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Hot Springs, AR – Tournament fishermen are a rare breed. They are fiercely competitive, seem impervious to heat and cold, and can stand on one leg for up to 16 hours at a time with little need for food and water. Seemingly, they are a creation of the military – save the “standing on one leg” part – but they do have their limits.
It seems that Arkansas’ Lake Quachita is bending and flexing those limits as
some of the world's best bassers are chasing down a $1,000,000 dream this week on a lake that, well, just isn’t being very nice. Fact is, the bite was bad during practice, and has shown little improvement since the tournament began.
Anyway you want to cut it, the winner of this week Forrest Wood Cup, FLW’s Championship event, will have earned every nickel of it as bake-oven afternoons without a hint of wind limits an angler’s choices. The hazy conditions in the morning, which are quick to burn off, fuels a topwater bite that is short-lived to say the least, but anglers are forced to seek out lethargic suspending bass or gamble for a shallow bite along the miles of shoreline cover.
Thursday, Tour rookie Bryan Thrift made a statement by besting the pundit’s picks with a 15+-pound limit, but left the Brady Mountain launch site with some of the sport’s best blood hounds chasing him down. Local pro Scott Suggs, of Bryant, AR, has spent countless hours on the lake that he considers his second him and is just 10 ounces out of the lead, while only a few pounds back is two former Cup winners, Sappington and Robertson.
Oh, and just when you think that the top 10 isn’t talent-stacked enough, don’t forget about former Quachita guide and veteran pro Mark Davis who started the say in seventh – just a little more than three-pounds out of the lead. Unfortunately for Davis, the wheels feel off the wagon for him as he managed only three keepers on the day and missed the cut by less than two pounds.
| But at the end of the day, it really didn’t matter much who was where when it began. Unless an angler made it inside the coveted Top 10, they will be watching the highlights on FSN next week. Weights will be zeroed for the weekend, making Friday an all-out blitz – a daunting task on a placid Lake Quachita no less. |
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Leading
the pack out of the launch Saturday will be,
Jake Wade, of Knoxville, TN, who bested the
rest with a two-day total of 28 pounds and 1
ounce. Wade leaned on Friday’s eye-popping
limit weighing 16 pounds 14 ounces to push
him up a spot and into the top spot to end
the first round.
Second place Friday belonged to local favorite Scott Suggs, from nearby Bryant, AR, who brought 11 pounds and 10 ounces ounces to the scales giving him a total weight of 26 pounds and 8 ounces.
Day one leader Bryan Thrift ended his day in third place with a two-day total weight of 25 pounds and 12 ounces. Thrift brought a limit weighing 10 pounds 5 ounces to the scales dropping him three spots, but still securing a slot for the weekend.
Fourth place went to Boca Rotan, FL pro Mike Surman who brought in a five-fish tournament limit of bass weighing 14 pounds 13 ounces, surging him up the leader boar and locking in a spot for Saturday with a total weight of 24 pounds and 5 ounces.
Rounding out the top five Friday was veteran Texas pro Clark Wendlandt who had a total weight of 24 pounds and 4 ounces. Clark was able to round up five bass weighing 14 pounds and 10 ounces Friday boosting him up the leader board inside the top 10.
Here is the rest of the top 10:
6. Anthony Gagliardi 10 24-4
7. Darrel Robertson 9 22-10
8. Greg Pugh 10 21-14
9. David Dudley 10 21-5
10. John Devere 10 21-3
Weights are zeroed for Saturday’s second round, which will pit the remaining 10 anglers head-to-head for $1,000,000 since all 10 anglers run a Ranger boat.
