HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (May 29, 2010) -- Troy Morrow of Toccoa, Ga., caught four bass weighing 8 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to win $120,000 at the 2010 Bass Fishing League All-American on DeGray Lake. Morrow had a three-day catch of 14 bass weighing 38-13.
The catch gave him a solid 8-pound, 1-ounce win over Tee Watkins of East Point, Ky., who caught a total of 11 bass weighing 30-12 and earned $30,000.
"This lake fit me to a T," said the self-employed Morrow, who won his first BFL All-American tournament in two tries. "I had a great practice and found over 90 spots, so I spent the entire week running the lake from spot to spot. I was fishing off shore all week with a fluke in the morning and crankbatis in the afternoon.
"I think the one thing I was doing all week differently than the locals was steadily reeling the fluke with a small quiver. That quiver made the tail move which is what got them, they didn't want anything loud, all my noise makers had rubber rattles. All my big fish I caught using a crankbait, Spro Little John DD.
"This was a life changing event for me. I can't wait to get to the Forrest Wood Cup. Lake Lanier is only 35 minutes away from my house and I like my chances."
Morrow opened the tournament in second place Thursday with five bass weighing 13-12. He then caught five bass weighing 16-6 on Friday to make the crucial top-10 cut in first place.
"I have been fishing by the seat of my pants all week," said Tee Watkins, who was fishing in his first All-American and placed second. "I took a bit of a gamble and fished shallow the entire time. I knew I had to fish a perfect tournament and I lost two nice ones on day one and that is what cost me the tournament; but I am thrilled to be here and proud to finish second."
Rounding out the top-10 boaters are:
3rd: Keith Green, Arkadelphia, Ark., 13 bass, 30-8, $16,000
4th: Chris Darby, Mount Ida, Ark., 12 bass, 29-6, $21,000*
5th: Jason Threadgill, Norwood, N.C., 14 bass, 29, $13,000
6th: Richie Eaves, Nauvoo, Ill., 13 bass, 27-1, $17,000*
7th: Brandon Palaniuk, Rathdrum, Idaho, 10 bass, 23-11, $15,500*
8th: Shonn Goodwin, Moore, Okla., 12 bass, 20-15, $$10,000
9th: Ty Garrett, Pulaski, Tenn., nine bass, 20-13, $9,000
10th Jason Grape, Southside, Ala., six bass, 19-4, $11,000*
*Includes Ranger Boat bonus
Overall there were 25 bass weighing 50 pounds, 13 ounces caught by five pros Saturday. The catch included one five-bass limits.
Brett Rudy of Burlington, Iowa, won the Co-angler Division and $60,000 on Saturday with a three-day total of six bass weighing 21 pounds, 4 ounces followed by Jeremy Rasnick of Point Lookout, Mo., in second place with 12 bass weighing 18-7 worth $17,000.
"I caught my big fish at about 10 this morning. I was using a deep diving crankbait that I have never thrown before," said Rudy, who is a firefighter/paramedic making his first BFL All-American appearance. "I am so glad this is over, now my heart can start beating normally again!"
Rudy caught one bass weighing 3-6 on Thursday while fishing with boater Eric Guimond of Standish, Maine. Today he caught his three fish while fishing with Jay Keith of Camden, S.C.
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers are:
3rd: Matt King, Olathe, Kan., nine bass, 15-11, $6,500
4th: Ray Holloway, Snellville, Ga., nine bass, 14-11, $5,000
5th: Randy Pierson, Oakdale, Calif., six bass, 13-14, $6,000*
6th: Ben Due, Mauston, Wis., seven bass, 13-11, $4,000
7th: Jerry Pyles, Middletown, Md., eight bass 11-11, $3,500
8th: Charlie Russler, Falling Waters, W.Va., eight bass, 11-6, $4,200*
9th David Hamilton, Rogers, Ark., four bass, 9-15, $2,500
10th: Adam Williamson, Ridgeway, S.C., six bass, 9-2, $2,000
*Includes Ranger Boat bonus
Morrow and Rudy also earned a spot at the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup. This year's Forrest Wood Cup will be held Aug. 5-8 at Lake Lanier in Atlanta, Ga.