CLEWISTON, Fla. – Florida’s Raymond Trudeau proved to be one of the wolves Alabama’s George Crain fretted about this morning when the leader said he felt like a pack of wolves was closing in on him. Trudeau nipped Crain to win the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Southern Divisional bass fishing tournament at Lake Okeechobee by only 6 ounces.
Trudeau’s 21-pound, 10-ounce limit today overtook Crain’s lead.
“I was struggling in practice,” said Trudeau. “The water was real dirty where I wanted to fish, and I kept forcing it and checking on it, but all I could catch was an occasional 3-pound fish. My team helped me out the first day by putting me on flipping fish, which I really needed to have, and I stuck with it.”
The second day the wind let up, and Trudeau knew then he could go topwater fishing. “I knew the water was going to clear up so I went up to a few spots. Today there was a guide on one of them, and the other area was blown out because of the south wind. So I concentrated on one area.”
“My nerves were shot this morning. I missed a huge fish early and then kept pulling my bait away from fish, and it just really messed me up. My partner (Sidney Weaver of South Carolina) kept telling me to calm down and relax. By 11 o'clock, I finally started getting my nerves going a little better and managed to get one more good fish and then lost another big one.”
The largest fish he caught weighed 8-9 and was the big bass of the day.
The 47-year-old prototype developer for Tupperware caught his larger topwater fish on a firetiger Zara Spook and Lucky Craft Splash Tail in a shad pattern. His other keepers fell for a 1/4-ounce Gambler Ninja spinnerbait with a watermelon skirt.
By winning the divisional and finishing as the top angler on his state team, Trudeau also qualified for the B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Championship (FNC) to be held on Wheeler Lake in Alabama, Oct. 25-27. Other state winners qualifying for the FNC are Jeremy Pridgen of Georgia; Tim Hennemann, Kentucky; Brent Boyette, North Carolina; Edward Cox, South Carolina; Mark Pierce, Tennessee; and Crain, who led the first two days.
Georgia won the team championship with 502 pounds, 8 ounces, while Florida finished second with 496-14.
The divisional was hosted by Roland and Mary Ann Martin's Marina and Resort.
Junior Bassmasters Results - Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Southern Divisional on Lake Okeechobee
Willem Lubbinge of South Africa caught a five-fish limit weighing 19-pounds, 4 ounces (the biggest limit he has ever caught) to win the 15- to 18-year-olds age group of the Junior Bassmasters competition in the Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation Southern Divisional on Lake Okeechobee. Florida youngster Luke Farmer won the 11-14 age group by catching four keepers weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces. The young anglers both qualified for berths in the Junior Bassmasters World Championship (JWC) to be held in conjunction with the Federation Nation Championship in Alabama in October.
2012 BFN Southern Division Championship 3/28-3/30
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston FL.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Raymond Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL (FL) 15 58-06 0
2. George Crain Cropwell, AL (AL) 15 58-00 0
3. Edward Cox Goose Creek, SC (SC) 15 52-08 0
4. Jeremy Pridgen Hahira , GA (GA) 15 52-02 0
5. Bob Grosso Odessa, FL (FL) 15 47-00 0
6. Robert Bogacki Ocala, FL (FL) 12 46-09 0
7. Colby Flinn Bradenton, FL (FL) 15 46-06 0
