CLEWISTON, Fla. – Low water conditions on Lake Okeechobee didn’t hinder 1999 Wal-Mart FLW Tour Angler of the Year David Walker of Cannon, Ky., Wednesday as the Team Timex pro pulled in a spectacular five-bass limit during what some contestants had speculated would be a tough day.
Walker’s limit, which included a 9-pound, 10-ounce largemouth, weighed in at 22 pounds, 14 ounces – good enough for a 2-pound, 5-ounce lead over Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., who caught five bass weighing 20 pounds, 9 ounces in the $500,000 tournament presented by EverStart.
“When I caught that fish, I thought, `There is a solid limit right there,'” said Walker, who caught the bass using a crankbait. “We figured it would take 18 pounds to make the top 10, so I was halfway there with one bass.”
The heavyweight bass not only put Walker on top of the 175-angler Pro Division, it also earned him Pepsi big bass honors and $750. Bryan Williams of Mahomet, Ill., caught a 7-pound, 3-ounce largemouth to claim big bass and $500 in the 175-angler Co-Angler Division.
The heaviest of three limits caught in the Co-Angler Division weighed 20 pounds, 14 ounces and belonged to Donald Tross of Newport News, Va. It gave Tross a 7-pound, 8-ounce lead over Williams, who managed five bass weighing 13 pounds, 6 ounces.
Seventeen limits were caught in the Pro Division as calm winds and sunshine warmed the water nearly 10 degrees in parts of Lake Okeechobee. If the warming trend continues, many more limits may be caught in the days ahead as thousands of bass prepare to spawn.
Anglers in both divisions must place in the top 10 Thursday to advance to the semifinal round of competition Friday. Weights from opening day count toward making the first cut, but during the semifinal round, weights are cleared and anglers fish for the heaviest one-day weight. Only the top five pros will advance to the final round Saturday for a shot at $100,000. Co-angler competition ends Friday with the winner collecting $15,000.
Kim Stricker of Howell, Mich., (five bass, 19-07); Robert Vogelsang of Jessup, Md., (four bass, 17-09); and Mark Hardin of Canton, Ga., (five bass, 17-05) rounded out the top five anglers in the Pro Division.
Abbie Israel of Clewiston, Fla., (four bass, 12-09); Michael Brown of Chatsworth, Ga., (five bass, 11-10); and Tammie Muse of North Little Rock, Ark., (four bass, 10-11) rounded out the top five anglers in the Co-Angler Division.
Competition continues at 7 a.m. Thursday at Roland Martin’s Marina located at 920 East Del Monte Ave. in Clewiston followed by a 3 p.m. weigh-in at the same location. Friday’s takeoff starts at 8 a.m., and the weigh-in begins at 5 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 1005 West Sugarland Highway in Clewiston. Saturday’s final weigh-in at Wal-Mart begins at 3 p.m.
A Family Fun Zone featuring fishing seminars, free product samples, interactive displays and children’s games will open in the Wal-Mart parking lot at 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.