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The second day of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour commenced Friday morning on yet another cold Texas dawn. Thursday’s round saw a lot of fish brought to the scales with more than half of the 200 pros bringing in a limit. The quantity was there on Lake Travis, but the lack of quality bites had the field lumped together. Less than four pounds separated 10th place from 80th.
All 200 pros along with their co-anglers fished the second day. Only the top ten would survive to fish the weekend and they would all start tied for first. The Wal-Mart FLW Tour format zeroes angler’s weight at the end of day two. The eventual winner will be the pro with most weight on the final two days.
Clark Wendlandt distanced himself from the field on day one with a solid limit of 17 pounds, 3 ounces. He began Friday’s round with a 3 pound cushion over the next closest competitor. With a five fish limit of 8-6, Clark finished the preliminary round in second with 25 pounds, 9 ounces.
Yamaha pro, Dave Lefebre started the day in 5th after a day-one limit of 12-13. Dave secured is spot among the weekend anglers with a limit on Friday that weighed 13-13. His combined weight of 26 pounds and 10 ounces put him in the top spot.
Del Rio, Texas, angler, Jerry Green followed up his 13-2 from Thursday with a five fish limit weighing 11-1 on Friday. A total weight of 24-3 put the Texan in.
Craig Dowling of Madison, Alabama and Ron Shuffield from Bismarck, Arkansas rounded out the top five.
Jay, Oklahoma angler, Darrel Robertson jumped from 32nd place to qualify for the finals in 6th with a total weight of
21-4
Lucky 13
Dave Lefebre weighed in 13-13 on Friday to finish the qualifying round in first. Fishing for only the second time in Texas, Dave had never been to Lake Travis before this event. “I came here with out knowing a thing about the lake or knowing what to expect,” he said. “I got here eight days before the event and I only spent four of those on the water.”
Catching more than 30 pounds on his initial day of practice, the Pennsylvania angler quickly realized the potential of this lake. “I caught a 9 and 7 pound bass that first day,” he said. “I’m just targeting bigger fish. I’m not catching a lot, but they (fish) are better quality.”
Dave needed just over an hour to put his quality limit in the boat on Friday. By 8:30 he was already scouting out new areas to fish.
“I’ve got about 50 different spots to fish and I probably can’t hit them all.”
He believes it will take around 27 to 28 pounds to win this event and he is keeping a close eye on the competition. “I’m actually on the way to Clark’s (Wendlandt) house for a friendly game of ping pong,” laughed Dave. “Clark’s a great fisherman, but so are the rest of the guys in the top ten. I feel good and everything is going great right now, but anything could happen.”
Wendlandt in the Wings
Clark Wendlandt lives in nearby Leander, Texas. An obvious pre-tournament favorite, Clark heads into the finals after a two day catch of 25-9. Managing your fish is a strategy unique to the FLW Tour. Clark demonstrated that strategy on Friday.
Bringing in the biggest limit of the tournament on Thursday, the Kellogg’s pro only need a small creel to make it to the weekend. “I fished all new water today,” he said. “I caught five keepers today. It was basically like a practice day.” |
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Clark has two distinct patterns working {he promised to share those with the BASS ZONE viewers at the conclusion of this event} and hopes they will hold up over the next two days. “The wind helps. I think the fishing will stay about the same, but if the wind dies down, I think I can still catch them. I’m just going out there and trying to catch fish.”
Green in Third
Carrying a Texas driver’s license did not guarantee a place in the final rounds this week on Lake Travis. Of the 26 Texas pros fishing this week, only two will be around on the weekend. Like Wendlandt, Jerry Green calls the Lone Star State home, but Del Rio is a far cry from Austin. “I fished this lake twice before,” Jerry said. ‘Both times it was full, nothing like it is now.”
Although he didn’t have a ton of experience on Travis, Jerry was able to put together a strong game plan that resulted in a two-day total of 24-03. “I’ve been fishing deep, but I have places to go if the shallow bite turns on,” he said. “I left after catching three fish off my primary spot so hopefully there are still some fish there.”
