MORGAN CITY, La. - With the finale of the BASS Federation Central Divisional, eight men are one step closer to their dream of going to the Bassmaster Classic .
The top anglers from each of the eight competing states in the Central Division will advance to the 2005 BASS Federation Championship and the top angler among the five BASS divisions will advance to the world championship of bass fishing, the Bassmaster Classic. One angler hoping he will be the representative from the Central Division is Louisiana's Jason Pittman.
Pittman was the top angler in the Central Divisional with a three-day weight of 35 pounds, 6 ounces, as well as the top angler from Louisiana, sending him to the Federation Championship.
"It's a great feeling," Pittman said. "Any one of the 12 guys on the team could have done it. They're all great anglers. I've wanted to get to the Classic for a long time. We went to the Classic in Birmingham and I've wanted to go ever since. I've fished the Opens right out of high school, since I was 18, but the Federation trail to the Classic is, I think, the hardest."
Pittman caught most of his fish on a snagproof frog and had quite a bit to say about the fishery.
"I just found a great area and caught some quality fish. I think it's just fortunate that we have the opportunity to fish on this great fishery."
Pittman led Louisiana to the top of the eight teams competing in the Central Divisional and earned a $10,000 check for the Louisiana BASS Federation, something Louisiana BASS Federation President Kevin Gaubert is happy accept.
"This really turned out to be a good tournament," Gaubert said. "I think it could have been a little better if the weather was better, but I think everyone had a really good time."
The second place angler overall was Mississippi's Reid Sanders with a three-day weight of 32-13. Sanders used a yellow buzz bait to catch the majority of his fish and help Mississippi to second in the team standings.
"I'm very happy," Sanders said. "Maybe the Federation Championship will be somewhere not quite as big. I think I saw more alligators over the last few days than boats.
"I fished mainly flat lakes and shallow canals and had a limit my first two days. I brought in four today, though."
Pittman and Sanders will be joined in the BASS Federation Championship next year by Texan Jimmy Johnson, Arkansan Grant Johnson, Kansan Marc Gilliland, Oklahoman Doss Briggs, Nebraskan Dennis Kotas and Missourian Donald Gossett.
Two anglers split the prize for the Big Bass of the Tournament. Arkansan Bruce Johnson and Kansan Justin Klaudt both brought in 4-pound, 5-ounce fish Thursday that forced them to split the $1,000 prize for the big fish.
2004 BASS Federation Central Divisional 06/02-06/04 Atchafalaya River Basin, Morgan City La. Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown (Fed.) No/lbs-oz Winnings 1 Jason Pittman Covington, La. 15 35-06 2 Reid Paul Sanders Newton, Miss. 14 32-13 3 Damon Hoffpauir Sulphur, La. 15 32-02 4 Roger Hudnall Denham Springs, La. 14 30-06 5 David Flippo Amory, Miss. 15 29-03 6 Jimmy Johnson Ganado, Texas 12 28-12 7 Grant Johnson Perryville, Ark. 12 27-09 8 Gene Brown West Point, Miss. 13 27-03 9 Richard Sherman Donaldsonvll, La. 13 27-02 10 Dennis Kotas Milligan, Neb. 15 26-15 11 Doss Briggs Muskogee, Okla. 13 26-08 12 Donald Gossett St Joseph, Mo. 15 26-06 13 Cole Garrett Winnfield, La. 14 25-13 14 Chris Coy Brandon, Miss. 13 25-08 15 Bruce Johnson Montrose, Ark. 12 24-12 $500.00 16 Thomas McBride West, Texas 10 24-05 17 Robby Talbert New Caney, Texas 10 24-02 18 Marc Gilliland Louisburg, Ark. 