DECATUR, Ala. - Chris Payne of West Blocton, Ala., took home $45,000 as the wire-to-wire winner of the 2009 Bassmaster Southern Open bass fishing tournament on Alabama's Wheeler Lake. Payne accumulated 45 pounds, 8 ounces over three days and closed Saturday with a chatterbait pattern to hold off Bassmaster Elite Series pro Mark Menendez, of Paducah, Ky., who totaled 41-6.
"This is unbelievable," Payne said as he raised the trophy for his first BASS win. "I was really nervous about Mark (Menendez) being right behind me, but it feels great to get the win."
Payne says he owes his success in part to Menendez as Menendez beat Payne to a productive spot but Menendez, a consummate pro, let Payne choose his water.
"I was outrun by another Triton, but when I got there he (Mark) said to take where I wanted," Payne said. "He is such a class act and a true professional. He showed great sportsmanship by letting me fish through."
Payne relied on a 5/8-ounce chartreuse and white Chatterbait for most of his bites. He said he burned it as fast as he could to get a reaction strike. A Zara Spook played a lesser role Thursday and Friday as the fish seemed to want a sub-surface lure. Payne also boated a few fish by swimming a jig.
Payne says he will reinvest some of the $45,000 back into his fishing career, but will use a good portion to buy a moving truck for the moving company he recently started, Motivated Movers.
Menendez, who scored a victory on an Elite Series event on Arkansas' Lake Dardanelle in March, says he had the fish on to win, but he fell short in his execution.
"I had enough to win it, but they came unbuttoned," he said. "I struggled all day. By noon, I only had two pounds. Later on I pulled up on this little place and lost a two- and a two-and-a-half- pounder, but got the rest of my fish."
Menendez thought he'd try the spot he bagged 17 pounds from the day before, but it was unfishable. Overnight rains had muddied the river and raised it substantially. Menendez continued his Friday pattern into Saturday, primarily working a Strike King Series 6 crankbait in Sexy Shad Lollipop. Menendez also caught deeper fish on a Carolina rigged Strike King Rage Craw.
"Any time you can bring five fish to the weigh-in, it's a good day," he said. "But today, it just wasn't my time to win."
Mark McCaig of Oxford, Ala., finished third with a three-day total of 40 pounds, 12 ounces, while Elite Series pro Peter Thliveros of St. Augustine, Fla., brought in Saturday's biggest limit (16-4) and jumped to fourth with 40-12. Elite Series pro and San Mateo, Fla., native Terry Scroggins was fifth with 38-13.
Jeff Sullivan of Frostproof, Fla., won the co-angler division with 32 pounds, 10 ounces. For his efforts he was awarded a Triton/Mercury package valued at $32,000. Sullivan said a Zoom Ultravibe Craw in green pumpkin and a 1/2-ounce Gambler football jig accounted for all of his fish over three days. The jig was tipped with a Gambler Flappy Daddy craw.
Finishing second was Robert Moodie of Tuscaloosa, Ala., with 29 pounds, 2 ounces, Barry Pavia of Fruitland Park, Fla., landed in third with 29-0.
The next stop in the Southern Opens is Santee Cooper Reservoir in Manning, S.C., October 19-21. That event will mark the close of the Southern Opens and will determine the top two points finishes who will advance to the 2010 Classic.
In the co-angler division, Barry Pavia of Fruitland Park, Fla., landed 14 pounds, 2 ounces and holds the lead over Ed Paul of Alabaster, Ala., who had 11 pounds, 10 ounces. Clint Sterling of Winter Garden, Fla., was third with 11-2.
