KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Brent Chapman fished two very different patterns Saturday to hold on to the lead in the Bassmaster Elite Series Sunshine Showdown bass fishing tournament on Lake Tohopekaliga.
The Kansas pro caught a five-fish limit that weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces, for a three-day total weight of 42-3 and a 1-pound lead over Ben Matsubu of Hemphill, Texas, in the season-ending Elite Series event.
Chapman, of Lake Quivira, Kan., is seeking his third BASS victory Sunday and the $100,000 prize that goes to the winner. Matsubu caught 17-8 Saturday to move from seventh to second at 41-3. Glenn DeLong of Bellville, Ohio, moved up a spot to third at 37-12, followed by first-day leader Bill Smith of Somerset, Ky., at 35-12, Bradley Hallman of Norman, Okla., at 35-10 and Scott Rook of Little Rock, Ark., at 34-11, who had the Berkley Heavyweight Bag of the Day at 19-6 to jump from 38th to sixth. The top 12 anglers fish Sunday.
An emotional Skeet Reese claimed the Angler of the Year title and $125,000 by edging Kevin VanDam of Michigan, a three-time angler of the year. Reese, of Auburn, Calif., basically needed a top-30 finish to clinch the crown. He caught a limit weighing 10-5, and his total weight of 29-3 was good for 14th place. VanDam, who went into the day in 13th place, two spots ahead of Reese, had 7-2 to finish 19th at 26-5.
"This trophy means my career to me," a tearful Reese said after weighing in before an appreciative crowd at Lakefront Park.
"For me, it validates my career as a professional bass fisherman. To come out on top after this many days of fishing out here, it's priceless. At least one time in my career, I was No. 1."
Chapman caught all his fish Saturday in four small but key areas at the south end of Lake Kissimmee.
"I'm doing the extremes," Chapman said. "I'm fishing a drop shot with a 6-inch Zoom finesse worm to catch the real lethargic fish that aren't real aggressive and I caught my biggest fish flipping a Zoom Super Hog with an ounce-and-a-quarter tungsten weight.
"I got probably eight or nine bites. I missed a couple, but everything I hooked I put in the boat."
Matsubu changed tactics Saturday to catch his limit, which was anchored by a fish weighing 7-4. He credited Mary Delgado, his co-angler Friday, who caught a limit weighing 14-7 by Carolina-rigging a trick worm. Matsubu caught only 7-10 Friday.
"Mainly I've been throwing a crankbait," Matsubu said. "I tied on a Carolina rig (Saturday) and started catching them. All but one of my fish came on the Carolina rig."
He said he caught his fish in 7 feet of water around scattered grass in Lake Kissimmee. His rig consisted of an 18-inch leader with a quarter-ounce sinker.
"It's all timing. First thing in the morning and the last two hours," Matsubu said. "We left fish biting."
Matsubu's co-angler Saturday was Alabama's Harry Potts, who caught a limit weighing 14-11 to go wire-to-wire and win the co-angler division with 10 fish weighing 35-3. Frank Mealer of Alabama was second at 17-14. Don Moore of California was third at 16-10. Potts won a fully-rigged Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $50,000.
Reese said his goal coming into the tournament was to win the angler of the year title, but "then I put it into perspective and said, 'I can't fish chicken.' I wanted to go out and try to win this thing."
Each morning Reese caught fish on a Carolina rig by a shallow point in Lake Kissimmee that fellow pro Kevin Wirth had told him about. Then he moved to the Kissimmee River, where he caught his fish burning a LuckyCraft SKT Trap.
Going into Saturday, Reese said his plan was to catch 4 or 5 pounds of bass, which he felt would be enough to win the title.
"That was the benchmark I set for myself," he said, "so when I got my fourth fish, I knew I had achieved that."
