KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Brent Chapman fished two very different patterns Saturday to hold on to the lead in the Bassmaster Elite Series bass fishing tournament on Lake Tohopekaliga.
The Kansas pro caught a five-fish limit that weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces, for a three-day total weight of 42-3 and a 1-pound lead over Ben Matsubu of Hemphill, Texas, in the season-ending Bassmaster Elite Series event.
Chapman, of Lake Quivira, Kan., is seeking his third BASS victory Sunday and the $100,000 prize that goes to the winner. Matsubu caught 17-8 Saturday to move from seventh to second at 41-3. Glenn DeLong of Bellville, Ohio, moved up a spot to third at 37-12, followed by first-day leader Bill Smith of Somerset, Ky., at 35-12, Bradley Hallman of Norman, Okla., at 35-10 and Scott Rook of Little Rock, Ark., at 34-11, who had the Berkley Heavyweight Bag of the Day at 19-6 to jump from 38th to sixth. The top 12 anglers fish Sunday.
An emotional Skeet Reese claimed the Bassmaster Angler of the Year title and $125,000 by edging Kevin VanDam of Michigan, a three-time angler of the year. Reese, of Auburn, Calif., basically needed a top-30 finish to clinch the crown. He caught a limit weighing 10-5, and his total weight of 29-3 was good for 14th place. VanDam, who went into the day in 13th place, two spots ahead of Reese, had 7-2 to finish 19th at 26-5.
"This trophy means my career to me," a tearful Reese said after weighing in before an appreciative crowd at Lakefront Park.
"For me, it validates my career as a professional bass fisherman. To come out on top after this many days of fishing out here, it's priceless. At least one time in my career, I was No. 1."
Chapman caught all his fish Saturday in four small but key areas at the south end of Lake Kissimmee.
"I'm doing the extremes," Chapman said. "I'm fishing a drop shot with a 6-inch Zoom finesse worm to catch the real lethargic fish that aren't real aggressive and I caught my biggest fish flipping a Zoom Super Hog with an ounce-and-a-quarter tungsten weight.
"I got probably eight or nine bites. I missed a couple, but everything I hooked I put in the boat."
Matsubu changed tactics Saturday to catch his limit, which was anchored by a fish weighing 7-4. He credited Mary Delgado, his co-angler Friday, who caught a limit weighing 14-7 by Carolina-rigging a trick worm. Matsubu caught only 7-10 Friday.
"Mainly I've been throwing a crankbait," Matsubu said. "I tied on a Carolina rig (Saturday) and started catching them. All but one of my fish came on the Carolina rig."
He said he caught his fish in 7 feet of water around scattered grass in Lake Kissimmee. His rig consisted of an 18-inch leader with a quarter-ounce sinker.
"It's all timing. First thing in the morning and the last two hours," Matsubu said. "We left fish biting."
Matsubu's co-angler Saturday was Alabama's Harry Potts, who caught a limit weighing 14-11 to go wire-to-wire and win the co-angler division with 10 fish weighing 35-3. Frank Mealer of Alabama was second at 17-14. Don Moore of California was third at 16-10. Potts won a fully-rigged Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $50,000.
Reese said his goal coming into the tournament was to win the angler of the year title, but "then I put it into perspective and said, 'I can't fish chicken.' I wanted to go out and try to win this thing."
Each morning Reese caught fish on a Carolina rig by a shallow point in Lake Kissimmee that fellow pro Kevin Wirth had told him about. Then he moved to the Kissimmee River, where he caught his fish burning a LuckyCraft SKT Trap.
Going into Saturday, Reese said his plan was to catch 4 or 5 pounds of bass, which he felt would be enough to win the title.
"That was the benchmark I set for myself," he said, "so when I got my fourth fish, I knew I had achieved that."
