Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood

Mark Rogers of Naples, Fla., used a 12-pound, 8-ounce catch to capture first place in the Pro Division after day one. Photo by Gary Mortenson. Angler: Mark Rogers.

April 17, 2002 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

Mark Rogers grabs day-one lead at $1 million Wal-Mart Open

ROGERS, Ark. – When you combine 80-degree temperatures, spawning bass and an April fishing tournament on Beaver Lake, the end result is usually a parade of mammoth five-fish stringers, a plethora of anglers sporting broad smiles and a host of whopper fish tales. However, even though all of those ingredients were in place during today’s competition, the big story of the day turned out to be how difficult it was to catch the fish – any fish at all for that matter – on Beaver Lake.

“This is the toughest I’ve ever seen the fishing here,” said Clark Wendlandt, who won the FLW Beaver Lake event in 2001 and 1999.

“It was definitely tough out there today,” said David Walker, 1999 FLW Angler of the Year.

With the Pro Division packed as closely together as any FLW tournament in recent memory, Mark Rogers of Naples, Fla., ultimately emerged from the crowded field in first place after netting a 12-pound, 8-ounce catch. Although Rogers seconded the notion that the fishing was difficult, he said he was more than happy with his performance in today’s competition.

“It feels really good,” said Rogers. “It’s amazing to be competing against some of the greatest anglers in the world and finish on top – at least for one day. Overall, the fishing was real slow. I just tried to cover as much water as I could. I was very fortunate to catch what I caught today.”

Rogers, who flipped a V&M lizard near standing timber in 6 to 9 feet of water to land the majority of his catch, said the fishing was sporadic today at best.

“I got my limit by about 11:30 a.m., but then I didn’t catch another fish until about 2:45 p.m.,” said Rogers. “Basically, I would go to one of my spots, catch one fish and then move onto the next spot. I don’t think I caught more than one fish in any of my areas all day. I was definitely slow.”

To underscore the finicky conditions on Beaver Lake during the first day of competition, only five anglers in the entire tournament caught limits 10 pounds or greater.

However, Rogers said he had no plans to change up his strategy during tomorrow’s competition.

“I’m going to be doing the same thing tomorrow,” said Rogers. “Hopefully I can go out there and catch about 10 pounds. I’ve got a lot of good spots and my fish are starting to come up. Hopefully, I should be able to catch enough to make the (top-20) cut.”

Best of the rest

Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky., finished the day in second place after landing a 10-pound, 14-ounce catch. Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., took third place after weighing in a 10-pound, 9-ounce catch.

Rounding out the top five pros were Jack Bell (fourth) of Kane, Penn., with a catch of 10 pounds, 5 ounces; and Rob Harty (fifth) of Sachse, Texas, with a catch of 10 pounds.

David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., won $1,250 and the day’s big bass award in the Pro Division after netting a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass.

Martin lands in top spot in Co-angler Division

Kendall Martin of Tremont, Ill., captured the lead in the Co-angler Division after landing a total catch weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces.

Bud Goeke of Pinckneyville, Ill., found himself in second place after recording a total catch weighing 8 pounds.

“It was my easiest day of fishing all year,” said Goeke, who admitted to struggling mightily on the tour as of late. “Today, I had two keepers in the boat during the first 10 minutes of competition and I had a limit by 9:15 a.m. Coming into this tournament, I was ranked as low as I’ve been ranked in the past five years. So it was great to have a day like today. It’s about time.”

Goeke said that he caught nearly all of his fish on a watermelon-red Mizmo tube near standing timber in 6 to 15 feet of water.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top-five co-anglers were: Vandy Cameron (third) of Rogers, Ark., with a catch of 6 pounds, 15 ounces; Mark King (fourth) of Gurdon, Ark., with a catch of 6 pounds, 5 ounces; and Teddie Harrison (fifth) of Clewiston, Fla., with a catch of 6 pounds, 3 ounces.

Harrison also won $750 for capturing the day’s big bass award in the Co-angler Division after netting a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass.

Tomorrow’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. at Prairie Creek Marina, located at #1 Prairie Creek Marina Dr. in Rogers, Ark.