Quick Bites: FLW Series Eastern Lake Okeechobee, Day 1
Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
Opening round, Wednesday
Welcome to the new Wal-Mart FLW Series … With increased payouts and two divisions, the FLW Series looks quite a bit different in only its second season in existence. Much of the credit for making this happen goes to BP, one of FLW Outdoors’ newest platinum sponsors. The new FLW Series now consists of two divisions – the BP Eastern Division and the National Guard Western Division – each consisting of four $1 million qualifying events. The introduction of two divisions adds three tournaments and $3.5 million to the FLW Series schedule as compared to its inaugural season and boosts the total purse to an incredible $10 million. The split-up in divisions was exceptionally well received by Western anglers, who have never had the opportunity to fish in big-money, televised events without driving halfway across the country. Clearly, the beneficiaries here are the fishermen. Notable improvements in the payouts include $125,000 for first place, whereas it was $100,000 last season. In addition, the payouts run deeper with $10,000 cash being awarded through 50th place and $2,000 cash through 75th place in the Pro Division. Additionally, pros finishing 76th through 100th place will receive a $100 gas card from BP at each qualifier in the Eastern Division and a $100 Wal-Mart gift card in the Western Division.
Minnesota rookie draws Browne … What a draw for co-angler Dennis Fiedler of Minnetonka, Minn. Fishing in his first tour-level event of any kind, Fiedler took off in boat No. 177 today with Stren Series champion and Ocala, Fla., native Glenn Browne. After weigh-in today, Browne had reassumed his spot on top of the leaderboard and Fiedler was in 10th place. “Jim Moynagh and I grew up together, and I’ve fished the Silverado tournaments in Minnesota for several years,” Fiedler said. “I’m about four or five years away from retirement, so Jim recommended that I get my feet wet as a co-angler first. I’m out here to learn and have fun, and we easily accomplished that today.” Fiedler went on to say that the Lindner Media group caught all the footage of Browne’s two big fish on camera. Everything from the cast to the hook set to finally getting the fish in the boat will be on FSN in the near future. Moreover, Fiedler predicted continued success from Browne this week, as he swears the Berkley pro is fishing entirely new water.
Famous fishing family … With 15 pounds even, co-angler Pam Wood caught the heaviest stringer in her division on day one of the FLW Series event. But Wood is not the only one in the family that can put fish in the boat. Her dad, Jimmy Cox, is the president of the Mizmo Bait Company and fishes as a co-angler on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour and the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour. In fact, the eldest Cox has three top-10 finishes on the FLW Walleye Tour including a second place at the 2006 FLW Walleye Tour Championship on Lake Oahe where he earned $15,500. Wood’s brother, Troy Cox, has also competed on the FLW Tour and, at one point in his career, qualified for the championship in five consecutive seasons. So who is the best angler in the family? “I’d get in big trouble if I answered that question,” said Wood. After further prodding, the National Guard-sponsored co-angler confessed that Troy was probably the best and she was probably the second best. “Dad’s done well in his own right too. But he’s too hard-headed. I think dad will throw the tube no matter what.”
Pull, not pour … Veteran pro Tommy Martin had a solid opening day on Lake Okeechobee, catching a five-bass limit that weighed 14 pounds, 13 ounces. Included in that limit was a kicker fish that Martin wanted to weigh for the Snickers Big Bass award. Strangely enough, Martin poured his entire limit of fish on the scale. What was the confusion? Martin claims FLW Series Tournament Director Chris Jones told him to “pour your whole bag out,” while Jones claims he said “pull your whole bag out.” Whether Martin truly misunderstood or was just trying to pull a fast one, we’ll never know. What we do know is that he was allowed to only weigh one of his five fish at a time.
It’s a Tennessee thing … How sweet revenge can be. When co-angler Chip Brooks brought his fish to the scale this afternoon, he immediately corrected Jones on the pronunciation of his resident city, Bradenton, Fla. Jones humbly blamed his error on what he termed Kentucky slang. Originally from Tennessee, Brooks forgave Jones, shamefully saying it must be a Kentucky thing. However, Jones got the last laugh as Brooks inauspiciously forgot his fish on the scale. The Clewiston crowd had no problem reminding Brooks either. When he returned to the stage, Jones was waiting for him, holding Brooks’ bag and grinning from ear to ear. Jones’ response: “It’s a Tennessee thing.” The crowd erupted in laughter and Brooks had to bite his lip.
Quick numbers
3: Number of fish caught by Wood, the co-angler leader.
157: Number of limits registered by the field of 200 pros.
44-6: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of the 20 bass caught by the Lane family. The elder Lane, Robert, caught five weighing 11-6 while his son Chris caught 13-11, his son Arnie caught 12-9, and his son Bobby caught 6-12.
9-1: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of the heaviest bass caught today by Benton, Ky., co-angler Chuck Rounds.
66: Number of pros who cracked the 10-pound mark on day one.
Sound bites
“Hi, honey, I miss you. I’ll be home for your birthday, which is in August.” – pro Nick Gainey, who apparently has an extremely busy tournament schedule this year.
“I love coming to Florida because you’ve always got a chance to catch a real big one.” – 12th-place pro Andy Morgan.
“The 3- and 4-pound fish are just nonexistent. It’s going to be tight this week. Everyone gets a limit and then hopes for a 7- or 8-pounder.” – BP pro David Walker, who finished day one in 44th place.
“I know it’s healthy because it just slimed me,” – Jones, after weighing in co-angler Barry Sparks’ kicker fish.
Thursday’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. Eastern time from Roland & Mary Ann Martin’s Marina & Resort located at 920 E. Del Monte Ave. in Clewiston.