GAINESVILLE, Ga. - Ryan Coleman of Flowery Branch, Ga., tapped into his Lake Lanier guiding experience to win the 2006 Bassmaster Southern Tour bass fishing tournament on Lake Lanier on Saturday.
Coleman, 39, captured his first BASS win with 36 pounds, 10 ounces of spotted bass, a three-day total that was nearly 3 pounds more than his closest competitor, Mathew Wilbanks of Gainesville, Ga.
"This is just incredible," said Coleman. "I never thought I would have won with what I caught today." His Saturday catch was 8-5, but his 28-5 weight over the first two days of the tournament carried him through to earn about $25,000 in cash and a Triton boat rig with Mercury outboard worth $45,000.
Coleman said he caught his five-fish limit by drop-shotting with a Spotsticker prototype worm made by D&G Spotsticker Baits. He said he concentrated on standing timber about 40 feet down.
Wilbanks, 33, climbed steadily into second from his Day 1 finish of 21st and Day 2 finish of fifth. His three-day total was 33-13. Like most of his fellow Georgia competitors, Wilbanks said he fished a drop shot rig in water 25 to 45 feet deep.
Trent Gober, 33, of Pendergrass, Ga., took third place with a three-day total of 32-4. Casey Ashley, 22, of Donalds, S.C., finished fourth with 31-13. In fifth was Paul Marks of Cumming, Ga., with 29 pounds, 13 ounces.
In the co-angler division, the top prize of a Triton boat package valued at $30,000 was won by Shaun Mulhall, 33, of McDonough, Ga. A branch manager of a wholesale distribution company, Mulhall brought only one fish to the scales on Saturday, but it brought his three-day total up to 17-1. Mulhall, who led on Day 2, held off Ron Cochran of Maysville, Ga., who finished in second place with 15-11. Cochran led the co-angler division on the first day, fell to 10th on the second day, then recovered nicely for the runner-up spot.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers were Mark Richard of Bridge City, La., with 14-13; Sam Moss of Ackerman, Miss., with 14-9; and Nathan Smith of Gillsville, Ga., with 13-14.
The Lake Lanier stop was the final of five events on the 2006 Bassmaster Southern Tour.
2006 Southern 5 - Gainesville BO 09/07-09/09 Lake Lanier, Gainesville Ga.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ryan Coleman Flowery Branch, Ga. 15 36-10 310 $73,200.00
Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 8-05
2. Mathew Wilbanks Gainesville, Ga. 15 33-13 295 $52,520.00
Day 1: 5 9-07 Day 2: 5 11-09 Day 3: 5 12-13
3. Trent Gober Pendergrass, Ga. 12 32-04 290 $32,820.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 2 4-09
4. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 15 31-13 285 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 9-03 Day 3: 5 7-12
5. Paul Marks Cumming, Ga. 14 29-13 280 $10,400.00
Day 1: 4 9-02 Day 2: 5 9-11 Day 3: 5 11-00
6. Lee Hartley Buford, Ga. 14 28-15 276 $7,520.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 6-06 Day 3: 5 10-10
7. David Nichol Gainesville, Ga. 9 27-06 277 $6,110.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 3 9-00 Day 3: 1 1-13
8. Harold Allen Shelbyville, Texas 12 26-04 268 $4,700.00
Day 1: 5 9-07 Day 2: 5 8-09 Day 3: 2 8-04
9. Mike Cox Huntsville, Ala. 13 26-02 264 $4,230.00
Day 1: 5 9-01 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 3 5-09
10. Nicholas Turner Jones, Ala. 12 25-05 258 $3,901.00
Day 1: 2 4-11 Day 2: 5 8-10 Day 3: 5 12-00
10. Tom Hamlin Lizella, Ga. 12 25-05 258 $3,901.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 4 9-08 Day 3: 3 5-12
12. Paul Driskell Jefferson, Ga. 12 24-14 254 $3,760.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 3 4-10 Day 3: 4 6-14
