“Tournament fishing is a lot different than recreational angling. In both instances you’re trying to outsmart as many fish as you can, but in tournaments you’re against the clock. You have to make better use of your time, yet not panic or abandon a good plan as time runs out. A lot of tournaments are won int he last hour by patient anglers.”-Hank Parker: Preparing to fish your first tournament.
On April 11th:
The First Coast Christian Bass Club set of on Lake Crescent. Jerry Shawver II didn’t even make it a close contest for the 14 angler field, as he weighed a 20.98-pound limit, anchored by the day’s Big Bass, an 8.59-pound lunker. Bill Jones was the next closest competitor, and the only other angler to boat a 5 bass limit. His bag weighed 6.61 pounds, giving Jones a second place finish. Brian Leslie finished in third place, weighing 2 bass for 6.24 pounds. The club launches from Welatka on May 30th for their next event.~
The Florida Trails Bassmasters jammed out on Lake Toho for the West Lake Jam. Paul Monotony topped the 20 angler field with a 10.81-pound limit. Randy Monotony finished just behind in second place, weighing a 10.74-pound bag. Jeremy Knepper took a third place finish, weighing a 10.62-pound limit. Silverio Roca’s 5.31-pound kicker earned the Big Bass honor for the day. The club competes over two days of compassion at the Lake Okeechobee Crawl May 2nd-3rd.~
Joe Ventrello and Neal Combs weighed an 18.23-pound limit to walk away with a win at the Central Florida Bass Anglers event at Lake Cypress. Of the 19 other teams that competed, Rob Wilson and Mark Holasak were the next closest to the top, weighing a 17.51-pound limit. David and Steven Gazdek weighed a 16.05-pound limit to finish in third. Don Callaghan and Darrel Daugherty caught the largest bass of the day, a 6.67-pounder. The club finishes off their season May 16th-17th on Lake Okeechobee from Scott Diver Park.~
The Palm Bay Bassmasters also competed at Lake Cypress. Steve Bewley topped 19 other anglers by weighing a 16.86-pound bag. Anchoring his catch was a 6.56-pounder. Dale Stevens competed from the back of Bewley’s boat, and earned a second place fishing with a 15.57-pound bag. Stevens anchored his limit with a 6.15-pound kicker. Jana Ashland earned a third place finish, thanks in part to the Big Bass of the day. The 7.20-pound kicker anchored his 14.10-pound bag. The Palm Bay Bassmasters will launch from Harney Pond at Lake Okeechobee May 16th-17th for the club’s next event.~
The Performance Bass Anglers competed on a tough Lake Walk-in-Water. Robert Weeks and Cody Holley topped the 21 boat field, earning overall and Big Bass honors. The team’s 6.95-pound Big Bass anchored their 12.65-pound, 5 bass limit. Jeff Jones and Chad Lehman finished in second place, weighing a 9.36-pound bag. Rob and Dalton Vanhorn’s 9.35-pound total landed them in third place. The PBA is scheduled to compete at the South Winter Haven Chain on May 9th.~
Don Story and George Scott weighed an outstanding 18.75-pound limit on Lake Panasoffkee to top the 15 team field of the Marion County Bassmasters. Monty Tschappat and Michael Johnson earned a second place finish, weighing a 12.14-pound bag. Third place and Big Bass was awarded to David and Bridget (last names not available). They weighed a 9.20-pound lunker to anchor their 12.02-pound bag. The Marion County Bassmasters next event is May 9th at Lake Henderson.~
The Lake Rousseau Division of the Xtreme Bass Series hosted 11 teams for the third event of the season. Mike Davis and Dennis Hernandez weighed a 23.24-pound limit to earn the victory. That bag was anchored by the event’s Big Bass, a 7.74-puonder. Harold Beasley and Robby Anderson weighed a solid 19.37-pound limit to finish in second place. Scott Bullard and Tracey Hurst earned a third place finish by weighing a 13.86-pound limit. The division’s next event is scheduled for May 9th.~
Greg Prince topped 18 other anglers on Lake Talquin at the Hub City Bassmasters tournament. Prince weighed a 23.33-pound, 5 bass limit to earn the win. He also weighed a 9.26-pound lunker to win the Big Bass award. Aaron Richardson finished in second place, weighing a 15.19-pound bag. Jeff Knight weighed 9.88 pounds to finish in third.~
23 teams competed in the Jacksonville John’s Bass Trail event on the Rodman Reservoir. Jeffrey Thompson and Jamie Dixon weighed a 20.00-pound bag to earn the victory. Matt Ritman and Brooks Morel finished in second place, weighing 16.70 pounds. Roger Weaver and Mike Spampinato earned a third place finish, weighing 15.80 pounds. The Big Bass honor was awarded to Greg Martin and Gene Dillon for their 6.60-pound kicker. The trail will compete May 2nd from Lake Sampson/Rowell.~
Philip Turwitt and Scott Stevens weighed a 10.27-pound limit to win the USA Bassin’s Trout Creek Spring Division event. Craig Goff and Robbie Robinson weighed 10.05 pounds to finish in second place. Scooter Hicks and Thomas Craine finished in third with 8.20 pounds. The team also weighed the largest bass of the day, a 3.14-pound kicker. The division competes again on May 3rd.~
