Quick Bites: Ranger M1, Day 3

2002 Ranger M1
Mobile-Tensaw Delta, Mobile, Ala.
Friday: Pro semifinals, Co-angler finals

Quick Number

108,000: Value, in dollars, of the 1-ounce difference between the Co-angler Division’s winner and runner-up.

Dream or nightmare? … When co-angler David Millsaps of Woodstock, Ga., brought his one bass to the scale Friday, he knew he was in for a ride. In his sack he had a largemouth that weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces – which is an absolute monster here on the tough-fishing Mobile-Tensaw Delta this week. The fish, by far, took honors as the biggest bass of the week caught by anyone. However, its weight fell an agonizing 1 ounce short of the leading weight set by Oxford, Alabama’s Tim Hurst, who had already weighed in four bass worth 7-9. Hurst took home the winner’s check for $170,000 while Millsaps won $62,000 for second place. “I thought I had it won,” said Millsaps. “It has taken about 6 pounds everyday (to be near the top).” What goes through an angler’s mind when he realizes that just 1 ounce of fish has cost him over a hundred-thousand dollars? “I don’t know,” said Millsaps. “I’ll let you know when I wake up.”

Last-minute heroics … $170,000 winner Hurst is a study in controlled exuberance. He’s a BFL angler with $7,848 in total career earnings prior to today. Reminded that he’d just won more than many FLW pros see in a career, much less after a win, Hurst said, “It’s great. It doesn’t seem fair, does it?” Maybe more than he thinks. Hurst caught all four of his keeper bass in the last hour of competition Friday. He and pro Mark Pack of Mineola, Texas, had tough luck at their original spot miles from Mobile so they came back to a last-ditch location just 10 minutes away from the takeoff ramp, where Hurst proceeded to catch his winning stringer.

Oh, brother, there art thou … Before this tournament, pro Jimmy Millsaps tagged his brother David as the member of the Millsaps clan with the best shot at M1 victory. Four Millsaps – three brothers and a cousin – competed here this week, David being the oldest brother. Evidently, younger brother Jimmy knew what he was talking about. David is no stranger to success in M1 competition; in 1999 he finished 10th at the first M1. While he eventually took second and maintained his position as best of the Millsaps, David’s week didn’t start out so rosy. “(My brothers) ragged on me after that first day (he only caught 3 pounds, 1 ounce),” he said. “But I told them that night just to wait until tomorrow.”

Shumpert vs. Omori II … The Hurst-Millsaps battle was not the only ounce-to-ounce saga today. Opening-pro pro leader Ricky Shumpert of Lexington, S.C., caught 4 pounds, 7 ounces and fell to 11th place, just missing the cut into Saturday’s finals behind 10th-place Takahiro Omori’s 4-9. “I’m feeling frustrated,” said Shumpert. “You know, I didn’t make any mistakes today. I just didn’t get enough bites. … At one point, we pulled up to a spot and my partner (third-place co-angler Ryan Deal) caught a 5-pounder in the shallows. It wasn’t my fish because I wasn’t fishing that shallow, but it’s frustrating.” This is also not the first time that Omori has doused Shumpert’s chances in Alabama. The two pros faced off in the finals of the FLW Tour at nearby Lake Martin last year. Omori won that event and Shumpert came in fourth. “This is a game of ounces, isn’t it?” said Shumpert.

Life lessons … Third-place pro Mark Rose of Marion, Ark., is competing for a possible $700,000 tomorrow, but he’s gained something much more valuable than money during his experience here this week. The last two days, Rose’s co-angler partners were Jimmy Lankford of Henry, Tenn., and Shannon Devere of Berea, Ky. Both co-angler finalists, Lankford (13th place) is a paraplegic who competes from a wheelchair and Devere (fourth) is an amputee who fishes with only one hand. “I fished with Jimmy and we netted each other’s fish just like anybody else,” Rose said. “Today I fished with Shannon and he can set the hook with anybody. They were both just a big inspiration to me.”

Sound Bites

“My wife wants to take a cruise, but I kind of want to take a fishing trip to Mexico.”
– Tim Hurst, on what he’ll do with his winnings.

“Well, there was one big trophy and several smaller ones.”
– Ranger Boats founder Forrest L. Wood, contrasting the prizes he used to compete for when he began fishing tournaments with the $170,000 haul made by Hurst today.

“I was telling the guys, you know I could win half as much here in just one tournament as I’ve ever made. And I’ve had a pretty successful career in fishing.”
– Pro David Fritts, who was fishing for $900,000 with sponsor bonuses this week. With four FLW victories, a runner-up finish at the 1999 M1, plus other top finishes on both the FLW and B.A.S.S. circuits, Fritts has cashed in an estimated $1.8 million in winnings during his storied competitive bass-fishing career. Fritts bowed out of competition today in 12th place with three bass weighing 4-1. He still collected $11,000.

“Women.”
– Honest pro Takahiro Omori, a native of Tokyo, Japan, relating the one thing he’s still looking for here in the U.S. besides another big tournament win.

Quick Links, Day 3:

Hurst so good
Blaukat blitzes pro field
Photos
Results
Press release