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 Massey Leads at Bassmaster Federation Nation ChampionshipTAVARES, Fla. - Matt Massey of Lakewood, Co., only registered four fish during the first day of competition at the 2009 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship presented by Yamaha Outboards and Skeeter Boats on the Harris Chain of Lakes out of Tavares, Fla., but he made them count, totaling 14 pounds, 12 ounces, good enough to take a modest lead in the amateur championship. "Today was totally different than practice," said Massey, who is one of 55 anglers competing here. "It was windy and cloudy Tuesday, but today it was flat with bluebird skies. I was getting five or six quality bites in practice, but today I had to work for every bite and cover a lot of water to get what I got." A member of the Colorado Bassmasters, Massey thinks he can repeat today's performance if his spots replenish. If that scenario plays out, Massey would take home an invitation to the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series and a Skeeter/Yamaha boat rig valued at $63,250. Additionally, he would earn one of the six berths up for grabs in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic (Feb. 19-21, Birmingham, Ala., Lay Lake). In second was Skip Sjobeck of Randolph, Vt., who boated only two bass but posted a total of 12 pounds, 5 ounces. One of those bass, a 9-5 beast, was big enough to take big bass honors for the day. Sjobeck said he could be on the pattern to win the tournament. "I've got the big fish pattern figured out, I'm not going for a limit of small fish," he said. "If I were to get a limit, it would only be in the 7-9 pound range, so I'm going for big fish." Rounding out the top five was Tom Jessop of Delhart, Texas, who had an 11-pound, 5-ounce, which put him third. Hot on Jessop's heels with 11-4 was Brent Long of Catawba, N.C., in fourth. Randy Wieczorek of Buffalo City, Wis., was fifth with 10-15. The Federation Nation Championship is represented by anglers from six divisions: the Northern, Southern, Mid-Atlantic, Western, Central and Eastern. The top finishing angler from each division earns a 2010 Bassmaster Classic berth. The full standings can be found below. In the Mid-Atlantic lead was Gerry Jooste of Harare, Zimbabwe, who is 15th in the overall standings. The Southern division leader was Long while the Northern leader was Wieczorek. Leading the Western division was tournament leader Massey while Sjobeck headed up the Eastern division. Jessop led the pack in the Central division. Bryan Schmidt, the defending champion of the event, is still within striking distance of earning his second consecutive Classic berth through the Central division. The Olney, Texas, angler was 11th with 8 pounds. The full field will compete for three days. Launches, at 7:30 a.m. ET daily, and weigh-ins, at 3:45 p.m., will be at Wooten Park, 200 S. Rockingham Ave., Tavares. Also during the week, the Junior Bassmaster World Championship will take place on nearby Lake Yale. Kids in two age divisions (11-14, 15-18) will weigh their bass at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, on the Federation Nation Championship stage in Tavares. The Bassmaster CastingKids National Championship will also be determined at the end of this week. Kids in two age groups ( 7-10, 11-14 ) will cast, pitch and flip to targets. The CastingKids finals will begin at noon Friday, Oct. 30, at the Lake Sumter Community College gymnasium in Leesburg, Fla.
2009 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship Standings
Angler Hometown D No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Matt Massey Lakewood, Colo. (CO) W 4 14-12
2. Skip Sjobeck Randolph, Vt. (VT) E 2 12-05
3. Tom Jessop Dalhart, Texas (TX) C 5 11-05
4. Brent Long Cornelius, N.C. (SC) S 4 11-04
5. Randy Wieczorek Buffalo City, Wisc. (MN) N 5 10-15
6. Don Hogue Pasco, Wash. (WA) W 5 10-14
7. Samuel Anthony Independence, La. (LA) C 5 9-14
8. Randy Phillips Oxford, Mass. (MA) E 3 9-07
9. Ron Cherkas Grimes, Iowa (IA) N 5 8-15
9. Mark Warner Overland Park, Kan. (KS) C 5 8-15
11. Bryan Schmidt Olney, Texas (TX) C 4 8-00
12. Chuck Murray Louisburg, N.C. (NC) S 5 7-14
13. Jody Adkins North Canton, Ohio (OH) N 5 7-13
13. Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, Mich. (IN) N 5 7-13
15. Gerry Jooste Harare, Zimbabwe (ZWE) M 5 7-10
16. Brandon Rose Saginaw, Mich. (MI) N 5 7-07
17. John Soukup Agra, Okla. (OK) C 5 7-06
17. Nick Wood Yreka, Calif. (CA) W 5 7-06
19. Tim Dolon Cherryville, Pa. (PA) M 5 6-11
20. Brett Quader Pasadena, Md. (MD) M 5 6-08
