By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

If Jordan Thompkins hadn't made a single cast after day 1 of the recent Southern Toyota Series event at Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes, he still would've finished in 11th place in the three-day derby. That's how dominant his opening-day performance was.

Thompkins, 19, became the fourth angler to win a Toyota Series event prior to his 20th birthday. His 65-00 total left him 12 1/2 pounds clear of the field.

The son of former FLW Tour competitor Timmy Thompkins was in firm control of the tournament after weighing a 31-06 stringer on day 1 and waltzed to victory with 33-10 combined on the ensuing two days. His opening-round haul was more than 10 pounds heavier than any other bag caught during the event.

Just the prior week on the same venue, he'd finished 187th in a 220-angler Bassmaster Southern Open.

"It was mostly a revenge thing," he said. "It was tough to start the year off like that."

Nothing Under 5

Thompkins said he found a handful or areas that were holding decent fish in practice. He was confident that if he could get on his preferred spot, a 20-yard shell bed adjacent to some grass in the canal that connects lakes Dora and Beauclair, he could catch a hefty bag.

He did that in spades. His first-day stringer contained two fish in the 8-pound class, a 6 1/2, a 5 1/2 and a 5. He'd caught them all by 10 o'clock.

"I had a hunch that it could happen, but when it actually happened I was kind of shocked," he said. "That was by far the biggest bag I've ever caught in a tournament. I culled out a 4 1/2-pounder twice."

He used his Garmin Panoptix LiveScope unit to assess how the fish (numbering between 10 and 20) were oriented on the shell bar. A Rapala DT 10 in the parrot color was his primary offering.

"When I saw that they were set up properly, I could crank right through them," he said.

He had a secondary area very close by that featured bluegill beds. It also held a good number of fish, but they weren't quite as big.

In addition to the crankbait, he caught weigh-in fish on a jerkbait and a bladed jig. The jerkbait would produce a quick limit each morning, which allowed him to spend the rest of the day pursuing bigger specimens.

Winning Gear Notes

> Cranking gear: 7'6" medium-heavy Dobyns Cranking Series rod, Shimano Chronarch casting reel (7.6:1 ratio), 12-pound P-Line Blue Label fluorocarbon line, Rapala DT 10 (parrot).

> Jerkbait gear: 6'6" medium-action Bass Pro Shops rod (out of production), same reel and line (15-pound), Megabass Vision 110 (gill).

> Bladed jig gear: 7'5" medium-heavy G. Loomis rod, same reel and line (20-pound), 3/4-ounce Z-Man Evergreen ChatterBait JackHammer (white), Z-Man Jerk ShadZ trailer (white).

Notable

> Thompkins will compete in both the Southern and Northern Divisions of the Toyota Series and Bassmaster Opens this year.

> When he's at home, he works for his father's equipment rental business.



Final Standings

1. Jordan Thompkins -- 31-06 (5) -- 15-07 (5) -- 18-03 (5) -- 65-00 (15) -- $40,000

2. Willy Dennison -- 12-10 (5) -- 19-14 (5) -- 20-00 (5) -- 52-08 (15) -- $15,500

3. Steven Eastman -- 18-04 (5) -- 15-00 (5) -- 16-13 (5) -- 50-01 (15) -- $12,000

4. Michael Conley -- 17-04 (5) -- 15-12 (5) -- 15-01 (5) -- 48-01 (15) -- $10,000

5. Jeffrey Harper -- 17-10 (5) -- 17-15 (5) -- 10-15 (5) -- 46-08 (15) -- $9,000

6. Destin Lesesne -- 13-08 (5) -- 18-09 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 45-05 (15) -- $8,000

7. Lance Oligschlaeger -- 16-12 (5) -- 15-08 (5) -- 10-04 (4) -- 42-08 (14) -- $7,000

8. Nathan Thomas -- 17-06 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 8-07 (4) -- 40-12 (14) -- $6,000

9. Jacob Walker -- 16-00 (5) -- 16-13 (5) -- 6-13 (4) -- 39-10 (14) -- $5,000

10. Christian Greico -- 20-03 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 5-09 (3) -- 39-04 (13) -- $4,150

The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 3.

