MONETA, Va. - By just 1 ounce, Robert Hoyt Jr. of Harrisonburg, Va., won the Bassmaster Northern Tour bass fishing tournament at Smith Mountain Lake over fellow Virginian David Dudley.
Hoyt totaled 36 pounds, 14 ounces of bass over the three-day tournament to score his first BASS victory on Saturday. With a boost from a fellow contender, Hoyt prevailed over the rough boating and fishing conditions of Smith Mountain Lake to take home the top prize of $24,000 in cash and a $45,000 fully rigged Triton boat powered by a Mercury motor.
The help came from his father, Robert Hoyt of Wirtz, Va., who left one of his productive areas with little time left on Saturday so his son could fish the area and boat his last keeper. The elder Hoyt, who finished in 17th place, knew he wasn't in contention for the win, but that his son, the leader going into the final day, was.
"I was pretty nervous when the day was winding down and I was sitting there with four [keeper fish]," said the younger Hoyt. "I definitely owe him for leaving that spot and he has just done a ton for me in my life."
The spot yielded a 2-pounder that took the son's Carolina rig. It was just enough to hold off Dudley, the 2004 Bassmaster Open winner on Smith Mountain.
A student at James Madison University, Hoyt's goal after he graduates has been to become a pro golfer. But Saturday's victory has him rethinking his career choices.
"I just don't know right now whether to fish or golf for a living," said the 22-year-old. "All I can tell you is that I am going to back to [college] and throwing a huge party for all my friends."
A disappointed Dudley, who finished with 36 pounds, 13 ounces, couldn't claim his second BASS victory on his home lake. He said it was the first day of competition - a day that the 31-year-old caught 10-0 to Hoyt's 12-10 - that lost the tournament for the Lynchburg resident.
"You have to be mentally tough to win this tournament and I didn't capitalize on the first day here," Dudley said. "My mistake was not catching more fish on the first day. I thought conserving my areas was the right move, but obviously it wasn't."
Rounding out the top five were Danville, Va., angler Kenny Reynolds (33-0); 2000 Bassmaster Classic champ and Spring Grove, Va., resident Woo Daves (28-12); and Boones Mill, Va., angler Mark Clingenpeel (27-14).
On the co-angler side, Robert Hudson of Lynchburg, Va., overtook Day 1 and Day 2 leader Bill Uzzell of Covington, Va., to win the co-angler top prize of a fully rigged Triton boat valued at $30,000.
Hudson finished with 14 pounds, 10 ounces, comfortably in front of Jeffrey Freeman of Max Meadows, Va., who had 12-7, and Uzzell, who zeroed on Day 3 and ended with a tournament total of 10-15.
2006 Northern 5 - Moneta BO 10/26-10/28
Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta Va.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robert Hoyt, Jr Harrisonburg, Va. 15 36-14 310 $69,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 9-13
2. David Dudley Lynchburg, Va. 15 36-13 295 $51,400.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 12-01
3. Kenny Reynolds Danville, Va. 14 33-00 290 $32,400.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 8-08 Day 3: 4 10-15
4. Woo Daves Spring Grove, Va. 12 28-12 285 $25,000.00
Day 1: 4 6-12 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 3 6-05
5. Mark Clingenpeel Boones Mill, Va. 10 27-14 280 $8,000.00
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 4 9-10
6. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 12 27-03 276 $8,400.00
Day 1: 4 12-13 Day 2: 4 6-14 Day 3: 4 7-08
7. Kevin Long Berkley, Mich. 11 26-08 272 $5,200.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 1 3-00
8. Art Ferguson Saint Clair Shores, Mi 11 25-10 268 $4,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 2 4-07 Day 3: 4 7-13
9. Brandon Reynolds Callands, Va. 9 25-03 264 $3,600.00
Day 1: 4 8-07 Day 2: 4 13-12 Day 3: 1 3-00
