Robertson sets FLW record on Lake Murray

Pro Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla., set an FLW Tour record after landing a total two-day catch of 49 pounds, 8 ounces. Photo by Gary Mortenson. Angler: Darrel Robertson.

March 13, 2003 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

Wood cruises to first place in Co-angler Division, two women make top-10 cut

COLUMBIA, S.C. – After barely missing the semifinal cut at the Atchafalaya Basin last month because he tried to save too many fish for the finals, Darrel Robertson promised himself that he’d never fish too conservatively again. In fact, with the overall lead heading into day two of FLW Tour action on Lake Murray, Robertson informed anyone who would listen that he was going for broke in today’s competition. As it turned out, Robertson lived up to his word. Not only did the native of Jay, Okla., retain control of first place, he demolished an FLW Tour record in the process by landing a mind-blowing, two-day catch of 49 pounds, 8 ounces.

“I really feel like I’m blessed,” said Robertson, who bested the old FLW Tour record of 47 pounds, 5 ounces set by Peter Thliveros on Kentucky Lake in May 1998. “I caught an awful lot of fish so far; I just hope that I have some fish left.”

Ironically, Robertson said that because of a “terrible” practice, he had little idea what he was going to do once the tournament started. But then, as fate would have it, Robertson had an offhand conversation with friend and fellow tour competitor Wesley Burnett.

“Seriously, before this tournament started I really didn’t know what I was going to do,” said Robertson, who only managed to catch eight fish over six long days of practice. “But then I turned to my friend Wesley just before the tournament started and said, `Do you have anything you can give me that these fish will bite on?’ He said he did and gave me one of his crankbaits. Over the next two days, nine of my 10 keepers all came on that one lure.”

However, like all veteran tour anglers, Robertson knows that it’s way too early to get overly excited after the first two days of competition.

“The only thing that really bothers me right now is that it isn’t payday yet,” he said. “There’s a bunch of good anglers here, and there are a lot of big fish in this lake. And the tournament isn’t over yet. But at the very least, I’ll get to fish the next two days.”

In spite of the circumstances, Robertson remains cautiously optimistic of his chances of winning the title.

“I do have about two or three good spots to go to over the next two days,” said Robertson. “And because I had a limit by 12:00 p.m., I had a chance to go look around today and figure some more things out. But like I said before, I really hope I didn’t use up all of my good fish.”

After targeting grass and wood in about 2 to 5 feet of water over the first two days of competition, Robertson said that he won’t be changing his approach for the semifinals.

“I’m definitely staying with that crankbait,” said Robertson. “I caught 40 fish with that lure over the first two days, so why would I change anything now?”

However, the real question is this: If Robertson ultimately wins the tournament, will Wesley Burnett receive a cut of the action, giving his generosity with the “magic” crankbait?

“I already bought him dinner last night,” said Robertson. “We’ll have to see.”

Morehead snares second place, takes giant step toward angler-of-the-year title

Like Robertson, Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky., is also having a dream tournament. Not only did he manage to put together an eye-popping two-day stringer of 40 pounds, 10 ounces, but he also solidified himself as the front-runner for the prestigious 2003 FLW Angler-of-the-year title with his second top-10 finish in the past three FLW tournaments.

“I’m having a real good tournament, and if it ended right now, I’d still be happy,” said Morehead. “I’ve got three different patterns working, and I’ve got enough spots to keep me busy over the next two days. I don’t know if I’ll win this thing, but I feel pretty good right now.”

While it’s still early in the year, Morehead acknowledged that he has been keeping one eye on the fish and another eye on the standings all week.

“I’d be lying to you if I said I haven’t been thinking about the year-end standings points,” said Morehead, who has already turned in a third-place finish at Lake Okeechobee in January as well as a 23rd-place performance at the Atchafalaya Basin last month. “I’d really like to win that angler-of-the-year title.”

Although Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas, came into the tournament with the overall lead in the tour standings, he could only manage a 73rd-place finish at Lake Murray – a result which puts Morehead comfortably atop the leaderboard in the year-end standings race.

