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CHRIS LANE TAKES BASSMASTER SOUTHERN OPEN VICTORY ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE
 

Story Provided by BASS Media Communicaitions 

Posted - January 17th - 6:57Pm CST

Okeechobee, FL. – Fish a tournament in Florida, and there are three names to watch, no matter the lake, season or weather: Chris Lane, Bobby Lane and Terry Scroggins. True to form, they finished one, two, three at the Bassmaster Southern Open on Lake Okeechobee this week.

Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala., picked up his second BASS tournament victory and second at the Big O with 41 pounds, 2 ounces over three days. He also won the Southern Open here four years ago. Not so ironically, Scroggins finished second. Bobby did not fish that one.

But Chris’ day didn’t start so well. He and brother Bobby were staying at the same place and had parked side by side. When Bobby left for launch, a few minutes before Chris, he accidentally hit the driver-side door of Chris’ truck with his boat trailer.

“My boat wasn’t going anywhere,” Bobby said, “so I stepped on the gas. Then I heard a terrible cracking sound.”

It was the sound of a truck door being nearly ripped from the frame. It had to seem a very bad omen to Chris. Fortunately, he didn’t let it get him down. Once on the water, things settled in, and he found a strong bite on a Gambler Cane Toad.

“I was making long casts with the Toad and my Double Trouble Toad hook,” Chris said. “A steady, medium retrieve seemed to get the most bites.”

In cool weather such as dominated this part of Florida for the past couple of weeks, topwater strikes on baits like the Cane Toad can result in lots of missed fish. Even a topwater guru like Chris Lane will miss some bass, and the final round was no exception.

“I missed an 8 pounder, a 6 pounder and two 5-pound fish,” Chris said, “but I didn’t let it get me down. You have to have mental toughness to be a tournament angler and to fish baits like these. Luckily, the right hook made a big difference, and I was able to land most of my strikes.”

Another key, according to Chris, is to have patterned enough bass that missing one or two doesn’t cost you the tournament. The winner was also quick to credit his Power Poles, which helped him to stay in the best areas without risking spooking the fish with an electric motor. His Legend boat, Mercury outboard and Atlas jackplate got him in and out of heavy vegetation without incident, where he found his bass.

Chris cast the Cane Toad on an All Star rod and Abu Garcia Revo baitcasting reel spooled with 50-pound-test Stren SuperBraid.

Bobby, also a Bassmaster Elite Series pro and Chris’ brother, caught his bass by flipping a black and blue Berkley Crazy Legs Chigger Craw or swimming a 3-inch Berkley Ripple Shad swimbait. He fished them on SpiderWire braid and SpiderWire Ultracast lines, respectively, spooled onto Abu Garcia Revos. Bobby finished with 38-1, three pounds and an ounce behind his brother.

Terry Scroggins used two patterns for his third-place finish (37-9). He flipped a Yum Big Show Craw in black and blue or cooter brown on 65-pound test High Seas braid and a 7 1/2-foot Duckett Fishing Micro Magic flipping stick. He also caught bass on the outside edge of eelgrass and hydrilla by Carolina rigging a junebug Yum Houdini Worm behind a 3/4-ounce Excalibur sinker rigged on 20-pound High Seas fluorocarbon line and a 7-foot Duckett Fishing Micro Magic rod.

Randall Tharp, who led the tournament going into the final round, fell to fourth with 32-8 after mechanical problems cost him part of his fishing day. Tharp won the two previous Bassmaster Opens he fished.

Elite Series pro Russ Lane had the big bass of Day 3 with a 6-0 lunker.

On the co-angler side, Blake Stewart brought three fishing weighing 4-9 to the scales in the final round to give him a total of 16-10. It was enough to beat second round leader Aaron Gengler by six ounces.

Sponsors of the 2010 Bassmaster Opens: Toyota Trucks, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Mercury, OPTIMA Batteries, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Marine.

