MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. - It takes a skilled angler to win two BASS tournaments in one year. Takahiro Omori put himself in that coveted category with a commanding 4 pound, 10 ounce win over Louisiana's Craig Dowling in the Western Open bass fishing tournament at Norfork Lake on Saturday winning more than $50,000 in cash and prizes including a new Triton boat with a Mercury outboard.
"This feels great to win two BASS tournaments in the same year," said the 35-year old Texan, who also won the 2005 Tour stop at Lake Toho in January. "That is very tough to do, so I feel very good about that."
Omori spent all three days fishing the same creek, located just minutes away from the launch location. He concentrated on shallow pockets of water, 5 five feet in depth using a Lucky Craft BPS 2 crankbait and a Zoom Baby Brush Hawg. Additionally, Omori was using 20 pound fluorocarbon Sunline coupled with a 7 foot Daiwa spinning rod.
The crankbait enticed the bigger bites, which were rare considering the tough fishing conditions. However, Omori landed a 3-8 bass with the crankbait on the final day which would have been good enough to win the tournament by itself.
Although Omori brought in a solid bag (7-10) on the final day, his closest competition wilted as Brad Hallman, second place after Day 2, failed to weigh in a fish. Hallman slipped all the way back to sixth place.
"The fishing has been real tough," Oklahoma's Hallman said. "I got pretty lucky my first day out here, but yesterday, I had trouble and I felt like my areas were drying up. I figured I better concentrate on new water today, but I just couldn't find that hot stretch."
Taking over second was Louisiana's Dowling. Despite falling short of winning his first BASS tournament, he was pleased with his second-place finish.
"It has been a great week," Hallman said, who threw Yamamoto hula-grubs and cut-tails all week. "I guess my luck finally ran out today, but I couldn't be happier."
Rounding out the top five on the boater side are Louisiana's Jeremy Guidry (21-15), Texan David Wharton (20-5) and Arkansas's Doug Garrett (18-15).
Garrett was the only Arkansas angler to finish in the top five on the boater side. He moved up from his 11th place position after Day 2 with a 7-pound, 2-ounce catch on the final day.
Anglers from the Natural State fared a bit better on the non-boater side as two finished in the top five. Winning a prize package that includes a Triton boat valued at $25,000 is Texan Dwight Dickerson with a three day total of 14 pounds, 8 ounces.
Finishing behind Dickerson are Texan Rusty Harvey (13-1), Arkansas's Bob Snyder (12-10), Arkansas's Jeary Wheeler (11-13) and Mississippi's Dennis Mcdaniel (11-3).
The last of the three Central Open tournaments will take place on the Red River in Natchitoches, La., Nov. 9-11, 2005.
The top 25 boaters and non-boaters in the Central Open point standings advance to the Open Championship on the Alabama River in Prattville, Ala., Dec. 1-4, 2005. The top five finishers in the Open Championship will move on to the 2006 Classic Feb. 24-26 on Lake Tohopekaliga in Kissimmee, Fla. and compete for a $500,000 top prize.
Day Three Big Bass
Boater: Chad Brauer, Osage Beach, Mo., 4-1
Non-Boater: Dennis Mcdaniel, Roxie, Miss., 4-1
: Homer Humphreys, Jr., Minden, La., 4-14
Nathan Borque, Prairieville, La,, 4-14
2005 Central Open 2 BO 10/13-10/15
Lake Norfork, Mountain Home Ark.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 11 27-05 310 $47,016.00
Day 1: 3 9-13 Day 2: 4 9-14 Day 3: 4 7-10
2. Craig Dowling Many, La. 12 22-11 295 $41,216.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 8-05 Day 3: 2 4-02
3. Jeremy Guidry Opelousas, La. 13 21-15 290 $18,192.00
Day 1: 5 6-11 Day 2: 3 4-15 Day 3: 5 10-05
4. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 8 20-05 285 $15,360.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 3 7-10
