The west has always played second fiddle with respect to everyday life in America. New York, Chicago, Atlanta and Philadelphia garner most of the press when a big city is thought of, leaving Los Angeles, Seattle and San Francisco as redheaded step children. Wall Street is considered the financial hub of the U.S. even when the San Joaquin Valley in California feeds the entire world. Detroit and other big industrial cities have always been looked at as the economic engine of the country when, until recently, California’s economy used to be the tenth largest in the world.

Anglers Can Begin Registering Monday, Nov. 2

MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 30, 2009) – FLW Outdoors, the world’s leading tournament fishing organization, announced Friday that it has reinstated the FLW Series Eastern Division.

National Guard FLW Series Western Division

                  The FLW Series fields of 150 pros and 150 co-anglers in each division will compete Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with the top five pros advancing to Saturday. The total weight from the first three days will determine the winning co-angler Friday, and the total weight from all four days will determine the winning pro Saturday. Practice for each event has been condensed from four to three days – Sunday, Monday and Tuesday – and tournament waters will go off-limits six days prior to practice.

1. What city and state does Bill Lowen reside?  North Bend, OH

2. What city and state is Buck Knives headquartered in?  Post Falls, ID

3. What was the name of the man who started Buck Knives? First and last name and what city did it originate in?  Hoyt Buck, San Diego

Dates: December 5–6, 2009
Times: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday
Location: Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites, Runnemede, N.J.
Address: 109 Ninth Ave., Runnemede, N.J.
Location phone: (856) 939-4200
Room information: Special room rate for Bass University students: $89.99. Limited block of rooms available. Book today. Instructors: Gerald Swindle, Dave Wolak, Dave Mansue. Greg Hackney.
Hosts: Mike Iaconelli, Pete Gluszek
Sacramento, CA
Dates: January 9–10, 2010
Times: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Registration begins 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Location: Doubletree Hotel, Sacramento
Address: 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento
Location phone: (916) 924-4923
Room information: Special room rate for Bass University students. Limited block of rooms available. Book today. Instructors: Ish Monroe, Mike Benett. Brent Ehler
Hosts: Mike Iaconelli, Pete Gluszek

Nashville, TN
Dates: January 23–24, 2010
Time: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday; 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday. Registration begins 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5.
Location: Radisson Hotel at Opryland
Address: 2401 Music Valley Dr.
Location phone: (916) 924-4923
Room information: Special room rate for Bass University students. Limited block of rooms available. Book today! Instructors: Dave Wolak, Gerald Swindle, John Crews, Randy Howell

       The Bass Federation Inc. is owned by those whom they serve and is dedicated to the sport of fishing. TBF affiliated state federations and their member clubs conduct more than 20,000 fishing, youth and conservation events at the local level each year and have provided a foundation for the bass fishing industry for more than 30 years.

Anglers Can Begin Registering Monday, Nov. 2

Pro entry fees will be $4,000 per tournament and deposits have been reduced to $1,000 for each event. Pro anglers will continue to compete for a $100,000 top award in each event, with payouts of $10,000 through 50th place. Co-angler entry fees are $700 per event, and the top co-angler award in each tournament is $20,000 with payouts of $800 through 50th place.

Pro entry fees have been reduced to $2,000 per tournament and co-angler entry fees have been reduced to $350 per event. Anglers will compete for top awards of $50,000 in the pro division and $10,000 in the co-angler division, with awards of $5,000 and $400, respectively, extending through 50th place. The top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers at the end of the season will qualify for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup.

Pro entry fees remain $825 per tournament and co-angler entry fees remain $325 per tournament. Anglers will compete for top awards of $25,000 in the pro division and a Ranger Boat in the co-angler division, with awards of $800 and $350 extending through 50th place, respectively. The entry fee in the Invitational is the same as a tournament entry fee.

The 2010 All-American presented by Chevy will be held on DeGray Lake in Hot Springs, Ark., May 27-29. This no-entry-fee tournament will pay the winning boater $100,000 and the winning co-angler $50,000. Every angler will cash a check, with the 54th place boater earning $1,500 and the 54th place co-angler earning $750.

Pro entry fees will be $750 per tournament and co-angler entry-fees will be $250. Anglers will compete for top awards of $25,000 in the pro division and $5,000 in the co-angler division, with awards of $1,000 and $400, respectively, extending through 50th place. Anglers that participated in the FLW Walleye League, which will be discontinued, are encouraged to participate in the FLW Walleye Tour.

Elite Series pro Kota Kiriyama is headed to his native Japan this week to oversee his third annual “Kota’s American Dream” tournament (www.kotaamericandream.com). Last year the event drew well over 500 boats and the winners earned an all-expenses paid trip to the BassCat Invitational on Lake Norfork in northwest Arkansas.

“They get free airfare, lodging and a truck and boat to use at the site,” Kiriyama said. “The event gives them a good opportunity to experience American bass fishing.”

Another purpose of the event is to showcase many of Kiriyama’s sponsors, including BassCat Boats. Owner Rick Pierce and several of his employees even filmed a brief YouTube video for a Japanese audience. It can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaGJXi_47yE&feature=player_embedded  or on Kota’s site.

Of course, while some Japanese anglers may dream of testing their angling mettle in the USA, in recent months it’s been the Japanese bass that have been making headlines – so despite his sponsor obligations and family visits, Kota assured us he’s going to make time for a few trips to Lake Biwa, where the possible world record was caught.

A 9-pound, 3-ounce bass caught by National Guard  pro Clifford Pirch. (Photo by David A. Brown)

KELSEYVILLE, Calif. (Oct. 24, 2009) – Team National Guard pro Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., caught a Western Division record breaking five-bass limit weighing 37 pounds, 8 ounces Saturday to win $105,820 in the Walmart FLW Series^® National Guard Western Division tournament on Clear Lake with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 97-8.

       The catch gave him the win by a solid 10-pound, 14-ounce margin over Randy Mcabee, Jr., who caught a total of 20 bass weighing 86-10 and earned $40,410.      

       Pirch beat the previous Western Division heaviest bag by 1 pound 12 ounces which was held by Sean Stafford. Stafford weighed in a 35 pound, 12 ounce bag that he caught at the California Delta in 2008.

“I just had an incredible day,” said Pirch, whose biggest pro bag to date was about 27 pounds. “I don’t know what they were . . .”

“Hogs!” replied the Clearlake audience.

“I just had a lot of fun! I was hooking a lot of catfish this week, I kept reeling the fish in, and I said, I think that’s a bass! It was just a crazy day. I got the biggest bass about 9 a.m. and it was my third or fourth fish of the day. I was using Berkley jigs all week long and fishing outside rock piles about 15 – 26 feet deep.”

Pirch opened the tournament in 41^st place Wednesday with 5 bass weighing 17 pounds that he caught on gripper jigs. On Thursday he added another 5 bass weighing 19-10 using the same gripper jigs to climb in to 16^th place. He then caught 5 bass weighing 23-6 on Friday to jump in to third place making the crucial top 10 cut. On Saturday he nailed his victory using Berkley football jigs.

Rounding out the top 10 pro finishers at Clear Lake are:

3^rd: Jared Lintner, Arroyo Grande, Calif., 20 bass, 82.5, $32,328

4^th: Jimmy Reese, Witter Springs, Calif., 20 bass, 78-10, $24,246

5^th: Sean Minderman, Spokane, Wash., 20 bass, 77-12, $16,164

6^th: Michael Tuck, Antelope, Calif., 20 bass, 77-2, $15,356

7^th: William Gibbs, John Day, Ore., 20 bass, 77-2, $14,548

8^th: Team Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee pro Brett Hite, Phoenix, Ariz., 20 bass, 75-11, $13,739

9^th: Gary Howell, Stockton, Calif., 20 bass, 75-8, $12,931

10^th: Tommy Cardoza, Lakeport, Calif., 20 bass, 73, $12,123

Overall there were 50 bass weighing 204 pounds, 5 ounces caught by 10 pros Saturday. The catch included 10 five-bass limits.

Mike Folkestad of Orange, Calif., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Thursday – a 9-pound, 10-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $290.

The Land O’ Lakes Angler of the Year Western Division title was announced Friday at the day 3 weigh-in ceremonies at Clear Lake. The Angler of the Year title annually goes to the FLW National Guard Western Division Series Pro angler who has the highest year-end point total in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season. Zack Thompson of Orinda, Calif., secured the crown at the Clear Lake event by a mere two points over Team National Guard pro Brent Ehrler of Redlands, Calif. Thompson had an incredible year with two of four Western Division tournament top 10 finishes, including his most recent seventh place finish which came last month at the California Delta.

“I have had an unbelievable year,” said Thompson who was a bit disappointed in his 25^th place finish at Clear Lake. “I pre-fished a little conservative for this tournament because I was trying to stay consistent and hold on to my points lead in the Angler of the Year standings. Being named Angler of the Year is really a dream come true for me; I am tickled to be standing here accepting this award.”

Thompson, who was married in September, contributed much of his success to his wife’s lucky snack bags. Prior to Friday’s start “bass snack bags” including homemade cookies were distributed, for the second time by Thompson’s wife, to each of the anglers in a tradition they are hoping to continue for a long time to come.

Thompson’s AOY award earned him a trip to the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup which is being held in Atlanta, Ga., on Lake Lanier. Top point earners from the Walmart FLW Tour, Walmart FLW Series, Stren Series, Walmart BFL, and the National Guard FLW College Fishing National Champion all advance to the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup.

Mark Smith of Dana Point, Calif., won the Co-angler Division and $14,000 Friday with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 56 pounds, 12 ounces. Rus Snyders of San Bruno, Calif. placed second with 15 bass weighing 52-6 worth $7,089. A complete list of co-angler results can be found at: http://flwserieswest.flwoutdoors.com/tournament.cfm?cid=11&t=results&tid=6155&tyear=2009&coangler=1.

Coverage of the Clear Lake tournament, hosted by the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, will be broadcast in high-definition (HD) on VERSUS, the network which brings anglers the best fishing programming on television featuring the most-trusted authorities on the water. The Emmy-nominated “FLW Outdoors,” will air Nov. 22 from 12:30 to 1:30 ET. “FLW Outdoors,” hosted by Jason Harper, is broadcast to approximately 500 million households worldwide, including internationally through agreements with WFN (World Fishing Network) and Matchroom Sport to such countries as Canada, Germany, China, South Africa, Australia, Malaysia, Russia, Hungary and the United Kingdom, making it the most widely distributed weekly outdoor-sports television show in the world

With daily weights predicted to be in the 12- to 13-pound range, John Strider of Monroe, N.C., took everyone by surprise when he brought a 19-pound, 11-ounce limit to the scales. Buoyed by warm weather, Strider felt the bite picked up just in time at the 2009 Bassmaster Southern Open season finale on Santee Cooper Lakes.

