Meador Makes it Happen on Grand
Arkansas co-angler gets his third major FLW win
Stumbling on a tournament’s last day usually spells doom – unless you’ve walked into that final round with a massive lead of more than 7 1/2 pounds. That’s the summary for Steven Meador’s nail-biting victory with 27 pounds, 3 ounces in the Costa FLW Series Southwestern Division event on Grand Lake.
After placing second with a limit of 12-15 on day one, the Arkansas co-angler took over the day-two lead by catching another limit that went 12 pounds even. When a tough day three yielded only one keeper that weighed 2-4, Meador had to sit on the hot seat and sweat through nine competitors before ultimately winning by a margin of 3-6.
“Those first two days were huge,” Meador says. “I knew if I could just catch five bass, I didn’t care how big they were, I’d have a chance to win.
“On that final day, those guys [pros], as good as they are, they are vacuums; it’s hard to get bit. I fished a different area today than I had fished all week, and apparently I didn’t make good adjustments. I couldn’t get comfortable, but man, I pulled it off.”
Days one and two saw Meador catching his fish on a 1/2-ounce Bass-X jig with a Zoom Chunk or a Zoom Baby Brush Hog trailer. Today, he caught his lone keeper on a Megabass Vision 110 jerkbait.
“We fished down toward the dam today where the water was clear,” says Meador, who was paired with pro Curt Warren. “We were moving along pretty quickly, and it was hard for me to get the premium casts like I did the last two days.
“Today, we pulled up on a windy point, and I pulled out the jerkbait. I actually caught some drum early, and that got me going. I lost a big one early that broke my hook, then I had another one jump off and then I finally got one in. My nerves were shot, for sure today.”
Top 10 co-anglers
1. Steven Meador – Bentonville, Ark. – 27-3 (11) – $27,250 + Ranger Cup ($5,000)
2. Alan Bernicky – Joliet, Ill. – 23-13 (8) – $5,350
3. Kennith George – Edmond, Okla. – 22-1 (7) – $4,200
4. Jim Opetaia-Williamson – Dunnellon, Fla. – 21-1 (5) – $3,600
5. Ben Wickham – Ponca City, Okla. – 20-8 (4) – $3,300
6. Frank Divis Sr. – Farmington, Ark. – 20-6 (6) – $2,650
7. James Callaghan – De Berry, Texas – 20-2 (7) – $2,100
8. Rick Blosser – Tulsa, Okla. – 19-2 (7) – $1,800
9. Rich Dalbey – Greenville, Texas – 19-0 (6) – $1,520
10. Jordan Burks – Joplin, Mo. – 11-4 (6) – $1,270