2007 Sunshine Showdown 9/13-9/16
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 42-03 310
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 12-09
2. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 15 41-03 295
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 5 17-08
3. Glenn Delong Bellville, OH 15 37-12 290
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 12-03
4. Bill Smith Jr. Somerset, KY 14 35-12 290 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 4 06-10
5. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 15 35-10 280
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 13-02
6. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 13 34-11 276 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 3 03-08 Day 3: 5 19-06
7. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 33-06 272
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 10-04
8. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 13 33-05 268 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 3 05-10 Day 3: 5 19-01
9. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 15 32-12 264
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 10-10
10. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 14 32-09 260
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 4 04-12
11. Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 11 31-03 257 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 4 15-14 Day 3: 4 06-06
12. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 12 30-09 254
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 14-10
13. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 14 29-14 251 $10,800.00
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 13-06
14. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 29-03 248 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 09-03 Day 3: 5 10-05
15. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 14 29-02 245 $10,600.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 08-15 Day 3: 4 05-14
16. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 12 28-14 243 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 06-00 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 2 04-01
17. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 12 27-03 241 $10,500.00
Day 1: 4 04-15 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 3 08-03
18. Peter E Thliveros St. Augustine, FL 15 26-08 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-09 Day 3: 5 07-12
19. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 26-05 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 07-02
20. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 12 26-03 235 $10,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 4 09-02 Day 3: 4 10-01
21. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 12 25-14 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 2 06-12 Day 2: 5 09-14 Day 3: 5 09-04
22. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 15 25-10 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 07-03
23. Charlie Youngers Geneva, FL 14 25-08 229 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 4 07-15
24. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 15 25-06 227 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 07-05 Day 3: 5 07-08
25. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 13 24-05 225 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 06-04 Day 3: 3 09-02
26. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 15 24-02 223 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-05 Day 2: 5 11-01 Day 3: 5 07-12
27. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 15 23-14 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 07-03 Day 3: 5 08-06
28. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 14 23-11 219 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 4 08-00
29. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 23-10 216 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 5 07-02
29. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 14 23-10 216 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 09-07 Day 3: 4 06-15
31. John Crews Salem, VA 13 23-08 213 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 03-07 Day 2: 5 13-14 Day 3: 5 06-03
32. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 14 23-07 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 5 08-02 Day 3: 5 07-13
33. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 23-03 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-13 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 05-10
34. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 13 22-12 207 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 3 05-01 Day 3: 5 07-03
35. Ishama Monroe Hughson, CA 12 22-11 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 2 04-10
36. Alton Jones Waco, TX 12 21-13 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-01 Day 2: 5 11-04 Day 3: 2 02-08
37. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 12 21-03 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 10-05 Day 2: 3 03-08 Day 3: 5 07-06
38. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 13 21-00 199 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 09-00 Day 2: 5 05-11 Day 3: 5 06-05
39. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 15 20-11 197 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 06-13 Day 3: 5 04-10
40. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 14 20-10 194 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-11 Day 2: 5 09-00 Day 3: 4 05-15
40. Doc Merkin Downers Grove, IL 12 20-10 194 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 05-15 Day 2: 4 09-07 Day 3: 3 05-04
42. Preston Clark Palatka, FL 12 19-05 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 05-04
43. Frank Scalish Cleveland Heights, OH 11 18-12 189 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 4 04-03 Day 3: 2 02-13
44. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 18-08 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 4 08-05 Day 3: 3 03-06
45. Ray Sedgwick Cross, SC 12 17-12 185 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 06-13 Day 3: 2 02-02
46. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 14 17-02 183 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 06-14 Day 3: 4 03-08
47. Rick Ash Pottstown, PA 14 16-14 180 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 05-06 Day 3: 4 04-06
47. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 10 16-14 180 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 2 02-11 Day 3: 3 03-02
49. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 7 16-02 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 2 08-05 Day 3: 2 02-07
50. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 12 15-14 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 03-15 Day 2: 5 08-10 Day 3: 3 03-05
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Jim Murray Arabi, GA 07-06 $1,000.00
2 Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 07-15 $1,000.00
3 James Niggemeyer Van, TX 07-15 $1,000.00
Day
1 Bill Smith Jr. Somerset, KY 18-06 $1,000.00
2 Pete Ponds Madison, MS 18-13 $1,000.00
3 Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 19-06 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 46 377 649-02
2 58 410 709-10
3 27 209 386-12
----------------------------------
131 996 1745-08
2007 Sunshine Showdown 9/13-9/16
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL.