10. Scott Campbell Springfield, Mo. 11 24-01 260 $3,360.00
Day 1: 4 8-01 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 2 5-06
11. Terry Baksay Monroe, Conn. 10 23-14 257 $3,780.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 4 6-10 Day 3: 1 4-11
12. Steve Roberts Lynchburg, Va. 7 23-00 252 $4,160.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 17-15 Day 3: 2 5-01
12. John Cole Buena Vista, Va. 7 23-00 252 $3,160.00
Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 4 16-03 Day 3: 2 5-04
14. Anre' De Villiers Goodwood, South Africa 12 22-06 248 $3,040.00
Day 1: 4 7-00 Day 2: 3 5-06 Day 3: 5 10-00
15. Dale Wilson Huddleston, Va. 9 21-09 245 $2,960.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 2 6-08 Day 3: 2 4-09
16. Lawren Wetzel Sharon, Canada 10 21-06 243 $2,880.00
Day 1: 3 8-03 Day 2: 2 4-03 Day 3: 5 9-00
17. Robert Hoyt Wirtz, Va. 11 20-11 241 $2,800.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 2 3-07 Day 3: 4 6-09
18. David Barnes, Sr. Weeks Mills, Maine 9 20-00 239 $2,720.00
Day 1: 4 9-11 Day 2: 2 3-11 Day 3: 3 6-10
19. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 7 18-14 237 $3,060.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 2 8-03
20. Chris Dillow Waynesboro, Va. 6 18-12 240 $2,400.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 1 3-02 Day 3: 0 0-00
21. James Charlesworth Saint Cloud, Fla. 6 18-10 233 $2,320.00
Day 1: 3 9-03 Day 2: 2 6-05 Day 3: 1 3-02
22. Monty Fralick Martin, S.D. 8 18-06 231 $2,240.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 1 3-12 Day 3: 2 3-11
23. Bradley Hallman Norman, Okla. 8 18-03 229 $2,160.00
Day 1: 3 9-09 Day 2: 5 8-10 Day 3: 0 0-00
24. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, N.Y. 9 17-11 227 $2,080.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 8-10 Day 3: 4 9-01
25. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 9 17-06 225 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 6-15 Day 2: 2 3-04 Day 3: 4 7-03
26. Derek Remitz Hemphill, Texas 8 17-00 223 $1,920.00
Day 1: 2 3-12 Day 2: 3 6-00 Day 3: 3 7-04
27. William Hayes Roanoke, Va. 7 16-15 221 $1,840.00
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 2 4-07 Day 3: 3 8-03
28. Sam Lashlee Camden, Tenn. 8 16-14 219 $1,760.00
Day 1: 3 7-10 Day 2: 5 9-04 Day 3: 0 0-00
29. Justin Riley Woodbine, Md. 8 16-10 217 $1,680.00
Day 1: 1 1-06 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 2 3-06
30. Craig Dowling Many, La. 8 16-05 215 $1,600.00
Day 1: 3 6-09 Day 2: 2 4-06 Day 3: 3 5-06
31. Jack Mann Big Island, Va. 5 16-03 213 $1,560.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 12-09 Day 3: 1 3-10
32. Monte Boogie Atkins Greenville, Va. 7 15-07 211 $1,520.00
Day 1: 1 2-07 Day 2: 4 9-13 Day 3: 2 3-03
33. Raymond Lloyd Monroe, Va. 6 15-03 209 $1,480.00
Day 1: 4 9-00 Day 2: 2 6-03 Day 3: 0 0-00
34. Jeff Camp Wht Sphr Spgs, W.Va. 7 14-04 207 $1,440.00
Day 1: 3 7-07 Day 2: 3 5-00 Day 3: 1 1-13
35. Travis Rulle Huntsville, Ala. 6 13-07 205 $1,400.00
Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 4 8-10 Day 3: 1 2-15
36. Jon Moss Danville, Va. 5 13-00 203 $1,360.00
Day 1: 2 7-09 Day 2: 2 4-01 Day 3: 1 1-06
37. David Hovanec Unionville, N.Y. 5 12-12 201 $1,320.00
Day 1: 2 6-03 Day 2: 2 4-04 Day 3: 1 2-05
38. Dave Parsons Yantis, Texas 7 12-10 199 $1,280.00
Day 1: 5 8-13 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 3-13
39. Monte Atkins Greenville, Va. 7 12-02 197 $1,240.00
Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 1 1-09 Day 3: 1 1-09
40. Rocky Cummings Emmet, Ark. 4 11-12 195 $1,200.00
Day 1: 2 4-04 Day 2: 2 7-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
41. Chris Daves Hopewell, Va. 6 11-08 193 $1,200.00
Day 1: 1 2-09 Day 2: 5 8-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
42. Brandon Stanley Johnson City, Tenn. 6 11-07 191 $1,200.00
Day 1: 3 6-03 Day 2: 3 5-04 Day 3: 0 0-00
43. Ramon Deisher Covington, Va. 6 11-01 189 $1,200.00
Day 1: 3 5-11 Day 2: 2 3-02 Day 3: 1 2-04
44. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 6 11-00 187 $1,200.00
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 4 6-09 Day 3: 1 2-01
45. Aaron Lee Jakub Lincoln, Neb. 5 10-05 185 $1,200.00
Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 3 7-05 Day 3: 1 1-07
46. Rodney Hardwick Connersville, Ind. 4 9-13 183 $1,200.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 9-13 Day 3: 0 0-00
47. Brent Broderick Oregonia, Ohio 5 9-00 181 $1,200.00
Day 1: 2 4-06 Day 2: 3 4-10 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. Darrin Schwenkbeck Silver Spring, Md. 5 8-11 179 $1,200.00
Day 1: 5 8-11 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Ron Wheaton Columbia, Tenn. 4 8-09 177 $1,200.00
Day 1: 2 3-00 Day 2: 2 5-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. Kenneth Acornley Larksville, Pa. 4 8-07 174 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 1 2-11 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 7-15 $1,000.00
2 Steve Roberts Lynchburg, Va. 7-00 $1,000.00
3 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 4-11 $500.00
3 Terrence Baksay Monroe, Conn. 4-11 $500.00
Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 7-15 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 13 196 444-09
2 14 216 495-10
3 4 94 209-00
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31 506 1149-03 2006 Northern 5 - Moneta NB 10/26-10/28
Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta Va.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robert Hudson Lynchburg, Va. 7 14-10 305 $30,000.00
Day 1: 2 4-13 Day 2: 3 6-00 Day 3: 2 3-13
2. Jeffrey Freeman Max Medow, Va. 6 12-07 295 $3,600.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 8-02 Day 3: 3 4-05
3. Bill Uzzell Covington, Va. 4 10-15 300 $3,200.00
Day 1: 2 6-00 Day 2: 2 4-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
4. Jim McDevitt Eldon, Mo. 4 9-03 282 $2,000.00
Day 1: 2 4-06 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 1 2-11
4. Andy Starner Dover, Pa. 3 9-03 282 $2,400.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 9-03 Day 3: 0 0-00
6. Mikhail Borashko W Bloomfield, Mich. 3 8-15 276 $1,800.00
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 1 3-01 Day 3: 1 3-13
7. Trudy Noechel Lost Creek, W.Va. 4 8-07 272 $1,200.00
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 2 4-01 Day 3: 1 2-11
8. James Brugh Moneta, Va. 3 8-00 268 $1,000.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 8-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
9. Butch Jones Lexington, Va. 3 7-12 264 $800.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-05 Day 3: 2 5-07
10. Ben Reynolds Callands, Va. 4 7-11 260 $640.00
Day 1: 1 2-10 Day 2: 2 3-12 Day 3: 1 1-05
11. Charles Robison Allison Park, Pa. 4 7-09 257 $560.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 4-10 Day 3: 2 2-15
12. Johnny Denny Lancaster, Ky. 3 7-00 254 $560.00
Day 1: 1 3-03 Day 2: 1 2-07 Day 3: 1 1-06
13. Jeffrey Fouch Martinsburg, W.Va. 3 6-14 251 $560.00
Day 1: 2 3-04 Day 2: 1 3-10 Day 3: 0 0-00
14. Gary Arthur Lynchburg, Va. 2 6-08 248 $560.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 6-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
15. Jason Irby Rustburg, Va. 3 6-06 244 $520.00
Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 2 4-14 Day 3: 0 0-00
15. David Dominoski Mechanicsburg, Pa. 3 6-06 244 $520.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 3-01 Day 3: 2 3-05
17. Lester Thompson Elkins, W.Va. 2 6-00 241 $480.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 6-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
18. Frank Vida New Fairfield, Conn. 3 5-15 239 $480.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
19. Ken Golubjatnikov Pittsford, N.Y. 3 5-14 0 $480.00
Day 1: 3 5-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
19. Larry Bryant Goodlettsville, Tenn. 2 5-14 236 $480.00
