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Lambert Catches Record-Breaking Limit to Take Lead after Day Three of FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 19, 2018) – Pro Jason Lambert of Michie, Tennessee, caught a five-bass limit Saturday weighing 30 pounds, 8 ounces – surpassing the record that he already owned for the largest single-day limit ever caught on Kentucky Lake in FLW Tour competition– to catapult into the lead at the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses. Lambert will bring a commanding 19-pound, 3-ounce lead into Championship Sunday, where the final 10 pros will compete for up to $125,000.
Lambert trailed Day Two leader Randy Haynes by 2 pounds, 4 ounces, starting today’s competition, but gained his massive lead after Haynes, in an unprecedented move, decided to withdraw himself from the competition.
Shortly after takeoff, Lambert and Haynes both arrived on the same area – a well-known community hole at the north end of the lake, and a spot that both anglers fished on days one and two. Lambert arrived first, and the two anglers fished side-by-side for several minutes. Lambert caught several keepers quickly. Frustrated by the situation, Haynes chose to leave the area, return to the ramp and withdraw from the event. Haynes finished the tournament in 12th place and received $12,000.
Lambert ended up catching a limit from the area, but landed an additional three largemouth – including a 9-pounder – at his next stop that upgraded him past the 30-pound mark.
“I actually found those fish [at the second location] yesterday afternoon. It’s a place that I’ve fished in the past, but I hadn’t seen them there [this week] until I pulled up on them and they were eating some gizzard shad,” said Lambert, who was also crowned champion when the FLW Tour last visited Kentucky Lake in 2016. “I hadn’t caught anything there, but when I saw that happen I knew there were some fish down there.”
Lambert said he used 5- and 7-inch Castaic Jerky J soft jerkbaits on a Scrounger Head jig to catch his fish, a bait he’s relied on all week. It’s also the exact lure that caught the bulk of his weight in 2016.
“I probably wouldn’t have gone to my second area this morning had I not caught a good limit early on,” said Lambert. “I had around 20 pounds when I left the first spot, so I went there and idled over them and found that there were more fish down there than I thought. I got a couple 5-pounders and was done after I caught the giant.”
The Tennessee pro said he plans to go out Sunday and finish strong, even with his commanding lead.
“I’m going to start out tomorrow at the second stop from today. If I can catch two or three good ones in the morning, we’re going to have some fun and try and break the 100-pound mark.”
The top 10 pros advancing to the final day of competition on Kentucky Lake are:
1st: Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., 15 bass, 74-6
2nd: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 15 bass, 55-3
3rd: General Tire pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., 14 bass, 52-2
4th: Josh Douglas, Isle, Minn., 15 bass, 51-4
5th: Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, 15 bass, 51-1
6th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 15 bass, 50-11
7th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., 14 bass, 48-14
8th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 15 bass, 47-9
9th: Pennzoil Marine pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., 15 bass, 47-1
10th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., 13 bass, 47-0
Finishing 11th through 30th are:
11th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 15 bass, 46-9, $12,000
12th: Randy Haynes, Ripley, Miss., 10 bass, 46-2, $12,000
13th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 15 bass, 45-12, $12,000
14th: Costa pro Dylan Hays, Sheridan, Ark., 15 bass, 45-11, $12,000
15th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., 15 bass, 45-8, $12,000
16th: Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind., 14 bass, 45-6, $12,000
17th: Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala., 14 bass, 45-3, $12,000
18th: Tyler Stewart, West Monroe, La., 14 bass, 44-2, $12,000
19th: Brandon Mosley, Choctaw, Okla., 15 bass, 43-13, $12,000
20th: Jordan Osborne, Longview, Texas, 14 bass, 43-10, $12,000
21st: Lowrance pro Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., 11 bass, 43-2, $10,000
22nd: Koby Kreiger, Bokeelia, Fla., 14 bass, 42-13, $10,000
23rd: Jim Dillard, West Monroe, La., 15 bass, 42-4, $10,000
24th: Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., 12 bass, 41-15, $10,000
25th: Cabela’s pro Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 15 bass, 41-8, $10,000
26th: Kid Casters pro Charlie Evans, Berea, Ky., 15 bass, 40-3, $10,000
27th: Timmy Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 12 bass, 36-12, $10,000
28th: Joseph Webster, Winfield, Ala., 11 bass, 35-10, $10,000
29th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 11 bass, 34-15, $10,000
30th: Abu Garcia pro Tim Cales, Sandstone, W. Va., 11 bass, 32-13, $10,000
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Overall there were 123 bass weighing 401 pounds, 7 ounces, caught by 29 pros Saturday. The catch included 21 five-bass limits.