11. Dakota Ebare -- 15-12 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 31-11 (10) -- $4,750

12. Joshua Weaver -- 12-12 (5) -- 18-09 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 31-05 (10) -- $3,500

13. Jonathan Semento -- 16-04 (5) -- 14-08 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 30-12 (10) -- $3,000

14. Keith Poche -- 16-01 (5) -- 14-06 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 30-07 (10) -- $3,500

15. Billy Carroll -- 10-00 (5) -- 20-03 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 30-03 (10) -- $3,000

16. Stephen Albertson -- 15-05 (5) -- 14-13 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 30-02 (10) -- $3,000

17. Keith Pace -- 10-06 (5) -- 19-05 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 29-11 (10) -- $3,000

18. Robert Crosnoe -- 11-07 (5) -- 17-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 29-02 (10) -- $3,000

19. Clint Brown -- 13-11 (5) -- 15-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 29-02 (10) -- $3,000

20. Bryce Goff -- 13-10 (5) -- 15-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 29-01 (10) -- $3,000

21. Patrick Fisher -- 9-04 (5) -- 19-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 28-14 (10) -- $2,900

22. Timothy van Dalen -- 10-09 (5) -- 18-01 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 28-10 (10) -- $2,750

23. Terry Luedtke -- 19-08 (5) -- 8-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 28-02 (10) -- $2,750

24. Cole Hewett -- 10-09 (5) -- 17-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 28-00 (10) -- $2,750

25. Logan Waites -- 12-09 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 27-11 (10) -- $2,750

26. Frank Kitchens III -- 12-09 (5) -- 14-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 27-04 (10) -- $2,500

27. Tyler Woolcott -- 15-05 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 26-15 (10) -- $2,500

28. Nolan Gaskin -- 15-10 (5) -- 11-01 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 26-11 (10) -- $2,500

29. Kyle Walters -- 16-12 (5) -- 9-11 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 26-07 (8) -- $2,500

30. Chance Woodard -- 15-02 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 26-06 (10) -- $2,500

31. John Kremer -- 12-05 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 25-15 (10) -- $2,000

32. Rick Taylor -- 14-01 (5) -- 11-01 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 25-02 (10) -- $2,000

33. Austin Schroeder -- 13-03 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-14 (10) -- $2,000

34. Bailey Boutries -- 15-11 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-11 (10) -- $2,000

35. Mike H Davis -- 10-15 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-10 (10) -- $2,000

36. David Dimauro -- 7-09 (4) -- 16-14 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-07 (9) -- $2,000

37. Bradley Dortch -- 10-03 (3) -- 14-02 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-05 (8) -- $2,000

38. Anthony Ford -- 8-09 (4) -- 15-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-04 (9) -- $2,000

39. Matt Baty -- 9-13 (5) -- 14-06 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-03 (10) -- $2,000

40. Laramy Strickland -- 12-11 (5) -- 11-08 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-03 (10) -- $2,000

41. Austin Baskette -- 10-00 (5) -- 14-01 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 24-01 (10)

42. Joey Cifuentes -- 10-03 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 23-07 (10)

43. Tim Reneau -- 12-00 (5) -- 10-14 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-14 (10)

44. Mason Boylan -- 12-10 (5) -- 10-03 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-13 (10)

45. Chris Hensley -- 12-08 (5) -- 10-05 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-13 (10)

46. Elijah Hughey -- 10-14 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-13 (10)

47. Kyle Gelles -- 11-05 (5) -- 11-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-12 (10)

48. Chad Mrazek -- 15-02 (5) -- 7-08 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-10 (9)

49. Val Osinski -- 11-05 (5) -- 11-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-05 (10)

50. Peter Thliveros -- 13-00 (5) -- 9-02 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-02 (10)

51. Scott Kirsch -- 8-12 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 22-00 (10)

52. Jeffrey Worthy Jr -- 7-08 (2) -- 13-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 21-02 (7)

53. Keith Carson -- 10-09 (5) -- 10-09 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 21-02 (10)

54. Thomas Oltorik -- 8-15 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 20-11 (10)

55. Terry Segraves -- 9-11 (5) -- 11-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 20-11 (10)

56. Brandon Medlock -- 15-14 (4) -- 4-09 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 20-07 (7)

57. Phil Cury -- 11-13 (5) -- 8-08 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 20-05 (10)

58. Carson Orellana -- 7-13 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-12 (10)

