HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. - With his lightest bag of the week and a smile on his face nonetheless, Kevin Wirth of Crestwood, Ky., came to the Bassmaster Elite Series weigh-in stage early Saturday, content that he had enough to maintain the lead through the third day of the Tennessee Triumph bass fishing tournament on Old Hickory Lake. He was right.
Wirth, 45, brought a five-fish limit weighing 12 pounds, 1 ounce to the scales and held the lead for Day 3 on Old Hickory Lake. For the second straight day, the Elite Series veteran and former Kentucky Derby jockey stayed ahead of four-time Bassmaster Classic champion Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo., by just more than 3 pounds with 44 pounds, 13 ounces overall heading into Day 4, when just the top 12 pros will compete for the $100,000 first-place prize.
Equally steady and confident, Clunn didn't let Wirth's lead open up, weighing in 12-3 Saturday for a total of 41-10. Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., also held his place, in third with 37-1 overall. Rounding out the top five were Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu, Ariz., with 36-14, and 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, whose solid 15-11 on the day gave him a nice push up from a tie for 25th to fifth with 36-7 overall.
Wirth said Saturday was his toughest day so far, as the shallow area he's fishing makes it difficult for spectator boats to follow, and he had more fans than any previous day hanging around to watch him. Regardless, Wirth's aim was to have fun and not get in any hurry.
"I felt happy when I caught my first keeper today, happy when I caught my second keeper - I didn't care what size they were today," said Wirth, who last won a BASS tournament in 1994. "Whatever happens, happens. I'm just going fishing."
Wirth is rotating through several areas, often getting bites after leaving an area alone for a time and coming back. He said he's trying to manage fish while also being mindful of the long runs he's making. He had a limit by 9 a.m. and was comfortable enough with what he had by mid-afternoon to come in. He said he has been saving one last place for Sunday.
"I don't think I'll catch any real giant fish in there," Wirth said, "but I feel like I could go in there and catch 12-15 pounds."
Other top-12 finishes of note: Ray Sedgwick of Cross, S.C., had the of the day with 15-14, launching himself from 43rd to eighth place with 34-11 overall. Sedgwick also tied Steve Daniel of Clewiston, Fla., for Purolator Big Bass of the Day honors with a bass weighing 4-7; 2006 Bassmaster Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., goes into the final day in seventh place with 34-14 overall; and Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, in second place in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings and just 15 points behind AOY points leader Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., is 11th with 33-8 overall.
The winner of the AOY will receive $250,000 and the points will also determine the brunt of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic qualifiers.
Meanwhile, reigning Bassmaster Angler of the Year Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., bounced back from 35th to 28th with 28-6; and VanDam, a three-time Angler of the Year and two-time Bassmaster Classic winner, finished 32nd with 27-15.
Clunn, who has been in the top 10 throughout the competition, said he doesn't have any regrets so far, but he is losing more fish than he'd like. He intends to fish strategically Sunday instead of defensively, as he has been so far.
"I would prefer if I could be gaining some ground on Kevin (Wirth) but I just can't seem to gain," said Clunn, 61. "Today was the day I kind of worried about. I'm going to open it up tomorrow."
Clunn worked a crankbait on two or three stretches of water Saturday, but has caught a few of his bigger fish on a jig through all three days. He hopes to keep mixing it up Sunday and stay in a rhythm.
"Today I was doing it more just because I had to work the same water over and over," he said of switching from the crankbait to the jig. "I probably would've just stayed with the crankbait if I could've worked all seven, eight stretches."
In the co-angler division, Jim McDevitt of Eldon, Mo., claimed the $25,000 top prize and his third BASS victory with a three-day total of 20 pounds, 2 ounces. Tennessee's Willie Leaver finished second with 19-1 overall, while fellow Tennessean Terry Steele was third with 18-7.
"I jumped in with (Elite Series pro) Derek Remitz and pre-fished with him and (Elite pro) Brad Hallman," said McDevitt, 56, who also won the co-angler division in the season-opening Sunshine Showdown on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes. "Brad and Derek, for young men, those guys know something - and I'm coachable. And it's luck. Luck is when preparation collides with opportunity."
