Haynes Wins on Pickwick

Pro Randy Haynes of Counce, Tenn., caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds, 11 ounces Saturday to win the Stren Series Southeast Division tournament on Pickwick Lake with a four-day total of 20 bass weighing 73-13. For his victory, Haynes earned $25,000 cash.

“This is a dream come true,” said Haynes, who has only fished one other FLW Outdoors Stren Series tournament. “This is my home lake which makes it really special and to win at this level is an awesome feeling.”

Haynes caught his fish this week on a Carolina rig and jig.

Haynes opened the tournament in first place Wednesday with five bass weighing 19-09. On Thursday he added another five bass weighing 16-15 to maintain his lead. He then caught five bass weighing 14-10 Friday to make the crucial top 10 cut in fourth place.

“Yesterday, I had boat problems from the beginning,” Haynes said. “I had a cranking battery go dead and that was on my mind all day. I was just hoping to have enough power to make it back in and to add to it I didn’t fish that well.

“Today everything changed, I was on a great school of fish and everything went right. It was the perfect fishing day.”

Rounding out the top five pros are Todd Rasberry of Florence, Ala. (20 bass, 71-08, $8,512); William Davis of Russellville, Ala. (20 bass, 70-08, $7,661 plus $5,000 Ranger bonus); Ryan Rigsby of Hixson, Tenn. (20 bass, 67-09, $6,810); and Curt McGuire of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. (20 bass, 62-11, $5,958).

Mark Rose of Marion, Ark., caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Pro Division Friday – a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $256.

Overall there were 50 bass weighing 150 pounds, 15 ounces caught by 10 pros Saturday. The catch included 10 five-bass limits.

Greg Hamblin of New Albany, Miss., won the Co-angler Division and $35,000, including a 198VX Ranger boat, with a four-day total of 20 bass weighing 58-08.

“This is an awesome feeling,” said Hamblin, who is qualified for the Stren Series Championship at Table Rock Lake in November. “I would love to make a career out of this. I told my family that this is what I want to do and there isn’t a better time than now.

“The key to winning the tournament was the knowledge I have of the lake. Everyone caught fish this week but it is important to understand what the fish are doing on any given lake.”

Hamblin’s bigger bites this week came off a Strike King Quad Shad.

“Anglers were fishing in shallow water and no more than 30 feet and that’s where I caught a lot of my fish,” Hamblin said. “My morning bite came off a spinnerbait and as it got hotter I would go to a Carolina rig or a jig. It was important to fish slow and stay in contact with the bottom.”

Hamblin caught five bass weighing 11-10 Wednesday while fishing with pro Derek Hicks of Rocky Face, Ga., to open the tournament in 10th place. He then caught five bass weighing 16-12 Thursday while fishing with pro Craig Grubbs of Tishomingo, Miss., to capture his lead. On Friday he added five more bass weighing 4-11 to make the top 10 cut in fourth place while fishing with pro Brian Parker of Corinth, Miss. Finally, on Saturday, he sealed the win with a five-bass catch weighing 17-07 while fishing with pro Randy Haynes of Counce, Tenn.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Perry Kennedy of Florence, Ala. (20 bass, 48-04, $3,529); Doug Back of Jackson, Ky. (20 bass, 47-14, $2,868); Aaron Fahnestock of Enterprise, Ala. (20 bass, 47-11, $2,206); and Kenneth Owens of Wise, Va. (20 bass, 43-00, $1,765).

Hamblin caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the Co-angler Division Thursday – an 6-pound, 7-ounce bass – that earned him the day’s Snickers Big Bass award of $134.

Overall there were 50 bass weighing 107 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 10 co-anglers Saturday. The catch included 10 five-bass limits.

After four qualifying events are complete in each of the Stren Series’ five divisions, the top 40 pros from each division will advance to the $1 million Stren Series Championship in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8 for a shot at $140,000. The highest-finishing pro from each division at the championship will also earn a spot in the $2 million 2009 Forrest Wood Cup, where they will compete against top pros from the Wal-Mart FLW Tour®, Wal-Mart FLW Series®, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League® and TBF (The Bass Federation) for bass fishing’s biggest prize – $1 million.

Tournament pros aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing™, FLW Outdoors® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.

The top 40 co-anglers from each Stren Series division will also advance to the championship, where they will fish for as much as $70,000. The highest-finishing co-angler from each division at the championship will then advance to the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup.

