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FLW Tour: Wheeler Lake, AL

Tour Event # 5 of 6

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Preview: FLW Tour to Visit Wheeler Lake

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DECATUR, Ala. – The $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will stop in Decatur May 11-14 with a $900,000 event on Wheeler Lake presented by Pedigree. Hosted by the Decatur 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.
Wheeler Lake is a sprawling fishery along the Tennessee River covering 67,000 acres and offering bass anglers more than 1,000 miles of shoreline and aquatic vegetation. The lake is relatively deep – averaging 20-25 feet in depth. While the tournament can be won on Wheeler Lake alone, the general consensus is that a portion of the field will lock through to Lake Guntersville.
“The bass will be in the postspawn mode,” said Pedigree pro Greg Pugh of nearby Cullman, Ala. “I feel like a lot of people will lock up to Guntersville, but it’s going to be a wide-open tournament. You’ll be able to catch bass just about any way you like to fish.” Pugh notes that there may be some fish still cruising and protecting fry, and anglers may still have some sight-fishing opportunities. Anglers, however, will employ a variety of techniques from flipping and pitching in the grass beds to throwing spinnerbaits and topwater lures over them during the course of the event. Even deep cranking and Carolina-rigging will play key roles in the event.
“I think you’ll need at least 17 pounds a day to make the cut,” Pugh said. “It’s going to be a great tournament as long as we don’t get a lot of rain and flood out some areas.”
Anglers take off each morning from Riverwalk Marina at 7. 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 2800 Spring Avenue SW in Decatur 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.
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 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 Wheeler Lake tournament will be broadcast to 82 million FSN subscribers as part of the “FLW Outdoors” television program. “FLW Outdoors” airs Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. Eastern time.
The Potomac River Open in Charles County, Md., will host the regular-season finale – the Chevy Open – on June 22-25.
 

Day 1: Suggs Leads on Wheeler/Guntersville

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DECATUR, Ala. – It was decision time Wednesday for 200 pros chasing a top award of $100,000 and critical Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year points in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour’s fifth qualifier of 2005: Play it safe and stay on Wheeler Lake to earn points and a possible berth in the sport’s most lucrative championship, or roll the dice and make a 70-mile run to Guntersville hoping for a win?

When takeoff commenced at 6:30 a.m., the promise of 20-pound-plus limits from Guntersville Lake was too much for nearly two-thirds of the field to stand, as they raced to the productive fishery hoping to lock back through without a delay that could cost them the tournament and a trip to the Forrest L. Wood Championship. At weigh-in, it quickly became clear that the gamble paid off in the $900,000 tournament presented by Pedigree.

FLW Tour rookie Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark., set the pace with five bass weighing 24 pounds, 7 ounces followed by Chevy pro Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark., in second with five bass weighing 23 pounds, 1 ounce and Yamaha pro Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas, in third with five bass weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces. All three men fished Guntersville. In fact, nine of the top 10 pros fished Guntersville. Only Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, currently in seventh place, fished Wheeler Lake.

“The morning bite is really on right now,” said Suggs, who started the season with two disappointing finishes below 100th on Lake Okeechobee and Lake Toho then rebounded with finishes of 32nd on the Ouachita River and 24th on Beaver Lake. “We are getting to the fish just when the bite is coming to an end. If we all launched in Guntersville, it would be ugly.”

Suggs caught post-spawn bass using a chartreuse and white spinnerbait and a green pumpkin trick worm. Four of his fish, including one of the two 7-pounders that filled out his limit, came from a single 200-yard stretch of water with key productive points. The second 7-pounder came on Suggs’ first cast after leaving the stretch for another spot he’d located in practice.

“I caught a 6 1/2-pounder to a 9-pounder every day of practice, and I have a 10-pounder guarding fry that I’m going after tomorrow,” Suggs said. “I may not perform the way I should and not catch them, but it won’t be because I’m not around fish.”

Nixon used a 10-inch Berkley Power Worm and a Berkley Sinking Minnow to catch a limit, including a 7-pounder, before 11 a.m.

“If I knew they would run water in [Wheeler] I wouldn’t even think about running back to Guntersville,” said Nixon, alluding to his day-two plans. “It’s a long rough ride, but I’ve got to go back and fish where the big ones are.”

Jordon keyed on bream beds using a Lake Fork Baby Creature to put a limit, including a 7-pounder, in the boat by 10:45 a.m. And like Nixon, he views the run to Guntersville as a definite stress factor.

“It makes for a very short day,” Jordon said. “If you make a few bad decisions, or miss a few key fish, you’ve got problems. Everything just rolled my way today.”

Poulan pro Ray Scheide of Russellville, Ark. (five bass, 21 pounds, 2 ounces) and Ken Wick of Star, Idaho (five bass, 19 pounds, 2 ounces) rounded out the top five pros.

Scheide earned the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $750 in the Pro Division with an 8-pound, 10-ounce largemouth that he caught on a 10-inch worm while fishing isolated grass. The bass was his first fish of the day.

“I was telling my co-angler about a 9-pounder I caught in practice just around the corner from where we were, and as soon as the words came out of my mouth, I hooked that fish and it cleared the water three times. That just took me to my knees, because I knew it would come off. It was incredible.”

In the Co-angler Division, freelance writer Mark Hicks, a regular contributor to Field and Stream and FLW Outdoors Magazine, leads the field with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces. He fished with Kellogg’s pro Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla., who caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces and is currently 19th on the pro side.

“I learned a lot about fishing post-spawn bass today,” said Hicks, who threw a Yum Dinger, 6-inch Berkley Tournament worm, Norman Baby N and a Lucky Craft Pointer 100. “I was basically dead sticking the Yum Dinger and the worm. I never would have fished that slow if it were not for Sam. I haven’t fished tournaments in several years, so it’s good to get out here and see how the pros fish under this kind of pressure.”

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Greg Fleming of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas (five bass, 14 pounds, 12 ounces); Mark Phillips of Fayetteville, Ark. (five bass, 11 pounds, 13 ounces); Derek Jones of Chicago (four bass, 11 pounds, 12 ounces); and Troy Cox of Bono, Ark. (four bass, 10 pounds, 12 ounces).

Leroy Arnold of Little Rock, Ark., claimed the Snickers Big Bass award and $500 in the Co-angler Division with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass that he caught while fishing with pro Mike Hawkes of Sabinal, Texas, who is currently in 50th with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces.

There were 79 five-bass limits caught on opening day.

Anglers will take off from Riverwalk Marina at 6:30 a.m. Thursday and 7 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 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 2800 Spring Avenue SW in Decatur 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.

