BFL All-American
Walser Wins By 2 Pounds

Photo: FLW Outdoors Robert Walser said the win was like 'a big sigh of relief.'

Walser finished 2-03 ahead of Florida's Chad Dorland, who was 2nd with a total weight of 32-07. Day 2 leader Kip Carter finished 3rd with 30-07, and Mark Mauldin of Tennessee moved from 6th to 4th with a total of 27-09. Mike McDonald of North Carolina finished 5th with 27-06.

The rest of the field looked like this:

6. Terry Steele, Tennessee: 26-11
7. Dennis Berhorst, Missouri: 26-04
8. Richard Pankey, Arkansas: 25-09
9. Robert Soley, New Jersey: 24-10
10. Dalton Bobo, Alabama: 19-04

Although anglers enjoyed lighter pressure today with only 10 anglers remaining, they had to deal with a speed limit that was not in effect the first 2 days. A 35 mph limit was strictly enforced today.

Walser Stays Consistent

Walser stuck with a consistent strategy throughout the tournament, it was so consistent, he weighed identical sacks of 11-11 the final 2 days. He began the day 6 ounces behind Carter and moved up to 1st with his total of 34-10.

Although he settled on a strategy in practice that he used during the entire tournament, he had to make changes as conditions in the river changed.

"I had to adjust every day to pull these limits of fish and today I adjusted the right way," he said.

His main bait during the tournament was a jig with a trailer that consistently caught fish. He threw it to banks with rocks, wood and other submerged structure. At the start of the day, he was confident in his pattern, but was relieved when he finally won it.

"It was a big sigh of relief," he said. "It was something I needed to change. I was tired of being in the middle of the pack.

Details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

2nd: Dorland Fishes Secret Creek

Dorland fished where no one could find him and caught his largest limit of the tournament (12-07) to finish with 32-07. Each day he fished the same area – a creek that wasn't on the map.

"The only other angler I saw in there was Kip (Carter), but he was way up the creek, so he was no worry," he said.

He found the creek during practice, after he became curious about a bridge pictured on his map. He idled in, discovered it was a creek and started to throw baits. He caught a 3-pound smallmouth and knew it was his spot for the tournament.

"It doesn't show up on any maps," he said. "Not even the locals were fishing in there. It was amazing, because there's a pile of fish in that creek."

He caught most of his fish on a Gitem toad, which he threw across the milfoil beds. He felt his consistent strategy was a key to his performance.

"My whole goal was to catch 10 pounds a day, and I felt like I could have a good finish. That's how it worked out and my last day was my best day. I'm happy with that."

4th: Mauldin Finesses Fish

Mauldin moved from 6th to 4th with 8-14 today and a total of 27-09. He found fish, but couldn't find the size he needed to win.

"Things were a little slower than I anticipated," he said. "I had one fish that was 2 1/2 pounds and another that was close to 4 pounds, but the other three keepers I had were just that – little bitty keepers."

He stuck to the main river – the same area he fished on day 2 – and caught his largest fish on a finesse worm. He caught his biggest fish late in the day, so his hopes for a victory had pretty much been shelved by then.

"I didn't get a big fish early, so I didn't have real high expectations of winning it," he said. "But I had been around 6th all week and to move up to 4th was fine with me."

He felt the key to his finish was his decision to fish the main river. He started the tournament in the backwaters, but late on day 1, discovered he could catch fish out in the river.

"The water was falling and getting back to normal," he said. "It made fishing on the river better. It tipped me off that it's possible to catch fish on this river."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 10 anglers, 8 limits, no zeroes.

> The creek Dorland fished was so secluded, not even the camera crew that followed the boats could find him. "The boom operator couldn't find us," he said. "It didn't show up on their GPS. I think they finally found us when a helicopter flew over."

> Dalton Bobo of Alabama, the day 1 leader, caught just three fish during the final 2 days of the tournament. He weighed 14 ounces today.

Day 3 (Final) Standings

1. Robert Walser -- Lexington, Nc -- 5, 11-04 -- 5, 11-11 -- 5, 11-11 -- 15, 34-10 -- $100,000 + $40,000

2. Chad Dorland -- Dunnellon, Fl -- 5, 9-14 -- 5, 10-02 -- 5, 12-07 -- 15, 32-07 -- $25,000

3. Kip Carter -- Oxford, Ga -- 5, 10-12 -- 5, 12-09 -- 5, 7-02 -- 15, 30-07 -- $14,000 + $18,000

4. Mark Mauldin -- Cleveland, Tn -- 5, 10-08 -- 5, 8-03 -- 5, 8-14 -- 15, 27-09 -- $13,000 + $16,000

5. Mike Mcdonald -- Randleman, Nc -- 5, 9-06 -- 5, 13-01 -- 4, 4-15 -- 14, 27-06 -- $12,000 + $14,000

6. Robert Soley -- North Brunswick, Nj -- 5, 7-03 -- 5, 10-04 -- 5, 9-13 -- 15, 27-04 -- $11,000

7. Terry Steele -- Sparta, Tn -- 5, 9-01 -- 5, 10-01 -- 5, 7-09 -- 15, 26-11 -- $10,000 + $5,000

8. Dennis Berhorst -- Holts Summit, Mo -- 5, 9-10 -- 4, 7-07 -- 5, 9-03 -- 14, 26-04 -- $9,000 + $9,000

9. Richard Pankey -- Blytheville, Ar -- 5, 7-04 -- 5, 9-10 -- 5, 8-11 -- 15, 25-09 -- $8,000 + $4,000

10. Dalton Bobo -- Northport, Al -- 5, 14-15 -- 2, 3-07 -- 1, 0-14 -- 8, 19-04 -- $7,000 + $3,500