 5
138 RICHARD BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 6 5
140 DAVID WALKER SEVIERVILLE, TN 3 6 4
140 GLENN CHAPPELEAR ACWORTH, GA 5 6 4
140 PAT FISHER DANIELSVILLE, GA 4 6 4
140 AL LITTLE GREENSBORO, NC 4 6 4
144 TERRY BAKSAY MONROE, CT 4 6 3
145 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 5 6 2
145 JONATHAN NEWTON ROGERSVILLE, AL 5 6 2
147 STEPHEN H WILSON MISSION HILLS, CA 4 6 1
147 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 4 6 1
149 JAMES QUILLMAN PLANO, TX 3 6 0
150 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 5 5 15
150 JOE SMALL MARION, AR 3 5 15
152 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 3 5 13
153 PAUL ELIAS LAUREL, MS 4 5 12
154 TOM BURNS CARBONDALE, IL 3 5 8
155 SHAD SCHENCK WAYNETOWN, IN 4 5 6
156 MICHAEL T BROWN ROCKY FACE, GA 5 5 5
157 CHIC AYDELETTE THOMASVILLE, NC 5 5 3
157 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 2 5 3
159 ASA GODSEY CLEWISTON, FL 4 5 2
160 CHRIS ELLIOTT GLOUCESTER, NC 4 5 1
161 CHARLIE HARTLEY GROVE CITY, OH 5 5 0
162 GREG GULLEDGE MONTICELLO, AR 5 4 15
162 JOHN TANNER QUITMAN, TX 4 4 15
164 RUSS MORAN MURFREESBORO, TN 4 4 11
165 TERRY BOYD CINCINNATI, OH 3 4 10
165 WARREN WYMAN CALERA, AL 3 4 10
167 DENNIS MAGOTO WAYNESVILLE, OH 2 4 9
168 CHUCK ECONOMOU REDINGTON SHORES, FL 3 4 8
168 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 3 4 8
168 JASON ABRAM CHUCKEY, TN 5 4 8
171 SCOTT DAVID GOODRICH, TX 3 4 4
172 RICH TAUBER CAMARILLO, CA 2 4 3
173 BOBBY LANHAM SCOTTSDALE, AZ 2 4 2
174 GLENN E MILLER NEWBORN, GA 3 3 14
175 BOBBY CURTIS SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 2 3 11
176 ISHAMA MONROE HUGHSON, CA 2 3 10
177 WILLIAM P DROWN ROSELAND, FL 3 3 7
178 RANDY MORRIS GARFIELD, AR 3 3 6
179 KATSUTOSHI FURUSAWA TOKYO JAPAN 1920153, 2 3 3
180 ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 3 2 15
181 TIM SHMIGAL AKRON, OH 1 2 13
182 RAMIE COLSON JR CADIZ, KY 2 2 12
182 MARY T DIVINCENTI CLINTON, LA 1 2 12
182 MORIZO SHIMIZU SUITA, OSAKA JAPAN 91, KY 1 2 12
185 KIM STRICKER HOWELL, MI 3 2 11
185 LEE SKIPPER LANCASTER, SC 1 2 11
187 PAUL A WHITMAN JR DALLAS, TX 1 2 10
188 NICK GAINEY CHARLESTON, SC 2 2 9
189 PETE THLIVEROS JACKSONVILLE, FL 2 2 6
190 MIKE LEBLANC COLCHESTER, VT 1 2 5
191 JACK D BELL KANE, PA 2 2 2
192 KAREN SAVIK ST. LOUIS PARK, MN 1 1 2
192 ALLEN CAUTHEN LANCASTER, SC 1 1 2
194 BILLY BOWEN JR OCALA, FL 1 1 1
Day
2: Pirch Leads FLW
Open
Back to top
 ROGERS,
Ark. – Wal-Mart FLW Tour rookie Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., made a
remarkable jump from 105th to first on the leader board Thursday with a
19-pound, 8-ounce limit that pushed his two-day total to nine bass weighing
27 pounds, 9 ounces. He now leads 10 Pro Division finalists into the second
half of competition in the $1.25 million Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson on
Beaver Lake.
All finalists start back at zero weight Friday, and the pro with the
heaviest two-day cumulative weight Saturday will earn $200,000 – a payout
surpassed only by the tour’s $500,000 award at the Forrest L. Wood
Championship. The co-angler title, and a $40,000 first-place prize, will be
awarded at the conclusion of Friday’s competition.
“I had a great practice, but I chocked yesterday,” said Pirch, referring to
his four-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce on opening day. “I had to
gain a lot of ground, so I fished as hard as I could. The sun coming out
today gave good visibility and pushed the fish to visible targets.”
Pirch’s limit is the heaviest of the tournament so far, earning him the
Energizer Keeps on Going Award for coming from the farthest behind to
qualify for the final round.
“Nineteen pounds is just a phenomenal day,” Pirch said. “I would like to go
out and do it again, but it’s going to be hard to top. I’m going to try
though.”
Pirch earned four top-10s in the EverStart Series Western Division before
stepping up to the FLW Tour this season. He said that he used three patterns
to catch his limit Thursday: fishing near shallow schools of shad first
thing in the morning, sight fishing later in the morning and casting to
staging fish in the afternoon.
Castrol pro Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla., added five bass weighing 11
pounds, 11 ounces to his day one catch to finish the opening round in second
with 10 bass weighing 26 pounds, 10 ounces. He used a chartreuse and white
War Eagle spinnerbait, a watermelon colored Zoom finesse worm, and a bubble
gum colored lizard to catch his limit. He predicts, however, that the final
two days will be a sight-fishing bonanza.
“We are going to have more fun sight fishing than a man has ever had,” said
Robertson, who was running the banks Thursday casting his spinnerbait while
searching for bedding fish. “I won’t be able to sleep for thinking about
it.”
Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, who caught five bass weighing 11 pounds, 8
ounces on day one and five bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces on day two,
claimed the No. 3 qualifying spot with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing
25 pounds, 10 ounces. He used Yum soft plastics.
Jeremiah Kindy of Benton, Ark. (10 bass, 25 pounds, 3 ounces) and Andre
Moore of Scottsdale, Ariz. (10 bass, 25 pounds, 1 ounce) rounded out the top
five pros.
Lawry’s pro Jason Kilpatrick of Satsuma, Ala., earned the day’s Snickers Big
Bass award of $750 in the Pro Division with a 4-pound, 14-ounce largemouth.
Land O’ Lakes co-angler Judy Israel of Clewiston, Fla., earned the overall
Snickers Big Bass award of $1,000 for catching the heaviest bass in either
division during the opening round. Israel caught a 5-pound, 13-ounce
largemouth on a finesse worm Wednesday.
Jeff Turner of Plainfield, Ill., leads the Co-angler Division thanks to a
two-day catch of nine bass weighing 17 pounds, 11 ounces. Turner caught four
bass weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces Wednesday while fishing with pro Robert
Sherry of Saint Charles, Ill., then added another five bass weighing 11
pounds, 2 ounces to his total Thursday while fishing with Skippy pro Art
Berry of Hemet, Calif.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jeff Baffa of Tinley Park, Ill. (10
bass, 16 pounds, 13 ounces); Tee Watkins of East Point, Ky. (10 bass, 15
pounds, 11 ounces); Frank Meyer of Marianna, Fla. (10 bass, 15 pounds, 9
ounces); and Derek Jones of Chicago, Ill. (10 bass, 15 pounds, 6 ounces).
Energizer co-angler Matt Scheipeter of St. Louis, Mo., and co-angler Ernie
Hillebrandt of Sam Rayburn, Texas, tied for the Snickers Big Bass award and
each earned $250 with a 4-pound, 5-ounce bass.
Beaver Lake produced 1,224 bass weighing 1,881 pounds, 3 ounces Thursday,
including 147 five-bass limits.
Anglers will take off from Prairie Creek Marina at 7 each morning. Friday
and Saturday’s weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2110
West Walnut in Rogers beginning at 5 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.
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 Friday and
Saturday outside the weigh-in tent in the Wal-Mart parking lot. The free
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. Immediately following Friday’s weigh-in, fans are invited to a free
concert featuring country-music recording-artist Craig Morgan. Morgan’s
single “That’s What I Love About Sunday” recently hit No. 1 on the country
radio charts.
Following Thursday’s competition, the field was narrowed from 200
competitors per division to 10, and weights were cleared.
