PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - Edging out Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kotaro Kiriyama by a mere ounce, Stokesdale, N.C., resident Rodney Sorrell earned his first BASS win Saturday on Lake Champlain in the Bassmaster Northern Tour bass fishing tournament.
Sorrell's three-day total was 53 pounds, 2 ounces. Kiriyama took second place with 53 pounds, 1 ounce. Day 2 leader James Charlesworth of St. Cloud, Fla., fell to third with 52 pounds, 14 ounces; Chris Daves of Hopewell, Va., jumped from 14th to finish fourth with 50-10; and Rodney Hardwick fell from second to fifth with his three-day total of 49-15.
Sorrell climbed steadily to his first BASS career win. He started out in 31st place after Day 1, finished Day 2 in seventh place and then moved in on the win Saturday. He said he targeted smallmouth all three days, almost exclusively with a Yum Dinger rigged wacky-style on a drop-shot rig.
"The reason I got the bites was because I was dead-sticking it," said Sorrell. "I just let it drift and they would hit it. The natural pull of the lake gave it action."
Sorrell, 38, who works for a construction company that specializes in waterproofing, earned $23,100 in cash and a Triton boat rig with Mercury outboard worth $45,000.
"It's just unbelievable. It's a dream I've had since I started fishing as a little kid," said Sorrell. He said he plans to use his cash winnings toward a home for his mother.
Three-time Classic qualifier Kiriyama of Moody, Ala., jumped 11 places in the standings with a Day 3 catch of 20 pounds, 7 ounces. Included in his bag was a 5-pound, 12-ounce Big Bass worth $1,000. Kiriyama said he fished one key area 11 to 30 feet deep that was loaded with baitfish, rocks and scattered grass. He fished first for smallmouth bass, then searched for largemouth in the afternoon.
"I changed my approach with the wind," said Kiriyama. "I read the wind to see how aggressive the fish were going to bite."
In the co-angler division, the top prize of a Triton boat package valued at $30,000 was won by Jim McDevitt of Eldon, Mo., a retired Air Force master sergeant who served in the Missouri Air National Guard for 22 years. His Lake Champlain victory marked his first BASS win. McDevitt, 55, built a three-day total of 29-13.
Placing second in the co-angler division was Dave Waldron of Burnsville, W.Va., with 28 pounds, 7 ounces. Rounding out the top five were John Alber of Worcester, Vt., with 27 pounds, 12 ounces; Bob Lett of Allentown, Pa., with 27-10; and Jack Palmer of Hopkinsville, Ky., and Craig Gipe of Lancaster, Ky., who tied for fifth with 26-5.
2006 Northern 3 -
Plattsburgh 08/17-08/19
Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
PRO Division Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Rodney Sorrell Stokesdale, N.C. 15 53-02 305 $68,100.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 5 19-04
2. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 15 53-01 295 $52,160.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 5 20-07
3. James Charlesworth Saint Cloud, Fla. 15 52-14 295 $33,310.00
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 15-07
4. Chris Daves Hopewell, Va. 15 50-10 285 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 18-01
5. Rodney Hardwick Connersville, Ind. 15 49-15 280 $7,700.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 13-09
6. Lawren Wetzel Sharon, Canada 15 49-01 276 $6,160.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 16-05
7. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 15 48-09 272 $5,005.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 19-02 Day 3: 5 12-07