 “It was a pretty good day,” Strider said. “The warm weather has brought these fish I’ve been catching for two months back to where they’re biting again. We caught fish all day.”

 This is Strider’s first year fishing on the pro side – he has fished as a co-angler in past Bassmaster tournaments – and his best tournament so far he says. He was reluctant to share his pattern as his best area is full of boat traffic.

 Behind Strider was Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., who finished the day with a 16-pound, 13-ounce limit, anchored by a 6-12 largemouth. Unlike Strider, Prince was willing to divulge the details of his pattern.

 “I was throwing a Carolina rig, and I caught four fish on four casts first thing in the morning,” he said. “I don’t think the weather tomorrow should affect my bite too much.”

 Rain and clouds are predicted for Friday, which many anglers think could help the fishing.  The three-day tournament will conclude Saturday.

 In third was Mark McCaig of Oxford, Ala., with 15-13.  Patrick Pierce of Jacksonville, Fla., is fourth with 15-9, and rounding out the top five was Sumiyuki Takano of Winter Springs, Fla., with 15-3. Takano’s stringer was anchored by the biggest bass of the day, an 8-pound lunker caught in shallow water on a soft plastic.

 Pro anglers are competing for a cash prizes and points for berths in the top levels of Bassmaster competition. Current points leader Terry Scroggins is in 15^th place at Santee while Greg Vinson, who was second in the points race, sits in 96^th after Day 1.  After Santee, the top two anglers in the points standings will receive berths in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic (Feb. 19-21, Birmingham, Ala., Lay Lake) while the top seven will be invited to the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series.  The full points standings heading into Santee Cooper can be found on Bassmaster.com.

 On the co-angler side, Mike Lumpkins of Charleston, S.C., managed 11-11 to put him in top position to take the top prize of a Skeeter/Yamaha boat and motor package. In second is Dwaine Williams of Greenup, Ky., with 10-12.  In third was Earnie Jones of Dalzell, S.C., with 10-6.

2009 BASSMASTER SOUTHERN OPEN- SANTEE COOPER RESEROVIR- DAY 1- PRO

2009 Southern 3 - Manning, SC BO 10/22-10/24 Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning  S.C.

(BOATER) Standings Day 1

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  John Strider           Monroe, N.C.            5  19-11     