5. Doug Garrett Cabot, Ark. 11 18-15 280 $4,640.00
Day 1: 4 6-13 Day 2: 2 5-00 Day 3: 5 7-02
6. Brad Hallman Norman, Okla. 8 18-14 281 $4,060.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 3 5-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
7. Conrad Picou Carencro, La. 10 18-02 272 $3,480.00
Day 1: 3 7-07 Day 2: 2 2-14 Day 3: 5 7-13
8. Mike McClelland Vella Vista, Ark. 8 17-15 268 $4,190.00
Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 1 4-00 Day 3: 3 3-14
9. Travis Loyd Vienna, Ill. 10 17-12 264 $2,610.00
Day 1: 4 6-14 Day 2: 2 2-15 Day 3: 4 7-15
10. Tony Chachere Opelousas, La. 11 17-11 260 $2,320.00
Day 1: 5 8-02 Day 2: 3 4-09 Day 3: 3 5-00
11. Kevin Riney Pocahontas, Ark. 9 17-06 257 $2,030.00
Day 1: 4 9-08 Day 2: 1 1-01 Day 3: 4 6-13
12. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, Texas 9 17-05 254 $1,740.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 8-10 Day 3: 5 8-11
13. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 9 16-13 251 $1,450.00
Day 1: 3 4-03 Day 2: 2 3-02 Day 3: 4 9-08
14. Doc Seger Reeds Springs, Mo. 8 16-11 248 $1,392.00
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 2 3-11
15. Brannon Jones Montgomery, Ala. 8 16-07 245 $1,334.00
Day 1: 4 10-02 Day 2: 2 4-01 Day 3: 2 2-04
16. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 12 15-09 243 $1,276.00
Day 1: 5 6-03 Day 2: 2 3-09 Day 3: 5 5-13
17. Randy Allen Calhoun, La. 11 15-08 241 $1,276.00
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 3 3-02 Day 3: 3 2-13
18. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 6 15-06 239 $2,276.00
Day 1: 3 5-14 Day 2: 1 1-15 Day 3: 2 7-09
19. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 11 15-05 237 $1,276.00
Day 1: 5 7-01 Day 2: 1 0-15 Day 3: 5 7-05
20. Tim Dungan Cinncinati, Ohio 7 14-13 235 $1,276.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 2 2-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
21. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 8 14-05 233 $1,218.00
Day 1: 3 6-03 Day 2: 2 2-02 Day 3: 3 6-00
22. Paul Ferguson Arp, Texas 6 13-14 231 $1,218.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 3 6-11 Day 3: 2 5-02
23. Kevin Lasyone Dry Prong, La. 8 13-09 229 $1,218.00
Day 1: 2 3-09 Day 2: 3 5-02 Day 3: 3 4-14
23. Herb Blush Yazoo City, Miss. 6 13-09 229 $1,218.00
Day 1: 3 7-12 Day 2: 1 1-07 Day 3: 2 4-06
25. Mike Williams Delhi, La. 7 13-07 225 $1,218.00
Day 1: 4 8-15 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 3 4-08
26. Darrell Newman Bruceville, Texas 9 12-07 223 $986.00
Day 1: 5 6-14 Day 2: 3 4-06 Day 3: 1 1-03
27. Robert Byrd Dallas, Texas 6 12-02 221 $986.00
Day 1: 2 3-12 Day 2: 2 4-05 Day 3: 2 4-01
28. Randy Jackson Poplar Bluff, Mo. 8 12-01 219 $986.00
Day 1: 3 2-14 Day 2: 3 5-09 Day 3: 2 3-10
29. Bradley Stringer Huntington, Texas 6 11-10 217 $986.00
Day 1: 4 7-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 4-04
29. Billy Hurt Spring Creek, Tenn. 6 11-10 217 $986.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 3 5-01 Day 3: 2 4-08
31. Chuck Lawless Park Hill, Okla. 5 11-04 213 $870.00
Day 1: 3 6-07 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 4-13
32. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 7 11-01 211 $870.00
Day 1: 2 3-10 Day 2: 4 5-11 Day 3: 1 1-12
33. Scott Mcgehee Madison, Miss. 7 10-10 209 $870.00
Day 1: 3 3-10 Day 2: 2 2-13 Day 3: 2 4-03
34. Tommy Martin Hemphill, Texas 6 10-05 207 $831.33
Day 1: 1 0-14 Day 2: 4 7-09 Day 3: 1 1-14
34. Brent Broderick Oregonia, Ohio 4 10-05 207 $831.33
Day 1: 1 2-05 Day 2: 3 8-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
34. Max Atkinson Midway, Ark. 4 10-05 207 $831.33
Day 1: 1 4-02 Day 2: 2 3-15 Day 3: 1 2-04
37. Homer Humphreys, Jr Minden, La. 6 9-15 201 $2,254.00
Day 1: 2 5-14 Day 2: 2 2-01 Day 3: 2 2-00
38. Doug Vahrenberg Higginsville, Mo. 5 9-13 199 $754.00
Day 1: 2 5-03 Day 2: 1 2-10 Day 3: 2 2-00
39. Robert Swisher Mulkeytown, Ill. 6 9-10 197 $754.00