FINAL STANDINGS 
Pl. Pro Angler DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 TOTAL
Fish Weight Fish Weight Fish Weight Fish Weight
1 Chris Lane 5 8-12 5 17-12 5 14-10 15 41- 2
2 Bobby Lane 5 12- 4 5 13-12 5 12- 1 15 38- 1
3 Terry Scroggins 5 12- 4 5 11- 4 5 14- 1 15 37- 9
4 Randall Tharp 5 11-15 5 18-14 1 1-11 11 32- 8
5 Larry Cahan 0 0- 0 5 20- 2 5 10- 1 10 30- 3
6 J T Kenney 5 15-13 1 5- 4 3 7- 5 9 28- 6
7 Kyle A. Fox 3 15- 6 5 8- 1 2 4-11 10 28- 2
8 Russ Lane 5 14- 6 2 2-10 3 9- 1 10 26- 1
9 Adam Brown 5 9-15 5 6- 9 5 8- 8 15 25- 0
10 Greg Vinson 3 7-10 5 11- 2 5 6- 4 13 25- 0
11 Mark Shepard 4 6- 0 5 7- 4 5 11- 4 14 24- 8
12 Jason Knapp 5 9- 5 5 6- 5 4 8-13 14 24- 7
13 Ott Defoe 5 6- 4 5 6-15 5 10- 0 15 23- 3
14 Derek Remitz 5 10- 7 4 7- 5 2 3-10 11 21- 6
15 Andy Montgomery 4 11-11 3 4-12 2 4- 0 9 20- 7
16 Davy Hite 2 7- 8 5 6-12 4 5-14 11 20- 2
17 David Kilgore 4 13-12 0 0- 0 3 6- 4 7 20- 0
18 Rich Patterson 2 2-12 5 9- 8 5 6-15 12 19- 3
19 Brad Staley 3 5-14 2 8-10 3 4- 8 8 19- 0
20 Shinichi Fukae 5 6- 4 4 9- 0 2 3-10 11 18-14
21 Aaron Martens 2 3- 6 3 9- 1 3 6- 1 8 18- 8
22 Luke Gritter 0 0- 0 5 13- 8 1 4-12 6 18- 4
23 Jimmie Murphy 3 5- 8 5 12- 0 0 0- 0 8 17- 8
24 Trevor Fitzgerald 2 6- 0 5 7- 3 3 3-12 10 16-15
25 Chad Morgenthaler 2 11-13 1 2- 5 2 2- 3 5 16- 5
26 Ben Todd 1 4-11 5 7- 8 3 4- 0 9 16- 3
27 Terry Segraves 0 0- 0 5 12- 5 3 3-10 8 15-15
28 Alan Rae 1 0-15 5 13- 3 1 1-13 7 15-15
29 Andy Chappell 4 6- 2 3 8-15 0 0- 0 7 15- 1
30 Steve Fairtrace 3 4- 9 5 8- 5 1 1- 9 9 14- 7
31 Ron Klys 4 7- 2 4 5- 0     8 12- 2
32 Scott Martin 5 7-15 2 4- 3     7 12- 2
33 Matt Peters 5 8- 2 3 3-14     8 12- 0
34 Justin Schwier 3 4- 1 5 7- 6     8 11- 7
35 Chris Payne 3 7-10 3 3-13     6 11- 7
36 Michael Bennett 3 8- 3 2 3- 4     5 11- 7
37 Keith Pace 0 0- 0 4 11- 7     4 11- 7
38 Darrell Davis 1 1- 7 5 9-14     6 11- 5
39 Bink Desaro 3 5- 4 4 6- 0     7 11- 4
40 Eric Nethery 2 9- 4 1 1-15     3 11- 3
41 Jason Williamson 2 3-10 4 7- 8     6 11- 2
42 Jimmy Mason 2 6-10 4 4- 8     6 11- 2
43 Patrick Pierce 2 3-14 3 7- 2     5 11- 0
44 Tom Hamlin 5 8-11 1 2- 4     6 10-15
45 Bryan Watts 0 0- 0 5 10-12     5 10-12
46 Stephen Johnston 1 1-12 5 8-13     6 10- 9
47 Justin Hamner 3 5- 3 2 5- 2     5 10- 5
48 Sean Skey 2 3-15 2 6- 6     4 10- 5
49 Jimmy Mize 5 9- 2 1 1- 2     6 10- 4
50 Josh Guess 2 2- 3 4 8- 1     6 10- 4
51 Ben Quisno 1 2- 5 4 7-13     5 10- 2
52 Brandon Coulter 2 2-10 5 7- 7     7 10- 1
53 James R Anderson II 1 10- 1 0 0- 0     1 10- 1
54 Kyle Walling 3 5-10 2 4- 6     5 10- 0
55 Tony Chachere 2 4- 7 2 5- 4     4 9-11
56 Mark Stewart 1 4- 5 1 5- 6     2 9-11
57 George Crain 3 7- 9 1 2- 0     4 9- 9
58 Harry Moore 1 1- 1 5 8- 3     6 9- 4
59 Bernie Schultz 0 0- 0 5 9- 4     5 9- 4
60 Greg Pugh 4 5- 2 3 3-15     7 9- 1
61 Jonathon Vandam 1 2- 4 3 6- 8     4 8-12
62 Sandy Melvin 1 1- 0 5 7-10     6 8-10
63 Koby Kreiger 0 0- 0 5 8-10     5 8-10
64 David Cooke 4 6-15 1 1- 9     5 8- 8
65 Clark Smith 2 2- 8 3 5-14     5 8- 6
66 Scott Kerslake 2 8- 6 0 0- 0     2 8- 6
67 John Brazzell 1 1-10 5 6- 9     6 8- 3
68 Allan Glasgow 3 6- 0 1 2- 2     4 8- 2
69 Steve Daniel 5 5-10 1 2- 4     6 7-14
