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Kansan Brent Chapman
finishes in third
Big Final Day Vaults Texan Ben Matsubu
to Victory in Bassmaster Elite Series Lake Toho Event
 Photo
courtesy of BASS Communications - Day 4 Champion Ben Matsubu
of Hemphil, TX .- Sunshine Showdown presented by Allstate Boat
Insurance - 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series (Click on photo for
larger view)
September 16, 2007 - KISSIMMEE, Fla. Ben
Matsubu knew he was on a good fishing spot, but he also knew
he had to wait for the bass to turn on and start feeding. His
patience paid off Sunday with a five-fish limit weighing 25 pounds,
5 ounces, and a 14-pound victory in the Bassmaster Elite Series
Sunshine Showdown presented by Allstate Boat Insurance on Lake
Tohopekaliga.
All the drama of the Sunshine Showdown can be viewed
on The Bassmasters on ESPN2 on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 9 a.m.
ET.
Matsubu's Berkley Heavyweight Bag of the Day
the biggest of the tournament was anchored by the tournament's
biggest bass of 8-13. The Hemphill, Texas, pro finished with
a four-day total weight of 66-8 to win the season-ending Bassmaster
Elite Series event. Matsubu's second career victory and first
Elite Series win was worth a total of $111,000.
Bill Smith of Somerset, Ky., was second at 52-7.
Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan., who had a 1-pound lead over
Matsubu going into the final day, was third at 52-5, followed
by Glenn Delong of Bellville, Ohio, at 50-9 and Scott Rook of
Little Rock, Ark., at 41-9.
"I've struggled the last four years here in
Florida. I can't figure out the fish here in spring," said
Matsubu, 45. "But I've won the last two tournaments here
in the fall."
Matsubu's first BASS tournament title was the Bassmaster
Elite Series Wild-Card Qualifier last November on Florida's Harris
Chain of Lakes.
Matsubu said he fished in the dead center of Lake
Toho, where he had eight clumps of grass. He'd move from clump
to clump until he found a concentration of fish. The first day
Matsubu fished the area for about an hour because he already
had a nice limit fishing a different spot with an RC 1.5 square
bill crankbait.
"I gave the spot to Takahiro (Omori) so he
could make the (Bassmaster) Classic," Matsubu said.
Matsubu ended the first day in third place at 16-1.
He went to the area Friday, threw his crankbait all day and caught
five fish weighing only 7-10 to drop to seventh place, nearly
six pounds behind Chapman.
His co-angler that day, Mary Delgado, caught 14-7
on the same crankbait, then sat down and fished a Carolina rig
while Matsubu continued to crank. That turned out to be one of
the keys to Matsubu's victory.
"She'd drag that Carolina rig behind us and
catch keepers," Matsubu said. "The next day I threw
that crankbait for an hour and a half and didn't catch anything.
Then I switched to a Carolina rig."
Fishing a junebug-colored finesse worm, Matsubu
caught a limit weighing 17-8 Saturday to move into second behind
Chapman.
"My goal was to get within three pounds of
Brent," Matsubu said. "When I came from six pounds
behind to one pound, I felt I had a chance at it."
Matsubu followed the same strategy Sunday, throwing
his crankbait for 90 minutes, but he didn't get a bite. Then
he switched to the Carolina rig and started hitting each of his
clumps.
"I had to go to all of them today," Matsubu
said. "I'd catch three or four fish, then wait two hours
for them to bite again.
"At one spot I caught a 5-pounder, then got
another 5 and a half. Two minutes later I caught a 1-pounder,
then a 2 and a half. That was the end, so I went to the last
clump in the area and that's when I got the 9."
Smith, who led the first day, then slipped to second
and then fourth, caught a limit weighing 16-11 Sunday to finish
second. He caught his fish at a spot that he'd fished the first
day when he was waiting for the lock at the south end of Lake
Toho to open.
He caught some of his fish on a bait that is no
longer made, a blue pearl-colored Bass Assassin soft-plastic
jerkbait that he Texas-rigged with an eighth- or three-sixteenths-ounce
sinker. He also caught fish on a junebug trick worm Texas-rigged
with an eighth-ounce weight. Sunday he fished the trick worm
on a Carolina rig.
"I was fishing a hydrilla bed with lily pads
on the outside and outside the pads was a shell bed," said
Smith, 36, who caught two 5-pounders. "I caught some fish
inside, then moved out to the shell bed and that's where I got
the two big ones."
