Posted -  May 16th, 2008 9:32pm CST

Newby in Second, Pack in Third, But All Weights Zero For Weekend

Story by Dru Smith - Photos by  Matt Pangrac

Rogers, AR – Friday is often referred to as moving day on the FLW Tour. The last chance to move up the leader board before the field is cut to 10 and all weights are zeroed. Friday has witnessed some daring moves by the pros trying to earn a living out on Tour.

At the Lewis-Smith event, Greg Pugh found himself mired way back in the pack after day one. On Friday, he brought the biggest limit of the tournament to the scales and leapt over a majority of the field to make the cut and eventually finish in fifth. In 2007 at the Potomac River, David Dudley wasn’t even on the front page of the leader board after the first day. But, with 20-07 on moving day he squeaked into the finals at number 10 and ended the tournament in second place. Fridays can be a day to regroup, overcome and excel. 

This Friday on Beaver Lake it was a day to survive. Day one weights were better than expected and day two held the promise of even better fishing. However, with mostly clear skies – once the heavy fog burned off, a reminder of the front that had pushed through on Thursday,—and cooler temperatures, the fishing was more enjoyable, but the catching was a whole lot tougher.

Jason Reyes, number two after Thursday’s round, only managed 5-12 on day two and will head home with a 30th place finish. Mike Surman was in 13th to start the day, but slid to 39th with his six pound limit on Friday. 

Alvin Shaw eluded the backwards movement of his fellow competitors posting the big weight of the day at 13-06. His two day total of 26-02 gave him the number one spot headed into the weekend.

Sam Newby moved up a couple of spots to second with another consistent bag that weighed 12-01. Newby was followed closely by day one leader, Mark Pack. Pack caught the 10 pounds he had hoped for and finished the qualifying rounds with 25 pounds.

Just as some anglers were falling back, Richard Strother moved from 55th to 9th with his Friday catch of 12-08. 

Hometown angler and local favorite, Greg Bohannan held on to finish in tenth and he will be the lone representative from The Natural State. Fellow Arkansan, “Gentle” George Cochran, finished just four ounces back of Bohannan and missed a chance at his first top ten finish since 2005.

Top Ten:
1. Alvin Shaw 26-02
2. Sam Newby 25-08
3. Mark Pack 25-00
4. Matt Arey 24-14
5. Kyle Mabrey 24-02
6. Dan Morehead 23-04
7. Joel Richardson 22-13
8. Mike Hawkes 22-12
9. Richard Strother 22-10
10. Greg Bohannan 22-08

Shaw Settles In First
Failing to make the Forrest L. Wood Championship in 2007 for only the second time in his 13 year career, Alvin Shaw sat 27th in the AOY prior to this event. Shaw brought a solid five fish limit of 13 pounds, 2 ounces to the scales on Friday and will enter the weekend having caught the most weight during the first two days. “I stayed with the jig again today, but I did throw the spinnerbait some,” Shaw said. “It is an old style rattle back jig with a Zoom Super Chunk as a trailer.”

Shaw is not keying on a single type of structure, rather it is his presentation that he feels has made the difference. “I’m trying to get that jig into places other people aren’t. I’m probably fishing the jig four different ways.” 

The BASS ZONE was on hand to witness Shaw’s second keeper of the day, a nice 2.5 pound fish. “Catching a fish like that early helps settle you down. Fishing the way I am, it is important to stay focused.” 

One Spot Key for Newby
95th is Sam Newby’s average finish on Beaver Lake and that includes a bell curve breaking 27th in 2002. Needless to say, Newby is enjoying the flooded and muddy conditions of this week’s event. “You’ll see it on TV,” said Newby when asked about his bait this week on Beaver. “I flipping and fishing areas I feel comfortable in.”

The Oklahoma angler likes the muddy conditions and has one particular area he refers to as the ‘Money Spot.” “The bite was a little tougher today,” he said. “With about 30 minutes left to go, I told my partner ‘we’re headed to the money spot. I pulled in there and caught two 4 pound bass.”

Even with the low visibility water conditions, Newby said that his presentation is key. “Without the wind, you have to ease the bait into the water. The slightest ripple will spook the fish off.”

Pack Attack Boats 10 More
In contrast to Newby, of Mark Pack’s four Tour top tens, three have come from this very lake. A fourth in ’01 followed by a sixth in ’02 and a tenth in ’05, Pack seems to be able to put the puzzle together regardless of the conditions. 25 pounds caught over the first two days assured the Mineola angler of yet another 10th or better finish on Beaver.

“I’m fishing the same areas I caught them on last time it was,” Pack said. “They are a little deeper now, but it is the same structure.” The structure Pack is referring to are rock flats that are housing the shad as they spawn. “The shad like the warmer weather and the majority of the bass are up on these flats.”

With a goal of ten pounds for Friday, Pack fish hard until 10:30 a.m, when he estimated his weight to be around the 10 pound mark. Fishing a prototype worm described by Pack as a worm with a paddle tail and ribbed upper sections; Pack is swimming the plastic bait over the rock flats. 

“I’m on the type of fish to win if there are enough left,” he said after pulling 15 keepers from his area on Friday. “There are a couple of other competitors fishing the same general areas, so we will have to see what happens.”

Arey in Fourth 
Matt Arey was a late addition to the Beaver Open with news of his entry hitting the airways – via e-mail from FLW Fantasy Fishing—on April 30th. A fixture on the BFL circuit, Arey has tasted tour victory before by winning the co-angler division of 2006 Forrest L. Wood Cup. 

“I probably had the best practice of my life this week,” Arey said. “I caught at least one big fish a day in practice and I know how critical one good bite can be.” Arey’s 12 pound, 13 ounce day two weight was anchored by a five pound largemouth. Arey admitted the bite was tougher on Friday and attributed the tight lipped fish to the conditions.

“I’m fishing a pattern and the pressure and change in weather made the fish a little tougher to come by. I pulled off my primary area early and fortunately I found another spot that is holding quality fish.”

Mabrey Rockin on Beaver
Rookie, Kyle Mabrey cashed his first Tour check of $11,100.00 at Lake Toho earlier this year. With a two day total of 24-02 and a spot in the finals, Mabrey will at the least, double his 2007 earnings. “I had three patterns headed into this tournament, but only one has really produced,” he said. “I found on rock –a boulder that is about the size of truck—and I caught five fish yesterday and seven today.”

Mabrey vowed to start on his magic rock first, but he won’t abandon his other patterns. “I’m a shallow water fisherman and that is how I like to fish. I will just fish the conditions tomorrow and see what happens.”

Morehead Headed Ashore 
With nine victories to his credit, including a Tour win on Beaver back in 2003, Dan Morehead only sees one obstacle in his way this week. “My biggest problem has been getting to the shoreline. When the water gets high and muddy, the fish head to the shallows,” he said. 

Morehead compared the fish habits this week on muddy Beaver Lake to those of a man forced into a dark room, “The first thing you do is ease over and find the wall.”

Morehead put 10 more pounds in the boat on Friday to secure the 6th spot in the finals. “If I make the top ten, I’ll make my life real simple,” he said referring to the big square-bill crankbait he caught his last two keepers on. “Yesterday, I had to get up tight to the cover and flip the bait in there. Hopefully, the warmer conditions will pull the fish away from the cover.”

THE TOP 100 AFTER DAY TWO