The world of professional fishing has progressed light years since those early days, as the Jasper community will witness when the Alabama CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer comes to town Feb. 5-8 with a $100,000 top prize at stake.
A field of 150 pros will face an unusual challenge from the 21,200-acre reservoir on the Sipsey Fork River (located an hour north of Birmingham). The 43-year-old Alabama Power Co. impoundment is picturesque with its numerous bluffs, sloughs, bays and feeder streams.
Smith Lake, with 500-plus miles of shoreline, is dominated by deep, clear conditions. Deep and clear isn't a combination that BASS pros encounter very often ... (For the rest of the story, visit http://espn.go.com/outdoors/bassmaster/s/tourn_04_tour_AL_Smith_preview.html)
THE CITGO BASSMASTERS ON ESPN2
Fans can catch the second event of the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster
Tournament Trail on Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala., Smith Lake, Jasper, Ala., Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2.
NEXT STOP
The CITGO Bassmater Tour travels to Guntersville, Ala., for the third event of the 2004 season. Lake Guntersville will be the stage for the round three, Feb. 26-29.
CITGO BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR
Pros will be competing for CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year points throughout the 2003 season. Anglers are awarded points based on their finishes in each of the six Tour events. The tournament winner receives 300 points. The scoring decreases in 5-point increments to fifth place, 4-point increments through 10th place, 3-point increments through 15th place, 2-point increments to 99th place and 1-point increments for the remainder of the field.
CITGO BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
1 Marty Stone N.C. 305
2 Scott Rook Ark. 295
3 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 290
3 Brent Chapman Kan. 290
5 Tommy Martin Texas 280
6 Alton Jones Texas 277
7 Bud Pruitt Texas 276
8 Jason Quinn S.C. 273
9 Scott Suggs Ark. 264
10 Chris Baumgardner N.C. 260
11 David Wharton Texas 257
12 Takahiro Omori Texas 254
13 Larry Nixon Ark. 251
14 Steve Daniel Fla. 248
15 Terry Scroggins Fla. 245
16 David Walker Tenn. 243
17 Bernie Schultz Fla. 241
18 Tom Biffle Okla. 239
19 Kelly Jordon Texas 237
20 Harold Allen Texas 235
21 Tim Horton Ala. 233
22 Byron Velvick Nev. 231
23 Mike Auten Ky. 229
24 Skeet Reese Calif. 227
25 Terry Baksay Conn. 225
26 Gary Klein Texas 223
27 Kevin Wirth Ky. 221
28 Koby Kreiger Fla. 219
28 John Murray Ariz. 219
30 Mark Kile Ariz. 215
31 Brian Snowden Mo. 213
32 Randy Blaukat Mo. 211
33 Danny Correia Mass. 209
34 Jimmy D Mize Ark. 207
35 Matt Reed Texas 205
36 Ishama Monroe Calif. 203
36 Chad Brauer Mo. 203
36 Jason Reyes Texas 203
39 Randy Howell Ala. 197
40 Davy Hite S.C. 195
40 O T Fears III Okla. 195
42 Mike Reynolds Calif. 191
43 Mike McClelland Ark. 189
44 Curt Lytle Va. 187
45 Aaron Martens Calif. 185
46 Kevin Short Ark. 183
47 Tim Loper Miss. 181
47 Edwin Evers Okla. 181
49 Brooks Rogers Texas 177
50 Art Ferguson III Mich. 175
PUROLATOR BIG BASS
New for 2004, Purolator, the official oil filter and air filter of BASS, is instituting an incentive to the angler who catches the heaviest fish each day. Pros catching the largest fish will receive a $1,000 bonus while the amateurs can look for a $500 reward per tournament day. An additional $1,000 will be awarded to the angler (pro or amateur) who catches the largest fish of the tournament.
PUROLATOR BIG BASS OF THE DAY WINNERS
Harris Chain of Lakes
1 Alton Jones Waco, Texas 10-13 Leesburg, Fla.
2 Mark Rizk Arab, Ala. 10-03 Leesburg, Fla.
3 Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 6-03 Leesburg, Fla.
4 Tommy Martin Hemphill, Texas 6-00 Leesburg, Fla.
PUROLATOR BIG BASS OF THE TOURNAMENT WINNERS
1 Alton Jones Waco, Texas 10-13 Leesburg, Fla.
BUSCH SHOOTOUT
Another new program for 2004 is the $200,000 Busch Shootout contingency program. Qualifying Tour pros will receive a $1,000 bonus for the largest sack brought in per tournament day.
The top 10 "Busch Heavy Weights" from the Tour and Elite 50 events will be joined by anglers with the top weights from the 2004 Classic, the 2004 Federation Championship and the 2003 Open Championship to compete in the single-day Busch Shootout tournament, Sept. 18, on a mystery lake. The winner will receive $100,000, with everyone else taking home a $5,000 check.
Arizona's John Murray was the first to qualify for the Busch Shootout tournament by having the heaviest sack at the 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Open Championship on Toledo Bend Reservoir last November. Murray's Day 3 catch of 21 pounds qualified him for the tournament.
BUSCH SHOOTOUT LEADERBOARD
1 David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 26-7
2 Jason Quinn Clover, S.C. 24-14
3 Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 15-13
4 Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 13-10
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR AWARD
Newcomers to the Tour this season have the opportunity to earn not only a $10,000 bonus, but also the title of Rookie of the Year. Mark Kile was the top newcomer in 2003, with a 12th place finish based on Angler of the Year point standings at the end of the 2003 Tour season.
CURRENT ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
Place Angler Name City State Points
1 Scott Suggs Alexander AR 264
2 Jason Reyes Humble TX 203
3 Kevin Short Mayflower AR 183
4 Jimmy Mason Rogersville AL 167
5 Scott A Nielsen Salt Lake City UT 143
6 Jordan Paullo Coventry CT 135
7 Marcel Veenstra Brighton MI 109
8 R J Bennett Grass Valley CA 95
9 Bink Desaro Boise ID 73
10 Thomas O'Bryant Drummonds TN 65
11 Greg Hackney Gonzales LA 60
12 Mark Shepard Labelle FL 47
HORIZON AWARD
At the conclusion of the 2003 season, Takahiro Omori was awarded the Horizon Award for the angler who posts the greatest improvement over the 2002 season. Omori finished 40th in 2003, a 98-place improvement from the previous year. The award, which will be given out again in 2004, includes a check for $25,000.
CLASSIC WATCH
The top 25 anglers in point standings from the CITGO Bassmaster Tour will earn a berth in the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Classic presented by Busch Beer, however, there are already 12 anglers who have already qualified for the 2004 Classic through the CITGO Bassmaster Open divisions. These 12 include:
CITGO Bassmaster Open - Southern Division
Tim Horton
David Walker
Denny Brauer
CITGO Bassmaster Open - Central Division
Edwin Evers
Tim Carroll
Steve Sennikoff
CITGO Bassmaster Open - Northern Division
Art Ferguson III
Kevin Wirth
Chuck Economou
CITGO Bassmaster Open - Western Division
Bink Desaro
John Murray
Skeet Reese
BASSMASTER ELITE 50
New for 2004, BASS introduces the $1.6 million, no-entry-fee Bassmaster Elite 50 series. Fifty anglers, comprised of the top 20 active anglers on the BASS All-Time Money List, the top 27 in cumulative points from the 2002, 2003 and 2004 Tour seasons, and the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year, the 2004 BASS Rookie of the Year and the 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Classic champion, will compete in the four-event series with the winner taking home a $100,000 check.
Currently 2003 Classic champ Michael Iaconelli is the only angler with a guaranteed spot. Anglers are sure to be jockeying for position in the points and money during the 2004 Tour season with hopes of gaining entry into the series.
If the Elite 50 were to start today, these are the anglers who would be in.
Top 20 All Time Money
Place Angler Name Winnings
1 Denny Brauer $1,715,664.21
2 Rick Clunn $1,527,769.53
3 Larry Nixon $1,527,133.58
4 Jay Yelas $1,244,732.00
5 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr $1,210,555.23
6 Kevin VanDam $1,173,450.00
7 Gary Klein $1,157,643.97
8 Ron Shuffield $969,996.00
9 Roland Martin $967,142.16
10 George Cochran $864,501.45
11 Mark Davis $842,771.30
12 Davy Hite $839,650.00
13 David Fritts $824,805.00
14 Zell Rowland $768,190.90
15 Tom Biffle $739,053.80
16 Jim Bitter $725,093.60
17 David Wharton $705,030.80
18 Randy Blaukat $676,242.70
19 Alton Jones $670,916.67
20 Peter E Thliveros $666,554.00
Top 27 2002, 2003, 2004 Points
Place Angler Name Points
1 Bud Pruitt 1712
2 Brent Chapman 1660
3 John Murray 1584
4 Kelly Jordon 1536
5 Tim Horton 1530
6 Edwin Evers 1500
7 Dustin Wilks 1471
8 Kevin Wirth 1449
9 Elton Luce Jr 1411
10 Randy Howell 1410
11 Mike Wurm 1404
12 Todd Faircloth 1399
13 Skeet Reese 1389
14 Bernie Schultz 1357
15 Mike Auten 1324
16 Ishama Monroe 1315
17 Tommy Martin 1301
18 O T Fears III 1290
19 Scott Rook 1282
20 Brian Snowden 1278
21 Roger Boler 1265
22 Tom Mann, Jr 1256
23 Gary Yamamoto 1244
24 Kenyon Hill 1202
25 Todd Auten 1196
26 Kotaro Kiriyama 1195
27 Gerald Swindle 1175
ON THE ELITE 50 BUBBLE
The top 10 anglers who are looking to gain entry to the Bassmaster Elite 50 series are:
Top 10 on Bubble for Money
Place Angler Winnings
1 Ken Cook $640,067.20
2 Woo Daves $538,210.80
3 Stacey D King $508,751.00
4 Paul L Elias $462,114.73
5 Takahiro Omori $437,700.00
6 Dean Rojas $434,448.31
7 Guy H Eaker $401,497.40
8 Harold Allen $380,468.69
9 Joe Thomas $359,648.47
10 Aaron Martens $358,622.33
Top 10 on Bubble for Points
Place Angler Name Points
1 Mark Menendez 1171
2 Danny Correia 1169
3 Curt Lytle 1166
4 Jeff Kriet 1155
5 Frank Scalish 1144
6 Takahiro Omori 1137
7 Marty Stone 1128
8 Paul L Elias 1123
9 Dalton Bobo 1121
10 Stephen Browning 1120
LAST TIME IN JASPER
The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail makes its third visit to Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala., and it's first since 1968 when Bill Dance Bill Dance won with a total weight of 48 pounds, 3 ounces.
BASS RECORDS AT JASPER
Last BASS event hosted/winner: November 1968/ Bill Dance
Second BASS event in Jasper.
Previous Winners
1968 Bill Dance (48-3)
1967 Gerald Blanchard (42-0)
Heaviest winning weight: Bill Dance 48-3 (1968)
Lowest winning weight: Gerald Blanchard 42-0 (1967)
BASS IN ALABAMA
The Jasper event will mark the 60th event conducted in Alabama, which continues to be the most visited state for BASS events. There are three additional BASS events scheduled in Alabama before the Classic.
WHO'S HOT ON THE TRAIL
HEAVIEST SINGLE DAY LIMIT
Alton Jones - 27 pounds, Harris Chain of Lakes (Fla.)
HEAVIEST BASS
Alton Jones - 10-13, Harris Chain of Lakes (Fla.)
MOST LIMITS
1. Marty Stone - 4
2. Scott Rook - 4
3. Brent Chapman - 4
4. Michael Iaconelli - 4
HEAVIEST TOTAL WEIGHT TOURNAMENT (FIELD)
Harris Chain of Lakes (Fla.) 3105 pounds 5 ounces
MOST NUMBER OF LIMITS (FIELD)
Harris Chain of Lakes (Fla.) 164 limits
MOST NUMBER OF BASS CAUGHT (FIELD)
Harris Chain of Lakes (Fla.) 1238 bass
ORIGINS OF THE TOUR
While BASS has conducted tournaments since 1967, records for the CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer begin with the 1994-95 season, as that was the first year the pro-am tournaments earned points toward the Angler of the Year award
The heaviest total weight tournament in CITGO Bassmaster Tour history took place in April 2002 on Alabama's Lake Guntersville, where the field of pros brought in an astonishing 5,645 pounds, 4 ounces of bass.
BASS is the world's largest fishing organization, sanctioning more than 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation. The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass-fishing tournament circuit and continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship as it has since 1968.
BIG PAYDAY
Linden, North Carolina's Marty Stone had the big payday at the Harris Chain of Lakes. The kickoff event for the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Tour presented by Busch Beer earned him a check for $102,000 as he looks to add to his winnings on Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala., this week.