70 Derek Allen 3 5- 9 2 2- 5     5 7-14
71 Arnie Lane 4 7-13 0 0- 0     4 7-13
72 Gary Clouse 3 4-10 1 3- 3     4 7-13
73 Joe Clements 0 0- 0 5 7-10     5 7-10
74 Jim Turner 4 6- 3 1 1- 4     5 7- 7
75 Scott Canterbury 2 3- 2 3 4- 5     5 7- 7
76 Foster Bradley 3 4-10 1 2-12     4 7- 6
77 David Kelly 1 1-13 3 5- 6     4 7- 3
78 Lon Fleming 1 1- 1 5 6- 1     6 7- 2
79 Byron Haseotes 5 7- 0 0 0- 0     5 7- 0
80 Luke Clausen 1 1- 4 4 5-10     5 6-14
81 Keith Poche 2 4- 8 2 2- 5     4 6-13
82 James Tunder 4 6-12 0 0- 0     4 6-12
83 Ben Carroll 0 0- 0 5 6- 6     5 6- 6
84 JT Palmore 3 4- 1 2 2- 4     5 6- 5
85 David Walker 2 3-12 1 2- 9     3 6- 5
86 Tom Spangler 1 2- 3 3 4- 1     4 6- 4
87 Fred Chivington 3 6- 4 0 0- 0     3 6- 4
88 Tom Frink 2 2- 2 2 4- 1     4 6- 3
89 J Todd Tucker 1 2- 6 3 3-10     4 6- 0
90 Allen Duke 0 0- 0 5 5-15     5 5-15
91 Derek Jones 3 3- 1 2 2-14     5 5-15
92 Jim Hardy 3 3-11 1 2- 4     4 5-15
93 Todd Auten 3 5-15 0 0- 0     3 5-15
94 David Burch 3 3- 9 2 2- 3     5 5-12
95 Ron Wolfarth 0 0- 0 3 5-12     3 5-12
96 Curtis Lewis 0 0- 0 4 5-11     4 5-11
97 Mark McCaig 2 3- 6 2 2- 4     4 5-10
98 Luke Estel 3 4- 6 1 1- 3     4 5- 9
99 Chad Prough 3 5- 9 0 0- 0     3 5- 9
100 Jason Lieblong 2 5- 8 0 0- 0     2 5- 8
101 Scott Mcgehee 1 1- 1 2 4- 6     3 5- 7
102 Jeff Campbell 3 5- 6 0 0- 0     3 5- 6
103 Frank Jordan JR 1 1- 9 2 3-12     3 5- 5
104 John Johnson 0 0- 0 1 5- 4     1 5- 4
105 Tyrone Cypress 0 0- 0 1 5- 2     1 5- 2
106 Dane Odom 1 1- 3 3 3-12     4 4-15
107 Cecil Douberly 1 2-12 2 2- 3     3 4-15
108 Tony Sapp 2 4-11 0 0- 0     2 4-11
109 Kyle Kempkers 1 2- 8 1 2- 1     2 4- 9
110 Robbie Latuso 2 3- 0 1 1- 2     3 4- 2
111 Bradley Enfinger 1 1-11 2 2- 5     3 4- 0
112 Brian Rufty 2 4- 0 0 0- 0     2 4- 0
113 Raymond Trudeau 1 1-11 2 2- 4     3 3-15
114 Bobby Purvis 0 0- 0 3 3-14     3 3-14
115 Robert Miley 2 3-14 0 0- 0     2 3-14
116 Landon Lomax 0 0- 0 2 3-13     2 3-13
117 Robert Comalander 3 3-12 0 0- 0     3 3-12
118 Marcos Malucelli 0 0- 0 2 3-12     2 3-12
119 Larry Rollings 2 3-11 0 0- 0     2 3-11
120 Chris Barnett 1 1- 2 2 2- 7     3 3- 9
121 Bob Eagleston 3 3- 7 0 0- 0     3 3- 7
122 Hojin Chang 1 0-15 1 2- 6     2 3- 5
123 Jeremy Prouty 1 1- 8 2 1-12     3 3- 4
124 Blake Foret 1 1- 1 1 2- 3     2 3- 4
125 Rex Chambers 0 0- 0 2 3- 2     2 3- 2
126 Wayne Clifton 2 2-15 0 0- 0     2 2-15
126 Frank Ippoliti 2 2-15 0 0- 0     2 2-15
128 Jelani Hennessey 1 1-13 1 1- 2     2 2-15
129 John Emery 1 1-11 1 1- 3     2 2-14
130 Dwayne Reine 0 0- 0 2 2-12     2 2-12
131 Billy Mcdonald 0 0- 0 2 2-11     2 2-11
132 Steven Wisdom 0 0- 0 2 2-10     2 2-10
133 Brett Mitchell 1 2-10 0 0- 0     1 2-10
134 Craig Taylor 1 1- 3 1 1- 6     2 2- 9
135 Wil Hardy 1 1- 1 1 1- 7     2 2- 8
136 Charlie Hill 1 2- 7 0 0- 0     1 2- 7
137 Tim Ezell 2 2- 6 0 0- 0     2 2- 6
138 Shawn Strader 1 2- 5 0 0- 0     1 2- 5
139 Paul Kimball 0 0- 0 2 2- 4     2 2- 4
139 Ray Brazier 0 0- 0 2 2- 4     2 2- 4
141 Charlie Hartley 0 0- 0 2 2- 3     2 2- 3
142 Chris Neely 1 2- 2 0 0- 0     1 2- 2
143 Cliff Prince 0 0- 0 2 2- 0     2 2- 0
144 Heath Smith 0 0- 0 1 1-14     1 1-14
