Fuller nets first FLW co-angler title of career

Lonnie Fuller caught his bass using a half-ounce, red Rat-L-Trap while fishing with pro John Crews of Jetersville, Va. Photo by Jeff Schroeder. Angler: Lonnie Fuller Jr.

March 14, 2003 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

Texas native out-duels young guns to grab top prize of $15,000 on Lake Murray

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Lonnie Fuller Jr. showed that you’re never too old to go fishing. Using a catch of 16 pounds, the 73-year-old Fuller put on a dominating performance to capture the co-angler title on Lake Murray and win the first FLW Tour event of his career. In fact, Fuller’s catch was so impressive that by the time weigh-in had concluded, his closest competitor was still more than 6 full pounds away.

“This is the biggest win I’ve ever had,” said Fuller, who started fishing professionally back in 1964. “It really feels pretty good. It’s about time I’ve won one of these doggone things.”

Amazingly enough, this is only Fuller’s first year on the FLW Tour. However, while Fuller acknowledged that he didn’t have any real expectations coming into the Lake Murray event, he said he knew one thing for sure – he didn’t want to come in ninth place.

“I’ve been fishing EverStart tournaments for the past four years,” he said. “And I’ve finished in ninth place at the EverStart Championship two years in a row. To tell you the truth, I started getting tired of finishing in ninth place. Before I left the hotel this morning, I told my wife that I’d rather come in 10th place today than finish ninth again.”

Fuller, with the aid of a 1/2-ounce red Rat `L Trap and 20-pound-test Berkley line, made sure that that didn’t happen.

“I only got four bites today,” said Fuller, who was targeting lake banks in about 2 feet of water to land the majority of his catch. “But I got them all in the boat.”

Fuller also credited much of his success to his pro partners as well as the phenomenal fishery of Lake Murray.

“I had three great partners all week,” said Fuller. “I also can’t say enough about Lake Murray. We catch some big fish on Sam Rayburn and Toledo Bend. And if those are two of the top five lakes in the country, Lake Murray has to be right up there with them. It was just a great experience for me.”

So what does a 73-year-old do with $15,000?

“Buy some more fishing gear, of course,” he said.

Gulledge snares second place

Although Greg Gulledge of Monticello, Ark., didn’t win the big prize on Lake Murray, you would have never known it. Using a catch of 9 pounds, 11 ounces, Gulledge took home $6,000 in prize money, a second-place finish, invaluable experience as well as a smile that probably won’t be fading any time soon.

“I really can’t explain it,” said Gulledge. “It’s just been a great tournament. I caught some awesome fish. And I didn’t miss a bite all day. It’s just been a great deal all the way around.”

Although Gulledge’s stringer was formidable, the Arkansas native said that he didn’t really ever think he had a chance to win the tournament.

“I really figured there would be someone who would catch me,” he said. “I just was never able to get that big bite. But I didn’t lose any fish, and I got beat by a limit. And that’s all you can really ask for.”

Gulledge said that his lures of choice in today’s finals were a 200-Series Bandit crankbait and a red Rat `L Trap.

T.R. Fuller has banner day on the water

Although T.R. Fuller finished in third place with a catch of 9 pounds, the native of Auburn, Ala., seemed more excited by his fortuitous pairing with fishing legend Rick Clunn than with winning $4,000 in prize money.

“I really had a lot of fun today,” he said. “It was a good tournament. Being out there with a living legend really frees you up.”

Best of the rest

Chris Rand of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., used a 7-pound, 3-ounce catch to take home fourth place as well as a check for $3,000.

“It was a little tough out there for me today,” he said. “But I did the best I could. Overall, I had a great tournament.”

Day-two leader Pamela Wood, one of only two women to qualify for the finals, finished in fifth place after recording a catch of 7 pounds, 1 ounce.

“I’m just really happy to be here,” said Wood, who won $2,500 for her efforts.

Rounding out the top 10 finishers in the Co-angler Division were Greg Scott (sixth) of Dearborn, Mich., with a catch of 5 pounds, 14 ounces; Martin Whitaker (seventh) of Hensley, Ark., with a catch of 5 pounds; John Ax (eighth) of Lexington, Va., with a catch of 2 pounds, 12 ounces; Laura Aldridge (ninth) of Berkley, Mich., with a catch of 1 pound, 13 ounces; and Rick Reedy (10th) of Barrington, Ill., with a catch of 0 pounds.

FLW co-angler action resumes April 9-12 at the Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark.