World’s best anglers begin competition for $1 million first-place cash prize in Pittsburgh

Team Kellogg’s pro Dave Lefebre of Union City, Pa., weighed in a five-bass limit that weighed 8 pounds, 13 ounces during the first day of competition at the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup presented by BP and Castrol — the World Championship of Bass Fishing — on the Three Rivers in Pittsburgh and ended the day with a slim one-ounce lead. The Forrest Wood Cup presented is the richest bass fishing tournament in the world and features a $1 million first-place cash award.

“I probably caught 25 keepers,” said Lefebre, who has won more than $1 million in FLW Outdoors events. “I didn’t want to get all excited about this tournament, because I didn’t know what was going to happen.

“I tried to make my spot work for today and hopefully make me the cut,” Lefebre added. “And then I’ve got all my other stuff to fall back on.”

Lefebre remained tight-lipped about his methods, refusing to give up bait, technique or fishing location. He did, however, reveal that the area he fished consisted of two spots about 50 yards apart. Lefebre said he targeted rocks that were holding fish.

“It’s so exact,” Lefebre said. “It’s like casting into a bucket 30 feet away.”

Lefebre said his area is holding a good number of fish and he intends to return to the area again Friday.
   
Rounding out the top five places are David Curtis of Trinity, Texas (five bass, 8-12); Team Chevy pro Larry Nixon of Bee Branch, Ark. (five bass, 8-4); Team Folgers pro Scott Suggs of Bryant, Ark. (five bass, 7-12); and Michael Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J. (five bass, 7-10).

Rounding out the top 10 spots are Kellogg’s pro Greg Bohannan of Rogers, Ark., 2009 BFL All-American winner Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tenn., Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., Rusty Salewske of Alpine, Calif., and Cody Meyer of Redding, Calif.

Former Forrest Wood Cup champion and Team Tums pro David Fritts of Lexington, N.C., inadvertently made a cast into an-off limits area and reported the rules infraction to tournament officials. As a result, Fritts’ Day One weight was voided.

Overall there were 228 bass weighing 262 pounds, 1 ounce caught by pros Thursday. The catch included 25 five-bass limits.

Tommie Goldston of Gardnerville, Nev., leads the Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 7-10 followed by Teddy Bradley of Mishawaka, Ind., in second place with four bass weighing 5-5.
   
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Ralph Myhlhousen of Council Bluffs, Iowa (five bass, 4-14); Greg Schultz of Wayzata, Minn. (four bass, 4-4) and John Bitting of Westminster, Calif. (three bass, 3-15).
   
Overall there were 102 bass weighing 114 pounds, 3 ounces caught by co-anglers Thursday. The catch included two five-bass limits.

Co-anglers are fishing for a top award of $50,000 this week.