Derek Fulps of Broken Arrow, Okla., weighed in three bass totaling 11-12 on Saturday to win the Costa FLW Series Southwestern Division finale on Fort Gibson Lake with a 3-day total of 45-05. For his win, Fulps took home $78,500, including a new Ranger Z518 with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
“On Thursday I started in the back of a feeder creek on the upper end of the lake and caught four keepers,” said Fulps, who earned his first career win in FLW competition. “I pitched and flipped a green-pumpkin-candy Gene Larew Hoodaddy to isolated wood and stumps, and casted a Hoodaddy Jr. that was the same color.
“Around 11 a.m., I headed to my sweet spot that I had found in practice,” Fulps continued. “It was a large submerged log that I came across after backing off the bank in the flat side of the river. I used the smaller lure – the Hoodaddy Jr. Downsizing my bait was the most important adjustment of the tournament for me.”
Fulps said he returned to the hole on day 2 and was able to piece together a limit fairly quick with the Hoodaddy Jr.
“I caught seven keepers and then left the area alone,” said Fulps. “Letting the fish replenish was crucial. It helped me get the win.”
On the final day of the event, Fulps said the morning bite was tough at his honey hole, so he returned to the feeder creek from Thursday. After a while he decided to give his sweet spot one more chance.
“I went back to the log and caught one that was nearly 6 pounds on the Hoodaddy Jr.,” said Fulps. “It was the biggest bass I caught all week. Without it, I wouldn’t have won.”
Here are the totals for the 10 anglers who advanced to the final day:
1. Derek Fulps: 45-05
2. Kyle Cortiana: 43-04
3. Brandon Mosley: 42-01
4. Jim Tutt: 41-10
5. Zack Birge: 41-03
6. Brett Brumnett: 40-15
7. Brian Potter: 37-14
8. Jeff Sprague: 34-11
9. Chad Warren: 30-09
10. Jeff Dobson: 30-01
