St. Clair Producing Big, Vatalaro Leads With 21-11

Bass pros are notorious for poor-mouthing about their practice period. And in typical fashion, all the competitors BassFan talked to for our scouting report were singing the blues about how much slower the bite has been at this year's FLW Tour stop at the Detroit River compared to last.

Either the fish turned on overnight or this is just another classic example of competitive bass anglers always seeing the glass half-empty. Because all it takes is a quick glance at the day 1 standings to realize that the bronzebacks are biting - big time.

Only two bags topping the 20-pound mark crossed the scales on day 1 of last year's Detroit River derby. Eleven limits of that caliber were weighed in today. The current Top 10 cut is set at 20-04, compared to just 18-14 after the first day in 2007.

St. Clair slugger Vic Vatalaro brought in one of only three limits topping the 21-pound mark. His 21-11 bag of brown fish has him sitting a slim 2 ounces in front of local lurker Bryan Coates, who managed 21-09.

The third 21-plus-pound sack belongs to David McCrone, another heavy-hitting local who joined the field just for this event.

Breaking up the local stronghold is Texan Mike Hawkes with 20-12. And rounding out the Top 5 are St. Clair producer Terry Baksay and FLW Tour rookie Greg Vinson tied with 20-10.

Below is a look at the current Top 20. The field cuts to the Top 10 tomorrow. For the 11th- through 20th-place pros, distance behind the cut is noted in red.

1. Vic Vatalaro: 21-11
2. Bryan Coates: 21-09
3. David McCrone: 21-06
4. Mike Hawkes: 20-12
5. Terry Baksay: 20-10
5. Greg Vinson: 20-10
7. Tim McDonald: 20-09
8. Michael Bennett: 20-08
9. Kim Stricker: 20-05
10. Alvin Shaw: 20-04
11. John Devries: 20-00 (0-04)
12. Joel Richardson: 19-15 (0-05)
13. Dave Lefebre: 19-11 (0-09)
14. Keith Monson: 19-09 (0-11)
15. Jacob Powroznik: 19-07 (0-13)
16. Tom Mann Jr.: 19-06 (0-14)
17. Chip Harrison: 19-01 (1-03)
18. Steve Clapper: 18-12 (1-08)
19. Josh Meyers: 18-11 (1-09)
20. Eric Ambort: 18-08 (1-12)

The tried-and-true dropshot and tube rigs accounted for a lot of fish today, but several pros reported catching fish on jerkbaits, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and swimbaits. This is certainly not shaping up to be an event that has to be approached vertically - which is usually the case on these waters at this time of year - although many pros are opting to go that route.

Winds stayed low today, which should've made things easy on the Erie crowd. But surprisingly, most of the high finishers BassFan spoke with were working concentrations of above-average smallmouths in St. Clair.

Based on reports at least half the field, and maybe more, is sticking to St. Clair. It'll be interesting to see if the much smaller lake can continue to produce big bags under that kind of pressure, or if anglers fishing Erie will ultimately overtake the St. Clair sprinters with slow and steady consistency.

The other side story is the hunt for the Angler of the Year (AOY) title. It's been well documented that Andy Morgan only needed to notch a finish of 22nd place or higher to seal the deal over Glenn Browne. But Morgan and Browne both struggled mightily today, landing in 175th and 190th place, respectively. That left the door open for Bryan Thrift and Luke Clausen, who are now atop what appears to be a two-man race heading into the second quarter of this event.

If the tournament had wrapped up today, Thrift would claim the title with 1037 points. Clausen's right on his heels with 1021. And David Dudley would take a distant third with 974.

Morgan and Browne need to make giant leaps upward tomorrow in order to make things interesting, but coming down to the wire, it looks like it'll be Thrift and Clausen who'll dual it out on day 2.

Vatalaro Stroked 'Em in St. Clair

Ohio pro Vic Vatalaro knew his best chance at scoring a Top-10 finish this year would be at this event, and he's capitalizing on his extensive knowledge of the fishery to make it happen. But he's a little surprised to see the number of heavy sacks that hit the scales on day 1.