8. Thomas C Lavictoire West Rutland, Vt. 15 48-00 268 $3,850.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 20-10
9. Louis Iribarren Port Jervis, N.Y. 15 47-01 264 $3,465.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 15-07
10. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, N.Y. 15 46-14 260 $3,234.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 14-11
11. Randy McCarty Hagerhill, Ky. 15 44-12 257 $3,157.00
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 5 18-01
12. Sam Lashlee Camden, Tenn. 15 44-02 254 $3,080.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 11-00
13. Derek Remitz Hemphill, Texas 15 44-00 251 $3,003.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 10-13
14. Steven Bunt Wallkill, N.Y. 15 43-11 248 $2,926.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 11-05
15. Aaron Jakub Lincoln, Neb. 15 43-05 245 $2,849.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 14-13
16. Gaspare Costabile Niagara Falls, United 15 43-04 243 $2,772.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 11-04
17. Kip Bodkin Rhome, Texas 15 42-14 241 $2,695.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 13-01
18. Charlie Youngers Geneva, Fla. 15 42-13 238 $2,541.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 12-03
18. J J Judd Sheldon, Vt. 14 42-13 238 $2,541.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 17-01 Day 3: 4 7-02
20. Terry Baksay Monroe, Conn. 14 41-15 235 $2,310.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 4 8-13 Day 3: 5 15-11
21. Randy Yarnall Womelsdorf, Pa. 15 41-11 233 $2,233.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 13-11
22. Woo Daves Spring Grove, Va. 15 41-09 231 $2,156.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 12-01
23. Steve Lucarelli Meredith, N.H. 15 41-08 229 $2,079.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 13-09
24. Justin Riley Woodbine, Md. 15 41-07 227 $2,002.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 14-09
25. Anre' De Villiers Goodwood, South Africa 15 41-06 225 $1,925.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 12-13
26. Pat Golden High Point, N.C. 13 41-05 223 $1,848.00
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 3 6-07
27. Scott Campbell Springfield, Mo. 15 41-00 221 $1,771.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 11-02
28. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 15 40-14 219 $1,694.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 5 13-06
29. Paul Mazzitelli Pittston, Pa. 15 40-13 217 $1,617.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 7-07
30. Darrin Schwenkbeck Silver Spring, Md. 15 40-11 215 $1,540.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 13-03
31. Mitch Pierson Newton, N.J. 15 40-09 213 $1,502.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 14-02
32. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 15 40-08 211 $1,463.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 11-05 Day 3: 5 13-03
33. Darryl Fitzgerald Livermore, Maine 15 40-03 209 $1,425.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 11-07
34. Ken Brodeur Niantic, Conn. 15 40-02 207 $1,386.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 14-03
35. James Jeffries Rouses Point, N.Y. 15 40-01 204 $1,328.50
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 13-01 Day 3: 5 11-02
35. Doc Merkin Downers Grove, Ill. 15 40-01 204 $1,328.50
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 12-10
37. John Cox Debary, Fla. 15 39-11 201 $1,271.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 10-10
38. Otto David Jefferson Valley, N.Y. 15 39-07 199 $1,232.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 10-01
39. Brannon Jones Montgomery, Ala. 14 39-00 197 $1,194.00