DAY
TWO STANDINGS
| Pl. |
Pro
Angler |
Hometown,
State |
$$$$$$ |
| 1 |
JACK
WADE |
KNOXVILLE,
TN |
5 |
11-03 |
5 |
16-14 |
10 |
28-01 |
|
| 2 |
SCOTT
SUGGS |
BRYANT,
AR |
5 |
14-14 |
5 |
11-10 |
10 |
26-08 |
|
| 3 |
BRYAN
THRIFT |
SHELBY,
NC |
5 |
15-07 |
3 |
10-05 |
8 |
25-12 |
|
| 4 |
MIKE
SURMAN |
BOCA
RATON, FL |
5 |
9-08 |
5 |
14-13 |
10 |
24-05 |
|
| 5 |
CLARK
WENDLANDT |
LEANDER,
TX |
5 |
9-10 |
5 |
14-10 |
10 |
24-04 |
|
| 6 |
ANTHONY
GAGLIARDI |
PROSPERITY,
SC |
5 |
10-10 |
5 |
13-10 |
10 |
24-04 |
|
| 7 |
DARREL
ROBERTSON |
JAY,
OK |
5 |
12-10 |
4 |
10-00 |
9 |
22-10 |
|
| 8 |
GREG
PUGH |
CULLMAN,
AL |
5 |
12-05 |
5 |
9-09 |
10 |
21-14 |
|
| 9 |
DAVID
DUDLEY |
LYNCHBURG,
VA |
5 |
11-06 |
5 |
9-15 |
10 |
21-05 |
|
| 10 |
JOHN
DEVERE |
BEREA,
KY |
5 |
10-15 |
5 |
10-04 |
10 |
21-03 |
|
| 11 |
JT
KENNEY |
DAYTONA
BEACH, FL |
5 |
9-06 |
5 |
10-06 |
10 |
19-12 |
$20,000 |
| 12 |
MARK
DAVIS |
MOUNT
IDA, AR |
5 |
12-00 |
3 |
7-04 |
8 |
19-04 |
$19,000 |
| 13 |
CLIFFORD
PIRCH |
PAYSON,
AZ |
5 |
8-13 |
5 |
10-02 |
10 |
18-15 |
$18,000 |
| 14 |
JASON
BOROFKA |
SALINAS,
CA |
5 |
11-08 |
4 |
7-03 |
9 |
18-11 |
$17,000 |
| 15 |
BRETT
HITE |
PHOENIX,
AZ |
3 |
5-07 |
5 |
12-14 |
8 |
18-05 |
$16,000 |
| 16 |
KEVIN
VIDA |
CLARE,
MI |
5 |
11-14 |
4 |
6-04 |
9 |
18-02 |
$15,000 |
| 17 |
SHAD
SCHENCK |
WAYNETOWN,
IN |
5 |
11-08 |
3 |
6-08 |
8 |
18-00 |
$14,000 |
| 18 |
JOHN
SAPPINGTON |
WILLARD,
MO |
5 |
13-13 |
3 |
3-13 |
8 |
17-10 |
$13,000 |
| 19 |
BOBBY
CURTIS |
SILOAM
SPRINGS, AR |
5 |
11-02 |
3 |
6-03 |
8 |
17-05 |
$12,000 |
| 20 |
AARON
HASTINGS |
MIDDLETOWN,
MD |
4 |
9-13 |
3 |
6-03 |
7 |
16-00 |
$11,000 |
| 21 |
CHRIS
BAUMGARDNER |
GASTONIA,
NC |
5 |
7-13 |
4 |
7-12 |
9 |
15-09 |
$10,000 |
| 22 |
RUSTY
SALEWSKE |
ALPINE,
CA |
5 |
13-00 |
1 |
2-08 |
6 |
15-08 |
$10,000 |
| 23 |
GABE
BOLIVAR |
RAMONA,
CA |
4 |
8-04 |
3 |
7-02 |
7 |
15-06 |
$10,000 |
| 24 |
CHAD
MORGENTHALER |
COULTERVILLE,
IL |
4 |
9-00 |
3 |
6-05 |
7 |
15-05 |
$10,000 |
| 25 |
MIKE
HAWKES |
SABINAL,
TX |
2 |
3-11 |
4 |
11-08 |
6 |
15-03 |
$10,000 |
| 26 |
ROBERT
DODSON |
HARRISON,
AR |
4 |
8-14 |
3 |
6-04 |
7 |
15-02 |
$10,000 |
| 27 |
LARRY
NIXON |
BEE
BRANCH, AR |
5 |
8-06 |
3 |
6-06 |
8 |
14-12 |
$10,000 |
| 28 |
DAVE
LEFEBRE |
UNION
CITY, PA |
5 |
11-00 |
1 |
3-09 |
6 |
14-09 |
$10,000 |
| 29 |
GUIDO
HIBDON |
GRAVOIS
MILLS, MO |
4 |
6-07 |
5 |
8-02 |
9 |
14-09 |
$10,000 |
| 30 |
ROB
KILBY |
HOT
SPRINGS, AR |
5 |
9-01 |
3 |
4-11 |
8 |
13-12 |
$10,000 |
| 31 |
MARK
ROSE |
MARION,
AR |
5 |
7-06 |
5 |
6-06 |
10 |
13-12 |
$10,000 |
| 32 |
LUKE
CLAUSEN |
SPOKANE,
WA |
3 |
3-08 |
5 |
10-00 |
8 |
13-08 |
$10,000 |
| 33 |
KEITH
MONSON |
BURGIN,
KY |
3 |
7-07 |
3 |
6-01 |
6 |
13-08 |
$10,000 |
| 34 |
MATT
HERREN |
TRUSSVILLE,
AL |
5 |
10-11 |
2 |
2-11 |
7 |
13-06 |
$10,000 |