13. Larry Gaines Valparaiso, Fla. 14 24-12 251 $3,666.00
Day 1: 5 8-14 Day 2: 4 7-15 Day 3: 5 7-15
14. Stacey Turner Lula, Ga. 11 24-10 248 $3,572.00
Day 1: 2 4-03 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 4 7-08
15. Jim Murray Arabi, Ga. 12 23-09 245 $3,478.00
Day 1: 3 5-04 Day 2: 5 9-09 Day 3: 4 8-12
16. Steve Sennikoff Forney, Texas 10 23-08 243 $3,884.00
Day 1: 2 3-09 Day 2: 3 11-09 Day 3: 5 8-06
17. Kelly Bagley Adairsville, Ga. 12 23-06 241 $3,290.00
Day 1: 4 8-05 Day 2: 4 6-07 Day 3: 4 8-10
18. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 11 22-00 239 $3,196.00
Day 1: 1 2-12 Day 2: 5 10-05 Day 3: 5 8-15
19. Tony Smith Auburn, Ga. 11 21-12 237 $3,008.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 4 6-10 Day 3: 2 4-05
20. Tom Mann, Jr Buford, Ga. 10 21-07 235 $2,820.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 3 6-13 Day 3: 2 4-04
21. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 9 20-14 233 $2,726.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 4 10-07 Day 3: 0 0-00
22. Clark Reehm Leesville, La. 10 20-09 231 $2,632.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 3 4-14 Day 3: 2 2-08
23. Shawn Johnson Jacksonville, Fla. 10 20-02 229 $2,538.00
Day 1: 3 7-09 Day 2: 2 3-00 Day 3: 5 9-09
24. Darrell Newman Bruceville, Texas 10 19-15 227 $2,444.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 4 8-07 Day 3: 1 1-00
25. Jason Meninger Gainesville, Ga. 9 19-07 225 $2,350.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 3 6-09 Day 3: 1 1-07
26. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 9 19-03 223 $2,256.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 2 5-00 Day 3: 2 4-03
27. Brad Outersky Pleasant Hill, Mo. 11 19-02 221 $2,162.00
Day 1: 5 9-10 Day 2: 4 6-07 Day 3: 2 3-01
28. James Niggemeyer Lindale, Texas 12 19-01 219 $2,068.00
Day 1: 3 5-05 Day 2: 5 8-06 Day 3: 4 5-06
29. William Fortner Jasper, Ga. 7 19-00 217 $1,974.00
Day 1: 3 10-03 Day 2: 3 5-11 Day 3: 1 3-02
30. Eric Nethery Acworth, Ga. 11 18-12 215 $1,880.00
Day 1: 5 9-10 Day 2: 2 3-07 Day 3: 4 5-11
31. Sam Harris Bogart, Ga. 9 18-11 213 $1,833.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 4 5-05
32. Jimmy Millsaps Canton, Ga. 12 18-08 210 $1,762.50
Day 1: 4 6-14 Day 2: 3 4-04 Day 3: 5 7-06
32. Joe Padgett Cumming, Ga. 10 18-08 210 $1,762.50
Day 1: 2 4-02 Day 2: 5 9-15 Day 3: 3 4-07
34. Kevin Langill Terrell, N.C. 8 18-05 207 $1,692.00
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 2 5-15
35. Gene Hacker Buford, Ga. 7 18-04 205 $1,645.00
Day 1: 2 6-04 Day 2: 3 8-14 Day 3: 2 3-02
36. Derek Remitz Hemphill, Texas 10 18-03 203 $1,598.00
Day 1: 4 7-02 Day 2: 5 8-07 Day 3: 1 2-10
37. Tim Dungan Cinncinati, Ohio 9 17-14 201 $1,551.00
Day 1: 4 8-14 Day 2: 2 3-04 Day 3: 3 5-12
38. Jason Densmore Cumming, Ga. 10 17-13 199 $1,504.00
Day 1: 5 8-12 Day 2: 2 3-04 Day 3: 3 5-13
39. Tim Hulsey Clermont, Ga. 9 17-02 196 $1,433.50
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 3 5-05 Day 3: 1 1-07
39. Derrick Bridges Greenville, S.C. 8 17-02 196 $1,433.50
Day 1: 2 3-01 Day 2: 4 9-15 Day 3: 2 4-02
41. Stephen Walls Dawsonville, Ga. 9 17-00 193 $1,410.00
Day 1: 5 8-10 Day 2: 3 7-00 Day 3: 1 1-06
42. Dow Cox Jonesborough, Tenn. 6 16-09 191 $1,910.00
Day 1: 1 2-11 Day 2: 2 8-08 Day 3: 3 5-06
43. David Parsons Dothan, Ala. 8 16-07 189 $1,410.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 3 6-06 Day 3: 0 0-00
44. Doug Garrett Cabot, Ark. 7 15-04 187 $1,410.00
Day 1: 3 7-09 Day 2: 2 4-03 Day 3: 2 3-08
45. Ben Lee Lexington, S.C. 7 14-03 185 $1,410.00
Day 1: 1 1-07 Day 2: 4 9-13 Day 3: 2 2-15
46. Matt Peters Roswell, Ga. 7 14-02 183 $1,410.00
Day 1: 4 5-15 Day 2: 2 5-14 Day 3: 1 2-05
47. Danny Isenhart Fairview, Tenn. 6 12-13 181 $1,410.00
Day 1: 2 5-08 Day 2: 3 5-15 Day 3: 1 1-06
48. Douglas Luper Alexandria, Va. 7 12-05 179 $1,410.00
Day 1: 4 6-10 Day 2: 2 4-05 Day 3: 1 1-06
49. Scott Barnes Cumming, Ga. 7 12-03 177 $1,410.00
Day 1: 5 8-13 Day 2: 1 2-06 Day 3: 1 1-00
50. Jamie Stewart Ball Ground, Ga. 6 11-00 175 $1,410.00
Day 1: 3 6-01 Day 2: 3 4-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Tony Hogan Mcdavid, Fla. 5-13 $1,000.00
2 Dow Cox Jonesborough, Tenn. 5-01 $500.00
2 Steve Sennikoff Forney, Texas 5-01 $500.00
3 Paul Marks Cumming, Ga. 4-08 $1,000.00
Tony Hogan Mcdavid, Fla. 5-13 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 28 331 661-09
2 17 303 597-01
3 11 136 255-02
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56 770 1513-12
2006 Southern 5 - Gainesville NB 09/07-09/09 Lake Lanier, Gainesville Ga.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Shaun Mulhall Mcdonough, Ga. 7 17-01 310 $30,000.00
Day 1: 3 8-08 Day 2: 3 7-07 Day 3: 1 1-02
2. Ron Cochran Maysville, Ga. 6 15-11 300 $4,230.00
Day 1: 3 9-11 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 3 6-00
3. Mark Richard Bridge City, La. 7 14-13 290 $4,160.00
Day 1: 3 5-03 Day 2: 3 5-04 Day 3: 1 4-06
4. Sam Moss Ackerman, Miss. 5 14-09 285 $2,820.00
Day 1: 3 9-08 Day 2: 2 5-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
5. Nathan Smith Gillsville, Ga. 7 13-14 280 $1,880.00
Day 1: 3 6-00 Day 2: 2 4-13 Day 3: 2 3-01
6. Brad Benfield Demorest, Ga. 7 12-13 276 $1,645.00
Day 1: 3 6-10 Day 2: 3 4-13 Day 3: 1 1-06
7. Terry Mintz Clermont, Ga. 4 12-10 272 $1,410.00
Day 1: 3 8-09 Day 2: 1 4-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
8. Dennis Arendt Jackson, Tenn. 7 12-04 268 $1,175.00
Day 1: 2 3-11 Day 2: 2 4-15 Day 3: 3 3-10
9. Heath Pack Mineral Bluff, Ga. 5 12-01 264 $940.00
Day 1: 1 1-06 Day 2: 3 9-07 Day 3: 1 1-04
10. Matt Perron Duluth, Ga. 6 11-14 260 $752.00
Day 1: 3 6-07 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 3 5-07
11. Matthew Roesch Toccoa, Ga. 4 11-01 257 $658.00
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 5-11
12. Eddy Gilder Columbus, Miss. 6 10-06 254 $658.00
Day 1: 2 3-10 Day 2: 1 3-04 Day 3: 3 3-08
13. Jim Mcdevitt Eldon, Mo. 5 10-04 250 $658.00
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 3 4-14 Day 3: 0 0-00
13. Billy Schwach Charleston, S.C. 4 10-04 250 $1,058.00
Day 1: 1 4-03 Day 2: 2 4-10 Day 3: 1 1-07
15. Rusty Evans Atlanta, Ga. 6 10-01 245 $658.00
Day 1: 3 4-09 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 3 5-08
16. Glenn Botteicher Cumming, Ga. 3 10-00 243 $964.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 10-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
17. Howard Stephens Columbia, S.C. 5 9-09 241 $564.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 6-01 Day 3: 2 3-08
18. Eric Rogers Decatur, Ga. 6 9-05 238 $564.00
Day 1: 1 1-06 Day 2: 2 2-09 Day 3: 3 5-06
18. Paul Scharf Brandon, Fla. 4 9-05 238 $564.00
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 3 7-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
20. Danny Roberts Flowery Branch, Ga. 5 9-04 234 $517.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 3 6-00 Day 3: 1 1-03
20. Vernon Silver Boutte, La. 5 9-04 234 $517.00
Day 1: 2 3-06 Day 2: 2 3-09 Day 3: 1 2-05
22. Larry Blount Dothan, Ala. 4 9-03 231 $470.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 8-00 Day 3: 1 1-03
23. Chris Weidner Gray, Ga. 4 9-02 228 $470.00
Day 1: 2 4-09 Day 2: 2 4-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
