Ober clinches third FLW title

Pennsylvania co-angler catches only limit on final day

CONCORD, N.C. – Jason Ober hasn’t even fished with FLW Outdoors for a full four years, but today he notched his third victory. And although he has won a Stren Series event as a professional, Ober called his National Guard Open victory on Lake Norman the best accomplishment of his young fishing career.

That’s a pretty telling quote from an angler who defeated the likes of Michael Iaconelli, Pete Gluszek and Chris Baumgardner last summer on Lake Champlain while fishing as a pro. Ober’s first career victory took place last year from the back of the boat at the Santee Cooper Stren event.

“That tournament was also in April,” he said. “I did the exact same thing there that I did here. I guess April is my time of year.”

Ober caught most of his fish this week on a shaky head with a Zoom Trick Worm. He occasionally would rig the worm weightless and wacky style. His last two fish of the tournament came on a 4-inch green-pumpkin Senko.

Ober targeted the front posts and last few feet of docks, spots his pro anglers mostly avoided while fishing the middle portion. Ober caught 14 bass Saturday, including six keepers. He was the only co-angler to register a limit on day three. He rigged his baits on 10-pound PowerPro braid with a 10-pound Berkley Trilene 100% Flourocarbon leader so he could make long casts.

“The key was making long casts, making lots of casts and being cognizant of what is going on around you. I’m always looking around to find a stump as far away as I can find it. I throw to the other side of the pocket, because if you fish the same way as your partner, you’re wasting your time. C’mon, these guys are vacuum cleaners.”

Ober plans to spend three seasons fishing the FLW Tour as a co-angler before attempting to move to the front of the boat. Ober said his experience as a pro in the Stren Series helps him as a co-angler, but said the co-angler competition is more challenging.

“Stetson (Blaylock, his day-three partner) told me today that I was the only co-angler to catch a limit behind him since he turned pro. That means a lot. To win behind the best pros in the game is a difficult task. The challenge is so different, I actually think it’s greater. I’m overwhelmed with emotion.”

For five Lake Norman bass weighing 7 pounds, 11 ounces, Ober earned a check worth $40,000.

Freeman finds second

Jeff Freeman of Max Meadows, Va., took second place with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces. He earned $15,000 in his first FLW Tour event.

“Every fish I caught this week came on a drop-shot and a Roboworm,” Freeman said.

Shuffield earns fifth top-10 at third

Spencer Shuffield of Bismarck, Ark., finished third and collected $7,500 with four bass that weighed 5 pounds, 12 ounces. This was Shuffield’s fifth top-10 finish in three years on the FLW Tour, but the young angler has yet to taste victory.

Shuffield said he targeted fish around docks with a weightless wacky-rigged 4-inch green-pumpkin Senko. He also used a Lucky Craft Pointer 78 jerkbait in “ghost minnow” color. The jerkbait worked extremely well in practice when the weather was windy.

Hudson, Rodgers round out top five

Fourth place and $5,000 went to David Hudson of Jasper, Ala., with three bass that weighed 5 pounds, 9 ounces. Hudson won the 2008 National Guard Open on Lake Norman and the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. He was attempting to become the first co-angler to accumulate $200,000 in career FLW Outdoors earnings. Had he finished third or above, it would have happened this week. But rest assured, it won’t be long.

Hudson fished with a 1/8-ounce homemade jig made by Kerry Leach and a Zoom finesse worm in green-pumpkin and purple color.

Dearal Rodgers of Camden, S.C., notched his second consecutive top-10 finish. After taking ninth on Table Rock, he finished fifth on Lake Norman with three bass weighing 5 pounds, 6 ounces. Rodgers earned $4,000 and caught his fish on a Spot Remover jighead and finesse worm.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finishers at Lake Norman:

6th: Shane Lehew of Charlotte, N.C., 4-6, $3,500

7th: David Lauer of South Bend, Ind., 4-5, $3,000

8th: Bob Bjorklund of Centennial, Colo., 3-7, $2,500

9th: Fred Martin of North Little Rock, Ark., 2-10, $2,000

10th: Grant McPeters of Marion, N.C., 2-8, $1,750