Day 1: 5 7-08 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 2-02
40. Dwayne Busby Amarillo, Texas 4 9-09 195 $754.00
Day 1: 3 6-06 Day 2: 1 3-03 Day 3: 0 0-00
41. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 5 8-06 193 $696.00
Day 1: 2 4-01 Day 2: 1 2-06 Day 3: 2 1-15
42. Sam Swett Covington, La. 6 8-04 191 $696.00
Day 1: 2 1-15 Day 2: 3 5-03 Day 3: 1 1-02
42. Brad D Wall Clarksville, Ohio 5 8-04 191 $696.00
Day 1: 4 6-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-14
44. Troy Dolney Gamaliel, Ark. 6 8-03 187 $696.00
Day 1: 4 6-01 Day 2: 1 0-11 Day 3: 1 1-07
44. Brian Penso Houston, Texas 5 8-03 187 $696.00
Day 1: 3 4-05 Day 2: 1 1-09 Day 3: 1 2-05
46. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 5 7-14 183 $638.00
Day 1: 2 3-03 Day 2: 2 3-05 Day 3: 1 1-06
47. Preston Domingue Lafayette, La. 4 7-12 181 $638.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 7-12 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. Terry Owens Aliceville, Ala. 3 6-02 179 $638.00
Day 1: 2 3-07 Day 2: 1 2-11 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. David Gliebe Benton, Ky. 3 5-14 177 $638.00
Day 1: 1 1-06 Day 2: 2 4-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Ed Whaley Montgomery, Texas 3 5-14 177 $638.00
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 2 4-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Homer Humphreys, Jr Minden, La. 0-00 $1,000.00
2 Mike McClelland Vella Vista, Ark. 4-00 $1,000.00
3 Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 4-01 $1,000.00
Homer Humphreys, Jr Minden, La. 4-14 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 11 232 409-09
2 2 155 267-04
3 6 107 189-07
----------------------------------
19 494 866-042005 Central Open 2 NB 10/13-10/15
Lake Norfork, Mountain Home Ark.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dwight Dickerson Tomball, Texas 6 14-08 310 $25,037.00
Day 1: 1 3-10 Day 2: 3 6-04 Day 3: 2 4-10
2. Rusty Harvey Nederland, Texas 5 13-01 295 $3,920.00
Day 1: 2 6-01 Day 2: 2 3-01 Day 3: 1 3-15
3. Bob Snyder Roland, Ark. 8 12-10 290 $2,450.00
Day 1: 3 3-10 Day 2: 2 3-04 Day 3: 3 5-12
4. Jeary Wheeler Batesville, Ark. 6 11-13 285 $2,205.00
Day 1: 2 4-13 Day 2: 1 1-07 Day 3: 3 5-09
5. Dennis Mcdaniel Roxie, Miss. 5 11-03 280 $2,360.00
Day 1: 2 3-02 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 3 8-01
6. Harry Durham Houston, Texas 4 9-04 276 $1,470.00
Day 1: 2 4-14 Day 2: 1 2-08 Day 3: 1 1-14
7. Charles Thomson Boerne, Texas 4 8-08 272 $1,225.00
Day 1: 1 4-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 3 4-03
8. Stan Williams Calhoun, La. 4 8-05 268 $1,380.00
Day 1: 1 1-00 Day 2: 3 7-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
9. Mike Desforges Burlington, Canada 5 8-04 264 $882.00
Day 1: 2 2-05 Day 2: 3 5-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
10. Mike Wisenbaker Jourdanton, Texas 6 8-02 260 $784.00
Day 1: 2 3-09 Day 2: 2 2-12 Day 3: 2 1-13
11. David Kelly Ft Worth, Texas 5 7-13 257 $686.00
Day 1: 2 3-08 Day 2: 1 1-04 Day 3: 2 3-01
12. Jack Brown Thayer, Mo. 6 7-06 254 $637.00
Day 1: 4 4-07 Day 2: 1 1-15 Day 3: 1 1-00
13. Dewayne French Mammoth Spring, Ark. 5 7-05 251 $588.00
Day 1: 3 4-13 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 2-08
14. Brian Merrifield Athens, Texas 4 7-01 248 $539.00
Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 1 2-00 Day 3: 2 3-02
15. Glenn Maxwell Crossett, Ark. 5 6-15 245 $441.00
Day 1: 1 1-01 Day 2: 3 4-04 Day 3: 1 1-10
15. Jim Zaleski Parsons, Kan. 3 6-15 245 $441.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 4-03 Day 3: 1 2-12
17. Shawn White Mountain Home, Ark. 3 6-12 241 $392.00
Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 4-14
18. Billy Yelverton Baton Rouge, La. 4 6-07 239 $392.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 3-06 Day 3: 2 3-01
19. Nathan Bourque Prairieville, La. 2 6-04 242 $1,292.00