21. Joe Matt Syracuse, N.Y. (NY) E 5 5-13
22. Brandon Card Lexington, Ky. (KY) S 4 5-11
23. Richard Risewick Norton, Kan. (NE) C 5 5-08
24. Jay Ladner Kiln, Miss. (MS) C 3 5-06
25. Chris Neely Chattahoochee, Fla. (GA) S 4 5-01
26. Jacopo Gallelli Firenze, Italy (ITA) N 3 5-00
27. Scott Weiland Saddle Brook, N.J. (NJ) M 3 4-13
28. Owen Lounsbury St Maries, Idaho (ID) W 4 4-08
29. Jeff Freeman Max Meadows, Va. (VA) M 4 4-00
30. Ben Grande Las Vegas, Nev. (NV) W 3 4-00
30. Jared Taliaferro Rogers, Ark. (AR) C 3 4-00
32. Kenneth Pannell Springville, Ala. (AL) S 1 3-11
33. Al Gambardella North Haven, Conn. (CT) E 3 3-08
34. Gerald Sobkowiak Granville, Ill. (IL) N 3 3-06
35. Dave Johnson Keswick, Canada (ON) E 2 3-06
36. Byron Chaves Salem, Ore. (OR) W 2 3-05
37. David Boyd Quincy, Fla. (FL) S 2 2-08
38. Paul Reutlinger West Jordan, Utah (UT) W 2 2-07
39. Samuel Russell Salt Lake City, Utah (WY) W 2 2-06
40. Russell Matt Saint Joseph, Mo. (MO) C 3 2-04
41. John Clark Bossier City, La. (PVA Champion) M 2 2-01
42. Leroy Starling Whitefish, Mont. (MT) W 2 1-14
43. Tyler Hanatow Alstead, N.H. (NH) E 1 1-13
44. Mark Desjardin Vassalboro, Maine (ME) E 1 1-11
45. Mamoru Suzuki Tokyo 198-0063, Japan (JPN) W 1 1-08
46. Justy Varkevisser Edenvale 1610, South Africa (S AFS 1 1-06
47. Ben Parker Union City, Tenn. (TN) S 1 1-02
48. Don Denault Delmar, Md. (DE) M 1 1-01
49. Shane Cowan Pierre, S.D. (SD) N 0 0-00
49. Jeff Guerrette Glendale, Ariz. (AZ) W 0 0-00
49. Rick Hamer Charleston, W.Va. (WV) M 0 0-00
49. Wes Haney Baldwin, Wisc. (WI) N 0 0-00
49. Chuck Rizuto Navajo Dam, N.M. (NM) W 0 0-00
49. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, R.I. (RI) E 0 0-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 17 163 276-03
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17 163 276-03
DIVISIONAL STANDINGS Day 1
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CENTRAL
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Tom Jessop Dalhart, Texas (TX) 5 11-05
2 Samuel Anthony Independence, La. (LA) 5 9-14
3 Mark Warner Overland Park, Kan. (KS) 5 8-15
4 Bryan Schmidt Olney, Texas (TX) 4 8-00
5 John Soukup Agra, Okla. (OK) 5 7-06
6 Richard Risewick Norton, Kan. (NE) 5 5-08
7 Jay Ladner Kiln, Miss. (MS) 3 5-06
8 Jared Taliaferro Rogers, Ark. (AR) 3 4-00
9 Russell Matt Saint Joseph, Mo. (MO) 3 2-04
WESTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Matt Massey Lakewood, Colo. (CO) 4 14-12
2 Don Hogue Pasco, Wash. (WA) 5 10-14
3 Nick Wood Yreka, Calif. (CA) 5 7-06
4 Owen Lounsbury St Maries, Idaho (ID) 4 4-08
5 Ben Grande Las Vegas, Nev. (NV) 3 4-00
6 Byron Chaves Salem, Ore. (OR) 2 3-05
7 Paul Reutlinger West Jordan, Utah (UT) 2 2-07
8 Samuel Russell Salt Lake City, Utah (WY) 2 2-06
9 Leroy Starling Whitefish, Mont. (MT) 2 1-14
10 Mamoru Suzuki Tokyo 198-0063, Japan (JP 1 1-08
11 Jeff Guerrette Glendale, Ariz. (AZ) 0 0-00
11 Chuck Rizuto Navajo Dam, N.M. (NM) 0 0-00
NORTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Randy Wieczorek Buffalo City, Wisc. (MN) 5 10-15
2 Ron Cherkas Grimes, Iowa (IA) 5 8-15
3 Jody Adkins North Canton, Ohio (OH) 5 7-13
3 Brian Hensley Edwardsburg, Mich. (IN) 5 7-13
5 Brandon Rose Saginaw, Mich. (MI) 5 7-07
6 Jacopo Gallelli Firenze, Italy (ITA) 3 5-00
7 Gerald Sobkowiak Granville, Ill. (IL) 3 3-06
8 Shane Cowan Pierre, S.D. (SD) 0 0-00
8 Wes Haney Baldwin, Wisc. (WI) 0 0-00
SOUTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brent Long Cornelius, N.C. (SC) 4 11-04
2 Chuck Murray Louisburg, N.C. (NC) 5 7-14
3 Brandon Card Lexington, Ky. (KY) 4 5-11
4 Chris Neely Chattahoochee, Fla. (GA) 4 5-01
5 Kenneth Pannell Springville, Ala. (AL) 1 3-11
6 David Boyd Quincy, Fla. (FL) 2 2-08
7 Justy Varkevisser Edenvale 1610, South Afri 1 1-06
8 Ben Parker Union City, Tenn. (TN) 1 1-02
EASTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Skip Sjobeck Randolph, Vt. (VT) 2 12-05
2 Randy Phillips Oxford, Mass. (MA) 3 9-07
3 Joe Matt Syracuse, N.Y. (NY) 5 5-13
4 Al Gambardella North Haven, Conn. (CT) 3 3-08
5 Dave Johnson Keswick, Canada (ON) 2 3-06
6 Tyler Hanatow Alstead, N.H. (NH) 1 1-13
7 Mark Desjardin Vassalboro, Maine (ME) 1 1-11
8 Mike Wolfenden Warwick, R.I. (RI) 0 0-00
MID-ATLANTIC
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Gerry Jooste Harare, Zimbabwe (ZWE) 5 7-10
2 Tim Dolon Cherryville, Pa. (PA) 5 6-11
3 Brett Quader Pasadena, Md. (MD) 5 6-08
4 Scott Weiland Saddle Brook, N.J. (NJ) 3 4-13
5 Jeff Freeman Max Meadows, Va. (VA) 4 4-00
6 John Clark Bossier City, La. (PVA Ch 2 2-01
7 Don Denault Delmar, Md. (DE) 1 1-01
8 Rick Hamer Charleston, W.Va. (WV) 0 0-00
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