Following Thursday’s competition, the field will be narrowed from 200 competitors per division to 10, and weights will be cleared for Friday’s competition. Co-angler competition concludes Friday based on the heaviest one-day weight, and pros continue competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight. The winning co-angler earns $20,000 while the winning pro earns $100,000. 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 FLW Tour stop on Wheeler Lake will be broadcast on FSN June 5 and June 12 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 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 5 24 7
2 LARRY NIXON BEE BRANCH, AR 5 23 1
3 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 5 22 15
4 RAY SCHEIDE RUSSELLVILLE, AR 5 21 2
5 KEN WICK STAR, ID 5 19 2
6 KOBY KREIGER OKEECHOBEE, FL 5 18 15
7 JONATHAN NEWTON ROGERSVILLE, AL 5 18 9
8 ROB KILBY HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 17 12
9 KATSUTOSHI FURUSAWA TOKYO JAPAN 1920153, 5 17 11
10 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 5 17 8
11 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 5 17 6
12 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 5 17 3
13 ART FERGUSON III ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI 5 17 2
14 DANNY CORREIA MARLBOROUGH, MA 5 17 0
15 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 5 16 11
16 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 16 10
17 BRENT EHRLER REDLANDS, CA 5 16 8
17 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 5 16 8
19 SAM NEWBY POCOLA, OK 5 16 4
19 GARY Y YAMAMOTO MINEOLA, TX 5 16 4
21 GREG PUGH CULLMAN, AL 5 16 0
22 DWAYNE HORTON KNOXVILLE, TN 5 15 14
23 ROBERT H PEARSON HERNDON, VA 5 15 13
24 JERRY WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 15 12
25 DION HIBDON STOVER, MO 5 15 10
26 BOBBY LANE LAKELAND, FL 5 15 9
27 ANTHONY GAGLIARDI PROSPERITY, SC 5 15 7
28 RANDY BLAUKAT LAMAR, MO 5 15 5
29 TRACY ADAMS WILKESBORO, NC 5 15 1
29 AARON MARTENS LEEDS, AL 5 15 1
31 JOHN W CREWS SALEM, VA 5 14 15
32 DAVID GIVENS HERNANDO, FL 5 14 14
33 MATT W HERREN TRUSSVILLE, AL 4 14 11
34 DAVE LEFEBRE ERIE, PA 5 14 10
35 TOM MONSOOR LA CROSSE, WI 4 14 9
36 JOHN MURRAY PHOENIX, AZ 5 14 4
37 KEVIN VIDA CLARE, MI 4 14 0
38 TIM CARROLL OWASSO, OK 5 13 11
38 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 5 13 11
40 SANDY MELVIN BOCA GRANDE, FL 5 13 8
41 STEVE DANIEL CLEWISTON, FL 3 13 4
41 DEAN ROJAS GRAND SALINE, TX 5 13 4
41 TERRY TUCKER GADSDEN, AL 5 13 4
44 WILLIAM M DAVIS RUSSELLVILLE, AL 5 13 3
45 CLIFFORD PIRCH PAYSON, AZ 5 13 1
46 SEAN MINDERMAN SPOKANE, WA 5 13 0
46 J T KENNEY FROSTBURG, MD 5 13 0
46 NICK GAINEY CHARLESTON, SC 5 13 0
49 TAKAHIRO OMORI EMORY, TX 5 12 15
50 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 5 12 13
51 KEITH WILLIAMS CONWAY, AR 5 12 11
52 DAVID SMITH DEL CITY, OK 5 12 8
53 ANDRE MOORE SCOTTSDALE, AZ 4 12 6
54 WAYNE JEFFCOAT CHAPIN, SC 3 12 5
54 CHAD MORGENTHALER COULTERVILLE, IL 3 12 5
56 DEREK YAMAMOTO TEMPE, AZ 5 12 4
56 MICHAEL T BROWN ROCKY FACE, GA 4 12 4
58 LEE BAILEY JR AMSTON, CT 5 12 2
58 ALTON JONES WACO, TX 5 12 2
60 TONY COUCH BUCKHEAD, GA 5 12 1
60 CRAIG TAYLOR TALLAHASSEE, FL 4 12 1
60 PAUL ELIAS LAUREL, MS 4 12 1
63 MICHAEL JOHNSON TALKING ROCK, GA 4 12 0
63 TRAVIS ADAMS DANIELSVILLE, GA 5 12 0
65 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 5 11 15
65 GLENN BROWNE OCALA, FL 4 11 15
67 JODY CORDELL FLOWERY BRANCH, GA 4 11 14
68 CURT LYTLE ZUNI, VA 5 11 12
68 WES THOMAS HANOVER, IN 3 11 12
70 JACOB POWROZNIK PRINCE GEORGE, VA 5 11 11
71 JASON KILPATRICK SATSUMA, AL 5 11 10
71 MARK PACK MINEOLA, TX 5 11 10
73 PETE THLIVEROS JACKSONVILLE, FL 5 11 6
74 GEORGE E COCHRAN HOT SPRINGS NP, AR 5 11 4
75 CHRIS MCCALL JASPER, TX 4 11 3
76 RICHARD BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 11 2
76 DALE TEANEY WILLIAMSBURG, OH 4 11 2
78 ANDY MORGAN DAYTON, TN 4 11 1
78 TOBY HARTSELL LIVINGSTON, TX 5 11 1
80 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 4 10 14
81 TERRY SEGRAVES KISSIMMEE, FL 5 10 12
82 SEAN HOERNKE MAGNOLIA, TX 5 10 11
83 AL GAGLIARDUCCI AGAWAM, MA 4 10 7