Best of the rest

Bud Pruitt of Spring, Texas, qualified for the semifinals in third place after landing a total two-day catch of 40 pounds, 5 ounces. Pruitt also netted a 9-pound, 3-ounce largemouth bass in today’s competition to win the Snicker’s Big-Bass Award in the Pro Division. For his efforts, Pruitt won a check for $750.

Fourth place belonged to Jody Cordell of Flowery Branch, Ga., with a catch of 39 pounds, 12 ounces; while John Crews of Jetersville, Va., took the fifth qualifying spot with a catch of 38 pounds, 15 ounces.

Rounding out the top 10 pro finalists were Wesley Strader (sixth) of Spring City, Tenn., with a catch of 37 pounds, 10 ounces; Chris Elliot (seventh) of Gloucester, N.C., with a catch of 36 pounds, 12 ounces; Larry Nixon (eighth) of Bee Branch, Ark., with a catch of 35 pounds, 7 ounces; Rick Clunn (ninth) of Ava, Mo., with a catch of 35 pounds, 3 ounces; and Stanley Mitchell (10th) of Fitzgerald, Ga., with a catch of 35 pounds.

Wood uses gutsy performance to grab co-angler lead

Using a two-day catch of 27 pounds, 1 ounce, Pamela Wood of Bono, Ark., demonstrated in emphatic fashion that women can compete with the men in some of the highest levels of tournament bass fishing.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Wood of her performance. “I zeroed at the last tournament, so my goal was to just come in here and get some (year-end standings) points. I wasn’t even nervous today because I didn’t really have any expectations. I was just going along for the ride. I’m realy stunned with how things worked out. But I had two excellent partners this week and that really helped.”

To make matters more exciting, Laura Aldridge of Berkley, Mich., joined Wood as one of only two women to qualify for the top 10 in the same tournament in quite some time.

“I think it’s great,” said Wood. “I’m happy for her.”

“Wow, really, I didn’t know that,” said Aldridge, when informed that two or more women in the finals is far from commonplace on the FLW Tour. “I’m so excited. I’ve never been this nervous before.

“This is only the second FLW tournament of my career,” continued Aldridge. “My goal was to finish in the top 10 and now I’ve done that. It would be a dream come true to win this.”

Wood, who threw a chartreuse and white Buckeye spinner bait on rocky flats in about 8 to 14 feet of water to land the majority of her catch, said that her carefree days of fishing are probably over for the remainder of the tournament.

“I’m really excited about fishing the finals tomorrow,” said Wood. “I just hope I can get to sleep tonight.”

Best of the rest

Rick Reedy used a two-day catch of 25 pounds, 8 ounces to land the second qualifying position heading into tomorrow’s finals.

Third place belonged to Martin Whitaker of Hensley, Ark., with a catch of 24 pounds, 15 ounces.

John Ax of Lexington, Va., finished the day in fourth place with a total catch of 23 pounds, 11 ounces. Ax also won the Snicker’s Big-Bass Award in the Co-angler Division after netting a 9-pound, 2-ounce largemouth. That catch alone was worth $500.

Lonnie Fuller, Jr., of Hemphill, Texas, finished in fifth place after netting a catch of 23 pounds, 5 ounces.

Rounding out the top 10 co-angler qualifiers were Greg Gulledge (sixth) of Monticello, Ark., with a catch of 23 pounds, 4 ounces; day-two leader Greg Scott (seventh) of Dearborn, Mich., with a catch of 23 pounds, 1 ounce; Laura Aldridge (eighth) of Berkley, Mich., with a catch of 22 pounds, 12 ounces; T.R. Fuller (ninth) of Auburn, Ala., with a catch of 22 pounds, 7 ounces; and Chris Rand (10th) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with a catch of 22 pounds, 2 ounces.

Tomorrow’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 8 a.m. at the Lighthouse Marina, located at 1925 Johnsons Marina Road in Chapin, S.C.