Weathered California Pro Takes First Bass Win
JASPER, Ala. - Even the sun came out to watch Sunday's final round of the Bassmaster Tour stop on Smith Lake, its first appearance during the four-day event.
It shone with extra warmth on California's Charlie Weyer, who brought home 8 pounds of hard-won bass to win his first BASS event. His four day total of 32 pounds 10 ounces put him comfortably above the rest of the field, with a margin of 4-3 over second-place finisher Mark Tucker of Missouri.
Weyer, who has been fishing with BASS since 1997, was overwhelmed with excitement about the victory.
"I'm so excited," Weyer said. "I can't believe all these people want my autograph. It's unbelievable. I don't know what to say."
To earn the $100,000 winner's purse, Weyer stuck to his strategy from Day 3, Carolina rigging a Fred Head shaky head worm on 10-pound test line in backwater areas still swollen from Thursday's torrential rainstorms.
"These were some of the toughest conditions I've seen in a tournament," Weyer said. "I thought if I could at least catch three fish a day, I could possibly make the top 12. Today, at 12 o'clock I didn't have a fish and I ran to a spot where I caught three fish yesterday and I got three fish in two hours.
"I knew with the weather and the lake coming up, that the run-ins were going to be the key in this tournament. The water came up about 10 or 12 feet in the tournament. Friday, I found two of them and those couple of creeks are where I caught all of my fish."
Weyers picked up an extra $1,000 when his 8-pound sack proved to be the largest of the day, making him Sunday's . If that 8-pound sack winds up being one of the top 10 heaviest sacks of the Tour and Elite 50 events, Weyer will go on to a mystery lake on Sept. 18 to compete in the first Busch Shootout Tournament.
Mark Tucker came into the final day of competition in the third spot, but brought in 5-2 to give him second place with a four-day total of 28-7. Tucker had been fishing deep for most of the first three days, and although his water was muddy, decided to stick with it for day four.
"For the fish I broke off this week and the fish that I lost, it's amazing that I'm still here," he said. "It was tough fishing. This morning I fished for two hours and had to engage my reel with my thumb. It wouldn't work, it was froze up and the water just kept coming up too much. I couldn't visualize where I've been catching my fish the last two days. All I needed was one of those big bites today and I might have had a chance."
Alabama favorite Gerald Swindle ended the tournament with 22-6, putting him in fifth. Swindle said he was thrilled with a top six finish, but is hungry for his first BASS win.
"It's pretty awesome to see everybody here," he said. "You want to do better. When I go to Guntersville, I've got to win, man. That's all there is to it. I have to come back and make the cut. The fire is going to burn deeper and deeper every day, and hotter and hotter."
Sunday's Big Bass went to Weyer, who reeled in a 3-pound, 12-ounce lunker that earned him $1,000. Tucker added an extra $1,000 to his tournament earnings when his 6-11 Big Bass from Friday's round proved to be the Big Bass of the Tournament.
The Bassmaster Tour heads to Lake Guntersville in two weeks for the third event on the 2004 Tour, Feb. 26-29.
Fans can catch a telecast of the Smith Lake tournament on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN2.
Thousands of fans were on hand Sunday afternoon to take part in the highly interactive and family friendly BASS Sponsor Expo area. Sponsors presented interactive exhibits and provided a fun family experience for all ages.