DAY 3 STANDINGS- BASSMASTER SOUTHERN OPEN
2009 Southern Open Wheeler Lake BO 04/30-05/02 Lake Wheeler, Decatur Ala.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chris Payne West Blocton, Ala. 15 45-08 315 $44,229.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 11-04
2. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 15 41-06 295 $19,657.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 17-07 Day 3: 5 10-05
3. Mark McCaig Oxford, Ala. 15 40-12 290 $16,709.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 12-12
4. Peter Thliveros St Augustine, Fla. 15 40-12 285 $12,286.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 16-04
5. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 15 38-13 280 $9,829.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 5 14-08
6. James Charlesworth Saint Cloud, Fla. 15 38-07 276 $8,846.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 11-03
7. Dustin Evans Eads, Tenn. 15 38-06 272 $7,863.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 13-00
8. Chad Hall Dora, Ala. 15 38-01 268 $6,880.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 11-10
9. Sean Hoernke Conroe, Texas 15 37-14 264 $5,897.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 13-13
10. Johnny Patterson Grant, Ala. 15 37-04 260 $4,914.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 10-14
11. Tom Frink Simi Valley, Calif. 15 36-03 257 $3,931.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 13-03
12. Christopher Foley Youngsville, N.C. 15 35-12 254 $3,440.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 10-15
13. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 15 35-03 251 $2,949.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 12-05
14. Joseph Kastner Leesville, S.C. 15 35-02 248 $2,457.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 5 11-00
15. David Cooke Mooresville, N.C. 15 34-15 245 $2,211.00
Day 1: 5 8-05 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 5 9-09
16. Matt Herren Trussville, Ala. 15 34-15 243 $1,966.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 11-02 Day 3: 5 9-13
17. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, Tenn. 15 34-14 241 $1,917.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 5 10-02
18. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 15 34-07 239 $1,867.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 10-07
19. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, Ala. 15 34-02 237 $1,818.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 5 9-09
20. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, Fla. 15 34-00 235 $1,769.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 5 9-00
21. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Ala. 15 33-13 233 $1,720.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 10-07
22. David Kilgore Jasper, Ala. 15 33-03 231 $1,671.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 8-03
23. John Crews Salem, Va. 15 31-11 229 $1,622.00
Day 1: 5 8-08 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 8-15
24. Brian Easler Inman, S.C. 15 31-06 227 $1,573.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 7-08
25. Arnie Lane Lakeland, Fla. 15 31-01 225 $1,523.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 5 7-14
