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BASS Federation Nation
Six Anglers to Earn Berths in 2010 Bassmaster Classic
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| by BASS Communications / BASS |
(Oct. 29, 2009 - Tavares, FL)... Don Hogue of Pasco, Wash., was consistent enough to barely edge out Randy Phillips of Oxford, Mass., by just seven ounces for the Day 2 lead at the Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship presented by Yamaha Outboards and Skeeter Boats on the Harris Chain of Lakes. Hogue took the lead on the strength of Thursday’s 13-pound, 11-ounce limit building his two-day total to 24-9. Hogue says the bite has been slow but persistence paid off Thursday.
"It’s a matter of making thousands of casts and hoping for a big bite," said Hogue, who is one of 55 anglers competing here this week. "You just have to keep that bait wet."
If Hogue hold his position, he 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).
Phillips charged up the leaderboard with 14 pounds, 11 ounces, Thursday upgrading his total to 24-2 despite an equally slow day.
"I figured out a good pattern during practice, but that changed," said Phillips. "I’m not sure why, but I found a new bite and that has been paying off."
Phillips says his new pattern is a gamble and he’ll either win or lose big.
"I’ve only been getting five or so bites a day but they’ve been quality bites."
Slipping to third from second was Skip Sjobeck of Randolph Center, Vt., with 22-4. Sticking to fourth was Brent Long of Catawba, N.C., with 20-13 and remaining in fifth was Randy Wieczorek of Buffalo City, Wis. with 19-6.
Along with the competition for the winner of the event, each of six division winners will punch their ticket to the 2010 Classic. Long leads the Southern division while Hogue, by virtue of his tournament lead, heads up the West. Phillips leads the East while Jeff Freeman of Max Meadows, Va., leads the Mid-Atlantic division.
Freeman won the 2007 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship on Florida’s Lake Toho and has won Bassmaster events as a co-angler. Wieczorek leads the Northern division and Samuel Anthony of Independence, La., leads the Central.
Bryan Schmidt, the defending champion of the event, was 14th in his bid to earn his second consecutive Classic berth through the Central division.
The full field will compete for three days and the tournament will culminate Friday.
Friday’s final day activities include launch at 7:30 a.m. ET, and weigh-in at 3:45 p.m., all held at Wooten Park, 200 S. Rockingham Ave., Tavares. Fans can watch live, streaming video of all three days of weigh-ins at the Bassmaster website, along with real-time leaderboards.
Friday will also mark the Junior Bassmaster World Championship, which 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 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 at the Lake Sumter Community College gymnasium in Leesburg, Fla.
Youth prizes will include trophies and scholarships.
All BASS events are free and open to the public.
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