In addition to a top award of $200,000 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 Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson will be broadcast on
FSN May 8 and May 15 as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television
program. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs every Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern time
on FSN.
Rank Name Hometown
Day 1 Day 2 Total Weight Winnings
1 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 8 1 19 8 27 9
2 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 14 15 11 11 26 10
3 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 11 8 14 2 25 10
4 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 15 2 10 1 25 3
5 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 11 7 13 10 25 1
6 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 12 8 11 12 24 4
7 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 12 0 12 1 24 1
8 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 14 4 9 4 23 8
9 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 13 7 9 3 22 10
10 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 9 11 12 13 22 8
11 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 13 1 9 1 22 2 13000.00
12 TOM MANN JR BUFORD, GA 12 12 8 15 21 11 13000.00
13 DAVID P DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 10 14 10 13 21 11 13000.00
14 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 13 2 8 6 21 8 13000.00
15 BRENNAN BOSLEY BENTON, AR 13 3 7 14 21 1 13000.00
16 STEPHEN L TOSH JR MODESTO, CA 10 1 10 15 21 0 12000.00
17 MARCUS CLOUSE LAS VEGAS, NV 8 11 12 3 20 14 12000.00
18 CHRIS MCCALL JASPER, TX 14 11 5 15 20 10 12000.00
19 SHINICHI FUKAE OSAKA JAPAN 566-0072, 11 9 8 15 20 8 12000.00
20 J T KENNEY FROSTBURG, MD 7 13 12 10 20 7 12000.00
21 TAKAHIRO OMORI EMORY, TX 12 11 7 10 20 5 11500.00
22 BRENT EHRLER REDLANDS, CA 10 8 9 12 20 4 11500.00
23 LUKE CLAUSEN SPOKANE, WA 12 5 7 12 20 1 11500.00
24 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 12 13 7 1 19 14 11500.00
25 ROB KILBY HOT SPRINGS, AR 10 11 9 1 19 12 11250.00
25 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 10 11 9 1 19 12 11250.00
27 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 9 9 10 3 19 12 11000.00
28 LEE BAILEY JR AMSTON, CT 11 11 7 15 19 10 11000.00
29 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 10 14 8 12 19 10 11000.00
30 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 8 15 10 10 19 9 11000.00
31 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 8 13 10 8 19 5 10500.00
32 JIM NOLAN BULL SHOALS, AR 11 13 7 7 19 4 10500.00
33 TODD FAIRCLOTH JASPER, TX 11 14 7 4 19 2 10500.00
34 ANTHONY GAGLIARDI PROSPERITY, SC 8 1 11 0 19 1 10500.00
35 HARMON DAVIS MARLOW, OK 8 14 10 3 19 1 10500.00
36 TRACY ADAMS WILKESBORO, NC 11 13 7 1 18 14 10500.00
37 SEAN HOERNKE MAGNOLIA, TX 10 8 8 3 18 11 10500.00
38 RICK MARSH HIGH POINT, NC 10 10 8 0 18 10 10500.00
38 DWAYNE HORTON KNOXVILLE, TN 10 10 8 0 18 10 10500.00
40 JACOB POWROZNIK PRINCE GEORGE, VA 9 6 9 3 18 9 10500.00
41 SCOTT DOBSON CLARKSTON, MI 8 6 10 2 18 8 10000.00
42 CHARLIE WEYER WEST HILLS, CA 9 14 8 10 18 8 10000.00
