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Okeechobee Southern Tour
Youngest Lane Wins

Saturday, January 28, 2006



Photo: Bassmaster.com
Chris Lane caught more than 20 pounds today for the second consecutive day.

Chris Lane, the youngest of three fishing Lane brothers of Lakeland, Fla., has had a lot on his mind recently. He gave 2 weeks notice to his employer to begin preparations for the Bassmaster Elite Series, and the father of two young children had begun to wonder whether he could really afford the Series and its $5,000-per-tournament entry fees. He alleviated some of those concerns today with a 21-10 bag and a victory at the inaugural Okeechobee Bassmaster Southern Tour.

Lane's 3-day total of 54-12 beat out tour pro Terry Scroggins by 6-12. Scroggins (10-12 today) was 2nd with a 48-00 total, more than half of which he accumulated on day 1. Shawn Johnson made it a Top 3 sweep for Floridians with 18-15 today and a 46-04 total. Day 2 leader James Niggemeyer of Texas caught just 4-12 today and was 4th with 45-06, and another Florida resident, Mark Lamb, completed the Top 5 with 10-06 today and a 44-11 total.

The bottom half of the Top 10 looked like this:

6. Patrick Pierce: 42-10
7. Cliff Pace: 41-11
8. Rodney Sorrell: 41-06
9. Kevin Marrs: 40-10
10. (tie) Marty Robinson: 40-08
10. (tie) Derek Remitz: 40-08

A cold front moved in late yesterday, which may have been why many of the frontrunners weighed in their smallest sacks of the tournament. Another reason might have been all the pressure the fish in crowded Moonshine Bay have undergone over the past 3 weeks. Niggemeyer came in more than 18 pounds lighter than yesterday and several other anglers who'd made appearances in the Top 10 were also in single digits. Eric Nethery, who caught a tournament-best 27-11 on day 2, was blanked today.

Meanwhile, Lane brought in his second straight 20-pound bag to claim the most significant win of his career.

Lane Thrilled

It's been a big month at the Big O for the Lane family. Bobby Lane, Chris' brother, was 2nd at the Okeechobee Southeastern Stren 3 weeks ago and another brother, Arnie, was 3rd.

At 30, Chris is the youngest of the three, and today it was his turn to bask in the spotlight. "This is just a dream come true," he said. "It couldn't mean more to anybody in the world than it does to me and my wife.

"I've been trying to get geared up for the Elite Series and we've both been working non-stop day in and day out," he said. I just put in my 2 weeks notice at my job (he's a sales representative for a pump company) and we'd been wondering whether we made the right decision."

He caught two fish today that weighed between 7 1/2 and 8 pounds, but lost one that he said was even bigger. He thought that might have cost him the tournament because he started the day more than 4 pounds behind Scroggins and more than 7 shy of Niggemeyer.

He said he wouldn't celebrate too hard tonight, but tomorrow might be another story.

"I'm taking my wife and my two kids up to my grandpa's cabin, which has been in our family for about 25 years," he said. "We're just going to cook some steaks and take some time for ourselves.

"My brothers and my dad and everybody else will just have to wait until tomorrow night."

Details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.

2nd: Scroggins' Hawgs Gone

Scroggins won the Toho Bassmaster Southern Open last November and was never lower than 2nd on any of the 3 days at this event. He led day 1 with a 24-05 sack that included 8- and 7-pounders, but he didn't catch a fish that weighed more than 4 pounds on either of the last 2 days.

He flipped mats in Moonshine Bay all 3 days. "I just ran out of fish," he said. "Too many boats moved in there (on day 2) and all of the big fish got caught."

He said he had relatively low expectations coming in, so he's not disheartened by the runner-up finish. If anything, it just gives him additional confidence for the Bassmaster Classic, which will take place at Lake Toho next month.

"I didn't have a very good practice, so I'm extremely happy with the outcome," he said. "I would have liked to have won, but it wasn't meant to be.

"I've been 1st and 2nd in my last two tournaments, so maybe the Classic will be another 1st."

> Flipping gear: 7'6" extra-heavy Airrus rod, Shimano Curado casting reel, 65-pound Berkley Spiderwire, 3/4- and 1-ounce Penetrator weights, 6/0 Gamakatsu hook (modified), 3 1/2-inch Zoom crawfish (white neon and black/blue).

3rd: Johnson Got Hot

Johnson was in 65th place with a 7-07 limit after day 1, but started catching big fish on day 2 and rocketed up the leaderboard. This is his first full year of fishing at the triple-A level and the finish was his best ever.

His 18-12 bag today included an 8-05 and a "7-something." He had an 8-05 and an 8-00 on day 2. Both of his big ones bit before 10:00 yesterday, but he didn't get the first until after 11:00 today.

He fished mostly soft stickbaits on days 1 and 2, but switched to a lipless crankbait late yesterday when the cold front arrived. He stuck with the crank today and caught his fish in about 3 1/2 feet of water from a spot that featured scattered Kissimmee grass.

"I caught a bunch of small fish in practice, so I was really just hoping to make the cut," he said. "But then I started catching those big fish and it turned out to be an excellent tournament."

