GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. - In search of his first tournament victory and a spot in the upcoming Bassmaster Classic, angler Russell Colwell of Baltimore, Md., stormed into the lead on Thursday at the Bassmaster Series Championship on Alabama's Lake Guntersville.
Boating a limit that weighed 22 pounds, 0 ounces, Colwell finished the day with a comfortable 5-pound-plus lead over Texan Thomas Dickerson. Persevering through a cold day and water temperatures that hovered in the high-40s, Colwell capitalized on just eight bites.
If he should hold on, the 48-year-old would win the $100,000 grand prize. Additionally, he would receive guaranteed entry into the Bassmaster Open circuit of choice (Central or Southern). But most important, Colwell would earn entry into the 2007 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 23-25, on Alabama's Lay Lake in Birmingham, Ala.
"It's all about that Classic spot," Colwell said. "The money is certainly nice, but making it to the Classic - that is the dream of everyone who is participating in this tournament."
Colwell, who owns a small construction business in Baltimore, rotated his time between four spots he located during what said he was a "terrible" practice period. By 12:30 p.m. Thursday, he had his five-fish limit, mainly by working a Rat-L-Trap in grassy, shallow areas.
Dickerson said he also had a disappointing practice period, but was able to put it together during the first competition day. The Orange, Texas, resident mentioned he used the same techniques on Guntersville that he has refined on Sam Rayburn Reservoir near his home.
With 16 pounds, 13 ounces, Dickerson trailed the leader, but it could have been otherwise: He said he missed a lunker that might have weighed as much as 11 pounds. The 42-year-old's goal was to catch 17 pounds each day of the three-day Series Championship, a weight he said he felt would be enough to win.
Much like the leader, Dickerson's focus is on the Classic and that one, coveted berth for the 2007 event.
"A spot in the Bassmaster Classic means more to me than the money," said Dickerson.
Ending the first day in third was Jeff Coble, the 2006 ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series Champion, with a weight of 16-3. Rounding out the top five were Minnesota's Thomas Borkowski (15-13) and Bradley Leifermann (14-6).
Coble took Purolator Big Bass honors with an 8-5 lunker.
On the non-boater side leading in the chase for the $50,000 grand prize was Alabama's Richard Shirley with 11 pounds, 15 ounces. He was followed by Georgia's Daniel Jackson (10-2) and Indiana's Rod Yoder (9-11).
2007 Bassmaster Series Championship 01/25-01/27 Lake Guntersville,
Guntersville Ala.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Russell Colwell Baltimore, Md. 5 22-00
2. Thomas Dickerson Orange, Texas 5 16-13
3. Jeff Coble Manson, N.C. 5 16-03 $1,000.00
4. Thomas Borkowski Savage, Minn. 5 15-13
5. Bradley Leifermann Andover, Minn. 4 14-06
6. Sam Boss Paducah, Ky. 5 14-03
7. Robert Stinger Williamsburg, Va. 4 14-01
8. Robert Q Dodson Harrison, Ark. 4 13-10
9. Todd Lee Grove, Okla. 3 13-07
10. Marc Kinnelly Frederick, Md. 4 13-00
11. Robbie Dodson Harrison, Ark. 4 12-12
12. Joel Barber Brandon, Miss. 5 12-06
13. Nicholas Turner Jones, Ala. 4 11-14
14. Klaus Hadschin Granite Falls, N.C. 3 11-11
15. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, Mich. 3 10-08
16. Tom Hicks Richmond, Va. 3 10-00
17. Bobby Myers Tulsa, Okla. 3 9-15
18. John Schlee St Paul, Minn. 5 9-14
19. Eric Johnson Columbus, Ind. 5 9-11
20. Jamie Horton Centreville, Ala. 3 9-07
21. Richard Smith Dumfries, Va. 3 9-05
21. Troy Morrow Toccoa, Ga. 2 9-05
23. Gary Clouse Lavergne, Tenn. 3 8-06
24. Samuel Thomas Sumter, S.C. 2 8-00
25. Thomas Dooley Virginia Beach, Va. 3 7-13
26. Mark Cox Hiwassee, Va. 2 7-09