Day 1: 4 9-07 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 13-04
40. Paul Hirosky Guys Mills, Pa. 14 38-14 195 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 4 5-04
41. Ryan Hawthorne Mansfield Center, Conn 13 38-03 193 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 3 9-04
42. Gary Wade Pleasant Garden, N.C. 12 36-12 191 $2,155.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 2 2-11
43. Joe Conway Colorado Springs, Colo 15 36-02 188 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 8-02
43. Dave Markey Wolcott, Conn. 13 36-02 188 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 4 9-11 Day 3: 4 7-11
45. John Chaffo Pittsburgh, Pa. 13 35-00 185 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 3 7-14
46. Brett Mitchell Timmonsville, S.C. 15 34-02 183 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 8-07
47. David Barnes Weeks Mills, Maine 15 32-15 181 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 5 4-15
48. Brian Gates Rutland, Vt. 11 32-00 179 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 1 0-15
49. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 10 28-13 177 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. David Banford Northfield, Mass. 10 27-02 175 $1,155.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 4 11-00 Day 3: 1 1-11
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Big Bass
Day
1 Gary Wade Pleasant Garden, N.C. 5-06 $1,000.00
2 James Charlesworth Saint Cloud, Fla. 5-07 $1,000.00
3 Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 5-12 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 96 536 1392-06
2 72 449 1173-13
3 40 225 577-05
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208 1210 3143-08 2006 Northern 3 - Plattsburgh
08/17-08/19 Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh N.Y.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jim McDevitt Eldon, Mo. 9 29-13 305 $30,000.00
Day 1: 3 8-15 Day 2: 3 9-07 Day 3: 3 11-07
2. Dave Waldron Burnsville, W.Va. 9 28-07 295 $3,600.00
Day 1: 3 9-02 Day 2: 3 9-07 Day 3: 3 9-14
3. John Alber Worcester, Vt. 9 27-12 290 $3,200.00
Day 1: 3 9-03 Day 2: 3 6-07 Day 3: 3 12-02
4. Bob Lett Allentown, Pa. 9 27-10 285 $2,400.00
Day 1: 3 8-01 Day 2: 3 10-04 Day 3: 3 9-05
5. Jack Palmer Hopkinsville, Ky. 9 26-05 283 $1,500.00
Day 1: 3 11-08 Day 2: 3 9-09 Day 3: 3 5-04
5. Craig Gipe Lancaster, Ky. 9 26-05 278 $1,500.00
Day 1: 3 11-06 Day 2: 3 6-00 Day 3: 3 8-15
7. Edward Pecore Plattsburgh, N.Y. 9 26-00 272 $1,200.00
Day 1: 3 9-06 Day 2: 3 7-12 Day 3: 3 8-14
8. Bob Howard Colorado Springs, Colo 9 25-13 268 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-01 Day 2: 3 10-14 Day 3: 3 8-14
9. Valeri Timofeev East Stroudsburg, Pa. 9 25-06 264 $1,200.00
Day 1: 3 9-00 Day 2: 3 7-03 Day 3: 3 9-03
10. Stephen Sykas Plainfield, Vt. 9 25-02 260 $640.00
Day 1: 3 7-14 Day 2: 3 8-02 Day 3: 3 9-02
11. Darren Brooks Mt Ephraim, N.J. 9 24-11 257 $560.00
Day 1: 3 7-15 Day 2: 3 7-11 Day 3: 3 9-01
12. Chuck Lee South Bend, Ind. 9 24-10 254 $560.00
Day 1: 3 6-15 Day 2: 3 10-07 Day 3: 3 7-04
13. Jim Tedesco Niagara Falls, Canada 9 24-09 251 $560.00
Day 1: 3 5-15 Day 2: 3 9-12 Day 3: 3 8-14
14. Peter Typer Pt Colborne, Canada 9 24-02 248 $560.00
Day 1: 3 9-03 Day 2: 3 6-12 Day 3: 3 8-03
15. Harold Howard Salem, Ind. 8 23-14 250 $1,960.00
Day 1: 3 13-03 Day 2: 3 5-14 Day 3: 2 4-13
16. Earl Purcell Granville, Mass. 9 23-12 243 $480.00
Day 1: 3 10-09 Day 2: 3 6-09 Day 3: 3 6-10
17. James Deforest Chicopee, Mass. 9 23-09 241 $480.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 7-13 Day 3: 3 5-04
18. Larry Wagner Crown Point, Ind. 9 23-07 239 $480.00
Day 1: 3 7-12 Day 2: 3 8-14 Day 3: 3 6-13