"In practice I went to all my best spots on Erie where I can usually catch 20 pounds and I just didn't find (the fish)," Vatalaro said. "That made me think the weights would be down overall, but evidently the weight is still there, it's just that the fish aren't in their usual spots."

His practice led him to believe that the area he's fishing was "the kind of spot that will just get you through to the (Forrest Wood Cup) championship," but it turned out to be worth a whole lot more.

"I had no idea these kind of fish were out there," he said. "I caught some good fish on this spot in practice, but I didn't think it would give up that kind of limit. It's absolutely loaded with fish. I actually quit about noon today and just went looking."

He said he only needed to cull through about ten smallmouths before coming up with his 1st-place limit, and he feels his area has good potential to keep him near the top for the next 3 days.

"It's definitely the kind of spot I think I can make the Top 10 with. That's what I'm thinking about right now. Once I do that we'll work from there."

He's sticking to St. Clair, and believes the fish he's catching have already completed their summer transition to deeper water. "I'm pretty sure this is where these fish spend the summer. I'm fishing 18 to 20 feet, and that's pretty deep for St. Clair.

"My area is pretty big," he added. "It's a big flat with some good looking weeds on it. All I'm looking for is just little bare spots in the weeds. I'll be looking at my depth finder and come to a sandy spot with a couple arches on it and that's where they are."

He's using a one-two punch of a dropshot and a tube to fill his livewell. He noted that the fish haven't preferred the tube much in recent years, but have started picking it up again recently.

"I can't explain it. For years we weren't getting bit on tubes, but now they're eating it big time. When they eat it, it's way back in their throat. It's weird, and I don't understand why all the sudden they're eating that tube again. But if that's what they want, that's what I'm going to throw."

5th: Baksay Befuddled

You'd think Terry Baksay would be pleased with a Top 5 start, but he was convinced his area was capable of a whole lot more. In spite of tanking over 20 pounds of fish, he described his day on the water as "not very good.

"I know people don't want to hear that, but I feel like my weight is a little deceiving," Baksay said. "I had three great big ones and I had two 3-pounders. I'd feel better if it was a sack full of 4-pounders.

"I went 3 or 4 hours without a bite today. I caught my three big ones first thing this morning and then it just went down from there. I'm not unhappy with my day, but I think I could've done a lot better."

To put in perspective the kind of days he's been having, Baksay noted that his 16-year-old son was smashing smallies in St. Clair with him on the first day of practice.

"He was catching them left and right, and that's the kind of days that make today feel like it wasn't that great," he said. "I really don't know what happened to my fish. They've been there every time I've checked on them.

"Something just didn't feel right today," he added. "I don't know if that makes any sense, but it just felt like those fish weren't doing what they needed to be doing."

Baksay jerkbaited his way to a Top-5 finish here last year, and he made use of that bait, along with a tube, dropshot and swimbait to snatch his limit today.

About whether he thinks his spot will live up to his expectations tomorrow, he said: "I can catch the fish there. It's just a matter of me getting in there and concentrating on what I need to be doing. If I can find a way to catch five big ones tomorrow and cull those little 3-pounders, I'll be in good shape."

5th (tie): Vinson Surprised

Alabama pro Greg Vinson has put together a decent first year on the FLW Tour. He's currently ranked 66th in the Tour standings and his highest finish was a 44th-place showing at Ft. Loudoun-Tellico. But it's pretty safe to say that Vinson wasn't exactly a lock-down pick to show up big in this event. He shocked the pundits and himself today when he plopped his 20-10 limit on the scales.

"I was really pleasantly surprised when I got to my first area this morning," he said. "I didn't spend a whole lot of time at this spot during practice, so I didn't really know what was in it.

"The fish in my other areas just seemed like they were moving around too much, so I checked this spot first thing this morning and caught four of my big fish first thing."

His bite fizzled as the sun climbed higher, and he said he's not sure if it's because the fish are biting better early, or if they're just moving around throughout the day.

"I'll be checking on that first thing in the morning, and I'm going to try and stay on them throughout the day tomorrow," he said. "I'll learn a lot about that spot tomorrow. If it's just a morning thing then I have some other stuff I think I can go to."

He noted that he's staying in St. Clair and that he's "fishing the dropshot almost exclusively."

