Fabiszak wins FLW Series co-angler title
Indiana co-angler takes his third FLW Outdoors victory
CLEWISTON, Fla. – Ron Fabiszak of South Bend, Ind., won the Co-angler Division of the Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern Division event on Lake Okeechobee with a three-day total of 31 pounds, 8 ounces.
This makes Fabiszak’s third major win as a co-angler. He has also won Stren Series Midwest events on the Mississippi River and Kentucky Lake.
This time around, however, Fabiszak won $25,000 cash including a $5,000 bonus for being a Ranger Boat owner.
“This feels pretty good,” said Fabiszak, a 37-year-old ceramic tile installer. “I’m going to put this money in the bank and save it.”
The Indiana co-angler shared a boat with pro Jason Knapp of Uniontown, Pa., today to catch his day-three weight of 9 pounds, 2 ounces.
“Jason was really good to me today,” he said. “He’s a great guy.”
Fabiszak caught his fish throughout the week on Gambler Aces rigged wacky style and Gambler Cane toads.
“I used the Ace most of the week,” he said. “But today, Jason made one last stop before we came in, and I caught my two biggest fish on the Cane Toad in the last 30 minutes.”
Blaylock second
Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., finished second with a three-day total of 27 pounds, 12 ounces, taking home $10,000.
Blaylock got off to great start of day one when he caught an 8-pound bass while fishing with pro David Walker.
“I caught that big one right off the bat on a black-and-red flake tube,” Blaylock said. “And that got rolling.”
Today he fished with pro Timothy Little, throwing a Kinami crankbait in canals to catch a limit weighing 10 pounds, 7 ounces.
“I had one other big one and it came off, but that’s the way fishing goes,” he added.
Caraballo, Bishop, Phillips round out top five
Jess Caraballo of Danbury, Conn., finished third with a three-day total of 22 pounds, 13 ounces and collected $9,000.
Danny Bishop of Buchanan, Ga., finished fourth with a three-day total of 22 pounds, 4 ounces worth $8,000.
Mark Phillips of Fayetteville, Ark., finished fifth with a three day total of 21 pounds, 13 ounces for $7,000.
Rest of the best
6th: Joe Partain of Farmington, Ark., three-day total of 21-7, $6,000
7th: James Richardson Sr. of Harrison, Ohio, three-day total of 21-1, $5,000
8th: Kurt Chelminiak of Delafield, Wis., three-day total of 20-10, $4,000
9th: Tony Haymon of Penney Farms, Fla., three-day total of 20-2, $3,000
10th: Jim Smith of Georgetown, Ken., three-day total of 19-15, $2,000
Big bass
Tony Haymon of Penney Farms, Fla., landed the Snickers Big Bass of the day in the Co-angler Division that weighed 9 pounds, 9 ounces.