CLEWISTON, Fla. – Jimmi Leuthner, Vernon, Vt., found another five bass to weigh a total of 32 pounds even to lead the top-20 anglers to the semifinal round, Friday. The fishing, although tougher than the first tournament day, seemed to turn around late in the day. “I have been here for 38 days, learning the waters and fishing from dawn to dusk,” Leuthner said.
“I was fishing the weeds and wanted about 12 pounds today. Once I got that, I tried two other spots and popped a two and half and a five pounder. I think I am in good position for Friday’s semifinal round.”
Gary Klein, Weatherford, Texas, (10 bass, 30 pounds, 10 ounces); Terry Baksay, Monroe, Conn. (10 bass, 30 pounds, 3 ounces); and Jerry Ryne, Denver, N.C. (10 bass, 29 pounds, 1 ounce); and Keith Green, Arkadelphia, Ark. (10 bass, 28 pounds, 11 ounces) lead the top-20 anglers heading to the semi-finals. Rusty Rust, Hermitage, Tenn., who lead Day One, ended in sixth place going into the semifinals.
John Bruce, Buford, Ga. (10 bass, 22 pounds, 15 ounces) was in second Day One and went out with a positive attitude Thursday morning. “I had confidence in a few lures that I knew the fish were biting on,” Bruce said. “By noon, I had three fish so I didn’t really press them that much. I wanted them to be ready for Friday.”
Richard Lowitzki, St. Charles, Ill. (9 bass, 22 pounds, 7 ounces); Troy Pickett, Roberta, Ga. (9 bass, 21 pounds, 10 ounces); Ken Keirsey, Owasso, Okla. (9 bass, 19 pounds, 15 ounces); and Bruce McClamroch, Crawfordville, Ind., (7 bass, 18 pounds, 13 ounces) lead the co-anglers to their final day of competition Friday.
Jim Carnell, a professional from Muskogee, Okla. earned Big Bass honors with an 8 pound, 4 ounce giant for his division. “I was just flippin’ all morning and about noon she hit,” Carnell said. “I saw it roll so I knew it was huge, but getting it in the boat seemed to take forever. My co-angler had to check my line, I was shaking so bad.” This 8-pounder is the largest bass Carnell has caught in a tournament ever. Leroy Arnold, Little Rock, Ark. landed a whopper of 7 pounds, 14 ounces to claim 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, when the final weigh-in is broadcast live nationally 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 advanced to the semifinal 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 Friday morning, at 8 a.m. at Roland Martin’s Marina. The marina, located at 920 East Del Monte Avenue in Clewiston, hosts each day’s take-off. The semifinal weigh-in Friday will begin 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 Saturday at 3 p.m.