OKEECHOBEE, Fla. - Rebounding from a disappointing 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series campaign, Byron Velvick of Del Rio, Texas, took a commanding lead at the Bassmaster Elite Series WildCard on Florida's Lake Okeechobee with a limit of bass weighing 21 pounds, 5 ounces.
His closest competitor, Rich Ash of Pottstown, Pa., weighed in 16 pounds, 2 ounces, putting him more than 5 pounds behind Velvick. While the two, both of whom were Elite pros in 2007, are competing for the top spot, the field of 34 anglers is fighting for the final 10 qualifying berths in the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series.
The WildCard tournament is a second-chance competition for 2007 Elite pros who didn't qualify via their performance on the top-level circuit as well as 2007 Bassmaster Open pros who put together solid seasons.
Velvick's banner day was achieved with two different worms and a Rat-L-Trap fished in 4 to 8 feet of water. The 43-year-old located two key areas in the three-day practice period and rotated between them throughout the day Thursday.
"The key to success is fishing really slowly," said Velvick, who owns a resort on fish factory Lake Amistad in Texas. "I feel like my areas still have more to yield and I'm crossing my fingers that I can put together two decent limits."
It was an unsatisfactory season for Velvick in the Elite Series as he finished in 107th out of 108 anglers in the season-long points chase, the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. But the WildCard tournament gives the BASS winner a chance to qualify for the Elite Series.
"I feel good," Velvick said. "My practice period was very efficient. I covered a lot of water and feel I have a good handle on the lake."
While Ash trails Velvick by a significant margin, his day put him safely ahead of the cut for next year's Elite Series. The 56-year-old played it close to the vest on his choice of lure but said he targeted precise areas on Okeechobee with rocky bottoms, concentrating on 1 foot to 3 feet of depth.
Ash was optimistic about his chances in the season-ending WildCard event despite a disappointing Elite Series season.
"If you are an Elite angler and in this tournament, you obviously didn't have a great season," Ash said. "But to wrap up the season on a positive note would be a huge confidence booster."
Among the 34 pros fishing for Elite Series berths are Bobby Myers of Tulsa, Okla., in ninth with 11 pounds, 15 ounces, and Terry Segraves of Kissimmee, Fla., who finished 14th with 10 pounds, 12 ounces.
In the co-angler division, Jimmy Dudley of White, Ga., leads the chase for a top prize of more than $4,000 with 13 pounds, 5 ounces. Trailing White were Robbie Anderson of Crystal River, Fla., with 11 pounds, 13 ounces, and Jeff Sullivan of Frostproof, Fla., with 10 pounds, 11 ounces.
2007 Wild Card Qualifier 11/29-12/1
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 5 21-05 305
Day 1: 5 21-05
2. Rick Ash Pottstown, PA 5 16-02 295
Day 1: 5 16-02
3. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 5 15-05 290
Day 1: 5 15-05
4. Corey Waldrop Fort Worth, TX 5 14-08 285
Day 1: 5 14-08
5. Billy Brewer Lorena, TX 5 14-07 280
Day 1: 5 14-07
6. Bobby Stanfill Greenwood, SC 5 14-00 276
Day 1: 5 14-00
7. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 13-01 272
Day 1: 5 13-01
8. Keith Phillips Crosby, TX 5 12-09 268
Day 1: 5 12-09
9. Bobby Myers Tulsa, OK 5 11-15 264
Day 1: 5 11-15
10. Doc Merkin Downers Grove, IL 5 11-14 260
Day 1: 5 11-14
11. Eric Nethery Acworth, GA 5 11-13 257
Day 1: 5 11-13
12. Dave Parsons Yantis, TX 5 11-05 254
Day 1: 5 11-05
13. Darrin Schwenkbeck Varysburg, NY 5 11-03 251
Day 1: 5 11-03
14. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 5 10-12 248
Day 1: 5 10-12
15. Frank Scalish Cleveland Heights, OH 5 10-08 245
