In 2000, bass fishing’s well-known veterans had a banner year on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour. Of the seven tournaments, veteran anglers won six.
Steve Daniel of Clewiston, Fla., set the trend in motion by winning on Okeechobee. Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park, Texas, won at Lake Murray. Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas, took his second Mississippi River title in Memphis, Tenn. Tournament-angling icon Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo., took two victories that year, one at the Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake and the other at the Forrest Wood Open on Pickwick Lake. And the season ended with a victory for Dion Hibdon of Stover, Mo., at the Championship on the Red River.
In 2002, bass fishing’s “next generation” responded by taking five of seven titles.
FLW Tour rookie J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md., set the pace by winning at Okeechobee. Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., won at Lake Ouachita. FLW Tour rookie Andre Moore of Scottsdale, Ariz., won Beaver Lake. FLW Tour newcomer Sam Newby of Pocola, Okla., won on Lake Champlain. And John Sappington of Wyandotte, Okla., garnered his first national title at the FLW Tour Championship on Cross Lake.
What’s in store for 2003 remains to seen, but one thing is certain, with $500,000 on the line in the Jacobs Cup world championship of bass fishing, every cast counts. The Road to Richmond, Va., promises to be an exciting journey for veterans and rookies alike.