59. Samuel Whitmire -- 6-06 (5) -- 13-02 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-08 (10)

60. Kip Carter -- 7-13 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-07 (10)

61. Justin Marbut -- 11-15 (5) -- 7-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-06 (10)

62. Dennis Redd -- 8-06 (5) -- 10-12 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-02 (10)

63. James McLees -- 4-07 (2) -- 14-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-01 (7)

64. Brad Stalnaker -- 11-00 (5) -- 8-01 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-01 (8)

65. Warren Forsythe -- 7-05 (4) -- 11-11 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-00 (7)

66. Jimmy Reese -- 8-09 (5) -- 10-05 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 18-14 (10)

67. Kennie Steverson -- 9-14 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 18-14 (10)

68. Eric Panzironi -- 13-06 (5) -- 5-07 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 18-13 (9)

69. Chad Schroeder -- 12-03 (5) -- 6-10 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 18-13 (8)

70. Brad Tillman -- 11-01 (5) -- 7-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 18-12 (10)

71. Rich Howes -- 8-13 (5) -- 9-13 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 18-10 (10)

72. Robert Terkla -- 10-01 (5) -- 7-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 17-12 (10)

73. Neil Nix -- 7-08 (5) -- 10-02 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 17-10 (10)

74. Tim Frederick -- 13-02 (5) -- 4-04 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 17-06 (8)

75. Bill Day -- 6-15 (5) -- 10-03 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 17-02 (10)

76. Ray Hashimoto -- 3-03 (2) -- 13-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-14 (7)

77. Jared McMillan -- 11-08 (5) -- 5-03 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-11 (7)

78. Craig Cavanna -- 6-04 (5) -- 10-04 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-08 (10)

79. Michael Catt -- 8-03 (5) -- 8-02 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-05 (10)

80. John Riddling -- 8-12 (5) -- 7-08 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-04 (10)

81. Joshua Rockefeller -- 7-01 (3) -- 8-15 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-00 (5)

82. Nick Kefalides -- 9-03 (5) -- 6-12 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-15 (9)

83. Mark Knight -- 5-03 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-14 (10)

84. Tony Dumitras -- 8-03 (5) -- 7-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-13 (10)

85. Austin Bell -- 6-03 (3) -- 9-06 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-09 (7)

86. Darrell Davis -- 10-08 (5) -- 5-00 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-08 (8)

87. Rick Couch Jr -- 7-06 (5) -- 8-01 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-07 (9)

88. Douglas Sauls -- 7-09 (5) -- 7-13 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-06 (10)

89. Tommy Dickerson -- 7-04 (4) -- 8-01 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-05 (8)

90. Neal Ramsey -- 7-12 (5) -- 7-09 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-05 (10)

91. Harry Moore -- 9-03 (3) -- 6-00 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-03 (5)

92. Scott Byrd -- 3-09 (2) -- 11-08 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-01 (7)

93. Bobby Bakewell -- 10-10 (5) -- 4-06 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-00 (7)

94. Laker Howell -- 7-06 (4) -- 7-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-00 (9)

95. Tony Couch -- 7-01 (5) -- 7-14 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 14-15 (10)

96. Aaron Richardson -- 9-09 (5) -- 5-00 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 14-09 (7)

97. Dustin Smith -- 13-04 (5) -- 1-01 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 14-05 (6)

98. Ethan Greene Tracy -- 8-02 (5) -- 6-02 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 14-04 (9)

99. John Dial -- 3-03 (1) -- 10-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 13-13 (6)

100. Lance Pemble -- 12-01 (5) -- 1-10 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 13-11 (6)

101. Paul Vanzant -- 3-12 (3) -- 9-12 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 13-08 (8)

102. Eric Johnson -- 4-13 (4) -- 8-11 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 13-08 (8)

103. Cole Drummond -- 7-15 (5) -- 5-09 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 13-08 (10)

104. Darryl Halbert -- 7-10 (5) -- 5-13 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 13-07 (9)

105. Mikey Keyso -- 9-14 (5) -- 3-06 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 13-04 (6)

106. Eric Lewis -- 2-07 (1) -- 10-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 12-14 (6)

107. Jae Evans -- 4-05 (2) -- 8-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 12-12 (7)

108. Preston Clark -- 8-10 (5) -- 3-09 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 12-03 (7)

109. Jeffrey Mathews -- 2-14 (1) -- 9-04 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 12-02 (6)