8. Arnie Lane Lakeland, FL (FL) 15 45-09 0
9. Colby Cotterill Lakeland, FL (FL) 15 45-04 0
10. James Roberson Naylor, GA (GA) 15 44-14 0
11. Chuck Thurlow Auburn, AL (AL) 12 44-11 0
12. Tim Hennemann Florence, KY (KY) 14 43-03 0
13. Mark Pierce Clarksville, TN (TN) 15 43-01 0
14. Chris Blair Newnan, GA (GA) 11 42-13 0
15. Phillip Lovett Florence, AL (AL) 15 42-12 0
16. Angelo Koundourakis Bainbridge, GA (GA) 15 41-08 0
17. Brent Boyette Kenly, NC (NC) 14 40-13 0
18. Chuck Murray Louisburg, NC (NC) 15 39-08 0
19. Karl A Schreiber Georgetown, KY (KY) 14 39-06 0
20. Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL (AL) 15 38-14 0
21. Don Hogue Cropwell, AL (AL) 15 38-04 0
22. Josh Smith Guin, AL (AL) 15 38-00 0
23. Paul Tyre Tallahassee, FL (GA) 15 37-10 0
24. Rick Craft Greenup, KY (KY) 15 37-10 0
25. Billy Harris Mooresville, NC (NC) 10 37-02 0
26. Alan Shultz Rutledge, GA (GA) 15 37-00 0
27. Waine Pittman Villa Rica, GA (GA) 12 36-07 0
28. Frank Raymer Brandenburg, KY (KY) 15 36-05 0
29. James David Lockhart II Clarksville, TN (TN) 12 35-12 0
30. Greg Newman Maryville, TN (TN) 14 35-05 0
31. Nobel Willits Altamonte Springs, FL ( 15 34-13 0
32. Scott Hamrick Denver, NC (NC) 15 34-09 0
33. Michael Carson Gastonia, NC (SC) 11 34-08 0
34. Larry Cahan East Palatka, FL (FL) 15 33-14 0
35. Roger Hoover Mooresville, NC (NC) 14 33-01 0
36. Jason Reinke North Charleston, SC (S 15 32-14 0
37. Brian W Bowers Franklinton, NC (NC) 15 32-08 0
38. Gary Kennedy Trion, GA (GA) 13 32-02 0
39. David G Williams Maiden, NC (NC) 15 32-01 0
40. Chris Neely Chattahoochee, FL (GA) 12 31-15 0
41. Robert Richardson Palmetto, GA (GA) 11 31-15 0
42. Jeff Green Gaffney, SC (SC) 14 31-14 0
43. Mel Long Hampton, SC (SC) 15 31-11 0
44. Jimmy Hodges McDonough, GA (GA) 15 31-11 0
45. John L Crisp Mount Washington, KY (K 14 30-12 0
46. Gary Arnold Mt Pleasant, SC (SC) 15 30-09 0
47. Pete Fargo Acworth, GA (GA) 8 30-09 0
48. Don Cox Russellville, AL (AL) 15 30-07 0
49. Eric J Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN (TN) 15 30-03 0
50. Chad Rice Grayson , KY (KY) 15 30-03 0
51. Tony South Muscle Shoals, AL (AL) 14 30-03 0
52. Chris Kerfoot Louisville, KY (KY) 14 29-10 0
53. Caleb Frazier Citrus Springs, FL (FL) 13 29-09 0
54. David Cook Hendersonville, TN (TN) 14 29-03 0
55. Jerry Last Chattanooga, TN (TN) 12 28-15 0
56. Rocky Rockhill Tuscumbia, AL (AL) 15 28-12 0
57. Brian Elder Locust Grove, GA (GA) 13 28-05 0
58. David Beacham Columbia, SC (SC) 13 28-03 0
59. Nickolas Coleman Kuttawa, KY (KY) 13 28-01 0
60. David Swain Wilson, NC (NC) 14 27-13 0
61. Jeff Giarrizzo Clarksville, TN (TN) 12 27-13 0
62. Anthony Goggins Sylacauga, AL (AL) 12 27-10 0
63. Gary L Bonnet Borden, IN (KY) 15 27-08 0
64. Edward Coto Barnwell, SC (SC) 14 27-05 0
65. Warren L Tolson Lexington, KY (KY) 12 27-04 0
66. Jerry Craig Hiddenite, NC (NC) 12 26-10 0
67. Jeff Narron Sims, NC (NC) 11 26-04 0
68. Brian Nelson Clarksville, TN (TN) 12 26-02 0
69. Joseph T Von Hoene Erlanger, KY (KY) 11 25-13 0
70. Kyle Raymer Brandenburg, KY (KY) 15 24-09 0
71. Andy Martin Conway, SC (SC) 15 24-08 0
72. Bill Gordon Birmingham, AL (AL) 11 24-06 0
73. Billy Scoggins Mooresboro, NC (NC) 12 21-09 0
74. Andy Warren Maury City, TN (TN) 10 20-13 0
75. Henry J Farmer Jr. Kingsport, TN (TN) 7 20-13 0
76. Mark Estep Russell , KY (KY) 13 20-01 0
77. William Hazel Brunson, SC (SC) 12 20-01 0
78. Bill Spicer Blue Mountain, AL (AL) 10 20-01 0
79. David Glynn Stinson Johnson City, TN (TN) 11 19-14 0
80. Willem Lubbinge Pretoria Gauteng SOUTH 5 19-10 0
81. Kenneth Jordan Panama City, FL (FL) 9 19-09 0
82. Sidney Weaver Cherryville, NC (SC) 10 19-04 0