| 35 |
CHRIS
ELLIOTT |
BEAUFORT,
NC |
5 |
7-06 |
3 |
6-00 |
8 |
13-06 |
$10,000 |
| 36 |
TODD
AUTEN |
LAKE
WYLIE, SC |
3 |
5-06 |
4 |
7-11 |
7 |
13-01 |
$10,000 |
| 37 |
CURT
LYTLE |
ZUNI,
VA |
3 |
5-09 |
5 |
7-07 |
8 |
13-00 |
$10,000 |
| 38 |
GLENN
BROWNE |
OCALA,
FL |
5 |
8-10 |
3 |
4-03 |
8 |
12-13 |
$10,000 |
| 39 |
TIM
JOHNSON |
DALLAS,
GA |
5 |
9-00 |
3 |
3-12 |
8 |
12-12 |
$10,000 |
| 40 |
SCOTT
MARTIN |
CLEWISTON,
FL |
2 |
3-14 |
5 |
8-11 |
7 |
12-09 |
$10,000 |
| 41 |
JIM
TUTT |
LONGVIEW,
TX |
4 |
6-10 |
4 |
5-14 |
8 |
12-08 |
$1,000 |
| 42 |
STACEY
KING |
REEDS
SPRING, MO |
4 |
7-01 |
3 |
5-06 |
7 |
12-07 |
$1,000 |
| 43 |
RON
SHUFFIELD |
BISMARCK,
AR |
3 |
5-03 |
4 |
7-00 |
7 |
12-03 |
$1,000 |
| 44 |
BRENT
EHRLER |
REDLANDS,
CA |
5 |
10-08 |
1 |
1-09 |
6 |
12-01 |
$1,000 |
| 45 |
BUD
PRUITT |
SPRING,
TX |
2 |
4-01 |
5 |
7-12 |
7 |
11-13 |
$1,000 |
| 46 |
TRACY
ADAMS |
WILKESBORO,
NC |
5 |
8-11 |
1 |
3-01 |
6 |
11-12 |
$1,000 |
| 47 |
JACK
GADLAGE |
BENTON,
KY |
2 |
3-07 |
5 |
7-07 |
7 |
10-14 |
$1,000 |
| 48 |
ANDY
MORGAN |
DAYTON,
TN |
4 |
6-14 |
3 |
3-15 |
7 |
10-13 |
$1,000 |
| 49 |
MICHAEL
BENNETT |
ROSEVILLE,
CA |
3 |
4-05 |
3 |
6-07 |
6 |
10-12 |
$1,000 |
| 50 |
RAY
SCHEIDE |
RUSSELLVILLE,
AR |
3 |
10-10 |
0 |
0-00 |
3 |
10-10 |
$1,000 |
| 51 |
ROGER
POPE |
STATESVILLE,
NC |
2 |
5-09 |
4 |
5-01 |
6 |
10-10 |
$1,000 |
| 52 |
OTT
DEFOE |
KNOXVILLE,
TN |
4 |
6-15 |
2 |
3-10 |
6 |
10-09 |
$1,000 |
| 53 |
CRAIG
POWERS |
ROCKWOOD,
TN |
2 |
4-01 |
3 |
6-07 |
5 |
10-08 |
$1,000 |
| 54 |
GARY
YAMAMOTO |
MINEOLA,
TX |
5 |
7-12 |
2 |
2-11 |
7 |
10-07 |
$1,000 |
| 55 |
TERRY
BAKSAY |
EASTON,
CT |
4 |
8-13 |
1 |
1-08 |
5 |
10-05 |
$1,000 |
| 56 |
ART
FERGUSON III |
ST.
CLAIR SHORES, MI |
3 |
6-07 |
2 |
3-12 |
5 |
10-03 |
$1,000 |
| 57 |
KEVIN
LONG |
BERKLEY,
MI |
5 |
8-12 |
1 |
1-06 |
6 |
10-02 |
$1,000 |
| 58 |
KOBY
KREIGER |
OKEECHOBEE,
FL |
2 |
2-13 |
3 |
6-11 |
5 |
9-08 |
$1,000 |
| 59 |
SHINICHI
FUKAE |
MINEOLA,
TX |
2 |
2-05 |
3 |
7-00 |
5 |
9-05 |
$1,000 |
| 60 |
CHIP
HARRISON |
BREMEN,
IN |
3 |
4-11 |
2 |
4-03 |
5 |
8-14 |
$1,000 |
| 61 |
MICHAEL
MURPHY |
GILBERT,
SC |
1 |
1-07 |
4 |
7-05 |
5 |
8-12 |
$1,000 |
| 62 |
SHONN
GOODWIN |
MOORE,
OK |
5 |
7-12 |
0 |
0-00 |
5 |
7-12 |
$1,000 |
| 63 |
GEORGE
COCHRAN |
HOT
SPRINGS, AR |
1 |
1-09 |
3 |
6-00 |
4 |
7-09 |
$1,000 |
| 64 |
DANNY
PIERCE |
GREENBRIER,
AR |
1 |
2-01 |
2 |
5-04 |
3 |
7-05 |
$1,000 |
| 65 |
JERRY
GREEN |
DEL
RIO, TX |
3 |
5-03 |
1 |
1-12 |
4 |
6-15 |
$1,000 |
| 66 |
SEAN
HOERNKE |
MAGNOLIA,
TX |
5 |
4-02 |
2 |
2-13 |
7 |
6-15 |
$1,000 |
| 67 |
DOYLE
ISOM JR |
BOURBON,
MO |
2 |
4-11 |
1 |
2-01 |
3 |
6-12 |
$1,000 |
| 68 |
GLENN
CHAPPELEAR |
ACWORTH,
GA |
3 |
3-12 |
2 |
2-14 |
5 |
6-10 |
$1,000 |
| 69 |
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