> Crankbait gear: 6'6" medium Team Daiwa fiberglass rod, Team Daiwa casting reel (5.1:1 ratio), 15-pound Berkley Big Game monofilament line, 1/2-ounce unnamed lipless crankbait (orange with chartreuse stripe).

> Stickbait gear: 7'0" medium Team Daiwa LT rod, Team Daiwa casting reel (5.1:1 ratio), 30-pound Power Pro braided line, 1/16-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight (red), 5/0 Gamakatsu EWG hook, 5-inch Wave Worms Tiki Stick (watermelon and june bug).

> When the wind subsided, he fished without the weight.

4th: Niggemeyer's Fish Shut Down

Niggemeyer was the day 2 leader after he flipped up a massive 23-00 sack, but he managed just 4-12 today.

"My fish just quit on me," he said. "I was talking to (Scroggins) in the weigh-in line and he was saying he thought they'd just been punished and that there weren't that many left, and I agree with him. For the most part, it seemed like the bite was off."

Naturally, he would have liked to have had a better final day, but he was still pleased by his performance on his initial visit to the Big O.

"Where I'm disappointed is that you don't get too many chances to win, and to not capitalize feels like a missed opportunity," he said. "But I'm still real excited with a Top 5 finish. For it being my first time here, everything went real well."

> Flipping gear: 7'2" medium-heavy All-Star Big Boy Series rod, Pflueger President casting reel (6:1 ratio), 65-pound unnamed braided line, 3/4- and 1-ounce Lake Fork Tackle Mega-Weights, 4/0 Xpoint hook, Lake Fork Tackle Craw Tube (blue bruiser).

Notable

> Day 3 stats: 50 anglers, 37 limits, two zeroes.

> Lane finished behind both of his brothers at the recent Stren Series event, but he was still a respectable 25th.

> BASS reported that Brian Penso of Texas mistakenly launched his boat with another tournament this morning. He was penalized today's catch, but still finished 39th. He ended day 2 in 14th.

Final Standings

1. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, Fla. -- 15, 54-12 -- 305 -- $71,100
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 22-11 -- Day 3: 5, 21-10

2. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, Fla. -- 15, 48-00 -- 300 -- $51,960
Day 1: 5, 24-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15 -- Day 3: 5, 10-12

3. Shawn Johnson -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 15, 46-04 -- 290 -- $32,610
Day 1: 5, 7-07 -- Day 2: 5, 19-14 -- Day 3: 5, 18-15

4. James Niggemeyer -- Lindale, Texas -- 14, 45-06 -- 290 -- $25,000
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 23-00 -- Day 3: 4, 4-12

5. Mark Lamb -- West Palm Beach, Fla. -- 15, 44-11 -- 280 -- $8,700
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 23-08 -- Day 3: 5, 10-06

6. Patrick Pierce -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 15, 42-10 -- 276 -- $6,960
Day 1: 5, 9-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-12 -- Day 3: 5, 16-05

7. Cliff Pace -- Petal, Miss. -- 15, 41-11 -- 272 -- $5,655
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02 -- Day 3: 5, 14-03

8. Rodney Sorrell -- Stokesdale, N.C. -- 15, 41-06 -- 268 -- $4,350
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 22-01 -- Day 3: 5, 6-06

9. Kevin Marrs -- Melbourne, Fla. -- 15, 40-10 -- 264 -- $3,915
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 8-08 -- Day 3: 5, 21-11

10. Marty Robinson -- Greer, S.C. -- 15, 40-08 -- 258 -- $3,610.50
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-12 -- Day 3: 5, 6-03

10. Derek Remitz -- North Branch, Minn. -- 15, 40-08 -- 258 -- $3,610.50
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05 -- Day 3: 5, 14-10

