Quick Bites: FLW Okeechobee, Day 3
Wal-Mart FLW Tour
Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.
Friday, pro semifinals, co-angler finals
The future looks bright in bass fishing – and rich … Yesterday we found out that co-angler finalist Jason Knapp of Uniontown, Pa., is just 20 years old. Well, today he went out and finished the tourney in third place with five bass weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces. He collected a check for $4,000. … On the other side, second-place qualifier Joe Don Setina of Pittsburg, Texas, is the youngest pro angler on the FLW Tour. He’s just 21 years of age. By making the finals, he’s guaranteed a check of anywhere from $8,000 (for 10th place) to $110,000 (for a victory). Not only that, Joe “Tex” also set another record today. …
Biggest bass of the year update … Setina brought the house down when he hauled a 9-pound, 3-ounce Florida largemouth out of his sack today. It set the new mark for biggest bass of the year, breaking Jim Carnell’s one-day-old record of 8-4, which he caught on day two. Said Setina, “I’ve caught a lot of fish over 9 pounds. (Remember, he’s from Texas.) My biggest is 13 pounds. But this is the biggest I’ve ever caught in a tournament. In a tournament when you catch one over 7, 8, or 9 pounds, you’re just on cloud nine.” For the record, he caught the lunker using a tube. … All in all, it was a good day for Setina, to say the least. He made his first FLW finals, he caught the FLW’s biggest bass of the year, and his fiancee, Ashley Fuller, celebrated her birthday today. “Also, my birthday is the last day of the Ranger M1 (in February),” he said. “So I’m hoping that’s another good sign.”
At home on the Big O … Smiling Jimmi Leuthner of Vernon, Vt., also landed a jaw-dropper today. In fact, at 8 pounds, 2 ounces, the behemoth bass was the biggest one he’s ever caught. And he picked a fine time to do it. He slid into third place and the Pro Division finals with a total catch of 15 pounds, 5 ounces. “This is the biggest thrill of my life,” said the FLW rookie, shaking with excitement. “My goal this year was to make just one top 10. I never thought I’d be doing this.” Leuthner, who’s been living at Okeechobee and fishing for over a month before the tourney even started, is loving this lake – understandably. “I’ve got one more fun day,” he said. “I might even stick around when it’s over and go fishing on Sunday.” Watch out for Leuthner Saturday, however. He says he’s got enough fish and know-how to contend for the title. And if he wins, look out. He might just explode.
So where was that honey hole again? … Greg Lineberry of Galax, Va., after fishing just one season in the EverStart Eastern Division prior, took home the Co-angler Division trophy today in his first-ever FLW tourney. In fact, he and pro partner J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md. – also an FLW rookie – took top honors in both divisions, both soundly dominating their respective fields by several pounds. “I was really lucky he missed a few,” Lineberry said. “We really had a great day,” Kenney said. “All of a sudden at about 12 o’clock, those big ones started biting and it got really fun.” No word yet on exactly where it was they were fishing. Kenney’s competing tomorrow.
Let’s not forget … For all the mayhem the rookies are inflicting on this Okeechobee event, don’t lose sight of the veteran pros in Saturday’s finals. Guys by the names of Gary Klein, Jim Tutt, Keith Green and David Dudley are also fishing tomorrow. Also, a big-timer named Jay Yelas has rejoined the FLW Tour this year and is a finalist tomorrow. And they all know a thing or two about final-round competition. Combined, they have a total of 18 FLW top-10 finishes and two wins amongst them.
Sound Bite
“That big fish just bows my line and I’m pulling on her and she’s down on the bottom just shaking her head and, you know what, she won. I have no idea how big she was.”
– Pro Rusty Rust, who shook his own head while describing the one that got away today. He finished in 17th place.
Quick Links, Day 3:
Lineberry nets co-angler title on Lake Okeechobee
Kenney catapults into first place …
Photos
Results
Today’s pairings