EUFAULA, Ala. - When weights are tight in a BASS tournament, there's always the possibility of a tie for first place. Fate and luck is a given when all the cards finally fall into place.
Such was the case at the BASS Federation Nation Southern Divisional, where two anglers managed to match their weights in precise pounds and ounces. The two men, Floridian Nobel Willits and North Carolinian Patrick Tierney, each caught 29 pounds, 8 ounces of largemouth from Lake Eufaula during the three-day bass fishing tournament concluding Friday.
The first of a four-tiered level of tie-breakers mandates that the angler catching the most legal bass over the course of the competition is declared the winner. Thus, Willits won by one keeper with a total of 11 bass, compared to the 10 caught by Tierney.
The tie-breaker was nearly a moot point in the big scheme of things, even though Willits won the overall title in the tournament. In this format, both anglers emerged winners since each topped the standings in their respective states. In doing so, Willits, Tierney and five other state leaders advance to the 2008 BASS Federation Nation National Championship.
Willits, 31, of Altamonte Springs and an investigator for the Florida Dept. of Transportation, focused his fishing time on a narrow, winding creek channel leading out to the Chattahoochee River channel. Specifically, his fish favored dropoffs breaking from 8 to 12 feet of water, all of it bordered by the brushpiles on the shallow side.
The Winter Springs Bassmasters member scored the overall victory using Texas-rigged soft plastics. The choices included a redbug colored Trick Worm and a 10-inch worm, both fished on 3/16-ounce weights with 4/0 Gamakatsu straight-shank hooks.
Willits' presentation involved casting the worms into the brushpiles and then working the baits slowly to the edge of the drop.
"When I'd feel a little resistance there at the edge from the brush I'd pop it a bit to free it up," he said, of the resulting reaction strike.
The big story, literally, in this tournament was the total domination by Alabama in the team competition. The 12-man team led from start to finish, ending the tournament with a total combined weight of 201-7. Alabama's prize was a Triton Boat package valued at $32,000. By comparison, North Carolina finished second with 140-2. Kentucky was third with 130-8, South Carolina fourth place with 125-12.
"Our guys came together like they've never come together before," said Jim Howard, team leader for Alabama. "Just like yesterday, when Sean Dassau was leading. He literally gave our guys a mini-seminar on how, when and where he was catching his fish. It just was a total team effort."
Joining Willits (Florida) and Tierney (North Carolina) at the Federation Nation Championship will be the following other state winners: Mark Pierce (Tennessee); Mike Prindle (Georgia); Mike Keel (Alabama); Fred O' Quinn (South Carolina); and Kyle Christopher (Kentucky).
2007 FEDERATION NATION SOUTHERN Divisional
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Nobel Willits Altamonte Springs, Fla 11 29-08
2. Patrick Tierney Denver, N.C. (NC) 10 29-08
3. Mike Keel Auburn, Ala. (AL) 12 29-00
4. Sean Dassau Helena, Ala. (AL) 12 28-11
5. Mike Sanders Wilmer, Ala. (AL) 9 24-14
6. Lee Byrd Birmingham, Ala. (AL) 11 23-11
7. Mark Pierce Clarksville, Tenn. (TN 9 23-04
8. Darrel High Opelika, Ala. (AL) 9 23-00
9. Chuck Murray Louisburg, N.C. (NC) 9 21-06
10. Fred O'Quinn Lugoff, S.C. (SC) 9 20-14
11. Kyle Christopher Irvine, Ky. (KY) 10 20-05
12. T R Fuller Auburn, Ala. (AL) 10 20-03
13. Mitch Driggers Olanta, S.C. (SC) 11 20-00
14. Richard Ohlson Garner, N.C. (NC) 8 18-07
15. Mike Prindle Tallahassee, Fla. (GA) 7 18-05
