By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor
Ben Todd was among a large contingent of anglers who fished both the FLW Gator Division BFL and the Southeastern EverStart on back-to-back weeks at Florida's Lake Okeechobee. He didn't have much success in the 1-day event, but a huge day 1 in the multi-day derby paved the way to what was by far the most significant victory of his career.
Todd, a 32-year-old farmer of oranges and ornamental ferns from Pierson, Fla., caught a 31-07 stringer on the first day of the EverStart. Then he struggled for most of the next 2 days until an 8 1/2-pounder that bit on the final afternoon lifted him to a wire-to-wire triumph.
His 59-03 total for 3 days was equaled by Trevor Fitzgerald, whose 25-10 bag was easily the best of the final day. However, Todd won the tiebreaker by virtue of a higher placement in the day 2 standings.
Here's a look at how he went about his business.
Practice
Pierson is about a 3 1/2-hour drive from Okeechobee, and Todd arrived at the lake 2 days prior to the BFL (which took place Saturday, Jan. 5). He failed to uncover anything productive in his day and a half of practice for that event and finished 153rd in a field of 200 competitors.
He was back at it again the following morning, and by Monday things started to fall into place.
"I think the fishing overall started to pick up," he said. "We were on a new moon and the weather was stable, and those bigger fish started moving around."
He ventured to the east side of the lake on Tuesday and connected with several hefty fish. He spent his final practice day re-checking stuff he'd looked at over the previous several days, but determined that nothing compared to the half-mile stretch of reeds between J&S Park and Henry Creek.
Competition
> Day 1: 5, 31-07
> Day 2: 5, 11-09
> Day 3: 5, 16-03
> Total = 15, 59-03
Todd was in the final flight to leave the launch on day 1 and didn't make his initial cast until about 8:15 a.m. His first bite was from a 2 1/2-pounder that got free after it had become embedded in some weeds.
He connected with his 9-pounder about 45 minutes into the day and added an 8 before lunchtime. A 5-plus at about 2 o'clock pushed him past the 30-pound mark.
"I just couldn't believe it," he said. "I knew that kind of quality was there, but to go and do it in a tournament … a lot of times it just doesn't work out. It was the biggest bag I've ever caught."
He was in the first flight on day 2 and arrived at his locale much earlier, but was soon joined by a lot of other competitors.
"I got a 3-pounder, a 2 1/2 and a 2-something pretty quick, but by the time I got the third one, the boats had started showing up and the bite just shut off. It was also real overcast and slick-calm and rainy, which was totally different than day 1, which was sunny and windy.
"After the early morning I really struggled for bites. I had no spot to protect – I had to travel the area. I got that one run first thing in the morning, but when I came back through there were a lot of boats and I had to go in an out and work my way around them, and it got worse as the day went on.
"With the clouds and the boats, I don't think the bigger fish ever moved up that day," he concluded.
He carried a 5-pound lead into day 3, which presented conditions similar to day 1 except for the lack of wind. The 177-angler field had been cut to the Top 10, so boat pressure in his area wasn't a factor.
Still, all he managed for most of the day was a series of fish in the 2-pound range. That changed at 2:00, when he boated a 3 and an 8 1/2 within a span of 15 minutes.
"When I caught that giant, I figured it had to be a sign. The Lord gave me that fish at the end of the day because I was supposed to win that tournament."
More anxious moments awaited, though, as he watched Fitzgerald bag up his five bruisers at the launch.
"I had a couple that were barely 2 pounds and hit was heart-wrenching the whole time. Some friends were coming up and saying, 'Don't worry, you've got it,' and I appreciated the moral support, but I was like, 'There's no way you guys know that.'
"I knew it was going to be really close."
Pattern Notes
Todd couldn't see the fish he caught, but he was certain they were on beds.
"They were out away from the shallow, clear water where they could get just enough sunlight to lay eggs. They were in 4 1/2 to 5 feet of water and a long way out from the bank – maybe three-quarters of a mile off the actual shoreline."
