It’s Mullikin, again
Florida co-angler wins two in a row on Big O
CLEWISTON, Fla. – Just three weeks ago Larry Mullikin of Lauderhill, Fla., won the Co-angler Division of the Walmart FLW Series on Lake Okeechobee.
On Saturday, he made it two FLW Outdoors wins in a row by claiming victory – again on the Big O – in the Stren Series Southeast event.
In the FLW Series event, Mullikin brought in the Big Bass in the Co-angler Division on day three to secure his title. Today it was deja vu as Mullikin brought just one bass to the scales – a monstrous 8-pound, 10-ounce Big O lunker – that propelled him to the top with a three-day total of 33 pounds, 9 ounces.
“I’m speechless,” said Mullikin, who earned a new Ranger boat for his win. “I can’t believe this all happened again, just like last time. To win two tournaments in a row with the Big Bass on the last day – that’s just crazy.”
When referring to his winning baits, Mullikin simply said, “Same exact lures as last time.”
What he means by that is his favorite collection of Reactions Innovations lures including a Skinny Dipper, Trixie Shark and Screwed-Up Bullet. His best colors this time around included Houdini, black with red flake and Bad Shad.
“Those Reaction Innovations folks are good people,” Mullikin said. “After I won the last tournament, they sent me a whole bunch of the Skinny Dippers and Trixie Sharks in my favorite colors, and that’s what I used to win again today.”
Mullikin qualified for the top 10 by catching the biggest limit of the Co-angler Division on day two, weighing 19 pounds, 9 ounces.
His winning lunker came within the first 30 minutes of his fishing day today.
“I actually caught it on a Trixie Shark in Bad Shad,” Mullikin said of the 8-10 monster. “It’s similar to a Skinny Dipper, except it’s got twin flappers instead of a single paddle tail.”
Interestingly, similar to the pro winner, Kevin Long, Mullikin revealed that a faster 7.1:1 ratio reel (Shimano Curado) was a key to his success.
In addition, he used Stren 50-pound braided line and Tru-Turn 4/0 and 5/0 hooks in the soft swimbaits.
Other top-fivers
Darren Jeter of Marshall, N.C., caught the biggest limit of all anglers (pros and co-anglers) on day three, weighing 16 pounds, 8 ounces, to rally from 10th place to second with a three-day total of 32 pounds, 7 ounces. His finish was worth $3,912.
“I made a run at it,” said Jeter, who missed winning by 1 pound, 2 ounces.
Jeter’s big day came while fishing with pro Bryan Honnerlaw.
“Bryan is a super guy – nicest guy in the world,” Jeter said of his pro partner. “I fished with him at a BFL Regional at Lake Seminole, and we had a great day together. Today was the same kind of day: We both caught good fish.”
Jeter made the finals by fishing a Texas-rigged Brush Hog on day two. But his big day-three limit came on – you guessed it – a Skinny Dipper (Houdini and June bug), spooled on 50-pound braid and rigged with a Screwed-Up Bullet.
“The key I found with the Skinny Dipper is to give the fish slack when they bite it,” Jeter offered. “If you jerk when they bite, you’ll miss them. But if you pause, give slack and feel the bite before you set, then you’ll get them.”
Keith Whipple of Iuka, Miss., finished third with a three-day total of 30 pounds, 8 ounces worth $2,934.
Robert Wood of Jupiter, Fla., finished fourth with a three-day total of 25 pounds, 13 ounces for $2,445.
Luke Campbell of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., rounded out the top five with a three-day total of 25 pounds, 5 ounces worth $2,201.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers in the Stren Series event on Lake Okeechobee:
6th: Scott Dingwall of Kenora, Ont., three-day total of 22-10, $1,956
7th: Greg Knick of Ansonia, Ohio, three-day total of 20-1, $1,712
8th: Shannon McGehee of Trenton, Fla., three-day total of 18-10, $1,467
9th: Tony Bennett of Indianapolis, three-day total of 18-3, $1,223
10th: William Wood of West Palm Beach, Fla., three-day total of 16-13, $978
Coming up
The next Stren Series event in the Southeast Division will be held on Santee Cooper April 30-May 2.