Guarded in victory

National Guard team angler Justin Lucas captures first place at FLW Series National Guard Western Division event on Columbia River

TRI-CITIES, Wash. – In tournament bass fishing, there are very few true storybook endings. However, when today’s co-angler competition had finally concluded on the Columbia River, few could argue that the outcome didn’t seem like a scripted made-for-TV event. Competing as a member of the National Guard fishing team, Justin Lucas of Folsom, Calif., blew away his main rivals to secure the second major tournament title of his young career and walk away with a $25,000 first-place prize.

Of course as luck would have it, this was all accomplished at the suddenly aptly titled FLW Series National Guard Western Division event on the Columbia River.

“If I could have had a perfect day, it would have been today. And today was a perfect day,” said Lucas, who was flanked onstage by numerous camouflage-clad members of the Army National Guard. “It’s just such an honor. I have family in the military, so this is really special to me. I have goose bumps. Words can’t explain it.”

Lucas, who ultimately turned in a three-day catch weighing 34 pounds, 8 ounces, claimed his second victory in two years – adding to his first-place finish at the Stren Series Western Division event on Lake Shasta in 2006.

And to think, Lucas has now accomplished all of this at the ripe old age of 21.

“You have to be so lucky to win one of these,” said Lucas, sounding far too mature for his years. “The Columbia River is just a great fishery. You’re always around fish. And as a co-angler, that’s really important. No matter where your pro is fishing, you always have some water you can cast to.”

Lucas said that the key to victory was staying disciplined all week, sticking with one technique no matter how many bites he got at any one location.

“I was dragging a creature bait on a Carolina rig and just staying with it all day long,” he said. “You have to have 100-percent confidence in that technique if you’re going to fish that way. I would do it all day long and keep getting my seven to 10 bites each day. But I had to be patient.”

After grinding it out with 172 co-anglers all week, things quickly fell in place for Lucas at the start of today’s competition.

“I had my limit – about 10 pounds – at about 9:30 or 10 a.m.,” he said. “And that really took the pressure off me. I could then just concentrate the rest of the day on catching bigger fish.”

And, ultimately, a tournament title.

Stafford falls to second

Day-two leader Brian Stafford of Fairfield, Calif., realized he was in the driver’s seat heading into today’s finals. Boasting a nearly 3-pound lead over Lucas, Stafford knew one day of good fishing was all that stood in the way of his very first tournament title. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

“I knew kind of early on things weren’t going that well,” said Stafford. “My pro took us 40 miles upriver to a spot where he’d caught about 12 pounds the day before, but we just couldn’t get bit. It was about a 50-minute ride up there, so we’re definitely behind the Eight-ball from the start. Eventually, we left and came back down to the marina, and that’s where I caught my only three fish. But I didn’t even get my first fish in the boat until 1 p.m. And I wound up catching my third fish on the last cast of the day. We definitely struggled.”

However, despite the heartbreaking finish, Stafford said he had no regrets.

“I’m not one bit disappointed,” he said. “My pro was great, and he really tried to help me get a limit. We just couldn’t get it done. But I have to say, I’m truly am happy for Jason. This win is really going to help his career. As for me, I got a chance to drive down here and fish with my son. What else can you ask for?”

Uyema turns tables on friends, takes third

Heading into the Columbia River event, Edgar Uyema of West Hills, Calif., acknowledged that had virtually no expectations. For starters, he’d never fished the river in his life. Then, during practice, he’d only managed to catch a measly three keepers the entire time. To make matters worse, his friends weren’t exactly all that supportive of his angling troubles.

“I was really scared coming into this tournament, as I’d never been here before. Then in practice, everyone else seemed to be catching fish but me,” said Uyema. “All of my friends were making fun of me. They kept saying, `You can’t catch fish on the Columbia River? What’s wrong with you?'”

Adding insult to injury was the fact that, prior to the tournament, Uyema had been cajoled into putting $50 into a four-man betting pool. The rules: Whoever ultimately recorded the best finish on the Columbia River got to keep all the money. Period.

But as luck would have it, Uyema’s fortunes slowly began to change. After day one, Uyema found himself tied for 11th place. After day two, he’d climbed to sixth. And during the finals – what do you know? – Uyema finished in third place overall with an impressive three-day total of 29 pounds, 7 ounces – a weight which would have been good enough for a top-30 finish in the Pro Division.

“This was my best finish ever, so I’m happy,” said Uyema.

Although Uyema ultimately walked away with an $8,000 check from FLW Outdoors, it was pretty apparent that the $200 payday he will be receiving shortly from friends will be just as satisfying.

“Oh yeah,” said Uyema.

Rest of the best

Christopher Ricci of Bend, Ore., finished in fourth place with a total catch of 26 pounds, 14 ounces, while Wade Headrick of Draper, Utah, took fifth place with a total catch of 26 pounds, 13 ounces.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers at the Columbia River event:

6th: Rodney Rinta of Chehalis, Wash., 26-3

7th: Raymond Lehrman of Kennewick, Wash., 26-1

8th: Michael Spencer of Alpine, Calif., 26-1

9th: Justin Soppe of Middleton, Idaho, 26-0

10th: Mark Jacobs of Seattle, Wash., 25-3

The final day of FLW Series competition in the Pro Division begins Saturday at 6:30 a.m. Pacific time at Columbia Point Marina, located at 660 Columbia Point Drive in Richland, Wash.