Roy rules co-anglers at Chickamauga
New York co-angler takes title at FLW Series event
HIXSON, Tenn. – Patrick Roy of Syracuse, N.Y., won the Co-angler Division of the FLW Series event on Lake Chickamauga with a three-day total of 29 pounds, 3 ounces.
During the week, Roy fished with pros Kevin Snider, Mark Rose and Fred Martin, respectively.
“I weighed in first flight today, so I’ve had to sit here and watch everyone weigh in to see if I was going to get beat – it was pretty nerve-wracking,” Roy said. “But it made it exciting, which is the way it should be. It’s been a great week.”
On day one, Roy relied on a homemade 1/2-ounce jig tipped with a NetBait Paca Chunk and a Texas-rigged NetBait worm with a 3/8-ounce weight.
On day two, he fished jigs deep with Rose.
And today, Roy chose to go with a 3/8-ounce ChatterBait and a Senko.
This was Roy’s third year as a co-angler and his biggest win thus far: He won a Ranger boat and trailer package plus $1,500 in Ranger Cup money and $1,000 in Cabela’s Angler Cash. As for next year, he is eyeing a spot in the Pro Division in FLW Outdoors tournaments, where he has already found some success (he placed fourth in the Pro Division at the FLW American Fishing Series event on Lake Erie the week prior).
Combs second
After bringing in one of the biggest bass of the week on day one – an 8-pounder – Aaron Combs of Jackson, Ky., finished second with a three-day total of 25 pounds, 13 ounces worth $4,215.
Combs’ pros for the week included Jason Ober, Tom Spangler and Rogne Brown.
His two key lures included a weightless Senko and a Paca Craw.
“I was fishing the Paca Craw on a 3/16-ounce weight, which is pretty light, but I wanted it to fall slowly through the grass,” Combs said. “I fish a lake back home called Panbowl Lake that has a lot of grass in it; the Senko and the Paca Craw are great lures there, so I used them here too.”
Hayden third
Jerry Hayden of Charlotte, N.C., finished third with a three-day total of 23-1 worth $3,162.
During the week Hayden relied exclusively on two reaction baits: a 3/8-ounce spinnerbait and 1/2-ounce Rat-L-Trap.
Tidwell, Gengler round out top five
Lonnie Tidwell of Harriman, Tenn., finished fourth with a three-day total of 20 pounds, 4 ounces worth $3,221.
Jeff Gengler of Tulsa,, Okla., rounded out the top five with a three-day total of 20 pounds, 4 ounces worth $1,686.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers in the FLW Series Eastern on Lake Chickamauga:
6th: Kevin Thomas of Miramar, Fla., three-day total of 20-4, $1,265
7th: Roger Wideman of McCormick, S.C., three-day total of 19-6, $1,054
8th: George Kapiton of Inverness, Fla., three-day total of 19-1, $843
9th: Anthony Hunt of Tamarac, Fla., three-day total of 18-10, $738
10th: Miller Castle of Abingdon, Va., three-day total of 18-3, $632
Kapiton takes Co-angler of the Year
George Kapiton of Inverness, Fla., won the 2010 Co-angler of the Year award for the FLW Series Eastern Division with a total of 778 points.
After winning the Eastern Division opener on Lake Okeechobee, Kapiton went on to finish sixth at Lake Eufaula, 11th at Champlain and ninth at Chickamauga.
Congratulations to Kapiton for a fantastic season.