BASS MILLIONAIRES CLUB
Seven anglers will begin the 2004 Tour in the BASS Millionaires Club. Those are the anglers who have racked up over $1 million in career BASS prize money. Those seven anglers are:
1 Denny Brauer $1,715,664.21
2 Rick Clunn $1,527,769.53
3 Larry Nixon $1,527,133.58
4 Jay Yelas $1,244,732.00
5 Shaw Grigsby Jr. $1,210,555.23
6 Kevin VanDam $1,173,450.00
7 Gary Klein $1,157,643.97
Two anglers to watch in 2004 are Ron Shuffieldl, and Roland Martin. Shuffield, with $969,996 and Martin with $967,142 are poised to join the BASS Millionaires Club by the end of 2004.
CASTINGKIDS
The CastingKids program, sponsored by CITGO will be held in conjunction with the BASS Sponsor Expo Saturday, Feb. 7 from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Old Walker County Airport. Children between the ages of 7 and 14 can participate in the contest with the chance to earn a scholarship.
The event and instruction to youngsters will be facilitated by the Jasper BASS Club.
BASS SPONSOR EXPO (ADMISSION IS FREE)
A popular component of the CITGO Bassmaster Tour events this season is the highly interactive and family friendly BASS Sponsor Expo area. Sponsors present interactive exhibits and provide a fun family experience for all ages. The Expos take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and from 12 p.m. until 6 Sunday at the Old Walker County Airport
SCHEDULE - CITGO BASSMASTER TOUR EVENT 2
Registration: Wed., Feb. 4, 3:00 p.m.
Community Health Systems Building (CHS)
Briefing - Wed., Feb. 4, 6:30 p.m.
Community Health Systems Building (CHS)
First day launch - Thurs., Feb. 5, 6:30 a.m.
Lewis Smith Lake Dam - Smith Dam Hydro Electric Plant
Day 1 weigh-in - Thurs., Feb. 5, 3:00 p.m.
Lewis Smith Lake Dam - Smith Dam Hydro Electric Plant
Second day launch - Fri., Feb. 6, 6:30 a.m.
Lewis Smith Lake Dam - Smith Dam Hydro Electric Plant
Day 2 weigh-in - Fri., Feb. 6, 3:00 p.m.
Lewis Smith Lake Dam - Smith Dam Hydro Electric Plant
Third day launch - Sat., Feb. 7, 6:45 a.m.
Lewis Smith Lake Dam - Smith Dam Hydro Electric Plant
BASS Sponsor Expo - Sat., Feb. 7, 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Old Walker County Airport
CastingKids Competition - Sat., Feb. 7, 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Old Walker County Airport
Day 3 weigh-in and cut - Sat., Feb. 7, 4:00 p.m.
Old Walker County Airport
Fourth day launch - Sun., Feb. 8, 6:45 a.m.
Lewis Smith Lake Dam - Smith Dam Hydro Electric Plant
BASS Sponsor Expo - Sun., Feb. 8, 12 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Old Walker County Airport
Day 4 weigh-in - Sun., Feb. 8, 4:00 p.m.
Old Walker County Airport
2004 CITGO BASSMASTER TOUR SCHEDULE
Site: Harris Chain of Lakes - Leesburg, Fla. Jan. 29-Feb. 1
Winner: Marty Stone (61-12)
Site: Smith Lake - Jasper, Ala. Feb. 5-Feb. 8
Site: Lake Guntersville - Guntersville, Ala. Feb. 26-Feb. 29
Site: Table Rock Lake - Kimberling City, Mo. March 4-7
Site: Lake Eufaula - Eufaula, Ala. March 18-21
Site: Santee Cooper Reservoir - Manning, S.C. March 25-28
2004 BASSMASTER ELITE 50 SCHEDULE
Site: Lake Dardenelle - Russellville, Ark. April 14-17
Site: Tenn-Tom Waterway - Columbus, Miss. May 19-22
Site: Alabama River - Prattville, Ala. June 2-5
Site: Ohio,Cumberland & Tennessee Rivers - Paducah, Ky. June 16-19
BASS SPONSORS
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Skeeter Boats, Mercury Marine, Yamaha Outboards, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, MotorGuide, Bass Pro Shops, and BankOne.
Associate Sponsors include G3 Boats and Bryant Heating and Air Conditioning.
Local Sponsors include the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (334) 551-2375 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
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