LITTLE ROCK (June 26, 2004) -- Several positive numbers highlighted the fifth annual Arkansas Ford Dealers Big Bass Bonanza Tournament Saturday. Brian Gorman of Hampton, Ark., was just thrilled that nothing changed above 6.68.
Gorman's first-day bass caught in the Lake Merrisach area of Pool 5 near Dumas withstood the more than 200 fish weighed during the second day of the tournament, which spans nearly 300 miles of eligible fishing on the Arkansas River within the state's borders. That 6.68-pounds ended up being worth about 15,000 times its weight as Gorman received the tournament's $100,000 grand prize check from Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee Saturday night.
"I don't think I can put it into words," Gorman said. "I fished hard again today but tI just couldn't get them to bite like they did yesterday. We had some boat trouble, too, and the later in the day it got, the more and more nervous I was."
Gorman bested a field of 2,888 anglers from 23 states, both tournament records, and ended the reign of Pool 2 at Lake Dardanelle, where each of the last three winners were produced. In fact, Pool 2 failed to produce even the tournament's second largest fish, the 6.34-pounded caught by Scott Webb of Pontotoc, Miss., in Pool 4 at Pine Bluff.
"I'm sure the people in Pool 2 would probably disagree with me, but I think it is good for the tournament and good for the state of Arkansas when we see all of these big fish coming from up and down the Arkansas River," said Montine McNulty, executive director of the Arkansas Hospitality Association, which puts on the tournament. "I think the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Corps of Engineers have really done some great work to make the Arkansas River once again one of the top bass fishing destinations in the region and the country."
Gorman caught the winning fish early Friday morning. He was fishing a green Hawg Frog topwater lure in a mossy area when "(the bass) just boiled the water and sucked it in," he said. "He really wasn't much of a fight. He got tangled up in the moss and couldn't move. He certainly didn't feel like a six-pounder on the line. I'm sure glad he was, though. After I caught him so early, I really didn't think he was big enough to win the whole thing. I thought it would put me in the running, but I thought there'd be bigger fish caught."
Gorman captured the $25,000 top prize in Super Pool B plus the $75,000 bonus prize money for the biggest bass of the tournament. Cary Conner of Charleston, Ark., was second (6.30, $5,000) and was followed in Super Pool B by Jim Lewis of Pendleton, Ark. (6.06, $3,500), Joey Strode of Pine Bluff, Ark. (5.82, $3,000), Kevin Koone of Greenbrier, Ark. (5.74, $2,500), Robert Skelton of Walnut, Miss. (5.51, $1,500), Jeff Hester of Fort Smith, Ark. (5.50, $1,200), Bruce York of Fenton, Mo. (5.29, $600) and Steve Cole of Jonesboro, Ark. (5.22, $400).
In Super Pool A, Webb hung on for the $25,000 first-place prize. Jason DeBlock of Vilonia, Ark., was second (6.04, $5,000) and was followed by Jerry Ditto of Little Rock (5.83, $3,500), William Kincaid of Pine Bluff (5.63, $3,000), Kenny Baugh of Star City, Ark. (5.55, $2,500), Rick Sampson of Newport, Ark. (5.45, $1,500), Charles Dickerson of Ozark, Ark. (5.26, $1,200), Joe Spadoni of Pine Bluff (5.16, $600) and Jack Emmert of Van Buren, Ark. (5.15, $400).
AGFC Director Scott Henderson also presented Spadoni with a $1,000 check for capturing the Willow Leaf award, which is presented each year to the parent/child or grandparent/grandchild team that weighs the largest fish. Spadoni was fishing with his son, Joe Jr.
As in previous years, the tournament will donate up to $10,000 in proceeds to benefit programs at Arkansas Children's Hospital.