DEL RIO, Texas -- Sparked by a magic tree, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, jumped Sunday from 10th place to first at the Lone Star Shootout bass fishing tournament, edging Elite rookie Clark Reehm of Russellville, Ark., by just 12 ounces.
With the victory, Faircloth earns $100,000 and moved up to second position in the Angler of the Year standings, which boast a $250,000 top prize and serves as the main qualifying avenue into the Bassmaster Classic. Fairloths 29-pound, 14-ounce limit was buttressed by a final-hour stop at a location he found at a 2007 Elite event on Amistad.
Last year, I caught 36 pounds from this area where there was a giant tree, said Faircloth, 32. I decided to save it until the very end today. So, I pulled in there and caught two giants with less than an hour to go. That tree is magical.
The fourth Elite event of the 2008 season was shortened to three days because of unsafe weather conditions Thursday, which would have been the first day of competition.
Faircloth primarily used two techniques throughout the three days. He fished a 6-inch Senko to fill out his limit and used a swimbait, as many other anglers in the field did, to entice his bigger bites. The largest bass of his Sunday limit, an 8-13 brute which earned Purolator Big Bass honors and $1,000, was boated on a swimbait.
In 2007, Faircloth scored a fourth-place finish at Amistad but had an unproductive three-day practice period heading into this weeked. However, he said he was able to get some much-needed rest Thursday when the tournament day was canceled.
After practice, I didnt expect to be anywhere near winning this event, said Faircloth. Thursday gave me some perspective, I was able to hang out with my children and get some rest. That always helps.
Faircloth now has earned more than $750,000 in his BASS career and has two BASS victories. With seven events remaining in the 2008 Elites, he has put himself in prime position for a run at the AOY title and Classic qualification.
Reehm, who weighed in 76-3 overall, just missed his first win, but the rookie made a considerable leap in the AOY standings to 46th. Despite being disappointed, Reehm feels that he is still in the learning stages.
Every day you learn something new, said Reehm, 28. I made some mistakes that ultimately cost me but I rebounded after a miserable performance last week at Falcon Lake and I had an excellent time.
Reehm fished Amistad in September 2007, ultimately qualifying for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic on the strength of his Amistad tournament.
This time around, he targeted similar areas as he did then, primarily Carolina-rigging a big worm in red. He said the bigger bass came later in the day and was focusing on staging fish.
Right behind Reehm was fellow Arkansas pro Kevin Short of Mayflower, with 75-10. Short exacted a measure of redemption on Amistad after catching zero legal bass on the second day of the 2007 tournament.
Another Arkansas pro, Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, was fourth with 71-1. McClelland took the top position in the AOY standings.
Every day I think about winning the Angler of the Year, McClelland said. That is the ultimate goal and its fantastic to get out to such a great start.
In fifth was Saturdays leader Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C., with 69-12. Two Texans also finishing in the top 12 were Gary Klein of Weatherford (6th) and Billy Brewer of Bruceville (8th).
2008 Battle on the Border 4/10-4/13
Lake Amistad, Del Rio TX.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 76-15 305 $102,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-14 Day 2: 5 23-03 Day 3: 5 29-14
2. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 15 76-03 295 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 28-14 Day 2: 5 25-12 Day 3: 5 21-09
3. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 15 75-10 290 $36,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-13 Day 2: 5 31-06 Day 3: 5 22-07
4. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15 71-01 285 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 29-05 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 17-14
5. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 69-12 285 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 25-15 Day 2: 5 29-13 Day 3: 5 14-00
6. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 15 69-06 276 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 27-07 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 5 21-06
7. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 68-04 272 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 28-13 Day 3: 5 19-11