  Day 1: 5   19-11  

2.  Cliff Prince           Palatka, Fla.           5  16-13     

  Day 1: 5   16-13  

3.  Mark McCaig            Oxford, Ala.            5  15-13     

  Day 1: 5   15-13  

4.  Patrick Pierce         Jacksonville, Fla.      5  15-09     

  Day 1: 5   15-09  

5.  Sumiyuki Takano        Winter Springs, Fla.    5  15-03     

  Day 1: 5   15-03   

6.  Brett Mitchell         Timmonsville, S.C.      5  13-11     

  Day 1: 5   13-11  

7.  Alan Rae               Columbia, S.C.          5  13-02     

  Day 1: 5   13-02  

8.  Brad Staley            Pleasant Garden, N.C.   5  13-00     

  Day 1: 5   13-00  

9.  Chuck Howard           Elloree, S.C.           5  13-00     

  Day 1: 5   13-00  

10. Wade Grooms            Bonneau, S.C.           5  12-06     

  Day 1: 5   12-06  

10. Preston Henson         Vacaville, Calif.       5  12-06     

  Day 1: 5   12-06  

12. Scott Ashmore          Broken Arrow, Okla.     5  11-11     

  Day 1: 5   11-11  

12. Shawn Strader          Rockwood, Tenn.         5  11-11     

  Day 1: 5   11-11  

14. Tony Chachere          Opelousas, La.          5  10-12      

  Day 1: 5   10-12  

15. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, Fla.         5  10-08     

  Day 1: 5   10-08  

16. Johnny Patterson       Grant, Ala.             5  10-06     

  Day 1: 5   10-06  

17. Darrin Schwenkbeck     Varysburg, N.Y.         5  10-05     

  Day 1: 5   10-05  

18. Wayne Clifton          Moncks Corner, S.C.     4  10-05     

  Day 1: 4   10-05  

19. Scott Mcgehee          Madison, Miss.          5  10-01     

  Day 1: 5   10-01  

20. Trevor Fitzgerald      Ocklawaha, Fla.         5  10-00     

  Day 1: 5   10-00  

21. Allan Glasgow          Ashville, Ala.          5   9-11     

  Day 1: 5    9-11  

21. David Kilgore          Jasper, Ala.            5   9-11     

  Day 1: 5    9-11  

23. Sammy Burks            Joplin, Mo.             5   9-10     

  Day 1: 5    9-10  

23. Kenneth Ellis          Bowman, S.C.            5   9-10     

  Day 1: 5    9-10  

25. Luke Estel             Murphysboro, Ill.       4   9-09     

  Day 1: 4    9-09  

26. Cecil Wolfe            Hanahan, S.C.           5   9-08     

  Day 1: 5    9-08  

27. Charlie Ingram         Santa Fe, Tenn.         5   9-02     

  Day 1: 5    9-02  

27. Frank Jordan JR        Bainbridge, Ga.         5   9-02     

  Day 1: 5    9-02  

29. Ron Wolfarth           Oakboro, N.C.           5   8-15     

  Day 1: 5    8-15  

30. Brian Elder            Locust Grove, Ga.       4   8-14     

  Day 1: 4    8-14  

31. Christopher Foley      Youngsville, N.C.       5   8-12     

  Day 1: 5    8-12  

32. Charles Graybeal, Jr   Erwin, Tenn.            5   8-11     

  Day 1: 5    8-11  

33. Allen Duke             Port St Joe, Fla.       4   8-09     

  Day 1: 4    8-09  

34. Joseph Kastner         Leesville, S.C.         4   8-08     

  Day 1: 4    8-08  

35. Larry Cahan            East Palatka, Fla.      5   8-06     

  Day 1: 5    8-06  

36. Preston Clark          Palatka, Fla.           5   8-04     

  Day 1: 5    8-04  

37. Chris Lane             Guntersville, Ala.      5   8-02     

  Day 1: 5    8-02   

38. Keith Poche            Troy, Ala.              3   8-02     

  Day 1: 3    8-02  

39. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, Ky.          5   7-15     

  Day 1: 5    7-15  

40. Joey Thigpen           Jacksonville, Fla.      5   7-14     

  Day 1: 5    7-14  

41. Steven Wisdom          Sterrett, Ala.          5   7-11     

  Day 1: 5    7-11  

42. Brian Easler           Inman, S.C.             5   7-09     

  Day 1: 5    7-09  

43. Ben Quisno             Maineville, Ohio        3   7-09     

  Day 1: 3    7-09  

44. Lex Costas             Daniel Island, S.C.     2   7-07     

  Day 1: 2    7-07  

45. Robby Sacora           Summerville, S.C.       5   7-05     

  Day 1: 5    7-05  

46. Mark Menendez          Paducah, Ky.            5   7-04      

  Day 1: 5    7-04  

47. Jim Hardy              Deatsville, Ala.        5   7-01     

  Day 1: 5    7-01  

48. Greg Sigmon            Lancaster, S.C.         2   7-00     

  Day 1: 2    7-00  

49. Joe Clements           Saint Cloud, Fla.       3   6-15     

  Day 1: 3    6-15  

50. Bradley Enfinger       Colquitt, Ga.           5   6-12     

  Day 1: 5    6-12  

51. Jimmy Liao             Saint Augustine, Fla.   4   6-12     

  Day 1: 4    6-12  

52. Peter Thliveros        St Augustine, Fla.      5   6-10     

  Day 1: 5    6-10  

53. Tom Frink              Simi Valley, Calif.     4   6-10     

  Day 1: 4    6-10  

54. Carroll Blevins        Jonesboro, Ga.          2   6-09     

  Day 1: 2    6-09  

55. Kyle Fox               Lakeland, Fla.          5   6-06     

  Day 1: 5    6-06  

55. Keith Phillips         Calera, Ala.            5   6-06     

  Day 1: 5    6-06  

57. John Smith             Fayetteville, Ga.       5   5-15     

  Day 1: 5    5-15  

58. Bryan Talmadge         Moody, Ala.             5   5-15     

  Day 1: 5    5-15  

59. Sean Hoernke           Conroe, Texas           4   5-14     

  Day 1: 4    5-14  

60. Arnie Lane             Lakeland, Fla.          3   5-13     

  Day 1: 3    5-13  

61. Larry Rollings         Hartsville, S.C.        5   5-12     

  Day 1: 5    5-12  

62. James Charlesworth     Saint Cloud, Fla.       4   5-12     

  Day 1: 4    5-12  

63. David Burch            Jacksonville Beach, Fl  2   5-11     

  Day 1: 2    5-11  

64. Lee Sisson             Winter Haven, Fla.      3   5-09     

  Day 1: 3    5-09  

65. Max Terry              Sumter, S.C.            2   5-07     

  Day 1: 2    5-07  

66. Scott Wiley            Bay Minette, Ala.       3   5-06     

  Day 1: 3    5-06  

67. Ray Winans             Manning, S.C.           4   5-05     

  Day 1: 4    5-05  

68. Phillip Criss          Mccalla, Ala.           3   5-04     

  Day 1: 3    5-04  

69. Gerald Gostenik        Dearborn, Mich.         3   5-01     

  Day 1: 3    5-01   

69. Jimmy Mason            Rogersville, Ala.       3   5-01     

  Day 1: 3    5-01  

69. James Rozelle          Moncks Corner, S.C.     3   5-01     

  Day 1: 3    5-01  

72. Josh Guess             Deland, Fla.            3   4-15     

  Day 1: 3    4-15  

73. Jerry Morgan           Inman, S.C.             2   4-13     

  Day 1: 2    4-13  

74. Mike Haggerty          Hendersonville, Tenn.   2   4-12     

  Day 1: 2    4-12  

74. Patrick Kelly          Guntersville, Ala.      2   4-12     

  Day 1: 2    4-12  

76. Jelani Hennessey       Bowling Green, Va.      2   4-11     

  Day 1: 2    4-11  

77. Wesley Parton          Stevenson, Ala.         3   4-10     

  Day 1: 3    4-10  

78. Jimmie Murphy          Ocala, Fla.             4   4-09      

  Day 1: 4    4-09  

79. Casey Whithead         Bryson City, N.C.       2   4-03     

  Day 1: 2    4-03  

80. Kyle Kempkers          Hamilton, Mich.         3   3-15     

  Day 1: 3    3-15  

81. Thomas Riddle          Canton, N.C.            1   3-15     

  Day 1: 1    3-15  

82. Ronald Ryals           Live Oak, Fla.          2   3-13     

  Day 1: 2    3-13  

83. Tim Ezell              Key West, Fla.          3   3-12     

  Day 1: 3    3-12  

84. Curtis Reeves          Riverdale, Ga.          2   3-12     

  Day 1: 2    3-12  

85. Jeff Fitts             Keystone Heights, Fla.  2   3-11     

  Day 1: 2    3-11  

86. Mike Prindle           Bainbridge, Ga.         2   3-10     

  Day 1: 2    3-10  

87. Chris Payne            West Blocton, Ala.      2   3-09     

  Day 1: 2    3-09  

88. Dustin Evans           Eads, Tenn.             2   3-08     

  Day 1: 2    3-08  

89. Mark Hutson            Moncks Corner, S.C.     3   3-07     

  Day 1: 3    3-07  

89. Thomas Warren          Bolingbrook, Ill.       3   3-07     

  Day 1: 3    3-07  

91. Derek Jones            Chicago, Ill.           2   3-06     

  Day 1: 2    3-06  

91. Brian Rufty            Berea, Ky.              2   3-06     

  Day 1: 2    3-06  

93. Trevor Knight          Magnolia, Del.          1   3-02     

  Day 1: 1    3-02  

94. Pam Martin-Wells       Bainbridge, Ga.         2   2-12     

  Day 1: 2    2-12  

95. David Cooke            Mooresville, N.C.       1   2-08     

  Day 1: 1    2-08  

96. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, Ala.          2   2-07     

  Day 1: 2    2-07  

97. Michael Randolph       Austin, Texas           2   2-06     

  Day 1: 2    2-06  

98. Hiroshi Kojima         Athens, Ala.            2   2-03     

  Day 1: 2    2-03  

99. Gregory Roth           Orono, Canada           1   2-00     

  Day 1: 1    2-00  

100.Bj Hannah              Dyersburg, Tenn.        1   1-15     

  Day 1: 1    1-15  

101.Randy Elliott          Bowie, Md.              1   1-14     

  Day 1: 1    1-14   

101.Kevin Pulsifer         Cocoa, Fla.             1   1-14     

  Day 1: 1    1-14  

101.Mike White             Reynoldsburg, Ohio      1   1-14     

  Day 1: 1    1-14  

104.J Todd Tucker          Moultrie, Ga.           1   1-13     

  Day 1: 1    1-13  

105.Chris Barnett          Harrogate, Tenn.        1   1-10     

  Day 1: 1    1-10  

105.Justin Hamner          Birmingham, Ala.        1   1-10     

  Day 1: 1    1-10  

105.Brian Hatfield         Ashland, Ky.            1   1-10     

  Day 1: 1    1-10  

108.Landon Lomax           Owens Cross Roads, Ala  1   1-09     

  Day 1: 1    1-09  

108.Paul Pagnato           Vienna, Va.             1   1-09     

  Day 1: 1    1-09  

110.Roger Bitz             Havana, Fla.            1   1-08      

  Day 1: 1    1-08  

110.Jim Turner             Clarksville, Ind.       1   1-08     

  Day 1: 1    1-08  

112.Robert Miley           Miami, Fla.             1   1-07     

  Day 1: 1    1-07  

113.Parks Jones            York, S.C.              1   1-06     

  Day 1: 1    1-06  

114.James McMon            Columbiana, Ala.        1   1-02     

  Day 1: 1    1-02  

114.Kyle Walling           Fisherville, Ky.        1   1-02     

  Day 1: 1    1-02  

116.Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, S.C.        0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.Jason Berg             Minnetonka, Minn.       0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.James Butler           Clarksville, Tenn.      0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.Robert Comalander      Fairhope, Ala.          0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.John Cromwell          Arlington, Tenn.        0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.Cecil Douberly         Lakeland, Fla.          0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.Luke Gritter           Kalamazoo, Mich.        0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.Bryan Hudgins          Orange Park, Fla.       0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.WM Kooi                Earleton, Fla.          0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.Eric Stong             Belle Isle, Fla.        0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

116.Jason Williamson       Aiken, S.C.             0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Totals

Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight

 1       46       386       755-05

----------------------------------

         46       386       755-05

2009 BASSMASTER SOUTHERN OPEN- SANTEE COOPER RESEROVIR- DAY 1- PRO

2009 Southern 3 - Manning, SC NB 10/22-10/24 Santee Cooper Lakes, Manning  S.C.

(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 1

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Mike Lumpkins          Charleston, S.C.        5  11-11      

