Quick Bites: FLW Lake Okeechobee, Day 3

Bolton breaks his Okeechobee curse, Kennedy and Rojas try to rid themselves of some proverbial monkeys, and rookies rule the school on day three

Wal-Mart FLW Tour

Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.

Semifinal round, Friday

Revenge is sweet … Prior to the FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee, Yamaha pro Terry Bolton joked that his record on the lake was so bad that his sponsors would be better off to support him as coach of a girls’ softball team instead of a pro on the Big O. Indeed, Bolton’s record at Okeechobee is almost comical: In seven previous FLW Tour events here, Bolton has finished lower than 100th place five times, including 158th just last season. What gives? “I guess after all these years of getting my teeth kicked in, it finally turned around,” he said.

Rookies strike again … Okeechobee has been good to the rookies this week. On the pro side, Bobby Lane is currently fifth in his first-ever FLW Tour event, and co-angler Dwight Ameling of Sebring, Fla., earned $20,000 Friday as winner of the Co-angler Division in his first shot at the FLW Tour. Other rookies who made the top 10 include co-anglers Dino Caporuscio of Coto de Caza, Calif., Bill Rogers of Jasper, Texas, Bob Bjorklund of Aurora, Colo., and Russ Osborne of Orlando, Fla.

Bye bye, monkey … Steve Kennedy’s top-10 appearance at this week’s Okeechobee event breathed some life back into his FLW Tour career after a drop in momentum following his win on Kentucky Lake in 2003. Though Kennedy continues to reign supreme in the EverStart Series Southeast Division, posting back-to-back top-five rankings, Kennedy has found the FLW Tour a bit more daunting. Nevertheless, the last time Kennedy found himself in the FLW Tour top 10 he wound up $100,000 richer. That would buy plenty of new outfits for his well-known and well-dressed Jack Russell terrier, Louie.

Close but no cigar … Though Steve Kennedy has tasted victory in the past, Dean Rojas remains hungry despite finishing in the top 10 four previous times on the FLW Tour. Today on the weigh-in stage, Rojas indicated he wants to put yet another trophy on the mantle: Land O’Lakes Angler of the Year. Rojas has only competed in two complete seasons on the FLW Tour, and both times he ranked in the top 10, including his third-place ranking in 2002. Could this be his year?

First time for everything … More than half of the top 10 pro contenders are making their first appearances in an FLW Tour final round. Kelly Jordon, Chad Grigsby, Toshinari Namiki, Greg Pugh, Jerry Green and Bobby Lane have never before found themselves still competing on the final two days until this week, though several have come close in the past. Pugh, however, is no stranger to the finals in other trails, posting an impressive 13 top-10s in the EverStart Series and Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League.

Quick numbers

20,000: Number of dollars Dwight Ameling claimed as the co-angler winner.

7: Number of ounces that separate pro leader Steve Kennedy from second-place competitor Dean Rojas.

14: Terry Bolton’s previous best finish on Lake Okeechobee, his nemesis.

94-3: Total weight, in pounds and ounces, of fish caught by the pros Friday.

28-15: Total weight, in pounds and ounces, of fish caught by the co-anglers Friday.

6: Total number of five-bass limits caught by the pros.

1: Total number of five-bass limits caught by the co-anglers.

Sound bites

“Got some rocks in your pocket you want to put in there too?” – “FLW Outdoors” co-host Charlie Evans to co-angler William Bridges, who weighed in only one fish totaling 1 pound, 8 ounces.

“I’ve been a great guide the past couple of days.” – Pro Bobby Lane, on fishing with co-anglers who caught some seriously heavy bass on Okeechobee, including co-angler winner Dwight Ameling and top-10 finisher William Bridges.

“Maybe live bait.” – Toshinari Namiki’s humorously evasive answer to Charlie Evans’ inquiry as to what Namiki would use to catch his fish on the final day. Live bait is not permitted on the FLW Tour.

“I did a lot of praying when I had him on the line.” – Terry Bolton describing the catch of his 8-pound, 14-ounce bass.

“It looks like lawn mowers have mowed this place down.” – Bobby Lane, on the disappearing act of the previously prolific Okeechobee grass.

“Gonna let the puppies out.” – Pedigree pro Greg Pugh, who didn’t exactly let the dogs out on day three but still wound up in fourth.

Tomorrow’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. EST at Roland Martin’s Marina, located at 920 E. Del Monte Ave. in Clewiston, Fla.