43 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 11 0 7 7 18 7 10000.00
44 DALE EVANS RIDGEVILLE, SC 9 5 9 2 18 7 10000.00
45 GARY RIFFLE PARIS, TX 10 5 8 1 18 6 10000.00
46 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 8 9 9 12 18 5 10000.00
47 GUIDO HIBDON GRAVOIS MILLS, MO 18 4 0 0 18 4 10000.00
48 RUSTY SALEWSKE ALPINE, CA 8 10 9 10 18 4 10000.00
49 MIKE WURM HOT SPRINGS, AR 8 12 9 8 18 4 10000.00
50 ROBERT KARBAS JR WAKE FOREST, NC 11 7 6 10 18 1 10000.00
51 VIC VATALARO KENT, OH 9 8 8 8 18 0 5000.00
52 DANNY CORREIA MARLBOROUGH, MA 10 14 7 1 17 15 5000.00
53 MARK HARDIN CANTON, GA 9 11 8 4 17 15 5000.00
54 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 8 11 9 3 17 14 5000.00
55 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 8 4 9 8 17 12 5000.00
56 RAY SCHEIDE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 9 6 8 4 17 10 5000.00
57 RANDY BLAUKAT LAMAR, MO 9 3 8 6 17 9 5000.00
58 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 8 9 9 0 17 9 5000.00
59 ROBERT SHERRY SAINT CHARLES, IL 10 1 7 6 17 7 5000.00
60 KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE, FL 12 15 4 7 17 6 5000.00
61 TOM MONSOOR LA CROSSE, WI 9 10 7 12 17 6 3000.00
62 DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH, KY 9 15 7 5 17 4 3000.00
63 CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE, TN 12 1 5 2 17 3 3000.00
64 TIM CARROLL OWASSO, OK 7 5 9 13 17 2 3000.00
65 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 13 6 3 9 16 15 3000.00
66 MARCEL VEENSTRA BRIGHTON, MI 8 13 8 0 16 13 3000.00
67 JOHN SAPPINGTON WILLARD, MO 8 10 8 3 16 13 3000.00
68 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 8 5 8 8 16 13 3000.00
69 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 9 2 7 10 16 12 3000.00
70 SCOTT R MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 10 7 6 4 16 11 3000.00
71 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 9 15 6 12 16 11 3000.00
72 ART BERRY HEMET, CA 7 1 9 9 16 10 3000.00
73 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 8 14 7 12 16 10 3000.00
74 ZELL ROWLAND MONTGOMERY, TX 9 13 6 12 16 9 3000.00
75 JODY CORDELL FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 7 0 9 8 16 8 3000.00
76 MICHAEL JOHNSON TALKING ROCK, GA 8 13 7 10 16 7
77 KEN WICK STAR, ID 9 5 7 1 16 6
78 DAVID J WRIGHT LEXINGTON, NC 10 6 5 14 16 4
79 DION HIBDON STOVER, MO 11 7 4 12 16 3
80 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 9 9 6 10 16 3
81 TODD ARY MOODY, AL 8 0 8 1 16 1
82 RANDY MORRIS GARFIELD, AR 3 6 12 10 16 0
83 AARON MARTENS LEEDS, AL 8 12 7 4 16 0
84 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 8 11 7 5 16 0
85 SEAN MINDERMAN SPOKANE, WA 11 9 4 5 15 14
86 JONATHAN NEWTON ROGERSVILLE, AL 6 2 9 12 15 14
87 NICK GREBB ROSEVILLE, CA 9 0 6 13 15 13
88 TONY COUCH BUCKHEAD, GA 9 7 6 5 15 12
89 JOHN W CREWS SALEM, VA 9 11 6 0 15 11
90 JOHN MURRAY PHOENIX, AZ 8 5 7 4 15 9
91 RICKY SHUMPERT LEXINGTON, SC 10 0 5 8 15 8
92 SAM SWETT COVINGTON, LA 8 10 6 13 15 7
93 JIMMY MILLSAPS CANTON, GA 10 15 4 4 15 3
94 RANDY ALEXANDER LONDON, KY 6 7 8 12 15 3
95 BERNIE SCHULTZ GAINESVILLE, FL 9 8 5 9 15 1
96 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 7 7 7 9 15 0
97 AL LITTLE GREENSBORO, NC 6 4 8 11 14 15