  Day 1: 5   11-11  

2.  Dwaine Williams        Greenup, Ky.            5  10-12     

  Day 1: 5   10-12  

3.  Earnie Jones           Dalzell, S.C.           5  10-06     

  Day 1: 5   10-06  

4.  George Beville         Apex, N.C.              5  10-00     

  Day 1: 5   10-00  

5.  Fred Hood              Monroe, Ga.             5   9-04     

  Day 1: 5    9-04  

6.  Alan Blondino          Rustburg, Va.           5   9-00     

  Day 1: 5    9-00  

7.  Gregory Don Griffin    Sumter, S.C.            5   8-09     

  Day 1: 5    8-09  

8.  John Wilson            Summerton, S.C.         4   8-08     

  Day 1: 4    8-08  

9.  Stanley Chandler       Niceville, Fla.         3   8-05     

  Day 1: 3    8-05  

10. Daren McDermott        Saint Cloud, Fla.       5   7-13     

  Day 1: 5    7-13  

11. Jim Barnette           Decatur, Ala.           3   7-11     

  Day 1: 3    7-11  

12. Jeff Campbell          Cincinnati, Ohio        3   7-09     

  Day 1: 3    7-09  

13. Sam Moss               Ackerman, Miss.         5   7-01     

  Day 1: 5    7-01  

14. Stephen Britt          Columbia, S.C.          4   7-00     

  Day 1: 4    7-00  

15. Albert Pieper          Summerville, S.C.       3   6-15     

  Day 1: 3    6-15  

16. Michael Bass           Austin, Texas           5   6-14     

  Day 1: 5    6-14  

17. Bret Moore             Maple Hill, N.C.        4   6-13     

  Day 1: 4    6-13  

18. Ben Todd               Pierson, Fla.           5   6-08     

  Day 1: 5    6-08  

19. Dan Carrigan           Citrus Springs, Fla.    3   6-06     

  Day 1: 3    6-06  

20. Tommy Swindle          Cleveland, Ala.         3   6-06     

  Day 1: 3    6-06  

21. Steven Wells           Bainbridge, Ga.         2   6-02     

  Day 1: 2    6-02  

22. JL Cogburn             Wauchula, Fla.          2   6-01     

  Day 1: 2    6-01  

23. Cj Shaver              Westerville, Ohio       3   6-00     

  Day 1: 3    6-00  

24. Jimmy Hayes            Fayetteville, N.C.      5   5-13     

  Day 1: 5    5-13   

25. Jimmy Dudley           White, Ga.              2   5-13     

  Day 1: 2    5-13  

26. Donnie Dodd            Guntersville, Ala.      4   5-12     

  Day 1: 4    5-12  

26. Scott Kerslake         Henderson, N.C.         4   5-12     

  Day 1: 4    5-12  

28. Mike Stewart           Sumter, S.C.            2   5-09     

  Day 1: 2    5-09  

29. Art Lance              Florence, S.C.          2   5-04     

  Day 1: 2    5-04  

30. David Eden             Adams, Tenn.            3   5-03     

  Day 1: 3    5-03  

31. Tim Kearns             Spanish Fort, Ala.      3   5-00     

  Day 1: 3    5-00  

31. Daniel Phillips        Lawrenceville, Ga.      3   5-00     

  Day 1: 3    5-00  

33. Lamar Spade            Brodheadsville, Pa.     3   4-15      

  Day 1: 3    4-15  

34. Tony Haymon            Penney Farms, Fla.      4   4-14     

  Day 1: 4    4-14  

35. Benjamin Woodcock      Jesup, Ga.              3   4-14     

  Day 1: 3    4-14  

36. Clarence Pinkerton     Grant, Ala.             1   4-13     

  Day 1: 1    4-13  

37. JJ Polak               Oxford, Ga.             1   4-10     

  Day 1: 1    4-10  

38. Robbie Anderson        Crystal River, Fla.     2   4-08     

  Day 1: 2    4-08  

39. Larry Inman            Greensboro, N.C.        3   4-07     

  Day 1: 3    4-07  

40. Jeff Sullivan          Frostproof, Fla.        3   4-03     

  Day 1: 3    4-03  

41. Thomas Henderson       Roseland, Fla.          3   4-02     

  Day 1: 3    4-02  

42. Gary Johns             Piqua, Ohio             1   3-11     

  Day 1: 1    3-11  

43. Monty Kirby            Sherman, Texas          2   3-06     

  Day 1: 2    3-06  

44. Lee Ellard             Antioch, Tenn.          2   3-05     

  Day 1: 2    3-05  

45. Edward Fye             College Park, Ga.       2   3-04     

  Day 1: 2    3-04  

45. Ronald Welch           Hinesville, Ga.         2   3-04     

  Day 1: 2    3-04  

47. Dean Morris            Tavares, Fla.           2   3-02     

  Day 1: 2    3-02  

48. Wayne Morgan           Tifton, Ga.             1   3-02     

  Day 1: 1    3-02  

49. Marcus Parker          Jacksonville, Fla.      2   3-01     

  Day 1: 2    3-01  

50. Rick Hawkins           Newburgh, Ind.          2   3-00     

  Day 1: 2    3-00  

50. Jessie Moore           Columbia, Md.           2   3-00     

  Day 1: 2    3-00  

52. Paul Cole              Bloomingdale, Ga.       2   2-15     

  Day 1: 2    2-15  

53. Barry Pavia            Fruitland Park, Fla.    2   2-14     

  Day 1: 2    2-14  

54. Ben Fitzgerald         Ocala, Fla.             1   2-14     

  Day 1: 1    2-14  

55. Jimmy Easterling       Barnwell, S.C.          2   2-13     

  Day 1: 2    2-13  

56. Robert Carter          Pamplico, S.C.          1   2-13     

  Day 1: 1    2-13   

57. Tyler Berger           Worthington, Ohio       2   2-12     

  Day 1: 2    2-12  

57. Gregory Weber          Louisville, Ky.         2   2-12     

  Day 1: 2    2-12  

59. Michael Branch         Lexington, S.C.         2   2-11     

  Day 1: 2    2-11  

59. Robert Moodie          Tuscaloosa, Ala.        2   2-11     

  Day 1: 2    2-11  

61. Anthony Roy            Lancaster, Ky.          1   2-11     

  Day 1: 1    2-11  

62. Mike Gerald            Conway, S.C.            2   2-10     

  Day 1: 2    2-10  

63. Ray Burchfield         Casselberry, Fla.       2   2-09     

  Day 1: 2    2-09  

64. Richard Scherer        Sheboygan Falls, Wisc.  1   2-08     

  Day 1: 1    2-08  

65. Steven Schmidt         Platte Center, Neb.     2   2-06      

  Day 1: 2    2-06  

66. Steven Roosen          Fort Mill, S.C.         2   2-06     

  Day 1: 2    2-06  

67. Ty Story               Prattville, Ala.        1   2-04     

  Day 1: 1    2-04  

68. Stanley James          Inman, S.C.             2   2-03     

  Day 1: 2    2-03  

69. David Rush             Summerville, S.C.       1   2-03     

  Day 1: 1    2-03  

70. Charles Hale           Six Mile, S.C.          1   2-02     

  Day 1: 1    2-02  

71. Patrick Nettles        Johnsonville, S.C.      2   1-15     

  Day 1: 2    1-15  

72. John Brodkorb          Orange City, Fla.       1   1-15     

  Day 1: 1    1-15  

72. Bill Poirier           Riverview, Fla.         1   1-15     

  Day 1: 1    1-15  

74. Tommy Menefee          Ashville, Ala.          1   1-13     

  Day 1: 1    1-13  

75. Jeff Cooley            Clinton, Ill.           1   1-12     

  Day 1: 1    1-12  

75. Edward Knight          Magnolia, Del.          1   1-12     

  Day 1: 1    1-12  

77. Ron Carson             Greer, S.C.             1   1-10     

  Day 1: 1    1-10  

77. Freddie Chastain       Vincent, Ala.           1   1-10     

  Day 1: 1    1-10  

79. Chris Jones            Conway, S.C.            1   1-09     

  Day 1: 1    1-09  

79. Jeff Stone             Woodstock, Ga.          1   1-09     

  Day 1: 1    1-09  

81. Chad Christensen       Alpine, Utah            1   1-08     

  Day 1: 1    1-08  

81. Robert Hatfield        Morehead, Ky.           1   1-08     

  Day 1: 1    1-08  

83. Don Lewis              Jacksonville, Fla.      1   1-07     

  Day 1: 1    1-07  

83. Jerry Nydam            Arab, Ala.              1   1-07     

  Day 1: 1    1-07  

85. John Mccutchan         Altamonte Springs, Fla  1   1-06     

  Day 1: 1    1-06  

85. Bryan Moeller          Lugoff, S.C.            1   1-06     

  Day 1: 1    1-06  

87. Regan Coffey           Richmond, Va.           1   1-04     

  Day 1: 1    1-04  

88. Lee Boutwell           Climax, Ga.             1   1-03     

  Day 1: 1    1-03   

89. Greg Bottomley         Manorville, N.Y.        1   1-02     

  Day 1: 1    1-02  

90. Anthony Moody          Summerton, S.C.         1   1-01     

  Day 1: 1    1-01  

91. Kevin Edge             Conway, S.C.            1   1-00     

  Day 1: 1    1-00  

92. Jonathan Barnette      Jasper, Ala.            0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Jeff Barrentine        Hartselle, Ala.         0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. William Beekman        East Quogue, N.Y.       0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Tom Bever              Boulder, Colo.          0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Ed Bolin               Winter Haven, Fla.      0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Geno Cousins           Polk City, Fla.         0   0-00      

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Marlon Crowder         Tampa, Fla.             0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Lee Everhart           Thomasville, N.C.       0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Yoshihiro Ezoe         Tuscaloosa, Ala.        0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Ronnie Getz            Lawrenceburg, Ind.      0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Ike Gray               Kissimmee, Fla.         0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Ron Groves             Columbus, Ohio          0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Darrell Hille          Springfield, Tenn.      0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Kenneth Hoffman        Cambridge, N.Y.         0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Jacob Hollingsworth    Atmore, Ala.            0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Jon Jezierski          Troy, Mich.             0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Donald Lamb            Orange Park, Fla.       0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Randy Lawrence         Pensacola, Fla.         0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. William Lowery         Farmers, Ky.            0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Charles Mclendon       Burgaw, N.C.            0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Rick Otts              Hattiesburg, Miss.      0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Eric Peele             Fayetteville, N.C.      0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Mike Sheheane          Cullman, Ala.           0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Dean Sigmon            Decatur, Ga.            0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Donnie Smith           Jacksonville, Fla.      0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Eugene Stinson         Dry Branch, Ga.         0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Marvin Stith           Piscataway, N.J.        0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Jeff Stoner            Wellsville, Pa.         0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Ray Strider            Matthews, N.C.          0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00   

92. Connery Swinson        Charlotte, N.C.         0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Randy Vaughn           Woodruff, S.C.          0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Luke Vierkant          Sauk Rapids, Minn.      0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Anthony West           Calhoun, Ga.            0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Tommy Wheeler          Douglasville, Ga.       0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

92. Dalton Wilson          Houston, Mo.            0   0-00     

  Day 1: 0    0-00  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Totals

Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight

 1       12       214       385-02

----------------------------------

         12       214       385-02

When it comes to fishing, spring is fun during the spawn, summer can be brutal with the heat and Ol’ Man Winter definitely can cause a guy to run inside for the wood stove and a tumbler of elixir.

That leaves autumn, one of the most beautiful and productive times of the year for fishing. Temperatures are comfortable, scenery is beautiful and fish are gorging on forage. We suppose and always say that’s because they’re getting fat for winter, and maybe so. In any case, the fishing can be great in autumn.

Wolfe, who joined “Today” in August 2007, and Lucas spent the day fishing, discussing how tournament fishing has grown, how anglers prepare and practice for tournaments, the younger generation’s involvement in the sport and addressed the topic of anglers as athletes.

Martin-Wells won the coveted 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Women’s Tour Angler of the Year trophy and the 2010 Bassmaster Classic berth and new Tundra that go with it.

A four-time WBT winner from Bainbridge, Ga., Martin-Wells is only the second woman in history to qualify for the sport’s biggest event. Kim Bain-Moore of Alabaster, Ala., was the first, winning the 2008 Angler of the Year and a berth in the 2009 Classic.

“Words can’t describe this,” Martin-Wells said. “I can walk through the living room and see a commercial on TV for the Bassmaster Classic – I freeze, watch it and get goose bumps. Now I’m going to get them for real. It’s going to be an awesome experience.”

After Day 2 of the three-day competition in Louisiana, it was evident that Martin-Wells would take AOY honors, but she did not consider it her prize until the title was officially awarded.

“With these ladies, you don’t know what can happen, they’re all excellent anglers,” she said. “Juanita (Robinson) is a friend of mine, and she’s very consistent, and she had me scared. The first day when I had 13 pounds, it helped. But I wasn’t comfortable until they announced it.”

Wong’s victory Sunday was her second championship title, her first coming in 2007. Her prize this time was $5,000 and a Triton/Mercury boat rig valued at $55,000. With a win last month on Tennessee’s Old Hickory Lake, the championship gives Wong back-to-back victories on the tour.

Along with the AOY title, Martin-Wells took second-place honors in the championship. For that she took home $4,000 and a $39,000 Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig.

With a three-day weight of 36 pounds, 10 ounces, Wong bested Martin-Wells by almost 5 pounds. Finishing in third was a hard-charging Robin Babb of Livingston, Texas, with 30-15. Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, was fourth with 23-5.

Robinson made a run at the AOY title, staying close to Martin-Wells since the season opener, at which Martin-Wells took the win and the AOY points lead. Coming into the Louisiana championship, Robinson had a shot at overtaking the points leader, but her fourth-place finish wasn’t enough.

 
Wong, 55 points behind Martin-Wells coming into the championship, did all she could to catch the leader, including leading all three days and collecting 15 bonus points. No deal; Martin-Wells was in second place after Day 1 and settled in for the duration.

“I came into this to lead all three days and win this championship,” Wong said. “It was unfortunate that I couldn’t catch her, but I did the best I could.”

Wong and Martin-Wells camped out on a short bridge throughout the tournament, each taking an opposite side. Both worked Gary Yamamoto Senko lures in the rocks, as well as crankbaits. Wong relied on a Rapala DT-14 and DT-10, while Martin-Wells used an Academy H2O Express.

The co-angler competition turned into a rematch between 2008 champion Barbara Gaskins of Suffolk, Va., and 2008 runner-up Monica Altman of Angier, N.C. But Altman made it to the winner’s circle this year with 27 pounds, 0 ounces, earning her a $40,000 Triton/Mercury rig and $3,250.

“It’s always been my goal to make it to the championship and be the best that I can be,” Altman said. “I just came here to get five keepers each day and enjoy being here.”

Most of her fish came out of reeds and grass, but casting to seawalls and docks also helped fill her livewell, said Altman, whose three BASS co-angler wins include the Old Hickory Lake event last month in Tennessee.

Altman finished 10 pounds ahead of Gaskins, who last year bested Altman by 1 pound, 5 ounces. Gaskins took second place with her 17-0 total, worth $2,500 and a $35,000 Skeeter/Yamaha rig.

 
Rounding out the top five in the co-angler division were Colleen McKay of Worcester, Mass., with 13-14; Donna Newberry of Van Buren, Ark., with 13-11; and Diane Smith of Fayetteville, Ga., with 13-5.

Newberry emerged as the top co-angler of the season by earning the most points through five events.

The complete 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Women’s Tour Angler of the Year points will be available, once finalized, at Bassmaster.com.

