Chapman makes move, grabs top spot in FLW Tour event on Red River

Bill Chapman of Salt Rock, W.Va., was on easy street after weighing in 14 pounds, 11 ounces of fish to take over the pro lead. Photo by Jeff Schroeder. Angler: Bill Chapman.

May 18, 2001 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

Powers, Horton, VanDam and Morehead join the elite five in quest for $100,000 top prize

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, La. – Despite earning an 8-ounce penalty for bringing in one dead fish, Bill Chapman of Salt Rock, WV, still managed to hold off the rest of the competition to earn the top seed heading into tomorrow’s all-important final round of FLW competition on the Red River. Chapman, who registered an official weight of 14 pounds, 11 ounces, said he is not going to change his strategy come tomorrow’s finals.

“I’m going back to the same spot that I’ve been going to all along until it runs out of fish,” said Chapman, who has been pitching tube baits on the shallow flats for the majority of the tournament. “If it’s sunny tomorrow, I’ll do very well. But if it’s cloudy, I’m going to struggle.”

Chapman said that he has felt good about his odds of winning this tournament from the beginning.

“I was real confident coming into this tournament because I was catching so many big fish in practice,” said Chapman, who caught his limit today by 11 a.m. “I caught 20 keepers today and I feel really good about my chances.”

Craig Powers landed in second place after netting a catch of 13 pounds, 1 ounce. Powers, a native of Rockwood, Tenn., said that the conditions are favorable for a run at the title.

“When the fish are doing what they’re doing right now, I feel like I have a good chance,” said Powers, who is flipping jigs in shallow-water currents. “This is what I like to do.”

While Powers said he would love to walk away with the first-place prize of $100,000, he said he is just going to relax, go fishing and see what happens tomorrow.

“If you’re having a good time, most of the time you’re going to catch fish,” he said. “I’m just going to put that jig in my hand, go fishing and try to catch as many fish as I can.”

Dwayne Horton of Knoxville, Tenn., used a 12-pound, 14-ounce stringer to grab hold of third place. Day-one leader Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., was in fourth place with a catch of 12 pounds, 6 ounces. Day-two leader Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky., took the final qualifying spot after landing a catch of 8 pounds, 15 ounces.

Rounding out the top-10 were: Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas, with a catch of 6 pounds, 8 ounces; Jerry Williams of Conway, Ark., with a catch of 6 pounds, 5 ounces; Keith Green of Arkadelphia, Ark., with a catch of 6 pounds; and Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Fla., with a catch of 5 pounds, 12 ounces. Joel Baker of Talala, Okla., was disqualified for wearing an unofficial logo during the semifinals and was credited with a final catch of 0pounds, 0 ounces.

Tomorrow’s pro competition resumes at 6:30 a.m. at Clark’s Marina, located 20 miles southeast of Shreveport on Highway 71.