He flipped sparse reed clusters that had eelgrass growing nearby.
"I'd say most of the pitches were 20 to 30 feet, and some were closer. I was trying to stay as close as possible without spooking them because the longer the pitch you made, the better the chance they had of pulling off.
"I didn't lose any the whole tournament that would've given me more weight. I lost quite a few fish on the first day, including a 4 1/2-pounder, but I went back later and caught that same fish."
The wind picked up on the afternoon of the final day, just before he his final two fish.
Todd's two biggest fish on day 1 weighed a combined 17 pounds.
"When the wind blew, the fish would get around the beds where I could target them. Otherwise they'd be nose-down in the eelgrass where I couldn't get a lure to them.
"There was nobody else around at the end and I'm sure I could've caught a bigger stringer if we'd had a longer tournament day."
Gear Notes
> Flipping gear: 7' heavy-action St. Croix Premier flipping stick, Quantum Tour Edition PT casting reel (7:1 ratio), 50-pound PowerPro braided line, 1/4-, 5/16- or 3/8-ounce tungsten weight, 5/0 Gamakatsu flipping hook, Gambler Fat Ace (river bug) or 5" Tightlines UVenko (purple).
The Bottom Line
> Main factor in his success – "Nobody else I know of found those fish in practice. There were people in the same areas, but they weren't fishing the exact places I was."
> Performance edge – "I caught most of my fish on the first day on the Fat Ace, and then when they quit biting on the second day I started experimenting with various baits and when I picked up the UVenko, I had a limit in an hour and a half. I think the deciding factor was going with a Senko-type bait instead of the creature baits and jigs that everybody else was flipping – those fish were done with them. And that UV technology is legit – it's not a hoax."
Notable
> Todd said he'd like to fish at the tour level at some point. "I'm just playing it as I go and if it doesn't happen, it won't crush me. I'm staying on a slow path and not trying to jump too far ahead because I don't want to get myself in financial trouble."
> He finished 4th on last year's Tour Open co-angler points list and will compete in the 2013 Forrest Wood Cup from the back seat.
> His current sponsors are Umatilla Bait & Tackle (Umatilla, Fla.) and Complete Custom Boats (De Leon Springs, Fla.).
Final Standings
1. Ben Todd -- Pierson, Fl -- 31-07 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 43-00 (10) -- 16-03 (5) -- 59-03 (15) -- $40,000
2. Trevor Fitzgerald -- Belleview, Fl -- 20-11 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 33-09 (10) -- 25-10 (5) -- 59-03 (15) -- $15,000
3. Brandon McMillan -- Clewiston, Fl -- 20-10 (5) -- 17-05 (5) -- 37-15 (10) -- 18-04 (5) -- 56-03 (15) -- $10,000
4. Paul Malone -- Pleasant Valley, Ia -- 19-15 (5) -- 16-12 (5) -- 36-11 (10) -- 18-13 (5) -- 55-08 (15) -- $9,000
5. Chris Brill -- Lehigh Acres, Fl -- 24-01 (5) -- 13-10 (4) -- 37-11 (9) -- 10-09 (5) -- 48-04 (14) -- $8,000
6. Casey Martin -- New Market, Al -- 19-02 (5) -- 16-12 (5) -- 35-14 (10) -- 10-06 (5) -- 46-04 (15) -- $7,000
7. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 21-05 (5) -- 12-01 (5) -- 33-06 (10) -- 12-12 (5) -- 46-02 (15) -- $6,000
8. Brandon Medlock -- Lake Placid, Fl -- 16-02 (5) -- 16-10 (5) -- 32-12 (10) -- 12-13 (5) -- 45-09 (15) -- $5,000
9. Preston Clark -- Eagle Lake, Fl -- 10-02 (5) -- 23-04 (5) -- 33-06 (10) -- 11-09 (5) -- 44-15 (15) -- $4,000
10. Keith Fels -- Ocala, Fl -- 19-13 (5) -- 16-05 (5) -- 36-02 (10) -- 0-00 (0) -- 36-02 (10) -- $3,000
The following anglers did not make the cut and did not fish on day 3.
