LEESBURG, Fla. - With improved fishing conditions Friday during the second round of the Bassmaster Elite Series Wildcard bass fishing tournament, select anglers capitalized on the favorable weather, earning spots in the top 12 cut and advancing to Saturday's final round.
Texan Ben Matsubu, second after Thursday's round one, was in the top spot after catching 12 pounds, 2 ounces, Friday to move his two-day total to 27-4. If Matsubu holds on, he would receive his $55,000 entry fees paid for the 2007 Elite Series and take home a Triton boat/Mercury outboard package, valued at nearly $50,000.
Day 1 leader Bryan Hudgins of Florida caught 7 pounds, 8 ounces, and fell one spot in the standings into a second-place tie with Ohio's Matt Amedeo at 24-11. Rounding out the top five were Georgia's Jim Murray (21-12), who climbed from 11th to fourth and South Carolina's Marty Robinson (20-11) who dropped from third to fifth.
The Wildcard tournament is a second-chance event designed to give pros on both the 2006 Bassmaster Elite Series and Bassmaster Northern and Southern Tours a second chance to qualify for the 2007 Elite Series. Saturday's final round will involve the top 12 -10 of which will lock up a spot in the Elite Series next season.
After collecting a five-bass limit of about 8 pounds in Lake Eustis, Matsubu abandoned his best area from Thursday at about 11 a.m. and ran to Lake Harris where he upgraded his catch. In both rounds, Matsubu's success came from fishing shallow vegetation with a Lucky Craft RC 2.5 crankbait and Texas-rigged Yamamoto Cut-Tail worm.
"I feel pretty good about my chances," the 44-year-old said. "I left the fish biting the first day and I left them biting today. When I got my small limit, I figured I had enough to make the finals, so I saved those fish for [Saturday]."
Hudgins, a 27-year-old University of North Florida student from Orange Park, Fla., has a vast amount of experience on the Harris Chain of Lakes.
Like Matsubu, he switched his game plan at about 10:30 a.m. With only two bass in his livewell, Hudgins ran into the Apopka Canal where he finished out his limit with a topwater bait and Texas-rigged worm.
"I couldn't get any big fish to bite," he said. "I went to my best spot (from Thursday), but they did not bite.
"I made the long run to the canal and the fish were in there and feeding. I saw one about 10 pounds and another one about 6 pounds. I think if you're going to get those fish to bite you're going to have to go there first thing (Saturday). That's what I'm going to do."
Arkansas' E.P. Fletcher brought in a limit weighing 14-14 to jump from ninth to first in the co-angler division with 19-14 after two days. Earl Purcell of Massachusetts was second with 18-9, followed by Bradley Dortch of Alabama with 14-11.
Fletcher took the Big Bass award and a $400 prize with a 7-pound, 3-ounce largemouth - the largest of the entire tournament thus far. Brian Penso caught the Big Bass of the Day- a 5-14 largemouth- on the pro side and took home the $1,000 premium.
