OKEECHOBEE CITY, Fla. - Jan. 13, 2003 - With the season-opener of 2003 under their belts the 175 touring pros on the Bassmaster Tour look to take on Florida's Lake Okeechobee Jan. 16-19.
Okeechobee has long been a favorite of many top pros including long-time B.A.S.S. angler Roland Martin, who makes his home on the lake in Clewiston.
"This can definitely be the best time of year to fish on Okeechobee," said Martin. "With the full moon this week if we have some good weather there will be a spawn. Right now the lake is on the edge of a spawn and if we have 70 degree air temperatures to get the water up to around 65 or so then a lot of people will catch 15 pound limits."
After a tough competition last week on the Harris Chain anglers will be hopeful for a good catch on Okeechobee. Weather conditions for the week should work to their favor as conditions are expected to warm steadily throughout the week with forecast highs reaching into the low 70s.
"This lake is kind of a feast or famine place this time of the year," Martin explained. "If we don't have warm weather then there will be a few anglers that bring in really big bags, but there will be few fish caught by everyone else."
Martin, the all-time leader in B.A.S.S. wins with 19, has claimed victories twice on Okeechobee. He won events in 1980 and most recently in 1991. How does he rate his chances for the event?
"I'm pretty confident and really depending on a good showing," said Martin. "This has been a good time of year for me on this lake. I try to just compete against the bass, and I think I can catch 20-pound limits."
After his victory last week, California's Skeet Reese is the person to catch in the Busch B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year race. Reese received a $1,000 bonus from Busch Beer in addition to the $100,000 first prize for leading the points after the first event.
TELEVISION
The event from Lake Okeechobee will be telecast on ESPN2 Saturday, Feb. 1, at 10:30 a.m. (ET).
UP NEXT
This is the second event of 10 on the 2003 Bassmaster Tour schedule. The next event takes place Feb. 6-9 on Lake Seminole near Bainbridge, Ga.
ORIGINS OF THE TOUR
While B.A.S.S. has conducted tournaments since 1967, records for the Bassmaster Tour begin with the 1994-95 season, as that was the first year the pro-am tournaments earned points toward the Busch B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year award.
Missouri's Denny Brauer is the all-time leading money winner in B.A.S.S. events with a total of $164,452 entering the 2003 season.
POINTS RACE FOR B.A.S.S. ANGLER OF THE YEAR
Pros will be competing for valuable Busch B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year points throughout the 2003 season. Points are awarded based on each angler's finish in an event, with 175 points awarded to the first-place angler and one fewer point as positions descend. An angler must catch at least one bass to earn points.
B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year point Standings (following event #1)
| 1. Skeet Reese | 175 | 26. Joe Thomas | 147 |
| 2. Jason Barber | 173 | 27. Charlie Weyer | 146 |
| 3. Gerald Swindle | 172 | 28. Kenyon Hill | 145 |
| 4. Woo Daves | 171 | 29. Mike Hicks | 144 |
| 5. Jim Bitter | 170 | 30. Lance Vick | 143 |
| 6. Mike Wurm | 169 | 31. Rick Morris | 142 |
| 7. Ishama Monroe | 168 | 32. Tim Sainato | 141 |
| 8. Mark Menendez | 167 | 33. Tom Mann Jr. | 140 |
| 9. Eric Nethery | 166 | 34. Todd Faircloth | 139 |
| 10.Mark Kile | 164 | 35. Brett Hite | 138 |
| 11. Chris Price | 162 | 35. Tommy Stiles | 138 |
| 12. Pete Gluszek | 161 | 37. Lee Bailey | 136 |
| 13. Jack Wade | 160 | 37. O.T. Fears | 136 |
| 14. Michael Johnson | 159 | 37. Terry Scroggins | 136 |
| 15. Rick Taylor | 158 | 40. Johnny Lesesne | 133 |
| 15. Elton Luce | 158 | 40. Dalton Bobo | 133 |
| 17. Harold Allen | 156 | 42. Kevin Wirth | 131 |
| 18. Kyle Mabrey | 155 | 42. Tim Carini | 131 |
| 19. Curt Lytle | 154 | 44. Kevin VanDam | 129 |