8. Billy Brewer Bruceville, TX 15 67-10 268 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 25-12 Day 2: 5 24-01 Day 3: 5 17-13
9. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 67-04 264 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 26-04 Day 2: 5 23-14 Day 3: 5 17-02
10. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 15 64-04 260 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 27-03 Day 2: 5 17-07 Day 3: 5 19-10
11. Kurt Dove Fairfax, VA 15 61-12 262 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 30-08 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 17-02
12. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 56-07 254 $12,300.00
Day 1: 5 25-03 Day 2: 5 20-02 Day 3: 5 11-02
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Big Bass
Day
1 Randy Howell Springville, AL 10-08 $1,000.00
2 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 11-11 $1,000.00
3 Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 08-13 $1,000.00
Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 11-11 $1,000.00
Day
1 Kurt Dove Fairfax, VA 30-08 $1,000.00
2 Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 31-06 $1,000.00
3 Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 29-14 $1,000.00
Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 31-06 $10,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 107 542 1872-02
2 107 540 1797-00
3 12 60 229-10
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226 1142 3898-12
2008 Battle on the Border - Battle on the Border Pro Points
After Lake Amistad, DelRio, Texas Ending 04-13-2008, Day 3
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Mike McClelland Ark. 1017
2 Todd Faircloth Texas 995
3 Mark Davis Ark. 991
4 Dean Rojas Ariz. 970
5 Scott Rook Ark. 963
6 Skeet Reese Calif. 940
7 Alton Jones Texas 906
8 Derek Remitz Ala. 895
9 Bobby Lane Fla. 892
10 Bill Lowen Ohio 890
11 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 882
12 Kenyon Hill Okla. 881
13 Rick Morris Va. 870
13 Kevin VanDam Mich. 870
15 Gary Klein Texas 865
16 Terry Scroggins Fla. 854
17 Randy Howell Ala. 842
18 Brian Snowden Mo. 838
19 Byron Velvick Texas 817
20 Britt Myers S.C. 807
21 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 801
22 Kevin Short Ark. 799
23 Mark Menendez Ky. 796
24 Jason Williamson S.C. 795
25 Steve Kennedy Ala. 793
26 Bernie Schultz Fla. 792
27 Aaron Martens Ala. 791
27 Casey Ashley S.C. 791
27 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 791
30 Jason Quinn S.C. 777
31 Jared Lintner Calif. 772
32 Edwin Evers Okla. 767
33 Billy Brewer Texas 764
34 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 760
35 Ish Monroe Calif. 758
36 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 737
36 Brent Chapman Kan. 737
38 Morizo Shimizu Japan 735
39 Takahiro Omori Texas 734
40 Kelly Jordon Texas 731
41 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 729
42 Mike Wurm Ark. 728
43 Scott Campbell Mo. 727
44 Dave Wolak N.C. 726
45 Matt Reed Texas 702
46 Clark Reehm Ark. 700
47 Kevin Wirth Ky. 699
48 Paul Elias Miss. 694
49 Dustin Wilks N.C. 690
50 Russ Lane Ala. 685
51 Preston Clark Fla. 667
52 Gerald Swindle Ala. 662
53 Rick Clunn Mo. 658
54 Denny Brauer Mo. 656
55 Jimmy Mize Ark. 655
56 Tommy Biffle Okla. 639
57 Marty Stone N.C. 636
58 Jay Fuller Okla. 635
59 Elton Luce Texas 634
60 Cliff Pace Miss. 633
61 Jeff Kriet Okla. 625
61 Brian Clark Texas 625
63 Boyd Duckett Ala. 624
64 Jon Bondy Canada 621
65 Bradley Hallman Okla. 618
66 Greg Hackney La. 617
67 Zell Rowland Texas 616
68 Timmy Horton Ala. 615
69 John Crews Va. 613
70 Chris Lane Fla. 610
71 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 608
72 Guy Eaker N.C. 606
73 Terry Butcher Okla. 603
74 Stephen Browning Ark. 591
75 Ben Matsubu Texas 585
76 Wade Grooms S.C. 579
77 Pat Golden N.C. 577
78 Jami Fralick S.D. 572
79 Davy Hite S.C. 571
80 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 567
81 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 565
82 Kurt Dove Va. 564
83 Mark Tyler Okla. 558
84 Ken Cook Okla. 549
85 Mark Tucker Mo. 540
86 Peter Thliveros Fla. 538
87 Jeff Connella La. 532
88 Jim Murray Ga. 531
89 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 529
90 Charlie Hartley Ohio 518
91 Kevin Langill N.C. 515
92 Rick Ash Pa. 500
93 Todd Auten S.C. 498
94 Steve Daniel Fla. 496
95 John Murray Ariz. 493
96 Marty Robinson S.C. 479
97 James Kennedy La. 478
98 Grant Goldbeck Md. 476
99 Corey Waldrop Texas 461
100 James Niggemeyer Texas 451
101 David Sherrer La. 449
102 Bobby Myers Okla. 438
103 Pete Ponds Miss. 425
104 Glenn Delong Ohio 414
105 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 412
106 Paul Hirosky Pa. 388
107 Randy Allen La. 373
108 David Smith Okla. 357
109 Matt Amedeo Ohio 343