CLEWISTON, Fla. – In a day of firsts on Florida’s Lake Okeechobee, Rusty Rust, Hermitage, Tenn., took the lead with the only five-bass limit over 20 pounds. This is Rust’s first day of the first tournament of the first year he is competing with the Wal-Mart FLW Tour. The weather, sunny and 80 degrees, was also the first nice weather the Wal-Mart FLW Tour has seen in the six years they have held a tournament on Lake Okeechobee.
“I knew where the fish were that I needed to get,” Rust said. “I just worked them really slow and methodically. I caught 12 keepers and lost five. Thursday, I am just going out to fish. I have some other areas to explore, but would like to weigh a similar bag to today.” Rust brought in five bass for a total of 21 pounds, 11 ounces.
Kelly Jordan, Mineola, Texas, (five bass, 18 pounds, 11 ounces); Jimmi Leuthner, Vernon, Vt. (five bass, 16 pounds, 7 ounces); Sam Newby, Pocola, Okla. (five bass, 16 pounds, 5 ounces); and Tracy Adams, Wilkenson, N.C. (five bass, 15 pounds, 4 ounces) round out the top five professionals.
Gordon Unrein, Columbus, Ga., is also fishing the first day of his first Wal-Mart FLW Tour event. “This is so cool,” Unrein said. “I really enjoyed being out there with the pros and appreciated all the help my pro leant me. I can’t wait for Thursday.”
John Bruce, Buford, Ga. (5 bass, 12 pounds, 15 ounces); Mike Mcadoo, Murfreesboro, Tenn. (5 bass, 12 pounds, 7 ounces); Ken Keirsey, Owasso, Okla. (4 bass, 10 pounds, 15 ounces); and Greg Lineberry, Galax, Va. (5 bass, 10 pounds, 14 ounces) lead the co-angler division.
Newby earned Big Bass honors with a 7 pound, 15 ounce monster on the professional side. T.R. Fuller, Auburn, Ala. weighed in a 6 pound, 13 ounce bass to catch the co-angler Big Bass title.
Okeechobee has been the Wal-Mart FLW Tour opener for six of the last seven years. In 1999 and 2000, the clear water areas needed to harbor bass were scarce. In 2001, the lake was at record low levels and hardly any green vegetation existed. Fishermen said they were impressed with the water’s clarity and amount of vegetation this season and do believe it has affected their strategies.
Anglers will have the opportunity to appear on PAX TV this Saturday. The final weigh-in will be broadcast live to more than 84 million households on the FLW Outdoors television show airing at 3 p.m. EST, 2 p.m. CST and 3 p.m. PST.
Wal-Mart FLW Tour anglers are competing for top awards of $110,000 for professionals and $15,000 for co-anglers. Pros fish from the front of each tournament boat and control its movement, while co-anglers fish from the back of each boat. Twenty anglers in each division will advance to the semifinals after two days of competition. The top 10 pros from the semifinal round will advance to the final day.
The 2002 Wal-Mart FLW Tour sponsors include: Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Eagle Electronics, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Maxwell House, Minn Kota, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Act II, Berkley, David Sunflower Seeds, Eagle Claw, Laker, Plano and Solar Bat.
Competition on Lake Okeechobee will begin Thursday morning, Jan. 24, at 7:00 a.m. (or first available safe light) at Roland Martin’s Marina. The marina, located at 920 East Del Monte Avenue in Clewiston, will host each day’s take-off, plus the opening round weigh-ins. Weigh-in on Thursday will begin at 3 p.m. Friday’s, Jan. 25, semifinal round weigh-in starts at 5 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 1005 West Sugarland Highway in Clewiston. Wal-Mart will also host the final weigh-in on Jan. 26 at 3 p.m.