84 GUIDO HIBDON GRAVOIS MILLS, MO 4 10 6
84 SHAD SCHENCK WAYNETOWN, IN 4 10 6
86 DARREL ROBERTSON JAY, OK 5 10 3
87 CLARK WENDLANDT CEDAR PARK, TX 5 10 2
88 MICHAEL IACONELLI RUNNEMEDE, NJ 4 10 1
89 SCOTT DOBSON CLARKSTON, MI 4 9 13
90 JEREMIAH KINDY BENTON, AR 5 9 8
91 KIM STRICKER HOWELL, MI 5 9 4
91 MIKE WURM HOT SPRINGS, AR 5 9 4
93 ZELL ROWLAND MONTGOMERY, TX 3 9 2
94 SCOTT R MARTIN CLEWISTON, FL 4 9 1
94 ELTON LUCE JR BROOKELAND, TX 4 9 1
96 STEPHEN L TOSH JR MODESTO, CA 5 9 0
96 CARL SVEBEK III SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 3 9 0
98 ROBERT SHERRY SAINT CHARLES, IL 3 8 15
99 MARCEL VEENSTRA BRIGHTON, MI 4 8 14
100 STEVE KENNEDY AUBURN, AL 5 8 13
101 RANDY MORRIS GARFIELD, AR 4 8 12
101 JEFFREY THOMAS BROADWAY, NC 4 8 12
103 BOBBY LANHAM SCOTTSDALE, AZ 4 8 11
104 GLENN CHAPPELEAR ACWORTH, GA 3 8 10
104 JIM MOYNAGH CARVER, MN 3 8 10
106 TOMMY BIFFLE WAGONER, OK 5 8 8
106 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 4 8 8
108 ART BERRY HEMET, CA 3 8 4
109 RANDY ALEXANDER LONDON, KY 4 8 1
109 DALE EVANS RIDGEVILLE, SC 3 8 1
111 RICKY SHUMPERT LEXINGTON, SC 3 7 15
112 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 3 7 14
113 WILLIAM P DROWN ROSELAND, FL 2 7 10
114 RICK CLUNN AVA, MO 3 7 9
115 GLENN E MILLER NEWBORN, GA 3 7 8
116 MARY T DIVINCENTI CLINTON, LA 3 7 7
117 JAMES QUILLMAN PLANO, TX 3 7 6
117 DAVID WALKER SEVIERVILLE, TN 3 7 6
119 ROGER A BOLER SLIDELL, LA 5 7 5
120 TERRY BOLTON PADUCAH, KY 3 7 4
120 JAMES A PARKER FAYETTEVILLE, NC 3 7 4
122 VIC VATALARO KENT, OH 3 7 3
123 BILLY BOWEN JR OCALA, FL 3 7 1
123 RICH TAUBER CAMARILLO, CA 2 7 1
123 ALFRED WILLIAMS JACKSON, MS 3 7 1
123 TODD FAIRCLOTH JASPER, TX 2 7 1
127 CURT MCGUIRE LAWRENCEBURG, TN 3 6 13
128 CHRIS ELLIOTT GLOUCESTER, NC 3 6 9
129 DAVID LAUER SOUTH BEND, IN 2 6 8
129 KENNETH STRICKLAND GREENSBORO, NC 3 6 8
131 MARK HARDIN CANTON, GA 3 6 6
131 SHINICHI FUKAE OSAKA JAPAN 566-0072, 2 6 6
133 PETE PONDS MADISON, MS 3 6 3
134 JASON ABRAM CHUCKEY, TN 2 6 2
135 SIMON MORROW ALEXANDER CITY, AL 2 5 15
135 GREG GULLEDGE MONTICELLO, AR 2 5 15
137 MICKEY BRUCE BUFORD, GA 2 5 14
138 MIKE SURMAN BOCA RATON, FL 2 5 11
138 STEVE GALLOWAY LA FAYETTE, GA 2 5 11
140 CHARLES KING SHREVEPORT, LA 2 5 8
140 ISHAMA MONROE HUGHSON, CA 2 5 8
140 CHRIS BAUMGARDNER GASTONIA, NC 2 5 8
140 JIM NOLAN BULL SHOALS, AR 3 5 8
140 CODY BIRD GRANBURY, TX 2 5 8
145 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 2 5 3
145 NICK GREBB ROSEVILLE, CA 2 5 3
147 PAT FISHER DANIELSVILLE, GA 1 5 2
148 CHAD COOK SUMMERVILLE, SC 2 4 9
149 RAMIE COLSON JR CADIZ, KY 2 4 7
149 RUSTY SMITH SOMERSET, KY 2 4 7
151 JERRY GREEN JUSTICEBURG, TX 1 4 6
151 MIKE LEBLANC COLCHESTER, VT 2 4 6
153 DAN MOREHEAD PADUCAH, KY 2 4 5
154 BOBBY CURTIS SILOAM SPRINGS, AR 2 4 2
155 EMILY H SHAFFER MOUNT JULIET, TN 2 4 1
155 DAVID J WRIGHT LEXINGTON, NC 1 4 1
157 JOHN SAPPINGTON WILLARD, MO 2 3 15
158 WARREN WYMAN CALERA, AL 2 3 14
159 DAVID P DUDLEY LYNCHBURG, VA 2 3 13
159 PAUL A WHITMAN JR DALLAS, TX 2 3 13
161 BERNIE SCHULTZ GAINESVILLE, FL 2 3 10
161 LLOYD T PICKETT JR BARTLETT, TN 2 3 10
163 LEWIS DENNEY INDIAN MOUND, TN 2 3 9
163 DAVID COOKE MOORESVILLE, NC 2 3 9
165 ASA GODSEY CLEWISTON, FL 2 3 7
166 MARCUS CLOUSE LAS VEGAS, NV 1 3 4
166 ROBERT KARBAS JR WAKE FOREST, NC 1 3 4
168 CHARLIE HARTLEY GROVE CITY, OH 1 3 2
169 JIM CARNELL MUSKOGEE, OK 1 2 12
170 RUSTY SALEWSKE ALPINE, CA 1 2 11
171 JIM KELLEY ATHENS, AL 1 2 6
172 BRAD D WALL CLARKSVILLE, OH 1 2 2
172 TODD ARY MOODY, AL 1 2 2
174 GARY RIFFLE PARIS, TX 1 2 1
174 LEE SKIPPER LANCASTER, SC 1 2 1
176 MASAKI SHIMONO SHIGA-PREF JAPAN, 1 2 0
176 LUKE CLAUSEN SPOKANE, WA 1 2 0
178 KEITH PACE MONTICELLO, AR 1 1 15
178 STEPHEN H WILSON MISSION HILLS, CA 1 1 15
180 BRENT CHAPMAN LAKE QUIVIRA, KS 1 1 14
180 RICHARD PATTERSON WINDERMERE, FL 1 1 14
180 CHARLIE INGRAM SANTA FE, TN 1 1 14
183 ALLEN CAUTHEN LANCASTER, SC 1 1 13
183 MARK RIZK ARAB, AL 1 1 13
185 CHUCK ECONOMOU REDINGTON SHORES, FL 1 1 11
185 BRENNAN BOSLEY BENTON, AR 1 1 11
187 TIM SHMIGAL AKRON, OH 1 1 10
188 JOHN TANNER QUITMAN, TX 1 1 7
189 CHIC AYDELETTE THOMASVILLE, NC 3 0 14
 

