FLORENCE, Ala. (June 4, 2008) - Pro Randy Haynes of Counce, Tenn., caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 9 ounces Wednesday to lead opening day of the Stren Series Southeast Division bass fishing tournament on Pickwick Lake.
Rounding out the top five pros are Ryan Rigsby of Hixson, Tenn. (five bass, 19-05); Curt McGuire of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. (five bass, 17-02); Bob Garrison of Baldwyn, Miss. (five bass, 17-01); and Shawn Perrigo of Rienzi, Miss.(five bass, 16-07).
"Today went exactly the way I wanted," said McGuire, who has amassed more than $55,000 in career earnings with FLW Outdoors. "I have a lot of good places to fish that I didn't get to go today. I feel confident that I will find quality fish in all of those spots."
McGuire caught his keepers by 10:30 this morning, deep in Pickwick and Wilson lakes.
"I had some real big bags during practice that were well over 20 pounds, said McGuire. "When other anglers find offshore spots your limited to what you can call your own. That's the only kicker, I'm not sure how many other guys fished some of my key areas."
McGuire stated that with the water temperature reaching near 80 degrees that it will predominately be a deep bite tomorrow.
"The heat just means that more fish will be going to the ledges," McGuire said. "I plan on sticking to the same technique tomorrow to stay in contention for the cut."
Rigsby earned $256 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass.
Overall there were 759 bass weighing 1,509 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 159 pros Wednesday. The catch included 142 five-bass limits.
Pros are competing for as much as $65,000, including a 198VX Ranger powered by Evinrude or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are met, and valuable points toward qualifying for the $1 million Stren Series Championship in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8 for a shot at $140,000. After four qualifying events are complete in each of the circuit's five divisions, the top 40 pros from each division will advance to the championship. The highest-finishing pro from each division at the championship will also earn a spot in the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.
Scotty Gasaway of Dennis, Miss., leads the Co-angler Division in the chase for a top award of $35,000, including a 198VX Ranger if contingency guidelines are met. He caught five bass weighing 15-12 while fishing with pro Steve Stewart of Donalsonville, Ga., who is currently in 23rd place. "I credit my pro for getting me quality fish today," Gasaway said. "He put me on fish all day and I owe everything to him. I was real lucky to have him as a partner. It was a blessed day."
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Morris of White, Ga. (five bass, 15-12); Daniel Costley of Memphis, Tenn. (five bass, 14-08); James Sharp of Leesburg, Ga. (five bass, 13-08); and Perry Kennedy of Florence, Ala. (five bass, 13-00).
Gasaway earned $134for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass.
Overall there were 627 bass weighing 1,032 pounds, 4 ounces caught by 153 co-anglers Wednesday. The catch included 93 five-bass limits.
The top 40 co-anglers from each Stren Series division will also advance to the championship, where they will fish for as much as $70,000. The highest-finishing co-angler from each division at the championship will then advance to the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.
Anglers will take off at 6:30 each morning from McFarland Park located at 200 James M. Spain Drive in Florence. Thursday and 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 3100 Hough Road in Florence, beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Stren Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. At the conclusion of Friday's weigh-in, the field is cut to the top 10 pros and co-anglers based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weights. These anglers continue competition Saturday, with the winners determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.