26. Mike White Reynoldsburg, Ohio 15 30-06 223 $1,474.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 7-03
27. Bradley Roy Lancaster, Ky. 15 30-04 221 $1,425.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 6-06
28. Trevor Knight Magnolia, Del. 15 29-10 219 $1,376.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 5-07
29. Tony Chachere Opelousas, La. 13 28-11 217 $1,327.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 10-06 Day 3: 3 5-08
30. Kurt Dove Del Rio, Texas 13 27-13 215 $1,278.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 3 4-08
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 153 819 1532-05
2 145 787 1502-05
3 28 146 303-07
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326 1752 3338-01
DAY 3 STANDINGS (CO-ANGLER)
2009 Southern Open Wheeler Lake NB 04/30-05/02 Lake Wheeler, Decatur Ala.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jeff Sullivan Frostproof, Fla. 15 32-10 305 $32,000.00
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 5 12-05
2. Robert Moodie Tuscaloosa, Ala. 15 29-02 295 $4,886.00
Day 1: 5 7-10 Day 2: 5 8-09 Day 3: 5 12-15
3. Barry Pavia Fruitland Park, Fla. 15 29-00 295 $3,909.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 6-00 Day 3: 5 8-14
4. Clarence Pinkerton Grant, Ala. 12 27-11 290 $2,931.00
Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 2 2-01
5. Ed Paul Alabaster, Ala. 15 27-07 280 $2,443.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 7-15 Day 3: 5 7-14
6. Lee Clark Decatur, Ala. 15 26-15 276 $2,199.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 6-12 Day 3: 5 9-14
7. Joseph Damptz Rolling Meadows, Ill. 15 26-04 272 $1,954.00
Day 1: 5 8-09 Day 2: 5 7-12 Day 3: 5 9-15
8. Larry Inman Greensboro, N.C. 15 25-07 268 $1,857.00
Day 1: 5 7-09 Day 2: 5 8-04 Day 3: 5 9-10
9. Randy Lawrence Pensacola, Fla. 13 24-01 264 $1,661.00
Day 1: 5 9-07 Day 2: 3 8-03 Day 3: 5 6-07
10. Ike Gray Kissimmee, Fla. 15 23-11 260 $1,270.00
Day 1: 5 8-11 Day 2: 5 7-04 Day 3: 5 7-12
11. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, Md. 15 23-01 257 $1,075.00
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 5 7-09 Day 3: 5 5-15
12. Ronnie Getz Lawrenceburg, Ind. 14 22-14 254 $977.00
Day 1: 5 8-05 Day 2: 4 7-05 Day 3: 5 7-04
13. Chris Weeks Harvest, Ala. 14 22-13 251 $879.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 7-08 Day 3: 4 5-05
14. Dalton Wilson Houston, Mo. 15 22-10 248 $782.00
Day 1: 5 7-03 Day 2: 5 8-09 Day 3: 5 6-14
15. Robert Hatfield Morehead, Ky. 14 22-00 245 $684.00
Day 1: 5 5-10 Day 2: 5 9-15 Day 3: 4 6-07
16. Clint Sterling Winter Garden, Fla. 12 21-12 243 $660.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 8-04 Day 3: 2 2-06
17. Steven Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 14 21-06 241 $635.00
Day 1: 4 7-01 Day 2: 5 8-13 Day 3: 5 5-08
18. Tim Kearns Spanish Fort, Ala. 14 21-03 239 $611.00
Day 1: 5 8-15 Day 2: 4 7-02 Day 3: 5 5-02
19. Thomas Henderson Roseland, Fla. 14 20-15 237 $586.00
Day 1: 4 8-09 Day 2: 5 7-01 Day 3: 5 5-05
20. Lee Boutwell Climax, Ga. 12 20-12 235 $562.00
Day 1: 5 8-02 Day 2: 5 10-01 Day 3: 2 2-09
21. Donald Scott Tupelo, Miss. 10 20-10 233 $537.00
Day 1: 5 9-10 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
22. Nathan Kawlewski Newburgh, Ind. 10 20-02 231 $489.00
Day 1: 3 4-14 Day 2: 5 13-06 Day 3: 2 1-14