McDevitt, whose first BASS co-angler victory was in 2006, had roughly 25 bites a day. He used a Mag 2 green pumpkin, a Mag 2 electric blue and a Zoom dark red brush hog over the course of the three-day co-angler competition on Old Hickory.
Daily tournament launches and weigh-ins will take place at Sanders Ferry Park, 100 Sanders Ferry Park Rd., Hendersonville. Launches begin at 6 a.m. CT and weigh-ins at 2 p.m.
Tennessee Triumph
2008 Elite Series - Tennessee Triumph PRO 06/26-06/29
Old Hickory Lake, Hendersonville Tenn.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 15 44-13 $3,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 12-01
2. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 15 41-10
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 5 12-03
3. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 15 37-01 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 15-08 Day 3: 5 8-07
4. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz 15 36-14
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 14-03
5. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 15 36-07
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 15-11
6. Bill Lowen North Bend, Ohio 15 35-12
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 8-09
7. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 15 34-14
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 9-12
8. Ray Sedgwick Cross, S.C. 15 34-11 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 9-02 Day 2: 5 9-11 Day 3: 5 15-14
9. Steve Daniel Clewiston, Fla. 14 34-00 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 4 10-10
10. Marty Stone Fayetteville, N.C. 14 33-15
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 8-15 Day 3: 4 8-11
11. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 15 33-08
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 9-00 Day 3: 5 13-05
12. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 15 33-05
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 5 10-08
12. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 15 33-05 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 9-14 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 5 12-09
14. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 15 32-01 248 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 7-13
15. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 15 32-00 245 $10,600.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 9-10 Day 3: 5 7-02
16. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 13 31-11 243 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 3 4-15
17. Kevin Langill Terrell, N.C. 13 31-07 241 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 4 9-03 Day 3: 4 7-01
18. Peter Thliveros St Augustine, Fla. 12 31-06 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 4 7-13 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 3 10-06
19. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 12 31-05 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 2 6-08 Day 3: 5 10-08
20. Bobby Lane Lakeland, Fla. 15 30-12 235 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 5 11-04
21. Mark Tyler Vian, Okla. 12 30-02 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 2 7-04 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 10-09
22. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 15 30-00 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 8-09 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 5 11-00
23. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, S.C. 15 29-11 229 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 9-02 Day 3: 5 8-13
24. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 14 29-10 227 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 8-07 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 4 8-05
25. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 13 28-15 224 $10,125.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 3 9-04 Day 3: 5 7-14
25. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 12 28-15 224 $10,125.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 2 2-14
27. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 13 28-09 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 5-06 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 9-03
28. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 12 28-06 219 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 3 4-04 Day 3: 4 8-09
29. Scott Campbell Springfield, Mo. 15 28-04 217 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 7-04 Day 3: 5 7-12
30. Clark Reehm Russellville, Ark. 15 28-02 214 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 5 9-10 Day 3: 5 8-13
30. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 15 28-02 214 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 9-06 Day 2: 5 7-15 Day 3: 5 10-13
32. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 15 27-15 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 7-05 Day 2: 5 9-13 Day 3: 5 10-13
33. Jason Quinn York, S.C. 13 27-13 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 3 5-12 Day 3: 5 10-09
34. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 15 27-11 206 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 7-13 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 7-07
34. Bryan Hudgins Orange Park, Fla. 13 27-11 206 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 3 5-08
36. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 15 27-10 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 8-08 Day 3: 5 8-10
37. John Crews Salem, Va. 14 27-05 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 4 8-00 Day 3: 5 9-02
38. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 15 27-00 199 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 9-13 Day 2: 5 8-07 Day 3: 5 8-12
39. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 12 26-05 197 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 2 3-00
40. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 11 25-15 195 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 9-15 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 2 2-11
41. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 14 25-01 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 9-08 Day 3: 4 5-10
42. Chris Lane Lakeland, Fla. 12 24-15 190 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 4 9-04 Day 3: 3 4-09
42. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 12 24-15 190 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 9-14 Day 3: 2 4-01
44. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 11 24-11 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 3 7-02 Day 3: 3 4-10
45. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 12 23-09 185 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 9-02 Day 2: 5 11-01 Day 3: 2 3-06
46. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 12 23-07 183 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 2 2-11
47. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 10 22-01 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 4 7-00 Day 3: 1 1-13
48. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 10 21-10 179 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Jeff Connella Bentley, La. 10 18-09 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 8-08 Day 2: 5 10-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. Byron Velvick Del Rio, Texas 8 17-00 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 3 5-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 6-04 $1,000.00
2 Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 6-06 $1,000.00
3 Ray Sedgwick Cross, S.C. 4-07 $500.00
3 Steve Daniel Clewiston, Fla. 4-07 $500.00
Day
1 Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 17-02 $1,000.00
2 Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 15-10 $1,000.00
3 Ray Sedgwick Cross, S.C. 15-14 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 60 422 883-02
2 50 392 815-05
3 29 197 399-05
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139 1011 2097-12
2008 Elite Series - Tennessee Triumph CO 06/26-06/29
Old Hickory Lake, Hendersonville Tenn.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jim McDevitt Eldon, Mo. 9 20-02 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-13 Day 2: 3 7-02 Day 3: 3 6-03
2. Willie Leaver Camden, Tenn. 8 19-01 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 7-00 Day 2: 3 8-05 Day 3: 2 3-12
3. Terry Steele Sparta, Tenn. 9 18-07 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 3 7-08 Day 3: 3 4-13
4. Jonathan Edwards Lawrenceburg, Tenn. 9 18-01 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 3 5-08 Day 2: 3 5-08 Day 3: 3 7-01
5. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, Fla. 9 17-03 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 3 6-11 Day 3: 3 4-12
6. Ron Seabaugh Barnhart, Mo. 8 15-12 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 6-13 Day 2: 3 6-01 Day 3: 2 2-14
7. Steve Greene Lebanon, Tenn. 5 15-11 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 3 8-14 Day 2: 1 2-12 Day 3: 1 4-01
8. Jeff Minchey Westmoreland, Tenn. 8 15-03 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 3 6-06 Day 3: 2 2-11
9. Brian Easler Inman, S.C. 7 14-03 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 3 5-05 Day 2: 3 4-11 Day 3: 1 4-03
10. Derik Dunton Van Meter, Iowa 8 14-01 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 3 4-02 Day 3: 3 6-10
11. Tommy Swindle Cleveland, Ala. 7 13-15 0 $1,250.00
Day 1: 3 5-14 Day 2: 3 6-14 Day 3: 1 1-03
12. David Harbison Millstadt, Ill. 8 13-08 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 4-12 Day 2: 3 4-06 Day 3: 3 4-06
13. Pat Hatcliff Murfreesboro, Tenn. 7 13-07 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 6-14 Day 2: 2 2-14 Day 3: 2 3-11
