FLORENCE, Ala. (July 23, 2011) – Spc. Jewell and Spc. Scott won the FLW Soldier Appreciation Bass Fishing Tournament held on Pickwick Lake Saturday. The team, fishing with pro Kevin Hawk, caught three bass for a total of 10 pounds, 13 ounces to take the title and bragging rights amongst their peers.
“It was really hot,” Jewell said. “We started out this morning on a spot I had won a tournament on last weekend and couldn’t get anything going. I caught one of the biggest catfish I’ve ever seen in my life there.
“We moved to a spot that Kevin had been catching fish and we pulled up and caught a fish on a jig and then caught our kicker fish,” Jewell added.
Jewell said the team caught fish steadily all day long and employed the use of a Morning Dawn-colored Roboworm.
“Kevin just told me what to throw, how to throw and where to throw,” said Scott. “That’s all I tried to do. I just tried to have fun out there.”
Each of the participants in the FLW Soldier Appreciation Tournament are members of the National Guard. In this tournament, Walmart FLW Tour pro anglers took teams of two members of the National Guard fishing to compete amongst their peers. Each team was allowed to bring in three bass. FLW Outdoors is operating the tournaments in conjunction with the National Guard to show appreciation to our service members.
“This means a lot because these guys protect our freedom and give us the opportunity to fish for a living,” said Hawk. “We wouldn’t be here without them, so it’s an honor to take them fishing.”
A total of 22 service men, 11 teams, participated in the tournament. Rounding out the teams was:
2nd: Sgt. Mashburn and Spc. Berryman, fishing with pro Jay Keith, 8-7
3rd: Sgt. Meade and Sgt. Talcott, fishing with pro Troy Morrow, 8-2
4th: Spc. Pyle and Sgt. McNalley, fishing with pro Jack Wade, 8-2
5th: Spc. Hunt and Sgt. Hide, fishing with co-angler Doc McGhee, 7-6
6th: Sgt. Gillis and Spc. Bryant, fishing with pro Matt Arey, 7-2
7th: Spc. Mitchell and Spc. Malone, fishing with Jonathon Newton, 6-13
8th: Sgt. 1st Class Roth and Sgt. Cook, fishing with Scott Martin, 6-12
9th: Spc. Poss and Sgt. Richardson, fishing with Brett Hite, 5-9
10th: Sgt. 1st Class Zak and Staff Sgt. Burbank, fishing with Justin Lucas, 3-15
11th: Sgt. 1st Class Bevil and Pfc. Siegel, fishing with Jim Leary, 3-14