OKEECHOBEE, Fla. - After sharing the same stretch of water for the first two days of the Bassmaster Elite Series WildCard Event, Byron Velvick of Del Rio, Texas, and Keith Phillips of Calera, Ala., were forced to find new water Saturday on Florida's Lake Okeechobee. In the end, Velvick located the most productive secondary areas and held off Phillips with a three-day total of 40 pounds, 8 ounces, besting him by nearly 2 pounds.
Crappie boat traffic crowded the area, centered around a bridge, causing both anglers to move from their shared spot. Velvick's decision proved best as he boated three fish by 9:30 a.m. He used the remainder of the competition day to build and upgrade his five-fish limit.
Along with Velvick and Phillips, the eight others who finished in the top 10 earned berths in the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series. The final Elite field will be announced in mid-December.
"This was a tough, tough tournament," said Velvick, who scored his second BASS win. "It was a do-or-die situation for a lot of these anglers and it was very stressful. But it's a nice end to what has been a roller-coaster season."
Velvick primarily used four baits: a Gambler worm, a Berkley Power worm, a River2Sea Tungsten Vibe and a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap. The 10-inch Gambler worm in redbug color proved to be the most effective, he said.
The area that was key for the top two competitors in the first two days of competition was a migratory spot that had key cover for pre-spawning bass. That location allowed Velvick to build a lead for the first two days, and the Texan was able to close with a modest limit Saturday.
"I played it safe today," Velvick said. "And it was a good decision. This was an exciting tournament and I knew it was going to be really close."
Phillips charged into second place after a 16-pound, 4-ounce limit Friday, but he wasn't able to catch the quality of fish that Velvick found. Phillips rounded out his limit at 2 p.m., barely before check-in time.
"My best decision was waiting out the bridge the first two days," said Phillips, 35. "I feel comfortable with all the decisions I made. I wouldn't take anything back."
Rounding out the top five were John Cox of Debary, Fla., in third with 36 pounds, 14 ounces; Corey Waldrop of Fort Worth, Texas, in fourth with 36 pounds, 11 ounces; and Texan Elton Luce, who was aided by a 10-pound, 1-ounce behemoth caught Saturday, in fifth with 35 pounds, 5 ounces.
Also qualifying for the 2008 Elite Series on the strength of their top-10 performances were Rick Ash of Pottstown, Pa., in seventh with 34 pounds, 10 ounces, and Bobby Myers of Tulsa, Okla., in 10th with 32 pounds, 8 ounces. The full list of standings can be found below.
In the co-angler division, Robbie Anderson of Crystal River, Fla., took home more than $4,000, claming victory with 29 pounds, 3 ounces. Finishing behind Anderson were Marty Scoggins of Trion, Ga., with 26 pounds, 15 ounces, and Brandon Stanley of Johnson City, Tenn., with 26 pounds, 10 ounces.
The WildCard tournament was a second-chance competition for 2007 Elite pros who failed to qualify via their performance on the top-level circuit, as well as 2007 Bassmaster Open pros who put together solid seasons.
2007 Wild Card Qualifier 11/29-12/1
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 15 40-08 315
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 08-03 Day 3: 5 11-00
2. Keith Phillips Calera, AL 15 38-10 295
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 09-13
3. John Cox Debary, FL 15 36-14 290
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 08-09 Day 3: 5 20-05
4. Corey Waldrop Fort Worth, TX 15 36-11 285
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 11-04
5. Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, TX 14 35-05 280
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 08-15 Day 3: 4 16-00
6. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 15 35-02 276
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 11-12
7. Rick Ash Pottstown, PA 15 34-10 272
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 10-07 Day 3: 5 08-01
8. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 15 33-09 268
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 09-04 Day 3: 5 09-00
9. David Sherrer Shreveport, LA 15 33-04 264
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 08-00
10. Bobby Myers Tulsa, OK 15 32-08 260
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 08-12 Day 3: 5 11-13
11. Steve Daniel Clewiston, FL 14 32-02 257
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 4 05-05
12. Billy Brewer Lorena, TX 15 31-14 254
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 08-10 Day 3: 5 08-13
13. Eric Nethery Acworth, GA 15 31-13 251
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 08-02 Day 3: 5 11-14
14. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 15 30-09 248
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 09-04 Day 3: 5 10-09
15. Sean Dassau Helena, AL 15 29-08 245
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 08-07 Day 3: 5 11-07
16. Darrin Schwenkbeck Varysburg, NY 14 29-06 243
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 4 06-15 Day 3: 5 11-04
17. Doc Merkin Downers Grove, IL 15 27-12 241
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 07-15 Day 3: 5 07-15
18. Preston Henson Vacaville, CA 15 27-06 239
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 07-01 Day 3: 5 11-04
19. Bobby Stanfill Greenwood, SC 12 27-05 237
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 09-05 Day 3: 2 04-00
20. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 13 27-01 235
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 3 04-03
21. Trevor Rogge Champlin, MN 15 27-00 233
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 09-13 Day 3: 5 08-01
22. Frank Scalish Cleveland Heights, OH 15 26-11 231
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 09-05 Day 3: 5 06-14
23. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 15 26-08 229
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 06-11
24. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 15 26-00 227
