LEESBURG, Fla. - Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., came full circle Sunday as he took home the winner's trophy in the Bassmaster Elite Series' first bass tournament of the season, the Sunshine Showdown on the Harris Chain of Lakes, where his Bassmaster career started 20 years ago.
McClelland has two previous Elite Series wins, at Oklahoma's Grand Lake and Georgia's Clarks Hill Lake. With the victory Sunday, McClelland won $100,000, pushing his BASS career earnings to more than $845,000.
Fishing fans can watch McClelland's come-from-behind victory on ESPN2 Saturday, March 15, at 9 a.m. on The Bassmasters.
Brian Snowden of Reeds Spring, Mo., who held a seemingly insurmountable lead through Friday and Saturday's rounds, came up empty-handed on the final day and finished with 54-0 for the tournament. Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., wrapped up a strong week of fishing with a catch Sunday of 10 pounds, 10 ounces for a total of 53-4, to remain in third place, one spot ahead of his brother, Chris Lane of Winter Haven, Fla., who finished fourth with 52-10. Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu, Ariz., rounded out the top five with 48-13.
What had worked for Snowden so consistently through the first three days of the tournament failed him Sunday, as he had several bites but couldn't bring any of them to the boat. The two-day leader left Sunday's festivities promptly and quietly after his weigh-in.
After Saturday's gusting winds and tough conditions, Sunday proved to be a beautiful, clear day. By the final day of the tournament, the top 12 competitors all had realized that the key to solid fishing was to slow down.
Throughout the tournament, McClelland fished lily pads and grass on and around the Dead River and Lake Eustis, sticking with a Zoom trick worm all weekend. On Sunday he brought in a five-fish limit of 15 pounds, 0 ounces, for a four-day total of 59 pounds, 2 ounces.
"I didn't have a keeper until 11 o'clock," McClelland said. "I didn't panic, went to my secondary area, and that ended up being one of the best areas I had all week."
McClelland practiced at Harris Chain with fellow Elite Series pro Jeff Kriet, and the two had a lot of successful bites.
"He said, 'One of us is going to win this thing,' " McClelland said of Kriet. "After the first day, I thought, well, the opportunity may be there. He told me last night again, 'Dude you're going to win this thing.' I guess he's actually called it almost three times, Grand Lake, Clarks Hill and this one. It's just been one of those weeks of almost flawless fishing."
McClelland's first Bassmaster event was at Harris Chain in 1988, when Larry Nixon won.
"I caught the second 10-pound fish I'd caught in my life here," McClelland said. "This is where I basically started what is now my career. I've got a lot of memories of it, I have a lot of good things to say about this lake."
Day 1 leader Bill Lowen of North Bend, Ohio, earned a bonus $1,000 for Purolator Big Bass of the tournament for his 10-6 largemouth caught Thursday. Bobby Lane earned an additional $8,000 for the Berkley Heavyweight bag of the tournament for his 26-10 catch Friday.
With the win, McClelland takes the top position in the 2008 Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, the seasonlong chase that will determine the top 36 qualifiers for the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, with the AOY winning $250,000. The next stop on the Elite Series circuit is the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes out of Lake Wales, Fla., for the March 13-16 Citrus Slam.
2008 Sunshine Showdown 3/6-3/9
Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 20 59-02 305 $101,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 5 13-01 Day 4: 5 15-00
2. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 15 54-00 305 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 5 16-13 Day 4: 0 00-00
3. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 20 53-04 290 $34,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 26-09 Day 3: 5 08-11 Day 4: 5 10-10
4. Chris Lane Lakeland, FL 20 52-10 285 $20,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 19-12 Day 4: 5 11-07
5. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, AR 20 48-13 280 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 10-11 Day 3: 5 13-09 Day 4: 5 06-07
6. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 20 48-07 276 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 5 16-09 Day 4: 5 10-06
7. Rick Ash Pottstown, PA 18 44-10 272 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 3 06-08 Day 4: 5 07-10
8. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 20 44-07 268 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 07-15 Day 4: 5 09-08
9. Morizo Shimizu Osaka, CA 20 43-12 264 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 11-05 Day 4: 5 06-09
10. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 20 42-15 260 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 10-01 Day 4: 5 08-00
11. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 17 42-06 257 $11,867.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 24-09 Day 3: 4 04-04 Day 4: 3 03-05
12. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 15 35-05 254 $11,867.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 13-01 Day 4: 0 00-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 10-06 $1,000.00
2 Jim Murray Arabi, GA 09-08 $1,000.00
3 Chris Lane Lakeland, FL 06-12 $1,000.00
4 Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 04-13 $1,000.00
Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 10-06 $1,000.00
Day
1 Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 21-10 $1,000.00
2 Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 26-09 $1,000.00
3 Chris Lane Lakeland, FL 19-12 $1,000.00