14. A.J. Menssen Bloomington, Ill. 8 13-04 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 5-00 Day 2: 3 5-02 Day 3: 2 3-02
14. Eddie Walker Murfreesboro, Tenn. 5 13-04 0 $750.00
Day 1: 2 2-15 Day 2: 1 4-10 Day 3: 2 5-11
16. Ron Wheaton Columbia, Tenn. 7 13-02 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 4-05 Day 2: 1 1-04 Day 3: 3 7-09
16. Jason Luszcak Palos Hills, Ill. 6 13-02 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 7-15 Day 2: 2 3-03 Day 3: 1 2-00
18. Tony Devolder Coal Valley, Ill. 7 12-08 0 $750.00
Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 3 6-00 Day 3: 3 5-00
19. Jimmy Swindle Gardendale, Ala. 7 12-01 0 $750.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 3 5-12 Day 3: 3 4-11
20. Ryan Piersdorf Forest Lake, Minn. 4 11-15 0 $1,250.00
Day 1: 2 7-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 4-01
21. Bret Myers Keller, Texas 6 11-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 2 4-14 Day 2: 2 3-02 Day 3: 2 3-14
22. Tony Lain Greentop, Mo. 6 11-07 0 $750.00
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 3 6-06 Day 3: 2 3-05
23. Robert Carathers Columbia, Tenn. 5 10-12 0 $750.00
Day 1: 1 3-03 Day 2: 2 2-14 Day 3: 2 4-11
24. Scott Mickulin Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6 9-14 0 $666.67
Day 1: 2 2-14 Day 2: 3 5-08 Day 3: 1 1-08
24. Mark Menz Bethpage, Tenn. 6 9-14 0 $666.67
Day 1: 3 4-14 Day 2: 3 5-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
24. Bj Hannah Dyersburg, Tenn. 5 9-14 0 $666.67
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 6-00 Day 3: 2 3-14
27. Alton Jones Woodway, Texas 5 9-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 5-15 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 3-13
28. J Patton Eldridge, Iowa 5 9-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 3-12 Day 2: 2 3-12 Day 3: 1 1-15
29. Harry Parten Sweet Water, Ala. 4 9-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 2 5-12 Day 3: 1 2-01
30. Larry Dunn Baxter, Tenn. 6 9-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 4-06 Day 2: 2 3-01 Day 3: 1 1-14
31. Mike Marfell Saint Louis, Mo. 6 9-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 3-07 Day 2: 3 4-08 Day 3: 1 1-05
32. Randy Warner Elmwood, Ill. 4 9-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 2 5-06 Day 3: 1 2-02
33. Dave Fritts Hudson, Ill. 5 9-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 5-10 Day 2: 1 1-13 Day 3: 1 1-09
34. Brian Christianson La Crosse, Wisc. 5 8-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 2 4-00 Day 3: 2 2-15
35. Bob Havermale Lewistown, Mo. 3 8-11 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 8-11 Day 3: 0 0-00
36. Ted Daniels Saint Louis, Mo. 5 8-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 1-01 Day 2: 3 6-02 Day 3: 1 1-07
37. Matt Burch Oakdale, Minn. 4 8-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 3 6-04 Day 3: 0 0-00
38. Joel Etheredge Springville, Ala. 5 8-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 5-08 Day 2: 1 1-08 Day 3: 1 1-04
39. Mary Delgado Tampa, Fla. 5 8-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 4-01 Day 2: 2 2-08 Day 3: 1 1-08
39. Rick Moewe Nashville, Tenn. 5 8-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 2 3-06 Day 3: 2 3-01
41. Jeremiah Shaver La Crosse, Wisc. 5 7-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-01 Day 3: 2 2-12
42. Jack Brooks Bradenton, Fla. 4 7-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 2-02 Day 2: 3 5-10 Day 3: 0 0-00
43. Bryan Swanson Carbon Cliff, Ill. 4 7-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 2 3-08 Day 3: 1 2-05
44. Andy Bylander New Richmond, Wisc. 5 6-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 3-12 Day 2: 1 2-00 Day 3: 1 1-03
44. Harry Potts Ozark, Ala. 4 6-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 2 3-09 Day 3: 1 1-05
46. Jim Randle Decatur, Ill. 4 6-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 5-03 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-07
47. Rodney Clawson Old Hickory, Tenn. 4 6-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 1-07 Day 2: 2 3-14 Day 3: 1 1-02
48. Vershun Tolliver Smyrna, Tenn. 3 5-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 2 3-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Tom Frink Simi Valley, Calif. 3 5-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 4-07 Day 2: 1 1-07 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. Dave Dickherber Lake Saint Louis, Mo. 3 5-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Ryan Piersdorf Forest Lake, Minn. 5-06 $500.00
2 Bob Havermale Lewistown, Mo. 5-05 $500.00
3 Brian Easler Inman, S.C. 4-03 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 22 142 267-01
2 27 159 298-04
3 9 76 140-10
----------------------------------
58 377 705-15