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Mississippi's Elias Shatters
BASS Record with More Than 130 Pounds in Bassmaster Elite Series
Win at Falcon Lake
April 6, 2008 - ZAPATA, Texas Demolishing
the four-day BASS heavyweight catch record, Paul Elias of Laurel,
Miss., scored his sixth BASS victory Sunday in come-from-behind
fashion at the Bassmaster Elite Series' Lone Star Shootout presented
by Longhorn on Falcon Lake. Elias edged his nearest competitor,
Terry Scroggins of Palatka, Fla., by just 4 ounces.
Aided by a 37-pound, 11-ounce Sunday catch, Elias
jumped from fifth to first. His four-day total of 132 pounds,
8 ounces, overtakes the previous record of 122 pounds, 14 ounces,
set in 2007 by Alabama's Steve Kennedy on California's Clear
Lake. In fact, the top six anglers topped Kennedy's record.
While Elias took the victory, fish factory Falcon
Lake also starred in the competition. The mainstream reservoir
on the Rio Grande River with a surface area of 83,654 acres yielded
catches of more than 100 pounds to all of the 12 anglers who
qualified for the final day, setting another record. On Sunday,
Scroggins nearly eclipsed the one-day BASS heaviest catch record
of 45 pounds, 2 ounces.
With the victory, Elias takes the $100,000 top
prize and jumps to 30th place in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster
Angler of the Year standings, the season-long points race that
boasts a $250,000 top prize and determines the brunt of the 2009
Bassmaster Classic qualifiers.
"It was just one of those days," Elias
said through tears. "I was struggling early and found a
way to entice those bigger bass around 1:30."
Fishing fans can catch all of the big-bass action
from Falcon Lake on The Bassmasters on Saturday, April 12, at
9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
Primarily working a deep-diving crankbait in the
first three days of competition, Elias, the 1982 Bassmaster Classic
champion, mixed in a Mann's worm during the final day.
Sunday, Elias knew he was on the right fish, but
he didn't identify the correct technique until later in the day.
Switching up his presentation method, Elias threw from shallow
to deeper water and was able to upgrade his weight in the final
hours of competition.
"It just seems like everything is coming together
lately," said Elias, 56. "I had the best day on the
water I have experienced in 30 years of tournament fishing."
Finishing runner-up by mere ounces was Scroggins,
who totaled 132 pounds, 4 ounces. Scroggins rallied hard on
the final day, catching 44 pounds, 4 ounces, nearly an astounding
9-pound average per fish. But he came up short on two accounts;
he missed out on the win and BASS' heaviest daily catch record.
That record, accomplished by Dean Rojas in 2001 on Florida's
Lake Tohopekaliga, survived the weekend.
Despite the banner day, Scroggins, 39, lamented
the one he lost late in the competition. He estimated the bass
weighed more than 10 pounds and would have certainly pushed him
ahead of Elias.
"I just can't forget about that fish,"
Scroggins said. "It's a shame. But I had a great tournament
and an awesome morning that I will never forget."
Scroggins was able to capitalize on the early bite,
catching the majority of his fish in the first hour of competition.
The five-time BASS winner used a Yum worm and a Carolina rig
throughout the competition.
Byron Velvick of Del Rio, Texas, maintained third
place with 131-15. After leading the first three days of competition,
Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., slipped to fourth, weighing in
just 19 pounds, 15 ounces for a total of 129-7.
Missing out on his fifth BASS victory, Martens
was frustrated with his final-day performance. He was plagued
by boat pressure from other competitors all week and was optimistic
his areas would hold up on the final day, but it ultimately fell
short.
Rounding out the top five was Mark Davis of Mt.
Ida, Ark., who slipped from second with 128-15. But the three-time
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year has taken the lead
in the 2008 AOY standings, putting him in prime position for
the $250,000 top prize and qualification into the 2009 Bassmaster
Classic. The full points standings can be found below.
