GREENVILLE, S.C. (March 25, 2011) – Diet Mountain Dew pro Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 4 ounces Friday to extend his lead on day two of the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Hartwell presented by Chevy. His two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 42 pounds, 8 ounces gives him a massive 9-pound, 1-ounce lead heading into the third day of the tournament. There were 155 pros and 155 co-anglers from across the United States and Canada that started the tournament. The top 20 will fish day three and the top 10 will compete for the title on day four.
Christie said he had a limit by 1:30 p.m. and had been changing locations when he happened to pull into an area where he expected boat traffic. He had the area to himself, however, and he caught fish weighing 6, 4 and 2 1/2 pounds. Christie said the fish fell for a BOOYAH spinnerbait.
"I actually had two more big fish in there, so I left and got back closer to (check-in)," Christie said.
Christie said he's confident his areas will replenish with fish over the next two days of competition and hopes for anything but a bright, sunny sky.
"If it's cloudy I think I can catch them," Christie said. "I know where they're living. They're bedding so shallow I can see them whether it's cloudy or not. I hope the wind blows. That would be fine with me.
Final results for the remaining field can be found on FLWOutdoors.com.
Thrift caught the Snickers® Big Bass of 6-9 on the pro side and won $500.
Overall there were 689 bass weighing 1,571 pounds, 5 ounces caught by 152 pros Friday. The catch included 119 five-bass limits.
Pros are competing for a top award of up to $125,000 this week plus valuable points in the hope of qualifying for the Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart, the world championship of bass fishing. This year's Cup will be in Hot Springs, Ark., Aug. 11-14 on Lake Ouachita where pros are competing for a top prize of $600,000 – the sport's biggest award. Pro anglers are also vying for the prestigious 2011 Walmart FLW Tour Angler of the Year presented by Kellogg's that will be determined by the most points accumulated over the six Tour Majors with the winner receiving $100,000 for their accomplishment.
J.R. Wright of Truckee, Calif., leads the Co-angler Division with an opening-round total of 10 bass weighing 28 pounds, 5 ounces, followed by Jade Keeton of Florence, Ala., in second place with 10 bass weighing 25-6.
Grant Holderman of Augusta, Kan., caught the Snickers® Big Bass of 6-8 in the co-angler division to win $250.
Overall there were 486 bass weighing 878 pounds, 1 ounce caught by 137 co-anglers Friday. The catch included 52 five-bass limits.
Co-anglers are fishing for a top award of $25,000 this week plus valuable points that could help them qualify for the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup.The Walmart FLW Tour Co-angler of the Year presented by Kellogg's will be determined by the most points accumulated over the six Tour Majors and the winner will receive a new Ranger 198VX with a 200-horsepower Evinrude or Mercury outboard.
Anglers will take off from Portman Shoals Marina located at 1629 Marina Rd. in Anderson, S.C., at 7:30 each morning. Saturday and Sunday's final weigh-in will be held at the Carolina First Center located at One Exposition Drive in Greenville beginning at 4 p.m.