Wal-Mart FLW Tour
Wal-Mart Open
Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark.
Opening round, Thursday
What’s next, `John 3:16′? … Proof positive that pro bass fishing is truly gaining in popularity were all the signs that enthusiastic fans brought to Thursday’s weigh-in. A large contingent of young people packed the tent to lend its support to FLW anglers and it was loud, especially when Arkansas pros and co-anglers took the stage. Expect an even bigger turnout as the FLW takes its big show – and the free Tracy Byrd concert – to the Rogers Wal-Mart Friday and Saturday.
Dazzlin’ Dan … Pro Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky., has made his third cut in four FLW tournaments this season and is gradually tightening his grip on the potential Angler-of-the-Year title. So far, he’s finished third at Lake Okeechobee, eighth at Lake Murray and 23rd at the Atchafalaya Basin (where, he said, “I should have made the cut there, too”). And he’s guaranteed no worse than 10th place here at Beaver. While he said that he has “no idea” why he’s on such a roll, Morehead is operating under a simple motto this year. “Believe it and achieve it. Doubt it, do without it,” he said. “That, plus I need to put (my daughter) through college.” What that means basically is that he’s got confidence to spare right now, and that poise will only increase – along with the pressure – when he returns home to Kentucky Lake (where he has already won at all three levels of FLW Outdoors competition and will be a heavy favorite) for the next FLW tourney. “I’m not worried about it,” he said. “The TVA’s notorious for fluctuating the water. Whether the fish are deep or shallow, I’ll be ready. I get to sleep in my own bed, so I’ll be ready.”
California comeback … Aaron Martens is back in business, making his first cut of the year after posting no better than an 82nd-place finish in the first three tournaments. The Castaic, Calif., pro took the tour by storm when he finished third in points his first season, 2001, and then followed up in 2002 ranked 21st in points despite missing a tournament. His slow start this season had people talking, but it appears he might have rediscovered his groove this week mainly, he said, because he had more practice time before the tournament. He was a two-tour pro before this event, but he has since decided to focus exclusively on FLW tournaments. “I like the five-day-practice deal better than just three days,” he said. “Everybody thinks I’m (in the tank), but I can hammer them if I’m on them.” … Martens was really excited about the prospect of fishing Beaver the next two days. He was catching 20 to 40 bass a day in practice, which saw lots of warm weather. The cold front that hit during the opening round slowed down the bite – he caught just six keepers Thursday – but air and water temperatures are back on the rise, which should improve catch numbers. Said Martens: “Tomorrow’s going to be snappin’!”
Home sweet home … The comeback of the opening round went to an angler who’s very familiar with Beaver Lake. Randall Hutson, the pro from nearby Washburn, Mo., who finished in second place here last year, bounced back from 86th place Wednesday to make the cut in sixth place. He caught Thursday’s biggest stringer with 14 pounds, 2 ounces. How’d he do it? “Today I went where I should have went yesterday,” he said. Hutson said he fished Wednesday on the lower end of the lake because he caught a bunch there in practice, but the wind changed and the bite shut down. Today, he went upriver and that was the difference. But how did he know to try that? “This is kind of my back yard,” he explained.
That’s why he’s a legend in this game … Another pro at home on Beaver Lake, Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo., made a tough decision Thursday when he bumped a fish out of his stringer because it was borderline too small. He caught four bass, but kept only three for fear of a penalty. It was a risky move because Clunn made the cut by only 1 pound. But had he kept the fish and it did indeed prove to be too short, he would have been penalized 1 pound and lost the weight for that fish, which would have put him on the 10th-place bubble. As it turned out, Clunn made the right move and placed seventh.
Too little too early … A number of pros with solid track records at Beaver Lake came up short this week. The favorite reason? Timing. This has traditionally been a spawning tournament, but the tournament is being held a couple weeks earlier than usual this year, and that means the fish aren’t on the beds yet. Two-time Open champion Clark Wendlandt of Cedar Park, Texas, finished in 58th place and missed his first cut here in five years. “I’m going to have to talk to you guys about having this tournament in late April,” he told FLW host Charlie Evans. Past Open finalist Mark Pack of Mineola, Texas, who finished in 51st place, agreed: “We’re here about two weeks too early.”
Big and mean … Congrats to co-angler Mary Parnell of Casselberry, Fla., for catching the day’s overall biggest bass. She landed a 5-pound, 4-ounce smallmouth – or “meanmouth,” as she put it – and even beat the Pro Division’s big bass, which weighed 4-3.
Sound bite
“I had to fish all day with that feeling like you got kicked in the chest.”
– Pro Keith Williams, in eighth place Wednesday, who missed the cut because he lost a big fish early Thursday. He finished 14th.
Quick links, Day 2:
Photos
Results
Tomorrow’s pairings
Press release
Moran retains Wal-Mart Open lead on Beaver Lake