PRATTVILLE, Ala. - Using a variety of fishing strategies, baits and techniques, five of the world's top BASS pros competing in the Bassmaster Open Championship on Saturday each secured a berth into the 2006 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Tohopekaliga, Feb. 24-26, in Kissimmee, Fla.
Those anglers include Day 1 and 2 leader Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., who maintained his grip on the lead in the Alabama River tournament with a 10-pound, 1-ounce limit. The catch pushed his brought him to a three-day total of 39-1.
McClelland caught fish in the same area he's fished throughout the tournament, but the fish, he said, are diminishing. "I went to my key stretch on the river and the current wasn't there," he said. "I was a little more open to leaving today - I knew I needed to do something to help me for tomorrow."
Like many of the anglers on Day 3 of the Open Championship, McClelland was focused on securing a Classic berth. He and the following anglers are now headed to the Super Bowl of bass fishing as well as the final day of the Open Championship: Rick Morris, Lanexa, Va.; Chad Brauer, Osage Beach, Mo.; Randy Howell, Springville, Ala; and Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky.
Morris, who was in second place with a three-day total of 36-8, fished the Tallapoosa River, one of the tributaries that flow into the Alabama, and the only reported to have a current.
Third place Brauer fished backwaters for largemouth bass and weighed-in 11-9 Saturday for a three-day total of 34-15.
Howell, in fourth place with 28-4, moved from spot to spot on the water Saturday. He fished moving water on the main river, then targeted rocks and stretches of banks. "I'm just hustling, so, I think this is a new pattern - a non-current pattern."
Menenedez, who made a comeback this year from a bout with viral meningitis, was in fifth place - and is now a contender in the Classic. "I'm just glad to be back," he said. The Kentucky pro brought in 6-8 and squeaked into the top five after tying for the last slot with Matt Reed of Madisonville, Texas. Ties are broken based on the total number of fish caught. Menendez had 15 and Reed had 12.
On the non-boater side, William Beekman of East Quogue, N.Y., claimed the top slot with a tournament total 21 pounds. Dow Cox of Jonesborough, Tenn., was in second with 15-9 and Jack Farage of Discovery Bay, Calif., was in third with 13-9.
The Open Championship will air on ESPN2 on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2006, at 10 a.m. EST.
Daily weigh-ins at Cooters Pond Park are free to the public. Weigh-ins begin at 3:30 EST and BASS founder Ray Scott, who was at the tournament today, will lend a hand at the weigh-in on Sunday. The final round features the top five pros and weights each day carry over. The winning boater takes home an $80,000 prize package.
2005 Open Championship BO 12/01-12/04
Alabama River, Prattville Ala.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 15 39-01 315
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 10-01
2. Rick Morris Lanexa, Va. 15 36-08 295 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 9-15
3. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 15 34-15 290
Day 1: 5 7-15 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 11-09
4. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 13 28-04 285
Day 1: 3 4-13 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 9-07
5. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 15 27-09 280
Day 1: 5 7-15 Day 2: 5 13-02 Day 3: 5 6-08
5. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 12 27-09 280 $9,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 3 7-03 Day 3: 4 5-10
7. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 11 25-08 272 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 1 1-10
8. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 12 22-03 268 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 2 1-12
9. John Pollard Eclectic, Ala. 13 19-12 264 $7,000.00
Day 1: 5 7-15 Day 2: 5 9-07 Day 3: 3 2-06
10. Jon Bondy Windsor, Canada 8 19-00 260 $6,800.00
Day 1: 4 12-00 Day 2: 3 6-05 Day 3: 1 0-11
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Big Bass
Day
1 Doug Garrett Cabot, Ark. 7-12 $1,000.00
2 Thomas O'Bryant Cedar Grove, Tenn. 4-10 $500.00
2 Jeff Buchanan Lufkin, Texas 4-10 $500.00
3 Rick Morris Lanexa, Va. 4-07 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 26 254 422-04
2 28 255 416-10
3 5 36 59-09
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59 545 898-07
2005 Open Championship NB 12/01-12/04
Alabama River, Prattville Ala.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. William Beekman East Quogue, N.Y. 10 21-00 310 $38,716.00
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 1 1-02 Day 3: 4 10-05
2. Dow Cox Jonesborough, Tenn. 10 15-09 295 $25,037.00
Day 1: 3 5-00 Day 2: 4 5-01 Day 3: 3 5-08
3. Jack Farage Discovery Bay, Calif. 7 13-09 295 $8,000.00
Day 1: 5 8-10 Day 2: 1 4-01 Day 3: 1 0-14
4. Joe Lee Desoto, Texas 8 12-11 285 $7,000.00
Day 1: 4 6-06 Day 2: 2 1-14 Day 3: 2 4-07
5. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, Miss. 8 12-08 280 $5,000.00
Day 1: 4 4-01 Day 2: 3 5-05 Day 3: 1 3-02
6. Bradley Dortch Bay Minette, Ala. 7 11-02 276 $4,000.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 9-03 Day 3: 2 1-15
7. Stanley Chandler Niceville, Fla. 7 10-07 272 $3,500.00
Day 1: 5 8-07 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 2-00
8. Nathan Bourque Prairieville, La. 9 10-05 268 $3,000.00
Day 1: 4 5-07 Day 2: 4 4-04 Day 3: 1 0-10
9. Rommel Bagay Concord, Calif. 5 8-12 264 $2,800.00
Day 1: 3 6-15 Day 2: 1 1-02 Day 3: 1 0-11
10. Jim Kline Hagerstown, Md. 4 8-00 260 $2,500.00
Day 1: 2 4-13 Day 2: 2 3-03 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Steven Brinster Highland Lakes, N.J. 5-01 $400.00
2 Christopher Clemence Maple Htgs, Ohio 4-12 $400.00
3 William Beekman East Quogue, N.Y. 4-02 $400.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 6 120 174-14
2 8 139 185-12
3 0 17 29-08
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14 276 390-02