12. Randy Yager -- Syracuse, N.Y. -- 15, 38-07 -- 254 -- $3,480
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 6-13
13. Clark Reehm -- Leesville, La. -- 14, 38-05 -- 251 -- $5,393
Day 1: 4, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14 -- Day 3: 5, 9-07
14. Curtis Lewis -- West Palm Beach, Fla. -- 15, 36-06 -- 248 -- $3,306
Day 1: 5, 7-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12 -- Day 3: 5, 15-14
15. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, Ala. -- 12, 35-10 -- 245 -- $3,219
Day 1: 5, 21-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05 -- Day 3: 2, 2-08
16. Mike Balon -- Clewiston, Fla. -- 15, 35-07 -- 243 -- $3,132
Day 1: 5, 8-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09
17. Tony Hogan -- Pensacola, Fla. -- 12, 34-11 -- 241 -- $4,045
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 4, 11-13 -- Day 3: 3, 11-05
18. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, Ga. -- 8, 33-10 -- 239 -- $3,958
Day 1: 3, 5-15 -- Day 2: 5, 27-11 -- Day 3: 0, 0-00
19. Sammy Burks -- Joplin, Mo. -- 13, 32-11 -- 237 -- $2,784
Day 1: 3, 5-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08 -- Day 3: 5, 9-15
20. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 15, 32-05 -- 235 -- $2,610
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 7-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-07
21. Chris Daniels -- Panama City, Fla. -- 15, 32-03 -- 233 -- $2,523
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09
22. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, S.C. -- 15, 31-14 -- 231 -- $2,436
Day 1: 5, 9-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 5, 9-10
23. Mark Rogers -- Naples, Fla. -- 15, 31-03 -- 228 -- $2,305.50
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 8-09 -- Day 3: 5, 9-06
23. Terry Bloom -- Groveland, Fla. -- 15, 31-03 -- 228 -- $2,305.50
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07 -- Day 3: 5, 7-13
25. Sam Greer -- London, Ky. -- 11, 31-01 -- 225 -- $2,175
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 4, 13-14 -- Day 3: 2, 2-15
26. Teb Jones -- Hattiesburg, Miss. -- 15, 30-15 -- 223 -- $2,088
Day 1: 5, 6-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09
27. Doug Garrett -- Cabot, Ark. -- 15, 30-05 -- 221 -- $2,001
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 9-01 -- Day 3: 5, 7-02
28. Nicholas Turner -- Jones, Ala. -- 15, 29-06 -- 219 -- $1,914
Day 1: 5, 8-13 -- Day 2: 5, 9-03 -- Day 3: 5, 11-06
29. Donnie Hawks -- Galax, Va. -- 13, 29-05 -- 217 -- $1,827
Day 1: 3, 3-07 -- Day 2: 5, 19-09 -- Day 3: 5, 6-05
30. Larry Jones -- Acworth, Ga. -- 15, 29-00 -- 215 -- $1,740
Day 1: 5, 6-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02 -- Day 3: 5, 11-00
31. Thomas O'Bryant -- Cedar Grove, Tenn. -- 15, 28-14 -- 213 -- $1,697
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 9-13 -- Day 3: 5, 8-01
32. Craig Dowling -- Many, La. -- 13, 28-10 -- 211 -- $1,653
Day 1: 3, 8-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 5, 9-03
33. Bryan Hudgins -- Orange Park, Fla. -- 15, 28-00 -- 209 -- $1,610
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 6-06 -- Day 3: 5, 7-04
34. Mark Rizk -- Arab, Ala. -- 13, 27-15 -- 207 -- $1,566
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 4, 6-06 -- Day 3: 4, 8-11
35. Randy Alexander -- London, Ky. -- 15, 27-10 -- 205 -- $1,523
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 8-08 -- Day 3: 5, 8-14
36. Brady Nelson -- Palmetto, Fla. -- 15, 27-00 -- 203 -- $1,479
Day 1: 5, 7-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04 -- Day 3: 5, 8-07
37. James Conrad -- Alva, Fla. -- 15, 26-11 -- 201 -- $1,436
Day 1: 5, 7-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00 -- Day 3: 5, 8-00
38. Frank Ippoliti -- Smithsburg, Md. -- 15, 26-09 -- 199 -- $1,392
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 7-01 -- Day 3: 5, 7-09
39. Brian Penso -- Houston, Texas -- 10, 26-05 -- 197 -- $1,349
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12 -- Day 3: 0, 0-00
40. Robert Miley -- Miami, Fla. -- 14, 26-03 -- 195 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 8-08 -- Day 2: 4, 9-07 -- Day 3: 5, 8-04
41. Cecil Douberly -- Lakeland, Fla. -- 15, 25-04 -- 193 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 7-06 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14 -- Day 3: 5, 7-00
42. Jack Wade -- Knoxville, Tenn. -- 15, 25-02 -- 191 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 9-05 -- Day 2: 5, 8-04 -- Day 3: 5, 7-09
43. Darrell Newman -- Bruceville, Texas -- 12, 24-15 -- 189 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 6-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 2, 2-10
44. Tom Hamlin -- Lizella, Ga. -- 15, 24-12 -- 187 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 8-09 -- Day 2: 5, 9-04 -- Day 3: 5, 6-15
45. Jim Murray -- Arabi, Ga. -- 14, 24-06 -- 185 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 7-07 -- Day 3: 4, 6-07
46. Rich Patterson -- Windermere, Fla. -- 15, 23-13 -- 183 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 5-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 5-07
47. Bobby Scharber -- Pulaski, Tenn. -- 12, 23-09 -- 181 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 7-12 -- Day 3: 2, 1-11
48. Mike Robinson -- Acworth, Ga. -- 9, 22-12 -- 179 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 1, 6-03 -- Day 3: 3, 4-07
49. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fla. -- 11, 21-07 -- 177 -- $1,305
Day 1: 5, 6-13 -- Day 2: 4, 11-00 -- Day 3: 2, 3-10
50. John Gray -- Noblesville, Ind. -- 11, 19-01 -- 175 -- $1,087.50
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 5-06 -- Day 3: 1, 1-04

Big Bass

Day 3: Tony Hogan -- Pensacola, Fla. -- 8-11 -- $1,000
Day 2: Eric Nethery -- Acworth, Ga. -- 8-15 -- $1,000
Day 1: Clark Reehm -- Leesville, La. -- 9-12 -- $1,000


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