2009 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Women’s Tour Championship
Cypress Black Bayou Lake, Shreveport/Bossier=City  La.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
 
   Angler                  =Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$
 
1.  Judy Wong =            Many, La.              15  36-10  315   $60,000.00
  Day=1: 5   15-05    Day 2: 5   15-08    Day 3: 5    5-13  
2.  Pam Martin-Wells=      Bainbridge, Ga.        15  31-11  295   $43,000.00
  Day 1: 5 = 13-05    Day 2: 5    8-13    Day 3: 5    9-09  
3.  Robin Babb    =        Livingston, Texas      13  30-15  290    $5,000.00
  Day 1: 4=   7-10    Day 2: 5   13-06    Day 3: 4    9-15  
4.  Juanita Robinson=      Highlands, Texas       14  23-05  285    $4,000.00
  Day 1: 5 =  9-02    Day 2: 4    6-01    Day 3: 5    8-02  
5.  Melinda Mize  =        Ben Lomond, Ark.       13  17-14  280    $3,500.00
  Day 1: 5=   9-12    Day 2: 3    3-01    Day 3: 5    5-01  
6.  Sheri Glasgow=         Muskogee, Okla.        12  17-08  276    $3,250.00
  Day 1:=5   10-03    Day 2: 4    4-03    Day 3: 3    3-02  
7.  Janet Parker=          Little Elm, Texas      11  16-13  272    $3,000.00
  Day 1:=4    7-03    Day 2: 2    2-00    Day 3: 5    7-10  
8.  Laura Gober=           Pendergrass, Ga.       13  15-07  268    $2,500.00
  Day 1:=5    6-12    Day 2: 5    5-08    Day 3: 3    3-03  
9.  Tammy Richardson=      Amity, Ark.            11  14-11  264    $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5 =  4-04    Day 2: 5    9-07    Day 3: 1    1-00  
10. Paula Alexander=       Lincolnton, Ga.         8  14-05  260    $2,250.00
  Day 1: 4=   2-06    Day 2: 4   11-15    Day 3: 0    0-00  
11. Lucy Mize    =         Ben Lomond, Ark.       12  13-02  257    $2,250.00
  Day 1:=4    4-11    Day 2: 3    2-09    Day 3: 5    5-14  
12. Debra Petrowski=       Arlington, Texas        7  12-04  254    $2,000.00
  Day 1: 1=   1-01    Day 2: 3    4-14    Day 3: 3    6-05  
13. Lisa Sternard=         Clarksville, Tenn.     12  10-14  251    $1,750.00
  Day 1:=5    4-11    Day 2: 4    3-07    Day 3: 3    2-12  
14. Kim Bain-Moore=        Alabaster, Ala.        11  10-14  248    $1,750.00
  Day 1: 5=   5-06    Day 2: 2    1-12    Day 3: 4    3-12  
15. Emily Shaffer=         Mount Juliet, Tenn.    11  10-13  245    $1,750.00
  Day 1:=5    5-01    Day 2: 4    3-14    Day 3: 2    1-14  
16. Lisa Johnson=          Centre, Ala.            6   8-15  243    $1,500.00
  Day 1:=1    0-12    Day 2: 5    8-03    Day 3: 0    0-00  
17. Patti Campbell=        Waxahachie, Texas       8   8-01  241    $1,500.00
  Day 1: 4=   4-08    Day 2: 3    2-09    Day 3: 1    1-00  
18. Meta Burrell =         Fort Worth, Texas       5   6-02  239    $1,500.00
  Day 1:=2    3-05    Day 2: 3    2-13    Day 3: 0    0-00  
19. Dianna Clark=          Bumpus Mills, Tenn.     6   5-09  237    $1,500.00
  Day 1:=3    2-15    Day 2: 1    1-00    Day 3: 2    1-10  
20. Cindy Hill =           Smyrna, Tenn.           5   5-01  235    $1,500.00
  Day 1:=2    2-04    Day 2: 0    0-00    Day 3: 3    2-13  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1       10        79       120-08
 2        6        70       110-15
 3        6        59        79-07
----------------------------------
         22       208       310-14

10/16-10/18
Cypress Black Bayou Lake, Shreveport/Bossier City, La.
 (NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
 
   Angler                  =Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$
 
1.  Monica=Altman          Angier, N.C.           10  27-00  310   $43,250.00
 =Day 1: 4    9-11    Day 2: 4   11-00    Day 3: 2    6-05  
2.  Barbara=Gaskins        Suffolk, Va.           10  17-00  300   $37,500.00
  Day=1: 5   11-13    Day 2: 4    4-03    Day 3: 1    1-00  
3.  Colleen McKay=         Worcester, Mass.       13  13-14  290    $3,500.00
  Day 1:=5    6-04    Day 2: 4    4-00    Day 3: 4    3-10  
4.  Donna Newberry=        Van Buren, Ark.        11  13-11  285    $3,000.00
  Day 1: 5=   6-05    Day 2: 4    3-14    Day 3: 2    3-08  
5.  Diane Smith  =         Fayetteville, Ga.       9  13-05  280    $2,500.00
  Day 1:=3    6-05    Day 2: 3    3-08    Day 3: 3    3-08  
6.  Linda Walker=          Beebe, Ark.             8  12-11  276    $1,500.00
  Day 1:=3    5-02    Day 2: 2    4-01    Day 3: 3    3-08  
7.  Gail Wood  =           Russellville, Ark.     11  11-07  272    $1,200.00
  Day 1:=5    5-09    Day 2: 2    1-08    Day 3: 4    4-06  
8.  Vicki Henderson=       Ashdown, Ark.           8  11-00  268    $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5=   7-09    Day 2: 2    2-05    Day 3: 1    1-02  
9.  Kim Martin   =         Clayton, Ind.           8  10-01  264    $1,000.00
  Day 1:=4    3-06    Day 2: 1    1-05    Day 3: 3    5-06  
10. Stacy Zhelesnik=       Hoboken, N.J.           6   9-01  260      $900.00
  Day 1: 3=   3-05    Day 2: 2    4-08    Day 3: 1    1-04  
11. Bonnie Ward  =         Snohomish, Wash.        8   8-13  257      $900.00
  Day 1:=1    0-00    Day 2: 3    5-00    Day 3: 4    3-13  
12. Linda Owens=           Brandon, Miss.          6   7-00  254      $800.00
  Day 1:=4    4-12    Day 2: 1    1-03    Day 3: 1    1-01  
13. Martha Goodfellow=     Simpsonville, S.C.      7   6-07  251      $800.00
  Day 1: 4  = 3-12    Day 2: 3    2-11    Day 3: 0    0-00  
14. Debbie Pegoli  =       Loveland, Ohio          6   6-07  248      $800.00
  Day 1: 2=   2-01    Day 2: 3    3-04    Day 3: 1    1-02  
15. Kala Wright  =         Spiro, Okla.            6   6-05  245      $750.00
  Day 1:=2    2-03    Day 2: 3    3-05    Day 3: 1    0-13  
16. Terri Bittner=         Mckinleyville, Calif.   5   5-06  243      $750.00
  Day 1:=5    5-06    Day 2: 0    0-00    Day 3: 0    0-00  
17. Bertha Cavakis=        Amity, Ark.             5   5-04  241      $750.00
  Day 1: 3=   2-12    Day 2: 1    1-02    Day 3: 1    1-06  
18. Teri Cindric =         Hermitage, Tenn.        5   5-00  239      $700.00
  Day 1:=3    3-02    Day 2: 2    1-14    Day 3: 0    0-00  
19. Charlotte Frazier=     Dallas, Texas           4   4-04  237      $700.00
  Day 1: 3  = 3-05    Day 2: 1    0-15    Day 3: 0    0-00  
20. Sherry Melton  =       Monterey, Tenn.         4   4-02  235      $700.00
  Day 1: 1=   1-04    Day 2: 2    1-15    Day 3: 1    0-15  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        6        70        93-14
 2        5        47        61-09
 3        3        33        42-11
----------------------------------
         14       150       198-0

2009 WBT Championship - WBT Championship Boater Points
After Cypress Black Bayou Lake, Shreveport/Bossier City, La.
Ending 10-18-2009, Day 3
-------------------------------------------
Place  Name               St            Pts
-------------------------------------------
  1 Pam Martin-Wells      Ga.          1425
  2 Juanita Robinson  =   Texas        1386
  3 Judy Wong             La.          1351
  4 Sheri Glasgow         Okla.        1285
  5 Melinda Mize          Ark.=        1249
  6 Dianna Clark          Tenn.        1240
  7 Laura=Gober           Ga.          1234
  8 Tammy Richardson      Ark.    =    1230
  9 Janet Parker          Texas        1215
 10 Paula Alexander=      Ga.          1208
 11 Debra Petrowski       Texas        1207
 12 Lucy Mize             Ark.         1204
 13 Robin Babb           =Texas        1172
 14 Cindy Hill            Tenn.        1164
 15 Patti=Campbell        Texas        1154
 16 Meta Burrell          Texas   =    1118
 17 Kim Bain-Moore        Ala.         1007
 18 Lisa Sternard=        Tenn.         996
 19 Lisa Johnson          Ala.          975
 20 Emily Shaffer         Tenn.         966
 21 Heather Broom     =   N.C.          890
 22 Lori Masters          La.           875
 23=Mary DiVincenti       La.           869
 23 Christiana Bradley    Va.=          869
 25 Lynda Gessner         Mo.           868
 26 Helen=Gordon          Texas         851
 26 Laura Heflin          Kan.    =     851
 28 Jennifer Nevans       Tenn.         846
 29 Cheryl LaLumandier=   Mo.           844
 30 Keri Schieber         Ga.           842
 31=Linda Redford         Mo.           834
 32 Teri Neal             Ga.=          824
 33 Kali Weatherford      Texas         822
 34 Secret=York           Ky.           807
 35 Marsha Gipson         Ark.     =    804
 35 Jan Heavener          Ark.          804
 37 Tami Kashiwabara=     Ark.          796
 38 Michelle Armstrong    N.C.          764
=38 Lila Bass             Texas         764
 40 Lisa Craig           =Texas         752
 41 Bridget Allen         Pa.           746
 42 Debra=Hengst          Texas         744
 43 Jo Dee Lake           Ala.    =     738
 44 Susan Gregory         Miss.         732
 45 Kathi Hurst=          Miss.         712
 46 Robbie Hartline       Mo.           670
 47 Kim Stapp             Ga.           668
 48 Mary Croft        =   Va.           667
 49 BJ Carson             Okla.         666
 50=Cheryl Bowden         Texas         656
 51 Sandi Karnes          Texas=        633
 52 Robinette Fox         Ark.          612
 53 Debbie=Kemp           Texas         611
 54 Kathy Womack          Ala.     =    603
 55 Christena Baugh       Ark.          587
 56 Kris McClendon=       Texas         575
 57 Danalee Lofton        Ark.          569
 58 Kat Ealey             Ala.          545
 59 Pam Bolton        =   Ark.          470
 60 Karen Savik           Minn.         455
 61=Karen Elkins          Ala.          438
 62 Audrey McQueen        Ariz.=        410
 63 Terri Elkins          Texas         342
 64 Mary Hencken=         N.C.          320
 65 Cindy Van Horn        Texas         314
 66 Rhonda Pope           Ga.           285
 67 Cheryl Spencer    =   Okla.         245
 68 Cheryl Turner         Tenn.         229
 69=Gina Jones            Ala.          217
 70 Penny Berryman        Ark.=         213
 71 Tammy Sawyer          Tenn.         203
 72 Angie=Douthit         Fla.          197
 73 Linda Sands           Ala.    =     195
 73 Robertina Filburn     Ky.           195
 75 Diane Phillips=       Texas         193
 76 Kathy DiMartino       Ala.          191
 77 Kandie Candelaria     Texas         189
 78 Betty Stahl       =   Ala.          185
 79 Barbara Wetzel        Ala.          169
 79=Teresa Poole          Mo.           169
 79 Kim Tywater           Tenn.=        169
 79 Kimberly White        Ill.          169
 83 Kelley=Shepherd       Ariz.         163
 83 Deb Doyal             La.      =    163
 85 Caprice Cherry        La.           159
 86 Sherri Dodson=        Ala.          155
 87 Kimberlee Striker     Ala.          151
 88 Pat White             Texas         149
 89 Patsy McDaniel    =   Ala.          137
 90 Kim Hicks             Ga.           127
 91=Judy VanCanneyt       Ala.          125
 92 Ann Swinks            Ga.=          119
 93 Kathy Freehling       Fla.          115
 94 Cindy=Caperton        Tenn.           0
 94 Sharon Teague         S.C.    =       0