2006 Wild-Card Qualifier BO 11/16-11/18
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg Fla.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, Texas 10 27-04 305
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 12-02
2. Bryan Hudgins Orange Park, Fla. 10 24-11 298 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 7-08
2. Matt Amedeo Akron, Ohio 10 24-11 292
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 13-15
4. Jim Murray Arabi, Ga. 10 21-12 285
Day 1: 5 9-05 Day 2: 5 12-07
5. Marty Robinson Landrum, S.C. 8 20-11 280
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 3 6-08
6. Gregory Dipalma Millville, N.J. 10 18-06 276
Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 5 8-10
7. Ken Brodeur Niantic, Conn. 10 18-04 272
Day 1: 5 8-00 Day 2: 5 10-04
8. James Kennedy Lacombe, La. 7 17-14 268
Day 1: 3 8-01 Day 2: 4 9-13
9. Brian Wilhoit Oxon Hill, Md. 8 17-13 264
Day 1: 4 7-12 Day 2: 4 10-01
10. Mark Rogers Naples, Fla. 8 17-08 260
Day 1: 5 9-02 Day 2: 3 8-06
11. Glenn Delong Bellville, Ohio 9 16-15 257
Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 4 7-04
12. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, Ala. 9 16-07 252
Day 1: 5 8-06 Day 2: 4 8-01
12. Aaron Lee Jakub Lincoln, Neb. 7 16-07 252 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 7-04 Day 2: 5 9-03
14. Kurt Dove Fairfax, Va. 9 16-02 248 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 7-15 Day 2: 5 8-03
15. Dave Parsons Yantis, Texas 8 15-11 245 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 5-09 Day 2: 5 10-02
16. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 5 15-08 243
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 15-08
17. Darrell Newman Bruceville, Texas 9 15-07 241
Day 1: 5 9-08 Day 2: 4 5-15
18. Brian Penso Houston, Texas 7 15-03 239 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 7-00 Day 2: 3 8-03
19. Doc Merkin Downers Grove, Ill. 7 15-01 237
Day 1: 2 5-14 Day 2: 5 9-03
20. Deryl Janzen Hemphill, Texas 10 15-00 235
Day 1: 5 8-03 Day 2: 5 6-13
21. Steve Sennikoff Forney, Texas 10 14-15 233
Day 1: 5 7-11 Day 2: 5 7-04
22. Randy Alexander London, Ky. 7 14-09 231
Day 1: 4 6-03 Day 2: 3 8-06
23. David Barnes Weeks Mills, Maine 7 13-12 229
Day 1: 2 3-03 Day 2: 5 10-09
24. Rick Ash Pottstown, Pa. 7 13-02 227
Day 1: 3 6-14 Day 2: 4 6-04
25. Rodney Hardwick Connersville, Ind. 5 12-14 225
Day 1: 2 6-12 Day 2: 3 6-02
26. Shawn Johnson Jacksonville, Fla. 8 12-06 223
Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 3 2-10
27. Travis Rulle Huntsville, Ala. 7 12-00 221
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 2 2-07
28. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, Miss. 9 11-15 219
Day 1: 5 6-09 Day 2: 4 5-06
29. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 7 11-13 216
Day 1: 3 3-10 Day 2: 4 8-03
29. Craig Dowling Many, La. 6 11-13 216
Day 1: 3 5-03 Day 2: 3 6-10
31. Larry Gaines Valparaiso, Fla. 5 11-09 213
Day 1: 4 10-10 Day 2: 1 0-15
32. Patrick Pierce Jacksonville, Fla. 5 10-15 211
Day 1: 1 1-06 Day 2: 4 9-09
33. Clark Reehm Leesville, La. 9 10-14 209
Day 1: 4 4-09 Day 2: 5 6-05
34. Byron Velvick Boulder City, Nev. 6 10-06 206
Day 1: 3 5-00 Day 2: 3 5-06
34. Paul Mazzitelli Pittston, Pa. 5 10-06 206
Day 1: 1 0-15 Day 2: 4 9-07
36. Anre' De Villiers Goodwood, South Africa 7 10-04 203
Day 1: 5 7-12 Day 2: 2 2-08
37. Pat Golden High Point, N.C. 6 9-15 201
Day 1: 5 9-01 Day 2: 1 0-14
38. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 5 9-13 199
Day 1: 2 5-04 Day 2: 3 4-09