| 20. Allen Armour | 153 | 44. Homer Humphreys | 129 |
| 21. Jeff Reynolds | 152 | 46. Tim Horton | 127 |
| 22. John Murray | 151 | 47. Tommy Martin | 126 |
| 23. Gary Klein | 150 | 48. Todd Auten | 125 |
| 24. Dustin Wilks | 149 | 49. Casey Iwai | 124 |
| 24. Keith Green | 149 | 50. Jay Kendrick | 123 |
CLASSIC QUALIFIERS
The following list of anglers have already qualified for this August's CITGO Bassmasters Classic in New Orleans, La. through the CITGO Bassmaster Open series which took place last fall.From the Bassmaster Northern Division:
Koby Kreiger, Indiana
Lee Bailey, Connecticut
Michael Iaconelli, New Jersey
Randall Romig, PENNSYLVANIA
David LeFebre, PENNSYLVANIA
From the Bassmaster Central Division:
Greg Hackney, Louisiana
Edwin Evers, Oklahoma
Mike Gough, Florida
Homer Humphreys, Louisiana
Chad Morganthaler, Illinois
From the Bassmaster Southern Division:
Jason Quinn, South Carolina
Wesley Strader, Tennessee
Todd Auten, South Carolina
Michael Johnson, Georgia
Tom Hamlin, Georgia
Additionally, if the reigning Bassmasters Classic Champion, Jay Yelas and the reigning B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, Davy Hite do not earn berths based on their 2003 performance, they will receive automatic entry into the event.
INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
Rookie of the Year award
Newcomers to the Tour this season have the opportunity to earn not only a $10,000 bonus, but also the title of Rookie of the Year. CITGO will reward the Tour's top newcomer based on final standing in the Busch B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year program at the 2003 Bassmasters Classic.
With his third place finish in the season's first event, Texan Jason Barber leads the race for the inaugural award.
Horizon Award
At the conclusion of the 2003 season, CITGO will reward the angler that posts the greatest improvement over their 2002 season. During the festivities surrounding the Bassmasters Classic this August in New Orleans, the winning angler will receive a check for $25,000.
THE LAST TIME OUT
Cotati, California angler Skeet Reese started the 2003 season off in grand style, claiming his second B.A.S.S. and first Bassmaster Tour win by catching 15 pounds, 2 ounces of bass during the showdown portion of the event.
"I've got a good track record, but I've never considered myself one of the key figures in the sport because I don't have a major title under my belt and this is just a great stepping stone for me," said Reese. "Angler of the Year is still the number one goal in my life and whether I'll achieve it or not, I don't know."
Following Reese, were Tennessee's David Walker (14-11), Jason Barber of Texas (13-8), Alabama's Gerald Swindle (12-15), Virginia's Woo Daves (12-8) and Florida's Jim Bitter (11-0).
Ringing in the Champ
At the Bassmaster Tour season opener in Leesburg, B.A.S.S. vice president and general manager Dean Kessel presented 2002 Bassmasters Classic champion Jay Yelas with the Classic champion's ring.
"This is something," Yelas said. "It's something I sincerely wish every fisherman in this room could experience."
Quick Fixes
While fans were wowed by the B.A.S.S. Sponsor Expo that debuted Saturday and will travel with the Tour throughout the season, it offers an extra perk for the anglers. At the Lowrance booth, anglers can upload GPS coordinates for all future Tour stops onto their Lowrance units. At Saturday's Expo, pro Dennis Kolender stopped by to get coordinates on his way down to the next stop at Lake Okeechobee.
"We have a couple of different ways of doing it," said technician Doug O'Hara. "I pre-program all the stops for the Tour onto a disc. I can copy it in a Lowrance unit or on a computer. I've already done it for 15 or 20 of the guys."
NASCAR's Wallace Salutes Anglers
Kevin Wallace, 1989 NASCAR Busch Series Rookie of the Year, also spoke to the assembled anglers about the benefits of the recently acquired Busch sponsorship and the Busch B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year program.