2004 Alabama Bassmaster Tour Pro 02/05-02/08
Smith Lake, Jasper Ala.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total
$$$
1. Charlie Weyer West Hills, Calif. 11 32-10 310
$101,000.00
Day 1: 3 8-01 Day 2: 2 9-07 Day 3: 3 7-02 Day 4: 3
8-00
2. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 9 28-07 295
$39,000.00
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 3 11-12 Day 3: 2 6-03 Day 4: 2
5-02
3. Lee Bailey Hebron, Conn. 9 26-15 295
$23,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 1 4-06 Day 3: 1 4-06 Day 4: 2
4-01
4. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 11 26-01 285
$20,000.00
Day 1: 4 10-08 Day 2: 2 4-13 Day 3: 4 8-05 Day 4: 1
2-07
5. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 8 22-06 280
$15,000.00
Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 4 12-01 Day 3: 3 7-15 Day 4: 0
0-00
6. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 8 21-06 276
$14,000.00
Day 1: 3 8-00 Day 2: 3 9-00 Day 3: 1 2-08 Day 4: 1
1-14
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purolator Big Bass Day
1 Robert Hamilton Jr Hattiesburg, Miss. 5-03 $1,000.00 2
Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 6-11 $1,000.00 3
Ben Matsubu Mineola, Texas 5-08 $1,000.00 4
Charlie Weyer West Hills, Calif. 3-12 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 3 177 444-06
2 2 153 407-08
3 0 18 49-12
4 0 9 21-08
----------------------------------
5 357 923-02----------------------------------
S
Place Angler Weight
1 David Wharton 26-7
2 Jason Quinn 24-14
3 Greg Hackney 16-0
4 Marty Stone 15-13
5 Scott Suggs 13-12
6 Bud Pruitt 13-10
7 Edwin Evers 8-5
8 Charlie Weyer 8-0
----------------------------------2004 Angler of the Year
After Jasper, Ala. Ending 02-08-2004
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Scott Suggs Ark. 521
2 Chris Baumgardner N.C. 495
3 Kelly Jordon Texas 482
4 Marty Stone N.C. 476
5 Edwin Evers Okla. 466
6 Gerald Swindle Ala. 437
6 Kevin Short Ark. 437
8 Mark Kile Ariz. 436
9 Tim Horton Ala. 428
10 Jason Quinn S.C. 420
11 Brian Snowden Mo. 412
12 Tommy Martin Texas 409
13 Bernie Schultz Fla. 408
13 Skeet Reese Calif. 408
15 Randy Blaukat Mo. 406
16 Davy Hite S.C. 402
17 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 400
18 Peter E Thliveros Fla. 398
18 Tom Biffle Okla. 398
20 Ishama Monroe Calif. 394
21 Mike Reynolds Calif. 392
21 Lee Bailey Conn. 392
23 Takahiro Omori Texas 391
24 Brooks Rogers Texas 386
24 Chad Brauer Mo. 386
26 Gary Klein Texas 380
26 Jay Yelas Texas 380
28 Brent Chapman Kan. 379
29 Dean Rojas Texas 378
30 Bud Pruitt Texas 375
31 O T Fears III Okla. 374
32 Aaron Martens Calif. 372
33 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 371
34 Dustin Wilks N.C. 364
35 Larry Nixon Ark. 354
36 Jimmy D Mize Ark. 348
37 Rick Morris Va. 342
38 Scott Rook Ark. 341
39 Charlie Weyer Calif. 339
40 Greg Hackney La. 337
41 Mark Tucker Mo. 332
42 Luke Clausen Wash. 330
43 Alton Jones Texas 323
44 Kevin Wirth Ky. 322
45 David Walker Tenn. 320
45 Jack L Wade Tenn. 320
47 Matt Reed Texas 318
48 Steve Daniel Fla. 316
49 Brett Hite Ariz. 312
50 Tim Loper Miss. 308
51 Rick Clunn Mo. 304
52 Harold Allen Texas 303
52 David Wharton Texas 303
54 Ben Matsubu Texas 302
55 Byron Velvick Nev. 299
56 Chad Morgenthaler Ill. 296
57 John Murray Ariz. 295
58 Kyle Mabrey Ala. 292