Chapman had caught his bigger fish flipping a Zoom
Super Hog and filled out his limit drop-shotting a 6-inch Zoom
finesse worm at the south end of Lake Kissimmee. Sunday, only
the drop shot was working.
"The thing that hurt me was I didn't get any
of my flipping bites," said Chapman, 35, who caught five
fish weighing 10-2 on the drop shot.
2007 Sunshine Showdown 9/13-9/16
Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 20 66-08 305 $111,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 07-10 Day 3: 5 17-08 Day 4: 5 25-05
2. Bill Smith Jr. Somerset, KY 19 52-07 300 $31,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 4 06-10 Day 4: 5 16-11
3. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 20 52-05 300 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 12-09 Day 4: 5 10-02
4. Glenn Delong Bellville, OH 20 50-09 285 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 10-02 Day 3: 5 12-03 Day 4: 5 12-13
5. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 18 41-09 280 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 3 03-08 Day 3: 5 19-06 Day 4: 5 06-14
6. Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 15 41-01 276 $16,500.00
Day 1: 3 08-15 Day 2: 4 15-14 Day 3: 4 06-06 Day 4: 4 09-14
7. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 17 40-14 272 $15,000.00
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 14-10 Day 4: 5 10-05
8. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 18 40-08 268 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 3 05-10 Day 3: 5 19-01 Day 4: 5 07-03
9. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 19 40-07 264 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 13-02 Day 4: 4 04-13
10. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 20 40-04 260 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 10-04 Day 4: 5 06-14
11. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 16 36-10 257 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 4 04-12 Day 4: 2 04-01
12. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 17 35-14 254 $12,300.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 10-10 Day 4: 2 03-02
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PUROLATOR 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
4 Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 08-13 $1,000.00
PUROLATOR BIG BASS OF TOURN
Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 08-13 $1,000.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT
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
4 Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 25-05 $1,000.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT OF TOURN
Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 25-05 $8,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 46 377 649-02
2 58 410 709-10
3 27 209 386-12
4 8 52 118-01
----------------------------------
139 1048 1863-09
2007 TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR
STANDINGS
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Skeet Reese Calif. 2827
2 Kevin VanDam Mich. 2709
3 Aaron Martens Ala. 2437
4 Terry Scroggins Fla. 2423
5 Jared Lintner Calif. 2357
6 Todd Faircloth Texas 2350
7 Scott Rook Ark. 2334
8 Brent Chapman Kan. 2279
9 Steve Kennedy Ala. 2271
9 Tommy Biffle Okla. 2271
11 Greg Hackney La. 2262
12 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 2241
13 Jeff Kriet Okla. 2236
14 Gary Klein Texas 2234
15 Ishama Monroe Calif. 2229
16 Cliff Pace Miss. 2224
17 Peter Thliveros Fla. 2211
17 Boyd Duckett Ala. 2211
19 Kelly Jordon Texas 2203
20 Chris Lane Fla. 2190
21 Kevin Wirth Ky. 2168
22 Stephen Browning Ark. 2156
23 John Murray Ariz. 2145
24 Edwin Evers Okla. 2143
25 Derek Remitz Texas 2131
26 Timmy Horton Ala. 2127
27 Takahiro Omori Texas 2109
28 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 2065
29 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 2046
30 Mike McClelland Ark. 2035
31 Alton Jones Texas 2033
32 Casey Ashley S.C. 2026
33 John Crews Va. 2016
34 Kevin Short Ark. 2013
35 Mike Wurm Ark. 2009