27. Rod Robinson Raymond, Miss. 2 7-07
28. Dean Capra Andover, Minn. 2 7-02
29. Jeffrey Lokken Lebanon, Tenn. 2 6-03
30. Brady Farrell Fort Atkinson, Wisc. 2 6-01
31. Randy Childers Anderson, S.C. 2 5-15
32. Troy Davis Hurricane Mills, Tenn. 2 5-09
33. Calvin Hewitt Cope, S.C. 2 5-08
34. Billy Thompson Cordele, Ga. 2 5-04
35. Matthew Hamlette Altavista, Va. 2 5-00
36. Brian Brown Breezy Point, Minn. 2 4-15
37. Brannon Jones Montgomery, Ala. 2 4-12
38. Randall Tharp Gardendale, Ala. 2 4-11
39. James Elliott Center, Texas 1 4-10
40. Danny Grantham Mobile, Ala. 1 3-14
41. Stan Williams Calhoun, La. 1 3-06
42. Greg Anderson Warwick, R.I. 1 2-14
43. Mike White Rogers, Ark. 1 2-10
44. Sonny Moore Forsyth, Mo. 1 2-08
44. Danny Smith Monterey, La. 1 2-08
46. Chris Atwell Mechanicsville, Va. 1 2-07
46. David Wright Lexington, N.C. 1 2-07
48. Perry Neathery Albany, Ky. 1 2-04
49. Michael Presley Deatsvillle, Ala. 1 2-01
50. Billy Boyd Kingston, Tenn. 0 0-00
50. Gary Clark Groveland, Ill. 0 0-00
50. Raymond Goodwin Independence, La. 0 0-00
50. Larry King Macon, Ga. 0 0-00
50. Michael McMillan Greensboro, N.C. 0 0-00
50. Robert Trueblood Walnut Cove, N.C. 0 0-00
50. Ray Tweedy Appomattox, Va. 0 0-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 8 132 412-00
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8 132 412-00
2007 Bassmaster Series Championship 01/25-01/27 Lake Guntersville,
Guntersville Ala.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Richard Shirley Mc Calla, Ala. 3 11-15
2. Daniel Jackson Buford, Ga. 2 10-02 $500.00
3. Rod Yoder W Lafayette, Ind. 3 9-11
4. David Williams Fredericksburg, Va. 2 8-15
5. Tony Impellizzeri Ann Arbor, Mich. 3 8-11
5. Chris Mashek Lexington Park, Md. 2 8-11
7. Randal Kelly Tulsa, Okla. 2 8-09
8. William Caudill Elizabethtown, Ky. 3 8-07
9. Earl Malone Wichita, Kan. 2 8-02
10. Michael Clardy Greer, S.C. 3 7-10
11. Brian Potter Claremore, Okla. 2 5-14
12. Ron Hummingbird Broken Arrow, Okla. 3 5-11
13. Daniel Fischer Fredericksburg, Va. 2 5-05
14. Charles Ginter Crofton, Md. 2 5-03
15. Duane Mayhew Warsaw, Ind. 1 4-15
16. Clint Remington Middleburg, Fla. 2 4-14
17. Anthony Scrivens Stevensville, Md. 1 4-11
18. Pat Burke Moberly, Mo. 2 3-15
19. Dustin Thomas Wills Point, Texas 1 3-03
20. Jeff Rikard Leesville, S.C. 1 2-13
21. Robert Griswold Angier, N.C. 1 2-12
22. Syd Singer Dallas, Texas 1 2-08
23. Leon Thompson Beaumont, Texas 1 2-02
24. Kenneth Ansbach Nesquehoning, Pa. 0 0-00
24. Samuel Anthony Independence, La. 0 0-00
24. Dale Ball Asheville, N.C. 0 0-00
24. Bill Byers Hilliard, Ohio 0 0-00
24. Lesley Childers Anderson, S.C. 0 0-00
24. Joseph Clevinger Troy, Ala. 0 0-00
24. Lee Davis Fitzgerald, Ga. 0 0-00
24. Jacob Dillon Papillion, Neb. 0 0-00
24. Robert Eid Key West, Fla. 0 0-00
24. Herb Fazenbaker Mc Henry, Md. 0 0-00
24. Eddie Gibson Greenville, Miss. 0 0-00
24. Darrin Hannah Blue Grass, Iowa 0 0-00
24. Jamie Hughes Rimersburg, Pa. 0 0-00
24. Rob Kennedy Nashville, Tenn. 0 0-00
24. James Larosa West Sunbury, Pa. 0 0-00
24. Pete Lumpkins Avenue, Md. 0 0-00
24. Gary Michalski Naperville, Ill. 0 0-00
24. James Murphy Brandywine, Md. 0 0-00
24. Tom O'Neal Holly Springs, N.C. 0 0-00
24. Bruce Ogden Broken Bow, Okla. 0 0-00
24. Jason Patterson Bluffton, Ind. 0 0-00
24. Phillip Perry Birmingham, Ala. 0 0-00
24. Dave Phelps Lakeville, Minn. 0 0-00
24. Anthony Plescia Slidell, La. 0 0-00
24. Jeremy Potts Plainfield, Ill. 0 0-00
24. Peter Saraf Orlando, Fla. 0 0-00
24. Oscar Shackelford Kountz, Texas 0 0-00
24. Ronald Taylor Harriman, Tenn. 0 0-00
24. Don Vantassel North Egremont, Mass. 0 0-00
24. Tony Vickroy Piqua, Ohio 0 0-00
24. Jeff Wheeley Lafayette, Tenn. 0 0-00
24. Eric Wickliff Newton, Iowa 0 0-00
24. Cherif Zaher Orangeville, Pa. 0 0-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 6 45 144-11
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6 45 144-11