LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Under difficult conditions that baffled some of the best bass anglers in the world, Reeds Spring, Mo., angler Brian Snowden found enough fish on Thursday to take the lead - by nearly three pounds - of the third and final Bassmaster Major, the Bassmaster Legends bass fishing tournament on the Arkansas River.
The 33-year-old was one of only two in the field of 55 anglers to catch a five-fish limit, weighing in at 15 pounds, 8 ounces to lead the race for the $250,000 top prize. Hometown favorite Scott Rook also caught five fish and was in second place with 12-13.
Snowden, who has never won a BASS tournament but has two second-place finishes, said he caught his two biggest fish within 50 feet of each other in backwater that was south of Little Rock. "It was a new area that I just looked at in practice but never fished," he said. "It looked like it had all the ingredients I wanted. I made a pass through, there was a little water movement and I caught them."
The three-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier caught his fish with a 4-inch Yum tube in black neon. "I'm very happy with the way things went and I'm going to catch everything I can again (Friday)."
Rook, one of the last anglers to weigh in, fished north of Little Rock and caught his fish in backwater that was laden with grass. "It's probably the toughest I've ever seen the river in August," he said. "I was mixing it up with worms, jigs, crankbaits and some spinnerbaits."
Four-time Bassmaster Classic winner Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo., was third with 10-15. Right behind was Gerald Swindle of Hayden, Ala., with 10-13; and Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira , Kansas, was in fifth with 10-3.
"Hard work was the key," said Clunn, who won the Bassmaster Classic on the Arkansas River in 1984. "Those kinds of spots that you can just sit in and catch them like I did in the '84 Classic are rare in August. I'm having to work a lot of water. The quality is there, but I'm grinding them out."
Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, had the Big Bass, worth $1,000, at 4-12. Snowden had the Bag of the day.
All 55 anglers will fish on Friday. The field cuts to the top 12 for Saturday. Anglers will fish a marked, six-hole course in the river on Saturday and Sunday, with only the top six competitors fishing on the final day. The Legends is in honor of BASS founder Ray Scott, who celebrated a birthday on Thursday and was presented with a cake in ceremonies prior to the weigh-in.
2006 Bassmaster Legends 08/24-08/27
Arkansas River, Little Rock Ark.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 15-08 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08
2. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 5 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-13
3. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 3 10-15 0
Day 1: 3 10-15
4. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 4 10-13 0
Day 1: 4 10-13
5. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 4 10-03 0
Day 1: 4 10-03
6. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 4 9-12 0
Day 1: 4 9-12
7. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 4 9-07 0
Day 1: 4 9-07
8. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 4 8-14 0
Day 1: 4 8-14
9. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 4 8-08 0
Day 1: 4 8-08
10. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 3 8-02 0
Day 1: 3 8-02
11. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 3 7-12 0
Day 1: 3 7-12
12. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 3 7-06 0
Day 1: 3 7-06
13. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 3 7-02 0
Day 1: 3 7-02
14. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 3 6-08 0
Day 1: 3 6-08
15. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 3 6-06 0
Day 1: 3 6-06
16. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 2 6-04 0
Day 1: 2 6-04
17. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 3 5-14 0
Day 1: 3 5-14
17. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz. 3 5-14 0
Day 1: 3 5-14
17. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 2 5-14 0
Day 1: 2 5-14
20. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 2 5-10 0
Day 1: 2 5-10
21. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 3 5-03 0
Day 1: 3 5-03
22. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 2 4-14 0
Day 1: 2 4-14
23. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 1 4-12 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 1 4-12
24. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 2 4-07 0
Day 1: 2 4-07
25. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 2 4-06 0
Day 1: 2 4-06
26. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 2 4-05 0
Day 1: 2 4-05
27. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 2 4-00 0
Day 1: 2 4-00
28. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 2 3-09 0
Day 1: 2 3-09
29. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 1 3-04 0
Day 1: 1 3-04
30. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 1 3-01 0
Day 1: 1 3-01
30. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 1 3-01 0
Day 1: 1 3-01
32. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 1 2-14 0
Day 1: 1 2-14
33. Lee Bailey Boaz, Ala. 1 2-06 0
Day 1: 1 2-06
33. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 1 2-06 0
Day 1: 1 2-06
35. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 1 2-04 0
Day 1: 1 2-04
36. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 1 2-02 0
Day 1: 1 2-02
36. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 1 2-02 0
Day 1: 1 2-02
36. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 1 2-02 0
Day 1: 1 2-02
39. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 1 2-00 0
Day 1: 1 2-00
39. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 1 2-00 0
Day 1: 1 2-00
41. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 1 1-14 0
Day 1: 1 1-14
41. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 1 1-14 0
Day 1: 1 1-14
43. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 1 1-13 0
Day 1: 1 1-13
44. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 1 1-11 0
Day 1: 1 1-11
45. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. John Crews Salem, Va. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Morizo Shimizu Murrieta, Calif. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
45. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Alton Jones Waco, Texas 4-12 $1,000.00
Day
1 Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 15-08 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 2 99 241-15
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2 99 241-15