Day 2: Jordon Leads Finalists on Wheeler

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DECATUR, Ala. – With two days of competition complete in the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop presented by Pedigree on Wheeler Lake, Yamaha pro Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas, leads the Pro Division with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 37 pounds, 1 ounce. He and nine other finalists will start back at zero weight Friday as they continue the hunt for a $100,000 win.

“I lost crucial practice time,” said Jordon, who won the 2005 season opener and $100,000 on Lake Okeechobee in January. “I would have liked to have found some spawning fish today that I could run to, but it was just crazy.”

The craziness Jordon referred to was the loss of trim on his outboard that cut his running speed to an agonizingly slow 45 mph after locking into Guntersville Lake.

“I only had one fish in the boat at 10:45 a.m.,” Jordon said. “Then by 11:30, I put four more in the livewell, just bang, bang, bang. Then I headed back to the lock.”

On his way back to the lock, aided by a borrowed 2x4 that he cut down using a pocket knife and wedged between his outboard and transom to provide some lift, Jordon happened across pro Wayne Jeffcoat of Chapin, S.C., and co-angler Quint Bourgeois of Knoxville, Tenn., who also had engine trouble and needed a lift. After loading the men and their fish into his boat, Jordon continued to weigh-in without further incident. Even with the added weight and makeshift trim, Jordon’s boat managed a respectable 55 mph.

Jordon keyed on bream beds Wednesday using a Lake Fork Baby Creature to put a limit weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces in the boat by 10:45 a.m. He then added five bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces to his total Thursday using a War Eagle spinnerbait, a Lake Fork Baby Craw and the Lake Fork Baby Creature.

Day one leader Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark., added three bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces to his opening day catch of five bass weighing 24 pounds, 7 ounces to finish the opening round in second with eight bass weighing 34 pounds, 15 ounces. He caught post-spawn bass Wednesday using a chartreuse and white spinnerbait and a green pumpkin trick worm. He then switched to a Rapala DT crankbait and a spinnerbait Thursday. He was targeting channel swings and shallow grass both days.

