DECATUR, Ala. (March 27, 2008) - Pro Jake Deeds of El Dorado, Ark., caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 6 ounces Thursday to retain the lead in the FLW Series Eastern Division bass fishing tournament on Wheeler Lake with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 32-09. A southwest wind blew 15 to 20 miles per hour most of the day and gave many anglers fits, but those who accepted the wind and adapted their strategies prospered.
"The wind helped me today, and I'm hoping for some more tomorrow," Deeds said. "With all these boats here, the fish were a little bit spooky. I had more bites today; they were just smaller."
Deeds threw a ½-ounce football jig with a pork trailer to catch the majority of his bass on the second day of competition.
Deeds now holds a 7-ounce lead over second place pro Lonnie O'Neal of Valdosta, Ga., who managed to haul in a total of 10 bass weighing 32-02 during the first two days of competition.
O'Neal fished his bait of choice, a 10-inch worm, very slowly in pockets and feels confident in the pattern that has placed him within striking distance of the lead.
"I culled six times yesterday and probably that many today," said O'Neal. "I was throwing back 3 ½-pounders. I feel pretty good, because I have a backup hole where I haven't seen any other boats."
Rounding out the top five pros are Keith Combs of Del Rio, Texas (10 bass, 30-05); Jim Dillard of West Monroe, La. (10 bass, 29-06) and Brad Hallman of Norman, Okla. (10 bass, 28-07).
Art Ferguson III of St. Clair Shores, Mich., earned the day's $452 Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 7-pound, 2-ounce bass. Overall there were 865 bass weighing 1,688 pounds, 15 ounces caught by 183 pros Thursday. The catch included 159 five-bass limits.
Derrick Snavely of Rogersville, Tenn., leads the Co-angler Division with a two-day total of eight bass weighing 22-15 followed by Rick Barham of Southaven, Miss., in second place with 10 bass weighing 21-01.
"I struggled today, but got off to a good start," said Snavely, who placed fifth in the Co-angler Division of the 2008 FLW Series Eastern Division tournament on Lake Okeechobee. "I had an awesome partner who knows what he's doing."
Snavely caught four bass weighing 14-02 while fishing with pro Jason Hampson of Cartersville, Ga., Wednesday and four bass weighing 8-13 while fishing with pro Jim Dillard of West Monroe, La., Thursday.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Chuck Thurlow of Auburn, Ala. (10 bass, 20-13); Rodney Chmolack of Phenix City, Ala. (10 bass, 20-12) and Bill Niesciur of Glen Carbon, Ill. (10 bass, 20-07).
Michael McGhee of Blacksburg, Va., earned $280 for the Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass while fishing with pro Roger Schofield of Killen, Ala.
Overall there were 645 bass weighing 1,072 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 175 co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 82 five-bass limits.
Co-anglers are competing this week for a top award of $25,000. Like the pros, the top 30 co-anglers from both FLW Series divisions after four qualifying events are complete will advance to the East-West Fish-Off for a shot at qualifying for the Forrest Wood Cup.
Anglers will take off at 7 each morning from Ingalls Harbor located at 802 Wilson St. NW in Decatur. Friday's weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday's weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 2800 Spring Ave. SW in Decatur beginning at 4 p.m. Children will also be treated to a Family Fun Zone prior to Saturday's weigh-in from noon to 4 p.m. at Wal-Mart. Activities in the Family Fun Zone include the Kellogg's trout pond, a Ranger boat simulator and assorted fishing-themed games. All activities are free and open to the public.
In FLW Series competition, the entire field competes for the first three days, and co-angler competition concludes on day three with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated three-day weight. The top 10 professionals continue competition on day four, and the winner is determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.