LEESBURG, Fla. -- Capitalizing on a last-minute bass weighing more than 10 pounds, Bill Lowen of North Bend, Ohio, built a limit of 21 pounds, 10 ounces, Thursday at the Sunshine Showdown bass fishing tournament on the Harris Chain, and leads his nearest competitor, Bryan Hudgins of Orange Park, Fla., by mere ounces.
The 33-year-old Lowen boated the Big Bass of the Day, a 10-6 brute, just minutes before heading back to weigh his fish. He buttressed his total with other modest bass caught from an area located more than 30 minutes from the launch site.
"I didn't even see the fish hit my bait," Lowen said of the big bass. "It was just a magical day and I can't wait to get back out there tomorrow."
Still, Lowen lamented losing two fish early in the day. The pro has a top finish of fourth in BASS competition and has amassed nearly $200,000 in career earnings. A win in the first Elite Series event of 2008 would earn him $100,000.
While Lowen experienced boat traffic in the primary area he was fishing, he said he was able to execute with a totally different method than his competitors. He played it close to the vest on the specifics.
Despite a limited practice period due to a bout with the flu, Hudgins capitalized on his local knowledge catching 21 pounds, 6 ounces. The 28-year-old built a strong limit by 10:30 a.m. targeting bedding fish in isolated clumps.
He spent the remainder of the day searching for an additional pattern to add to his weight. He was encouraged about the rest of the four-day event after locating some additional fish.
"It was just one of those days where everything went well," Hudgins said. "I got some good strikes early and I was able to execute. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
Hudgins is in his second year in the Elite Series and scored his highest finish in BASS competition on the Harris Chain at a 2006 Elite WildCard event. He has amassed just more than $100,000 in career earnings, and a win at the Harris Chain would nearly double that.
In third was rookie Billy Brewer of Bruceville, Texas, with 20 pounds, 7 ounces. Brewer, an ex-Major League Baseball player who had stints with the Kansas City Royals and Philadelphia Phillies, also battled sickness. He persevered and flipped a Gambler Craw, catching two 7-pound bass on consecutive casts.
Rounding out the top five was Dean Rojas of Grand Saline, Texas, with 18 pounds, 2 ounces, and Dave Wolak of Wake Forest, N.C., with 17 pounds, 12 ounces.
In addition to the season-opening title, pros are building points in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. The winner of the event, based on finishes in the 11 Elite events, will earn $250,000. The top 36 anglers in the standings will sew up berths in the 2009 Bassmaster Classic.
In the co-angler division, Jim McDevitt of Missouri boated four fish weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces and leads his nearest competitor, Wes Hood of Virginia, by more than 1 pound. Jimmy Sparks of Alabama was third with 12 pounds, 13 ounces. Co-anglers are competing for a top prize of $25,000.
Fresh off his 2008 Bassmaster Classic victory, Texan Alton Jones is in 64th with 8 pounds, 14 ounces. Florida stalwarts Terry Scroggins (78th) and Peter Thliveros (100th) struggled in the season-opening event.
Location and Field
Sunshine Showdown
Harris Chain of Lakes
Leesburg , Fla.
March 6-9, 2008Field
109 pros, 109 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3Launch/Weigh-in
Venetian Gardens
250 Ball Park Road
Leesburg , FL 34748
7:30 a.m. ET / 4 p.m. ET