83. Charles Graybeal Jr. Erwin, TN (TN) 15 18-03 0
84. Dustin Snelson Leesburg, FL (FL) 13 18-02 0
85. John Kiely Knoxville, TN (TN) 11 17-03 0
86. Rich Young Melbourne, KY (KY) 10 16-15 0
87. Todd Barbee Mount Pleasant, NC (NC) 14 16-13 0
88. Roger Morrow Stockbridge, GA (GA) 9 15-11 0
89. Ryan West Hartsville, SC (SC) 11 15-09 0
90. Bob Harper Orlando, FL (FL) 10 15-08 0
91. Derek Bowden Louisburg, NC (NC) 9 15-07 0
92. James Hooven Lakeland, FL (FL) 11 15-02 0
93. Dustin Bozeman Lakeland, FL (FL) 5 14-08 0
94. Rodney Scott Yavorsky Largo, FL (FL) 10 14-05 0
95. Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC (NC) 5 13-12 0
96. Eulon Lee Jr. Montgomery, AL (AL) 8 13-11 0
97. Gary Lynn Brooks New Tazewell Drive, TN 7 12-15 0
98. Joe Smith Rocky Mt, NC (NC) 9 12-10 0
99. Jason Moyer Troy, SC (SC) 9 12-09 0
100. Luke W Farmer Estero, FL (FL) 4 12-06 0
101. Ethan Eubanks Marion, AR (TN) 5 11-12 0
102. Zeke Gossett Cropwell, AL (AL) 5 09-11 0
103. Quentin Vercher Titus, AL (AL) 5 08-08 0
104. Daryl Thorp Tuscumbia, AL (AL) 8 08-00 0
105. Wyatt Young Bartlett, TN (TN) 5 08-00 0
106. Ferris Jennings Charleston, SC (SC) 5 06-15 0
107. Justin Singleton Rutledge, GA (GA) 5 06-13 0
108. Nico Retief Cape Town SOUTH AFRICA 5 06-00 0
109. Chris Carnes York, SC (NC) 5 05-12 0
110. Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY (KY) 4 05-01 0
111. Austin Kelly Cole Rutherford, NC (SC) 4 04-12 0
112. Austin Hagan Clarkson, KY (KY) 2 02-14 0
113. Samson Faulk Lyman, SC (SC) 2 02-02 0
114. Jake Mims Douglasville, GA (GA) 1 01-01 0
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 52 364 824-11
2 80 449 1039-05
3 84 506 1225-08
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216 1319 3089-08
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
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State Lbs-Oz
1 GEORGIA 502-08
2 FLORIDA 496-14
3 ALABAMA 461-14
4 KENTUCKY 425-03
5 NORTH CAROLINA 416-04
6 TENNESSEE 385-15
7 SOUTH CAROLINA 375-04
8 ZA 25-10
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
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GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Jeremy Pridgen Hahira , GA 15 52-02 0
2 James Roberson Naylor, GA 15 44-14 0
3 Chris Blair Newnan, GA 11 42-13 0
4 Angelo Koundourakis Bainbridge, GA 15 41-08 0
5 Paul Tyre Tallahassee, FL 15 37-10 0
6 Alan Shultz Rutledge, GA 15 37-00 0
7 Waine Pittman Villa Rica, GA 12 36-07 0
8 Gary Kennedy Trion, GA 13 32-02 0
9 Chris Neely Chattahoochee, FL 12 31-15 0
10 Robert Richardson Palmetto, GA 11 31-15 0
11 Jimmy Hodges McDonough, GA 15 31-11 0
12 Pete Fargo Acworth, GA 8 30-09 0
13 Brian Elder Locust Grove, GA 13 28-05 0
14 Roger Morrow Stockbridge, GA 9 15-11 0
15 Justin Singleton Rutledge, GA 5 06-13 0
16 Jake Mims Douglasville, GA 1 01-01 0
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Edward Cox Goose Creek, SC 15 52-08 0
2 Michael Carson Gastonia, NC 11 34-08 0
3 Jason Reinke North Charleston, SC 15 32-14 0
4 Jeff Green Gaffney, SC 14 31-14 0
5 Mel Long Hampton, SC 15 31-11 0
6 Gary Arnold Mt Pleasant, SC 15 30-09 0
7 David Beacham Columbia, SC 13 28-03 0
8 Edward Coto Barnwell, SC 14 27-05 0
9 Andy Martin Conway, SC 15 24-08 0
10 William Hazel Brunson, SC 12 20-01 0
11 Sidney Weaver Cherryville, NC 10 19-04 0
12 Ryan West Hartsville, SC 11 15-09 0
13 Jason Moyer Troy, SC 9 12-09 0
14 Ferris Jennings Charleston, SC 5 06-15 0
15 Austin Kelly Cole Rutherford, NC 4 04-12 0
16 Samson Faulk Lyman, SC 2 02-02 0
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Raymond Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL 15 58-06 0
