DENISON, Texas (April 26, 2006) - Pro James Fredieu of Saint Martinville, La., caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces to lead day one of the Stren Series Central Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Texoma.
"With the weight I had today, all I need to do is bring in about 7 pounds," he said. "After that, I'm going to look for some new water. I want to save those fish for day three."
Rounding out the top five pros are Darryl Folse of Addis, La. (five bass, 15 pounds, 11 ounces); Spencer McAlester of Denison, Texas (five bass, 15 pounds, 8 ounces); Larry Caldwell of St. Peters, Mo. (five bass, 14 pounds, 7 ounces) and Jeremy Guidry of Opelousas, La. (five bass, 14 pounds, 1 ounce).
Tim Reneau of Seguin, Texas earned $625 for the Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 6-pound, 5-ounce bass.
Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas, leads the Co-angler Division in the chase for a top award worth as much as $35,000, including a 519VX Ranger if contingency guidelines are met. He caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 12 ounces while fishing with pro Paul Whitman Jr. Mineloa, Texas, who is currently in 82nd place.
"I had a limit by 10 a.m.," said Rogers, who has 15 top-10 finishes competing in FLW Outdoors events. "I fished a green-pumpkin finesse worm rigged on a small jighead on deep ledges all day."
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are K.D. Moore of Euless, Texas (four bass, 12 pounds, 11 ounces); Rich Parker of Kaufman, Texas (five bass, 12 pounds, 2 ounces); Kenta Kimura of Livingston, Texas (five bass, 11 pounds, 9 ounces); and Terry Alsup of Ardmore, Okla. (five bass, 10 pounds, 14 ounces).
Rogers and Cedar Park, Texas resident David Stewart both earned $112.50, splitting the Snicker's Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division. Each brought a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass to the scale to claim their share of the prize.
Anglers will take off at 7 each morning from Highport Marina located at 120 Texoma Harbor Drive in Pottsboro, Texas. Thursday's weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday's weigh-ins will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 401 Highway 75 North in Denison, Texas 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 three rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 20 pros and co-anglers - based on two-day accumulated weights - advance to day three. Anglers start at zero Thursday and compete for 10 spots in each division in the final round. Winners are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four.