16. Randy Wingo Newnan, Ga. (GA) 8 17-12
17. Marvin Cross Eastover, S.C. (SC) 7 17-03
18. Les Underwood Louisville, Ky. (KY) 8 16-13
19. Robert Richardson Palmetto, Ga. (GA) 7 16-03
20. Alfred Goldsberry Leitchfield, Ky. (KY) 6 15-07
21. Mike Dinterman Kearneysville, W.Va. ( 7 15-06
22. Robert Rogers Pinopolis, S.C. (SC) 6 14-11
23. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, Fla. (FL) 6 13-13
24. Ben Strawn St Augustine, Fla. (FL 7 13-09
25. Bruce Sargent Gardendale, Ala. (AL) 7 13-03
25. David Porter Zephyrhills, Fla. (FL) 5 13-03
27. Scott Russell Northport, Ala. (AL) 7 12-13
28. Ray Winans Manning, S.C. (SC) 6 12-02
29. James Lee Cumberland Furnace, Te 5 11-13
30. Scott Jones Louisville, Ky. (KY) 6 11-09
31. Angelo Koundourakis Bainbridge, Ga. (GA) 6 11-01
31. Brian Anderson Denver, N.C. (NC) 5 11-01
33. Jason Bayes Lakeland, Fla. (FL) 6 10-12
34. Marc Thomas Hopkinsville, Ky. (KY) 5 10-11
35. Mark McIntosh Gaston, N.C. (NC) 5 10-09
35. John Paulk Crump, Tenn. (TN) 5 10-09
37. David Rush Summerville, S.C. (SC) 5 10-05
38. Jackie Overbey Ewing, Ky. (KY) 6 10-04
39. Russell Wingate Temple, Ga. (GA) 5 10-00
40. Lenny Smathers Granite Falls, N.C. (N 5 9-11
41. Wesley Day Nicholasville, Ky. (KY 5 9-05
42. Kenneth Hunnicutt Jacksonville, Fla. (FL 5 8-14
43. Dan Darrell Crittenden, Ky. (KY) 4 8-12
44. Curtis Young Bartow, Fla. (FL) 4 8-11
45. Ken Freeman Sonora, Ky. (KY) 4 8-06
45. Steve Vann Goldsboro, N.C. (NC) 3 8-06
47. Alex Hester Hodges, Ala. (AL) 4 8-03
48. Gene Gibbs Columbia, S.C. (SC) 4 8-00
49. David Faulkner Trimble, Tenn. (TN) 2 7-14
50. Jack VanMeter Leitchfield, Ky. (KY) 4 7-13
51. William Jones Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla 3 7-09
52. Jeff Corley Trussville, Ala. (AL) 3 7-05
53. Glen Harmon College Park, Ga. (GA) 3 7-02
54. Waine Pittman Villa Rica, Ga. (GA) 4 7-01
54. John Kinchen Palm Bay, Fla. (FL) 4 7-01
56. Michael Haddad Suwannee, Ga. (GA) 3 6-11
57. Chris Jones Conway, S.C. (SC) 4 6-10
58. William Florence Opelika, Ala. (AL) 3 6-09
58. Danny Austin Guys, Tenn. (TN) 2 6-09
60. Eric Schell Raeford, N.C. (NC) 3 6-07
61. Tyrone Deloach Ridgeland, S.C. (SC) 3 6-05
62. Tommy Johns Louisville, Ky. (KY) 3 6-03
63. Wayne Cupp New Tazewell, Tenn. (T 4 5-12
64. Sonny Layton Springhope, N.C. (NC) 3 5-06
65. Chris Neely Chattahoochee, Fla. (G 2 5-01
66. Ken Grant Georgetown, Ky. (KY) 3 5-00
67. James Howard Springhill, Fla. (FL) 3 4-15
68. Herman Vining Gilbert, S.C. (SC) 3 4-12
69. Daniel Zavatchen Savannah, Tenn. (TN) 2 4-09
70. Gene Hacker Buford, Ga. (GA) 2 4-04
71. Curtis Coleman Sylacauga, Ala. (AL) 2 3-15
71. Larry Haney Dallas, N.C. (NC) 1 3-15
73. Charles Graybeal, Jr Erwin, Tenn. (TN) 2 3-12
74. John Snyder Marietta, Ga. (GA) 3 3-04
75. Danny Boggs Fayetteville, Tenn. (T 2 3-00
75. Thad Driggers Florence, S.C. (SC) 2 3-00
77. Kwong Yu Hampton, Ga. (GA) 1 2-12
78. Tony Meador Clarksville, Tenn. (TN 1 2-04
79. Michael Yates Greenbrier, Tenn. (TN) 1 2-03
80. Tim Runions New Tazewell, Tenn. (T 2 2-01
81. Kevin Driggers Bonneau, S.C. (SC) 1 1-14
81. Donnie Gibbs Palm Bay, Fla. (FL) 1 1-14
83. Wade Shahid Fort Walton Beach, Fla 1 1-09
84. Billy Wilhelm Denver, N.C. (NC) 0 0-00
--------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 7 141 308-02
2 9 163 360-00
3 4 113 244-03
----------------------------------
20 417 912-05
TEAM STANDINGS Day 3
----------------------------------
State Lbs-Oz
1
ALABAMA 201-07
2
NORTH CAROLINA 140-02
3
KENTUCKY 130-08
4 SOUTH CAROLINA 125-12
5
FLORIDA 121-06
6
GEORGIA 109-08
7
TENNESSEE 83-10
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 3
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ALABAMA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mike Keel Auburn, Ala. 12 29-00