110. Joey Thigpen -- 4-05 (3) -- 7-13 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 12-02 (8)

111. Hermilo Salgado -- 3-09 (2) -- 8-08 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 12-01 (4)

112. Todd Spindler -- 7-07 (5) -- 4-05 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-12 (8)

113. Robert Nakatomi -- 6-08 (4) -- 5-03 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-11 (7)

114. John Hauserman -- 5-14 (3) -- 5-11 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-09 (7)

115. Scott Wiley -- 6-03 (4) -- 5-05 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-08 (7)

116. Michael Hall -- 7-15 (4) -- 3-08 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-07 (6)

117. Zak Fadden -- 4-05 (2) -- 7-01 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-06 (4)

118. Cole Harris -- 4-15 (4) -- 6-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-06 (9)

119. Kenneth Harris -- 2-08 (1) -- 8-13 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-05 (6)

120. Matt Gee -- 3-00 (2) -- 8-04 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-04 (7)

121. Mitchell Liss -- 7-00 (4) -- 4-03 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-03 (7)

122. Ken Sharpless -- 10-12 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-12 (5)

123. Jason Tibbetts -- 6-11 (5) -- 4-00 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-11 (8)

124. Wayne Murray -- 6-06 (4) -- 4-05 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-11 (8)

125. Charlie Saucier -- 5-15 (4) -- 4-09 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-08 (7)

126. Greg Buckner -- 4-11 (3) -- 5-11 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-06 (7)

127. Kyle Glasgow -- 7-03 (4) -- 2-13 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-00 (6)

128. Ryan Koehn-Lofts -- 6-08 (5) -- 3-06 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 9-14 (7)

129. Austin Archer -- 3-11 (2) -- 6-03 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 9-14 (7)

130. Kacy Mims -- 6-12 (2) -- 3-01 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 9-13 (5)

131. Jeffrey Worth -- 9-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 9-10 (5)

132. Chris Heath -- 9-09 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 9-09 (5)

133. Reid Heard -- 7-00 (3) -- 2-08 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 9-08 (5)

134. Trent Pardue -- 4-13 (4) -- 4-09 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 9-06 (7)

135. Brandon Classon Sr -- 9-04 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 9-04 (5)

136. Carl Ackerman -- 8-15 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-15 (4)

137. Danny White -- 2-11 (2) -- 5-15 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-10 (7)

138. Dillon McMillan -- 3-05 (2) -- 5-03 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-08 (6)

139. Jai Hunter -- 8-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-07 (5)

140. Timothy Minton -- 3-13 (2) -- 4-10 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-07 (4)

141. Scott Lindstam -- 3-00 (5) -- 5-06 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-06 (6)

142. Gary Malkin -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-05 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-05 (5)

143. Dennis Cameron -- 4-12 (4) -- 3-09 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-05 (6)

144. Eric Conant -- 4-07 (3) -- 3-10 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-01 (5)

145. Steven Hatala -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-00 (5)

146. Steve Young -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-14 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-14 (3)

147. Andrew Holman -- 7-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-11 (5)

148. Raymond Rupp -- 4-09 (3) -- 3-01 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-10 (5)

149. Jason Cheek -- 5-12 (2) -- 1-13 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-09 (3)

150. Nick Thliveros -- 5-15 (4) -- 1-08 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-07 (5)

151. Henry Montgomery -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-04 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-04 (4)

152. Greg Bartz -- 7-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-00 (5)

153. Richard Newberry -- 6-14 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-14 (3)

154. Royce Railey -- 1-05 (1) -- 5-09 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-14 (5)

155. Phillip Brannon -- 6-01 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-01 (2)

156. David Sheffield -- 5-06 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 5-06 (5)

157. Trevor Fitzgerald -- 1-03 (1) -- 3-14 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 5-01 (5)

158. Bob Knoerzer -- 1-11 (1) -- 1-07 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 3-02 (2)

159. Dennis French -- 2-13 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 2-13 (2)

160. Michael Johns -- 0-00 (0) -- 1-10 (1) -- 0-00 (0) -- 1-10 (3)

161. Willy Hicks -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0) -- 0-00 (0)