Ronny Webb of Dyersburg, Tennessee, won the Co-angler Division and $25,000 Friday with a two-day total of nine bass weighing 26 pounds, 14 ounces, followed by Stephen Crawley of Bush, Louisiana, who finished in second place with eight bass totaling 25-4, worth $7,600.
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. The full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concluded following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advanced to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros now continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses is more than $930,000. The event is hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 10-12 and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
The final 10 anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CDT Sunday from Kentucky Dam State Park, located at 7792 U.S. Highway 641 N. in Gilbertsville. Sunday’s weigh-in will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-in Sunday, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at Kentucky Dam State Park from noon to 4 p.m. The Expo is the perfect opportunity for fishing fans of all ages to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, meet characters from the “Paw Patrol” children’s television show, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) June 27 from Noon-1 p.m. EST. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the sport’s top anglers on the FLW Tour on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Drew Benton Takes Over Lead At Bassmaster Texas Fest At Lake Travis
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JONESTOWN, Texas — Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., caught an impressive five-bass limit that weighed 20 pounds, 4 ounces during today’s semi-final round to take command of the top spot at the 2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at Lake Travis.
Benton, the 2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Rookie of the Year, pushed his three-day total weight up to 51 pounds.
With $1 million in total payout, $100,000 of which to be paid to the top finisher, the tournament champion will also earn a coveted berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods in Knoxville, Tenn.
Benton said he’s focusing on the Lake Travis bass and not the blue championship trophy or the paycheck.
At least not yet.
“I’ve still got a full day of fishing ahead of me, so I can’t afford to think about how much winning would mean to me at this point,” Benton said. “Don’t get me wrong, I know how hard it is to win on the Elite Series, and I want it badly. It’s just important that I stay focused throughout the day.”
Benton said he was able to isolate a couple of productive fishing patterns over the past three days of competition — both time-of-day dependent.
“The low-light action early in the morning has been critical to my limits,” he said. “The morning bite has been lasting longer each day, and with a chance of rain and cloud cover likely all day tomorrow, I think my early pattern could stay strong for quite a while.”
The 30-year-old pro explained that during the afternoons when the sun was out, he caught his fish along banks where the water was calm.
“When the wind and boat traffic would push waves against the shore, the water would get muddy, and the fish would stop biting,” Benton said. “Today I learned I could replicate that pattern in more protected stretches of water once the waves became more regular. It paid off this afternoon.”
Benton believes if he can catch 15 to 17 pounds, he’ll be tough to beat.
“This lake can be unpredictable. One day you could catch 25 pounds, and the next, only 6 pounds for five bass,” he said. “I’m keeping that in mind during the final day, but I think I’m on the right fish in the right locations. Things just have to go right tomorrow, and I’m confident.”
Jacob Wheeler of Harrison, Tenn., dropped back to second place following today’s competition. He produced a five-bass limit that weighed 12-15, bumping his total weight up to 48-6.
“I had a pretty good day,” he said. “I caught more fish than I could count, but I just never caught a big bass. This lake is full of fish, and they love to bite. I think there are so many small bass that dominate the feeding, you really have to cover water to find the big ones.”
Wheeler said he’d be starting Championship Sunday right where he likes to be — in the hunt.
“I have a shot at the win tomorrow, that’s all I can say,” he said. “It’s really hard to predict what I need to win this tournament — it could be only 12 pounds, it might be 26. I do think the right fish are in my fishing areas, and I think I can catch them. But we’ll have to see how it shakes out.”
Cliff Pirch weighed in the biggest bass of the day, a 7-1 largemouth, but that fish trails the heavyweight of the tournament, a 10-pound, 5-ounce bass caught the first day by former Classic champion Cliff Pace. If no one catches a heavier bass Sunday, Pace will win a new Toyota Tundra pickup truck valued at $50,000.
Pace held down third place for the third day in a row, this time with a total of 46-3. Rounding out the Top 5 are Brent Chapman in fourth place with 43-5 and Bobby Lane in fifth with 43-2.
Takeoff will begin at 6:15 a.m. CT Sunday morning at Jones Brothers Park in Jonestown, Texas, and final weigh-in will take place at the same location beginning at 3 p.m.
