Top angler could net up to $1 million
MOBILE, Ala. – Ricky Shumpert, Lexington, S.C., took sole possession of first place in the $3.64 million Ranger M1 bass tournament Thursday with a two-day, opening-round total of nine bass weighing 21 pounds, 13 ounces. As the No. 1 qualifier, he will lead the tournament’s top-20 pros into Friday’s semifinal round on the Mobile-Tensaw Delta.
Shumpert caught five bass weighing 14 pounds, 7 ounces Thursday to flush out Wednesday’s four-bass, 7-pound, 6-ounce catch and climb from 24th place into the lead. If he continues to produce quality bass despite the region’s unseasonably cool weather, Shumpert stands to win $900,000. Anglers advancing to the semifinal round start from zero and fish for the heaviest five-bass limit. Only the top-10 pros will advance to Saturday’s final round where they will start from zero again and fish for one day to determine the winner.
“I’m fishing a big area, and I haven’t hit it real hard,” said Shumpert, who caught his opening-round bass in a backwater area about 30 miles from the launch site in Chocolotta Bay. “I won’t run out of fish, but I might run out of bites. They could shut down, so you have to take everything one day at a time.”
Team Castrol pro David Dudley, Manteo, N.C., climbed from 35th place to claim the No. 2 spot going into the semifinal round with a two-day total of seven bass weighing 21 pounds, 9 ounces.
Jason Kilpatrick, Satsuma, Ala. (10 bass, 20 pounds, 7 ounces); Mark Pack, Mineola, Texas (10 bass, 20 pounds, 5 ounces); and Team Fujifilm angler Randy Blaukat, Lamar, Mo. (nine bass, 19 pounds, 12 ounces) rounded out the top-five pro anglers.
In the Co-angler Division, Ryan Deal, Haubstadt, Ind., retained the No. 1 spot heading into the final round of co-angler competition without catching a fish Thursday. He caught three bass weighing 10 pounds, 7 ounces Wednesday to claim the lead.
David Millsaps, Woodstock, Ga. (five bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce); Bill Boyett, Willis, Texas (five bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce); Tim Hurst, Oxford, Ala. (five bass, 8 pounds, 5 ounces); and Michael Robinson, Greenville, Ga., (three bass, 7 pounds, 12 ounces) rounded out the top-five co-anglers.
Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Dennis Green was shut out Thursday.
Like their pro counterparts, the top-20 co-anglers start from zero and fish for one day Friday, which is the last day of co-angler competition. The winner will receive up to $250,000.
The M1’s total purse is based on a payback of $1.3 million plus $2.34 million in sponsor bonus money. The winning pro will receive $400,000 plus up to an additional $600,000 in sponsor bonuses. The winning co-angler will receive $150,000 plus up to an additional $100,000 in sponsor bonuses. Each competitor will receive a minimum cash award equal to his or her entry fee provided all sponsor bonus requirements are met.
The Mobile Convention Center will host both Friday’s weigh-in, starting at 5 p.m., and Saturday’s weigh-in, starting at 2 p.m. Admission to the weigh-ins and Family Fun Zone, which opens Friday at 3 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m., is free. The Fun Zone features children’s games and product samples from Ranger M1 sponsors.
The Ranger M1’s final weigh-in will air live as part of “FLW Outdoors” on the PAX TV network.
Tournament sponsors include Wal-Mart, Ranger Boats, Chevy Trucks, Citgo, Conseco, EverStart Batteries, Faded Glory, Garmin Electronics, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Snickers, Yamaha Outboards and Plano.