98 DAVE LEFEBRE ERIE, PA 9 5 5 9 14 14
99 DALE TEANEY WILLIAMSBURG, OH 11 12 3 1 14 13
100 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 9 14 4 15 14 13
101 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 5 15 8 14 14 13
102 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 8 12 6 1 14 13
103 JIM MOYNAGH CARVER, MN 6 11 8 1 14 12
104 RICK CLUNN AVA, MO 7 5 7 6 14 11
105 DEREK YAMAMOTO TEMPE, AZ 7 9 6 15 14 8
106 KATSUTOSHI FURUSAWA TOKYO JAPAN 1920153, 3 3 11 2 14 5
107 CHARLES KING SHREVEPORT, LA 10 9 3 12 14 5
108 KENNETH STRICKLAND GREENSBORO, NC 6 6 7 13 14 3
109 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 7 2 7 0 14 2
110 CHAD MORGENTHALER COULTERVILLE, IL 6 9 7 6 13 15
111 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 6 12 7 3 13 15
112 MASAKI SHIMONO SHIGA-PREF JAPAN, 6 6 7 6 13 12
113 KEITH PACE MONTICELLO, AR 6 10 7 2 13 12
114 ROGER A BOLER SLIDELL, LA 7 5 6 5 13 10
115 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 10 5 3 4 13 9
116 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 8 14 4 11 13 9
117 DAVID SMITH DEL CITY, OK 8 5 5 3 13 8
118 JAMES A PARKER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 11 9 1 14 13 7
119 TERRY SEGRAVES KISSIMMEE, FL 8 11 4 11 13 6
120 JACKIE DAVIS WILLARD, MO 8 8 4 13 13 5
121 DAVID WALKER SEVIERVILLE, TN 6 4 6 14 13 2
122 TOBY HARTSELL LIVINGSTON, TX 6 15 6 1 13 0
123 DAVID LAUER SOUTH BEND, IN 7 1 5 14 12 15
124 LLOYD T PICKETT JR BARTLETT, TN 8 0 4 14 12 14
125 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 5 3 7 10 12 13
126 SANDY MELVIN BOCA GRANDE, FL 8 5 4 6 12 11
127 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 4 8 8 0 12 8
128 STEVE DANIEL CLEWISTON, FL 6 9 5 13 12 6
129 GLENN BROWNE OCALA, FL 6 6 5 15 12 5
130 RICK LILLEGARD PICKTON, TX 8 10 3 10 12 4
131 CURT LYTLE ZUNI, VA 8 5 3 15 12 4
132 DAVID COOKE MOORESVILLE, NC 8 4 4 0 12 4
133 CHARLIE HARTLEY GROVE CITY, OH 5 0 7 3 12 3
134 JAMES QUILLMAN PLANO, TX 6 0 6 3 12 3
135 GREG GULLEDGE MONTICELLO, AR 4 15 6 15 11 14
136 DAN MANSKY YOUNGSTOWN, OH 9 2 2 11 11 13
136 JIM CARNELL MUSKOGEE, OK 9 2 2 11 11 13
138 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 6 10 5 1 11 11
139 TERRY TUCKER GADSDEN, AL 6 13 4 13 11 10
140 CHUCK ECONOMOU REDINGTON SHORES, FL 4 8 7 0 11 8
141 TERRY BAKSAY MONROE, CT 6 3 5 4 11 7
142 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 6 8 4 14 11 6
143 JOHN TANNER QUITMAN, TX 4 15 6 5 11 4
144 AL GAGLIARDUCCI AGAWAM, MA 11 2 0 0 11 2
145 BILL MCDONALD INDIANAPOLIS, IN 6 5 4 13 11 2
146 GLENN CHAPPELEAR ACWORTH, GA 6 4 4 14 11 2
147 SHAD SCHENCK WAYNETOWN, IN 5 6 5 12 11 2
148 PETE THLIVEROS JACKSONVILLE, FL 2 6 8 10 11 0
149 JOE SMALL MARION, AR 5 15 5 1 11 0
150 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 5 13 5 3 11 0
151 WARREN WYMAN CALERA, AL 4 10 6 5 10 15
152 CHRIS ELLIOTT GLOUCESTER, NC 5 1 5 14 10 15
153 TERRY BOYD CINCINNATI, OH 4 10 6 4 10 14
154 ASA GODSEY CLEWISTON, FL 5 2 5 8 10 10
155 CHIC AYDELETTE THOMASVILLE, NC 5 3 5 6 10 9
156 DAVID GIVENS HERNANDO, FL 8 0 2 8 10 8
157 SIMON MORROW ALEXANDER CITY, AL 7 11 2 11 10 6
158 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 9 6 0 13 10 3