11. Shaye Baker -- Tallassee, Al -- 13-06 (5) -- 19-02 (5) -- 32-08 (10) -- $2,500
12. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, In -- 16-04 (5) -- 16-03 (5) -- 32-07 (10) -- $2,500
13. Anthony Ford -- New Smyrna, Fl -- 10-06 (5) -- 22-00 (5) -- 32-06 (10) -- $2,500
14. Thomas Helton -- Charleston, Tn -- 17-11 (5) -- 14-07 (5) -- 32-02 (10) -- $2,500
15. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 13-03 (5) -- 18-09 (5) -- 31-12 (10) -- $2,500
16. Aaron Hastings -- Middletown, Md -- 15-14 (5) -- 15-12 (5) -- 31-10 (10) -- $2,000
17. Kyle Walters -- Grant Valkaria, Fl -- 19-00 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 30-12 (10) -- $2,000
18. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 22-05 (5) -- 8-00 (5) -- 30-05 (10) -- $2,000
19. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 11-06 (5) -- 18-03 (5) -- 29-09 (10) -- $2,000
20. Larry Payne -- Alva, Fl -- 10-07 (5) -- 18-11 (5) -- 29-02 (10) -- $2,000
21. Joe Holland -- Jefferson, Me -- 18-15 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 28-14 (10) -- $1,500
22. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 16-07 (5) -- 12-00 (4) -- 28-07 (9) -- $1,500
23. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 12-13 (5) -- 14-05 (5) -- 27-02 (10) -- $1,500
24. Jeff McMillan -- Belle Glade, Fl -- 14-00 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 27-01 (10) -- $1,500
25. Derek Yasinski -- Senoia, Ga -- 20-15 (5) -- 6-01 (5) -- 27-00 (10) -- $1,500
26. Val Osinski -- Pompano Beach, Fl -- 13-10 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 27-00 (10) -- $1,300
27. Bob Eagleston -- Newberry, Fl -- 14-14 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 26-14 (10) -- $1,300
28. Sean Stepp -- Stafford, Va -- 14-00 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 26-14 (10) -- $1,300
29. Matt Peters -- Cotter, Ar -- 14-08 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 26-13 (10) -- $1,300
30. Drew Benton -- Panama City, Fl -- 19-11 (5) -- 6-15 (5) -- 26-10 (10) -- $1,300
31. Tony Davis -- Williston, Fl -- 15-02 (5) -- 11-00 (5) -- 26-02 (10) -- $1,000
32. Craig Taylor -- Tallahassee, Fl -- 16-03 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 25-15 (10) -- $1,000
33. Royce Railey -- Columbus, Ga -- 14-01 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 25-10 (10) -- $1,000
34. Jason S. Smith -- Albany, Ga -- 7-15 (5) -- 17-10 (5) -- 25-09 (10) -- $1,000
35. David Pollard -- Carrollton, Ga -- 13-02 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 25-09 (10) -- $1,000
36. Jeffrey Prisza -- Wyandotte, Mi -- 5-09 (5) -- 19-12 (5) -- 25-05 (10) -- $1,000
37. Mike Jones -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 15-15 (5) -- 9-03 (5) -- 25-02 (10) -- $1,000
38. Miles Burghoff -- Guntersville, Al -- 11-06 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 25-01 (10) -- $1,000
39. Carmen Patti -- Davie, Fl -- 9-15 (5) -- 15-01 (5) -- 25-00 (10) -- $1,000
40. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 12-12 (5) -- 12-02 (5) -- 24-14 (10) -- $1,000
41. Jeff Hebert -- Greenwood, In -- 13-09 (5) -- 11-03 (5) -- 24-12 (10) -- $1,000
42. Simon Borja -- Maryville, Tn -- 14-10 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 24-06 (10) -- $1,000
43. Phil Cury -- Jacksonville, Fl -- 10-09 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 24-02 (10) -- $1,000
44. Jim Blanchard -- Albany, Ga -- 16-06 (5) -- 7-10 (4) -- 24-00 (9) -- $1,000
45. Keith Pace -- Monticello, Ar -- 13-12 (5) -- 10-04 (5) -- 24-00 (10) -- $1,000
46. Keith Burden -- Seminole, Fl -- 17-08 (5) -- 6-05 (5) -- 23-13 (10) -- $1,000
47. Allen Duke -- Port St Joe, Fl -- 10-01 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 23-13 (10) -- $1,000
48. Bryan Gustafson -- Fort Frances, On -- 11-01 (5) -- 12-12 (5) -- 23-13 (10) -- $1,000
49. Robert Naramore -- Hampton, Ga -- 5-02 (3) -- 18-08 (5) -- 23-10 (8) -- $1,000
50. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 11-12 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 23-08 (10) -- $1,000
51. Derek Hicks -- Rocky Face, Ga -- 12-02 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 23-06 (10) -- $1,000
52. Brian Latimer -- Belton, Sc -- 8-07 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 23-05 (10) -- $1,000
53. Robert Beatty -- Clermont, Fl -- 11-02 (5) -- 12-01 (5) -- 23-03 (10) -- $1,000
54. Frank Mackin -- New Port Richey, Fl -- 12-10 (5) -- 10-08 (5) -- 23-02 (10) -- $1,000
55. Rick Cotten -- Guntersville, Al -- 10-08 (5) -- 12-09 (5) -- 23-01 (10) -- $1,000
56. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, Al -- 12-11 (5) -- 10-00 (5) -- 22-11 (10) -- $1,000
57. Jared McMillan -- Belle Glade, Fl -- 12-01 (5) -- 10-10 (5) -- 22-11 (10) -- $1,000
58. Darrell Davis -- Dover, Fl -- 9-03 (5) -- 13-06 (5) -- 22-09 (10)
59. Justin Jones -- Apex, Nc -- 7-13 (5) -- 14-10 (5) -- 22-07 (10)
60. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, Al -- 11-10 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 22-05 (10)
61. Thadeus Ragan -- Miami, Fl -- 13-07 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 22-02 (10)
62. Brian Divito -- St Petersburg, Fl -- 9-05 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 22-02 (10)
63. Jon Huffine -- Lithia Springs, Ga -- 13-15 (5) -- 8-02 (5) -- 22-01 (10)
64. Michael Deen -- Waycross, Ga -- 12-14 (5) -- 9-03 (5) -- 22-01 (10)
65. Tony Dumitras -- Wnston, Ga -- 10-13 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 22-01 (10)
66. Bryan Honnerlaw -- Moore Haven, Fl -- 14-08 (5) -- 7-08 (5) -- 22-00 (10)
67. John Cromwell -- Arlington, Tn -- 9-08 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 21-13 (10)
68. Rodger Beaver -- Dawson, Ga -- 9-07 (5) -- 12-04 (5) -- 21-11 (10)
69. T.J. McDonald -- Jackson, Oh -- 9-02 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 21-08 (10)
70. Clark Smith -- Pell City, Al -- 11-12 (5) -- 9-11 (5) -- 21-07 (10)
71. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, Sc -- 8-15 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 21-05 (10)
72. Jeremy York -- Monroe, Ga -- 13-10 (5) -- 7-09 (5) -- 21-03 (10)
73. Ken Ellis -- Bowman, Sc -- 9-02 (5) -- 12-01 (5) -- 21-03 (10)
74. Clayton Batts -- Macon, Ga -- 10-06 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 21-01 (10)
75. Jeff Sparks -- Chickamauga, Ga -- 7-04 (3) -- 13-12 (5) -- 21-00 (8)
76. JW Moreno -- Piney Flats, Tn -- 10-03 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 21-00 (10)
77. Timothy Dearing -- Loudon, Tn -- 9-11 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 20-15 (10)
78. Dan Blanchard -- Sarasota, Fl -- 10-05 (5) -- 10-07 (5) -- 20-12 (10)
79. John Voyles -- Petersburg, In -- 9-03 (5) -- 11-08 (5) -- 20-11 (10)
80. Matt Stasiak -- Pittsburgh, Pa -- 11-05 (5) -- 9-04 (5) -- 20-09 (10)
81. Cecil Douberly -- Lakeland, Fl -- 11-08 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 20-08 (10)
82. Sean Skey -- Sumter, Sc -- 8-12 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 20-07 (10)
83. Kyle A. Fox -- Lakeland, Fl -- 9-12 (5) -- 10-10 (5) -- 20-06 (10)
84. Blake Marsocci -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 12-15 (5) -- 7-05 (5) -- 20-04 (10)
85. Robert Behrle -- Hoover, Al -- 14-06 (5) -- 5-12 (5) -- 20-02 (10)
86. Ryan Edwards -- Stuart, Fl -- 12-01 (5) -- 8-01 (5) -- 20-02 (10)
87. Rich Dalbey -- Greenville, Tx -- 10-07 (5) -- 9-11 (5) -- 20-02 (10)
88. Wil Hardy -- Harlem, Ga -- 7-11 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 20-01 (10)
89. Steve Boogie Brown -- Altamonte Springs, Fl -- 10-07 (5) -- 9-09 (5) -- 20-00 (10)
90. Dean Boruff -- Valdosta, Ga -- 7-06 (5) -- 12-09 (5) -- 19-15 (10)
91. Omari Navies -- Fort Washington, Md -- 4-05 (3) -- 15-09 (5) -- 19-14 (8)
92. Ty Solis -- Albany, Ga -- 8-03 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 19-14 (10)
93. George Kapiton -- Inverness, Fl -- 19-12 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 19-12 (5)
94. Kazunori Okuma -- Japan, Nb -- 9-01 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 19-12 (10)
95. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, Al -- 11-10 (5) -- 8-01 (5) -- 19-11 (10)
96. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, Nc -- 12-04 (5) -- 7-05 (5) -- 19-09 (10)
97. James Kemper -- Frankfort, Ky -- 10-08 (5) -- 9-01 (5) -- 19-09 (10)
98. Steven Stinson -- Pickering, On -- 6-13 (5) -- 12-11 (4) -- 19-08 (9)
99. Robert Boyd -- Russellville, Al -- 12-04 (5) -- 7-04 (2) -- 19-08 (7)
100. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 9-12 (5) -- 9-12 (5) -- 19-08 (10)
101. Gary Krammes -- Pottsville, Pa -- 8-11 (5) -- 10-10 (5) -- 19-05 (10)
102. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, Ms -- 12-06 (5) -- 6-13 (5) -- 19-03 (10)
103. Jeff Fitts -- Keystone Heights, Fl -- 8-05 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 19-02 (10)
104. Lionel Botha -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 8-02 (5) -- 10-14 (5) -- 19-00 (10)