2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Title and Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Abu Garcia, Berkley
2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, T-H Marine, Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt
2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Elite Partner: Black Velvet Canadian Whisky
2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Beneficiary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Local Hosts: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Gulf States Toyota and the City of Jonestown, Texas
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Series presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
2018 Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department 5/17-5/20
Lake Travis, Jonestown TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 15 51-00 110
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 20-04
2. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 15 48-06 109
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 12-15
3. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 46-03 108
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 13-07
4. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 43-05 107
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 15-12
5. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 15 43-02 106
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 09-02 Day 3: 5 12-14
6. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 14 42-15 105
Day 1: 5 21-15 Day 2: 4 12-02 Day 3: 5 08-14
7. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 42-03 104
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 15-01
8. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 15 41-12 103
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 15-00
9. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 15 41-02 102
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 21-13 Day 3: 5 08-11
10. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 40-06 101
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 5 17-06
11. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 14 40-04 100
Day 1: 4 13-07 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 11-08
12. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 15 39-10 99
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 13-01
13. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 38-13 98 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 08-09
14. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 14 37-13 97 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 4 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-03
15. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 37-07 96 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 12-05
16. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 15 37-05 95 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 10-08
17. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 15 37-02 94 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 12-02
18. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 15 36-13 93 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 07-05 Day 3: 5 13-12
19. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 36-11 92 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 09-10
20. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 15 36-06 91 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 06-12
21. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 15 36-05 90 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 08-10
22. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 36-02 89 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 08-13
23. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 15 36-02 88 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 5 13-02
24. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 13 36-01 87 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 3 09-04
25. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 35-12 86 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 08-06 Day 3: 5 08-01
26. Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley, AZ 15 35-07 85 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-05 Day 2: 5 08-02 Day 3: 5 08-00
27. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 15 35-05 84 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 10-13
28. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 15 35-04 83 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 13-13
29. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 15 35-03 82 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 07-13
30. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 15 34-13 81 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 09-03
31. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 14 34-10 80 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 4 10-13
32. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 34-08 79 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 09-05 Day 3: 5 09-06
33. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 15 34-05 78 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 10-07
34. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 15 34-02 77 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 09-04
35. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 33-12 76 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 09-13
36. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 15 33-11 75 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 07-01
37. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 15 33-11 74 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 12-02
38. John Murray Spring City, TN 15 33-09 73 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 08-01 Day 3: 5 11-13
39. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 14 33-08 72 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 4 07-09
40. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 15 33-00 71 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 08-08 Day 3: 5 10-03
41. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 15 32-13 70 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 14-15 Day 3: 5 09-08
42. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 15 32-13 69 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 07-08
43. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 15 32-01 68 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 06-11
44. Shin Fukae Palestine TX JAPAN 15 31-07 67 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 10-06 Day 3: 5 07-10
45. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 15 30-13 66 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 06-13 Day 3: 5 08-03
46. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 14 30-10 65 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 4 08-07
47. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 15 30-07 64 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 07-06
48. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 15 30-02 63 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 08-10
49. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 29-15 62 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 07-01 Day 3: 5 08-05
50. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 14 29-14 61 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 4 14-12 Day 3: 5 06-06
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 91 507 1173-03
2 91 502 1110-04
3 46 245 524-03
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228 1254 2807-10
Elite Series Anglers Serve As Coaches In High School All-American Tournament Inbox x
As part of the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest, the 12 Bassmaster High School All-Americans presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods were paired with 12 Bassmaster Elite Series anglers and earned a chance to fish with the pros on Inks Lake. Spencer Childers (right), a Georgia angler representing Pickens High School, won the one-day event with his Elite Series partner, Mark Menendez. The pair caught 9 pounds, 12 ounces.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S.
JONESTOWN, Texas — Spencer Childers caught the most weight in the Bassmaster High School All-American Bass Tournament, and his real prize was getting to fish with Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mark Menendez.
Childers, a senior at Pickens High School in Jasper, Ga., was among the 12 standout high school anglers selected as members of the exclusive Bassmaster High School All-American Fishing Team presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods. Elite Series anglers served as teammates and “coaches” of the student anglers in the tournament.
The anglers fished Inks Lake, a picturesque 768-acre reservoir on the Colorado River in the Texas Hill Country. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department waived fishing license requirements for the anglers and entrance fees into the launch site at Inks Lake State Park.
“Fishing with Mark was a great experience,” said Childers, who is 18 years old. “Before today, my dock fishing and flipping skills weren’t as good, and now they are much better.”