Day 1: 2 6-04 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
20. Scott Darragh Dallas, Texas 4 6-03 235 $392.00
Day 1: 3 4-13 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-06
21. Joe Lee Desoto, Texas 4 6-01 233 $343.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 4-12 Day 3: 1 1-05
22. Mike Aycock Bay Springs, Miss. 4 5-10 231 $343.00
Day 1: 3 4-03 Day 2: 1 1-07 Day 3: 0 0-00
23. James Gray Walnut Ridge, Ark. 3 5-08 229 $343.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
24. Scott Alspach Delaware, Okla. 3 5-07 227 $343.00
Day 1: 2 4-03 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-04
25. Bennie Anderson Grand Prairie, Texas 4 5-01 225 $343.00
Day 1: 2 2-07 Day 2: 2 2-10 Day 3: 0 0-00
26. Sam Moss, Sr Ackerman, Miss. 3 4-11 223 $294.00
Day 1: 2 2-11 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 2-00
27. Joel Mixon Arlington, Texas 3 4-07 221 $294.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 1 1-01 Day 3: 1 1-12
28. Allen Rhoden Huntsville, Texas 2 4-06 219 $294.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 1 2-04
29. Bill Gift Alix, Ark. 2 4-03 217 $294.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 1-14 Day 3: 1 2-05
30. David Kayda Deer Park, Texas 3 3-15 215 $282.00
Day 1: 1 0-14 Day 2: 1 2-00 Day 3: 1 1-01
30. Craig Jackson Boerne, Texas 2 3-15 215 $282.00
Day 1: 2 3-15 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
32. Glennon Wallach Cedar Hill, Mo. 2 3-09 211 $270.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-03 Day 3: 1 1-06
33. Austin Banks Madison, Miss. 2 3-08 209 $270.00
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-02
33. Eric Von Kinsey Lamar, Ark. 2 3-08 0 $270.00
Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 1 1-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
35. Dennis Arendt Jackson, Tenn. 3 3-06 205 $270.00
Day 1: 2 2-08 Day 2: 1 0-14 Day 3: 0 0-00
36. Robert Thierry Sugarland, Texas 2 3-05 203 $245.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-11
37. Ernie Daniel Batesville, Ark. 2 3-02 201 $245.00
Day 1: 2 3-02 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
38. Matthew Jones Spokane, Mo. 2 3-01 199 $245.00
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 0-14
39. Blaine Leblanc Many, La. 2 3-00 197 $245.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 0-15
40. Jamie Horne Jonesboro, Ark. 3 2-15 195 $233.00
Day 1: 1 0-13 Day 2: 2 2-02 Day 3: 0 0-00
40. Dick Stirewatt West Plains, Mo. 1 2-15 195 $233.00
Day 1: 1 2-15 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
42. Thomas Duncan White Hall, Ark. 1 2-14 191 $221.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-14 Day 3: 0 0-00
43. Mannie Lackey Kerrville, Texas 2 2-13 189 $221.00
Day 1: 1 1-10 Day 2: 1 1-03 Day 3: 0 0-00
44. Kenneth Harris Homer, La. 3 2-10 187 $221.00
Day 1: 1 0-13 Day 2: 2 1-13 Day 3: 0 0-00
45. Robert Harley Nixa, Mo. 1 2-09 185 $221.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
46. Rudy Hershberger Mountain Home, Ark. 2 2-04 183 $196.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 2-04 Day 3: 0 0-00
47. Bill Bonner Natchitoches, La. 1 1-14 181 $196.00
Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. Adrian Coble Brookeland, Texas 1 1-12 179 $196.00
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Steven Smith Berwyn, Ill. 1 1-11 177 $196.00
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. Jeff Smith Richmond, Texas 2 1-10 175 $196.00
Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 0-01
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Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Nathan Bourque Prairieville, La. 0-00 $400.00
2 Stan Williams Calhoun, La. 3-09 $400.00
3 Dennis Mcdaniel Roxie, Miss. 4-01 $400.00
Nathan Bourque Prairieville, La. 4-14 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 0 74 124-10
2 0 59 95-11
3 0 45 77-03
----------------------------------
0 178 297-08