PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Pursuing his first BASS tournament victory since 2004, Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala., padded his lead Saturday in the Bassmaster Elite Series bass fishing tournament on Lake Champlain by boating 18 pounds, 8 ounces of largemouth bass. Horton's total heading into the final day of competition was 64 pounds, 6 ounces, almost 10 pounds in front of Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., in second with 54 pounds, 9 ounces.
The 34-year-old Horton, who was the Bassmaster Angler of the Year in 2000 and is a seven-time Bassmaster Classic contender, is ready for a win. The most recent of his three BASS titles was in November 2004 on Florida's Lake Okeechobee.
"Consistency-wise, I haven't really been in a dry spell," said Horton. "I haven't missed a Classic in my career but from a win standpoint it's been a couple of years. I'd really like to break that streak if I could."
As he had in the first two days of competition, Horton used a Booyah Football Head jig Saturday in several productive spots far south of the tournament's Plattsburgh, N.Y., launch point. He had most of his weight in the boat by 7:30 a.m.
"That's really a neat spot and I hope I can go down there and get 15 (pounds) off of it (Sunday)," he said. "Then if I can pick up another fish here or there, I'll feel pretty good about it."
Horton said he spent part of Saturday trying some smallmouth bass spots north of Plattsburgh. He said he wanted to reserve his largemouth spots for the final day.
"It's one of the biggest strategies that you have," he added. "You don't just go sit on them. When you've got them, you spend a lot of time not catching them because you are looking for new areas. It's very important to keep looking."
Kennedy, who led the first day but fell further behind Horton Saturday, tried some of his favorite spots in the far southern end of the lake but has a different strategy for Sunday.
"There are a couple of spots that I haven't tried," he said. "They might have a big one, you never know. I'm going to try maybe an hour on each one."
Kennedy revealed that he has been fishing with a black frog with the tails altered to blue.
"I didn't feel like I had all that good a day," he said of his 13-pound, 5-ounce catch. "I struggled. I stopped on my best spot and caught three fish the last 10 minutes. I was lucky to have what I have because I never got a big bite."
Britt Myers of Mount Holly, N.C., moved to third in the standings with 51 pounds, 14 ounces. Fred Roumbanis of Auburn, Calif., held tight to third place with 51 pounds, 9 ounces. Peter Thliveros of Jacksonville, Fla., moved up from 22nd into fifth place with 50 pounds, 13 ounces.
The other seven Elite anglers who made the top 12 to compete on Sunday were Skeet Reese, Yusuke Miyazaki, Shaw Grigsby Jr., Tommy Biffle, Takahiro Omori, Cliff Pace and Bradley Hallman.
Reese has an opportunity to overtake Kevin VanDam in the Angler of the Year race. VanDam finished 27th and did not make the final cut. Reese is second to VanDam's lead in the AOY standings.
Vermont's Marc Lamphier won the co-angler side of the tournament and a Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $50,000. Lamphier boated 41 pounds, 11 ounces, beating the 39 pounds, 7 ounces caught by runner-up James Hill of Alabama. Larry Triplett of Colorado finished third with 37 pounds, 8 ounces.
2007 Champion's Choice 7/12-7/15
Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 15 64-06 310 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 18-08
2. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 54-09 300 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 15-05
3. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, NC 15 51-14 290
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 18-13
4. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, CA 15 51-09 285 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 14-05
5. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, FL 15 50-13 280
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 19-02
6. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 50-09 276
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 17-08
7. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, TX 15 50-04 272
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 16-13
8. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, FL 15 49-12 268
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 18-14
9. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 15 49-07 264
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 16-09
10. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 15 49-05 260 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 19-05
11. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 49-00 257
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 18-00
12. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 15 48-07 254 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 16-09
13. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 48-06 251 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 19-00 Day 3: 5 14-08
14. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 15 48-03 248 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 14-03
15. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 47-06 245 $10,600.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 15-14
16. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 47-05 243 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 17-07
17. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 15 47-01 241 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 14-15
18. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 15 46-15 238 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 14-09
18. Preston Clark Palatka, FL 15 46-15 238 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 17-07
20. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 15 46-04 235 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 5 15-14
21. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 46-02 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 16-12
22. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 45-15 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 13-05
23. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 15 45-13 229 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 15-00
24. Ken D Cook Lawton, OK 15 45-12 227 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 13-11
25. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 15 45-09 225 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 15-13
26. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 15 45-06 223 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 18-10 Day 3: 5 11-02
27. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 45-04 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 13-04
28. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 15 45-03 218 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 13-12
28. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 15 45-03 218 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 15-13 Day 3: 5 13-05
30. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 15 45-00 215 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 14-10
31. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, TX 15 44-14 213 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 13-01
32. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 15 44-02 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 15-12
33. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 15 43-14 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 16-11 Day 3: 5 15-04
34. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 43-12 207 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 11-07
35. James Kennedy Lacombe, LA 15 43-07 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 14-06
36. Alton Jones Waco, TX 15 43-06 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 13-06
37. Kurt Dove Fairfax, VA 15 43-04 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 5 14-08
38. Ray Sedgwick Cross, SC 15 43-02 199 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 12-12
39. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 15 42-14 197 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 13-10
40. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 15 42-13 195 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 13-15
41. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 15 42-10 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 13-02
42. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 15 42-09 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 13-13
43. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 15 42-08 188 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 5 13-02
43. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 15 42-08 188 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 13-12
45. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 15 41-14 184 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 5 12-11
45. Steve Daniel Clewiston, FL 13 41-14 184 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 3 06-13
47. Paul Hirosky Guys Mills, PA 13 41-10 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 3 07-11
48. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 39-08 179 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 11-09 Day 3: 5 11-05
49. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 15 39-00 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 10-11
50. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 15 38-13 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 16-06 Day 3: 5 07-05
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Big Bass
Day
1 Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 05-08 $1,000.00
2 Fred Roumbanis Auburn, CA 05-07 $1,000.00
3 Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 04-13 $1,000.00
Day
1 Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 21-06 $1,000.00
2 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 24-12 $1,000.00
3 Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 19-05 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 103 530 1509-14
2 104 532 1438-08
3 48 246 723-08
----------------------------------
255 1308 3671-142007 Champion's Choice 7/12-7/15
Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh NY.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Marc Lamphier Burlington, VT 15 41-11 0 $50,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 13-09
2. James Hill Ozark, AL 15 39-07 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 14-14 Day 3: 5 14-13
3. Larry Triplett Parker, CO 15 37-08 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 12-11
4. John Voyles Petersburg, IN 15 36-02 0 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 16-03 Day 3: 5 12-07
5. Jonathon Vandam Kalamazoo, MI 15 35-07 0 $2,750.00
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 14-15
6. Eric Sertl Pittsford, NY 13 35-04 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 07-07 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 15-15
7. Joel Etheredge Springville, AL 15 35-02 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 10-04
8. George Fiorille Moravia, NY 15 35-00 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 09-15
9. Frank Mealer Irondale, AL 15 34-12 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 11-10
10. Michael Burchett Pulaski, VA 15 33-03 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 5 08-14
11. Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, AL 15 33-00 0 $1,125.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 5 10-07
11. Brandon Pedigo Lawton, OK 14 33-00 0 $1,125.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 4 08-02 Day 3: 5 09-02
13. Eric Peck Williamsburg, MI 12 32-11 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 4 10-11 Day 3: 5 15-08
14. Stephen Gould Kalamazoo, MI 15 32-06 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 11-02
15. William Clute Hogansburg, NY 15 31-00 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 5 12-00
15. Steve Lucarelli Meredith, NH 15 31-00 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 10-10
17. Ronald Belanger Newton, MA 15 30-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 09-14 Day 3: 5 07-13
18. Rich Bizzari Flanders, NJ 15 30-10 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 11-06
19. Mike Desforges Burlington CANADA 15 29-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-11 Day 3: 5 10-08
20. Craig Daino Central Square, NY 12 29-13 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 3 04-13 Day 3: 4 08-07
21. David Lane Saint Johnsbury, VT 14 29-06 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 10-07 Day 2: 5 07-14 Day 3: 5 11-01
22. Matthew Jones Spokane, MO 13 29-02 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 09-02
23. Bill Johnson Grayling, MI 12 28-13 0 $1,250.00
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 2 06-12 Day 3: 5 10-12
24. John Imbesi Cairo, NY 14 28-11 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 5 08-15 Day 3: 5 11-11
24. Tom Booth Lima, NY 12 28-11 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 2 04-00 Day 3: 5 09-02
26. Clint Cowan Chateaugay, NY 14 28-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 4 06-03
27. Harry Potts Ozark, AL 15 27-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 10-11
28. Thomas Haley Rochester, NY 13 27-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 3 04-07
29. Jeff Tolle Jenks, OK 14 27-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 5 11-06
30. Jay Van Reed Grandville, MI 13 27-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 4 08-01
31. Thomas Monica Bridgeport, NY 12 27-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 08-10 Day 3: 3 05-06
32. Michael Neal Dexter, KS 15 26-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 07-14 Day 3: 5 09-10
32. Robert Suhr Roscommon, MI 12 26-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 2 03-10 Day 3: 5 10-10
34. Joe Lucarelli New Hampton, NH 11 26-08 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 4 09-07 Day 3: 2 02-09
35. Wes Hood Annandale, VA 14 26-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-04 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 08-09
36. Todd Winters Troy, NY 11 26-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 1 01-12
37. John Vanderwerf Atlantic Beach, FL 14 25-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 08-12 Day 3: 4 07-08
38. Michael Drew West Burke, VT 13 25-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 3 04-03 Day 3: 5 09-05
39. Lawrence Laclair Hannibal, NY 9 24-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 2 03-05 Day 3: 2 05-06
40. Peter Typer Pt Colborne CANADA 10 24-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 1 02-14 Day 3: 4 06-09
41. Abe Street Pulaski, VA 11 23-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 05-01 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 3 07-10
42. Douglas Hammond South Westerlo, NY 12 23-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 5 12-13 Day 3: 4 07-10
43. Marty Scoggins Trion, GA 12 23-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 2 01-11
44. Seiji Kato Outsu JAPAN 14 23-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 06-12 Day 3: 4 06-11
45. Lutz Spika Stamford, CT 10 22-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 4 07-13 Day 3: 1 03-13
46. Victor Walker Nashua, NH 11 22-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 4 06-03
47. Frank Tully St Albans, VT 9 21-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 2 04-00 Day 3: 2 04-03
48. Doug Kirkbride Beaver Falls, NY 10 19-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 2 04-00
49. Andrew Dick Wilmington, DE 10 18-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 04-09 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 1 01-09
50. Michael Hollinhead Crestview, FL 9 17-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 5 08-06 Day 3: 0 00-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Joe Lucarelli New Hampton, NH 04-13 $500.00
2 Bill Johnson Grayling, MI 05-11 $500.00
3 John Voyles Petersburg, IN 04-14 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 55 415 831-04
2 48 376 759-06
3 30 204 435-02
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133 995 2025-12