Snavely snares co-angler title at Wheeler

Tennessee co-angler takes home $25,000 for FLW Series win

DECATUR, Ala. – Derrick Snavely of Rogersville, Tenn., won the Co-angler Division of the Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern event on Wheeler Lake with a three-day total of 35 pounds 1 ounce.

Since he was Ranger-contingency qualified, Snavely took home a grand total of $25,000 cash for his win.

Fishing in only the second FLW Series tournament of his career, the 27-year-old insurance salesman from Tennessee checked in weights of 14-2, 8-13 and 12-2.

“I can’t believe it; I’m still in shock,” said Snavely after his win. “I got fifth at Okeechobee, and I just won this one – this is amazing.

“I have to thank three first-class pro partners for this win: Jason Hampson, Jim Dillard and Kenny Holloway – they were all top-notch guys. On day two, Jim Dillard actually held the boat in the wind and did not fish so I could make a few key casts to some of his best stuff – that’s just true class.”

While fishing with Hampson on day one, Snavely scored a couple of big bass on an R&S jig pitched around docks. On day two, he held his own with a Spot Remover shaky head. And today, he caught his biggest bass on a Mimic crankbait.

“I don’t even know why I picked that crankbait up,” Snavely recalled. “I really haven’t thrown it much all week, and for some reason, out of the blue, I just picked it up and fired it across a cove. The second cast I made with it I caught a 5-pounder – what a blessing.”

Snavely says he’s been looking to buy a house recently, and the prize money will come in handy as part of a down payment.

Chmolack runner-up

Rodney Chmolack of Phenix City, Ala., finished runner-up with a three-day total of 30 pounds, 5 ounces worth $9,134.

Chmolack spent the week fishing a Zoom Ultra-Vibe Speed Worm in green-pumpkin.

“I rig it with an 1/8-ounce weight on 18-pound-test Duel line and just swim it,” Chmolack said. “I fished with David Walker today, and he fished in water less than 5 feet deep most of the day, so it worked perfect in that kind of water.”

Third belongs to Niesciur

Bill Niesciur of Glenn Carbon, Ill., finished third with a three-day total of of 30 pounds, 2 ounces worth $8,381.

Niesciur spent the week fishing a Gambler Giggy Head rigged with a June-bug worm on 8-pound-test Berkley Trilene Fluorocarbon.

Tie at fourth

Kevin Koone of Greenbrier, Ark., ended up tied for fourth with a three-day total of 29 pounds, 6 ounces for $6,985.

Teddy Bradley of Mishawaka, Ind., also grabbed a fourth-place finish with 29-6; he, too, collected $6,985.

Big bass

Jacques Fleischmann of Shell Knob, Mo., caught the big bass in the Co-angler Division on day three weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers in the FLW Series on Wheeler Lake after day three:

6th: Rick Barham of Southaven, Miss., three-day total of 29-1, $5,588

7th: Dirk Davenport of Delaware, Ohio, three-day total of 29-0, $4,657

8th: Richard Rhodes of Calvert City, Ky., three-day total of 28-3, $3,726

9th: Jason Ober of Johnstown, Pa., three-day total of 28-1, $2,793

10th: Robert Wood of Jupiter, Fla., three-day total of 27-9, $1,892

Coming up

The next Wal-Mart FLW Series BP Eastern event will be held Sept. 10-13 on Lake Champlain in Plattsburgh, New York.