23. Aaron Gengler Lakeland, Fla. 11 20-00 229 $464.00
Day 1: 5 7-15 Day 2: 4 10-02 Day 3: 2 1-15
24. Stanley James Inman, S.C. 11 19-14 227 $440.00
Day 1: 5 8-06 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 1 1-00
25. Monty Kirby Sherman, Texas 12 19-12 225 $415.00
Day 1: 3 3-09 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 4 4-01
26. Tyler Berger Worthington, Ohio 13 19-06 223 $391.00
Day 1: 5 8-02 Day 2: 5 8-03 Day 3: 3 3-01
27. Ty Story Prattville, Ala. 12 19-03 221 $366.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 5-14 Day 3: 3 2-08
28. George Beville Apex, N.C. 12 18-09 219 $342.00
Day 1: 5 8-04 Day 2: 5 8-00 Day 3: 2 2-05
29. Michael Mader Linton, Ind. 11 18-08 217 $318.00
Day 1: 5 7-08 Day 2: 5 8-12 Day 3: 1 2-04
30. Regan Coffey Richmond, Va. 12 17-08 215 $293.00
Day 1: 5 7-11 Day 2: 5 7-15 Day 3: 2 1-14
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 87 638 941-09
2 73 613 950-11
3 15 109 161-04
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175 1360 2053-08
SOUTHERN OPEN POINTS STANDINGS (PRO)
2009 Southern Open Wheeler Lake - Southern 2 - Decatur, AL Boater Points After Lake Wheeler, Decatur, Ala. Ending 05-02-2009, Day 3
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Terry Scroggins Fla. 515
2 Greg Vinson Ala. 509
3 Peter Thliveros Fla. 506
4 James Charlesworth Fla. 503
5 Mike White Ohio 487
6 Sean Hoernke Texas 477
7 David Kilgore Ala. 476
7 Mark Menendez Ky. 476
9 Bobby Lane Fla. 469
10 Scott Ashmore Okla. 452
10 Jimmy Mason Ala. 452
12 David Cooke N.C. 448
13 Casey Ashley S.C. 446
14 Mark McCaig Ala. 443
15 Chris Payne Ala. 438
16 Bradley Roy Ky. 430
17 Jason Williamson S.C. 414
18 Keith Poche Ala. 408
19 Darrin Schwenkbeck N.Y. 406
20 Jason Knapp Pa. 404
21 J Todd Tucker Ga. 394
22 Preston Clark Fla. 390
23 Josh Guess Fla. 388
24 Dave Wolak N.C. 380
25 Todd Auten S.C. 377
26 Wayne Hauser N.C. 368
27 John Kremer Fla. 367
27 Jimmie Murphy Fla. 367
27 Timmy Horton Ala. 367
30 Derek Jones Ill. 362
31 Trevor Fitzgerald Fla. 358
32 Joe Clements Fla. 356
33 John Crews Va. 354
34 Christopher Foley N.C. 349
35 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 340
36 Dustin Evans Tenn. 339
37 Glenn Delong Ohio 334
38 Johnny Patterson Ala. 330
39 Chad Hall Ala. 327
40 Justin Hamner Ala. 326
40 Arnie Lane Fla. 326
40 Aaron Martens Ala. 326
43 Charlie Ingram Tenn. 322
44 Tom Frink Calif. 321
45 Bradley Enfinger Ga. 318
45 Brandon Coulter Tenn. 318
47 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 310
48 Allan Glasgow Ala. 308
48 Kevin Langill N.C. 308
50 Scott Browning N.C. 304
51 Will Evans Fla. 302
51 Joseph Kastner S.C. 302
53 Scott Mcgehee Miss. 301
54 Rogne Brown Tenn. 298
55 Jeremy Prouty Fla. 296
55 Shawn Strader Tenn. 296
57 Patrick Pierce Fla. 292
57 Trevor Knight Del. 292
59 Brian Easler S.C. 289
60 Gerald Gostenik Mich. 288
61 Tony Chachere La. 285
62 Ben Quisno Ohio 270
62 Sandy Melvin Fla. 270
62 Kurt Dove Texas 270
65 Mike Prindle Ga. 269
66 Marty Robinson S.C. 266
67 Kyle Fox Fla. 264
68 Jason Quinn S.C. 262
69 Eric Stong Fla. 261
70 Terry Segraves Fla. 260
71 Luke Estel Ill. 254
72 Gerald Swindle Ala. 251
73 Larry Cahan Fla. 244
74 Sammy Burks Mo. 243
74 Matt Herren Ala. 243
76 Bob Grosso Fla. 242
77 Patrick Kelly Ala. 241
78 Luke Gritter Mich. 240
79 Brannon Jones Ala. 238
80 Brian Elder Ga. 236
