ROGERS, Ark. – Mark Rogers of Naples, Fla., took control of Beaver Lake’s $1 million Wal-Mart Open Wednesday with an opening-day catch of five bass weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces.
His limit, which was caught on a watermelon seed colored worm flipped to flooded bushes, gives him a 1-pound, 10-ounce lead over Dan Morehead of Paducah, Ky., who landed five bass weighing 10 pounds, 14 ounces. With hefty stringers in hand, both men are in good position to make Thursday’s all-important semifinal-round cut and continue their quest toward a $210,000 victory on Beaver Lake’s swollen waters.
“I didn’t realize how high the water was until I got here last week,” said Rogers, who is fishing Beaver Lake for the first time. “It has definitely helped me. I’m not much of a deepwater fisherman. I like hitting the bushes, so these conditions play to my style of fishing.”
Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu City, Ariz. (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces); Jack Bell of Kane, Pa. (five bass, 10 pounds, 5 ounces); and Rob Harty of Sachse, Texas, (five bass, 10 pounds) rounded out the top five pros.
Big Bass honors and $1,250 went to Team Stanley pro David Walker of Sevierville, Tenn., who landed a 5-pound, 9-ounce largemouth Wednesday. If the weight holds up Thursday, Walker will receive the Snickers Big Bass award and an additional $1,000. At the end of the seven-tournament, $5.1 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour season, Snickers will award another $5,000 to the angler who caught the heaviest opening-round bass at any event. Currently that distinction goes to Jim Nolan of Bull Shoals, Ark., who caught an 8-pound, 9-ounce largemouth on Arkansas’ Lake Ouachita last month.
Co-angler Kendall Martin of Tremont, Ill., leads his division with two bass weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces followed closely by Bud Goeke of Pinckneyville, Ill., (five bass, 8 pounds) and Vandy Cameron of Rogers, Ark., (four bass, 6 pounds, 15 ounces).
Teddie Harrison of Clewiston, Fla., landed co-angler big bass honors and $750 with a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass that also helped put him in fifth place with a two bass total weighing 6 pounds, 3 ounces.
Like their pro counterparts, co-anglers are fishing for a final-round berth. Competitors in both 175-angler divisions must place in the top 20 Thursday to qualify for Friday’s semifinal round. Co-angler competition wraps up after the semifinals with the winner receiving $40,000 cash. The top 10 pros advance to the final round. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be broadcast live to more than 84 million households on PAX TV starting at 2 p.m. CST.
Beaver Lake stretches 70 miles through the Ozark Mountains and covers nearly 30,000 acres at normal pool. This year, however, the lake is 9-feet higher than most people are accustomed to seeing it. Despite the above average influx of water from its tributaries, the lake is still relatively clear. Visibility in some areas near Beaver Dam extends 10- to 15-feet deep, making sight-fishing a real possibility during the latter rounds or competition. On Wednesday, however, anglers have had only marginal success with the usually productive technique.
A total of 611 bass weighing 1,006 pounds, 9 ounces were caught Wednesday and more than 99 percent where released alive. If the tour maintains a 98-percent live release rate throughout the season, Energizer will donate $25,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network.
Competition on Beaver Lake continues at 7 a.m. Thursday at Prairie Creek Marina in Rogers followed by a 3 p.m. weigh-in. Friday’s semifinal-round takeoff from Prairie Creek Marina starts at 7 a.m. followed by a 5 p.m. weigh-in at the Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 2110 West Walnut in Rogers. Immediately following Friday’s weigh-in, country singing sensation Brad Paisley will perform a free concert. Saturday’s takeoff begins at 6:30 a.m. followed by a 2 p.m. weigh-in at Wal-Mart.
A Family Fun Zone in the Wal-Mart parking lot opens at 3 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday. The Fun Zone offers fishing enthusiasts a chance to meet some of the nation’s top anglers, collect autographs and receive expert fishing advice. There are also plenty of children’s games to entertain the family. Admission to the concert, Fun Zone and weigh-ins is free. Weigh-ins and a portion of the Fun Zone are housed inside a heated or air conditioned tent in case of inclement weather.