LOUISVILLE, Ky. (May 31, 2007) - Boater Dicky Newberry of Houston caught five bass weighing 6 pounds, 11 ounces Thursday to grab the opening-day lead in the Bass Fishing League All-American bass fishing tournament on the Ohio River. One hundred and eight weekend anglers representing 27 states are competing in the All-American for a top boater award of $140,000 and a top co-angler award of $70,000.
These anglers represent the best of more than 30,000 competitors who strive to make it to the lucrative championship each year. They have one more obstacle to overcome, however, in a stretch of the Ohio River that is not known for producing heavy limits of largemouth bass. Post-spawn fish that are reluctant to bite under the hot Kentucky sun made the river even more challenging as anglers raced as far as 120 miles downstream in search of a winning combination of fish.
Unlike many anglers who made a long run south, Newberry made a 70-mile run north to the Markland Lock only to find out that he wouldn't be able to get through to his intended fishing spot.
"I got to the lock, and they said it would be three hours before I could get through," said Newberry, a three-time All-American qualifier. "I had to turn around and come back. It's not something that you can bellyache too long about. You just have to switch gears and adjust."
Fortunately, Newberry had a contingency plan after shaking off a few keepers in Wednesday's practice round. The fish, located along a 100-yard stretch of the Ohio just 15 miles north of the launch site at Carrie Gaulbert Cox Park, ended up saving Newberry's day, and possibly his tournament.
"I caught a 3-pounder on a crankbait and the rest of my limit on spinnerbaits and worms," Newberry said.
Newberry qualified for the All-American through the BFL Cowboy Division, where he finished second in the points standings and fourth at the Wright Patman Regional Championship. He now holds a slim 8-ounce lead in the biggest tournament of his life. The biggest tournament so far that is. If he can hold on for the win, Newberry will be headed to the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Ark., where he'll fish against the world's best professional anglers on Lake Ouachita. Is he looking forward to the prospect? You bet.
"I've fished two regionals on Ouachita," Newberry said. "I won one of them and finished second in the other."
Newberry estimates that he will need at least 3 more pounds Friday to make the top-10 cut - something he fell just 1 ounce short of in last year's All-American on the Connecticut River in Hartford, Conn.
Rounding out the top-five boaters are Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio (five bass, 6-3); David Wright of Lexington, N.C. (five bass, 6-2); Thomas Southern of Sylacauga, Ala. (three bass, 6-1); and Calvin Davidson of Plainfield, Ind. (four bass, 5-9). Ray Griffin of Henderson, N.C., caught the day's heaviest bass in the Boater Division, a 3-pound, 6-ounce largemouth, to win the Snickers Big Bass Award of $500.
Overall, 87 bass weighing a total of 125 pounds, 4 ounces were caught by 41 boaters Thursday. The catch included three five-bass limits.
Chad Hartzog of Bush, La., who qualified through the Louisiana Division (finishing 22nd) and the Wright Patman Regional (finishing fourth), leads the Co-angler Division with three bass weighing 4 pounds, 8 ounces.
He was fishing with boater Ray Armes of Forest, Va., who is currently 29th with one bass weighing 1-13.
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Kevin Wells of South Shore, Ky. (four bass, 4-0); Stacy Metz of Staley, N.C. (two bass, 3-1); Glen Mire of Jackson, Miss. (one bass, 3-0); and Jeffery O'Connor of Charlotte, N.C. (two bass, 3-0). Mire caught the day's largest bass in the Co-angler Division to earn the $500 Snickers Big Bass Award.
Overall, 33 bass weighing a total of 44 pounds, 9 ounces were caught by 23 co-anglers Thursday. No five-bass limits were caught in the Co-angler Division.
Only the top-10 boaters and co-anglers following Friday's weigh-in will advance to Saturday's final round, where the heaviest three-day total weight will determine the winners.
Boaters control boat movement and fish from the front deck against other boaters while co-anglers compete from the back deck against other co-anglers. Boaters and co-anglers are randomly paired each day.
Takeoffs start at 7 a.m. each day from Carrie Gaulbert Cox Park located at 3730 River Road in Louisville. Weigh-ins each day start at 4 p.m. at the Kentucky Exposition Center located at 937 Phillips Lane in Louisville.