Day
Two Top 10
| Pl. |
PRO
ANGLER |
Hometown,
State |
| 1 |
DAVE
LEFEBRE |
UNION
CITY, PA |
5 |
12-13 |
5 |
13-13 |
10 |
26-10 |
| 2 |
CLARK
WENDLANDT |
LEANDER,
TX |
5 |
17-03 |
5 |
8-06 |
10 |
25-09 |
| 3 |
JERRY
GREEN |
DEL
RIO, TX |
5 |
13-02 |
5 |
11-01 |
10 |
24-03 |
| 4 |
CRAIG
DOWLING |
MADISON,
AL |
5 |
12-01 |
5 |
10-11 |
10 |
22-12 |
| 5 |
RON
SHUFFIELD |
BISMARCK,
AR |
5 |
9-04 |
5 |
13-02 |
10 |
22-06 |
| 6 |
OTT
DEFOE |
KNOXVILLE,
TN |
5 |
8-15 |
5 |
12-05 |
10 |
21-04 |
| 6 |
DARREL
ROBERTSON |
JAY,
OK |
5 |
8-15 |
5 |
12-05 |
10 |
21-04 |
| 8 |
BRYAN
THRIFT |
SHELBY,
NC |
5 |
10-08 |
5 |
10-11 |
10 |
21-03 |
| 9 |
AARON
HASTINGS |
MIDDLETOWN,
MD |
5 |
11-01 |
5 |
10-00 |
10 |
21-01 |
| 10 |
TRACY
ADAMS |
WILKESBORO,
NC |
5 |
9-06 |
5 |
11-10 |
10 |
21-00 |
In
the Money
| Pl. |
PRO
ANGLER |
Hometown,
State |
$$$$$$ |
| 11 |
KEVIN
VIDA |
CLARE,
MI |
5 |
13-06 |
4 |
5-13 |
9 |
19-03 |
$12,500 |
| 12 |
KOBY
KREIGER |
OKEECHOBEE,
FL |
5 |
10-15 |
5 |
8-01 |
10 |
19-00 |
$12,500 |
| 13 |
MICHAEL
BENNETT |
ROSEVILLE,
CA |
5 |
10-00 |
5 |
9-00 |
10 |
19-00 |
$12,500 |
| 14 |
JASON
ABRAM |
GRAY,
TN |
5 |
9-14 |
5 |
9-01 |
10 |
18-15 |
$12,500 |
| 15 |
VIC
VATALARO |
KENT,
OH |
5 |
10-09 |
5 |
7-14 |
10 |
18-07 |
$12,500 |
| 16 |
MARK
DAVIS |
MOUNT
IDA, AR |
5 |
10-15 |
5 |
7-03 |
10 |
18-02 |
$12,000 |
| 17 |
SCOTT
MARTIN |
CLEWISTON,
FL |
5 |
6-02 |
3 |
11-13 |
8 |
17-15 |
$12,000 |
| 18 |
ART
BERRY |
HEMET,
CA |
5 |
9-02 |
5 |
8-12 |
10 |
17-14 |
$12,000 |
| 19 |
STACEY
KING |
REEDS
SPRING, MO |
5 |
7-14 |
5 |
9-15 |
10 |
17-13 |
$12,000 |
| 20 |
GLENN
BROWNE |
OCALA,
FL |
5 |
9-06 |
5 |
8-07 |
10 |
17-13 |
$12,000 |
| 21 |
CHIP
HARRISON |
BREMEN,
IN |
5 |
11-06 |
4 |
6-05 |
9 |
17-11 |
$11,500 |
| 22 |
MARK
ROSE |
MARION,
AR |
5 |
8-14 |
5 |
8-12 |
10 |
17-10 |
$11,500 |
| 23 |
JIM
MOYNAGH |
CARVER,
MN |
2 |
5-07 |
5 |
11-15 |
7 |
17-06 |
$11,500 |
| 24 |
KEN
WICK |
STAR,
ID |
5 |
9-10 |
5 |
7-09 |
10 |
17-03 |
$11,500 |
| 25 |
JOHN
DEVERE |
BEREA,
KY |
5 |
6-03 |
4 |
10-11 |
9 |
16-14 |
$11,500 |
| 26 |
KIM
STRICKER |
HOWELL,
MI |
5 |
8-13 |
5 |
8-01 |
10 |
16-14 |
$11,000 |
| 27 |
SCOTT
SUGGS |
BRYANT,
AR |
5 |
9-07 |
5 |
7-06 |
10 |
16-13 |
$11,000 |
| 28 |
J
T KENNEY |
DAYTONA
BEACH, FL |
5 |
9-06 |
5 |
7-06 |
10 |
16-12 |
$11,000 |
| 29 |
ANDRE
MOORE |
ALABASTER,
AL |
5 |
8-04 |
5 |
8-06 |
10 |
16-10 |
$11,000 |
| 30 |
WESLEY
STRADER |
SPRING
CITY, TN |
5 |
8-14 |
5 |
7-09 |
10 |
16-07 |
$11,000 |
| 31 |
JACK
WADE |
KNOXVILLE,
TN |
5 |
9-10 |
5 |
6-11 |
10 |
16-05 |
$10,500 |
| 32 |
DION
HIBDON |
STOVER,
MO |
5 |
9-14 |
4 |
6-05 |
9 |
16-03 |
$10,500 |
| 33 |
GEORGE
JEANE JR |
EVANS,
LA |
5 |
7-12 |
5 |
8-07 |
10 |
16-03 |
$10,500 |
| 34 |
ANDY
MORGAN |
DAYTON,
TN |
5 |
6-09 |
5 |
9-06 |
10 |
15-15 |
$10,500 |
| 35 |
SHINICHI
FUKAE |
MINEOLA,
TX |
5 |
8-07 |
5 |
7-06 |
10 |
15-13 |
$10,500 |
| 36 |
MICHAEL
MURPHY |
GILBERT,
SC |
5 |
7-09 |
5 |
8-04 |
10 |
15-13 |
$10,500 |
| 37 |
KEVIN
LONG |
BERKLEY,
MI |
5 |
8-10 |
5 |
7-01 |
10 |
15-11 |
$10,500 |
| 38 |
ROB
KILBY |
HOT
SPRINGS, AR |
5 |
8-08 |
5 |
7-02 |
10 |
15-10 |
$10,500 |
| 39 |
BUD
PRUITT |
SPRING,
TX |
5 |
8-12 |
4 |
6-13 |
9 |
15-09 |
$10,500 |
| 40 |
GABE
BOLIVAR |
RAMONA,
CA |
5 |
11-04 |
3 |
4-04 |
8 |
15-08 |
$10,500 |
| 41 |
WOO
DAVES |
SPRING
GROVE, VA |
5 |
8-01 |
5 |
7-07 |
10 |
15-08 |
$10,000 |
| 42 |
BOBBY
CURTIS |
SILOAM
SPRINGS, AR |
5 |
10-07 |
3 |
5-00 |
8 |
15-07 |
$10,000 |
| 43 |
CRAIG
POWERS |
ROCKWOOD,
TN |
4 |
8-02 |
5 |
7-05 |
9 |
15-07 |
$10,000 |
| 44 |
LUKE
CLAUSEN |
SPOKANE,
WA |
5 |
7-14 |
5 |
7-09 |
10 |
15-07 |
$10,000 |
| 45 |
BRENT
CROW |
HARTSELLE,
AL |
5 |
7-11 |
5 |
7-12 |
10 |
15-07 |
$10,000 |
| 46 |
MIKE
SURMAN |
BOCA
RATON, FL |
5 |
8-15 |
4 |
6-06 |
9 |
15-05 |
$10,000 |
| 47 |
TERRY
BAKSAY |
EASTON,
CT |
5 |
10-05 |
4 |
4-11 |
9 |
15-00 |
$10,000 |
| 48 |
JONATHAN
NEWTON |
ROGERSVILLE,
AL |
5 |
9-02 |
5 |
5-14 |
10 |
15-00 |
$10,000 |
| 49 |
BRETT
HITE |
PHOENIX,
AZ |
5 |
6-15 |
5 |
8-01 |
10 |
15-00 |
$10,000 |
| 50 |
KATSUTOSHI
FURUSAWA |
TOKYO
JAPAN 1920153, JP |
5 |
8-02 |
4 |
6-12 |
9 |
14-14 |
$10,000 |
| 51 |
DAVID
FRITTS |
LEXINGTON,
NC |
5 |
7-14 |
5 |
6-15 |
10 |
14-13 |
$2,500 |
| 51 |
CARL
SVEBEK III |
SILOAM
SPRINGS, AR |
5 |
6-15 |
5 |
7-14 |
10 |
14-13 |
$2,500 |
| 53 |
BILL
CHAPMAN |
SALT
ROCK, WV |
5 |
13-06 |
1 |
1-05 |
6 |
14-11 |
$2,500 |
| 54 |
RANDY
BLAUKAT |
LAMAR,
MO |
5 |
7-05 |
4 |
7-05 |
9 |
14-10 |
$2,500 |
| 55 |
CHAD
MORGENTHALER |
COULTERVILLE,
IL |
5 |
8-04 |
5 |
6-05 |
10 |
14-09 |
$2,500 |
| 56 |
BRENT
EHRLER |
REDLANDS,
CA |
5 |
6-14 |
5 |
7-11 |
10 |
14-09 |
$2,500 |
| 57 |
MARCEL
VEENSTRA |
BRIGHTON,
MI |
5 |
7-00 |
5 |
7-07 |
10 |
14-07 |
$2,500 |
| 58 |
JACK
GADLAGE |
BENTON,
KY |
5 |
9-01 |
5 |
5-05 |
10 |
14-06 |
$2,500 |
| 59 |
CODY
BIRD |
GRANBURY,
TX |
5 |
7-03 |
5 |
6-15 |
10 |
14-02 |
$2,500 |
| 60 |
JASON
KNAPP |
UNIONTOWN,
PA |
5 |
9-05 |
3 |
4-11 |
8 |
14-00 |
$2,500 |
| 61 |
KEITH
MONSON |
BURGIN,
KY |
5 |
6-13 |
5 |
7-03 |
10 |
14-00 |
$2,000 |
| 62 |
TIM
CARROLL |
OWASSO,
OK |
5 |
10-08 |
2 |
3-06 |
7 |
13-14 |
$2,000 |
| 63 |
KEITH
PACE |
MONTICELLO,
AR |
5 |
8-01 |
4 |
5-13 |
9 |
13-14 |
$2,000 |
| 64 |
DAVID
WALKER |
SEVIERVILLE,
TN |
5 |
7-03 |
5 |
6-10 |
10 |
13-13 |
$2,000 |
| 65 |
MATT
AREY |
SHELBY,
NC |
5 |
6-14 |
5 |
6-12 |
10 |
13-10 |
$2,000 |
| 66 |
JAMES
QUILLMAN |
MINEOLA,
TX |
3 |
5-08 |
5 |
8-01 |
8 |
13-09 |
$2,000 |
| 67 |
GREG
PUGH |
CULLMAN,
AL |
5 |
7-11 |
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