FLW Outdoors historically maintains a 98 percent live release rate in all of its bass tournaments.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

Davis Lands Pickwick Lead

Pro William Davis of Russellville, Ala., caught a five-bass limit weighing 20 pounds, 5 ounces Friday to capture his lead in the Stren Series Southeast Division tournament on Pickwick Lake. With a three-day catch of 15 bass weighing 53-05, he holds a slim 10-ounce lead over his closest competitor heading into the final day of competition.

“It has everything to do with timing,” Davis said. “The wind started blowing on the first day of the tournament and that changed the way I was going to fish. Overall, this week has been gone the way that I wanted. Hopefully, tomorrow I will have the right timing to come out on top.”

Davis caught a total of 25 keepers today from 25 different key areas on Pickwick. He said that he has had better luck in the afternoon.

“Out of my 25 key areas about 23 of them had boats on them,” Davis said. “Tomorrow should be better since I am the first boat out.”

Rounding out the top five pros are Ryan Rigsby of Hixson, Tenn. (15 bass, 52-10); Todd Rasberry of Florence, Ala. (15 bass, 51-10); Randy Haynes of Counce, Tenn. (15 bass, 51-02); and Michael Murphy of Gilbert, S.C. (15 bass, 47-12).

Also clearing the top 10 cut weight of 40 pounds, 6 ounces in the Pro Division are Curt McGuire of Lawrenceburg, Tenn.; Bob Garrison of Baldwyn, Miss.; Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, Ala.; Jason Lambert of Savannah, Tenn.; Brandon Perkins of Counce, Tenn.

Mark Rose earned $256 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass.

Overall there were 752 bass weighing 1,490 pounds, 7 ounces caught by 157 pros Friday. The catch included 140 five-bass limits.

Pros are competing for as much as $65,000, including a 198VX Ranger powered by Evinrude or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are met, and valuable points toward qualifying for the $1 million Stren Series Championship in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8 for a shot at $140,000. After four qualifying events are complete in each of the circuit’s five divisions, the top 40 pros from each division will advance to the championship. The highest-finishing pro from each division at the championship will also earn a spot in the $2 million 2009 Forrest Wood Cup, where they will compete against top pros from the Wal-Mart FLW Tour®, Wal-Mart FLW Series®, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League® and TBF (The Bass Federation) for bass fishing’s biggest prize – $1 million.

Tournament pros aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing™, FLW Outdoors® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.

Aaron Fahnestock of Enterprise, Ala., leads the Co-angler Division in the chase for a top award of $35,000, including a 198VX Ranger if contingency guidelines are met, thanks to a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 37-02.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Doug Back of Jackson, Ky. (15 bass, 35-05); Perry Kennedy of Florence, Ala. (15 bass, 35-03); Greg Hamblin of New Albany, Miss., (15 bass, 33-01); and Daniel Costley of Memphis, Tenn. (15 bass, 31-15).

Also clearing the top 10 cut weight of 30 pounds, 2 ounces in the Co-angler Division are Scotty Gasaway of Dennis, Miss.; Ty Solis of Albany, Ga.; Kenneth Owens of Wise, Va.; Larry Breckenridge of Dothan, Ala.; and Shayne Anderson of Iuka, Miss.

Ty Hester of Russellville, Ala., earned $134 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 5-pound bass.

Overall there were 640 bass weighing 1036 pounds, 6 ounces caught by 160 co-anglers Friday. The catch included 95 five-bass limits.

The top 40 co-anglers from each Stren Series division will also advance to the championship, where they will fish for as much as $70,000. The highest-finishing co-angler from each division at the championship will then advance to the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 Saturday morning from McFarland Park located at 200 James M. Spain Drive in Florence. Saturday’s final weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 3100 Hough Road in Florence, beginning at 4 p.m. The takeoff and weigh-in are free and open to the public.

Stren Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. At the conclusion of Friday’s weigh-in, the field is cut to the top 10 pros and co-anglers based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weights. These anglers continue competition Saturday, with the winners determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

FLW Outdoors historically maintains a 98 percent live release rate in all of its bass tournaments.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

Haynes Holds His Lead

Pro Randy Haynes of Counce, Tenn., caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces Thursday to retain the lead in the Stren Series Southeast Division tournament on Pickwick Lake. With a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 36-08, he now holds an 1-pound, 2-ounce lead over second place pro Ryan Rigsby of Hixson, Tenn., who managed to haul in a total of 10 bass weighing 35-05 during the first two days of competition.