23. Kenny Sapp Social Circle, Ga. 3 9-02 228 $470.00
Day 1: 2 5-04 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 3-14
25. James Lee Snellville, Ga. 3 9-00 225 $470.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 1 2-12 Day 3: 1 4-03
26. Robert Theilacker Rockledge, Fla. 4 8-13 223 $423.00
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 1 2-00 Day 3: 2 4-13
27. E.P. Fletcher Little Rock, Ark. 4 8-08 221 $423.00
Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 2 5-07 Day 3: 1 1-09
28. Bill Williams Corbin, Ky. 3 8-00 219 $423.00
Day 1: 1 3-15 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 4-01
29. Brandon Truelove Gainesville, Ga. 4 7-09 217 $423.00
Day 1: 2 5-01 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 2-08
30. Roger Morrow Griffin, Ga. 4 7-04 215 $423.00
Day 1: 3 5-13 Day 2: 1 1-07 Day 3: 0 0-00
31. Dee Cagle Keller, Texas 4 6-10 213 $399.60
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 3 4-13 Day 3: 0 0-00
32. Bill Poirier Riverview, Fla. 4 6-08 210 $399.60
Day 1: 1 1-04 Day 2: 2 3-13 Day 3: 1 1-07
32. Chanley Barrett Clermont, Ga. 2 6-08 210 $399.60
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 6-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
34. Brandon Stanley Johnson City, Tenn. 4 6-05 207 $399.60
Day 1: 3 4-00 Day 2: 1 2-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
35. Keith Davis West Palm Beach, Fla. 4 6-04 205 $399.60
Day 1: 2 3-07 Day 2: 1 1-06 Day 3: 1 1-07
36. Robin Boyer Lawrenceville, Ga. 4 6-02 202 $376.00
Day 1: 2 3-06 Day 2: 2 2-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
36. Marvin Wells Claremore, Okla. 3 6-02 202 $376.00
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 1 2-07 Day 3: 1 1-08
38. Tyler Clore Clermont, Ga. 4 6-01 199 $376.00
Day 1: 2 2-05 Day 2: 2 3-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
39. Doug Whitfield Atlanta, Ga. 4 5-15 197 $376.00
Day 1: 1 1-05 Day 2: 2 3-02 Day 3: 1 1-08
40. Joe Weathington Dallas, Ga. 2 5-12 195 $376.00
Day 1: 2 5-12 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
41. Emory West Dunahoo, Jr Gainesville, Ga. 2 5-11 193 $352.60
Day 1: 2 5-11 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
42. Jim Staszewski West Gardiner, Maine 3 5-08 191 $352.60
Day 1: 2 4-03 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-05
43. Dusty Ingle Buford, Ga. 3 5-07 189 $352.60
Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 2 3-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
44. Wayne Hauser Winston-Salem, N.C. 4 5-06 187 $352.60
Day 1: 2 2-14 Day 2: 1 1-01 Day 3: 1 1-07
45. Larry C Butler New Haven, Vt. 4 5-00 185 $352.60
Day 1: 1 1-07 Day 2: 3 3-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
46. Jeremy Craft Athens, Ga. 3 4-14 183 $329.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 2 3-04 Day 3: 0 0-00
47. Kevin Pulsifer Cocoa, Fla. 3 4-12 181 $329.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 4-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. R T Boone Morganton, N.C. 3 4-10 179 $329.00
Day 1: 2 3-04 Day 2: 1 1-06 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Jimmy Dudley White, Ga. 3 4-09 177 $329.00
Day 1: 3 4-09 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. Bradley Dortch Bay Minette, Ala. 3 4-06 175 $329.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 4-06 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Billy Schwach Charleston, S.C. 4-03 $400.00
2 Glenn Botteicher Cumming, Ga. 4-07 $400.00
3 Mark Richard Bridge City, La. 4-06 $400.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 12 123 239-15
2 15 122 234-02
3 6 47 85-09
----------------------------------
33 292 559-10