36 Gerald Swindle Ala. 2002
37 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 1986
38 Mark Menendez Ky. 1980
39 Dave Wolak N.C. 1970
40 Randy Howell Ala. 1957
41 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 1956
42 Mark Tyler Okla. 1955
43 Brian Snowden Mo. 1942
44 James Niggemeyer Texas 1941
44 Jason Williamson S.C. 1941
46 Jason Quinn S.C. 1936
47 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 1923
48 Scott Campbell Mo. 1920
49 Matt Reed Texas 1911
50 Bill Lowen Ohio 1909
51 Dean Rojas Texas 1904
52 Rick Morris Va. 1895
53 Davy Hite S.C. 1891
54 Bernie Schultz Fla. 1866
55 Kenyon Hill Okla. 1864
56 Britt Myers S.C. 1856
57 Ben Matsubu Texas 1854
58 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 1853
59 Bradley Hallman Okla. 1849
60 Denny Brauer Mo. 1841
61 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 1836
62 Paul Elias Miss. 1833
63 Mark Tucker Mo. 1828
64 Marty Robinson S.C. 1817
65 Pete Ponds Miss. 1801
66 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 1791
67 Rick Clunn Mo. 1780
68 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 1779
69 Russ Lane Ala. 1777
70 Jami Fralick S.D. 1761
71 Kurt Dove Va. 1723
72 Jeff Connella La. 1720
73 Ken Cook Okla. 1708
74 Jim Murray Ga. 1666
75 Preston Clark Fla. 1652
76 Jimmy Mize Ark. 1627
77 Lee Bailey Ala. 1623
78 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 1618
79 Charlie Hartley Ohio 1611
80 James Kennedy La. 1594
81 Glenn Delong Ohio 1583
82 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 1562
83 Ken Brodeur Conn. 1557
84 Grant Goldbeck Md. 1553
84 Bill Smith Ky. 1553
86 Paul Hirosky Pa. 1543
87 Terry Butcher Okla. 1529
88 Guy Eaker N.C. 1526
89 Kevin Langill N.C. 1518
90 Matt Amedeo Ohio 1493
91 Mark Rogers Fla. 1480
92 Marty Stone N.C. 1466
93 James Charlesworth Fla. 1462
94 Jon Bondy Canada 1428
95 Dave Smith Okla. 1426
96 Zell Rowland Texas 1409
97 Doc Merkin Ill. 1375
98 Darrin Schwenkbeck N.Y. 1373
99 Frank Scalish Ohio 1361
100 Steve Daniel Fla. 1335
101 Keith Phillips Ala. 1332
102 Jimmy Mason Ala. 1318
103 Bradley Stringer Texas 1244
104 Eric Nethery Ga. 1225
105 Charlie Youngers Fla. 1209
106 Rick Ash Pa. 1165
107 Byron Velvick Texas 1141
108 Elton Luce Jr Texas 929
2007 TOYOTA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR RACE
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Derek Remitz Texas 2131
2 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 2046
3 Casey Ashley S.C. 2026
4 Jason Williamson S.C. 1941
4 James Niggemeyer Texas 1941
6 Scott Campbell Mo. 1920
7 Marty Robinson S.C. 1817
8 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 1618
9 James Kennedy La. 1594
10 Glenn Delong Ohio 1583
11 Matt Amedeo Ohio 1493
12 James Charlesworth Fla. 1462
2007 TOYOTA MOVING FORWARD AWARD
---------------------------------------------------------
Place Name 2006 Finish 2007 Standings
---------------------------------------------------------
1 Fred Roumbanis 69 12
2 Chris Lane 61 20
3 Scott Rook 47 7
4 Kevin Short 67 34
4 Brent Chapman 41 8
6 Mark Menendez 68 38
7 Rick Morris 81 52
8 Terry Scroggins 31 4
9 Stephen Browning 45 22
10 Ishama Monroe 37 15
10 Gary Klein 36 14
10 Mark Tyler 64 42
13 Jeff Kriet 33 13
13 Britt Myers 76 56
15 Pete Ponds 83 65
16 Todd Faircloth 23 6
17 Ken Brodeur 98 83
18 Jared Lintner 18 5
19 Kurt Dove 82 71
19 Brian Snowden 54 43
21 Mark Rogers 99 91
21 Takahiro Omori 35 27
23 Skeet Reese 7 1
24 David Wolak 43 39
24 Grant Goldbeck 88 84
24 Timmy Horton 30 26
24 Charlie Hartley 83 79
28 Preston Clark 78 75
29 Peter E Thliveros 19 17
30 Kotaro Kiriyama 38 37
30 Kevin VanDam 3 2
30 Aaron Martens 4 3
2007 BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT AWARD STANDINGS
Place Name Lbs-Ozs
-----------------------------------------------------------
1 Kevin VanDam 381-07
2 Skeet Reese 366-05
3 Terry Scroggins 348-02
4 Aaron Martens 346-08
5 Derek Remitz 340-02
6 Fred Roumbanis 336-07
7 Cliff Pace 335-04
8 Jared Lintner 334-12
9 Steve Kennedy 334-05
10 Gary Klein 334-00
Day 3 Story
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