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 08-06 Day 3: 5 07-11
25. Patrick Pierce Saint John, FL 15 25-03 225
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 07-15 Day 3: 5 08-12
26. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 14 24-07 223
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 5 10-06
27. Brett Mitchell Timmonsville, SC 14 24-06 221
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 08-14 Day 3: 4 05-13
28. Luke Estel Murphysboro, IL 11 23-07 219
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 3 03-15 Day 3: 5 16-02
29. Kenneth Chapman Woodlawn, TN 15 23-03 216
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 06-05 Day 3: 5 06-07
29. Scott Dean Terrell, TX 13 23-03 216
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 08-14 Day 3: 3 04-13
31. Ron Klys Gainesville, FL 12 19-10 213
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 2 02-07 Day 3: 5 08-10
32. Dave Parsons Yantis, TX 9 17-08 210
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 1 01-04 Day 3: 3 04-15
32. Robert Byrd Dallas, TX 9 17-08 210
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 1 02-12 Day 3: 4 06-13
34. Mike Pickett Brandenburg, KY 7 11-01 207
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 2 01-15 Day 3: 0 00-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 06-14 $0.00
2 Keith Phillips Calera, AL 07-14 $0.00
3 Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, TX 10-01 $0.00
Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, TX 10-01 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 31 166 368-11
2 28 153 293-03
3 25 152 305-10
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84 471 967-08
2007 Wild Card Qualifier 11/29-12/1
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 15 29-03 310 $4,380.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 07-08 Day 3: 5 09-14
2. Marty Scoggins Trion, GA 11 26-15 295 $1,660.00
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-07 Day 3: 2 10-00
3. Brandon Stanley Johnson City, TN 15 26-10 290 $1,020.00
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 09-11 Day 3: 5 08-09
4. Jimmy Dudley White, GA 12 26-04 290 $680.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 3 05-00 Day 3: 4 07-15
5. Ben Todd Pierson, FL 15 26-02 280 $544.00
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 09-15 Day 3: 5 07-04
6. Bill Poirier Riverview, FL 11 25-06 276 $776.00
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 2 06-06 Day 3: 5 11-04
7. Gil Phillips Alba, TX 13 23-07 272 $408.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-15 Day 3: 3 04-05
8. Jeff Sullivan Frostproof, FL 14 22-14 268 $374.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 4 05-12 Day 3: 5 06-07
9. Blaine Bucy Wellsburg, WV 10 18-11 264 $340.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 5 08-11
10. Don Lewis Jacksonville, FL 11 18-08 260 $306.00
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 5 09-08 Day 3: 5 07-07
11. Clint Sterling Oakland, FL 11 17-08 257
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 4 08-05 Day 3: 5 06-13
12. Robbie Thompson Saint Louis, MO 9 17-05 254
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 4 09-03 Day 3: 3 04-08
13. Johnny Stambaugh Vero Beach, FL 12 16-06 251
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 06-01 Day 3: 5 06-15
14. JIM Parish Overland, MO 13 16-03 248
Day 1: 4 04-07 Day 2: 5 07-03 Day 3: 4 04-09
15. Chad Christensen Alpine, UT 9 15-08 245
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 5 08-08 Day 3: 3 04-05
16. Anthony Holzer East Palestine, OH 10 15-06 243
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 5 07-00 Day 3: 3 06-04
17. Eric D. Johnson Millis, MA 10 15-04 241
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 1 01-12 Day 3: 4 06-10
18. Bj Hannah Dyersburg, TN 10 14-06 239
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 02-03 Day 3: 5 07-11
19. John Tavano Pompano Beach, FL 10 13-07 237
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 3 04-01 Day 3: 2 02-11
20. Mary Delgado Tampa, FL 8 13-01 235
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 4 07-02 Day 3: 0 00-00
21. Ted Roberts Eustis, FL 5 11-15 233
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 04-02 Day 3: 3 05-12
22. Wes Hood Annandale, VA 7 11-14 231
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 5 09-11 Day 3: 1 01-02
23. Wayne Montgomery Lake Wales, FL 7 11-11 229
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 03-07 Day 3: 1 01-03
24. Sam Dewey West Milton, OH 5 11-04 227
Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 1 00-14 Day 3: 3 06-10
25. Emre Sarihan Deerfield Beach, FL 7 09-09 225
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 1 01-03 Day 3: 1 01-13
26. Adrian Coble Brookeland, TX 6 09-04 223
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 1 00-15 Day 3: 3 04-01
27. Gary Bowien Georgetown, TX 6 08-13 221
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 2 03-04 Day 3: 0 00-00
28. Frank Jones Land O Lakes, FL 5 08-10 219
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 4 07-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
29. Walter Zajkowski Wellington, FL 7 08-04 217
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 2 02-03 Day 3: 0 00-00
30. Danny Bickom Canastota, NY 4 07-10 215
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 1 03-13 Day 3: 1 01-04
31. David Hagens Bradenton, FL 3 05-06 213
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 1 02-01 Day 3: 0 00-00
32. Chris Persiani Bristol, VA 1 03-04 211
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 03-04
33. James Finley Coconut Creek, FL 2 02-03 209
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-15 Day 3: 1 01-04
34. Edward Guertin Sanbornton, NH 1 01-05 207
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-05 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 06-03 $300.00
2 Bill Poirier Riverview, FL 05-00 $300.00
3 Marty Scoggins Trion, GA 07-06 $300.00
Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, TX 10-01 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 96 167-01
2 12 106 183-14
3 10 93 158-07
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32 295 509-06