4 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15-00 $1,000.00
Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 26-09 $8,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 515 1103-07
2 81 484 1082-01
3 21 189 353-12
4 9 48 88-14
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203 1236 2628-02
2008 Sunshine Showdown 3/6-3/9
Harris Chain of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jim McDevitt Eldon, MO 12 33-12 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 4 16-13 Day 2: 4 09-05 Day 3: 4 07-10
2. Fred Rigdon Belleview, FL 13 27-12 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 06-04 Day 2: 4 07-05 Day 3: 5 14-03
3. Gerald Smith Louisville, KY 12 25-08 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 2 06-05
4. Eric Peck Williamsburg, MI 12 22-14 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 5 09-01 Day 3: 2 07-05
5. Thomas Rogers Keller, TX 8 22-11 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 3 05-08 Day 3: 3 13-11
6. Ted Roberts Eustis, FL 8 21-08 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 3 10-05 Day 3: 1 01-03
7. Rob Newell Tallahassee, FL 11 21-06 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 06-14 Day 3: 2 03-07
8. Jeff Sullivan Frostproof, FL 11 21-05 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 3 04-14 Day 3: 3 04-13
9. Bryan Talmadge Pell City, AL 9 20-10 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 4 04-15 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 0 00-00
10. Ronald Green Tampa, SC 8 19-11 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 2 08-08 Day 2: 2 03-14 Day 3: 4 07-05
11. Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, AL 11 19-06 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 05-06 Day 3: 1 01-03
12. Brian Easler Inman, SC 11 19-01 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 10-08 Day 3: 1 00-12
13. William Wood West Palm Beach, FL 11 18-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 3 05-01 Day 3: 3 04-05
13. Steven Wisdom Birmingham, AL 7 18-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 11-04 Day 2: 1 02-03 Day 3: 2 05-08
15. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 11 18-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 07-06 Day 3: 1 02-04
16. Harry Potts Ozark, AL 12 18-05 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-03 Day 2: 3 03-00 Day 3: 4 06-02
16. Wes Hood Annandale, VA 8 18-05 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 2 01-12 Day 3: 1 01-00
18. Daren Mcdermott Saint Cloud, FL 11 17-09 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 5 07-06 Day 3: 3 03-02
19. David Lepsic Haines City, FL 12 16-01 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 05-12 Day 3: 2 03-00
20. Allen Hopper San Mateo, FL 7 15-05 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 1 02-14 Day 3: 3 07-03
21. Bill Milton Searcy, AR 9 15-04 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 3 03-10 Day 3: 1 01-10
22. Robert Lane Lakeland, FL 6 14-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 1 02-04
23. Doug Iorio Kennerdell, PA 7 14-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 1 01-02
24. James Ashcraft Orlando, FL 9 14-11 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 1 01-13 Day 3: 3 03-03
24. Thomas Martin Lady Lake, FL 4 14-11 0 $750.00
Day 1: 2 09-00 Day 2: 1 01-09 Day 3: 1 04-02
26. Ivan C Morris Virginia Beach, VA 7 14-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 4 06-15 Day 3: 1 03-14
27. Gil Phillips Alba, TX 8 13-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 2 03-11 Day 3: 1 00-14
28. Howard Stephens Columbia, SC 9 12-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 00-15 Day 2: 5 08-00 Day 3: 3 04-00
28. Bob Decker Clermont, FL 8 12-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 3 04-15
30. Mike Frazier Clermont, FL 8 12-11 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 06-15 Day 2: 2 02-04 Day 3: 2 03-08
31. Marcos Malucelli Fort Mill, SC 5 12-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 06-07 Day 2: 1 01-11 Day 3: 2 04-03
32. Kurtis Michaux Clermont, FL 9 11-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 5 06-03 Day 3: 2 01-12
33. Steven Bunt Wallkill, NY 8 11-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 01-14 Day 2: 5 06-11 Day 3: 1 02-12
34. Joan Arnal 46021 Valencia SPAIN 7 11-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 2 02-12 Day 3: 0 00-00
35. Vincent Dellolio Wesley Chapel, FL 7 10-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 2 01-14 Day 3: 1 01-09
36. Bob Turcotte Roseville, MN 7 10-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 2 02-02 Day 3: 1 01-05
36. Loel Brandstrom New Brighton, MN 5 10-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 07-13 Day 2: 1 00-12 Day 3: 2 01-14
38. Kentaro Amagal New Port Richey, FL 7 10-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 04-10 Day 2: 2 03-15 Day 3: 1 01-10
39. Tom Whiles Melbourne, KY 6 10-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 01-09
40. Jason Cordiale Orinda, CA 7 10-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 02-05 Day 2: 4 06-00 Day 3: 1 01-12
41. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 6 09-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 4 06-05 Day 3: 1 01-04
42. Eric Johnson Millis, MA 6 09-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 05-09 Day 2: 3 03-03 Day 3: 1 00-14
43. Kevin Pulsifer Cocoa, FL 8 09-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 4 04-14 Day 3: 1 01-07
44. Russ Osborne Orlando, FL 6 09-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 02-00 Day 2: 4 07-05 Day 3: 0 00-00
44. Jon Specht Clermont, FL 6 09-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 1 01-00 Day 3: 1 01-03