159 JIMMY HOUSTON COOKSON, OK 7 8 2 11 10 3
160 MORIZO SHIMIZU SUITA, OSAKA JAPAN 91, KY 2 12 7 5 10 1
161 PAT FISHER DANIELSVILLE, GA 6 4 3 11 9 15
162 RICHARD BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 6 5 3 8 9 13
163 TOM BURNS CARBONDALE, IL 5 8 4 2 9 10
164 WES THOMAS HANOVER, IN 7 8 2 1 9 9
165 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 6 1 3 8 9 9
166 MIKE SURMAN BOCA RATON, FL 6 9 2 14 9 7
167 BOBBY CURTIS SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 3 11 5 10 9 5
168 ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 2 15 6 5 9 4
169 KIM STRICKER HOWELL, MI 2 11 6 8 9 3
170 MIKE LEBLANC COLCHESTER, VT 2 5 6 11 9 0
171 MICHAEL T BROWN ROCKY FACE, GA 5 5 3 6 8 11
172 ALFRED WILLIAMS JACKSON, MS 6 7 2 1 8 8
173 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 6 2 2 5 8 7
174 RAMIE COLSON JR CADIZ, KY 2 12 5 8 8 4
175 MARK GOINES SHADY POINT, OK 0 0 8 1 8 1
176 RICH TAUBER CAMARILLO, CA 4 3 3 14 8 1
177 BOBBY LANHAM SCOTTSDALE, AZ 4 2 3 15 8 1
178 WILLIAM P DROWN ROSELAND, FL 3 7 4 9 8 0
179 SCOTT DAVID GOODRICH, TX 4 4 3 8 7 12
180 RUSS MORAN MURFREESBORO, TN 4 11 2 15 7 10
181 ELTON LUCE JR BROOKELAND, TX 0 0 7 7 7 7
182 LEWIS DENNEY INDIAN MOUND, TN 0 0 7 5 7 5
183 PAUL ELIAS LAUREL, MS 5 12 1 9 7 5
184 GLENN E MILLER NEWBORN, GA 3 14 3 5 7 3
185 STEPHEN H WILSON MISSION HILLS, CA 6 1 1 1 7 2
186 NICK GAINEY CHARLESTON, SC 2 9 4 4 6 13
187 TIM SHMIGAL AKRON, OH 2 13 3 2 5 15
188 LEE SKIPPER LANCASTER, SC 2 11 2 7 5 2
189 JACK D BELL KANE, PA 2 2 2 12 4 14
190 MARY T DIVINCENTI CLINTON, LA 2 12 2 1 4 13
191 ISHAMA MONROE HUGHSON, CA 3 10 1 0 4 10
192 DENNIS MAGOTO WAYNESVILLE, OH 4 9 0 0 4 9
193 JASON ABRAM CHUCKEY, TN 4 8 0 0 4 8
194 EMILY H SHAFFER MOUNT JULIET, TN 0 0 3 7 3 7
195 PAUL A WHITMAN JR DALLAS, TX 2 10 0 0 2 10
196 ALLEN CAUTHEN LANCASTER, SC 1 2 0 15 2 1
197 BILLY BOWEN JR OCALA, FL 1 1 0 15 2 0
198 KAREN SAVIK ST. LOUIS PARK, MN 1 2 0 0 1 2
199 ROBERT H PEARSON HERNDON, VA 0 0 1 0 1 0
Day
3: Robertson Leads
FLW Open Event
Back to top
 ROGERS,
Ark. – Castrol pro Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla., caught a five-bass limit
weighing 14 pounds, 6 ounces Friday to lead the $1.25 million Wal-Mart Open
Powered by Tyson on Beaver Lake. The four-day event, which concludes
Saturday, began with 200 pros in the hunt for a top award of $200,000, a
payout surpassed only by the tour’s $500,000 award at the Forrest L. Wood
Championship.
“I haven’t been nervous all week, because I haven’t had a place to go,” said
Robertson, who has earned 14 top-10 finishes in FLW Outdoors competition,
including a $600,000 victory at the 1999 Ranger M1 and a $260,000 victory at
the 1999 FLW Tour Championship. “I just put my trolling motor down everyday
and run the bank looking for bedding fish.”
Robertson caught the majority of his fish in Rocky Branch, North Clifty and
Big Clifty to lead a field of 10 finalists that includes five anglers who
have earned multiple top-10 finishes on Beaver Lake. Two anglers – Cody Bird
of Granbury, Texas, and Mark Pack of Mineola, Texas – have earned three
top-10s on the lake, and Andre Moore of Scottsdale, Ariz., won the Wal-Mart
Open as a tour rookie in 2002.