In sixth was Scott Rook of Little Rock, Ark., with
125-10. Although Rook was nearly 7 pounds behind Elias, he still
beat out Kennedy's four-day heavyweight record and is third in
the AOY standings, 13 points behind Davis.
The Elite circuit will stay in Texas for its next
event, traveling northwest to Del Rio. The Battle on the Border
is set for April 10-13 on Lake Amistad.
Local sponsors of the Lone Star Shootout are Zapata
County Chamber of Commerce & County of Zapata.
Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include
Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Berkley, Lowrance, Mercury,
Purolator, Skeeter, Yamaha, Evan Williams Bourbon, Longhorn,
OPTIMA Batteries, Triton Boats, Costa del Mar, MotorGuide and
Ramada Worldwide.
2008 Lone Star Shootout 4/3-4/6
Falcon Lake, Zapata TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown
No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Paul Elias Laurel, MS
20 132-08 305 $100,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-05 Day 2: 5 39-01 Day
3: 5 27-07 Day 4: 5 37-11
2. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL
20 132-04 295 $42,000.00
Day 1: 5 33-01 Day 2: 5 25-01 Day
3: 5 29-14 Day 4: 5 44-04
3. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX
20 131-15 290 $26,000.00
Day 1: 5 34-14 Day 2: 5 41-11 Day
3: 5 25-03 Day 4: 5 30-03
4. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL
20 129-07 300 $19,000.00
Day 1: 5 42-00 Day 2: 5 37-13 Day
3: 5 29-11 Day 4: 5 19-15
5. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR
20 128-15 280 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 35-04 Day 2: 5 33-09 Day
3: 5 33-04 Day 4: 5 26-14
6. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR
20 125-10 276 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 35-12 Day 2: 5 24-09 Day
3: 5 35-04 Day 4: 5 30-01
7. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO
20 120-01 272 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 33-15 Day 2: 5 25-06 Day
3: 5 29-15 Day 4: 5 30-13
8. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC
20 118-02 268 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 33-04 Day 2: 5 27-09 Day
3: 5 27-08 Day 4: 5 29-13
9. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX
20 114-13 264 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 24-14 Day 2: 5 30-03 Day
3: 5 34-00 Day 4: 5 25-12
10. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC
20 113-03 260 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 28-02 Day 2: 5 28-04 Day
3: 5 34-01 Day 4: 5 22-12
11. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ
20 112-06 257 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 34-11 Day 2: 5 31-10 Day
3: 5 25-12 Day 4: 5 20-05
12. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA
20 108-07 254 $13,300.00
Day 1: 5 25-07 Day 2: 5 29-10 Day
3: 5 36-01 Day 4: 5 17-05
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
PUROLATOR BIG BASS
Day
1 Scott Campbell Springfield, MO
13-02 $1,000.00
2 Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR
11-00 $1,000.00
3 Casey Ashley Donalds, SC
10-05 $1,000.00
4 Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL
10-06 $1,000.00
PUROLATOR BIG BASS OF TOURN
Scott Campbell Springfield, MO
13-02 $1,000.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT
Day
1 Aaron Martens Leeds, AL
42-00 $1,000.00
2 Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX
41-11 $1,000.00
3 Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA
36-01 $1,000.00
4 Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL
44-04 $1,000.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT OF TOURN
Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL
44-04 $10,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 107 539 2617-02