“This is the kind of fishing that I love to do,” said Haynes, who has been fishing Pickwick for nearly 12 years. “I love fishing deep ledges this time of year and this is just the place to do that.

“I think that as a local guy we have an advantage. We know the really good spots and the exact baits to get the fish biting. The best part of doing this is locating the fish and using all the technology to find to them.”

Rounding out the top five pros are Curt McGuire of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. (10 bass, 35-01); William Davis of Russellville, Ala. (10 bass, 33-00); and Todd Rasberry of Florence, Ala. (10 bass, 32-01).

McGuire earned $256 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 5-pound bass.

Overall there were 776 bass weighing 1,506 pounds, 3 ounces caught by 161 pros Thursday. The catch included 124 five-bass limits.

“I caught my 5-pounder on a cluster of isolated stumps on the river ledge that is overlooked by anglers,” Mcguire said. “It’s not a place where I would go to catch a lot of fish. If you get one bite you know it is going to be a good one.”

Pros are competing for as much as $65,000, including a 198VX Ranger powered by Evinrude or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are met, and valuable points toward qualifying for the $1 million Stren Series Championship in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8 for a shot at $140,000. After four qualifying events are complete in each of the circuit’s five divisions, the top 40 pros from each division will advance to the championship. The highest-finishing pro from each division at the championship will also earn a spot in the $2 million 2009 Forrest Wood Cup, where they will compete against top pros from the Wal-Mart FLW Tour®, Wal-Mart FLW Series®, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League® and TBF (The Bass Federation) for bass fishing’s biggest prize – $1 million.

Tournament pros aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing™, FLW Outdoors® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.

Greg Hamblin of New Albany, Miss., leads the Co-angler Division in the chase for a top award of $35,000, including a 198VX Ranger if contingency guidelines are met. He caught five bass weighing 11-10 while fishing with pro Derek Hicks of Rocky Face, Ga., Wednesday and five bass weighing 16-12 while fishing with pro Craig Grubbs of Tishomingo, Miss., Thursday for a total of 10 bass weighing 28-06.

“I caught my 6-pounder on my first cast,” Hamblin said. “I knew it was going to be a good day after I caught that big bass.”

Hamblin caught his kicker bass at 6:50 this morning only 9 miles from the marina.

“Today, the main difference from yesterday was that we stayed on Pickwick,” Hamblin said. “On the first day of competition my boater wanted to go to Wilson and I didn’t do as good there. I practiced on Pickwick and I had key areas to show my boater today.

“I talked with my boater for tomorrow and he lives on Pickwick. I think that it will be a great day with someone who has so much knowledge of the lake.”

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Morris of White, Ga. (10 bass, 24-01); Daniel Costley of Memphis, Tenn. (10 bass, 23-12); Aaron Fahnestock of Enterprise, Ala. (10 bass, 23-02); and Joel Ross of Brandon, Miss. (10 bass, 22-14).

Hamblin earned $134 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 6-pound, 7-ounce bass.

Overall there were 688 bass weighing 1,122 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 158 co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 112 five-bass limits.

The top 40 co-anglers from each Stren Series division will also advance to the championship, where they will fish for as much as $70,000. The highest-finishing co-angler from each division at the championship will then advance to the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 each morning from McFarland Park located at 200 James M. Spain Drive in Florence. Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 3100 Hough Road in Florence, beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Stren Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. At the conclusion of Friday’s weigh-in, the field is cut to the top 10 pros and co-anglers based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weights. These anglers continue competition Saturday, with the winners determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

FLW Outdoors historically maintains a 98 percent live release rate in all of its bass tournaments.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.

Haynes Leads on Pickwick Lake

Pro Randy Haynes of Counce, Tenn., caught a five-bass limit weighing 19 pounds, 9 ounces Wednesday to lead opening day of the Stren Series Southeast Division tournament on Pickwick Lake.

Rounding out the top five pros are Ryan Rigsby of Hixson, Tenn. (five bass, 19-05); Curt McGuire of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. (five bass, 17-02); Bob Garrison of Baldwyn, Miss. (five bass, 17-01); and Shawn Perrigo of Rienzi, Miss.(five bass, 16-07).

