Quick Bites: FLW Tour, Lake Norman, Day 3

Wal-Mart FLW Tour

Lake Norman, Charlotte, N.C.

Third round, Saturday

Long overdue … He brought 15 top-10 finishes into day three, but when the dust settled on the co-angler weigh-ins, David Hudson of Jasper, Ala., finally added the elusive “W” to his record. Making the top-10 cut in fourth place, Hudson bagged a limit weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces to edge out second-place finisher Mark Swink by an ounce. Hudson’s win was clearly an emotional moment as he choked back tears to recognize his wife, Deborah, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in February. Surgery successfully removed the tumor, and Deborah has made such a thorough recovery that she will not have to endure radiation or chemotherapy. Asked where he’ll spend his $40,000 prize, David pointed to his wife and said, “Wherever she wants.”

Getting his kicks … Art Ferguson of St. Clair Shores, Mich., has managed to pluck a bass of 4 pounds or better from Lake Norman every day of the tournament. His 6-5 on day two put him in sixth place, and a solid 4 1/2-pounder on day three anchored a limit weighing 10-13. Although he would have liked an even heavier day-three bag, he’s optimistic that he can keep his kicker streak alive for one more day. “I didn’t put anything with (today’s big fish), but I left a couple of big fish, so there’s no telling what will happen here tomorrow.” Ferguson’s big-fish strategy: Think outside the box. “I’ve just been keeping an open mind and going to new areas every day. Yesterday, I went to a completely different area. Instead of going to where I knew fish were, I went to a new area, and it paid off with my two biggest fish today. I found these fish yesterday with 10 minutes left, didn’t feel like I could catch them, went in there today and caught them.”

Junior Warriors … Sixteen-year-old Tyler Rice and 17-year-old Bryan Champion won the National Guard Ultimate Warrior Challenge held prior to the day-three weigh-ins. Eleven teams from Charlotte-area high schools and military academies competed in a quartet of events: Ropes Course, Shooting Challenge, Balance Challenge and Rock Wall. The winners received medals and Apple iPods. “It feels great – I feel like I’m on top of the world,” said Champion. Noting that the Balance Challenge was the most difficult, he said the key to success was diligence and teamwork. National Guardsman Bryan McFarland, who coordinated the event, said: “We like to show these kids the opportunities that the National Guard presents, while giving them a fun, challenging and exciting tournament. We try to instill in them the values that they would need to make it in the National Guard and show them how those (attributes) transfer into everyday life.”

Fantasyland … FLW Outdoors awarded the second $100,000 Fantasy Fishing prize to Reginald Pickett of Greensboro, N.C., who tallied the most points from the Tour event at Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake, April 3-6. Pickett said he utilizes the in-depth information in the Player’s Advantage option for deeper insight into an angler’s performance history. Pickett noted: “For example, Lake Norman is a really clear lake, and some of these guys sight-fish better than others. So, the Player’s Advantage gives you a better look at what they can do.” FLW’s Jason Harper asked Pickett if he has plans for how he’ll spend his prize money. “I’ve got so many new friends now,” Pickett joked. “Everybody want a loan, baby needs new shoes.”

Quick numbers:

4: Number of Team Coppertone members who pumped up the crowd with trivia questions and team gear giveaways prior to the weigh-ins.

2,500: Combined horsepower flanking the FLW weigh-in stage, courtesy of Evinrude and Yamaha.

1: Number of female competitors to make the top-10 cut at Lake Norman. Deirdre Davison of Tega Cay, S.C., placed fourth in the Co-angler Division.

2: Number of pros making their second consecutive top-10 appearance in an FLW Tour event. Scott Canterbury, currently in third place, finished second at Alabama’s Lewis Smith Lake on April 6. Greg Pugh (fifth at Norman) took fifth at Smith.

1: Weight, in ounces, that separated first and second place, as well as fourth and fifth in the co-angler finals.

9: Number pro limits.

3: Number of co-angler limits.

Sound bites:

“You should try it, because this could be you.” – FLW Fantasy Fishing winner Pickett, encouraging weigh-in spectators to participate in the online program that awarded him $100,000.

“One more squeaker would have been nice.” – Third-place co-angler Chad Pipkens, on missing a limit by one fish.

“I don’t want to wish him bad luck – not really.” – Co-angler winner Hudson, joked as his final competitor, Dirk Davenport, weighed his catch.

“I try just as hard for a $100 tournament as I do for these big events.” – Second-place proJim Moynagh, responding to recognition of his accomplished career.

“The best way to learn about bass fishing is from the back of the boat.” – Ninth-place co-angler Butch Zadlo, noting the strong learning experience of fishing with Tour pros.

Day four of FLW Tour action on Lake Norman continues at Sunday’s takeoff, scheduled to take place at 6:30 a.m. EDT at Blythe Landing Marina, located at 15901 NC Highway 73, Huntersville, NC.