Quick Bites: FLW Tour Lake Murray, Day 4

Wal-Mart FLW Tour

Lake Murray, Columbia, S.C.

Final round, Saturday

Into the record books … Jeff Coble’s 1996 one-day record of 29 pounds, 6 ounces in FLW Tour competition was dramatically smashed today on Lake Murray. Tim Carroll is responsible for ousting Coble. Carroll’s day-four, record-breaking, 30-pound, 15-ounce stringer was amazingly not enough to win and not even enough for second, but his 45-pound, 10-ounce two-day total did take third place. In fact, no fewer than three anglers – Anthony Gagliardi, Brennan Bosley and Carroll – brought in more than 45 pounds. Bosley’s runner-up two-day total weighed 45 pounds, 12 ounces, and the biggest one of all belonged to winner Gagliardi, who hauled in a jaw-dropping 47 pounds, 4 ounces. Lake Murray also owns the tour’s opening-round weight record of 49-8, set by pro Darrel Robertson of Jay, Okla., during the tour’s last stop there in 2003. “It’s been a whirlwind,” a still-stunned Carroll said of being a part of such a record-breaking weigh-in. “My first was a 4-pounder, and my second was that big 8-pounder, and I knew I was on my way. It was emotional.” Bosley, too, could not yet process the magnitude of the day’s phenomenal weigh-in. “It’s an awesome experience,” he said. “I set a personal-best record on day two, and my previous personal best was on Lake Murray. Then to see it broken again and again was unreal.”

Homecoming king … Gagliardi has finished an FLW Tour event in the No. 1 position before, winning $100,000 back in 2004 on Kentucky Lake. But this time, the victory was right at home, and the West Columbia Wal-Mart tent was packed to capacity today to watch the Prosperity, S.C., angler take home the crown. A good percentage of the weigh-in crowd were personal friends and family of Gagliardi’s, making the win – and the dramatics that led up to it – all the more meaningful. “I’ve been to a lot of great places, but there is not one place I’m more proud to call home than this place right here,” he said. His wife of eight months, Kristin, was on hand for the celebrations, and she said her husband’s $200,000 winnings will go toward building their first home. “This is just a dream,” she said. “We’re newlyweds, and now we can really start building. I am just speechless.” … Yesterday, Gagliardi seemed impervious to the home-lake pressure, calling it instead a blessing because of the intense local support. “I enjoy it,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve had a home crowd cheering me on. I really don’t feel the pressure people say come with being the hometown favorite – it’s just people wanting you to do well. I’m pleased.”

Benton brothers … Both Bosley and No. 5 pro Jeremiah Kindy hail from Benton, Ark., and the two are also traveling partners who prefish together and share information on what’s working on any given lake. So now that the two were competing for the $200,000 top prize, how did that affect their relationship? “We’re very competitive, but we’re just like brothers,” Kindy said. “Two is better than one a lot of times.” Bosley concurs. “We are pretty competitive, but when it comes tournament day, either of us will do anything to help the other win,” he said. “We’ve even borrowed baits from each other on the water.” Bosley walked away from the tournament with $100,000 as the No. 2 pro, and Kindy earned $30,000 for fifth place. Kindy said that unlike a select few other traveling partners, the two don’t split their winnings. “Right now I kind of wish we were,” he said with a laugh.

Mama’s boy … As anyone who frequently attends FLW Tour weigh-ins can attest, Bosley is the son of one proud mama. She can be found at pretty much every tournament, hooting and hollering in support of her son and proudly wearing outfits featuring the logo of his primary sponsor, Wet Ones. So her absence this week, particularly considering Bosley’s success, was notable. “She had a trip planned for a year to Park City, Utah,” Bosley explained. “My dad tried to change the reservations, but she wouldn’t let him because she was scared it was going to jinx me.” So how did she take missing the highlight of her son’s career? “I just talked to her on the phone, and she was crying so much that I couldn’t understand her,” Bosley said. “But she got to watch it on the Internet.”

Laster takes points lead … Following the conclusion of this week’s Chevy Open, Missouri pro Ralph Laster Jr. sits atop the standings list with 378 points for the season. He finished the tournament in 11th place. Behind him in second is Gagliardi with 371 points, with Mike Hawkes trailing them with 359.

Quick numbers:

39-15: Difference, in pounds and ounces, of winner Gagliardi’s two-day stringer and Terry Segraves’ 10th-place two-day weight.

156-13: Total weight brought in on day four by the top 10 pros.

84: Weight, in pounds, brought in by the top three pros alone.

8-9: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of the day’s heaviest bass, caught by Carroll.

Sound bites:

“Well, Lebo, I don’t know that I am the underdog. I’m on top right now.” – Day-three leader Bosley, when asked by TV host Keith Lebowitz before the weigh-in started how it felt to be the underdog to hometown favorite – and, at the time, No. 2 – Gagliardi.

“I have a feeling something big is about to happen.” – No. 4 pro David Wolak, making a very accurate prediction after he weighed out.

“I promised my first-graders I’d buy them all ice cream if he won.” – Kristin Gagliardi, on her plans for her husband’s $200,000 paycheck.

“It’s a horrible day outside, and they filled the tent.” – Bosley, commenting on the enthusiastic South Carolinans who came out in droves to watch today’s weigh-in despite a cold, rainy weather conditions.