46. Tommy Swindle Cleveland, AL 7 09-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 03-07 Day 2: 3 05-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
47. Kenneth Thornton Knoxville, TN 4 09-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 0 00-00
48. Don Bosko Lakeland, FL 5 08-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-07 Day 2: 1 01-08 Day 3: 0 00-00
49. Michael Press Tampa, FL 6 08-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 05-12 Day 2: 2 03-02 Day 3: 0 00-00
50. Joseph Mason Tempe, AZ 3 08-11 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 1 06-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
51. Kevin Bonia Lady Lake, FL 3 07-15 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 2 05-15
52. Jeffrey Worth Longwood, FL 6 07-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 4 04-06
53. Harry Parten Columbiana, AL 5 07-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-07 Day 2: 2 01-13
53. Bret Myers Keller, TX 4 07-04 0
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 2 01-15
55. Joe Edwards Jr. Kissimmee, FL 4 07-00 0
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 1 03-05
56. Preston Frazell Kincaid, KS 6 06-15 0
Day 1: 3 03-14 Day 2: 3 03-01
56. Jimmy Adams Howey In The Hills, FL 5 06-15 0
Day 1: 3 05-02 Day 2: 2 01-13
58. Richard Kennedy Angie, LA 3 06-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 1 03-02
59. L. C. Hatley Circleville, OH 5 06-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 3 03-00
60. Dennis Whitaker Branson, MO 4 06-07 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 06-07
61. Tim Ezell Key West, FL 5 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 2 02-01
62. Jason Seaton Martinsville, IN 3 06-00 0
Day 1: 1 03-01 Day 2: 2 02-15
63. Donald Denbleyker Littleton, CO 4 05-12 0
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 2 03-00
63. Paul Pagnato Vienna, VA 3 05-12 0
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 1 00-10
65. Joe Lubertine Fort Mc Coy, FL 3 05-08 0
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 1 02-09
66. Kevin Clark Astor, FL 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Day 2: 1 01-08
67. Joey Thacker Proctorville, OH 4 05-04 0
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 2 02-06
68. Marty Scoggins Trion, GA 4 05-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-07 Day 2: 2 01-11
69. Chad Christensen Alpine, UT 4 05-01 0
Day 1: 3 04-06 Day 2: 1 00-11
70. Monty Conley Chapmanville, WV 2 04-15 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 1 03-10
71. John Vanderwerf Atlantic Beach, FL 4 04-10 0
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 03-00
72. Jacques Lheureux Tampa, FL 4 04-04 0
Day 1: 1 01-04 Day 2: 3 03-00
73. Richard Grimes Springfield, IL 3 04-02 0
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 2 03-04
74. Dennis Andersen Wellington, FL 3 03-15 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-15
74. John Pantaleo Oshawa ONTARIO CANADA 3 03-15 0
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
76. Stephen Fatherree Alba, KY 2 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
77. Joe Summerson Guntersville, AL 3 03-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 03-08
78. Steve Warner Winter Haven, FL 3 03-07 0
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 1 00-09
79. Cyril Knowles Vero Beach, FL 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
80. Larry C Butler New Haven, VT 2 03-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 1 01-04
81. Guillermo Gomez Ribe Villamediana De Iregua 2 02-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 1 01-13
82. Mary Delgado Tampa, FL 2 02-11 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
82. Jay Jastrzemski West Palm Beach, FL 2 02-11 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
84. Troy Anderson Galesville, WI 2 02-08 0
Day 1: 2 02-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
84. John Hunt Lakeland, FL 1 02-08 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
86. Sunny Carpenter Summerfield, FL 2 02-06 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 02-06
87. John Reilly Bay Shore, NY 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Randy Webb Orlando, FL 2 02-02 0
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. J Flaherty Topsfield, MA 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
90. Jim Staszewski West Gardiner, ME 2 01-12 0
Day 1: 2 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
90. Rex Kinsey Bedford, IN 1 01-12 0
Day 1: 1 01-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
92. Alan McGuckin Tulsa, OK 2 01-11 0
Day 1: 2 01-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
93. Joel Etheredge Springville, AL 1 01-06 0
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
94. Ron Tyson Marietta, GA 1 01-05 0
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 0 00-00
95. Bj Hannah Dyersburg, TN 1 01-02 0
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
96. Stephanie Prokopp Leesburg, FL 1 01-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Benny Colson Lake Park, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Dub Dillon Tavares, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Justin Hamner Birmingham, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Michael Kenny Dover, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Becky McKinney Ocala, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. David Raysin Leesburg, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. John Wood Roscoe, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, AL 08-06 $500.00
2 Joseph Mason Tempe, AZ 06-09 $500.00
3 Thomas Rogers Keller, TX 07-03 $500.00
Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 10-06 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 17 251 462-03
2 13 207 339-02
3 1 80 152-15
----------------------------------
31 538 954-04