Quick Bites: FLW Atchafalaya Basin, Day 3

Co-angler Israel makes history, Baumgardner grabs overall lead and 14 ounces separate top three pros heading in Saturday’s finals

Wal-Mart FLW Tour

Atchafalaya Basin, Morgan City, La.

Semifinals, Friday

One for the record books … Using a three-fish catch of 6 pounds, 9 ounces, Judy Israel of Clewiston, Fla., did much more than simply win her very first FLW Tour title. Israel, who netted a $20,000 first-place check, defied long odd to become the first woman in history to capture a tournament title on the FLW Tour. Israel, who could hardly contain her enthusiasm onstage, was ecstatic with her victory. “I’ve worked so hard to get here,” she said. “You dream about something like this happening every tournament, but I never believed it would happen.” Ironically, Israel won the tournament flipping a 4-inch Gambler tube – a technique she simultaneously loathed and dreaded for years. “Yes, it’s very ironic,” said Israel. “This tournament I decided I was going to try flipping and I did it for three straight days. Maybe I’ll do it a little bit more next time.” Her husband Abby Israel, who also fishes as a co-angler on the FLW Tour, agreed. “You never wanted to mention flipping around Judy,” he said. “It was like the ‘F word’ in our family. But she really worked hard for this. I’m so happy for her.” Israel, who now boasts over $58,000 in career winnings at FLW Outdoors events since 1997, said she first got interested in fishing while vacationing in Florida. “I decided to join the tour to travel, learn how to fish and see how beautiful America is,” she said. A native of the South Bronx, Israel said the last thing she ever imagined was that she’d be standing on the winner’s podium at a major bass-fishing tournament. “When I first started, I knew very little about fishing,” she said. “If my partner said, `We’re going to use a Carolina rig,’ I’d write it down and start asking everyone how to do it. Over the years, I learned more and more. But I still never thought this would happen. I’m so, so happy right now.”

Baumgardner grabs pro lead … With only one top-10 finish on the FLW Tour in the last five years – an eight-place finish at Beaver Lake in 1999 – Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, N.C., is suddenly on the verge of capturing the very first FLW title of his career. Using a catch of 13 pounds, 4 ounces, Baumgardner finished atop the leaderboard heading into tomorrow’s all-important finals. However, with only a 6-ounce advantage over his nearest competitor, his lead is far from safe. Nevertheless, Baumgardner says that he likes his chances. “I feel pretty good,” he said. “I got a lot of bites today – more than I’ve been getting all week. I’m also getting more and more confidence in what I’m doing as the tournament goes on.” For the record, Baumgardner is flipping mats with a Zoom Vibe craw.

Three-horse race … Although Baumgardner has the overall lead, tomorrow could turn out to be one of the more exciting finals in recent memory. With local favorite Sam Swett of Covington, La., only 6 ounces back and Tom Monsoor of Lacrosse, Wisc., only 14 ounces off the lead, it’s clear that the tournament is still very much up for grabs. “I’m just in an excellent area,” said Swett, who has 12 pounds, 14 ounces heading into the finals. “The main thing I’m worried about is clear water. The water was clear today, but the wind is changing. Tomorrow, I’m just going to go for broke.” Monsoor, who turned in a semifinal catch of 12 pounds, 6 ounces, said that it’s important to keep everything in perspective. “It was tough getting a limit today,” Monsoor said. “But the pressure is off. It’s just going to be another day of fishing. It’d be nice to win, but it’s really going to come down to who gets the biggest bites. I’m going to cast as fast and as hard as I possibly can tomorrow. I’m definitely not giving up.” Although the top three pros are clearly in the driver’s seat, Steve Tosh (8 pounds, 6 ounces), Randy Blaukat (7 pounds, 12 ounces), Dean Rojas (7 pounds, 5 ounces) Mike Surman (6 pounds, 4 ounces) and Cody Bird (5 pounds, 7 ounces) are all within realistic striking distance of the leaders.

Quick numbers:

79 – 5: Total weight in pounds and ounces of fish caught by the top-10 pros Friday.

14 – 5: Total weight in pounds and ounces of fish caught by the top-10 co-anglers today.

33: Total number of fish caught by the pros and co-anglers in today’s competition.

14: Total number of ounces separating the top three pros heading into tomorrow’s finals.

3: Total number of limits caught by the pros and co-angler combined in today’s competition.

0: Number of women who had captured a tournament title on the FLW Tour before today.

Sound bites:

“The water went down 4 or 5 inches in the area I’m fishing. With all of this rain, how is that possible? It’s crazy.”

– FLW pro Tom Monsoor of Lacrosse, Wisc., describing the quirks of Mother Nature.

“I’d like to thank Land O’ Lakes for supporting a women co-angler from the South Bronx.”

– FLW Tour pro Judy Israel applauding her sponsor for taking a chance one of the more unique characters on the tour.

“I slept about 10 minutes last night.”

– FLW Tour pro Judy Israel on being a nervous wreck before the co-angler finals.

“I think I could fish this body of water for the rest of my life.”

– FLW Tour pro Sam Swett of Covington, La., describing his love for the Atchafalaya Basin.

“I just wanted to be within striking distance after today. This place is so up and down that, even if someone zeros, they can still make a comeback.”

– FLW Tour pro Randy Blaukat of Lamar, Mo., voicing his opinion that the tournament title is still very much up for grabs.

“One of my adjustments I’m thinking of making is to climb into all of the other guy’s boats and pull out their spark plugs.”

– FLW Tour pro Mike Surman of Boca Raton, Fla., joking about his new strategy for tomorrow’s finals.

“I like my chances. But we’re only one-third of the way there.”

– FLW Tour pro Dean Rojas of Grand Saline, Texas, cautiously optimistic about his chances of winning the 2004 FLW Tour Angler of the Year title. Currently, Rojas is in first place with four tournaments remaining.

“I rode bulls a few years ago. And I still don’t know what’s (harder), bull riding or fishing.”

– FLW Tour pro Cody Bird of Granbury, Texas, comparing past and current professions.

Tomorrow’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. at the Belle River Boat Launch, located at Highway 70 North in Belle River, La.