The Lake Martin five
Two legends, a foreigner, a hero and a dude do battle in today’s FLW final round
ALEXANDER CITY, Ala. – Five professional bass fishermen, five unique approaches to today’s final round of the Wal-Mart FLW Tour at Lake Martin. Even if the bass tournament powers-that-be had conspired to create a more compelling top-five match-up, they couldn’t have done any better than today’s lineup of Omori, Clunn, Martens, Shumpert and Hibdon.
If yesterday was any indication, today could shape up to be a face-off between two of pro bass fishing’s most intense competitors. Takahiro Omori, a Japanese native now living in Emory, Texas, and powerhouse Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo., are fishing in approximately the same area, which goes a long way toward explaining how they ended up in first and second place, respectively, after yesterday’s semifinal round.
But don’t expect any territorial squabbles between these two professionals. “We’ve been neighbors all week,” Clunn said this morning, “but we’ve been getting along fine. There’s enough fish in there for all five of us.”
Aaron Martens of Castaic, Calif., probably has the most unique approach to catching big Lake Martin bass. He’s primarily using the drop shot, a technique that is relatively foreign to many FLW anglers not as well versed in surfer-speak as the West Coaster. But with some 37 pounds, 2 ounces of bass already under his belt in the first two rounds, it’s obvious that Martens has dropped his way onto something big this week and could easily take the title.
Ricky Shumpert of Lexington, Ky., is handling this lake in an equally unconventional manner. While Lake Martin boasts a near 70-percent spotted bass population, Shumpert has focused exclusively on largemouth bass. It’s a strategy formulated not only to target the bigger – but sparser – fish, but one born out of necessity.
“I’m not a finesse fishermen, or a spot fisherman,” he said yesterday. “I came here intending to fish for largemouth.”
He plans on continuing to work his spinnerbait in search of big largemouth today. For Shumpert, who is no stranger to real-life heroism, pulling off his first FLW victory by fishing Lake Martin for largemouth bass would indeed be an epic story.
Finally, there’s Guido Hibdon of Gravois Mills, Mo. Already a legend in the world of competitive bass fishing, Hibdon doesn’t really need another trophy for his wall. But he sure would like one. This week has marked his triumphant return to the FLW top five since 1999, and the shallow-water specialist is looking to take this one home by focusing on Lake Martin’s docks.
“I’m going to stick to what I’m doing,” he said this morning.
For Hibdon, that could be just the right formula.
Today’s weigh-in begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located on Highway 280 West in Alexander City. A Family Fun Zone featuring fishing seminars, free product samples, interactive displays and children’s games will open in the Wal-Mart parking lot starting at 11 a.m.
Vital statistics
Sunrise: 5:42 a.m.
Temperature at takeoff: 55 degrees
Expected high temperature: 71 degrees
Water temperature: 54 degrees
Wind: From the West at 5 mph
Relative humidity: 52 percent
Day’s outlook: Variably cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms