KISSIMMEE, Fla., Jan. 19, 2001 - Arizona pro Dean Rojas added another record Friday to his incredible performance in the $431,450 BASSMASTER Top 150 on Lake Tohopeklalgia, eclipsing the 7-year-old B.A.S.S. record for the largest five-bass limit catch in a four-day tournament.

"I had to scramble a lot today," said Rojas, who opened the tournament with a five-bass, one-day record catch of 45-2, followed by 34-9 on Thursday.  "We had a lot of cloud cover and a lot of wind today, and that made sight-fishing very difficult. But I was finally able to catch a 6-pounder, thank goodness.

"I have a big lead, but I still have to go out and catch another decent limit (Saturday). With guys like Shaw Grigsby and Mark Davis and Aaron Martens behind me, they are capable of catching me if I don't. I've got enough fish left to catch another limit, but it might not be a big limit."

The 150-man field was cut to 10 for Saturday's lucrative final round. 

David Walker, Kentucky, 64-15; John Sappington, Oklahoma, 59-10; Carroll Hagood, Florida, 59-6; Tim Horton, Alabama, 57-10; Jim Bitter, Florida, 56-2. 

"This has just been a phenomenal week for me," said Rojas, who again caught bass with a Hawg Caller Log Crawler and Lake Fork Tackle Lizard. "It's been a dream week."

The leader board is dominated by sight-fishing pros who have targeted spawning bass in shallow vegetation throughout the tournament. That strategy produced some mind-boggling catches, including two 40-pound-plus limits. But Friday's wind and cloud cover hampered their ability to spot the spawning females and significantly limited their catches. And Saturday's forecast calls for overcast skies and rain.

"We're all fishing for second place (Saturday)," Martens said. "Even if Dean stumbled badly, I don't see how we could catch him."  "Dean has such a big lead, it's all over. I congratulate him," Grigsby agreed. "Dean cannot be caught. His performance has been amazing."

Georgia pro Stanley Mitchell took Friday's big-bass honors with an 11-pound, 3-ounce largemouth. It was caught on a Zoom Flipping Tube.

Jimmy Hayes of North Carolina wrapped up the amateur division championship Friday with a three-day total of 24-3. Florida's Dan Flanders was second with 23-15.

The Florida BASSMASTER Top 150 will conclude Saturday. The weigh-in begins 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.