145 Brent Crow 0 0- 0 1 1-13     1 1-13
145 Bruce Bingenheimer 1 1-13 0 0- 0     1 1-13
147 Jeffrey Prisza 0 0- 0 1 1-12     1 1-12
148 Danny White 0 0- 0 1 1-11     1 1-11
149 Mark Peiser 1 1-10 0 0- 0     1 1-10
149 Michael Willis 1 1-10 0 0- 0     1 1-10
151 Ronnie Getz 0 0- 0 1 1- 7     1 1- 7
152 Jimmy Hayes 0 0- 0 1 1- 6     1 1- 6
152 Michael Prindle 0 0- 0 1 1- 6     1 1- 6
154 Wade Leblanc 1 1- 5 0 0- 0     1 1- 5
154 Charles Graybeal 1 1- 5 0 0- 0     1 1- 5
154 Paul Pagnato 0 0- 0 1 1- 5     1 1- 5
157 Jerry Gore 0 0- 0 1 1- 4     1 1- 4
158 Felton Jackson 1 1- 3 0 0- 0     1 1- 3
158 Kevin Pulsifer 1 1- 3 0 0- 0     1 1- 3
158 Loran Cogburn 0 0- 0 1 1- 3     1 1- 3
161 Pam Martin-Wells 1 1- 2 0 0- 0     1 1- 2
161 Jeremy York 1 1- 2 0 0- 0     1 1- 2
163 Jeff Cloud 1 1- 1 0 0- 0     1 1- 1
164 Wayne Prater 1 0-15 0 0- 0     1 0-15
164 Harry Potts 0 0- 0 1 0-15     1 0-15
164 Brian Hatfield 1 0-15 0 0- 0     1 0-15
167 Bob Bennett 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Teb Jones 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Jimmy D Kennedy 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Sammy Burks 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 James Butler 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Andre Moore 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Curtis A Reeves 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Richard Stevens 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Jeff Stoner 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Lee Boutwell 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Brad Pegram 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Horace Hubbard 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Matt Hupp 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Nate Wellman 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Lindsey Page 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Jeff Shelton 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Stanley Gunter 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 John Cromwell 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Tony Haymon 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Johnny Patterson 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Chris Anderson 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Trevor Knight 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Ken Callahan 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Lee Sisson 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Michael Randolph 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Scott Wiley 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Michael Reid 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Ronald Ryals 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Carroll Blevins 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Greg Watts 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Jack Mumbower 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Nick Mumbower 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0
167 Garry Rogers 0 0- 0 0 0- 0     0 0- 0

 

 
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