NATCHITOCHES, La. (Sept. 24, 2008) - Pro Danny Gulledge of Crossett, Ark., caught a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces Wednesday to lead opening day of the Stren Series Texas Division tournament on the Red River.
"I threw just about everything I had today," said Gulledge, who has two Walmart Bass Fishing League wins on the Red River. "There's really no rhyme or reason to what they're doing."
Gulledge said he believes the fish are still recovering from water conditions brought on by recent hurricanes in the area. Gulledge said he caught his fish on crankbaits and spinnerbaits both deep and shallow.
"It's like they're trying to get into their fall pattern but haven't quite gotten there yet," Gulledge said.
Gulledge said he learned to fish on the Arkansas and Mississippi rivers and is comfortable fishing the Red River.
"River systems just sit well with me," Gulledge said.
Rounding out the top five pros are Jason Reyes of Humble, Texas (five bass, 14-13); David Curtis of Trinity, Texas (five bass, 14-09); Ricky D. Scott of Van Buren, Ark. (five bass, 13-11); and Chris McCall of Jasper, Texas (five bass, 11-15).
Greg Gleason of Houma, La., earned $165 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass he caught.
Overall there were 292 bass weighing 557 pounds, 4 ounces caught by pros Wednesday. The catch included 33 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 $2 million 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.
Randy Wooley of Natchitoches, La., 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 12-08 while fishing with pro Art Garza of Buna, Texas, who is currently in 36th place.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Nick Diberardino of Huffman, Texas (five bass, 10-14); Roger Seal of Tioga, La. (three bass, 10-06); David Underwood of Waco, Texas (five bass, 10-04); and Alan Hults of Gautier, Miss. (five bass, 9-12).
Larry Beauboeuf earned $99 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 6-pound, 15-ounce bass he caught.
Overall there were 177 bass weighing 331 pounds, 11 ounces caught by co-anglers Wednesday. The catch included seven 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 Grand Encore Recreation Complex located at 234 Rufus Morgan Rd. in Natchitoches. Thursday and Friday's weigh-ins will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday's weigh-in will be held at the Walmart store located at 925 Keyser Ave. in Natchitoches 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.