Menendez was among 28 Elite Series pros volunteering for the event should they not have made the top 50 cut on Saturday at the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
“Those kids are the next generation, the future of our sport,” said Menendez. “I have done this for so long that I wanted to be around them, remind me about what fishing truly is all about.”
Each pro and high school angler weighed one bass apiece. Childers’ catch weighed 3 pounds, 12 ounces, and the fish caught by Menendez tipped the scales at 6 pounds. The combined 9 pounds, 12 ounces ranked as the heaviest weight of the week. The anglers weighed their catches on the same stage used for the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest Benefiting Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Childers and Menendez focused on boat docks. A 1/4-ounce Buckeye Lures Spot Remover Pro Model Jig Head with Zoom Trick Worm was the top producer for Childers.
“He called the shots and took the lead, and it was a great day with a fine angler,” added Menendez.
Following are heaviest weights by weight for the top anglers. Randy Howell and Ethan King caught a combined weight of 9-9. Alton Jones and Jacob Woods caught the third heaviest weight of 8-9. Next came Brock Mosley and Samuel Vandagriff with 7-9, followed by Alton Jones Jr. and Dalton Smith with 5 pounds.
More than 465 applications from students in grades 10-12 were submitted from 38 states across the nation. Of those, 64 were chosen as Bassmaster All-State anglers. After reviewing tournament résumés, community service activities and recommendations from coaches and school officials, a panel of judges further narrowed the field to the Top 12 high school anglers in the country.
Childers earned five wins in high school tournaments, including the B.A.S.S. Nation Georgia State Championship and Bass High School tournament. He also has three Top 5 finishes to his credit, each with 100-plus-boat fields.
In addition to his tournament success, Childers is a volunteer at the Pickens County Fishing Rodeo, an event in which children and adults with disabilities get the opportunity to fish in a stocked stream. Childers spent the day baiting hooks and helping members of the community experience the joy of catching fish. He is also a volunteer with his high school’s Special Olympics program.
“One of the things that makes Spencer stick out from most high school kids is his ability to lead,” wrote Bo Page, bass fishing coach at Pickens High School. “His leadership in the classroom is a rare and welcomed sight to his teachers. Spencer has never missed a meeting; he’s never missed a tournament; and most importantly, he’s never missed a chance to give back to our school and community.”
On tournament eve, a banquet was held for the High School All-Americans. Each received special All-American jerseys from B.A.S.S. and a prize package valued at over $400. Abu Garcia, Mercury, Skeeter Boats, Toyota and Yamaha Outboard provided the gifts.
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
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Day 3 Mer-Guck Report Lake Travis 2018
Here it is… the day 3 Mer-Guck Report from Lake Travis! The real inside story and you can only get it here! Be sure to download the new Bass 365 Live app for more exclusive content.
Haynes Extends Lead after Day Two of FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. (May 18, 2018) – Pro Randy Haynes of Ripley, Mississippi, caught a five-bass limit Friday weighing 19 pounds, 15 ounces, to extend his lead at the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses. Haynes’ two-day total of 10 bass weighing 46 pounds, 2 ounces, gives him a 2-pound, 4-ounce advantage heading into Saturday over second-place pro Jason Lambert of Michie, Tennessee, who has 10 bass weighing 43-14. The field is now cut to the final 30 pros, with only 10 anglers advancing to championship Sunday where the winner will take home the top prize of up to $125,000.
Haynes returned to the same area he fished Thursday, putting a couple of keepers in the boat right off the bat. Later in the morning he said he hit a flurry that produced five or six good bites to cap off a limit.
“It was a struggle out there today. I had to relocate my fish and catch them a totally different way,” said Haynes, who has two career wins on Kentucky Lake in Costa FLW Series competition and finished 14th when the Tour last visited Kentucky Lake in 2016. “It was better in terms of numbers, but I didn’t catch the size.”
One of the key changes Haynes made Friday was switching from crankbaits to swimbaits.
“I caught them all, including a couple that upgraded me, on a Zoom Swimmer and a couple of other swimbaits,” said Haynes. “I slowed down, and that’s probably the reason I caught more fish today. I’m just blessed to have caught what I did and hopefully we can keep it going tomorrow.”