105. Pete Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 10-11 (5) -- 8-04 (5) -- 18-15 (10)
106. Stephen McKinnie -- Umatila, Fl -- 10-09 (5) -- 8-06 (5) -- 18-15 (10)
107. Craig Chambers -- Charlotte, Nc -- 10-02 (5) -- 8-12 (5) -- 18-14 (10)
108. Jerry Gore -- St Cloud, Fl -- 10-02 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 18-13 (10)
109. Leon Knight -- Guntersville, Al -- 3-15 (3) -- 14-13 (5) -- 18-12 (8)
110. Daniel Welch -- New Martinsville, Wv -- 7-02 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 18-12 (10)
111. Steven Lake -- Sebring, Fl -- 8-08 (5) -- 10-03 (5) -- 18-11 (10)
112. Joseph Thompson -- Landenberg, Pa -- 10-00 (5) -- 8-10 (5) -- 18-10 (10)
113. Robert Morin -- Seymour, Tn -- 10-05 (5) -- 8-04 (5) -- 18-09 (10)
114. David Burch -- Jacksonville Beach, Fl -- 9-02 (5) -- 9-05 (5) -- 18-07 (10)
115. Larry Jones -- Acworth, Ga -- 11-03 (5) -- 7-03 (5) -- 18-06 (10)
116. Bill Tervin -- Pocola, Ok -- 9-13 (5) -- 8-08 (5) -- 18-05 (10)
117. Brian Holder -- Gastonia, Nc -- 6-10 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 18-04 (10)
118. Darren Gallaher -- Hixson, Tn -- 10-04 (5) -- 8-00 (5) -- 18-04 (10)
119. Scott Hamrick -- Denver, Nc -- 8-14 (5) -- 9-03 (5) -- 18-01 (10)
120. William Kisiah -- Slidell, La -- 5-11 (5) -- 12-04 (5) -- 17-15 (10)
121. Chuck Howard -- Elloree, Sc -- 7-07 (5) -- 10-07 (5) -- 17-14 (10)
122. Alex Pappas -- Jensen Bch., Fl -- 10-14 (5) -- 6-15 (5) -- 17-13 (10)
123. Richard Held -- Lake Worth, Fl -- 7-00 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 17-13 (10)
124. Jared Haas -- Hixson, Tn -- 6-07 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 17-12 (10)
125. Frank Kitchens III -- Oxford, Ga -- 9-05 (5) -- 8-06 (5) -- 17-11 (10)
126. Byron Haseotes -- Centerville, Ma -- 9-00 (5) -- 8-09 (5) -- 17-09 (10)
127. Will Jefferies -- Bountiful, Ut -- 8-03 (5) -- 9-04 (5) -- 17-07 (10)
128. Michael Hall -- Annandale, Va -- 9-00 (5) -- 8-04 (5) -- 17-04 (10)
129. Merle Wells Jr -- Hammond, Ny -- 7-13 (5) -- 9-06 (5) -- 17-03 (10)
130. Mike Davis -- Bossier City, La -- 14-02 (5) -- 3-00 (2) -- 17-02 (7)
131. Jason Abram -- Johnson City, Tn -- 7-13 (5) -- 9-01 (5) -- 16-14 (10)
132. Dave Patchell -- Green Cove Springs, Fl -- 9-15 (5) -- 6-13 (5) -- 16-12 (10)
133. Ron Brown -- Mount Pleasant, Sc -- 8-10 (5) -- 8-02 (5) -- 16-12 (10)
134. Kent Ware -- Wadmalaw Island, Sc -- 7-09 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 16-09 (10)
135. John Bitter -- Maitland, Fl -- 8-04 (5) -- 8-02 (5) -- 16-06 (10)
136. Greg Sims -- China Grove, Nc -- 7-10 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 16-05 (10)
137. Pat Kelly Sr -- Guntersville, Al -- 7-04 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 16-02 (10)
138. Michael Hughes -- Greenville, Sc -- 8-13 (5) -- 7-05 (5) -- 16-02 (10)
139. Mark S. Rose Jr -- Fombell, Pa -- 7-11 (5) -- 8-04 (5) -- 15-15 (10)
140. Curtis Lewis -- West Palm Beach, Fl -- 8-02 (5) -- 7-12 (5) -- 15-14 (10)