About whether or not he believes his area can sustain him for the next 3 days, he said: "I think it's that kind of spot. I had it all to myself today, but we'll see what happens tomorrow.

"I'm not going to save anything," he added. "I came into this tournament with the goal to make the championship. If I can do that I'll be happy. Anything else is icing on the cake."

8th: Bennett Expected More

Berkley pro Michael Bennett said he's "very happy" with how his day went, but like Baksay, he was expecting a little more weight from his spot.

"The fish I caught today weighed more than I thought they would, but the fish I caught in practice were a lot heavier than those," Bennett said. "The numbers were definitely tougher than I expected. I probably had ten keepers and ten or twelve short fish. I thought I'd catch a lot more than that."

He also spent his time in St. Clair and noted that he had a little bit of company on his primary spot, but didn't say who.

"There's another guy who's in the Top 10 that was near me. That's encouraging because that lets me know we're on a pretty big school of solid fish, but we're pulling a lot of fish out of there."

The area he's working sounds like a great post-spawn to summertime transition point, but the decrease in bites he experienced today has him concerned.

"My spot is a little intercept point," he said. "It's just a little lip that drops about a foot, which is substantial for St. Clair. It's off the end of an underwater point and has some weeds on it. It's like a funnel they're using to move to a summertime pattern. It's the kind of spot that should replenish for me, but I won't know until tomorrow.

"If I catch them tomorrow then I'll feel really good about the final 2 days. But tomorrow is the real test."

He noted that he's throwing "all Berkley stuff," and using a combination of a new Hollow Belly tube and a dropshot. "I'm switching up between a lot of different Gulp! baits on the dropshot - gobies, leeches, minnows - all of it. If I go a while without a bite I'll put something different on and try that."

18th: Lost Fish Killed Clapper

Last year's Detroit River champion, Steve Clapper, pieced together a respectable 18-12 sack today. But if he'd executed better and decked all the fish he hooked, the Erie guru would likely be looking at a Top 5 position instead of his current spot at 18th.

"I just couldn't keep them on today," Clapper said. "I'm happy just to bring in what I did. I had the fish hooked up today to get a big stringer, but it was just one of those days where they wouldn't stay on.

"I weighed one that was a little over 2 pounds, and when you do that you're going to have a hard time getting up there near the top. I had a couple 4-pounders that got off that I saw. I had another that probably would've went 4 1/2."

By the sound of it you'd think he'd be in a good position to move up tomorrow if he can keep his brown fish buttoned, but he's not so sure.

"I was in the first flight today and there were a couple guys who wanted in on my spot," he noted. "I don't know what I'm going to see out there tomorrow.

"A lot of it depends on the weather, too," he added. "I'm fishing a long ways away, and it's not a fun boat ride. It was okay out there today, but if that wind picks up it'll make it tough on me. That 40-mile boat ride isn't easy."

About the prevalence of 20-pound bags at the top of the leader board, he said: "That doesn't surprise me. I heard they bit pretty good on St. Clair today. If I would've put my fish in the boat that's the kind of bag I'm looking at.

"I'm going back to do the same thing tomorrow," he said. "I know they're out there."

200th: Arey Low on Luck

Matt Arey shows up as the only goose egg in today's standings, but it's not because he didn't catch any fish.

"Everything went wrong for me today," Arey said. "To start off, my trolling motor died on me and I just had to drift around out there. But even with that I still caught about 14 pounds, and my co-angler had about the same.

"On the way back my injector went out on my engine and I ended up being 19 minutes late, so I got dq'd. I felt so bad for my co-angler I took him out and bought him dinner.

"It could've been worse," he added. "I only fished half the Tour this year so I wasn't in the points race. This would really be disappointing if it'd cost me a spot in the championship."

Notable

> Day 1 stats - 200 anglers, 174 limits, 8 fours, 11 threes, 4 twos, 2 ones, 1 zero.

> About his day on the water, Andy Morgan said: "I had the worst tournament day I've had in a couple years. I'm going to change it up and go to a completely different lake tomorrow. I'm gonna' try something I haven't tried since last year - might as well go for it at this point."