80 Brad Staley N.C. 236
82 James Anderson Fla. 235
82 Jeff Fitts Fla. 235
82 Lee Sisson Fla. 235
85 Jason Berg Minn. 234
85 Scott Mason Ky. 234
87 Brad Wall Ohio 232
88 Wesley Parton Ala. 230
89 Curtis Reeves Ga. 227
90 Ron Wolfarth N.C. 220
90 Paul Pagnato Va. 220
92 Wayne Clifton S.C. 219
93 Rodney Allen Ind. 212
93 Frank Scalish Ohio 212
95 Brian Hatfield Ky. 211
96 Preston Johnson Wisc. 206
97 Robert Comalander Ala. 205
98 Jim Short Md. 200
99 Preston Henson Calif. 199
100 Homer Humphreys La. 197
101 Frank Jordan JR Ga. 194
102 Tim Saylor Tenn. 193
102 Wade Grooms S.C. 193
104 Hiroshi Kojima Ala. 192
105 Rusty Taylor Ala. 191
106 Jim Johnson Wisc. 187
106 Andy Morgan Tenn. 187
108 Paul Molan Ohio 173
108 Russ Lane Ala. 173
110 Jim Hardy Ala. 172
111 Chris Lane Fla. 170
112 Kevin Pulsifer Fla. 167
113 Jimmy Liao Fla. 155
113 Bob Eagleston Fla. 155
115 Roger Bitz Fla. 154
116 Lance Vick Texas 151
117 Kyle Kempkers Mich. 149
118 Brett Mitchell S.C. 148
119 Phillip Criss Ala. 147
119 Keith Phillips Ala. 147
119 Andre Moore Ala. 147
122 David Perdue Va. 143
123 Chris Wilkerson Texas 141
124 Teb Jones Miss. 137
125 Clifford Dawson Fla. 135
126 Thomas Warren Ill. 134
127 Mike Hawkes Texas 129
128 Ray Brazier Tenn. 128
129 Thomas Little Va. 123
130 Brannon Long Texas 117
131 Gene Barnette Ala. 116
132 Jim Turner Ind. 114
133 Sumiyuki Takano Fla. 111
134 Bryan Talmadge Ala. 109
134 Chris Barnett Tenn. 109
136 Tim Ezell Fla. 106
137 Brian Rufty Ky. 103
138 Landon Lomax Ala. 99
138 Rick Ash Pa. 99
140 Ronald Ryals Fla. 97
140 Steven Wisdom Ala. 97
142 Russell Colwell Md. 93
143 Mark Trousdale Ala. 91
144 James McMon Ala. 90
145 Randy Elliott Md. 88
146 Jelani Hennessey Va. 85
146 Alan Rae S.C. 85
148 Allen Duke Fla. 83
149 John Strider N.C. 81
150 Larry Rollings S.C. 80
151 Paul Kimball Conn. 79
152 Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 76
153 Paul Keltner Tenn. 75
154 Charlie Hartley Ohio 72
155 Curtis Aker Ga. 71
156 James Johnson Ala. 70
157 Parks Jones S.C. 69
158 James Castillo Ala. 68
159 Cliff Prince Fla. 67
160 Perry Powell Texas 66
161 Kyle Walling Ky. 65
161 Tyrone Cypress Fla. 65
163 Chris Jackson Ala. 63
164 Tony Sapp Ga. 59
165 Scott Wiley Ala. 58
166 Evan Boutwell Ga. 53
167 Sam Greer Ky. 50
167 Ken Callahan Ala. 50
169 Jack Wade Tenn. 49
170 Bill Rea Ohio 48
171 Rodney Chastain S.C. 47
172 David Burch Fla. 46
173 Butch Tucker Ga. 45
174 Chris Anderson S.C. 44
174 Charlie Hill Ky. 44
176 John Cromwell Tenn. 42
176 Jo Dee Lake Ala. 42
178 WM Kooi Fla. 41
179 Gary Cronin Ga. 40
180 Mike Haggerty Tenn. 39
181 Steve Hayden N.M. 36
182 Jason Seaton Ind. 34
182 Gary Riffle Texas 34
184 John Condray Fla. 33
185 Edward Guice Ala. 32
186 Thomas Riddle N.C. 31
187 Andy Gaia Texas 30
188 Steve Linville Ohio 29
189 Cecil Douberly Fla. 26
190 Mark Cole N.C. 24
190 Harry Moore Ala. 24
192 Sam Swett La. 22
193 Bo Bain Tenn. 21
193 Jerry Morgan S.C. 21
195 Robert Miley Fla. 19
196 Derek Remitz Ala. 15
197 Bj Hannah Tenn. 14
197 Jason Lieblong Ark. 14
199 John Dacko Mich. 13
200 Nick Supik Pa. 11
201 Jeff Cloud Texas 9
202 James Butler Tenn. 7
202 John Smith Ga. 7
204 Gregory Roth Canada 3
205 Rick Morris Va. 2
206 Mary Delgado Fla. 0
206 Tom Ondras Ill. 0
206 Brian Mathis N.C. 0
206 Dean Rojas Ariz. 0
206 Billy Charland Fla. 0
206 Rusty Pousson La. 0