141. Bradley Staley -- Pleasant Garden, Nc -- 8-00 (5) -- 7-14 (5) -- 15-14 (10)
142. Will Yelverton -- Hazel Green, Al -- 6-12 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 15-10 (10)
143. Troy Gibson -- Eufaula, Al -- 12-08 (5) -- 2-15 (2) -- 15-07 (7)
144. Hallam Cottingham -- Greenville, Sc -- 6-04 (3) -- 9-02 (3) -- 15-06 (6)
145. Ben Carroll -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 9-01 (5) -- 6-04 (5) -- 15-05 (10)
146. Phil Mansfield -- Palm Harbor, Fl -- 7-04 (3) -- 7-15 (5) -- 15-03 (8)
147. Leon Williams -- Fairdale, Ky -- 8-03 (5) -- 6-13 (4) -- 15-00 (9)
148. Matt Lee -- Auburn, Al -- 8-13 (5) -- 5-15 (3) -- 14-12 (8)
149. Lonnie Oneal -- Valdosta, Ga -- 7-10 (5) -- 7-02 (5) -- 14-12 (10)
150. Thomas Toth -- Clermont, Fl -- 3-08 (2) -- 11-03 (5) -- 14-11 (7)
151. Bill Hutchison -- Bessemer, Al -- 6-15 (5) -- 7-11 (5) -- 14-10 (10)
152. Wayne Hauser -- Mooresville, Nc -- 7-10 (5) -- 7-00 (5) -- 14-10 (10)
153. Michael Gore -- Anacoco, La -- 2-14 (1) -- 11-10 (5) -- 14-08 (6)
154. John Vanore -- Mullica Hill, Nj -- 8-08 (5) -- 6-00 (5) -- 14-08 (10)
155. Justin Miller -- Bay St. Louis, Ms -- 7-09 (4) -- 6-06 (3) -- 13-15 (7)
156. Frank Kitchens Jr -- Maryville, Tn -- 4-04 (3) -- 9-07 (5) -- 13-11 (8)
157. Tony Haymon -- Penney Farms, Fl -- 5-03 (4) -- 7-09 (5) -- 12-12 (9)
158. Erwin Cole -- Murfreesboro, Tn -- 7-11 (5) -- 4-14 (4) -- 12-09 (9)
159. Harry Moore -- Valley, Al -- 5-03 (5) -- 7-06 (5) -- 12-09 (10)
160. Randy Haynes -- Counce, Tn -- 2-14 (2) -- 9-04 (5) -- 12-02 (7)
161. Donnie Smith -- St. Johns, Fl -- 3-02 (2) -- 8-15 (5) -- 12-01 (7)
162. Mike Elie -- Gray, Me -- 3-10 (3) -- 7-13 (5) -- 11-07 (8)
163. Josh Dorr -- Pickens, Sc -- 3-01 (1) -- 8-02 (4) -- 11-03 (5)
164. Tommy Robinson -- Westland, Mi -- 7-13 (4) -- 3-06 (3) -- 11-03 (7)
165. Richard Stevens -- Galatia, Il -- 7-06 (5) -- 3-10 (3) -- 11-00 (8)
166. Clifford Dawson -- Ocala, Fl -- 1-07 (1) -- 9-05 (5) -- 10-12 (6)
167. Brian Merriman -- Falkville, Al -- 2-13 (2) -- 7-08 (4) -- 10-05 (6)
168. Chad Aaron -- Lawrenceburg, Tn -- 7-03 (4) -- 2-13 (2) -- 10-00 (6)
169. Michael Brown -- Etobicoke, On -- 3-11 (2) -- 6-02 (4) -- 9-13 (6)
170. Wade Shahid -- Fort Walton Beach, Fl -- 2-06 (1) -- 7-05 (5) -- 9-11 (6)
171. John (Jack) Morris Jr -- Robinson, Il -- 5-11 (4) -- 3-15 (3) -- 9-10 (7)
172. Jordan Lee -- Auburn, Al -- 8-14 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-14 (5)
173. William McKinstry III -- Loxahatchee, Fl -- 8-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 8-00 (5)
174. Tom Spangler -- Corryton, Tn -- 7-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-00 (5)
174. Joey Thigpen -- St Johns, Fl -- 7-00 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-00 (5)
176. Rick Nitkiewicz -- Pittsburgh, Pa -- 2-10 (1) -- 4-03 (3) -- 6-13 (4)
177. Jay Stuart -- Lake Worth, Fl -- 6-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-10 (5)
Big Bass
Day 1: Ben Todd -- 9-01 -- $300
Day 2: Paul Malone -- 8-14 -- $300