2 Sean Dassau Helena, Ala. 12 28-11
3 Mike Sanders Wilmer, Ala. 9 24-14
4 Lee Byrd Birmingham, Ala. 11 23-11
5 Darrel High Opelika, Ala. 9 23-00
6 T R Fuller Auburn, Ala. 10 20-03
7 Bruce Sargent Gardendale, Ala. 7 13-03
8 Scott Russell Northport, Ala. 7 12-13
9 Alex Hester Hodges, Ala. 4 8-03
10 Jeff Corley Trussville, Ala. 3 7-05
11 William Florence Opelika, Ala. 3 6-09
12 Curtis Coleman Sylacauga, Ala. 2 3-15
NORTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Patrick Tierney Denver, N.C. 10 29-08
2 Chuck Murray Louisburg, N.C. 9 21-06
3 Richard Ohlson Garner, N.C. 8 18-07
4 Mike Dinterman Kearneysville, W.Va. 7 15-06
5 Brian Anderson Denver, N.C. 5 11-01
6 Mark McIntosh Gaston, N.C. 5 10-09
7 Lenny Smathers Granite Falls, N.C. 5 9-11
8 Steve Vann Goldsboro, N.C. 3 8-06
9 Eric Schell Raeford, N.C. 3 6-07
10 Sonny Layton Springhope, N.C. 3 5-06
11 Larry Haney Dallas, N.C. 1 3-15
12 Billy Wilhelm Denver, N.C. 0 0-00
KENTUCKY
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Kyle Christopher Irvine, Ky. 10 20-05
2 Les Underwood Louisville, Ky. 8 16-13
3 Alfred Goldsberry Leitchfield, Ky. 6 15-07
4 Scott Jones Louisville, Ky. 6 11-09
5 Marc Thomas Hopkinsville, Ky. 5 10-11
6 Jackie Overbey Ewing, Ky. 6 10-04
7 Wesley Day Nicholasville, Ky. 5 9-05
8 Dan Darrell Crittenden, Ky. 4 8-12
9 Ken Freeman Sonora, Ky. 4 8-06
10 Jack VanMeter Leitchfield, Ky. 4 7-13
11 Tommy Johns Louisville, Ky. 3 6-03
12 Ken Grant Georgetown, Ky. 3 5-00
SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Fred O'Quinn Lugoff, S.C. 9 20-14
2 Mitch Driggers Olanta, S.C. 11 20-00
3 Marvin Cross Eastover, S.C. 7 17-03
4 Robert Rogers Pinopolis, S.C. 6 14-11
5 Ray Winans Manning, S.C. 6 12-02
6 David Rush Summerville, S.C. 5 10-05
7 Gene Gibbs Columbia, S.C. 4 8-00
8 Chris Jones Conway, S.C. 4 6-10
9 Tyrone Deloach Ridgeland, S.C. 3 6-05
10 Herman Vining Gilbert, S.C. 3 4-12
11 Thad Driggers Florence, S.C. 2 3-00
12 Kevin Driggers Bonneau, S.C. 1 1-14
FLORIDA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Justin Willits Altamonte Springs, Fla. 11 29-08
2 Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, Fla. 6 13-13
3 Ben Strawn St Augustine, Fla. 7 13-09
4 David Porter Zephyrhills, Fla. 5 13-03
5 Jason Bayes Lakeland, Fla. 6 10-12
6 Kenneth Hunnicutt Jacksonville, Fla. 5 8-14
7 Curtis Young Bartow, Fla. 4 8-11
8 William Jones Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 3 7-09
9 John Kinchen Palm Bay, Fla. 4 7-01
10 James Howard Springhill, Fla. 3 4-15
11 Donnie Gibbs Palm Bay, Fla. 1 1-14
12 Wade Shahid Fort Walton Beach, Fla. 1 1-09
GEORGIA
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mike Prindle Tallahassee, Fla. 7 18-05
2 Randy Wingo Newnan, Ga. 8 17-12
3 Robert Richardson Palmetto, Ga. 7 16-03
4 Angelo Koundourakis Bainbridge, Ga. 6 11-01
5 Russell Wingate Temple, Ga. 5 10-00
6 Glen Harmon College Park, Ga. 3 7-02
7 Waine Pittman Villa Rica, Ga. 4 7-01
8 Michael Haddad Suwannee, Ga. 3 6-11
9 Chris Neely Chattahoochee, Fla. 2 5-01
10 Gene Hacker Buford, Ga. 2 4-04
11 John Snyder Marietta, Ga. 3 3-04
12 Kwong Yu Hampton, Ga. 1 2-12
TENNESSEE
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Mark Pierce Clarksville, Tenn. 9 23-04
2 James Lee Cumberland Furnace, Tenn. 5 11-13
3 John Paulk Crump, Tenn. 5 10-09
4 David Faulkner Trimble, Tenn. 2 7-14
5 Danny Austin Guys, Tenn. 2 6-09
6 Wayne Cupp New Tazewell, Tenn. 4 5-12
7 Daniel Zavatchen Savannah, Tenn. 2 4-09
8 Charles Graybeal, Jr Erwin, Tenn. 2 3-12
9 Danny Boggs Fayetteville, Tenn. 2 3-00
10 Tony Meador Clarksville, Tenn. 1 2-04
11 Michael Yates Greenbrier, Tenn. 1 2-03
12 Tim Runions New Tazewell, Tenn. 2 2-01