The top 30 pros that made the first cut and will fish Saturday on Kentucky Lake are:
1st: Randy Haynes, Ripley, Miss., 10 bass, 46-2
2nd: Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., 10 bass, 43-14
3rd: Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., 10 bass, 37-14
4th: Lowrance pro Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., nine bass, 37-5
5th: Josh Douglas, Isle, Minn., 10 bass, 37-2
6th: Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala., 10 bass, 36-13
7th: Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., 10 bass, 32-15
8th: John Hunter, Shelbyville, Ky., 10 bass, 32-1
9th: Tyler Stewart, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 32-1
10th: Joseph Webster, Winfield, Ala., 10 bass, 31-15
11th: John Cox, DeBary, Fla., 10 bass, 31-12
12th: Jeff Gustafson, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, 10 bass, 31-9
13th: Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., 10 bass, 31-7
14th: Brandon Cobb, Greenwood, S.C., 10 bass, 31-5
15th: Scott Dobson, Clarkston, Mich., nine bass, 31-0
16th: Costa pro Dylan Hays, Sheridan, Ark., 10 bass, 30-14
17th: Alex Davis, Albertville, Ala., eight bass, 30-11
18th: Pennzoil Marine pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., 10 bass, 30-10
19th: General Tire pro Mark Rose, West Memphis, Ark., nine bass, 30-4
20th: Abu Garcia pro Tim Cales, Sandstone, W. Va., 10 bass, 30-4
21st: Brandon Mosley, Choctaw, Okla., 10 bass, 10 bass, 30-2
22nd: Timmy Thompkins, Myrtle Beach, S.C., 10 bass, 30-0
23rd: Jordan Osborne, Longview, Texas, nine bass, 29-9
24th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., 10 bass, 29-5
25th: Michael Neal, Dayton, Tenn., nine bass, 29-4
26th: Kid Caster’s pro Charlie Evans, Berea, Ky., 10 bass, 28-9
27th: Cabela’s pro Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas, 10 bass, 28-5
28th: Koby Kreiger, Bokeelia, Fla., nine bass, 28-4
29th: Jim Dillard, West Monroe, La., 10 bass, 28-2
30th: Bill McDonald, Greenwood, Ind., nine bass, 28-1
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Matt Becker of Finleyville, Pennsylvania, earned the $500 Simms Big Bass award in the Pro Division Friday after weighing a 7-pound, 8-ounce bass.
Overall there were 577 bass weighing 1,708 pounds, 11 ounces, caught by 165 pros Friday. The catch included 64 five-bass limits.
Ronny Webb of Dyersburg, Tennessee, won the Co-angler Division and $25,000 Friday with a two-day total of nine bass weighing 26 pounds, 14 ounces, followed by Stephen Crawley of Bush, Louisiana, who finished in second place with eight bass totaling 25-4, worth $7,600.
The top 10 co-anglers finished:
1st: Ronny Webb, Dyersburg, Tenn., nine bass, 26-14, $25,000
2nd: Stephen Crawley, Bush, La., eight bass, 25-4, $7,600
3rd: Benjie Seaborn, Guin, Ala., eight bass, 23-3, $5,000
4th: Chatfield Smith, Minnetonka, Minn., nine bass, 22-9, $4,000
5th: Rex Jaeger, Hamilton, Ohio, eight bass, 22-3, $3,050
6th: Keith Gunsauls, El Cajon, Calif., seven bass, 21-5, $2,500
7th: Bradley Smith, Saint Jacob, Ill., seven bass, 20-3, $2,000
8th: B.J. Nelson, Louisa, Ky., eight bass, 19-14, $1,800
9th: Craig Middleton, Harrodsburg, Ky., seven bass, 19-14, $1,700
10th: Mike Gabel, Saint Charles, Ill., seven bass, 19-11, $1,600
Jim Hippensteel of Rochester, Indiana, earned $250 for the Simms Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division with a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass.
Overall there were 282 bass weighing 761 pounds, 8 ounces caught by 136 co-anglers Friday. The catch included seven five-bass limits.
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. The full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concluded following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight now advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses is more than $930,000. The event is hosted by the Kentucky Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CDT each day from Kentucky Dam State Park, located at 7792 U.S. Highway 641 N. in Gilbertsville. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins, May 19-20, will be held at the park beginning at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, May 19-20, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at Kentucky Dam State Park from noon to 4 p.m. The Expo is the perfect opportunity for fishing fans of all ages to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, meet characters from the “Paw Patrol” children’s television show, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Also for youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at Kentucky Dam State Park on Saturday, May 19, from 9-11 a.m. The event is hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, and is free and open to youth (18 and under) and Special Olympics athletes (all ages). Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one. The 1st and 2nd place anglers that catch the biggest fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Tour stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) June 27 from Noon-1 p.m. EST. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the sport’s top anglers on the FLW Tour on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.