39. Sammy Burks Joplin, Mo. 5 9-12 197
Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 2 4-00
40. Monty Fralick Martin, S.D. 6 9-11 195
Day 1: 3 7-06 Day 2: 3 2-05
41. Lawren Wetzel Sharon, Canada 7 9-10 193
Day 1: 4 5-05 Day 2: 3 4-05
42. Jason Welch Royse City, Texas 7 9-05 191
Day 1: 5 6-02 Day 2: 2 3-03
43. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, Fla. 6 9-04 189
Day 1: 2 1-14 Day 2: 4 7-06
44. John Cox Debary, Fla. 5 8-06 187
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 8-06
45. Randy Yarnall Womelsdorf, Pa. 4 7-03 185
Day 1: 2 4-14 Day 2: 2 2-05
46. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 4 6-13 183
Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 3 4-09
47. Tim Dungan Cinncinati, Ohio 5 5-15 180
Day 1: 5 5-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
47. Chris Daniels Panama City, Fla. 3 5-15 180
Day 1: 3 5-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
49. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 5 5-11 177
Day 1: 3 3-04 Day 2: 2 2-07
50. Corey Waldrop Fort Worth, Texas 4 5-00 175
Day 1: 3 3-11 Day 2: 1 1-05
51. David Gliebe Benton, Ky. 3 4-14 173
Day 1: 1 0-15 Day 2: 2 3-15
52. Bradley Stringer Huntington, Texas 3 4-12 171
Day 1: 3 4-12 Day 2: 0 0-00
53. David Hovanec Unionville, N.Y. 3 3-11 169
Day 1: 3 3-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
54. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, Md. 2 3-02 167
Day 1: 2 3-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
55. Rogne Brown Kimball, Tenn. 2 2-08 165
Day 1: 2 2-08 Day 2: 0 0-00
56. Vince Hurtado Waterford, Calif. 2 2-01 163
Day 1: 2 2-01 Day 2: 0 0-00
57. Doug Garrett Cabot, Ark. 1 1-06 161
Day 1: 1 1-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Bryan Hudgins Orange Park, Fla. 6-12 $1,000.00
2 Brian Penso Houston, Texas 5-14 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 20 192 359-06
2 16 177 335-09
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36 369 694-15
2006 Wild-Card Qualifier NB 11/16-11/18
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg Fla.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. E.P. Fletcher Little Rock, Ark. 8 19-14 305 $400.00
Day 1: 3 5-00 Day 2: 5 14-14
2. Earl Purcell Granville, Mass. 6 18-09 300
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 1 5-00
3. Bradley Dortch Bay Minette, Ala. 6 14-11 290
Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 5 12-13
4. Joe Lee Desoto, Texas 5 12-05 285
Day 1: 3 9-03 Day 2: 2 3-02
5. Howard Stephens Columbia, S.C. 7 11-11 280
Day 1: 2 2-08 Day 2: 5 9-03
6. Andy Starner Dover, Pa. 6 11-08 276
Day 1: 3 4-15 Day 2: 3 6-09
7. Sam Moss Ackerman, Miss. 5 10-13 272 $400.00
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 1 0-13
8. Wayne Prater Jacksboro, Tenn. 6 10-12 268
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 5 8-06
9. John Moon Brookeland, Texas 4 10-04 264
Day 1: 2 3-03 Day 2: 2 7-01
10. Dave Morningstar Ft Myers, Fla. 6 10-02 260
Day 1: 4 7-07 Day 2: 2 2-11
11. Del Smith Castalia, Ohio 6 9-13 257
Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 5 8-02
12. Jim McDevitt Eldon, Mo. 5 9-00 254
Day 1: 3 3-15 Day 2: 2 5-01
13. Billy Schwach Charleston, S.C. 5 8-15 251 $500.00
Day 1: 2 3-06 Day 2: 3 5-09
14. Johnny Denny Lancaster, Ky. 6 8-14 248 $500.00
Day 1: 3 4-11 Day 2: 3 4-03
15. Richard Favire Winfield Park, N.J. 5 8-06 245 $500.00
Day 1: 3 5-08 Day 2: 2 2-14
16. Valeri Timofeev East Stroudsburg, Pa. 5 8-01 243
Day 1: 1 2-05 Day 2: 4 5-12
