The Wal-Mart FLW Tour kicked off the 2007 on Thursday with it’s first stop at Lake Travis. Located on the outskirts of Austin, Lake Travis is one of several Texas impoundments scattered along the Colorado River. Not known as one of Texas’ big-bass waters, the lake record largemouth is a respectable 14.21 pounds caught by James Penny back in 1993.
The entire field will fish the first two days and only the top ten will contend on the weekend. With a total pay-out of $1 million the ultimate winner will pocket a possible $125,000.00.
As the 200 FLW pros launched their boats in sub-freezing temperatures Thursday morning, hopes of catching a five-fish limit that equaled Penny’s record were low. The cold temps mixed with lower than normal water conditions made for a tough first day. “I caught-em on a shaky head,” tied with “Man it’s cold out there,” as the most overheard phrase on Thursday.
Koby Kreiger was the first pro to weigh in a limit and set the tone with a total weight of 10 pounds, 15 ounces. More than 50 pros crossed the stage before Kreiger was forced out of the top spot. Alabama angler, Craig Dowling took over the lead with 12-1.
However, Dowling didn’t spend much time atop the leader board. Hometown angler and pre-tournament favorite, Clark
Wendlandt revved up the Texas crowd with a day-one weight of 17-3. Bill Chapman made a run for the lead with 13-6, but finished tied for
second with Michigan angler Kevin Vida.
Rounding out the top five were Jerry Green with 13-2 and Dave Lefebre at 12-13. Big Bass of the day went to co-angler Clint Bridges with a 7 pound, 11 ounce lunker. The young Texas angler finished the day with a five fish limit of 13-11 and first place on the co-side.
Pressure off Home-Town Favorite
Leander, Texas pro, Clark Wendlandt lived up to the pre-tournament pressure and took the lead on the first day. His five fish limit gave Clark almost a four pound lead headed into Friday. “Being the favorite definitely added to the tough conditions,” said the Yamaha pro. “The low water really forced me to work hard in practice and not rely on my past experiences here on (Lake) Travis.” |
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Getting 15 keeper bites on Thursday, Clark put his limit in the boat by mid-morning. Even with his first day success and a substantial lead, Wendlandt isn’t thinking about managing his fish just yet. “I’m going out and see what I can catch,” he said. “I said before the tournament it would take 22 pounds to make the finals, but with the conditions and fishing pressure I think it will be closer to 20 pounds now.”
Vida tied for Second
Banana Boat pro, Kevin Vida finished Thursday’s round tied for 2nd place. Kevin survived the tough conditions and brought in five fish for 13 pounds, 6 ounces. “It was brutal out there,” Kevin said. “I had my limit by 9:30 a.m. and went looking for a big bite.”
Kevin caught a total of 7 keeper bass on the first day using a couple of different jigs. “I have one area that produced for me today,” he said. “I think it will take 8 or 9 pounds for me to make the top-ten.”
Day
One Top 50
| Pl. |
Pro
Angler |
Hometown,
State |
| 1 |
CLARK
WENDLANDT |
LEANDER,
TX |
5 |
17-03 |
| 2 |
BILL
CHAPMAN |
SALT
ROCK, WV |
5 |
13-06 |
| 2 |
KEVIN
VIDA |
CLARE,
MI |
5 |
13-06 |
| 4 |
JERRY
GREEN |
DEL
RIO, TX |
5 |
13-02 |
| 5 |
DAVE
LEFEBRE |
UNION
CITY, PA |
5 |
12-13 |
| 6 |
CRAIG
DOWLING |
MADISON,
AL |
5 |
12-01 |
| 7 |
CHIP
HARRISON |
BREMEN,
IN |
5 |
11-06 |
| 8 |
GABE
BOLIVAR |
RAMONA,
CA |
5 |
11-04 |
| 9 |
AARON
HASTINGS |
MIDDLETOWN,
MD |
5 |
11-01 |
| 10 |
MARK
DAVIS |
MOUNT
IDA, AR |
5 |
10-15 |
| 10 |
KOBY
KREIGER |
OKEECHOBEE,
FL |
5 |
10-15 |
| 12 |
VIC
VATALARO |
KENT,
OH |
5 |
10-09 |
| 13 |
TIM
CARROLL |
OWASSO,
OK |
5 |
10-08 |
| 13 |
BRYAN
THRIFT |
SHELBY,
NC |
5 |
10-08 |
| 15 |
BOBBY
CURTIS |
SILOAM
SPRINGS, AR |
5 |
10-07 |
| 16 |
TERRY
BAKSAY |
EASTON,
CT |
5 |
10-05 |
| 17 |
MICHAEL
BENNETT |
ROSEVILLE,
CA |
5 |
10-00 |
| 18 |
JASON
ABRAM |
GRAY,
TN |
5 |
9-14 |
| 18 |
DION
HIBDON |
STOVER,
MO |
5 |
9-14 |
| 20 |
JACK
WADE |
KNOXVILLE,
TN |
5 |
9-10 |
| 20 |
KEN
WICK |
STAR,
ID |
5 |
9-10 |
| 22 |
SCOTT
SUGGS |
BRYANT,
AR |
5 |
9-07 |
| 23 |
TRACY
ADAMS |
WILKESBORO,
NC |
5 |
9-06 |
| 23 |
GLENN
BROWNE |
OCALA,
FL |
5 |
9-06 |
| 23 |
J
T KENNEY |
DAYTONA
BEACH, FL |
5 |
9-06 |
| 26 |
TONY
DEFILIPPO |
LAKE
ANN, MI |
5 |
9-05 |
| 26 |
JASON
KNAPP |
UNIONTOWN,
PA |
5 |
9-05 |
| 28 |
RON
SHUFFIELD |
BISMARCK,
AR |
5 |
9-04 |
| 29 |
ART
BERRY |
HEMET,
CA |
5 |
9-02 |
| 29 |
JONATHAN
NEWTON |
ROGERSVILLE,
AL |
5 |
9-02 |
| 31 |
JACK
GADLAGE |
BENTON,
KY |
5 |
9-01 |
| 32 |
OTT
DEFOE |
KNOXVILLE,
TN |
5 |
8-15 |
| 32 |
DARREL
ROBERTSON |
JAY,
OK |
5 |
8-15 |
| 32 |
MIKE
SURMAN |
BOCA
RATON, FL |
5 |
8-15 |
| 35 |
MARK
ROSE |
MARION,
AR |
5 |
8-14 |
| 35 |
WESLEY
STRADER |
SPRING
CITY, TN |
5 |
8-14 |
| 37 |
KIM
STRICKER |
HOWELL,
MI |
5 |
8-13 |
| 38 |
BUD
PRUITT |
SPRING,
TX |
5 |
8-12 |
| 39 |
ALEX
ORMAND |
BESSEMER
CITY, NC |
5 |
8-11 |
| 40 |
KEVIN
LONG |
BERKLEY,
MI |
5 |
8-10 |
| 41 |
CHRIS
BAUMGARDNER |
GASTONIA,
NC |
5 |
8-09 |
| 42 |
ROB
KILBY |
HOT
SPRINGS, AR |
5 |
8-08 |
| 43 |
SHINICHI
FUKAE |
MINEOLA,
TX |
5 |
8-07 |
| 44 |
DEREK
JONES |
CHICAGO,
IL |
5 |
8-06 |
| 44 |
KEVIN
LASYONE |
DRY
PRONG, LA |
5 |
8-06 |
| 46 |
ANDRE
MOORE |
ALABASTER,
AL |
5 |
8-04 |
| 46 |
CHAD
MORGENTHALER |
COULTERVILLE,
IL |
5 |
8-04 |
| 48 |
KATSUTOSHI
FURUSAWA |
TOKYO
JAPAN 1920153, JP |
5 |
8-02 |
| 48 |
CRAIG
POWERS |
ROCKWOOD,
TN |
4 |
8-02 |
| 48 |
SAM
SWETT |
COVINGTON,
LA |
5 |
8-02 |
|