2009 WBT Championship - WBT Championship Non-Boater Points
After Cypress=Black Bayou Lake, Shreveport/Bossier City, La.
Ending 10-18-2009, Day=3
-------------------------------------------
Place  Name         =     St            Pts
-------------------------------------------
  1 Terri Bittner         Calif.       1373
  2 Donna Newberry        Ark.         1352
  3 Martha Goodfellow     S.C.         1301
  4 Colleen=McKay         Mass.        1292
  5 Gail Wood             Ark.         1236
  6 Debbie Pegoli         Ohio         1235
  7 Barbara Gaskins=      Va.          1230
  8 Bonnie Ward           Wash.        1218
  9 Teri Cindric          Tenn.        1183
 10 Vicki Henderson      =Ark.         1177
 11 Linda Walker          Ark.         1175
 12 Sherry=Melton         Tenn.        1167
 13 Charlotte Frazier     Texas    =   1162
 14 Linda Owens           Miss.        1139
 15 Bertha Cavakis=       Ark.         1138
 16 Diane Smith           Ga.          1135
 17 Kala Wright           Okla.        1110
 18 Monica Altman     =   N.C.         1091
 19 Stacy Zhelesnik       N.J.         1082
 20=Kim Martin            Ind.         1021
 21 Renee Gumbrecht       N.J.=         878
 22 Denese Freeman        Okla.         854
 22 Kim Petrowski=        Texas         854
 24 Karol Whitehurst      Texas         851
 25 Elizabeth Sanders     Miss.         842
 26 Donna Rutledge    =   Ill.          836
 27 Melissa Bond          N.M.          826
 28=Barbara Ferge         Tenn.         818
 29 Jill Matheis          Ind.=         805
 30 Trish Levitt          N.M.          801
 31 Dawn Dudek=           Ill.          778
 32 Katie Hogan           Tenn.        =777
 33 Kim Mendoza           Texas         770
 34 Susan Wild    =       Fla.          746
 35 Jane Brunner          Miss.         738
 36 Lesli Lively          Texas         693
 37 Kelly Wells       =   Ga.           669
 38 Linda Berry           N.C.          658
 39=Sarah Davis           La.           656
 40 Michele Gunderman     N.C.=         647
 41 Lisa Diehl            Pa.           644
 42 Lori Steele=          Okla.         642
 42 Cheryl Buelow         La.           642
 44 Kat Arnold            La.           629
 45 Susan Dameron     =   Tenn.         587
 46 Debra Cook            Ala.          583
 47=Katie Ellis           Miss.         579
 48 Nancy Oliver          La.=          573
 49 Jennifer Rice         Ala.          564
 50 Patty=Houston         Ala.          563
 51 Neva Brown            Texas   =     545
 52 Patti James           Texas         543
 53 Pam Chism=            Ark.          539
 54 Sharon Lawson         Tenn.       = 536
 55 Nancy Dugas           Ala.          517
 56 Jada Tidmore =        Ala.          456
 57 Lesley Childers       S.C.          412
 58 Sabrina Thompson      Texas         410
 59 Torrye Vineyard   =   Texas         382
 60 Christine Martin      Colo.         348
 61=Petra Ramsey          Texas         330
 62 Regina Pierpaoli      Tenn.=        295
 63 Nancy Stumpe          Fla.          276
 64 Linda Higginbotham=   Fla.          272
 64 Brande Branine        Kan.          272
 66=Jodi Galloway         Texas         257
 67 Jennifer Helgren      Ill.=         254
 68 Vicki Hester          Ala.          251
 69 Dianna=Montgomery     Tenn.         243
 70 Cynthia Tayloe        Texas    =    231
 71 Sharon Rushton        Mo.           229
 72 Bunny Hicks=          Ga.           227
 73 Cheryl Sprayberry     Fla.          221
 74 Susan Orton           N.C.          219
 75 Brandi Frasier    =   Ky.           211
 76 Miriam Donohoo        Fla.          209
 77=Victoria Hellmer      Tenn.         207
 78 Laura Bean            Ala.=         201
 78 Judy Pate             La.           201
 80 Inez Zeagler=         La.           195
 81 Katelynn Gray         La.           193
 82 Cynthia Bryan         La.           191
 83 Bonnie Betts      =   Mo.           187
 84 Sharon Seaton         Tenn.         183
 85=Jennifer Blackwood    Ga.           181
 85 De Lynn Montez        Nev.=         181
 85 Sharron Stone         Texas         181
 88 Juanita=Blasingame    Tenn.         179
 88 Denice Johnston       Texas     =   179
 90 LaShea Raynor         S.C.          175
 90 Renee Brisendine=     N.C.          175
 92 Leslie Anderson       Mo.           169
=93 Linda Rinker          Fla.          167
 93 Tracy Bailey         =Texas         167
 95 Shelley Chenowith     Ark.          161
 96 Renee=Johnston        Texas         157
 97 Lisa Skelley          Tenn.   =     153
 98 Virginia Buckner      Ala.          133
 99 Marilyn Biszmaier=    Ky.           131
100 Cassie Hall           Ala.          129
101=Sugar Walker          Ala.          125
102 Mona Crawford         Fla.=         123
103 Kimberly White        Ill.          117
104 Gerry=Threadgill      Texas           0
104 Caprice Cherry        La.     =       0
104 Mary Lipka            Mo.             0
104 Leanne Snowden=       Mich.           0

TO REGISTER

Call (856) 521-0046, visit TheBassUniversity.com, or send an email to BassUniversity@gmail.com.

TTBC/PAA Championship Report

By Pete Robbins and Terry Battisti

We’re now halfway through the day’s competition and the standings have been shaken pretty hard. Four of yesterday’s top-10 have fallen out of the cut but that doesn’t mean a thing here at Conroe. If any angler capitalizes on one big bite, the standings can again change in a snap.

Yesterday’s leader, Dave Lefebre is still at the top of the heap with 32-12 which means he has only put 8-04 in the boat today -- far cry from what he weighed on day 1. Andy Montgomery currently sits in the second spot with 30-12, moving up 6 spots and Chad Morgenthaler is in 3rd place with 29-04.

The rest of the top 10 looks like this:

4) Tommy Biffle – 29-00

5) Todd Auten – 28-04

6) Timmy Horton – 27-00

7) Jason Christie – 27-00

8) Russ Lane – 26-08

9) Aaron Martens – 26-04

10) Takahiro Omori – 25-08

Tommy Biffle has made the biggest move today, courtesy of a 19-pound sack and an “over,” moving up from 38th place to 4th. The biggest drop in the standings is held by David Walker who sat in the 9th position after day 1. He currently resides in 33rd with 18-08.

Other notable moves in the standings are: Fred Contaoi, from 7th to 22nd with a 2-day total of 21-00; Guy Eaker, Sr., from 4th to 25th with a total of 20-04; and Glenn Browne, from 10th to 28th with a total of 20-00.

On the “over” front:

Yesterday’s big fish was Fred Contaoi’s 7.88 pound largemouth, and while the 10-pound mark has not yet been eclipsed during this competition, it appears that Contaoi’s brute will no longer stand as the TTBC’s big fish by day’s end.

PAA Vice President Sean Hoernke put a 9 ½ pounder in the boat early this morning. Boosted by the strength of that big bite, Hoernke, an FLW Tour pro who lives nearby, has vaulted up from 41^st place all the way into 14^th.

Mike Wurm of Arkansas also bested Contaoi’s big fish from Friday with an 8 ½ pounder. Unfortunately for Wurm, it may be a case of too little, too late. With only a paltry 1-04 yesterday, he has a long way to go to make it to Sunday’s top ten cut. It’s not impossible on Conroe, but he’ll have to add a few “overs” to get there.

As stated before, these standings can change quickly if one of the big Florida largemouths swimming in Conroe decides to bless one of these anglers by eating.

Also of note is the fact that a few anglers, like Aaron Martens and Sandy Melvin, noted that their fish ate from mid-day on. Anything can happen between now and when the anglers start getting off the water at 3:30 p.m. Stay tuned for more tournament reports as the day progresses.

A Bassmaster Classic Berth on the Line, Louisiana’s Judy Wong Snaps Up Early Lead in Bassmaster Women’s Tour Championship

 The Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Women’s Tour Championship is shaping up to be a contest among champions.