17. Stephen Barrett Kirkfield, Canada 6 7-05 241
Day 1: 2 2-02 Day 2: 4 5-03
18. Kevin Pulsifer Cocoa, Fla. 3 7-01 239
Day 1: 2 4-13 Day 2: 1 2-04
19. George Fister Lake Charles, La. 4 7-00 237
Day 1: 4 7-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
20. Olexiy Luchnikov Brooklyn, N.Y. 4 6-05 235
Day 1: 2 3-02 Day 2: 2 3-03
21. Larry C Butler New Haven, Vt. 3 6-02 233
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
22. Keith Morris Nacogdoches, Texas 5 5-15 230
Day 1: 2 2-04 Day 2: 3 3-11
22. Phillip Lee Deltona, Fla. 4 5-15 230
Day 1: 4 5-15 Day 2: 0 0-00
24. Wayne Hauser Winston-Salem, N.C. 4 5-09 227
Day 1: 2 2-03 Day 2: 2 3-06
25. Wayne Pomeroy Wellington, Fla. 2 5-08 225
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 5-08
26. Tony Johnson Westerville, Ohio 3 5-06 223
Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 2 3-05
27. Michael Sills Oakland, Maine 1 4-13 221
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 4-13
28. Travis Green Grand Blanc, Mich. 3 4-02 219
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 3 4-02
29. Bill Williams Corbin, Ky. 3 4-00 217
Day 1: 2 2-04 Day 2: 1 1-12
30. Lee Winkler Cincinnati, Ohio 3 3-14 214
Day 1: 2 1-13 Day 2: 1 2-01
30. Milton Shuffield Beverly Hills, Fla. 2 3-14 214
Day 1: 2 3-14 Day 2: 0 0-00
32. Bob Howard Colorado Springs, Colo 2 3-10 211
Day 1: 1 1-12 Day 2: 1 1-14
33. Joshua Fiedler Clear Spring, Md. 3 3-09 209
Day 1: 1 0-15 Day 2: 2 2-10
34. Mike Prance Palatka, Fla. 2 3-03 207
Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 1 1-11
35. Peter Typer Pt Colborne, Canada 2 3-01 205
Day 1: 1 1-08 Day 2: 1 1-09
36. Jim Staszewski West Gardiner, Maine 3 2-14 203
Day 1: 2 1-13 Day 2: 1 1-01
37. Keith Carson Debary, Fla. 2 2-13 201
Day 1: 2 2-13 Day 2: 0 0-00
38. Richard Strubell Huddleston, Va. 3 2-12 199
Day 1: 2 1-09 Day 2: 1 1-03
39. Bill Rea Greenfield, Ohio 2 2-11 197
Day 1: 2 2-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
40. Larry Bryant Goodlettsville, Tenn. 1 2-09 195
Day 1: 1 2-09 Day 2: 0 0-00
41. Robert Dice Perry, Fla. 2 2-07 193
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 2 2-07
42. Justin Walker Markham, Canada 2 2-06 191
Day 1: 2 2-06 Day 2: 0 0-00
43. Charles Robison Allison Park, Pa. 2 2-03 189
Day 1: 2 2-03 Day 2: 0 0-00
44. Dennis Arendt Jackson, Tenn. 1 2-02 186
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 2-02
44. Kenneth Harris Calhoun, La. 1 2-02 186
Day 1: 1 2-02 Day 2: 0 0-00
46. Mark Richard Bridge City, La. 2 1-15 183
Day 1: 1 1-01 Day 2: 1 0-14
47. Marvin Wells Claremore, Okla. 2 1-14 181
Day 1: 2 1-14 Day 2: 0 0-00
48. Glenn Kimbrell Townville, S.C. 2 1-11 179
Day 1: 2 1-11 Day 2: 0 0-00
49. Jack Palmer Hopkinsville, Ky. 1 1-03 177
Day 1: 1 1-03 Day 2: 0 0-00
50. Alonzo Evans East Hartford, Conn. 1 0-14 174
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 1 0-14
50. Tony Dadante Derby, N.Y. 1 0-14 174
Day 1: 1 0-14 Day 2: 0 0-00
52. Jim Kline Hagerstown, Md. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
52. Roger Morrow Griffin, Ga. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
52. Bill Poirier Riverview, Fla. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
52. Kenneth Strimple Fairport, N.Y. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Sam Moss Ackerman, Miss. 5-08 $400.00
2 E.P. Fletcher Little Rock, Ark. 7-03 $400.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 1 94 155-10
2 5 84 157-10
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6 178 313-04