Quick Bites: FLW Old Hickory Lake, Day 3

Wal-Mart FLW Tour
Old Hickory Lake, Gallatin, Tenn.
Friday: Pro semifinals, Co-angler finals

King of the co-anglers … It’s not often someone dominates the Co-angler Division so much that he deserves to be likened to royalty, but Hoot Gibson of Bryant, Ark., simply put, is that good. Hoot took home the second FLW Tour trophy of his career this week, posting a 9-pound, 4-ounce, four-bass weight worth $15,000 Friday. No stranger to final-round action, Gibson qualified for three finals in 2001 and has two under his belt this year. His first win came at the Wal-Mart Open in 2001. In 2002, he has finished no worse than 33rd place all year and sits in first place in the standings with one tourney to go. Should he go on to win the standings title – which appears to be a foregone conclusion – it would be his second; he won the EverStart Central Division title in 1999. FLW Outdoors host Carlton Wing said of his dominance, “Hoot Gibson is the Tiger Woods of the Co-angler Division.” Gibson is more modest than that, but he does appreciate the idea that he has a virtual lock on Co-angler of the Year. “That was one of my goals this year,” he said. “To win Co-angler of the Year you have to be a very consistent fisherman. You cannot afford one bad tournament, and, in my opinion, consistency really shows how good a fisherman you really are.” From the back of the boat, there’s nobody better, Hoot.

Speaking of Anglers of the Year … Pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., is aware that he’s waaaay out in front again for his second points title, but he’s not ready to smile for the Kellogg’s box just yet. “Trust me, a lot can happen in bass fishing. So it’s far from over,” he said. True, but for him to lose it, Jay Yelas of Tyler, Texas, would have to make up between 21 and 31 points at Lake Champlain, depending on VanDam’s finish tomorrow. The next closest (according to as yet unofficial calculations) is Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Fla., who would need to make up between 50 to 60 points next month. That’s a tall order, especially considering the venue. Said Cedar Park, Texas’ Clark Wendlandt Friday, “Champlain’s full of smallmouth, and VanDam is a smallmouth fisherman.” … While the Kalamazoo Killer is generally considered the best bass angler in the business right now, he has yet to capture his first FLW win. Still, VanDam’s been a bridesmaid more times than most anybody – he has four second-place finishes – which is no small feat. How bad does he want to win here at Old Hickory? “I’d really like to, but I’m going to have to have my best day ever,” he said. “It’s going to take big fish to win this and I saw some really good ones out there today, so we’ll see. I’m just glad I have the chance.”

It’s been a good year … For several pro finalists in addition to VanDam, Saturday’s finals will be the culmination of a good year that just keeps getting better. Basil Bacon of Springfield, Mo., is making a return to the final round after a 10th-place finish at Lake Wheeler. Mark Pack of Mineola, Texas, is fresh off his sixth-place performance last month at Beaver Lake, plus he notched a valuable 15th-place finish at the Ranger M1. Leader John Sappington of Wyandotte, Okla., finally broke through to the final round after making the semis the last two tournaments, Ouachita and Beaver, where he respectively finished 11th and 13th. “I’ve made two top-20s in a row and now I’d like to win one of these,” said Sappington.

Now, that’s a meatball! … Second-place Frank Ippoliti of Mount Airy, Md., has admittedly surprised himself a little with his strong performance this week, but he’s up to the challenge of the pressure-packed final round. Ippoliti didn’t practice much coming into the tourney because he just opened an Italian restaurant with fellow angler John Sizemore in Fayetteville, Ark. He came directly from there and had precious little time on the water before competition began. “My arms are exhausted from flipping a jig for four days straight,” Ippoliti said. “But if I can win $110,000, I’m sure the pain will go away.”

I’ll have what he’s having … Sight-fishing specialist Koby Kreiger of Osceola, Ind., isn’t sure how he will attack the lake Saturday and he’s counting on a little luck. Kreiger sight-fished on day one, but had to switch with the conditions as clouds moved in later in the week. He’s had just enough weight to put him past the cut line the last two days. Tomorrow he hopes to do some sight-fishing if the sun comes out in the morning, but will go to Plan B if he doesn’t catch anything. If all else fails, he’s counting on providence. “I’m due for a big bite,” he said. “I didn’t even have a big one in practice, but they’re out there. Everybody in the top 10 has had a decent stringer except me, so maybe I can get one tomorrow.” He also has another plan to work some magic. “Hoot (Gibson, Kreiger’s partner Friday) is going to take me out for dinner because he’s the luckiest guy alive.”

Sound bite

“When I turned upriver, I realized I was in the Frito Lay boat. You just can’t put a fat guy in a boat with that much food.”
– Dion Hibdon, alluding to the idea that he might have been a little distracted on the water Friday. Hibdon, however, did make the final cut in seventh place.

Quick Links, Day 3:

Sappington storms into lead at Old Hickory
W.D. “Hoot” Gibson does it again
Photos
Results
Press release