Hudson clears hurdle

Alabama co-angler gets first win after 12 years of FLW Tour competition

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – Ask any of the co-angling veterans on the Wal-Mart FLW Tour who is the most overdue for a Tour win, and the name David Hudson is spoken without hesitation.

Hudson of Jasper, Ala., has fished 81 FLW Tour events over the last 12 years (since its inaugural year in 1996), made 10 FLW Tour championships, scored a record 15 top-10s and has finished in every spot in the top 10 except first.

But that all changed today when Hudson took home $40,000 for his first FLW Tour win – and few can argue that it could not have happened to a more deserving co-angler in terms of class and fishing talent.

“It’s been a long-awaited win to say the least,” said Hudson. “I’ve got a mantle full of top-10 trophies – one for every spot in the top 10 except first. Right now my Co-angler of the Year (2000) sits in the No. 1 spot, and I think I’m finally going to get to move it over – though I’m pretty proud of that one, too.

“I can’t help thinking about winning without getting emotional about it,” he added. “I’ve been so close so many times, and today I finally closed the deal.”

Speaking of close, Hudson won by just a single ounce, weighing in five bass for 8 pounds, 2 ounces.

“I fished with Chris Baumgardner today,” Hudson said. “And to tell you what kind of guy he is, he let me catch two of his fish off the bed, and he’s only got three today. He let me catch those fish before he secured a limit.”

Hudson has made his living on the FLW Tour with a spinning rod. In many ways, he pioneered the light-line, shaky-head movement from the back deck in the mid-1990s. And over the years, he has turned a lot of co-anglers onto the productive technique.

So it comes as no surprise to learn that Hudson scored his first win with a spinning rod; however, his primary lure choice this week was a 4-inch wacky-rigged Yum Dinger in a green-pumpkin and purple color.

Hudson rigged the Yum Dinger on a 1/16-ounce jighead, but instead of a traditional shaky-head rig, he threaded the Yum Dinger on the jighead hook through the middle, wacky style.

“It gives the lure a little different fall than a standard shaky head,” he noted.

As far as what he’s going to do with his $40,000 cash windfall, he proudly announced that he is giving that check to his wife, a recent survivor of colon cancer, to spend “any way she wants to.”

Swink second

Mark Swink of Shelby, N.C., moved from the 10th-place position to second place today with a five-bass limit weighing 8 pounds, 1 ounce.

Swink collected $10,000 for his finish.

Rest of the best

In the third spot was Chad Pipkens of Holt, Mich., with four bass for 7 pounds, 12 ounces worth $9,000.

Lady angler Deirdre Davison of Tega Cay, S.C., took home $8,000 for her fourth-place finish with a five-bass catch of 6 pounds, 15 ounces.

And Andrew Lemle of Perrysburg, Ohio, rounded out the top five with four bass weighing 6 pounds, 15 ounces to collect $7,000.

Rounding out the top 10 Co-anglers in the National Guard Open on Lake Norman:

6th: Beecher Strunk of Somerset, Ky., four bass, 6-7, $6,000

7th: Teddy Bradley of Mishawaka, Ind., three bass, 6-2, $5,000

8th: Shane Lehew of Charlotte, N.C., three bass, 4-13, $4,000

9th: Butch Zadlo of Boone, N.C., three bass, 3-11, $3,000

10th: Dirk Davenport of Delaware, Ohio, one bass, $2,000