_2007 Sunshine Showdown 9/13-9/16 Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 42-03 310 Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 12-09 2. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 15 41-03 295 Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 5 17-08 3. Glenn Delong Bellville, OH 15 37-12 290 Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 12-03 4. Bill Smith Jr. Somerset, KY 14 35-12 290 $1,000.00 Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 4 06-10 5. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 15 35-10 280 Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 13-02 6. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 13 34-11 276 $1,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 3 03-08 Day 3: 5 19-06 7. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 33-06 272 Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 10-04 8. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 13 33-05 268 $1,000.00 Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 3 05-10 Day 3: 5 19-01 9. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 15 32-12 264 Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 10-10 10. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 14 32-09 260 Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 4 04-12 11. Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 11 31-03 257 $1,000.00 Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 4 15-14 Day 3: 4 06-06 12. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 12 30-09 254 Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 14-10 13. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 14 29-14 251 $10,800.00 Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 13-06 14. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 29-03 248 $10,700.00 Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-03 Day 3: 5 10-05 15. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 14 29-02 245 $10,600.00 Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 08-15 Day 3: 4 05-14 16. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 12 28-14 243 $11,500.00 Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 2 04-01 17. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 12 27-03 241 $10,500.00 Day 1: 4 04-15 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 3 08-03 18. Peter E Thliveros St. Augustine, FL 15 26-08 239 $10,500.00 Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-09 Day 3: 5 07-12 19. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 26-05 237 $10,500.00 Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 07-02 20. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 12 26-03 235 $10,500.00 Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 4 09-02 Day 3: 4 10-01 21. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 12 25-14 233 $10,250.00 Day 1: 2 06-12 Day 2: 5 09-14 Day 3: 5 09-04 22. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 15 25-10 231 $10,250.00 Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 07-03 23. Charlie Youngers Geneva, FL 14 25-08 229 $10,250.00 Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 4 07-15 24. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 15 25-06 227 $10,250.00 Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 07-05 Day 3: 5 07-08 25. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 13 24-05 225 $10,250.00 Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 06-04 Day 3: 3 09-02 26. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 15 24-02 223 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 05-05 Day 2: 5 11-01 Day 3: 5 07-12 27. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 15 23-14 221 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-03 Day 3: 5 08-06 28. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 14 23-11 219 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 4 08-00 29. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 23-10 216 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 5 07-02 29. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 14 23-10 216 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 09-07 Day 3: 4 06-15 31. John Crews Salem, VA 13 23-08 213 $10,000.00 Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 06-03 32. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 14 23-07 211 $10,000.00 Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 5 08-02 Day 3: 5 07-13 33. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 23-03 209 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 05-13 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 05-10 34. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 13 22-12 207 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 3 05-01 Day 3: 5 07-03 35. Ishama Monroe Hughson, CA 12 22-11 205 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 2 04-10 36. Alton Jones Waco, TX 12 21-13 203 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 2 02-08 37. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 12 21-03 201 $10,000.00 Day 1: 4 10-05 Day 2: 3 03-08 Day 3: 5 07-06 38. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 13 21-00 199 $10,000.00 Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 5 05-11 Day 3: 5 06-05 39. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 15 20-11 197 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 06-13 Day 3: 5 04-10 40. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 14 20-10 194 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 4 05-15 40. Doc Merkin Downers Grove, IL 12 20-10 194 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 4 09-07 Day 3: 3 05-04 42. Preston Clark Palatka, FL 12 19-05 191 $10,000.00 Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 05-04 43. Frank Scalish Cleveland Heights, OH 11 18-12 189 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 4 04-03 Day 3: 2 02-13 44. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 18-08 187 $10,000.00 Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 4 08-05 Day 3: 3 03-06 45. Ray Sedgwick Cross, SC 12 17-12 185 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 06-13 Day 3: 2 02-02 46. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 14 17-02 183 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 06-14 Day 3: 4 03-08 47. Rick Ash Pottstown, PA 14 16-14 180 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 05-06 Day 3: 4 04-06 47. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 10 16-14 180 $10,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 2 02-11 Day 3: 3 03-02 49. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 7 16-02 177 $10,000.00 Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 2 08-05 Day 3: 2 02-07 50. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 12 15-14 175 $10,000.00 Day 1: 4 03-15 Day 2: 5 08-10 Day 3: 3 03-05 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Big Bass Day 1 Jim Murray Arabi, GA 07-06 $1,000.00 2 Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 07-15 $1,000.00 3 James Niggemeyer Van, TX 07-15 $1,000.00 Day 1 Bill Smith Jr. Somerset, KY 18-06 $1,000.00 2 Pete Ponds Madison, MS 18-13 $1,000.00 3 Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 19-06 $1,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 46 377 649-02 2 58 410 709-10 3 27 209 386-12 ---------------------------------- 131 996 1745-08 2007 Sunshine Showdown 9/13-9/16 Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL. (CO-ANGLER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Harry Potts Ozark, AL 10 35-03 0 $50,500.00 Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 5 14-11 2. Frank Mealer Irondale, AL 9 17-14 0 $25,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 2 02-01 Day 3: 2 02-02 3. Don Moore Ukiah, CA 12 16-10 0 $5,000.00 Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 4 05-00 Day 3: 5 08-07 4. Russ Osborne Orlando, FL 8 16-06 0 $3,500.00 Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 5 07-11 5. Clint Belcher Uniontown, OH 7 15-12 0 $2,750.00 Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 2 10-01 Day 3: 3 02-09 6. Clint Pack Gable, SC 8 15-02 0 $2,500.00 Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 2 05-15 Day 3: 2 02-01 7. Lane Wright Loganville, GA 7 14-15 0 $2,250.00 Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 1 01-03 Day 3: 4 09-02 8. Loel Brandstrom New Brighton, MN 4 14-12 0 $2,500.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 08-14 Day 3: 2 05-14 9. Marty Scoggins Trion, GA 12 14-09 0 $1,750.00 Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 5 06-09 Day 3: 4 04-14 10. Mary Delgado Tampa, FL 5 14-07 0 $1,500.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 0 00-00 11. Kentaro Amagal New Port Richey, FL 9 14-04 0 $1,750.00 Day 1: 4 04-04 Day 2: 2 01-15 Day 3: 3 08-01 12. Tommy Swindle Cleveland, AL 7 13-05 0 $1,000.00 Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 00-15 Day 3: 3 06-01 13. Larry Triplett Parker, CO 8 13-00 0 $750.00 Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 1 01-00 Day 3: 2 04-08 14. Michael Neal Dexter, KS 8 12-12 0 $750.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-02 Day 3: 5 06-10 15. Dennis Andersen Wellington, FL 8 12-10 0 $750.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-09 Day 3: 5 06-01 16. Shane Breeden Chickamauga, GA 5 12-08 0 $750.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 0 00-00 17. Steve Warner Winter Haven, FL 9 12-06 0 $750.00 Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 1 00-13 Day 3: 3 05-07 18. Patrick Pierce Saint John, FL 8 11-06 0 $750.00 Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 5 06-05 Day 3: 1 00-12 19. Terry Chapman Stanley, NC 8 11-02 0 $750.00 Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 1 01-00 Day 3: 2 03-05 20. Mike Williams Delhi, LA 7 11-01 0 $750.00 Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 1 02-12 Day 3: 1 01-01 21. Johnny Graham Tulsa, OK 10 11-00 0 $750.00 Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 4 04-02 Day 3: 5 05-03 22. Allen Burkhalter Columbus, GA 5 10-15 0 $750.00 Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 00-15 23. Robert Miley Miami, FL 7 10-14 0 $750.00 Day 1: 4 05-03 Day 2: 2 04-15 Day 3: 1 00-12 24. Dave Elder Tuscaloosa, AL 6 10-07 0 $750.00 Day 1: 2 02-01 Day 2: 3 07-09 Day 3: 1 00-13 25. Harold Beasley Dunnellon, FL 6 10-05 0 $750.00 Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 4 06-08 Day 3: 0 00-00 26. Justin Hotz Colorado Springs, CO 10 10-04 0 $500.00 Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 5 04-15 Day 3: 4 04-07 26. Kevin Cunningham Farmingdale, NY 8 10-04 0 $500.00 Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 2 02-06 Day 3: 1 00-12 26. Chip Brooks Bradenton, FL 8 10-04 0 $500.00 Day 1: 4 04-02 Day 2: 2 04-06 Day 3: 2 01-12 29. Steven Abboud Orange Park, FL 7 10-03 0 $500.00 Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 2 01-13 Day 3: 0 00-00 30. Wayne Loring Fort Lauderdale, FL 6 10-02 0 $500.00 Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 00-13 31. Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, AL 6 09-15 0 $500.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-01 Day 3: 3 03-14 32. Don Lewis Jacksonville, FL 4 09-10 0 $500.00 Day 1: 2 05-14 Day 2: 1 02-15 Day 3: 1 00-13 33. Brian Rodriguez Orlando, FL 7 09-07 0 $500.00 Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 1 01-04 Day 3: 1 01-15 34. Raymond Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL 6 09-02 0 $500.00 Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 2 01-13 Day 3: 1 01-08 34. Anthony Sammartino Orlando, FL 5 09-02 0 $500.00 Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 1 01-01 Day 3: 1 00-13 36. L. E. Clark Palatka, FL 8 09-00 0 $500.00 Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 3 02-15 37. James Whitman Ozark, AL 9 08-15 0 $500.00 Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 5 05-05 Day 3: 3 02-13 37. Steven Raith Apollo Beach, FL 5 08-15 0 $500.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 07-12 Day 3: 1 01-03 39. Brandon Pedigo Lawton, OK 7 08-02 0 $500.00 Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 4 05-00 Day 3: 1 00-11 39. Clint Sterling Oakland, FL 7 08-02 0 $500.00 Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 03-09 Day 3: 3 02-15 41. Michael Norman Okmulgee, OK 7 07-11 0 $500.00 Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 2 02-09 Day 3: 2 02-04 42. Taylor Barnes Chickamauga, GA 8 07-09 0 $500.00 Day 1: 2 01-11 Day 2: 5 04-11 Day 3: 1 01-03 43. Paul Pagnato Vienna, VA 4 06-11 0 $500.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-14 Day 3: 1 01-13 44. David Hernandez Birmingham, AL 4 06-10 0 $500.00 Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 1 00-15 Day 3: 1 01-01 45. Edward Abbott St. Cloud, FL 4 06-09 0 $500.00 Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 1 00-13 Day 3: 0 00-00 46. Mark Eden Palm Bay, FL 4 05-13 0 $500.00 Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 01-02 Day 3: 0 00-00 47. Kyle Lowrey Brandon, FL 2 05-12 0 $500.00 Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-12 Day 3: 0 00-00 48. George Celi Kissimmee, FL 3 05-05 0 $500.00 Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 2 02-07 Day 3: 0 00-00 49. Alan Bull Mccrory, AR 6 05-03 0 $500.00 Day 1: 5 04-04 Day 2: 1 00-15 Day 3: 0 00-00 50. Jimmy Dudley White, GA 4 05-02 0 $500.00 Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 1 00-13 Day 3: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Big Bass Day 1 Harry Potts Ozark, AL 06-07 $500.00 2 Loel Brandstrom New Brighton, MN 07-15 $500.00 3 Kentaro Amagal New Port Richey, FL 05-06 $500.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 12 180 285-14 2 7 163 253-10 3 6 96 140-09 ---------------------------------- 25 439 680-01