59 Terry Scroggins Fla. 291
60 Terry Baksay Conn. 289
61 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 288
61 Jack A Gadlage Ky. 288
63 Todd Auten S.C. 287
64 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 286
65 Jim Bitter Ind. 284
66 Charlie Hartley Ohio 282
67 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 279
68 Mike Auten Ky. 275
69 Mike McClelland Ark. 274
69 Darryl Burkhardt Ore. 274
71 Danny Correia Mass. 273
72 Joe Thomas Ohio 271
73 Tom Burns Ill. 268
74 Dennis Kolender Nev. 265
75 Jason Reyes Texas 262
75 Mark Shepard Fla. 262
77 Chuck Economou Fla. 260
77 R J Bennett Calif. 260
79 Stacey D King Mo. 258
80 Randy Yarnall Pa. 254
80 Kevin VanDam Mich. 254
80 Mike Hicks Va. 254
83 Curt Lytle Va. 251
84 John Crews Va. 250
85 Art Ferguson III Mich. 248
85 Kenyon Hill Okla. 248
87 Mark Davis Ark. 246
88 Randy Howell Ala. 245
89 David Mansue N.J. 241
89 Mark Rizk Ala. 241
91 Mike Wurm Ark. 237
92 Guy H Eaker N.C. 228
93 Chris Price Md. 227
94 Steve Sennikoff Texas 226
95 Sean Hoernke Texas 224
95 Bink Desaro Idaho 224
97 Robert Hamilton Jr Miss. 223
98 Woo Daves Va. 221
99 Elton Luce Jr Texas 220
100 Koby Kreiger Fla. 219
101 Todd Faircloth Texas 217
102 Coby Carden Ala. 215
103 Jimmy Mason Ala. 213
104 Gerald Gostenik Mich. 212
105 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Fla. 211
106 Doug Garrett Ark. 209
107 Marcel Veenstra Mich. 208
108 Randall R Romig Pa. 191
108 Mark Rogers Fla. 191
110 Scott A Nielsen Utah 189
111 Johnny Lesesne Ga. 187
112 Frank Scalish Ohio 186
112 Jeff Kriet Okla. 186
112 George Cochran Ark. 186
115 Chris Daves Va. 185
116 Robert Lee Calif. 183
117 Jordan Paullo Conn. 181
118 Denny Brauer Mo. 180
119 Zell Rowland Texas 173
120 Tommy Stiles Tenn. 170
120 Randy Dearman Texas 170
122 Gary Yamamoto Texas 165
123 Frank Ippoliti Md. 164
123 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 164
125 Roland Martin Fla. 161
126 Cody Bird Texas 159
127 Tom Mann, Jr Ga. 154
128 Danny White Ga. 150
128 Ken Cook Okla. 150
130 Dalton Bobo Ala. 140
131 Roger Boler La. 137
132 Ron Shuffield Ark. 135
132 Casey Iwai Ariz. 135
134 Charles Hammack Texas 134
135 Mark Menendez Ky. 133
136 Eric Nethery Ga. 132
137 Jay Kendrick Ga. 126
138 David Fritts N.C. 121
139 Charles Ingram Tenn. 118
140 Tim Carroll Okla. 114
141 Thomas O'Bryant Tenn. 111
142 Mark Tyler Calif. 108
143 J T Kenney Md. 104
144 Jody Cordell Ga. 103
144 Robert Duke McCardle Ga. 103
144 Paul L Elias Miss. 103
147 Stephen Browning Ark. 101
148 Jason Barber Texas 100
149 Mike O'Shea Calif. 94
150 Pete Ponds Miss. 93
151 Jarrett Edwards Colo. 91
152 Homer Humphreys, Jr La. 89
152 Jimmy Houston Okla. 89
154 Terry Segraves Fla. 87
154 Norio Tanabe Japan 87
156 Pete Gluszek N.J. 79
157 Jeff Magee Miss. 78
158 Lance Vick Texas 68ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
2004 Tournament YearPlace Angler Name City State Total Points
1 Scott Suggs Alexander Ark. 521
2 Kevin Short Mayflower Ark. 437
3 Greg Hackney Gonzales La. 337
4 Jason Reyes Humble Texas 262
4 Mark Shepard Labelle Fla. 262
6 R J Bennett Grass Valley Calif. 260
7 Bink Desaro Boise Idaho 224
8 Jimmy Mason Rogersville Ala. 213
9 Marcel Veenstra Brighton Mich. 208
10 Scott A Nielsen Salt Lake City Utah 189
11 Jordan Paullo Coventry Conn. 181
12 Thomas O'Bryant Drummonds Tenn. 111HORIZON AWARD STANDINGS