“The fish are there,” Suggs said. “I got bites all day, but they are in a different mood. Something has changed. Yesterday the fish were real aggressive, but today I’d get hits, pull them 2 or 3 feet and they’d come off. I’m adding a trailer hook to my spinnerbait tomorrow, so when they hit it, they are going to get a face full of steel.”

Mike Hawkes of Sabinal, Texas, claimed the No. 3 qualifying spot in the final round with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 33 pounds, 7 ounces. Hawkes also earned the Energizer Keeps on Going Award for coming from the farthest behind to advance to the final round for the second time this year. He finished 50th on opening day with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces.

Kellogg’s pro Alvin Shaw of State Road, N.C. (10 bass, 32 pounds, 3 ounces) and Toshinari Namiki of Hachioji City, Japan (nine bass, 32 pounds, 3 ounces) rounded out the top five pros. An FLW Tour veteran, Shaw entered the 2005 season having earned five FLW Tour top-10 finishes. He has since added three consecutive top-10s to his already impressive list of accomplishments. Namiki, who placed fourth on Lake Okeechobee and won the Ouachita River tour stop in March, is making his third top-10 appearance as well.

Namiki is a former Japan Bass Angler of the Year (1994) and the first Japanese angler ever to qualify for the Bassmaster Classic (1997).

Mark Hardin of Canton, Ga., earned the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $750 in the Pro Division with an 8-pound, 4-ounce largemouth. Poulan pro Ray Scheide of Russellville, Ark., earned the overall Snickers Big Bass award of $1,000 for catching the heaviest bass in either division during the opening round. Scheide caught an 8-pound, 10-ounce largemouth on a 10-inch worm while fishing isolated grass Wednesday.

Pro Jonathan Newton of Rogersville finished 50th with eight bass weighing 23 pounds, 14 ounces to earn $10,000.

Derek Jones of Chicago jumped from fourth to first in the Co-angler Division thanks to a two-day catch of eight bass weighing 24 pounds, 13 ounces. Jones caught four bass weighing 11 pounds, 12 ounces Wednesday while fishing with Jeffcoat then added another four bass weighing 13 pounds, 1 ounce to his total Thursday while fishing with pro Marcus Clouse of Las Vegas, Nev.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Greg Fleming of Jolly Lake Ranch, Texas (10 bass, 24 pounds); Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas (nine bass, 22 pounds, 10 ounces); Dwight Ameling of Fremont, Ind. (nine bass, 21 pounds, 15 ounces); and Mark Hicks of Millfield, Ohio (five bass, 20 pounds, 6 ounces).

Ken Keirsey of Owasso, Okla., claimed the Snickers Big Bass award and $375 in the Co-angler Division with a 6-pound, 14-ounce bass that he caught on a green pumpkin Senko while fishing with pro William Drown of Roseland, Fla. Drown finished the tournament in 165th place.

At 67,100 acres, Wheeler Lake is one of Alabama’s most popular fishing destinations due to its ever-growing ability to produce big largemouth bass. The lake, created by the Tennessee Valley Authority in 1936, is Alabama’s second largest.

Anglers will take off from Riverwalk Marina at 7 a.m. Friday and 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Weigh-ins each day will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2800 Spring Avenue SW in Decatur 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.

Following Thursday’s competition, the field was narrowed from 200 competitors per division to 10, and weights were cleared. Co-angler competition concludes Friday based on the heaviest one-day weight, and pros continue competition Saturday with the winner determined by the heaviest two-day weight. The winning co-angler earns $20,000 while the winning pro earns $100,000. Pros finishing as low as 50th place earn $10,000 cash.

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

Day 3: Jordon Hangs On

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DECATUR, Ala. – Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 11 ounces Friday to lead some of the hottest anglers on tour in the $900,000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour stop presented by Pedigree on Wheeler Lake. Of the 10 remaining pros, two have already earned FLW Tour victories in 2005 and five have earned previous top-10s this season. In fact, Kellogg’s pro Alvin Shaw has made three consecutive top-10 cuts, and Japan’s Toshinari Namiki is making his third top-10 appearance.

Jordon keyed on bream beds Wednesday using a Lake Fork Baby Creature to put a limit weighing 22 pounds, 15 ounces in the boat and finish the day in third place. He then added five bass weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces to his total Thursday using a War Eagle spinnerbait, a Lake Fork Baby Craw and a Lake Fork Baby Creature to enter the final round as the No. 1 seed. On Friday Jordon keyed on bream beds again, catching two bass on the Baby Creature, two bass on the Baby Craw and one bass on a Senko.