“These bed fish are the toughest I’ve ever fished for,” said Moore, who
trails Robertson by just 6 ounces heading into the final day of competition.
“I’m proud whenever I catch one.”
Moore used his winnings from the 2002 Wal-Mart Open to help start a bait
company he named Reaction Innovations. The company’s premier lure, the Sweet
Beaver, is named after the prototype bait Moore used to win the last time he
made a top-10 cut on Beaver Lake. He is using a smaller version of the lure,
a Smallie Beaver, and a Flirt finesse worm this week.
Overall, 63 bass weighing 113 pounds, 1 ounce where brought to the scale
Friday, including eight five-bass limits.
Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, caught five bass weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces
using a Yum Mega Tube in bluegill color to secure the No. 3 spot heading
into the final day of competition with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 4
ounces.
Day three leader Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz. (five bass, 11 pounds, 2
ounces) and Kellogg’s pro Alvin Shaw of State Road, N.C. (four bass, 9
pounds, 4 ounces) rounded out the top five pros.
Frank Meyer of Marianna, Fla., took top honors and $40,000 in the Co-angler
Division with five bass weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces. He caught the fish on
a green pumpkin finesse worm rigged on a Spot Remover jig head while fishing
with pro Jeremiah Kindy of Benton, Ark. Meyer also used 8-pound-test
fluorocarbon line.
“I knew the fishing would be tough,” said Meyer, who has earned four FLW
Tour top-10s since 2002. “I had 8 pounds, 2 ounces on day one and 7 pounds,
7 ounces on day two, so I figured someone would be close to that today. I
never thought I had it wrapped up, even when there was only one guy left.”
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Robert Blosser of Poynette, Wis.
(four bass, 5 pounds, 3 ounces, $20,000); Jim Blake of Lincoln, Neb. (three
bass, 3 pounds, 13 ounces, $10,000); Rob Newell of Tallahassee, Fla. (three
bass, 3 pounds, $9,000); and Mary Parnell of Casselberry, Fla. (two bass, 2
pounds, 11 ounces, $8,000).
Anglers will take off from Prairie Creek Marina at 7 Saturday morning.
Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2110 West
Walnut in Rogers 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 for Friday’s competition, and pros will continue
competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day
weight.
In addition to a top award of $200,000 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 Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson will be broadcast on
FSN May 8 and May 15 as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television
program. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs every Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern time
on FSN.
Rank Name Hometown
Bass Weight Winnings
1 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 5 14 6
2 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 5 14 0
3 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 5 11 4
4 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 5 11 2
5 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 4 9 4
6 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 5 9 1
7 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 5 7 10
8 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 5 7 1
9 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 3 2 10
10 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 0 0 0
Day
4: Moore Wins FLW
Open on Beaver Lake
Back to top
 ROGERS,
Ark. – With just 6 ounces separating the top two contenders going into
Saturday’s final round of the $1.25 million Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson
on Beaver Lake, the stage was set for a showdown. Both men had earned
previous top-10 finishes on the clear water lake, and each angler was dead
set on winning the tournament’s $200,000 top award.
When the weigh-in wrapped up before a capacity crowd of cheering fans, it
was Andre Moore of Scottsdale, Ariz., who landed one of the sport’s most
coveted titles with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 5 ounces.
“I try so hard in these tournaments, and I’m always experimenting,” said
Moore, who won the 2002 Wal-Mart Open and used his winnings from that event
to form Reaction Innovations bait company. “That is why I founded my
company. I never felt like I had the exact right equipment, so I decided to
make it.”
Moore opened the tournament with a five-bass limit weighing 11 pounds, 7
ounces to place 28th then climbed to fifth place Thursday with a limit
weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces. On Friday, with weights zeroed and the field
cut from 200 pros and 200 co-anglers to the top 10 in each division, Moore
continued his rise up the leader board to second place with a limit weighing
14 pounds.
“This is a tough lake,” Moore said. “It really is. The year after I won, I
came back the following season and finished in the hundreds. I thought then
that maybe Beaver Lake is not so nice to me, but I’ve learned a lot here.”