12 24-01 19 R J Kitterman Oologah, Okla. 11 23-09 20 Kerry Kruep Paola, Kan. 12 22-12 21 Jim Gill Stuttgart, Ark. 12 22-00 22 Tom Nilssen Perry, Okla. 11 21-12 23 Mike Zachery Ada, Okla. 11 21-06 24 Deven White Eldodado, Ark. 10 21-02 25 Chris Johnson Farmington, Ark. 12 20-12 26 Donald Hatch Americus, Kan. 10 20-11 27 Paul Ferguson Arp, Texas 9 20-07 28 Russ Seaman Norfolk, Neb. 11 20-05 29 Greg Lampton Smithville, Mo. 10 19-05 30 Matt Wolf Overland Park, Kan. 10 19-03 31 Joey Fisher Casa, Ark. 9 18-10 32 Jerry Pape Lake Quivira, Kan. 9 18-08 33 Chris Schiffelbein Tecumseh, Kan. 9 18-04 34 Lee Wubbels Lincoln, Neb. 9 18-03 34 Chris Caldwell Amory, Miss. 8 18-03 36 Wendell Ramsey San Angelo, Texas 10 17-13 37 Gene Rasco Livingston, Texas 9 17-04 38 Brian Fuksa Enid, Okla. 9 16-12 39 Justin Klaudt Lenexa, Kan. 7 16-08 $500.00 39 Brian Gillentine Amory, Miss. 7 16-08 41 Rick Bartmeir Ft Smith, Ark. 8 15-08 42 Dale R Jackson Troup, Texas 8 15-07 43 Kent Priel No Plaaatte, Neb. 6 14-15 44 Scott Campbell Kirkville, Mo. 8 14-14 45 Melvin Bullock Gulfport, Miss. 8 14-13 45 Wade Stapp Columbus, Miss. 8 14-13 47 Jason Baird Gypsum, Kan. 7 14-10 48 Chris George Moore, Okla. 7 14-09 49 Noel Whaltey Greenwood, La. 8 14-06 49 Stanley Williams Calhoun, La. 8 14-06 49 David Watkins Calendonia, Miss. 7 14-06 52 Brian Maloney Osage Beach, Mo. 7 14-05 53 Mark Martin Vidor, Texas 7 13-09 53 Shawn Holly Council Bluffs, Iowa 6 13-09 55 Eugene Moore Little Rock, Ark. 8 13-01 56 Kevin Joseph Gaubert Luling, La. 7 12-15 57 Robert Hargrove Dallas, Texas 7 12-13 58 James Wilson Amarillo, Texas 7 12-09 58 Stephen Green Eureka, Mo. 6 12-09 60 Chip Smith Caledonia, Miss. 7 12-07 60 Mark Whiteside Andover, Kan. 6 12-07 62 Jarod Shelton Columbia, Mo. 6 12-02 63 David Orgeron Marrero, La. 5 11-07 64 David Gatlin Lincoln, Neb. 6 11-06 65 Wendell Newcomb Norfolk, Neb. 6 11-03 66 Phil Alterman Mclouth, Kan. 5 11-02 67 Dinnon Butler Jonesboro, La. 5 10-06 68 Jerry Avis Council Bluffs, Iowa 5 10-03 69 Larry Parks Stillwater, Okla. 5 10-02 70 Gary Gambill Jonesboro, Ark. 4 8-08 71 Curtis Walker St Charles, Mo. 4 8-04 72 Steven Clay Oklahoma City, Okla. 4 8-03 73 Ed Booth Amory, Miss. 5 8-00 74 David Sloggett Culbertson, Neb. 4 7-12 75 James Peoples Altamont, Kan. 4 7-10 76 Jason Bordelon Dry Prong, La. 4 7-09 77 Jim White Coppell, Texas 3 7-07 78 Bill Rule Bryan, Texas 4 7-03 79 Joel Jacobs Oklahoma City, Okla. 4 6-15 80 Shawn Veninga O'Fallon, Mo. 4 6-13 81 Pat Burke Moberly, Mo. 4 6-11 82 David Sherrer Shreveport, La. 4 6-09 83 Dean Matts Yukon, Okla. 3 5-14 84 Robert Garver Leewood, Kan. 3 5-13 85 Jon Bailey Benton, Ark. 3 5-09 86 Bob Thomsen Lincoln, Neb. 3 5-08 87 Edwin Gregory Smithville, Miss. 3 5-03 88 Lee Sanders Stillwater, Okla. 3 5-01 89 Harold Long Sarcoxie, Mo. 3 4-13 90 Oren Hardesty Hutchinson, Kan. 2 4-05 90 Glenn Cunningham Piedmont, Okla. 2 4-05 92 Greg Cooper Monroe City, Mo. 2 4-02 93 Troy Moore Abilene, Texas 2 3-01 93 Tom King North Platte, Neb. 2 3-01 95 Carl Woods Mountain Home, Ark. 1 1-11 96 Jerry Engen Rogers, Ark. 1 1-07 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Bruce Johnson Montrose, Ark. (AR) 4-05 $500.00 Justin Klaudt Lenexa, Kan. (KS) 4-05 $500.