CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Dave Wolak of Warrior Run, Pa., became the second Bassmaster Major winner in the history of BASS when he efficiently outpaced five other anglers at the Bassmaster American bass fishing tournament on Lake Wylie. Wolak - who qualified for the American because he was the 2005 Toyota Rookie of the Year - took the $250,000 win with a two-day total of 25 pounds, 14 ounces, after he weighed in five fish for 10-8 on Sunday.
"This has changed my whole life," said Wolak. "Everything is surreal."
An astonished Wolak celebrated his first-ever BASS victory on stage with his parents, who drove overnight from Pennsylvania to support their son. Wolak's wife, Jessica, was not in attendance because she was home caring for their newborn son, Jacob.
Wolak said he spent the tournament sight-fishing on flat banks where he pitched worms or skimmed frogs. He called Lake Wylie a "junk fishing lake" and to master it, put 10 rods on the deck and picked up the most appropriate one for the conditions.
But this win nearly didn't happen for Wolak. Though the 29-year-old has earned nearly $200,000 fishing BASS since 2002, he made the difficult decision to quit his job - he worked at a medical equipment store fitting children for wheelchairs - and concentrate solely on fishing about two years ago. Even though he had a good 2005 season, finishing fourth in the Angler of the Year standings, he lacked sponsors and considered leaving the sport. But Toyota added Wolak to their pro team in February 2006, allowing him to continue his BASS career.
"Without the Toyota sponsorship, he wouldn't be here," said Kevin VanDam of Michigan, who placed second in the event with a two-day total of 22-15. Ten ounces behind VanDam was Gerald Swindle of Hayden, Ala., in third. In fourth was hometown favorite Jason Quinn of Lake Wylie, S.C., with 21-13. In fifth was Mark Menendez of Kentucky with 19-3 and Terry Scroggins of Florida placed sixth with 9-11 after zeroing on Sunday.
VanDam's second-place finish gave him his fourth consecutive top-10 BASS showing. VanDam previously had a streak of nine top-10 showings, but was disqualified at Santee Cooper in South Carolina in late March. VanDam, who worked topwater baits on Wylie, was disappointed but characterized Wolak as a "super guy who works hard and is a gentleman on the water."
VanDam also recaptured the BASS all-time money winnings lead from Denny Brauer of Missouri. He has earned $2,095,558, or about $5,000 more than Brauer.
Swindle's third-place finish was his best of the entire season. The personable pro, best known for his ever-growing glossary of "Swindle-isms" said he lost two different 3-pounders because he was overexcited and tried to flip them into the boat. "It was a bad mistake and it tore me down," he said.
Quinn's fourth-place showing didn't bother his contingent of fans who showed up in shirts that read, "Oh my gosh! It's Jason Quinn." The former Lake Wylie guide said his downfall was spending too much time in shallow water. When he finally started fishing crankbaits on offshore structure, the bite turned on. "If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing."
Anglers will have one week off before they prepare to fish the Capitol Clash, Aug. 10-13, on the Potomac River in Charles County, Md. The final Bassmaster Major, the Bassmaster Legends, will follow on Aug. 24-27 on the Arkansas River in Little Rock, Ark.
2006 Bassmaster American 07/27-07/30
Lake Wylie, Charlotte N.C.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 10 25-14 0 $253,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 2 4-13 Day 3: 5 15-06 Day 4: 5 10-08
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 22-15 0 $35,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 4 9-07 Day 3: 5 9-02 Day 4: 5 13-13
3. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 10 22-05 0 $27,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 10-07 Day 4: 5 11-14
4. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 21-13 0 $21,000.00
Day 1: 5 9-02 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 8-06 Day 4: 5 13-07
5. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 10 19-03 0 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 8-09 Day 3: 5 8-14 Day 4: 5 10-05
6. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 4 9-11 0 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 4 9-11 Day 4: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 David Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 5-07 $1,000.00
2 Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5-05 $1,000.00
3 Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 4-03 $1,000.00
4 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 4-07 $1,000.00
David Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 5-07 $1,000.00
Day
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 16-04 $1,000.00
2 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 15-12 $1,000.00
3 David Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 15-06 $1,000.00
4 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 13-13 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 36 229 489-14
2 21 184 395-15
3 7 54 106-13
4 5 25 59-15
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69 492 1052-09 Busch Heavy-Weight
After Charlotte, NC ending 07-30-2006,
Day 4
Joe Conway 2006 BASS Federation Championship, 15-7
Preston Clark 2006 Bassmaster Classic, 29-01
Mike McClelland Bassmaster Open Championship, 17-12
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Place Name Body Of Water Day lbs-Ozs
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1 Ishama Monroe Lake Amistad, Texas 3 34-01
2 Aaron Martens Santee Cooper Reservoir, 4 32-10
3 Mike Wurm Santee Cooper Reservoir, 3 32-04
4 Kevin Wirth Santee Cooper Reservoir, 2 31-15
5 Jimmy Mize Lake Amistad, Texas 2 31-14
6 Ken Cook Lake Amistad, Texas 1 31-10
7 Fred Roumbanis Lake Amistad, Texas 4 28-01
8 Denny Brauer Lake Champlain, N.Y. 4 23-04
9 Greg Hackney Lake Sam Rayburn, Texas 1 22-02
10 Michael Iaconelli Lake Guntersville, Ala. 2 22-01