After Jasper, ALDifference Angler 2003 2004
147 Davy Hite 163 16
115 Aaron Martens 147 32
105 Tommy Martin 117 12
101 Lee Bailey 122 21
97 Mark Tucker 138 41
93 Jason Quinn 103 10
91 Scott Rook 129 38
85 Larry Nixon 120 35
82 Chuck Economou 159 77
81 Bernie Schultz 94 13
80 Art Ferguson III 165 85
79 Steve Sennikoff 173 94
75 Tom Biffle 93 18
74 Marty Stone 78 4
73 John Crews 157 84
72 Brooks Rogers 96 24
69 Michael Iaconelli 102 33
68 Rick Clunn 119 51
68 Chad Brauer 92 24
67 Kotaro Kiriyama 84 17
51 Coby Carden 153 102
50 Morizo Shimizu 114 64
46 Randy Yarnall 126 80
46 Brian Snowden 57 11
43 Danny White 171 128
41 Dean Rojas 70 29
40 Charlie Hartley 106 66
38 Mike Hicks 118 80
38 Charlie Weyer 77 39
36 Byron Velvick 91 55
36 Rick Morris 73 37
36 Danny Correia 107 71
33 Gerald Swindle 39 6
33 O T Fears III 64 31
32 Todd Auten 95 63
30 Doug Garrett 136 106
25 Kyle Mabrey 83 58
24 Randy Dearman 144 120
23 David Mansue 112 89
23 Chris Price 116 93
23 Edwin Evers 28 5
23 Tim Horton 32 9
22 Brett Hite 71 49
21 Luke Clausen 63 42
19 Chris Daves 134 115
17 Takahiro Omori 40 23
15 Sean Hoernke 110 95
14 Johnny Lesesne 125 111
13 Ray Sedgwick 80 67
13 Tim Carroll 153 140
12 Tim Loper 62 50
8 Peter E Thliveros 26 18
8 Jimmy D Mize 44 36
7 Gerald Gostenik 111 104
6 Homer Humphreys, Jr 158 152
5 Jeff Magee 162 157
5 Kelly Jordon 8 3
4 Mark Kile 12 8
2 Frank Scalish 114 112
2 Ben Matsubu 56 54
1 Mark Rizk 90 89
ELITE 50
After Jasper, AL ending 02-08-2004
2/8/2004 7:02 Top 20 All Time Money
Place Angler Name Winnings
1 Denny Brauer $1,715,664.21
2 Rick Clunn $1,532,419.53
3 Larry Nixon $1,527,133.58
4 Jay Yelas $1,248,432.00
5 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr $1,210,555.23
6 Kevin VanDam $1,175,683.33
7 Gary Klein $1,159,568.97
8 Ron Shuffield $969,996.00
9 Roland Martin $967,142.16
10 George Cochran $864,501.45
11 Davy Hite $842,800.00
12 Mark Davis $842,771.30
13 David Fritts $824,805.00
14 Zell Rowland $768,190.90
15 Tom Biffle $740,978.80
16 Jim Bitter $727,018.60
17 David Wharton $705,030.80
18 Randy Blaukat $678,792.70
19 Alton Jones $671,916.67
20 Peter E Thliveros $671,654.00
Top 27 2003, 2003, 2004 Points
Place Angler Name Points
1 Bud Pruitt 1811
2 Edwin Evers 1785
3 Kelly Jordon 1781
4 Brent Chapman 1749
5 Tim Horton 1725
6 Dustin Wilks 1684
7 John Murray 1660
8 Mike Wurm 1601
9 Skeet Reese 1570
10 Kevin Wirth 1550
11 Bernie Schultz 1524
12 Ishama Monroe 1506
12 Elton Luce Jr 1506
14 Brian Snowden 1477
15 O T Fears III 1469
16 Randy Howell 1458
17 Todd Faircloth 1457
18 Gerald Swindle 1455
19 Tommy Martin 1430
20 Kotaro Kiriyama 1426
21 Todd Auten 1421
22 Mike Auten 1370
23 Kenyon Hill 1365
24 Tom Mann, Jr 1347
25 Scott Rook 1328
26 Ben Matsubu 1327
27 Roger Boler 1311
Top 10 on Bubble for Money
Place Angler Name Winnings
1 Ken Cook $640,067.20
2 Woo Daves $538,210.80
3 Stacey D King $510,676.00
4 Paul L Elias $462,114.73
5 Takahiro Omori $439,625.00
6 Dean Rojas $439,248.31
7 Guy H Eaker $404,647.40
8 Harold Allen $380,468.69
9 Joe Thomas $365,048.47
10 Aaron Martens $361,022.33 Top 10 on Bubble for Points
Place Angler Name Points
1 Jeff Kriet 1308
2 Dean Rojas 1301
3 Marty Stone 1299
4 Gary Yamamoto 1290
5 Jack L Wade 1276
6 Takahiro Omori 1274
7 Mark Menendez 1266
8 Jack A Gadlage 1265
9 Chad Brauer 1255
10 Guy H Eaker 1247
