Fishing News - 9/29/00

        From BASS

SHUFFIELD TAKES EARLY LOWE'S W.C.F. LEAD

Arkansas Pro Has Slim Cushion in Mobile Bay Shootout

MOBILE, Ala., Sept. 29, 2000 - In the shadow of the battleship U.S.S. Alabama on Mobile Bay, Arkansas pro Ron Shuffield took the first-round lead Friday in the $225,000 Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse World Championship Fishing bass and boating event that is shaping up to be a shoot-out.

Shuffield, driving the Team GNB Batteries Triton Evinrude boat, finished third in he powerboating portion of the three-day competition and fourth in the morning fishing contest to take the overall lead with 60 points. One point behind him is North Carolina's Dustin Wilks, the youngest man in the star-studded 15-angler field, who placed second in the boating in the cockpit of his Team Yamaha Triton and fifth in fishing. California's Skeet Reese, at the helm of the Team Flowmaster/BC Powders Mercury Champion, is third with 58 points.

"I'm really happy to be in this position as the overall leader," Shuffield said. "I've got to increase my catch the next two days, and we have to get the boat dialed in a little more if we're going to win the overall championship."  Under the Lowe's W.C.F. format, the pros fish for bass in the morning before taking their stock bass boats for an afternoon spin around a timed course. Fishing accounts for 60 percent of their overall score, with their boat-handling skills credited with 40 percent.

Consistent Lowe's W.C.F. standout Gary Klein of Texas won Friday's fishing portion with a five-bass limit weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces. Arkansas' Mark Davisin his First USA/B.A.S.S. Platinum Visa Mercury Bass Cat, finished second with 8-5, followed by fellow Arkansas pro Stephen Browning of Team Lowrance with 8 pounds.

"The fishing is pretty tough," said Klein, who is fourth overall. "I've heard a lot of war stories about this place being so full of fish, but it isn't showing itself yet. I'm mainly staying out in the bays and not going up the rivers."  Uncharacteristically, Klein had a rough time on the American Power Boating Association-sanctioned course marked off with buoys in the waters off of Battleship Park. It seems that during preparation for his run, his drain plug was mistakenly left out. With his Team Ford Trucks Mercury Triton taking on water, Klein ran a 55:12-second lap, which was well off of the pace.

The pace was set by South Carolina's Davy Hite, who took the opening-round lead with a run of 50:23 seconds, followed by Reese with 50:85 and Wilks with 51:60. Shuffield was fourth at 51:85, followed by a three-way tie at 52:98.

"This is the first time I've led all year and I'm tickled," said Hite, the 1999 BASS Masters Classic champion competing in the Lowe's W.C.F. under the Team Kobalt Tools banner in an Evinrude powered Triton. "We've been working our tails off trying to find a good prop and a good set-up, and it finally paid off.

The overall winner of the Lowe's W.C.F. event takes him $50,000, while the fishing and boating division winners each earn $25,000.  The outdoor festival at Battleship Park begins at 10 a.m. as a prelude to the day's action. Weigh-ins begin at 1 p.m. with the boating competition starting at 3 p.m. At the conclusion of the boating competition, the 15 pros will participate in a photo and autograph session for fans. All events are free, but there is a $2 charge for parking at the park.

The BASSMASTER Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass fishing tournament circuit. It continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism, and sportsmanship for more than three decades.

         B.A.S.S. Web site: http://www.bassmaster.com.

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