2 105 537 2528-14
3 50 250 1329-06
4 12 60 335-12
----------------------------------
274 1386 6811-02
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Standings
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Mark Davis Ark. 770
2 Dean Rojas Ariz. 761
3 Scott Rook Ark. 757
4 Rick Morris Va. 747
5 Kenyon Hill Okla. 734
6 Mike McClelland Ark. 732
7 Casey Ashley S.C. 722
8 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 707
8 Kevin VanDam Mich. 707
8 Skeet Reese Calif. 707
11 Terry Scroggins Fla. 704
12 Bobby Lane Fla. 691
13 Todd Faircloth Texas 690
13 Steve Kennedy Ala. 690
15 Derek Remitz Ala. 680
16 Bill Lowen Ohio 671
17 Byron Velvick Texas 664
18 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 663
18 Alton Jones Texas 663
20 Aaron Martens Ala. 660
21 Brian Snowden Mo. 655
22 Mike Wurm Ark. 654
23 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 653
24 Britt Myers S.C. 650
25 Jason Quinn S.C. 636
26 Jared Lintner Calif. 611
26 Mark Menendez Ky. 611
28 Bernie Schultz Fla. 603
29 Randy Howell Ala. 597
30 Paul Elias Miss. 589
30 Gary Klein Texas 589
32 Matt Reed Texas 587
33 Gerald Swindle Ala. 577
34 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 568
35 Kelly Jordon Texas 564
36 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 561
36 Dave Wolak N.C. 561
38 Brent Chapman Kan. 544
38 Morizo Shimizu Japan 544
40 Scott Campbell Mo. 524
41 Preston Clark Fla. 522
42 Dustin Wilks N.C. 519
43 Tommy Biffle Okla. 512
44 Chris Lane Fla. 511
45 Jason Williamson S.C. 510
45 Ish Monroe Calif. 510
47 Kevin Short Ark. 509
48 Edwin Evers Okla. 503
49 Takahiro Omori Texas 501
50 Wade Grooms S.C. 498
50 Marty Stone N.C. 498
52 Jimmy Mize Ark. 496
52 Billy Brewer Texas 496
54 Ben Matsubu Texas 492
54 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 492
56 Boyd Duckett Ala. 489
57 John Crews Va. 484
57 Terry Butcher Okla. 484
59 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 483
60 Pat Golden N.C. 476
61 Kevin Wirth Ky. 474
62 Guy Eaker N.C. 473
63 Rick Clunn Mo. 471
64 Peter Thliveros Fla. 465
65 Charlie Hartley Ohio 447
66 Timmy Horton Ala. 446
67 Russ Lane Ala. 445
68 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 440
69 Zell Rowland Texas 439
70 Rick Ash Pa. 432
71 Jay Fuller Okla. 429
72 Jeff Kriet Okla. 426
72 Kevin Langill N.C. 426
74 Jim Murray Ga. 424
74 Jon Bondy Canada 424
76 Cliff Pace Miss. 422
77 Mark Tyler Okla. 420
78 John Murray Ariz. 410
79 Elton Luce Texas 407
80 Clark Reehm Ark. 405
81 Bradley Hallman Okla. 401
82 Davy Hite S.C. 398
83 Stephen Browning Ark. 396
83 Denny Brauer Mo. 396
85 Ken Cook Okla. 394
86 Brian Clark Texas 392
87 Corey Waldrop Texas 391
88 James Kennedy La. 383
89 Jeff Connella La. 382
90 David Sherrer La. 370
91 Marty Robinson S.C. 366
92 Mark Tucker Mo. 359
93 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 357
94 Steve Daniel Fla. 353
95 Glenn Delong Ohio 347
96 Greg Hackney La. 345
97 Jami Fralick S.D. 335
98 Pete Ponds Miss. 334
99 James Niggemeyer Texas 330
100 Bobby Myers Okla. 321
101 Todd Auten S.C. 319
102 Paul Hirosky Pa. 316
102 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 316
104 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 303
105 Kurt Dove Va. 302
106 David Smith Okla. 270
107 Matt Amedeo Ohio 266
108 Randy Allen La. 262
109 Grant Goldbeck Md. 247
2008 Berkley Heavyweight
Berkley Heavyweight Report
Place Name Lbs-Ozs
-----------------------------------------------------------
1 Byron Velvick 129-05
2 Mark Davis 128-13
3 Aaron Martens 120-15
4 Rick Morris 119-12
5 Scott Rook 117-06
6 Dean Rojas 111-13
7 Terry Scroggins 111-01
8 Bobby Lane 110-08
9 Kevin VanDam 109-15
10 Kenyon Hill 109-11
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