> Steve Kennedy is competing in this event, but because of off-limits rules for the upcoming Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Erie, he's restricted to a very limited patch of water (all Canadian water is off-limits for him).

> As is usually the case when there's a hot dropshot bite for smallmouths, the vast majority of the field gave credit to Berkley Gulp! baits at today's weigh-in. Gulp! gobies, leeches and minnows were mentioned dozens of times onstage.

Weather Report

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days. For more weather information, including satellite and radar imagery, visit OutdoorsFanWeather.com.

> Fri, July 11 - Partly Cloudy - 88/68
- Wind: From the SSW at 7 mph

> Sat, July 12 - Chance of Afternoon Rain - 86/70
- Wind: From the SSW at 13 mph

> Sun, July 13 - Isolated T-Storms - 86/70
- Wind: From the NNE at 6 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 5, 21-11

2. Bryan Coates -- Amherst, Oh -- 5, 21-09

3. David Mccrone -- Minnetonka, Mn -- 5, 21-06

4. Mike Hawkes -- Sabinal, Tx -- 5, 20-12

5. Terry Baksay -- Easton, Ct -- 5, 20-10

5. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, Al -- 5, 20-10

7. Tim Mcdonald -- Lexington, Ky -- 5, 20-09

8. Michael Bennett -- Lincoln, Ca -- 5, 20-08

9. Kim Stricker -- Howell, Mi -- 5, 20-05

10. Alvin Shaw -- State Road, Nc -- 5, 20-04

11. John Devries -- Fishers, In -- 5, 20-00

12. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, Nc -- 5, 19-15

13. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 5, 19-11

14. Keith Monson -- Burgin, Ky -- 5, 19-09

15. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5, 19-07

16. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 5, 19-06

17. Chip Harrison -- Bremen, In -- 5, 19-01

18. Steve Clapper -- Lima, Oh -- 5, 18-12

19. Josh Myers -- Chatham, On -- 5, 18-11

20. Eric Ambort -- Mabelvale, Ar -- 5, 18-08

20. Keith Combs -- Del Rio, Tx -- 5, 18-08

20. Nate Wellman -- Jenison, Mi -- 5, 18-08

23. Jason Knapp -- Uniontown, Pa -- 5, 18-07

24. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 5, 18-06

24. David Reault -- Livonia, Mi -- 5, 18-06

26. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, Nc -- 5, 18-04

26. Randy Blaukat -- Jasper, Mo -- 5, 18-04

28. Jared Rhode -- Port Clinton, Oh -- 5, 18-03

29. Bobby Curtis -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 5, 18-02

30. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 18-01

30. Jerry Green -- Del Rio, Tx -- 5, 18-01

30. Thanh Le -- Las Vegas, Nv -- 5, 18-01

33. Chris Mccall -- Jasper, Tx -- 5, 17-15

33. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 5, 17-15

33. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 5, 17-15

36. Mark Modrak -- China Township, Mi -- 5, 17-14

37. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 5, 17-13

37. Michael Murphy -- Gilbert, Sc -- 5, 17-13

37. Eric Struif -- Round Lake, Il -- 5, 17-13

40. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 5, 17-12

41. Trevor Jancasz -- White Pigeon, Mi -- 5, 17-11

42. Jt Kenney -- Port Charlotte, Fl -- 5, 17-10

42. Monte Knight -- Quitman, Ms -- 5, 17-10

44. Brad Wall -- Clarksville, Oh -- 5, 17-09

45. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 17-08

46. Joe Balog -- Harrison Township, Mi -- 5, 17-06

46. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 17-06

48. Brennan Bosley -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 17-05

48. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 5, 17-05

50. Robert Sherry -- Saint Charles, Il -- 5, 17-04

51. Ott Defoe -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 17-03

51. Rick Marsh -- High Point, Nc -- 5, 17-03

51. Charles Sim -- Ottawa, On -- 5, 17-03

51. Michael Woolley -- West Bloomfield, Mi -- 5, 17-03

55. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 5, 17-00

56. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 5, 16-15

56. Pete Gluszek -- Franklinville, Nj -- 5, 16-15