“One of my bigger fish came out of 8-inches of water,” said Jordon, who won the 2005 season opener and $100,000 on Lake Okeechobee in January. “I could see her chasing bream and had to make a really long cast. It was so shallow I never thought a fish would be there, but if you see bream, there are bass around.”

FLW Tour rookie Michael Bennett, 21, of Roseville, Calif., caught five bass weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces to secure the No. 2 spot heading into the final day of competition, while Chad Grigsby of Colon, Mich., caught five bass weighing 13 pounds, 13 ounces to grab the No. 3 spot.

Shaw of State Road, N.C. (five bass, 13 pounds, 3 ounces) and Namiki of Hachioji City, Japan (three bass, 12 pounds, 14 ounces) rounded out the top five pros.

The Pro Division was not the only side of the tournament loaded with repeat top-10 performers. In the Co-angler Division, four anglers earned previous top-10 finishes in 2005, including Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas, who has made three final round appearances. Derek Jones of Chicago and Tee Watkins of East Point, Ky., finished ninth and 10th, respectively, at the Wal-Mart Open last month on Beaver Lake. And Dwight Ameling of Fremont, Ind., won the Co-angler Division title on Lake Okeechobee in January.

Mark Hicks of Millfield, Ohio, took top honors and $20,000 in the Co-angler Division with four bass weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces. He caught the fish on 3/8-ounce tungsten jigs tipped with black and red flake and black and blue flake chunk trailers while fishing Browns Creek in Guntersville Lake with Namiki.

Hicks, a regular contributor to Field and Stream and FLW Outdoors Magazine, opened a commanding 5-pound, 10-ounce lead on opening day with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces while fishing with Kellogg’s pro Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla. He then slipped to fifth place on day two after coming in empty handed. After starting from zero on day three, Hicks again took command of the field thanks in part to a 7- to 8-pound kicker fish.

“That big fish was the hardest fighting largemouth that I have ever hooked,” said Hicks, who was competing in his first-ever FLW Tour event. “It really wasn’t an easy day. I didn’t have a fish at 11 a.m., then I changed to the jig and caught the big one right off.”

Hicks said short casts to grass humps in 7 feet of water where key to his win. “I’d let the jig sink straight to the bottom then snap it through the weeds,” he said. “If I made long casts, the jig wouldn’t sink through the grass.”

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Jones (three bass, 10 pounds, 3 ounces, $10,000); Greg Fleming of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas (three bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $9,000); Kelly Greer of Green Forest, Ark. (two bass, 7 pounds, 2 ounces, $8,000); and Mark Phillips of Fayetteville, Ark. (two bass, 4 pounds, 4 ounces, $7,000).

Anglers will take off from Riverwalk Marina at 6:30 a.m. Saturday. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2800 Spring Avenue SW in Decatur 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 $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 stop on Wheeler Lake will be broadcast on FSN June 5 and June 12 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 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 5 17 11
2 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 5 15 3
3 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 5 13 13
4 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 5 13 3
5 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 3 12 14
6 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 4 12 13
7 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 4 7 10
8 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 3 7 5
9 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 3 6 14
10 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 1 2 1