(CO-ANGLER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Harry Potts Ozark, AL 10 35-03 0 $50,500.00
Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 5 14-11
2. Frank Mealer Irondale, AL 9 17-14 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 2 02-01 Day 3: 2 02-02
3. Don Moore Ukiah, CA 12 16-10 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 3 03-03 Day 2: 4 05-00 Day 3: 5 08-07
4. Russ Osborne Orlando, FL 8 16-06 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 3 08-11 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 5 07-11
5. Clint Belcher Uniontown, OH 7 15-12 0 $2,750.00
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 2 10-01 Day 3: 3 02-09
6. Clint Pack Gable, SC 8 15-02 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 2 05-15 Day 3: 2 02-01
7. Lane Wright Loganville, GA 7 14-15 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 1 01-03 Day 3: 4 09-02
8. Loel Brandstrom New Brighton, MN 4 14-12 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 08-14 Day 3: 2 05-14
9. Marty Scoggins Trion, GA 12 14-09 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 5 06-09 Day 3: 4 04-14
10. Mary Delgado Tampa, FL 5 14-07 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 0 00-00
11. Kentaro Amagal New Port Richey, FL 9 14-04 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 4 04-04 Day 2: 2 01-15 Day 3: 3 08-01
12. Tommy Swindle Cleveland, AL 7 13-05 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 1 00-15 Day 3: 3 06-01
13. Larry Triplett Parker, CO 8 13-00 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 07-08 Day 2: 1 01-00 Day 3: 2 04-08
14. Michael Neal Dexter, KS 8 12-12 0 $750.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-02 Day 3: 5 06-10
15. Dennis Andersen Wellington, FL 8 12-10 0 $750.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-09 Day 3: 5 06-01
16. Shane Breeden Chickamauga, GA 5 12-08 0 $750.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 0 00-00
17. Steve Warner Winter Haven, FL 9 12-06 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 1 00-13 Day 3: 3 05-07
18. Patrick Pierce Saint John, FL 8 11-06 0 $750.00
Day 1: 2 04-05 Day 2: 5 06-05 Day 3: 1 00-12
19. Terry Chapman Stanley, NC 8 11-02 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 1 01-00 Day 3: 2 03-05
20. Mike Williams Delhi, LA 7 11-01 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 1 02-12 Day 3: 1 01-01
21. Johnny Graham Tulsa, OK 10 11-00 0 $750.00
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 4 04-02 Day 3: 5 05-03
22. Allen Burkhalter Columbus, GA 5 10-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 00-15
23. Robert Miley Miami, FL 7 10-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 05-03 Day 2: 2 04-15 Day 3: 1 00-12
24. Dave Elder Tuscaloosa, AL 6 10-07 0 $750.00
Day 1: 2 02-01 Day 2: 3 07-09 Day 3: 1 00-13
25. Harold Beasley Dunnellon, FL 6 10-05 0 $750.00
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 4 06-08 Day 3: 0 00-00
26. Justin Hotz Colorado Springs, CO 10 10-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 5 04-15 Day 3: 4 04-07
26. Kevin Cunningham Farmingdale, NY 8 10-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 2 02-06 Day 3: 1 00-12
26. Chip Brooks Bradenton, FL 8 10-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 04-02 Day 2: 2 04-06 Day 3: 2 01-12
29. Steven Abboud Orange Park, FL 7 10-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 2 01-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
30. Wayne Loring Fort Lauderdale, FL 6 10-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 1 00-13
31. Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, AL 6 09-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 06-01 Day 3: 3 03-14
32. Don Lewis Jacksonville, FL 4 09-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 05-14 Day 2: 1 02-15 Day 3: 1 00-13
33. Brian Rodriguez Orlando, FL 7 09-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 1 01-04 Day 3: 1 01-15
34. Raymond Trudeau Saint Cloud, FL 6 09-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 05-13 Day 2: 2 01-13 Day 3: 1 01-08
34. Anthony Sammartino Orlando, FL 5 09-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 1 01-01 Day 3: 1 00-13
36. L. E. Clark Palatka, FL 8 09-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 0 00-00 Day 3: 3 02-15
37. James Whitman Ozark, AL 9 08-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 5 05-05 Day 3: 3 02-13
37. Steven Raith Apollo Beach, FL 5 08-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 07-12 Day 3: 1 01-03
39. Brandon Pedigo Lawton, OK 7 08-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 4 05-00 Day 3: 1 00-11
39. Clint Sterling Oakland, FL 7 08-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 01-10 Day 2: 3 03-09 Day 3: 3 02-15
41. Michael Norman Okmulgee, OK 7 07-11 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 2 02-09 Day 3: 2 02-04
42. Taylor Barnes Chickamauga, GA 8 07-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 01-11 Day 2: 5 04-11 Day 3: 1 01-03
43. Paul Pagnato Vienna, VA 4 06-11 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-14 Day 3: 1 01-13
44. David Hernandez Birmingham, AL 4 06-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 1 00-15 Day 3: 1 01-01
45. Edward Abbott St. Cloud, FL 4 06-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 1 00-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
46. Mark Eden Palm Bay, FL 4 05-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 04-11 Day 2: 1 01-02 Day 3: 0 00-00
47. Kyle Lowrey Brandon, FL 2 05-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 2 05-12 Day 3: 0 00-00
48. George Celi Kissimmee, FL 3 05-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 02-14 Day 2: 2 02-07 Day 3: 0 00-00
49. Alan Bull Mccrory, AR 6 05-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 04-04 Day 2: 1 00-15 Day 3: 0 00-00
50. Jimmy Dudley White, GA 4 05-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 1 00-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Harry Potts Ozark, AL 06-07 $500.00
2 Loel Brandstrom New Brighton, MN 07-15 $500.00
3 Kentaro Amagal New Port Richey, FL 05-06 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 12 180 285-14
2 7 163 253-10
3 6 96 140-09
----------------------------------
25 439 680-01