Day 1: 1 3-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 2-00
21. Jim Kline Hagerstown, Md. 3 5-10 232 $400.00
Day 1: 1 1-13 Day 2: 2 3-13 Day 3: 0 0-00
21. William Custer Martinsville, Va. 3 5-10 232 $400.00
Day 1: 1 2-10 Day 2: 1 1-06 Day 3: 1 1-10
23. Lee King Chesapeake, Va. 3 5-07 229 $400.00
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 1 1-05 Day 3: 1 1-15
24. Russell Jr Davidson Lynchburg, Va. 3 5-06 226 $400.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 5-06 Day 3: 0 0-00
24. Daniel Ray Towe Salem, Va. 2 5-06 226 $400.00
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
26. Stephen Barrett Kirkfield, Canada 3 5-03 223 $360.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 3-14 Day 3: 1 1-05
27. Ed Santuk Hardy, Va. 3 5-01 221 $360.00
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 1 2-01 Day 3: 1 1-04
28. Donald Sheffey Concord, Va. 3 4-12 219 $360.00
Day 1: 1 1-07 Day 2: 2 3-05 Day 3: 0 0-00
29. Aaron Brown Tazewell, Va. 2 4-08 217 $360.00
Day 1: 2 4-08 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
30. Peter Taylor Ashburn, Va. 1 4-07 215 $760.00
Day 1: 1 4-07 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
31. Tad Phipps Max Meadows, Va. 2 4-05 213 $340.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-04 Day 3: 1 2-01
32. William Evans Moneta, Va. 2 4-01 211 $340.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-07 Day 3: 1 1-10
33. Stephen Green Whispering Pines, N.C. 3 4-00 208 $340.00
Day 1: 1 1-06 Day 2: 1 1-05 Day 3: 1 1-05
33. Russell, Iii Davidson Evington, Va. 2 4-00 208 $340.00
Day 1: 1 2-08 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-08
35. Richard Strubell Huddleston, Va. 2 3-15 205 $340.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-01 Day 3: 1 1-14
36. Steve West Lynch Station, Va. 2 3-14 203 $320.00
Day 1: 2 3-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
37. Richard Alley Boones Mill, Va. 2 3-11 201 $320.00
Day 1: 1 2-03 Day 2: 1 1-08 Day 3: 0 0-00
38. Neil Howard Salem, Ind. 2 3-10 198 $320.00
Day 1: 2 3-10 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
38. Jeffery Martin Rustburg, Va. 2 3-10 198 $320.00
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 1 1-06 Day 3: 0 0-00
40. Christopher Dixon Abingdon, Va. 1 3-09 195 $320.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 3-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
41. Mitch Price Christiansburg, Va. 2 3-04 193 $300.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 3-04 Day 3: 0 0-00
42. Brian Hite Glade Hill, Va. 1 3-02 191 $300.00
Day 1: 1 3-02 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
43. Walter Dixon Madison Heights, Va. 1 3-01 189 $300.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 3-01 Day 3: 0 0-00
44. Donald Bishop Verona, Pa. 2 2-15 185 $293.33
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 2-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
44. Justin Talkington Bridgeport, W.Va. 2 2-15 185 $293.33
Day 1: 2 2-15 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
44. Olexiy Luchnikov Brooklyn, N.Y. 2 2-15 185 $293.33
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 1 1-04 Day 3: 0 0-00
47. Kenneth Strimple Fairport, N.Y. 1 2-12 181 $280.00
Day 1: 1 2-12 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
48. Lewis Bowles Forest, Va. 1 2-09 179 $280.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
49. Brian Calloway Danville, Va. 1 2-05 177 $280.00
Day 1: 1 2-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
50. Jason Akers Jenkins, Ky. 1 2-00 175 $280.00
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Peter Taylor Ashburn, Va. 4-07 $400.00
2 Andy Starner Dover, Pa. 4-14 $400.00
3 Mikhail Borashko W Bloomfield, Mich. 3-13 $400.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 1 50 106-04
2 6 66 145-00
3 1 26 48-03
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8 142 299-07