56. Tim Johnson -- Dallas, Ga -- 5, 16-15

59. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 16-14

59. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 5, 16-14

61. Chris King -- South Amherst, Oh -- 5, 16-13

62. Jason Abrams -- Gray, Tn -- 5, 16-10

62. Mark Hardin -- Jasper, Ga -- 5, 16-10

64. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, Tn -- 5, 16-08

65. Mike Todd -- Norman, Ok -- 5, 16-07

66. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 16-06

66. Joe Thomas -- Milford, Oh -- 5, 16-06

68. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 5, 16-04

68. J R Grubb -- Hamburg, Ar -- 5, 16-04

70. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 5, 16-03

71. Keith Pace -- Monticello, Ar -- 5, 16-02

72. Kevin Bishop -- Hilton, Ny -- 5, 16-01

73. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 5, 16-00

74. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 5, 15-14

75. Shinichi Fukae -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 15-13

76. Katsutoshi Furusawa -- Tokyo Japan 1920153, Jp -- 5, 15-11

76. Tim Klinger -- Boulder City, Nv -- 5, 15-11

76. Thomas Moleski -- Elkhart, In -- 5, 15-11

79. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 15-10

80. Brent Crow -- Hartselle, Al -- 5, 15-09

81. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 15-07

82. Kevin Long -- Clewiston, Fl -- 5, 15-05

82. Bud Pruitt -- Houston, Tx -- 5, 15-05

84. Lewis Denney -- Indian Mound, Tn -- 5, 15-04

84. Kevin Lasyone -- Dry Prong, La -- 5, 15-04

84. Sam Newby -- Pocola, Ok -- 5, 15-04

84. Lloyd Pickett Jr -- Bartlett, Tn -- 5, 15-04

84. Jeffrey Thomas -- Broadway, Nc -- 5, 15-04

84. Kevin Vida -- Clare, Mi -- 5, 15-04

90. Chris Elliott -- Morehead City, Nc -- 5, 15-03

91. Terry Bolton -- Jonesboro, Ar -- 5, 15-01

91. Tony Defilippo -- Cedar, Mi -- 5, 15-01

93. John Tanner -- Quitman, Tx -- 5, 15-00

94. Brent Long -- Cornelius, Nc -- 5, 14-15

95. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 5, 14-14

95. David Fritts -- Lexington, Nc -- 5, 14-14

95. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Al -- 5, 14-14

95. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 5, 14-14

95. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 14-14

100. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 5, 14-13

100. Jeff Miller -- Crestwood, Il -- 5, 14-13

102. Sean Hoernke -- Magnolia, Tx -- 5, 14-12

102. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 5, 14-12

104. Greg Bohannan -- Rogers, Ar -- 5, 14-11

104. Danny Correia -- Marlborough, Ma -- 5, 14-11

104. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 5, 14-11

107. Gabe Bolivar -- Ramona, Ca -- 5, 14-10

107. Jimmy Millsaps -- Canton, Ga -- 5, 14-10

107. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 5, 14-10

107. Steve Redding -- Plano, Tx -- 5, 14-10

111. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Al -- 5, 14-09

111. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 14-09

111. Richard Lowitzki -- St Charles, Il -- 5, 14-09

114. Craig Powers -- Rockwood, Tn -- 5, 14-08

114. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 5, 14-08

116. Jake Deeds -- El Dorado, Ar -- 5, 14-07

117. Kyle Mabrey -- Mccalla, Al -- 5, 14-06

117. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 5, 14-06

119. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, Nc -- 5, 14-04

119. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 5, 14-04

119. Rob Digh -- Denver, Nc -- 5, 14-04

119. Mark Pack -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 14-04

123. Ray Scheide -- Russellville, Ar -- 5, 14-02

123. Eric Weir -- Gastonia, Nc -- 5, 14-02

123. John Zubkoff -- Monroe, Mi -- 5, 14-02

126. Pat Fisher -- Buckhead, Ga -- 5, 14-00

127. Danny Pierce -- Greenbrier, Ar -- 5, 13-14

128. Jeremiah Kindy -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 13-13

129. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 5, 13-12