19. Keith Carson Debary, Fla. 9 23-06 237 $480.00
Day 1: 3 7-12 Day 2: 3 7-01 Day 3: 3 8-09
20. Olexiy Luchnikov Brooklyn, N.Y. 9 23-05 235 $480.00
Day 1: 3 5-04 Day 2: 3 9-01 Day 3: 3 9-00
21. George Fister Lake Charles, La. 9 23-04 233 $400.00
Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 3 8-09 Day 3: 3 4-08
22. Jay Meredith Titus, Ala. 9 23-02 231 $400.00
Day 1: 3 8-01 Day 2: 3 9-02 Day 3: 3 5-15
23. Jeff Warren Lansdale, Pa. 9 22-12 227 $400.00
Day 1: 3 5-01 Day 2: 3 8-11 Day 3: 3 9-00
23. John Bloom Grooveland, Fla. 8 22-12 227 $800.00
Day 1: 2 2-10 Day 2: 3 13-07 Day 3: 3 6-11
23. Travis Green Grand Blanc, Mich. 8 22-12 227 $400.00
Day 1: 2 5-04 Day 2: 3 9-08 Day 3: 3 8-00
26. Erroll Duckett Charlotte, N.C. 9 22-08 222 $360.00
Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 3 6-07 Day 3: 3 5-14
26. Steve Oleksyn Rochester, N.Y. 7 22-08 222 $360.00
Day 1: 3 11-00 Day 2: 1 2-05 Day 3: 3 9-03
28. Richard Favire Winfield Park, N.J. 9 22-07 219 $360.00
Day 1: 3 8-11 Day 2: 3 7-13 Day 3: 3 5-15
29. Mark Rose Fombell, Pa. 9 22-02 217 $360.00
Day 1: 3 5-13 Day 2: 3 8-04 Day 3: 3 8-01
30. Del Smith Castalia, Ohio 9 21-15 214 $350.00
Day 1: 3 5-01 Day 2: 3 8-08 Day 3: 3 8-06
30. Randall Phelan Germantown, N.Y. 9 21-15 214 $350.00
Day 1: 3 7-12 Day 2: 3 8-08 Day 3: 3 5-11
32. Jim Staszewski West Gardiner, Maine 8 21-12 211 $340.00
Day 1: 3 8-00 Day 2: 3 10-11 Day 3: 2 3-01
33. Joshua Fiedler Clear Spring, Md. 8 21-10 209 $340.00
Day 1: 2 5-08 Day 2: 3 7-11 Day 3: 3 8-07
34. Ronald Crochetiere Springfield, Mass. 9 21-09 207 $340.00
Day 1: 3 8-06 Day 2: 3 6-10 Day 3: 3 6-09
35. Daryll Gavin Ashland, Mass. 9 21-08 205 $340.00
Day 1: 3 8-03 Day 2: 3 9-02 Day 3: 3 4-03
36. Eric Persson Hamburg, N.J. 8 21-01 203 $320.00
Day 1: 3 10-13 Day 2: 3 6-06 Day 3: 2 3-14
37. Richard Garlock Alexandria, N.Y. 9 21-00 201 $320.00
Day 1: 3 4-15 Day 2: 3 8-05 Day 3: 3 7-12
38. Steven Brinster Highland Lakes, N.J. 9 20-10 198 $320.00
Day 1: 3 8-05 Day 2: 3 5-04 Day 3: 3 7-01
38. Buzz Bouvier Bristol, Vt. 7 20-10 198 $320.00
Day 1: 3 6-10 Day 2: 2 7-12 Day 3: 2 6-04
40. JUSTIN Malone Morgan, Texas 7 20-04 195 $320.00
Day 1: 3 9-15 Day 2: 1 3-12 Day 3: 3 6-09
41. Clint Cowan Chateaugay, N.Y. 7 19-11 193 $300.00
Day 1: 3 7-14 Day 2: 3 10-05 Day 3: 1 1-08
42. Frank Vida New Fairfield, Conn. 7 19-08 191 $300.00
Day 1: 3 7-05 Day 2: 3 9-04 Day 3: 1 2-15
43. Mathew Applebaum Johnson, Vt. 8 18-14 0 $300.00
Day 1: 3 5-03 Day 2: 3 10-10 Day 3: 2 3-01
44. Alonzo Evans East Hartford, Conn. 8 16-13 187 $300.00
Day 1: 3 7-03 Day 2: 3 6-10 Day 3: 2 3-00
45. Justin Walker Markham, Canada 6 16-06 185 $300.00
Day 1: 3 9-11 Day 2: 3 6-11 Day 3: 0 0-00
46. Michael Sweeney Attleboro, Mass. 7 15-14 183 $280.00
Day 1: 3 9-02 Day 2: 3 5-11 Day 3: 1 1-01
47. Bill Ruppert Binghamton, N.Y. 6 15-10 181 $280.00
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 3 9-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. Kenneth Strimple Fairport, N.Y. 6 13-14 179 $280.00
Day 1: 3 8-03 Day 2: 3 5-11 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Chris Van Vliet Pickering, Canada 5 13-07 177 $280.00
Day 1: 3 9-11 Day 2: 2 3-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. Tony Johnson Westerville, Ohio 6 13-05 175 $280.00
Day 1: 3 5-02 Day 2: 3 8-03 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Harold Howard Salem, Ind. 5-14 $400.00
2 John Bloom Grooveland, Fla. 5-05 $400.00
3 Valeri Timofeev East Stroudsburg, Pa. 4-05 $400.00
Harold Howard Salem, Ind. 5-14 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 87 301 723-07
2 69 245 611-00
3 36 123 310-00
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192 669 1644-07