Quick Bites: FLW Tour Pickwick Lake, Day 3

Wal-Mart FLW Tour

Pickwick Lake, Florence, Ala.

Semifinal round, Friday

Bun in the oven … Dave Lefebre may have only brought in two bass today, but his time at the scales produced one of the most memorable moments of today’s weigh-in when he not only announced his wife Anne’s pregnancy, but added, “We haven’t told too many people yet.” What a way to announce it. Anne described her reaction as, “Shock. Jaw-dropping utter disbelief.” But to be truthful, Anne didn’t really mind. “I’m happy, because now everybody knows and won’t be thinking, `She’s getting fat!'” … The bundle of Lefebre joy is expected to arrive in September and will join big brother Mitchell, who’s 3.

Meet the cucumber … This event’s top 10 reads like a who’s who of pro bass fishing, with a field full of winners and even former points champions. The only one of the 10 who has never before made an FLW Tour cut is leader George Jeane Jr., and he sat on stage today and showcased a steely set of nerves. “I wasn’t intimidated at all,” Jeane said of the heavyweights he is fishing against. “I don’t get intimidated. I go out and fish like I fish, and it works out for me.” Jeane’s cool-as-a-cucumber style belies his rookie status, as the Louisiana pro is fishing his first year of FLW Tour competition after earning his way here via the Stren Series. And though he may not be intimidated himself, he tried his hand at intimidation today, revealing he hasn’t even hit his best spots despite his 2-pound-plus lead. “I’m going to hope the wind lets me fish a little bit,” he said of his plans for tomorrow. “I couldn’t fish any of the good spots I found in practice.”

Mama’s back … In the Feb. 11 edition of Quick Bites, we wrote about how Brennan Bosley’s mother – perhaps the most enthusiastic fan in all of bass fishing – was not there to witness his top-10 performance and near-win at Lake Murray. Here on Pickwick Lake, Bosley is in the top 10 yet again, but this time, his proud mama is there to cheer him on. “The cheerleader in me has never left,” says Donna Bosley, who can be seen at all of Brennan’s tour stops decked out in her Wet Ones outfit to support his primary sponsor. She is also well-known among the regulars for being the loudest spectator in the crowd. “I am a very happy person, and I enjoy this,” she said. “It’s so much fun.” Says her husband Bill, “She’s been that way her whole life, no matter what Brennan’s doing.” … Indeed, Donna says it was she who taught Brennan how to fish, and she and Bill supported Brennan from the get-go when he came home from college and announced he wanted to fish. “He came home and asked us what we’d think if he fished for a year,” she said. “When Bill and I quit laughing, we decided that a lot of other graduates were working in Colorado at the resorts, or had gone to Florida to work in the sun, so why not fish for a year? That’s been about eight years ago.”

Tough bite explained … With three career top-10 finishes on Pickwick Lake and its surrounding fisheries, Dan Morehead knows a thing or two about how to catch a fish around here. Even though he has already scored a top-10 finish this week, he struggled a bit today, bringing in only 3 pounds, 5 ounces of bass. As to why the bite is so difficult this week, even for a Pickwick veteran like himself, Morehead offers several explanations. “Having a tournament here the first week of March is pushing it,” he said. “It’s just warming up. That’s why you’re not seeing the better catches.” The weather is also behind his second reason for the stingy bite. “All the river systems are clearer than I’ve ever seen,” he said. “We haven’t had much rain.” … Morehead’s last top-10 appearance here came at a Stren Series event in 2004, where he finished second. He says he plans to milk that some spot in hopes of reclaiming some of its mojo. “I’m going back to Wilson,” he said. “I’ve got fond memories there. If I do great, great. If I don’t, I’ll go down swinging.”

Monkey business … No. 3 pro Andy Morgan has put together one of the most illustrious careers in FLW Outdoors history, with a litany of success in the BFL, the Stren Series and the FLW Tour. One item not on his resume, however, is an FLW Tour win, and he has put himself in a good position to claim it as he enters the final day in third place on a fishery where he has claimed seven top-10 finishes and two wins in 11 years. (Those stats include tournaments based out of Guntersville Lake.) “I feel pretty confident,” Morgan said of his chances. “I’ve won BASS, (Stren Series) events – everything but this.” When asked if he considered the gap in his resume a monkey on his back, he responded, “Yes – bad. It isn’t about the money, though I’d spend it. I want the peace of mind that I’ve won one of these son of a guns.” … Morgan is currently 3 pounds, 13 ounces behind Jeane heading into the final day.

Quick numbers:

2: Number of former Anglers of the Year in this week’s top 10 – David Walker from 1999 and Morehead from 2003.

3: Number of former FLW Tour winners in the top 10 – Jim Moynagh, Morehead, and Tommy Biffle.

31: Jeane’s finish at the 2005 Stren Series Championship, held last fall on this same fishery.

1: Number of co-anglers who brought in a five-fish limit on day three – winner Ken Keirsey.

3-15: Keirsey’s margin of victory over Shannon Fletcher, in pounds and ounces.

Sound bites:

“They can’t help it they were too short.” – No. 7 co-angler Arch Cornett, discussing the 20 to 30 short fish he caught today. He only weighed in one keeper.

“He had a few jokes, and that’s about it.” – No. 3 co-angler Alex Ormand, who fished with Keebler pro Lefebre today, after being asked if Lefebre had any Keebler cookies on board.

“It would my wife.” – The stoic Jeane, when asked if a $100,000 paycheck would excite him.

“I rode that horse about as far as she could go.” – Morehead, discussing his opening-round pattern.

“My knuckles are getting sore, knocking on the door too long.” – The ever-competitive Lefebre, anxiously awaiting his second FLW Tour victory.

Tomorrow’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. Central time at McFarland Park, located on James M. Spain Drive in Florence, Ala.