After the first day, 2007 WBT champion Judy Wong of Many, La., led with 15 pounds, 5 ounces. That was 2 pounds more than 2006 WBT champ Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., and 5 pounds, 2 ounces ahead of 2007 Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla.

“After I caught my limit, I felt pretty good about it. But I knew there are some good anglers in this championship, and they might be catching them as well. I was fortunate with the quality of fish I was able to catch,” said Wong.

The field of 20 pros and 20 co-anglers are competing for big prizes. The first-place prize package for pros is $5,000 and a Triton/Mercury boat rig valued at $55,000. Second place pays $4,000 and a $39,000 Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig.

Also on the line for pros are points that count toward the 2009 AOY honors and winnings, a Toyota Tundra and a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala. The pro who wins it will be only the second woman to compete in a Classic.

The WBT Championship was moved two days before its start to Cypress Black Bayou Lake, a bass-rich reservoir north of Shreveport-Bossier City. The original fishery, the Red River, was rising, roily and not safe for a competition.

That last-minute change plus falling temperatures and brighter skies gave rise to the slogan of the day: adapt or die. Wong not only adapted, but turned the situation to work for her.

“When they moved it to this lake, it really worked to my favor,” said Wong, hot off a regular-season win last month in Tennessee. “Everyone went in on an even playing field. I feel I’m able to utilize my instincts and experience, my knowledge from 20-plus years, so it’s really worked in my favor.”

Coming into the championship, Martin-Wells led the 2009 AOY race. Wong was in fourth place, 55 points behind Martin-Wells.

“I have to stay focused, not worry about what the other competitors are doing, all I know is what I need to do,” said Wong.

Martin-Wells is keeping her cool in much the same way.

“The Good Lord smiled on me today. I pulled up and caught  four ‘overs’ in six casts,” she said, referring to the lake’s slot limit of under 14 inches to over 17 inches, meaning catches above 14 and just under 17 inches had to be released.”

“It’s a small body of water, tomorrows a different day, and I’ll put my head down and go fishing tomorrow. I think the decision to move was correct — safety’s first, always. This is an excellent fishery, it has a ton of fish in it.

The anglers had one day of practice on Bayou Black before the three-day tournament began Friday.  Then the skies cleared — but not the river — and the air temperatures dropped. Some anglers are expecting Saturday’s and Sunday’s competition to change even more.

In the co-angler division, Barbara Gaskins of Suffolk, Va., led after one day with 11 pounds, 13 ounces. In second place was Monica Altman of Angier, N.C., who had 9-11. Third was Vicki Henderson of Ashdown, Ark., with 7-9.

Co-anglers are competing for a piece of a $75,000 payout, including a first-place award of a $40,000 Triton/Mercury rig and $3,250. Second place will pay $2,500 and a Skeeter/Yamaha rig worth $35,000.

Live coverage continues Saturday and Sunday at www.Bassmaster.com with streaming video and real-time leaderboards beginning at 3:30 p.m. CT. The site also features daily standings, results and extensive photo galleries.

The public is invited to the 3:30 p.m. CT weigh-ins at Academy Sports + Outdoors, 2801 Beene Blvd., Bossier City. All events are free and open to the public.

All events are free and open to the public.  Fans can visit Academy stores for additional information on the WBT and find out more about the organization at www.Academy.com.

For more information, contact BASS Communications at 407-566-2208 or visit www.Bassmaster.com. Visit www.espnoutdoorsmedia.com for ESPN Outdoors’ latest releases and images.

Live, daily weigh-ins and real-time leaderboards will be available throughout the tournament at Bassmaster.com. 

Sponsors of the Women’s Bassmaster Tour: Title Sponsor -- Academy Sports + Outdoors; Official Sponsors -- Toyota Trucks, Berkley, BOOYAH Baits, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Marine, Ramada, Triton Boats, LaserLure and Legend Boats.

Local sponsors for the event include Shreveport Regional Sports Authority

2009 WBT Championship 10/16-10/18
Cypress Black Bayou Lake, Shreveport/Bossier City  LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Judy Wong              Many, LA                 5  15-05  305
  Day 1: 5   15-05  
2.  Pam Martin-Wells       Bainbridge, GA           5  13-05  295
  Day 1: 5   13-05  
3.  Sheri Glasgow          Muskogee, OK             5  10-03  290
  Day 1: 5   10-03  
4.  Melinda Mize           Ben Lomond, AR           5  09-12  285
  Day 1: 5   09-12  
5.  Juanita Robinson       Highlands, TX            5  09-02  280
  Day 1: 5   09-02  
6.  Robin Babb             Livingston, TX           4  07-10  276
  Day 1: 4   07-10  
7.  Janet Parker           Little Elm, TX           4  07-03  272
  Day 1: 4   07-03  
8.  Laura Gober            Pendergrass, GA          5  06-12  268
  Day 1: 5   06-12  
9.  Kim Bain-Moore         Alabaster, AL            5  05-06  264
  Day 1: 5   05-06  
10. Emily Shaffer          Mount Juliet, TN         5  05-01  260
  Day 1: 5   05-01  
11. Lisa Sternard          Clarksville, TN          5  04-11  257
  Day 1: 5   04-11  
12. Lucy Mize              Ben Lomond, AR           4  04-11  254
  Day 1: 4   04-11  
13. Patti Campbell         Waxahachie, TX           4  04-08  251
  Day 1: 4   04-08  
14. Tammy Richardson       Amity, AR                5  04-04  248
  Day 1: 5   04-04  
15. Meta Burrell           Fort Worth, TX           2  03-05  245
  Day 1: 2   03-05  
16. Dianna Clark           Bumpus Mills, TN         3  02-15  243
  Day 1: 3   02-15  
17. Paula Alexander        Lincolnton, GA           4  02-06  241
  Day 1: 4   02-06  
18. Cindy Hill             Smyrna, TN               2  02-04  239
  Day 1: 2   02-04  
19. Debra Petrowski        Arlington, TX            1  01-01  237
  Day 1: 1   01-01  
20. Lisa Johnson           Centre, AL               1  00-12  235
  Day 1: 1   00-12  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        10        79       120-08
----------------------------------
          10        79       120-08

2009 WBT Championship 10/16-10/18
Cypress Black Bayou Lake, Shreveport/Bossier City  LA.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Barbara Gaskins        Suffolk, VA              5  11-13  305
  Day 1: 5   11-13  
2.  Monica Altman          Angier, NC               4  09-11  295
  Day 1: 4   09-11  
3.  Vicki Henderson        Ashdown, AR              5  07-09  290
  Day 1: 5   07-09  
4.  Donna Newberry         Van Buren, AR            5  06-05  285
  Day 1: 5   06-05  
5.  Diane Smith            Fayetteville, GA         3  06-05  280
  Day 1: 3   06-05  
6.  Colleen McKay          Worcester, MA            5  06-04  276
  Day 1: 5   06-04  
7.  Gail Wood              Russellville, AR         5  05-09  272
  Day 1: 5   05-09  
8.  Terri Bittner          Mckinleyville, CA        5  05-06  268
  Day 1: 5   05-06  
9.  Linda Walker           Beebe, AR                3  05-02  264
  Day 1: 3   05-02  
10. Linda Owens            Brandon, MS              4  04-12  260
  Day 1: 4   04-12  
11. Martha Goodfellow      Simpsonville, SC         4  03-12  257
  Day 1: 4   03-12  
12. Kim Martin             Clayton, IN              4  03-06  254
  Day 1: 4   03-06  
13. Charlotte Frazier      Dallas, TX               3  03-05  251
  Day 1: 3   03-05  
13. Stacy Zhelesnik        Hoboken, NJ              3  03-05  251
  Day 1: 3   03-05  
15. Teri Cindric           Hermitage, TN            3  03-02  245
  Day 1: 3   03-02  
16. Bertha Cavakis         Amity, AR                3  02-12  243
  Day 1: 3   02-12  
17. Kala Wright            Spiro, OK                2  02-03  241
  Day 1: 2   02-03  
18. Debbie Pegoli          Loveland, OH             2  02-01  239
  Day 1: 2   02-01  
19. Sherry Melton          Monterey, TN             1  01-04  237
  Day 1: 1   01-04  
20. Bonnie Ward            Snohomish, WA            1  00-00  235
  Day 1: 1   00-00  
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1         6        70        93-14
----------------------------------
           6        70        93-14

TTBC/PAA Mid-Day Report

By Pete Robbins and Terry Battisti

As of 1:30 p.m. central time, weights have been trickling in from the anglers’ judges and the leaderboard is already beginning to take shape at the Toyota Texas Bass Classic. Reports, although not official, are conducted by the judges who weigh each angler’s fish and report by to the scoring trailer on the banks of Lake Conroe.

Included in the data sent back are the number of fish each angler has on their ledger along with any fish that meets the “over” size limit of 21 inches, which will allow the angler to present their largest such fish on stage during the weigh-in ceremonies.

Former PAA President Timmy Horton sits in second overall with 18-08, but he has none of the five reported “overs.” His current limit includes a 4-08, two four-pounders, a 3-04 and a pesky two and a half pounder that he desperately wants to cull.

Oklahoma’s Jason Christie and senior statesman Guy Eaker are tied for third with 17-12. Each has managed to bring a 5-12 “over” into the boat. The only other anglers to catch a fish over 21 inches are Andy Montgomery and David Walker, a member of last year’s winning quartet. They are in fifth and seventh place, respectively.

Local Willis, Texas resident Russell Cecil sits in the 14^th spot with 11-00. His limit consists of 1 ½- to 2-pound fish. This might indicate that he committed to the shallow bite this morning instead of battling the wind on the main body of the lake.

Another local PAA Series angler, Keith Caka, is one of the three anglers whose judge has been unable to file a report with PAA officials. As reported earlier today on www.FishPAA.com, Caka is a local favorite who wanted to swing for a home run. It’ll be interesting to see what he brings back to the weigh-in – will it be all paper or will he have a fish over the 21-inch slot?

The Top 10 looks like this:

1) Dave Lefebre – 24-08

2) Timmy Horton – 18-08

3) Guy Eaker, Sr. – 17-12

4) Jason Christie – 17-12

5) Andy Montgomery – 17-00

6) Glenn Browne – 15-12

7) David Walker – 15-08

8) Duke Jenkel – 14-00

9) Todd Auten – 13-04

10) Russ Lane – 13-00

With almost double the weight of the 10^th place angler, it seems to be a sure lock that Lefebre will fish on Sunday. From 2^nd through the rest of the field, though, it’s still wide open for just about anyone to make the top-10 cut for Sunday.