Moore used a prototype soft plastic bait of his own design to win the 2002
Wal-Mart Open. That bait was eventually named the Sweet Beaver in honor of
the tournament lake. This year, Moore used a smaller version of the lure, a
Smallie Beaver, and a Flirt finesse worm to win the sight-fishing shootout.
On Saturday his limit included a spotted bass, a meanmouth, a smallmouth and
two largemouth bass. All of the fish came from Indian Creek and around the
dam.
Castrol pro Darrell Robertson of Jay, Okla., a past Forrest L. Wood
Championship winner who has earned more than $1 million in FLW Outdoors
competition since 1997, added another $100,000 to his total for finishing
second. He caught the majority of his fish this week running the banks in
Rocky Branch, North Clifty and Big Clifty with a white and chartreuse
spinnerbait then fishing beds with watermelon and bubble gum colored
lizards. He entered the final day of competition with five bass weighing 14
pounds, 6 ounces, and his two-day total of 10 bass weighed 23 pounds, 12
ounces.
Alton Jones of Waco, Texas (10 bass, 22 pounds, 5 ounces, $50,000); Clifford
Pirch of Payson, Ariz. (10 bass, 19 pounds, 15 ounces, $40,000); and Banana
Boat pro Kevin Vida of Clare, Mich. (10 bass, 18 pounds, 4 ounces, $30,000)
rounded out the top five pros.
Four of the 10 pro finalists fishing Saturday where making their second
consecutive top-10 appearance. Robertson finished seventh at the FLW Tour
stop on the Ouachita River in Monroe, La., last month; Kellogg’s pro Alvin
Shaw of State Road, N.C., finished sixth; Lawry’s pro Jason Kilpatrick of
Satsuma, Ala., finished third; and Jeremiah Kindy of Benton, Ark., finished
10th. Five of the finalists – Cody Bird of Granbury, Texas; Mark Pack of
Mineola, Texas; Robertson; Moore; and Kilpatrick – also earned previous
top-10s on Beaver Lake.
The 10 pro finalists brought seven five-bass limits to the scale Saturday
thanks to clear skies and temperatures in the upper 70s – perfect
sight-fishing conditions. The total catch of 42 bass Saturday weighed 79
pounds, 8 ounces, and more than 99 percent of the fish were released alive
this week. If the tour maintains a 98 percent live-release rate throughout
the season, Energizer will donate $25,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network.
Frank Meyer of Marianna, Fla., took top honors and $40,000 in the Co-angler
Division Friday with five bass weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces. He caught the
fish on a green pumpkin finesse worm rigged on a Spot Remover jig head while
fishing with Kindy. Meyer also used 8-pound-test fluorocarbon line.
Robert Blosser of Poynette, Wis. (four bass, 5 pounds, 3 ounces, $20,000);
Jim Blake of Lincoln, Neb. (three bass, 3 pounds, 13 ounces, $10,000); Rob
Newell of Tallahassee, Fla. (three bass, 3 pounds, $9,000); and Mary Parnell
of Casselberry, Fla. (two bass, 2 pounds, 11 ounces, $8,000) rounded out the
top five co-anglers.
Parnell caught the Arkansas meanmouth record of 5 pounds, 4 ounces on Beaver
Lake during the 2003 Wal-Mart Open.
In addition to a top award of $200,000 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 Wal-Mart Open Powered by Tyson will be broadcast on
FSN May 8 and May 15 as part of the “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” television
program. “Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors” airs every Sunday at 11 a.m. Eastern time
on FSN.
The next stop on the $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will be a $900,000
tournament presented by Pedigree on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala., May
11-14. The tournament is hosted by the Decatur Convention and Visitors
Bureau.
Rank Name Hometown Day 3
Weight Day 4 Weight Total Weight Winnings
1 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 14 0 10 5 24 5 200000.00
2 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 14 6 9 6 23 12 100000.00
3 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 11 4 11 1 22 5 50000.00
4 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 11 2 8 13 19 15 40000.00
5 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 9 1 9 3 18 4 30000.00
6 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 7 10 8 13 16 7 28000.00
7 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 9 4 5 13 15 1 26000.00
8 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 7 1 5 2 12 3 24000.00
9 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 2 10 7 5 9 15 22000.00
10 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 0 0 3 11 3 11 20000.00
All articles and photos from FLW.
By Brandon Shook
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