Fishing News - 5/10/01
From BASS
DAVIS TOPS MEGABUCKS FIELD, ANGLER OF YEAR
Final BASSMASTER Event Sends 25 Pros to Coveted Classic
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - (May 10, 2001) - Veteran Arkansas pro Mark Davis put the finishing touches on two major angling accomplishments Thursday - winning the qualifying portion of the $667,000 BASSMASTER MegaBucks Tournament on Tennessee's Douglas Lake, as well as the coveted B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year award.
Davis wrapped up the top spot in the three qualifying rounds with a 12-pound five-bass limit. That gave him a total of 41-10, which easily out-distanced fellow Arkansas angler Mark Rose (37-14). It also sent him into the lucrative two-round finals with a first-place prize of $134,000 where he will compete against nine other pros on a specially-designed course with assigned fishing areas or "holes" through which the anglers rotate.
"It was just an incredible day," Davis said. "The first stop I made today in Muddy Creek, I caught 150 fish. It was an amazing spot and an amazing day.
"Everybody caught a lot of fish this week, that's no secret. But I figured out a way to catch the bigger fish with a great, big crankbait in real deep water. The fish went deep in this tournament, and I was able to stay with them."
Davis entered MegaBucks, the final event of the 2000-01 BASSMASTER season, with a substantial lead in the Angler of the Year race. He widened that margin over his closest competitor (Kevin VanDam of Michigan) as MegaBucks progressed. It is the third Angler of the Year award for Davis, whose worst finish of the entire season was a 22nd-place showing.
"I've had a real solid year, and I'm thrilled to win Angler of the Year," Davis said. "I know how hard it is to win Angler of the Year, so I can really appreciate it."
The other MegaBucks finalist (in order of qualifying): Dean Rojas, Arizona, 33-5; Jay Yelas, Texas, 33-1; Davy Hite, South Carolina, 32-14; David Fritts, North Carolina, 32-14; Gerald Swindle, Alabama, 32-10; Rick Clunn, Missouri, 32-4; Ken Cook, Oklahoma, 32-4; and Kenyon Hill, Oklahoma, 31-8).
In the finals, the pros lose their weight totals and start at zero. The anglers will launch from the TVA Douglas Lake Dam starting at 6:15 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The weigh-ins will be held there at 3:00 p.m. each day. For directions, contact the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce at (865) 908-4103.
On Thursday, 25 spots in the 31st BASS Masters Classic were decided. Joining Davis and VanDam in the Classic set for Aug. 2-4 in New Orleans are: Clunn; Clark Wendlandt, Texas; Peter Thliveros, Florida; Alton Jones, Texas; Bud Pruitt, Texas; Rojas; Takahiro Omori, Texas; Aaron Martens, California; Gary Yamamoto, Texas; David Walker, Kentucky; Marty Stone, North Carolina; Randy Howell, Alabama; Paul Elias, Mississippi; Fritts; Curt Lytle, Virginia; Harold Allen, Texas; Chet Douthit, Florida; Robert Kilby, Arkansas; Swindle; Mike Wurm, Arkansas; Chris Baumgardner, North Carolina; Randy Blaukat, Missouri; and Tim Horton, Alabama.
By sanctioning over 20,000 tournaments worldwide, B.A.S.S. is the world's largest fishing organization. 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 after more than three decades.
Sponsors of the 2001 BASSMASTER Tournament Trail include: Ranger Boats, RangerTrail Trailers, Mercury Outboards, Chevy Trucks, Long John Silver's, Kumho Tires, 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, GMAC Insurance and Armstrong Industrial Tools.
B.A.S.S. Web site: http://www.bassmaster.com.
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