Up in the Burroughs

Alabama co-angler leads finesse fest at Hamilton

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Russell Burroughs of Jacksonville, Ala., has never fished Lake Hamilton before Wednesday, but as soon as he saw it, he immediately felt right at home.

“I fish a lot of deep, clear recreational lakes back home,” Burroughs said. “When I drew Dave Lefebre, and he told me he was fishing deep brush piles, the whole day just kind of fell into my hands.”

Burroughs boated three fish for 6 pounds, 14 ounces to take an early lead in the Co-angler Division of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour Championship.

He reported catching his keeper fish on a Spot Sticker jighead with a Spot Sticker finesse worm tied to 6-pound Sunline fluorocarbon. Two of his bass were in the 3-pound class, which helped the cause significantly.

“Another key was fishing ultraslow,” he said. “And the bites were very subtle, just like a spongy pull.”

Meyer second

Frank Meyer of Marianna, Fla., could be laying the ground work for his second co-angler win of the season by making an early move into second place with three bass for 6 pounds, 3 ounces.

Meyer won the Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake in April using finesse tactics, and he is using similar techniques at Hamilton.

“I’m pretty much fishing the same way I did at Beaver, but I’m using a Zoom Trick Worm instead of a finesse worm,” he said.

Meyer’s catch was bolstered by a 4-pound bass that fell for his Trick Worm on a shallow, bare gravel bank.

“Rob (Kilby) was fishing a stretch of pilings, and I was just trying to stay out of his way,” Meyer recalled. “These guys are fishing for $500,000, and I’m fishing for $25,000, so I do everything I can not to get in the way. Today I was rewarded with a decent catch.”

What are the possibilities of two wins in one season for Meyer?

“It’s a nice thought, but I just take it one day at a time,” he said. “As long as I can get up and go fishing tomorrow, it’s a good day.

Topwater works for Foltin

Eric Foltin of Lebanon, Pa., never had a chance to practice on Hamilton before the championship. When he got on the water for the first time this morning, he surveyed the conditions, pulled out his favorite topwater and proceeded to catch a limit weighing 5 pounds, 4 ounces to take third place.

“I threw a topwater all day and probably caught nine bass on it,” he said. “I fished with Andy Morgan, and everywhere he went – deep, shallow or whatever – I just threw the topwater.”

Blosser goes big

Robert Blosser of Poynette, Wis., is in fourth place with two bass weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces.

While other co-anglers tiptoed around with finesse baits and topwaters, Blosser decided to go against the grain with a 5/8-ounce Hawg Caller spinnerbait with three blades.

“I decided to start slow-rolling the spinnerbait in deeper water out the other side of the boat,” he said. “I hooked up with one about 4 pounds, and it came off. I was crushed. But it kept me throwing the spinnerbait, and a few minutes later, I hooked another 4-pounder – and I landed him.”

Lee fifth

Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala., is no stranger to FLW Tour championships. This is his eighth FLW Tour Championship, and he has won two of them.

He put himself in good position today to make it three championship titles by posting a five-bass limit weighing 4 pounds, 6 ounces for fifth place.

“I never thought a limit of bass could weigh 4 pounds, 6 ounces, but they did,” Lee laughed. “I only caught five bass today, and it just so happens that every one was a keeper – and I mean barely keepers.”

Lee reported catching four of his fish on a topwater and one on a finesse worm.

Bain sixth

Female co-angler Kim Bain of Australia is in sixth place with three bass weighing 4 pounds, 5 ounces.

Bain, who fished with Larry Nixon, said she was very fortunate with her biggest fish today.

“I actually saw this fish swim over and eat my finesse worm,” Bain said. “I set the hook, and the fish pulled off. I fixed my worm and cast right back in the same spot, and the same fish came right back at it; I caught it the second time.”

Rest of the best

Greg Lineberry of Galax, Va., is in seventh place with 4 pounds.

William Bridges of Tallapoosa, Ga., is in eighth place with 3 pounds, 14 ounces.

Matt Arey of Shelby, N.C., is in ninth place with 3 pounds, 14 ounces.

Tee Watkins of East Point, Ky., is in 10th place with 3 pounds, 12 ounces.

Top-24 cut tomorrow

Unlike the pros, who are fishing head-to-head brackets, the Co-angler Division fishes a standard tournament format.

After tomorrow, the co-angler field will be cut to 24 anglers, and those anglers will advance to Friday’s final round, where their weights will start from zero.