2/27/05 Rowland Finishes The Job, Wins At Guntersville Weighing a better limit each day, Zell Rowland was a man on a mission this week and today he weighed his best limit (27-06) to overtake and defeat Edwin Evers in winning the BASS Tour Stop at Lake Guntersville.  Guntersville did not disappoint this week with four limits over 27 pounds weighed, including Morizo Shimizu's final day limit of 30-05 which left him only a pound and change short of winning the tournament himself.  The final six at Guntersville:
  • 1. Zell Rowland ,  Montgomery, TX.  20  87-00
  • 2. Morizo Shimizu Murrita, Calif. 18  85-09
  • 3. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 19  78-01
  • 4. Bud Pruitt, Spring, TX  20   73-08
  • 5. David Fritts, Lexington, NC  19  72-02
  • 6. Mike Hicks, Mineral Va.  17  63-10
2/27/05 Rowland Making A Move, Evers Holding On, Leads Final Six Into Day Four A wire to wire leader is rare on the pro tour, but that is precisely what Oklahoma Pro, Edwin Evers hopes will happen tomorrow when he takes his three day lead into the final day of competition at the Lake Guntersville Bassmaster Tour Stop. Evers saw Texas Bass Fishing Legend, Zell Rowland shave over seven pounds off of his lead today, as Rowland weighed in a day high 22-06 to build to 59-10 just 2-15 behind Evers.   Evers' day three weight, (15-02,) while certainly a solid weight was his smallest in three days, while Rowland is "Rolling." Rowland has seen his weight increase each day, 17-01, 20-03 and now 22-06, while Evers' daily weight has decreased each day, 27-15, 19-08 and 15-02.  Tomorrow promises to be a shootout of epic proportion.  The general consensus among the pros today is that the bite is getting tougher.  There is a BFL event going on this weekend at Guntersville as well as numerous club events, so while the number of tour pros on the water is less than earlier in the week, the competition for fishing spots might be a critical factor in anglers being able to get bites.  The final six anglers fishing tomorrow at Guntersville are:
  • 1. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 15  62-09
  • 2. Zell Rowland ,  Montgomery, TX.  15  59-10
  • 3. Bud Pruitt, Spring, TX  15  59-02
  • 4. Morizo Shimizu Murrita, Calif. 13  55-04
  • 5. David Fritts, Lexington, NC  14  51-14
  • 6. Mike Hicks, Mineral Va.  13 50-14
2/27/05 Fish Bite Better Today At Rayburn, Jerry Green Is The Winner. With Sam Rayburn's bass biting better today, Jerry Green of Justiceburg, Texas held on to win the first stop of the FLW EverStart Central Division series.  Green's final day weight of 13-00 was only the 5th biggest weight of the day, but with David Curtis slipping today, and Darrel Robertson's slow day yesterday, the Green had enough and then some to win the event, claiming a check for $10,000.00 and a new boat and trailer package.  Green and Curtis both fished a classic Sam Rayburn pre spawn pattern, slow rolling spinner baits near spawning areas over deeper grass.  The final ten looked like this:
  • 1st Jerry Green, TX  10  27-11
  • 2nd David Curtis TX  10  23-15
  • 3rd Darrel Robertson OK  8  23-11
  • 4th Travis Loyd IL 6  20-02
  • 5th Zack Bull TN 8  19-08
  • 6th William Davis, Alabama  9  18-12
  • 7th Eric Ambort, AR  7  18-07 
  • 8th  Kevin Lasyone LA  7  17-09
  • 9th James Fredieu LA 5  12-11
  • 10th Ed Dunnaway MS  5  11-07
2/26/05 Stronger Than Ever (s) You catch your biggest limit of the season, heck, you catch the third biggest limit of anyone on both tours of the season.  You lead a Pro Tour event.  You feel good.  This is what it's all about.  Day two blast off, flying down the lake, you feel alive, the spot you are on is replenishing by the hour, things are coming together.  And then-nothing.  As in, really nothing, your boat dies, and leaves you dead in the water with only your trolling motor.  In this day and age of professional bass fishing back up boats are available, so a well place cell phone call to launch ramp results in a back up boat being sent to you, but you must wait.  What do you do?  If your tournament leader, Edwin Evers, you trolling motor over to the bank and catch you first keeper of the day!

Oklahoma pro, Edwin Evers must feel like the stars are lining up for him this week at Lake Guntersville because event when his boat suffered catastrophic failure, he was still able to catch fish, then, once a replacement boat reached him, he was able to continue on to his spot and finish out his limit that would weigh 19-08 giving him 47-07 for two days and the lead going into the championship round.  Evers is cranking what he calls a "spawning highway," as fish are using his area to move shallow.

Today's conditions were different than yesterday.  Post frontal conditions with bluebird sky and bright sunshine hurt some and helped others.  BASS AOL, Gerald Swindle liked what he found today.  Sitting in 104th place after day one with only 7-15 to his credit, Swindle brought in a limit weighing 27-15 tying him for third place in the ProBassAnglers.com Weight Watchers standings for the biggest overall limit of a pro tour angler this season.  Swindle moved into a cut position in 10th place.

Pro, Morizo Shimizu of California continued his "dream tournament," with an impressive weight of 21-14, giving him 43-03 and 2nd place.  The following anglers made the cut and are fishing today, where six more anglers will move on to fish tomorrow.

  • Guntersville top 12
    • 1. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 10  47-07
    • 2. Morizo Shimizu Murrita, Calif. 10 43-03J
    • 3. Mike Hicks, Mineral Va.  10  40-00
    • 4. Jason Quinn Clover, S.C. 10  37-11
    • 5. Rick Clunn, Ava, Mo.  10  37-09
    • 6. Zell Rowland ,  Montgomery, TX.  10  37-04
    • 7. Bud Pruitt, Spring, TX  10  37-03
    • 8. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 9  37-01
    • 9. David Fritts, Lexington, NC  10  36-07  
    • 10. Davy Hite, Prosperity, SC  10  35-14
    • 10. Gerald Swindle, Hayden, AL  10  35-14
    • 12. Tim Horton, Muscle Shoals, AL  10 35-07 
2/26/05 Green (er) Pastures! The thunderstorms left the Sam Rayburn area on Friday, leaving a bright, blue sky and difficult fishing conditions.  Only two of the final 10 FLW Central EverStart pros brought five fish limits to the scales at Sam Ray burn.  Jerry Green of Justiceburg, Texas liked what he found on the other side of the fence on Friday, as he weighed in one the only two limits (14-11,)  poor by this week's standards, but good enough to take the lead of the championship round leading into the final day.  David Curtis of Trinity, Texas caught the other limit, (13-05) and is second place.  The standings after day one of the championship round:
  • 1st Jerry Green, TX  5  14-11
  • 2nd David Curtis TX  5   13-05
  • 3rd Kevin Lasyone LA  4  9-12
  • 4th Darrel Robertson OK  3  8-04
  • 5th William Davis, Alabama  4  6-10
  • 6th Zack Bull TN 3  6-02
  • 7th James Fredieu LA 2  6-00 
  • 8th Travis Loyd IL 1  5-01 
  • 9th Eric Ambort, AR  2  5-01
  • 10th Ed Dunnaway MS  1  1-14
2/25/05 As Good As It Ever(s) Was.  Alabama's Lake Guntersville is a big fish factory and today it roared to life as the top 35 anglers at the third BASS tour stop of the season weighed in 16-00 or better.  It took 14-00 to make 55th place.  Oklahoma pro, Edwin Evers caught the day's biggest bag with five fish for 27-15.  That fish puts Evers in second place for the ProBassAnglers.com "Weight-Watcher" Leader Board.  With a 15" limit, many of Guntersville's non-keepers weighed over two and half pounds as the pre spawn chow seems to be on.  The story seems to be "to fish for five bites" or "to fish for whatever bites and hope it is 15."  Those opting to fish for five quality bites seem to have won out today, as a number of the leaders claimed to be doing just that, while many others up and down the leader board reported catching as many as 30 bass in the 14 1/2 inch class, (many of which weigh in access of two pounds.)  Slowly rolling a spinner bait through deeper grass, or working a jig along a break line produced some good bites today, but they were few and far between, while rattle traps and jerk baits caught lots of numbers, but fewer keepers.

The Top 12 After Day One:

  • 1. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 5 27-15
  • 2. Jack Wade Knoxville, Tenn. 5 25-06 
  • 3. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5 25-04
  • 4. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 5 22-02
  • 5. Mike Hicks Mineral, Va. 5 21-10
  • 6. Morizo Shimizu Murrita, Calif. 5 21-05 
  • 7. Jack A Gadlage Benton, Ky. 5 20-08
  • 8. Mark Rose Marion, Ark. 5 20-03
  • 9. Jimmy Houston Cookson, Okla. 5 20-00
  • 10. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 5 19-12
  • 11. Jason Quinn Clover, S.C. 5 19-03
  • 12. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 5 18-14 
2/25/05 Rayburn On Fire, Davis Weighs 51-00 To Lead After 1st Round.  The FLW Central EverStart event on Lake Sam Rayburn in Texas is having it's own big bass bonanza.  William Davis of Arkansas weighed in 27-02 today to take the lead after the first round.  Davis' two day total is an astounding 51-00.  The top ten cut is a ridiculous 34-13 (Jerry Green, TX.)  Yesterday's leader, David Curtis put the brakes on today weighing only 13-13, he still manage to finish the 1st round in 3rd place.  Today there were two 10-00 bass caught by the pros, Brian Beatty and Donnie Williams each brought an identical 10-00 monster to the weigh in.  

The Top 10 After The 1st Round:

  • 1st William Davis, Alabama  10  51-00
  • 2nd Darrel Robertson OK  10  41-06
  • 3rd David Curtis TX  10  39-00
  • 4th Kevin Lasyone LA  10  38-06
  • 5th James Fredieu LA 9  37-01
  • 6th Zack Bull TN 10  36-15
  • 7th Travis Loyd IL 10  36-06
  • 8th Ed Dunnaway MS  10  35-15
  • 9th Eric Ambort, AR  10  35-12
  • 10th Jerry Green, TX  10  34-13
2/24/05 Curtis Get's Em At Rayburn (FLW EverStart Tour)  David Curtis of Trinity, Texas, caught a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 3 ounces to lead the EverStart Series Central Division opener on Sam Rayburn Reservoir near Jasper. Heavy Showers began shortly after take-off Wednesday morning, but the fishing was generally good on Wednesday. Anglers experienced one of the best days in EverStart Series history. The top five at Rayburn are: 
  • 2nd William M. Davis of Russellville, Ala.  5 23-14 
  • 3rd Ed Dunnaway of Flowood, Miss. 5 21-13
  • 4th Drew Boggs of Lebanon, Tenn. 5 20-14
  • 5th John Sappington of Willard, Mo. 5  19-15

It was estimated that between 50 and 60 bass over 6 pounds were weighed on day one.
2/24/05 The Definitive Pre Spawn Part III. Today, we throw several tour stop lakes where pre spawn will be likely.  Read how David expects to approach each one. "A least three of our Tour Stops on the FLW Tour this year will be pre spawn events and possibly more.  Looking at the schedule, Okeechobee was definitely a pre spawn event and I expect the Ouachita River and Beaver Lake to fall into that category as well...  continued
2/22/05 Pros Find Guntersville Bass Ready To Go.  If the first day of pre fish is any kind of precursor to the week's fishing, (it often isn't,) Guntersville could be a slug-fest this week.  Several anglers we talked to reported good numbers and good size on a variety of baits.  Rising water is wild card in this event because it is raining and is suppose to continue throughout the week. It is anybody's guess how rising, muddy water will effect the bite.  Follow this week's action by reading our ProTourJournals.
2/21/05 Grass Will Tell The Tale At Guntersville-Warmer than last year, yet still all wet.  That is the long term forcast for Northern Alabama and more importantly, Lake Guntersville for this week's third stop on the BASS Tour.  Guntersville, always a threat to break records, but especially in the last weeks of February, because the lake's population of big bass figure to be hungry and in a pre spawn mode that makes catching them, a little more predictable than at other times during the year.  ProBassAnglers might remember that George Cochran caught nearly 100 pounds in four days last year in winning the Guntersville tour stop. 

The water is running 4-5 degrees warmer this year which could increase the bite significantly.  Rain is in the forecast, however, the coldest day time air temperature it is expected to be is in the low 50's and the coldest night time air temperature is expected to be in the low 30's.  Last year, tour pros encounter heavy rain and snow, as bitter cold noticeably slowed what was expected to be a wide open bite.

Grass figures to be a major key to solving Guntersville this year.  Hydrilla and milfoil are all over the lake, and figuring out what part of the grass they are in, could be the ticket.  "I have crank baits rigged for three different depths," noted Oregon pro, Darryl Burkhardt.  "I plan to crank three different depth ranges to try and figure what part of the large grass flats the fish are holding on."