Day 1: 5 10-08
16. Kenneth Chapman Woodlawn, TN 5 10-07 243
Day 1: 5 10-07
17. Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, TX 5 10-06 241
Day 1: 5 10-06
18. David Sherrer Shreveport, LA 5 10-02 239
Day 1: 5 10-02
19. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 5 09-15 237
Day 1: 5 09-15
20. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 5 09-11 234
Day 1: 5 09-11
20. Brett Mitchell Timmonsville, SC 5 09-11 234
Day 1: 5 09-11
22. Steve Daniel Clewiston, FL 5 09-10 230
Day 1: 5 09-10
22. Sean Dassau Helena, AL 5 09-10 230
Day 1: 5 09-10
24. Scott Dean Terrell, TX 5 09-08 227
Day 1: 5 09-08
25. Mike Pickett Brandenburg, KY 5 09-02 224
Day 1: 5 09-02
25. Trevor Rogge Champlin, MN 5 09-02 224
Day 1: 5 09-02
27. Preston Henson Vacaville, CA 5 09-01 221
Day 1: 5 09-01
28. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 5 08-14 219
Day 1: 5 08-14
29. Ron Klys Gainesville, FL 5 08-09 217
Day 1: 5 08-09
30. Patrick Pierce Saint John, FL 5 08-08 215
Day 1: 5 08-08
31. John Cox Debary, FL 5 08-00 213
Day 1: 5 08-00
32. Robert Byrd Dallas, TX 4 07-15 211
Day 1: 4 07-15
33. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 4 06-07 209
Day 1: 4 06-07
34. Luke Estel Murphysboro, IL 3 03-06 207
Day 1: 3 03-06
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Big Bass
Day
1 Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 06-14 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 31 166 368-11
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31 166 368-112007 Wild Card Qualifier 11/29-12/1
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jimmy Dudley White, GA 5 13-05 305
Day 1: 5 13-05
2. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 5 11-13 295 $300.00
Day 1: 5 11-13
3. Jeff Sullivan Frostproof, FL 5 10-11 290
Day 1: 5 10-11
4. Gil Phillips Alba, TX 5 10-03 285
Day 1: 5 10-03
5. Ben Todd Pierson, FL 5 08-15 280
Day 1: 5 08-15
6. Marty Scoggins Trion, GA 4 08-08 276
Day 1: 4 08-08
7. Brandon Stanley Johnson City, TN 5 08-06 272
Day 1: 5 08-06
8. Bill Poirier Riverview, FL 4 07-12 268
Day 1: 4 07-12
9. Wayne Montgomery Lake Wales, FL 3 07-01 264
Day 1: 3 07-01
10. Eric D. Johnson Millis, MA 5 06-14 260
Day 1: 5 06-14
11. John Tavano Pompano Beach, FL 5 06-11 257
Day 1: 5 06-11
12. Emre Sarihan Deerfield Beach, FL 5 06-09 254
Day 1: 5 06-09
13. Walter Zajkowski Wellington, FL 5 06-01 251
Day 1: 5 06-01
14. Mary Delgado Tampa, FL 4 05-15 248
Day 1: 4 05-15
15. Gary Bowien Georgetown, TX 4 05-09 245
Day 1: 4 05-09
16. Bj Hannah Dyersburg, TN 3 04-08 243
Day 1: 3 04-08
17. JIM Parish Overland, MO 4 04-07 241
Day 1: 4 04-07
18. Adrian Coble Brookeland, TX 2 04-04 239
Day 1: 2 04-04
19. Sam Dewey West Milton, OH 1 03-12 237
Day 1: 1 03-12
20. Robbie Thompson Saint Louis, MO 2 03-10 235
Day 1: 2 03-10
21. Johnny Stambaugh Vero Beach, FL 2 03-06 233
Day 1: 2 03-06
22. David Hagens Bradenton, FL 2 03-05 231
Day 1: 2 03-05
23. Chad Christensen Alpine, UT 1 02-11 229
Day 1: 1 02-11
24. Danny Bickom Canastota, NY 2 02-09 227
Day 1: 2 02-09
25. Clint Sterling Oakland, FL 2 02-06 225
Day 1: 2 02-06
26. Anthony Holzer East Palestine, OH 2 02-02 223
Day 1: 2 02-02
27. Ted Roberts Eustis, FL 1 02-01 221
Day 1: 1 02-01
28. Don Lewis Jacksonville, FL 1 01-09 219
Day 1: 1 01-09
29. Wes Hood Annandale, VA 1 01-01 216
Day 1: 1 01-01
29. Frank Jones Land O Lakes, FL 1 01-01 216
Day 1: 1 01-01
31. Blaine Bucy Wellsburg, WV 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
31. James Finley Coconut Creek, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
31. Chris Persiani Bristol, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
31. Edward Guertin Sanbornton, NH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 06-03 $300.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 96 167-01
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10 96 167-01