Team Skeeter kicked-off the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series in strong fashion, with four of the team’s professional anglers fishing on the final day of the season opener this past weekend at the “Battle on the Border” on Lake Amistad, outside of Del Rio, Texas.

Skeeter’s Alton Jones, the 2008 Bassmaster Classic Champion, fished with consistency the entire tournament, earning a 2nd place finish. “Going into this event, my goal was to make the top 12, and possibly even win the event,” says Jones. “It’s always an advantage when an event comes to your home state and to a fishery that you’re familiar with – this is a good way to gain some momentum to start the year. I have yet to win a Bassmaster Elite Series event in my home state, but I did come away with some fantastic points in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings,” Jones added.

Rounding out the final day’s top 12 competitors were Skeeter’s Jared Linter in 3rd place, Dean Rojas in 6th place, and Todd Faircloth in 12th place. Skeeter rookies Greg Vinson and Matt Herren are currently in 2nd and 3rd place respectively in the Rookie of the Year standings.

The 101-angler field now heads to Lake Dardanelle and Russellville, Arkansas, March 26-29 for the “Diamond Drive.” According to Jones, he expects Lake Dardenelle to fish a bit differently than that of Lake Amistad because it is a river, rather than a typical highlands reservoir. “The water will be stained and muddy, similar to the 2009 Bassmaster Classic on the Red River. The fish should be at pre-spawn stage, with only a few beginning to build nests. This is a time of year that fishes heavily toward my strengths, so I have high expectations for fishing well next weekend,” says Jones.