Be sure to check in each day with our ProTourJournals, to read what pros are finding during practice.

2/18/05 Sweet Home Alabama-BASS Tour Heads To Alabama It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, an ageless quote, applicable to many situations.  None more so than the bass fishing scene in Alabama last season.  When the BASS tour fished Smith Lake in Alabama, pro tour anglers were met with some of  the most harsh conditions they would face all year.  Rising, muddy water, falling temperatures, and a lake where you fished the drains because run off was bringing slightly warmer water into the lake.  California's Charlie Weyer, finessed enough Smith Lake Spotted Bass into his boat to claim the victory.

On The other hand, the Northern Alabama Bass Factory, known as Lake Guntersville was the scene of an absolutely breath taking performance by George Cochran.  Cochran, of Arkansas, soaked a jerk bait in and around staging cover for lethargic bass and caught nearly 100 pounds over the four day event.

Next week, the BASS tour returns to Guntersville to revisit the site of last year's historic event.  

02/16/05 When The Master Speaks.....Lure Innovator Gary Yamamoto Gives His Definitive Thoughts On The Senko

The 2005 Tour Season has seen four events in Florida.  That means two things-grass and bass wanting to spawn.  In each of the four Florida events, the Yamamoto Senko has figured prominently in the key catches.  ProBassAngelrs.com caught up with Gary Yamamoto to get his thoughts on this revolutionary bait.  You will be surprised at some of his ideas, including how he originally fished the lure.

"The lure was developed a long time ago, kind of as an answer to the slugo.  I was fishing in Florida back then, and the slugo would get bites but the hook up ratio wasn't good mainly because the plastic was so hard.  I wanted a bait that you could cast a long way because the water was so clear. I told my plant manager back then, (we basically had only the grubs at that point,) to run down to Wal Mart and pick up a Bic Pen, then to craft a mold using the Bic Pen".....Continued
02/15/05 Pre Spawn By The Book, By Tom Mann Jr.

Winning the FLW Tour Stop at Florida's Lake Toho,  Georgia pro, Tom Mann Jr. established perhaps the classic "textbook" pattern for pre spawn bass.  The lessons learned here will play out again and again on just about any lake that has bass.

"When we got to Toho, for the second time, (BASS fished Toho in January,) there was a warming trend taking place and there were many male bass up on beds.  These male bass were typically smaller fish, certainly not the kind that you could win a tournament with.  Instead of getting mixed up fishing for smaller fish, I spent most of my practice trying to find staging areas, where large females would be waiting for conditions to be perfect before they would move to the shallows."  continued....
2/14/05 Walker Takes Over Lead In ProBassAnglers.com-AOY. Tennessee Pro Leads Unified AOY Race After Four Events.  David Walker is fishing well, he usually does in Florida.  After two events on the Bassmaster Tour is leading in the Angler Of The Year points and after two events on the FLW Tour he is 22nd over all.  Walker has earned $62,000.00 in the first four tour events this season and he is The ProBassAnglers.com Angler Of the Year leader.  The PBA-AOY is based on a point system that rewards anglers who fish both tours in an attempt to crown a single world champion for the tour season.  To find out more about the PBA-AOY click here.  Kelly Jordon moves from 5th last week to 2nd this week based largely on his performance in FLW events, (1st at Okeechobee and 13th at Toho.)  Last week's leader, Andre Moore slipped to 5th place over all based on his difficult performance at the FLW event on Toho.  Check out all of the standings by clicking here.

BASS Tour

1. David Walker-20th at Harris Chain, 2nd at Toho (530)
2. Takahiro Omori-35th at Harris Chain, 1st at Toho (520 pts)
3. Scott Rook-17th at Harris Chain, 6th at Toho (513)
4. Skeet Reese-7th at Harris Chain, 18th at Toho (507)
5. Andre Moore-9th at Harris Chain, 14th at Toho (505)

FLW Tour

1. Bobby Lane-7th at Okeechobee, 3rd at Toho (392)
2. Kelly Jordon-1st at Okeechobee, 13th at Toho (388 pts)
3. Greg Pugh- 6th at Okeechobee, 8th at Toho (388)
4. J.T.Kenney-14th at Okeechobee, 4th at Toho (384)
5. Chad Grigsby-9th at Okeechobee, 14th at Toho (379)

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