130. Art Ferguson Iii -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 5, 13-11

130. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 13-11

132. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 5, 13-10

133. George Jeane Jr -- Evans, La -- 5, 13-07

133. Jack Wade -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 13-07

135. Carl Svebek Iii -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 5, 13-06

135. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 5, 13-06

137. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, Al -- 5, 13-03

137. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 5, 13-03

137. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 5, 13-03

137. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 13-03

137. Keith Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 5, 13-03

142. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 5, 13-01

142. Guido Hibdon -- Sunrise Beach, Mo -- 5, 13-01

144. Tony Couch -- Buckhead, Ga -- 5, 12-15

144. Curt Lytle -- Zuni, Va -- 4, 12-15

146. Bruce Dale -- Jamestown, Oh -- 5, 12-14

147. Truman White -- Myersville, Md -- 5, 12-12

148. Fred Contaoi -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 12-10

148. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 5, 12-10

148. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, Sc -- 5, 12-10

148. Jason Reyes -- Humble, Tx -- 5, 12-10

152. Charles Cummings -- Leeds, Al -- 5, 12-08

153. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 4, 12-05

154. Jason Mckinnie -- Umatilla, Fl -- 5, 12-03

155. Hank Cherry -- Maiden, Nc -- 5, 12-00

155. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 5, 12-00

157. Bob Bjorklund -- Centennial, Co -- 5, 11-15

157. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 5, 11-15

157. Richard Strother -- Tyler, Tx -- 5, 11-15

157. Marcel Veenstra -- Brighton, Mi -- 5, 11-15

161. Tommy Martin -- Hemphill, Tx -- 5, 11-12

162. Patrick Baynes -- Chatsworth, Ga -- 4, 11-11

162. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 11-11

162. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 5, 11-11

165. Woo Daves -- Spring Grove, Va -- 5, 11-08

165. Bill Day -- Frankfort, Ky -- 5, 11-08

167. Bob Blosser -- Lodi, Wi -- 5, 11-07

168. Gary Riffle -- Bogata, Tx -- 5, 11-04

169. O T Fears Iii -- Sallisaw, Ok -- 5, 11-01

170. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Al -- 5, 11-00

171. Dwayne Horton -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 10-13

172. Melinda Mize Hooper -- Ben Lomond, Ar -- 5, 10-08

172. Michael Trombly -- Perrysburg, Oh -- 4, 10-08

174. Dale Evans -- Ridgeville, Sc -- 4, 10-05

175. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 5, 10-02

176. Aaron Hastings -- Middletown, Md -- 5, 10-00

177. Craig Dowling -- Grant, Al -- 3, 9-12

178. Clay Dyer -- Hamilton, Al -- 4, 9-11

179. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 4, 9-10

180. Chad Cook -- Summerville, Sc -- 3, 9-07

181. John Sappington -- Willard, Mo -- 5, 9-04

182. Randy Morris -- Garfield, Ar -- 5, 9-03

183. Robert Walser -- Lexington, Nc -- 3, 8-12

184. Scott Hamrick -- Denver, Nc -- 4, 8-04

185. Russell Colwell -- Baltimore, Md -- 5, 7-12

186. Miles Johnson -- Washington Township, Oh -- 3, 7-11

187. James Kemper -- Frankfort, Ky -- 3, 7-05

188. Timothy Sisk -- Cherryville, Nc -- 3, 7-04

189. Tim Carroll -- Owasso, Ok -- 3, 7-01

190. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 3, 6-12

191. Jim Turner -- Clarksville, In -- 3, 6-10

192. Arch Cornett -- Huntsville, Al -- 3, 6-05

193. Alfred Williams -- Jackson, Ms -- 2, 5-09

194. Jim Russell -- Statham, Ga -- 2, 5-05

195. Karen Savik -- St. Louis Park, Mn -- 3, 5-03

196. Mike Lanier -- Leland, Nc -- 2, 5-00

197. Dan Schoonveld -- Mansura, La -- 2, 4-09

198. Jack Gadlage -- Benton, Ky -- 1, 2-10

199. Jim Short -- Ocean Pines, Md -- 1, 2-01

Matt Arey -- Shelby, Nc -- 0, 0-00

Big Bass

> Day 1 -- Keith Monson -- Burgin, Ky -- 5-10 -- $1,000