Due to recent unsafe conditions and high water on the Red River, BASS relocated the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Women’s Tour Championship, set for Oct. 16-18, to Cypress Black Bayou Lake, located in Benton, La.

 The event will mark the first Bassmaster event on the fishery.  The WBT Championship, the culmination of the 2009 season, will feature the top 20 pro and co-anglers from the regular-season Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Women’s Tour Angler of the Year standings.

 Anglers will get their first crack at Cypress Black Bayou on Thursday, Oct. 15 on the official practice day.  On Friday, the three-day tournament will kick off.

 Tournament launches, beginning at 7 a.m. CT each day, will be moved to Cypress Black Bayou Ramp;135 Cypress Park Drive out of Benton, La., 71006.  Weigh-ins will be held, as previously scheduled, at the Academy Sports + Outdoors store located at 2801 Beene Blvd. in Bossier City, La., beginning at 3 p.m. CT Friday-Sunday. 

 Anglers are competing for a piece of $94,000 in prizes, including the winner’s take of $5,000 and a Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $55,000. Twenty other qualifiers will compete in the co-angler division, fishing from the back of pros’ boats for a $40,000 Triton/Mercury boat rig, plus $3,250, awarded to the co-angler winner. In both divisions, the second-place prize is a Skeeter/Yamaha rig.

 Besides being the championship event, the Oct. 16-18 tournament is the finish line in the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Women’s Tour Angler of the Year race, in which the big plums are a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic and a new Tundra. With an entry in the Feb. 19-21 Classic on Lay Lake out of Birmingham, Ala., the 2009 AOY will become only the second woman to qualify for a Classic.

 All events are free and open to the public.  Fans can visit Academy stores for additional information on the WBT and find out more about the organization at www.Academy.com.

Once the date and time has been confirmed, it will be announced by FLW Outdoors

 “It was no surprise to the White House that anglers and the sportfishing community are upset with the direction of the Interim Report, though I think they may have underestimated the outcry from America’s anglers,” said Chris Horton, BASS conservation director.

President Obama issued a memo on June 12^th that established an Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, a CEQ-led group comprised of 23 federal entities to develop a policy and framework for managing, among other things, public use of our oceans, coasts and Great Lakes. The Task Force is set to deliver this framework by December 9^th.

During the discussions, CEQ leaders explained that the exclusion of recreational angling as a significant component of the policy was an unintentional omission, said Horton.

 The meeting included representatives from the American Sportfishing Association, Center for Coastal Conservation, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Coastal Conservation Association and National Marine Manufacturers Association.

 “It was a good meeting. They recognized that America’s anglers are not happy with the current direction of the task force, and they seem to want to correct their actions. We proposed that they make recreational use of U.S. waters, including recreational angling, a top priority in whatever policy is developed,” said Horton. “In an e-mail follow-up to the meeting, we thanked the White House for the opportunity to share our concerns and again proposed that they incorporate recreational angling as a priority of the policy.”

 The process has moved into the second phase, which will be dedicated to developing a framework for ‘spatial planning,’ and will likely include the proliferation of zones on a map that dictates who can and cannot access or use selected areas of the oceans, coasts and Great Lakes.

 BASS and the sportfishing community will continue efforts to work with the White House to develop a policy framework that benefits not only the resource, but the users and caretakers of that resource.

The elite field of 60 anglers for the Toyota Texas Bass Classic (TTBC), a three-day, world-class professional bass fishing tournament, has been finalized. The tournament takes place this weekend, October 16 – 18 at Lake Conroe in Montgomery, Texas. Following the conclusion of the Professional Anglers Association (PAA) Tournament Series event last week at Toledo Bend, the qualification standings were confirmed. The field is comprised of 20 anglers from the PAA Tour Level Standings and 40 anglers from the PAA Tournament Series Standings.
 
For the first year, the TTBC is positioned as the world championship of the PAA Tournament Series and the format will be an individual angling competition, making the event a true world championship. All anglers are qualified members of the PAA. The tournament is a no-entry fee event with a purse of $500,000 and $250,000 in cash and prizes going to the champion.

Here are the qualifiers:

Todd Auten
Chris Baumgardner
Tommy Biffle
Cody Bird
Shonn Blassingame
Dalton Bobo
Glenn Browne
Keith Caka
Russell Cecil
Jason Christie
Luke Clausen
Fred Contaoi
Chris Daves
Craig Dowling
Boyd Duckett
David P. Dudley
Guy Eaker, Sr.
Chris Elliott
Todd Faircloth
Shinichi Fukae
Anthony Gagliardi
Shaw Grigsby
Greg Hackney
Sean Hoernke
Timmy Horton
Duke Jenkel
Kelly Jordon
Steve Kennedy
J.T. Kenney
Stacey King
Jeff Kriet
Arnie Lane
Bobby Lane
Russ Lane
Dave Lefebre
Kyle Mabrey
Dave Mansue
Aaron Martens
Tommy Martin
Mike McClelland
Sandy Melvin
Andy Montgomery
Andy Morgan
Chad Morganthaler
Rick Morris
Matt Ogrodowicz
Takahiro Omori
Patrick Pierce
Justin Rackley
Matt Reed
Mark Rose
Dave Smith
Brian Snowden
Joe Thomas
Brian Thrift
Kevin VanDam
Lance Vick
David Walker
Clark Wendlandt
Michael Wurm
 

Youvella ---

 

Terminator----

 

 

1. What size is the Pro Flip Hook sold in?   4/0

 
2. What sizes does the Pro Swimbait hooks come in?  7/0 and 8/0

FLW OUTDOORS WILL BE FEATURED ON THE TODAY SHOW

MINNEAPOLIS (Oct. 8, 2009) – FLW Outdoors announced that it will be featured on the “Today” show on NBC, America’s top-rated news program, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2009. The segment will feature Team National Guard pro Justin Lucas as he took Jenna Wolfe, who serves as Sunday “Today” co-anchor and as a correspondent for NBC News’ weekday “Today,” fishing on the California Delta recently.

“I was very excited to get the opportunity to take Jenna fishing and show her how fun the sport is,” said Lucas. “She had never been fishing before, so I think she had a good time and learned a lot. It was a hot day making for some challenging conditions, but we had quite a bit of fun and Jenna was a great sport.”

Wolfe, who joined “Today” in August 2007, and Lucas spent the day fishing, discussing how tournament fishing has grown, how anglers prepare and practice for tournaments, the younger generation’s involvement in the sport and addressed the topic of anglers as athletes.

Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieira serve as co-anchors of “Today” and Ann Curry is the news anchor, with Al Roecker reporting on the day’s weather. “Today,” which first broadcast in 1952, airs Monday through Friday from 7 – 11 a.m. Please check local listings for further information.

For the third consecutive year, the Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Women’s Tour will award a coveted Bassmaster Classic berth to the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Women’s Tour Angler of the Year. The 2010 WBT schedule will span five events, four regular-season tournaments and a championship, and will visit fisheries in Alabama, Texas and Louisiana. 

The top 20 WBT anglers, based on their Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Women’s Tour Angler of the Year standings in the regular season, will qualify for the Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Women’s Tour Championship. The Championship is set for Oct. 15-17 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir out of Lufkin, Texas. From that event, the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Women’s Tour Angler of the Year will be determined and the winner will receive a coveted qualifying berth into bass fishing’s premier event, the Bassmaster Classic.

“The Bassmaster Women’s Tour continues to receive some incredible exposure,” said Jamie Wilkinson, senior director of event operations and business development, BASS. “Once again, we have scheduled some top-notch fisheries and engaged communities.”

The 2010 season will kick off with the March 18-20 event on Wheeler Lake out of Decatur, Ala. BASS previously has held 10 events on Wheeler, but the season opener will mark the first WBT event on the spacious fishery. The Decatur-Morgan Convention & Visitor’s Bureau will serve as host. In 2009, BASS doubled up on Wheeler with a Bassmaster Central Open event and a Bassmaster Elite Series event, the Evan Williams Bourbon Dixie Duel.

The second event will be held April 22-24 on Sam Rayburn Reservoir out of Lufkin, Texas, which will also host the event. Rayburn, a perennial BASS favorite, has been the site of more than 30 BASS events with the last one, a Bassmaster Central Open, in September. Stephen Johnston of Hemphill, Texas, won the Open with a three-day total of 57 pounds, 5 ounces.

For the third regular-season event of 2010, June 10-12, the WBT will visit Belton Lake and Temple, Texas. Belton, officially impounded in 1954 and just more than 12,000 acres, has never hosted a BASS tournament in the organization’s 40-plus year history. The Temple Convention & Visitors Bureau is the local host.

The final regular-season event is set for Sept. 16-18 on the Ouachita River out of West Monroe, La. Ouachita hosted a WBT event in April, when Texas’ Janet Parker scored victory on the river with a three-day total of 32 pounds, 2 ounces. As in 2008, the Monroe-West Monroe Convention & Visitors Bureau will host the event. After Ouachita, the regular-season AOY standings will be finalized and the qualifying berths for the Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Women’s Tour will be determined.

The WBT Championship will mark the end of the 2010 season. Spacious Rayburn will provide a set of different conditions for the Championship event from the April WBT tournament. After points are awarded based on Championship finishes, the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Women’s Angler of the Year will be crowned.

Entry fees will be collected for all five events. Tournament payouts and rules can be found at www.Bassmaster.com. Once again, anglers will be able to drop their lowest finish from the four regular-season events before the regular-season standings are finalized and the Championship berths are decided.

At each event, the champion pro will receive $1,000 in addition to a fully-rigged boat package valued at $55,000. The winning co-angler will receive $500 plus a boat package valued at $25,000.

The full schedule can be found below. Academy Sports & Outdoors, a Katy, Texas-based sporting goods retailer, continues to reap the benefits of sponsoring the WBT.

“Academy Sports + Outdoors is pleased to sponsor the Bassmaster Women’s Tour again in 2010,” said Anita Sehgal, vice president of marketing at Academy Sports + Outdoors. “The WBT is a great vehicle that grows the sport of fishing by giving woman the opportunity to fish competitively and to be role models for young anglers throughout the United States”.

Registration for the four 2010 regular-season events can be completed at www.Bassmaster.com. Priority registration is open to the top 50 pros and co-anglers from the 2009 Toyota Tundra WBT Angler of the Year standings at 9 a.m. ET Monday, Nov. 2.