"You guys have a lot to be excited about," he said. "Anheuser-Busch's association with you and with the Busch brand means you've got an exciting year ahead of you. I know because we were in the same situation in 1989 - ESPN, Anheuser-Busch and NASCAR."
Family Bragging Rights
Although both pro angler Jimmy Mize and his daughter, amateur Melinda Mize, finished out of the money at the season opener, Melinda took home the bragging rights with a two-day catch of 15 ounces that put her in a tie for 96th place. Jimmy zeroed both days, ending up tied for 166th. Despite a challenging week of fishing on the Harris Chain, Melinda is still determined to go pro like her dad and her mom, Lucy Mize, a top female pro on the Bassmaster Tournament Trail. And if that fails ...
"I would love to market products for someone associated with bass fishing," she said. "Or maybe own a fishing store."
THE BASSMASTER TOUR IN THE SUNSHINE STATE
The two B.A.S.S. events in Florida during January will increase the number of events held there to 45 since B.A.S.S. began holding tournaments nearly 35 years ago, second only to Alabama, where 54 tournaments have been held.THE LAST TIME IN FLORIDA
Alabama's Tim Horton claimed victory on Lake Toho near Kissimmee the last time the BASSMASTER Tour traveled to the Sunshine State, in December 2001. Horton, the 2000 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year, earned his second-ever B.A.S.S. victory with a four-day total of 61 pounds, 4 ounces.THE LAST TIME ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Tackle shop owner Gregory MacLean of Okeechobee City, Fla. caught a three-day total of 44 pounds, 4 ounces to claim the win during the Jan. 2001 Bassmaster Eastern Invitational on Lake Okeechobee. His win was anchored by an 8 pound 3 ounce largemouth on the final day.OTHER FLORIDA B.A.S.S. RECORDS
Perhaps the best remembered B.A.S.S. event in the state of Florida was the January 2001 BASSMASTER Top 150 event on Lake Toho. During that event Dean Rojas, then of Arizona, shattered previous B.A.S.S. records for single-day weight and four-day tournament weight. Rojas' day one catch was an amazing 45 pounds, 2 ounces, and his total for the tournament was 108-12!CASTINGKIDS
The Bassmaster CastingKids program will hold a competition prior to Saturday's weigh-in. From 10:30 until 1:30 youngsters ages 7-14 will have the opportunity to pitch, flip and cast a lure in this popular program. Local winners will advance to state competition and state winners will compete for valuable scholarships including a $5,000 scholarship to the champions in both the 7-10 and 11-14 age groups.
The Taylor Creek Bass Club will be conducting the event and providing instruction to youngsters competing. For more information contact: Charlie Hays at 863-763-2332.
CHEVY PRO NIGHT
Chevy Pro Staff team members will be available for autographs, fishing tips and conversation on Jan. 16 from 6-8 p.m. at Gilbert Chevrolet Olds in Okeechobee. The Chevy pro staff consists of Tommy Biffle, David Fritts, Tom Mann Jr., Larry Nixon, Kim Stricker, Kevin VanDam and Jay Yelas, as well as Jimmy Houston of the long running ESPN fishing show "Jimmy Houston Outdoors."Schedule of Events for Florida BASSMASTER Tour Event
| Registration Wednesday, Jan. 15, 3:30 p.m. Okeechobee Shrine Club |
| Briefing Wednesday, Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m. Okeechobee Shrine Club |
| First day launch Thursday, Jan. 16, 6:30 a.m. Okee-Tanie Marina |
| Day 1 weigh-in Thursday, Jan. 16, 3:00 p.m. Okee-Tanie Marina |
| Chevy Pro Night Thursday, Jan. 16 6-8 p.m. Gilbert Chevrolet Olds |
| Day 2 weigh-in and cut Friday, Jan. 17, 3:00 p.m. Okee-Tanie Marina |
| Day 3 weigh-in and cut Saturday, Jan. 18, 3:00 p.m. Okee-Tanie Marina |
| CastingKids Saturday, Jan. 18, 10:30 until 1:30 Okee-Tanie Marina |
| Day 4 weigh-in Sunday, Jan. 19, 3:00 p.m. Okee-Tanie Marina |