Day 4: Shaw Wins on Wheeler Lake

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DECATUR, Ala. – The third time was the charm for veteran Kellogg’s pro Alvin Shaw of State Road, N.C., as he won the Wal-Mart FLW Tour event presented by Pedigree on Wheeler Lake Saturday during his third consecutive top-10 appearance of 2005. It was Shaw’s first victory in 10 years of FLW Tour competition.
Shaw landed the win and a $100,000 check with a two-day, final-round total of 10 bass weighing 24 pounds, 8 ounces. He was the only pro to catch a five-bass limit Saturday as weather conditions changed drastically when thunder storms rolled through the area early in the afternoon.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Shaw, who has qualified for all but one Forrest L. Wood Championship since the tour’s inception in 1996. “I had five bites today, and I caught five fish, but I never thought in a million years it would be enough to win. I’ve been in this position too many times and come up short.”
Shaw opened the tournament with a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces to place 10th. He then added five bass weighing 14 pounds, 11 ounces to his total Thursday to enter the final round as the No. 4 seed.
On Friday Shaw maintained his place as the No. 4 seed with a five-bass limit weighing 13 pounds, 3 ounces – 4 pounds, 8 ounces behind No. 1 seed Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas, who was looking to score his second win of 2005.
Saturday was Shaw’s day, as he rose to the top of the leaderboard with a limit weighing 11 pounds, 5 ounces. When the weigh-in concluded, his margin of victory was just 4 ounces over 21-year-old rookie Michael Bennett of Roseville, Calif., who was hoping to become the youngest pro to ever win an FLW Tour event.
“This was bitter sweet,” said Bennett, who in 2001 became the youngest angler to ever qualify for the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American. “I’m happy to finish second, but a win would have been incredible.”
Bennett, who has earned six top-10 finishes in Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League and EverStart Series competition since 2000, earned $36,000 for finishing second. He caught all but one of his bass this week while sight fishing in several different areas of Guntersville Lake with a drop-shot-rigged 6-inch Pro Worms straight-tail worm.
Shaw also caught spawning bass all week, although he could not actually see the bass. Instead he keyed on holes in shallow grass where bass had prepared spawning beds in Goose Pond. He knew the holes were beds if he worked his bait through and it came back without silt. He marked them with his GPS during practice and returned during competition. He used a green pumpkin Zoom Brush Hog rigged with a 5/16-ounce weight on 16-pound-test Gamma fluorocarbon line.
Jordon (six bass, 23 pounds, 3 ounces, $25,000); Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La. (seven bass, 22 pounds, 8 ounces, $20,000); and Toshinari Namiki of Hachioji City, Japan (five bass, 18 pounds, 9 ounces, $18,000) rounded out the top five pros.
Mark Hicks of Millfield, Ohio, took top honors and $20,000 in the Co-angler Division Friday with four bass weighing 15 pounds, 3 ounces. He caught the fish on 3/8-ounce tungsten jigs tipped with black and red flake and black and blue flake chunk trailers while fishing Browns Creek with Namiki.
Hicks, a regular contributor to Field and Stream and FLW Outdoors Magazine, opened a commanding 5-pound, 10-ounce lead on opening day with five bass weighing 20 pounds, 6 ounces while fishing with Kellogg’s pro Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla. He then slipped to fifth place on day two after zeroing. On day three, with weights cleared, Hicks again took command of the field, earning a victory in his very first FLW Tour event.
Hicks said short casts to grass humps in 7 feet of water were key to his win. “I’d let the jig sink straight to the bottom then snap it through the weeds,” he said. “If I made long casts, the jig wouldn’t sink through the grass.”
Derek Jones of Chicago (three bass, 10 pounds, 3 ounces, $10,000); Greg Fleming of Holly Lake Ranch, Texas (three bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $9,000); Kelly Greer of Green Forest, Ark. (two bass, 7 pounds, 2 ounces, $8,000); and Mark Phillips of Fayetteville, Ark. (two bass, 4 pounds, 4 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 stop on Wheeler Lake will be broadcast on FSN June 5 and June 12 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.
With five tournaments now complete, FLW Outdoors has maintained a live release rate in excess of 98 percent on the FLW Tour. If the average release rate stays above 98 percent throughout the entire season, Energizer will donate $25,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network.
The next and last qualifying event on the $7.6 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour will be a $1.25 Million Chevy Open on the Potomac River in Charles County, Md., June 22-25. The tournament is hosted by the Charles County Office of Tourism.

Rank Name Hometown Day 3 Weight Day 4 Weight Total Weight Winnings
1 ALVIN SHAW STATE ROAD, NC 13 3 11 5 24 8 100000.00
2 MICHAEL BENNETT ROSEVILLE, CA 15 3 9 1 24 4 36000.00
3 KELLY JORDON MINEOLA, TX 17 11 5 8 23 3 25000.00
4 GREG HACKNEY GONZALES, LA 12 13 9 11 22 8 20000.00
5 TOSHINARI NAMIKI HACHIOJI- CITY, TO 12 14 5 11 18 9 18000.00
6 SCOTT SUGGS BRYANT, AR 6 14 7 1 13 15 17000.00
7 CHAD GRIGSBY COLON, MI 13 13 0 0 13 13 16000.00
8 LENDELL MARTIN JR NACOGDOCHES, TX 7 10 5 9 13 3 15000.00
9 CHIP HARRISON BREMEN, IN 7 5 2 14 10 3 14000.00
10 MIKE HAWKES SABINAL, TX 2 1 5 11 7 12 13000.00

All photos/articles from FLW Outdoors.

Compiled by Brandon Shook