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 27 252 499-04 2 24 265 538-04 3 18 214 429-06 ---------------------------------- 69 731 1466-14 TEAM STANDINGS DAY 3001 LOUISIANA 228-07 002 MISSISSIPPI 219-00 003 TEXAS 197-05 004 ARKANSAS 180-09 005 KANSAS 177-06 006 OKLAHOMA 165-00 007 NEBRASKA 161-08 008 MISSOURI 137-11 INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS DAY 3 LOUISIANAJason Pittman Covington, La. 15 35-06 Damon Hoffpauir Sulphur, La. 15 32-02 Roger Hudnall Denham Springs, La. 14 30-06 Richard Sherman Donaldsonvll, La. 13 27-02 Cole Garrett Winnfield, La. 14 25-13 Noel Whaltey Greenwood, La. 8 14-06 Stanley Williams Calhoun, La. 8 14-06 Kevin Joseph Gaubert Luling, La. 7 12-15 David Orgeron Marrero, La. 5 11-07 Dinnon Butler Jonesboro, La. 5 10-06 Jason Bordelon Dry Prong, La. 4 7-09 David Sherrer Shreveport, La. 4 6-09 MISSISSIPPIReid Paul Sanders Newton, Miss. 14 32-13 David Flippo Amory, Miss. 15 29-03 Gene Brown West Point, Miss. 13 27-03 Chris Coy Brandon, Miss. 13 25-08 Chris Caldwell Amory, Miss. 8 18-03 Brian Gillentine Amory, Miss. 7 16-08 Wade Stapp Columbus, Miss. 8 14-13 Melvin Bullock Gulfport, Miss. 8 14-13 David Watkins Calendonia, Miss. 7 14-06 Chip Smith Caledonia, Miss. 7 12-07 Ed Booth Amory, Miss. 5 8-00 Edwin Gregory Smithville, Miss. 3 5-03 TEXASJimmy Johnson Ganado, Texas 12 28-12 Thomas McBride West, Texas 10 24-05 Robby Talbert New Caney, Texas 10 24-02 Paul Ferguson Arp, Texas 9 20-07 Wendell Ramsey San Angelo, Texas 10 17-13 Gene Rasco Livingston, Texas 9 17-04 Dale R Jackson Troup, Texas 8 15-07 Mark Martin Vidor, Texas 7 13-09 Robert Hargrove Dallas, Texas 7 12-13 James Wilson Amarillo, Texas 7 12-09 Bill Rule Bryan, Texas 4 7-03 Troy Moore Abilene, Texas 2 3-01 ARKANSASGrant Johnson Perryville, Ark. 12 27-09 Bruce Johnson Montrose, Ark. 12 24-12 $500.00 Jim Gill Stuttgart, Ark. 12 22-00 Deven White Eldodado, Ark. 10 21-02 Chris Johnson Farmington, Ark. 12 20-12 Joey Fisher Casa, Ark. 9 18-10 Rick Bartmeir Ft Smith, Ark. 8 15-08 Eugene Moore Little Rock, Ark. 8 13-01 Gary Gambill Jonesboro, Ark. 4 8-08 Jon Bailey Benton, Ark. 3 5-09 Carl Woods Mountain Home, Ark. 1 1-11 Jerry Engen Rogers, Ark. 1 1-07 KANSASMarc Gilliland Louisburg, Ark. 12 24-01 Kerry Kruep Paola, Kan. 12 22-12 Donald Hatch Americus, Kan. 10 20-11 Matt Wolf Overland Park, Kan. 10 19-03 Chris Schiffelbein Tecumseh, Kan. 9 18-04 Justin Klaudt Lenexa, Kan. 7 16-08 $500.00 Jason Baird Gypsum, Kan. 7 14-10 Mark Whiteside Andover, Kan. 6 12-07 Phil Alterman Mclouth, Kan. 5 11-02 James Peoples Altamont, Kan. 4 7-10 Robert Garver Leewood, Kan. 3 5-13 Oren Hardesty Hutchinson, Kan. 2 4-05 OKLAHOMADoss Briggs Muskogee, Okla. 13 26-08 R J Kitterman Oologah, Okla. 11 23-09 Tom Nilssen Perry, Okla. 11 21-12 Mike Zachery Ada, Okla. 11 21-06 Brian Fuksa Enid, Okla. 9 16-12 Chris George Moore, Okla. 7 14-09 Larry Parks Stillwater, Okla. 5 10-02 Steven Clay Oklahoma City, Okla. 4 8-03 Joel Jacobs Oklahoma City, Okla. 4 6-15 Dean Matts Yukon, Okla. 3 5-14 Lee Sanders Stillwater, Okla. 3 5-01 Glenn Cunningham Piedmont, Okla. 2 4-05 NEBRASKADennis Kotas Milligan, Neb. 15 26-15 Russ Seaman Norfolk, Neb. 11 20-05 Jerry Pape Lake Quivira, Kan. 9 18-08 Lee Wubbels Lincoln, Neb. 9 18-03 Kent Priel No Plaaatte, Neb. 6 14-15 Shawn Holly Council Bluffs, Iowa 6 13-09 David Gatlin Lincoln, Neb. 6 11-06 Wendell Newcomb Norfolk, Neb. 6 11-03 Jerry Avis Council Bluffs, Iowa 5 10-03 David Sloggett Culbertson, Neb. 4 7-12 Bob Thomsen Lincoln, Neb. 3 5-08 Tom King North Platte, Neb. 2 3-01 MISSOURIDonald Gossett St Joseph, Mo. 15 26-06 Greg Lampton Smithville, Mo. 10 19-05 Scott Campbell Kirkville, Mo. 8 14-14 Brian Maloney Osage Beach, Mo. 7 14-05 Stephen Green Eureka, Mo. 6 12-09 Jarod Shelton Columbia, Mo. 6 12-02 Curtis Walker St Charles, Mo. 4 8-04 Jim White Coppell, Texas 3 7-07 Shawn Veninga O'Fallon, Mo. 4 6-13 Pat Burke Moberly, Mo. 4 6-11 Harold Long Sarcoxie, Mo. 3 4-13 Greg Cooper Monroe City, Mo. 2 4-02