“Today went exactly the way I wanted,” said McGuire, who has amassed more than $55,000 in career earnings with FLW Outdoors. “I have a lot of good places to fish that I didn’t get to go today. I feel confident that I will find quality fish in all of those spots.”

McGuire caught his keepers by 10:30 this morning, deep in Pickwick and Wilson lakes.

“I had some real big bags during practice that were well over 20 pounds, said McGuire. “When other anglers find offshore spots your limited to what you can call your own. That’s the only kicker, I’m not sure how many other guys fished some of my key areas.”

McGuire stated that with the water temperature reaching near 80 degrees that it will predominately be a deep bite tomorrow.

“The heat just means that more fish will be going to the ledges,” McGuire said. “I plan on sticking to the same technique tomorrow to stay in contention for the cut.”

Rigsby earned $256 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass.

Overall there were 759 bass weighing 1,509 pounds, 14 ounces caught by 159 pros Wednesday. The catch included 142 five-bass limits.

Pros are competing for as much as $65,000, including a 198VX Ranger powered by Evinrude or Yamaha if contingency guidelines are met, and valuable points toward qualifying for the $1 million Stren Series Championship in Branson, Mo., Nov. 5-8 for a shot at $140,000. After four qualifying events are complete in each of the circuit’s five divisions, the top 40 pros from each division will advance to the championship. The highest-finishing pro from each division at the championship will also earn a spot in the $2 million 2009 Forrest Wood Cup, where they will compete against top pros from the Wal-Mart FLW Tour®, Wal-Mart FLW Series®, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League® and TBF (The Bass Federation) for bass fishing’s biggest prize – $1 million.

Tournament pros aren’t the only ones winning big this season. With the introduction of FLW Fantasy Fishing™, FLW Outdoors® offers anyone the opportunity to enter for their chance to land the catch of a lifetime with the opportunity to win $7.3 million in cash and prizes. Players can become a virtual pro angler by signing up for Player’s Advantage, providing them with exclusive insider information that could guide them to a $100,000 victory at every Wal-Mart FLW Tour® stop and the Forrest Wood Cup. Player’s Advantage will give them an edge over the competition and increase their shot for a $1 million cash grand prize that will be awarded to the FLW Fantasy Fishing cumulative points winner. Those who visit FantasyFishing.com today can sign up for Player’s Advantage and FLW Outdoors will include a $15 Wal-Mart gift card.

Scotty Gasaway of Dennis, Miss., leads the Co-angler Division in the chase for a top award of $35,000, including a 198VX Ranger if contingency guidelines are met. He caught five bass weighing 15-12 while fishing with pro Steve Stewart of Donalsonville, Ga., who is currently in 23rd place.

“I credit my pro for getting me quality fish today,” Gasaway said. “He put me on fish all day and I owe everything to him. I was real lucky to have him as a partner. It was a blessed day.”

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Morris of White, Ga. (five bass, 15-12); Daniel Costley of Memphis, Tenn. (five bass, 14-08); James Sharp of Leesburg, Ga. (five bass, 13-08); and Perry Kennedy of Florence, Ala. (five bass, 13-00).

Gasaway earned $134for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass.

Overall there were 627 bass weighing 1,032 pounds, 4 ounces caught by 153 co-anglers Wednesday. The catch included 93 five-bass limits.

The top 40 co-anglers from each Stren Series division will also advance to the championship, where they will fish for as much as $70,000. The highest-finishing co-angler from each division at the championship will then advance to the 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 each morning from McFarland Park located at 200 James M. Spain Drive in Florence. Thursday and Friday’s weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday’s weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 3100 Hough Road in Florence, beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.

Stren Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. At the conclusion of Friday’s weigh-in, the field is cut to the top 10 pros and co-anglers based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weights. These anglers continue competition Saturday, with the winners determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days.

FLW Outdoors historically maintains a 98 percent live release rate in all of its bass tournaments.

FLW Outdoors, named after Forrest L. Wood, the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, is the largest fishing tournament organization in the world. In 2008 alone the organization is offering more than 90,000 anglers the chance to win over $40 million through 230 tournaments in 10 circuits targeting bass, walleye, redfish, kingfish and striped bass. FLW Outdoors is also taking fishing mainstream with the largest cash awards in the history of fantasy sports, $7.3 million.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.