2 Bob Grosso Odessa, FL 15 47-00 0
3 Robert Bogacki Ocala, FL 12 46-09 0
4 Colby Flinn Bradenton, FL 15 46-06 0
5 Arnie Lane Lakeland, FL 15 45-09 0
6 Colby Cotterill Lakeland, FL 15 45-04 0
7 Nobel Willits Altamonte Springs, FL 15 34-13 0
8 Larry Cahan East Palatka, FL 15 33-14 0
9 Caleb Frazier Citrus Springs, FL 13 29-09 0
10 Kenneth Jordan Panama City, FL 9 19-09 0
11 Dustin Snelson Leesburg, FL 13 18-02 0
12 Bob Harper Orlando, FL 10 15-08 0
13 James Hooven Lakeland, FL 11 15-02 0
14 Dustin Bozeman Lakeland, FL 5 14-08 0
15 Rodney Scott Yavorsky Largo, FL 10 14-05 0
16 Luke W Farmer Estero, FL 4 12-06 0
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 George Crain Cropwell, AL 15 58-00 0
2 Chuck Thurlow Auburn, AL 12 44-11 0
3 Phillip Lovett Florence, AL 15 42-12 0
4 Kyle Glasgow Guin, AL 15 38-14 0
5 Don Hogue Cropwell, AL 15 38-04 0
6 Josh Smith Guin, AL 15 38-00 0
7 Don Cox Russellville, AL 15 30-07 0
8 Tony South Muscle Shoals, AL 14 30-03 0
9 Rocky Rockhill Tuscumbia, AL 15 28-12 0
10 Anthony Goggins Sylacauga, AL 12 27-10 0
11 Bill Gordon Birmingham, AL 11 24-06 0
12 Bill Spicer Blue Mountain, AL 10 20-01 0
13 Eulon Lee Jr. Montgomery, AL 8 13-11 0
14 Zeke Gossett Cropwell, AL 5 09-11 0
15 Quentin Vercher Titus, AL 5 08-08 0
16 Daryl Thorp Tuscumbia, AL 8 08-00 0
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Brent Boyette Kenly, NC 14 40-13 0
2 Chuck Murray Louisburg, NC 15 39-08 0
3 Billy Harris Mooresville, NC 10 37-02 0
4 Scott Hamrick Denver, NC 15 34-09 0
5 Roger Hoover Mooresville, NC 14 33-01 0
6 Brian W Bowers Franklinton, NC 15 32-08 0
7 David G Williams Maiden, NC 15 32-01 0
8 David Swain Wilson, NC 14 27-13 0
9 Jerry Craig Hiddenite, NC 12 26-10 0
10 Jeff Narron Sims, NC 11 26-04 0
11 Billy Scoggins Mooresboro, NC 12 21-09 0
12 Todd Barbee Mount Pleasant, NC 14 16-13 0
13 Derek Bowden Louisburg, NC 9 15-07 0
14 Carson Orellana Mooresville, NC 5 13-12 0
15 Joe Smith Rocky Mt, NC 9 12-10 0
16 Chris Carnes York, SC 5 05-12 0
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Tim Hennemann Florence, KY 14 43-03 0
2 Karl A Schreiber Georgetown, KY 14 39-06 0
3 Rick Craft Greenup, KY 15 37-10 0
4 Frank Raymer Brandenburg, KY 15 36-05 0
5 John L Crisp Mount Washington, KY 14 30-12 0
6 Chad Rice Grayson , KY 15 30-03 0
7 Chris Kerfoot Louisville, KY 14 29-10 0
8 Nickolas Coleman Kuttawa, KY 13 28-01 0
9 Gary L Bonnet Borden, IN 15 27-08 0
10 Warren L Tolson Lexington, KY 12 27-04 0
11 Joseph T Von Hoene Erlanger, KY 11 25-13 0
12 Kyle Raymer Brandenburg, KY 15 24-09 0
13 Mark Estep Russell , KY 13 20-01 0
14 Rich Young Melbourne, KY 10 16-15 0
15 Lance Freeman Eddyville, KY 4 05-01 0
16 Austin Hagan Clarkson, KY 2 02-14 0
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Mark Pierce Clarksville, TN 15 43-01 0
2 James David Lockhart II Clarksville, TN 12 35-12 0
3 Greg Newman Maryville, TN 14 35-05 0
4 Eric J Silverstrim Indian Mound, TN 15 30-03 0
5 David Cook Hendersonville, TN 14 29-03 0
6 Jerry Last Chattanooga, TN 12 28-15 0
7 Jeff Giarrizzo Clarksville, TN 12 27-13 0
8 Brian Nelson Clarksville, TN 12 26-02 0
9 Andy Warren Maury City, TN 10 20-13 0
10 Henry J Farmer Jr. Kingsport, TN 7 20-13 0
11 David Glynn Stinson Johnson City, TN 11 19-14 0
12 Charles Graybeal Jr. Erwin, TN 15 18-03 0
13 John Kiely Knoxville, TN 11 17-03 0
14 Gary Lynn Brooks New Tazewell Drive, TN 7 12-15 0
15 Ethan Eubanks Marion, AR 5 11-12 0
16 Wyatt Young Bartlett, TN 5 08-00 0
ZA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1 Willem Lubbinge Pretoria Gauteng SOUTH 5 19-10 0
2 Nico Retief Cape Town SOUTH AFRICA 5 06-00 0