Fishing News - 1/17/01

        From BASS

Dean Rojas Shatters B.A.S.S. Single Day Mark

Pictures of Rojas Limit and Big Fish for day

KISSIMMEE, Fla., Jan. 17, 2000 -- After years of lagging behind California and Texas, the state of Florida took a major step toward reestablishing itself as the Bass Tournament Capital of the World after a record-setting day on Lake Tohopekaliga in the opening round of the $431,450 BASSMASTER Top 150 Wednesday.

Wednesday's catch was nothing short of amazing with two five-bass limits that broke the existing B.A.S.S. record, four 30-pound-plus stringers and another14 bags that topped the 20-pound mark. In addition, an estimated 12 bass in excess of 10 pounds were weighed in, including three 11-pound-plus largemouths.

Leading the way was Arizona pro Dean Rojas, who destroyed the existing five-bass record of 34 pounds, 7 ounces with a phenomenal stringer weighing 45-2. Included in his remarkable catch were bass weighing 10-13, 10-0, 9-0,8-2 and 7-9.

"What a fantastic day," Rojas exclaimed as the scales came to a stop. "You guys have an awesome fishery here.  "It was just incredible. These fish moved up shallow more and more as the day went, and they were everywhere. I caught my biggest fish right away and my 7-pounder with less than an hour to go. I left all sorts of fish.  "Forty-five pounds really floors me. I thought I had in the high 30s, but nothing approaching 45. Every time I looked in the livewell, they kept getting bigger and bigger."

Rojas, a two-time BASS Masters Classic qualifier, scored on bedding bass by sight fishing with two Texas-rigged soft-plastic lures: a Lake Fork Tackle Lizard and Hawg Caller Log Crawler. He expects the same pattern to hold up as he sets his sights on the four-day tournament B.A.S.S. record of 91 pounds, 3 ounces. Before Rojas' heroics, California pro Aaron Martens owned the B.A.S.S.  five-bass record for about 20 minutes or so. Martens' limit weighing 34-10 included three big bass (10-6, 9-3 and 8-10) and two small fish (3-15 and 2-13).

"Everything went great," Martens said. "I never missed a fish that I wasn't able to catch on a subsequent cast. I saw every fish that I caught.  It was a perfect day."

Defending tournament champion Shaw Grigsby, who flirted with the five-bass record last year with a catch of 32 1/2 pounds, is third after bringing 31-7 to the scales Wednesday. But the Florida pro wasn't as optimistic about his chances as the two leaders. "I think I've used up every fish I've found," he said. "I don't know that I can find many more unless some fresh ones start moving up.

Kentucky's David Walker rode the largest stringer of his career (30-12) to fourth position. Arkansas' Mark Rose rounds out the top-five with 27-9.  Oklahoma's John Sappington took Wednesday's big-bass honors with a 12 1/2-pound largemouth. Other top catches belonged to reigning B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Tim Horton (11-6) and Walker (11-12).  The Florida BASSMASTER Top 150 will conclude Saturday. 

Daily weigh-ins  begin at 2:30 at Kissimmee Lake Front Park.  Additionally, a free CastingKids event, sponsored by Chevy Trucks and Zebco, will be held there Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This fun-filled national program designed by B.A.S.S. CEO Helen Sevier encourages children to perfect the skills of casting, pitching and flipping. Local B.A.S.S. clubs conduct the events and provide instruction to all youngsters.

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

Sponsors of the 2001 BASSMASTER Tournament Trail include: Ranger Boats, RangerTrail Trailers, Mercury Outboards, Chevy Trucks, ACDelco Batteries, Worldwaters.com, Humminbird/Zercom Marine, Pennzoil Marine, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, First USA/B.A.S.S. Platinum Visa, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Gore-Tex Outerwear and GMAC Insurance. 

The event is sponsored locally by the Kissimmee, St. Cloud Convention & Visitors Bureau.

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

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