EVANS, Ga. — Scoring his fifth BASS victory Sunday, Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., posted a four-day total of 70 pounds, 7 ounces, and overcame a six-pound-plus deficit to edge out Florida's Chris Lane by more than one pound at the Bassmaster Elite Series' Pride of Georgia presented by Evan Williams Bourbon on Clarks Hill Lake.
McClelland weighed in 19-15 on the final day of competition, while two-day leader Lane managed only 12-4.
The 39-year-old McClelland has now amassed over $650,000 in career earnings and scored his second victory in Elite Series competition, the most visible and prestigious fishing tournament circuit.
Fishing fans can see on-the-water action of McClelland's comeback on Saturday, April 28 at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
The win elevated McClelland from 30th to 10th in the points race, which determines the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and from 14th into 13th place in the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index.
All four days of competition McClelland fished a jig in locations he had established during the three-day practice period. He said a rough practice almost caused him to abandon the jig, but fellow Elite pro Jeff Kriet of Oklahoma encouraged him to "fish his strengths" and stay with the jig.
"To be honest, I started the day fishing for second place," said McClelland, who took home the $100,000 top prize. "But I got off to a decent start and around 10 a.m., I figured I would go for broke because I had a shot to win this tournament.
"After I won the Open Championship [in 2005], I felt I learned how to win a tournament again," he added. "Now that I have won two events in this top level of competition, there is no way anyone can take away my credibility in this sport."
With the victory purse in hand, McClelland and his wife, Stacy, are planning to shop for a new, larger home in the Bella Vista area.
It was Lane who was in a comfortable position heading into the final day of action, but the Winter Haven, Fla., angler's "magic" spot couldn't produce for a fourth consecutive day.
"I knew Mike had to catch a big limit to get close to me, and that is just what he did," said the 31-year-old, who totaled 69 pounds, 0 ounces. "I feel happy that I put myself in position to win. My hat's off to Mike for having a tremendous last day."
In third, slipping from second, was Pete Ponds of Madison, Miss., with 66 pounds, 1 ounce; in fourth, moving up from ninth, was John Crews of Salem, Va., with 61 pounds, 1 ounce; and fifth was Toyota Rookie of the Year leader Derek Remitz of Madison, Ala., with 59 pounds, 9 ounces.
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points leader Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., finished sixth with 58 pounds, 12 ounces. The Angler of the Year program rewards the top-performing angler on the 11-event Bassmaster Elite Series circuit with a $125,000 top prize.
The next Bassmaster Elite Series event, the fifth of the season, is scheduled for Alabama's Lake Guntersville, April 26-29.
Purolator Big Bass Day 4
Mike McClelland; Bella Vista, Ark.; 5-13
Location and Field
Pride of Georgia presented by Evan Williams Bourbon—Bassmaster Elite Series
Clarks Hill Lake
Evans, Ga.
April 19-22
Local sponsors: Local sponsors include Columbia County.
Bassmaster Elite Series sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Costa Del Mar, Ramada Worldwide and Evan Williams Bourbon.
2007 Elite Series - Pride of Georgia PRO 04/19-04/22 Clarks Hill Lake, Evans Ga.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 20 70-07 305 $102,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 12-11 Day 4: 5 19-15
2. Chris Lane Winter Haven, Fla. 20 69-00 305 $30,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 5 18-13 Day 4: 5 12-04
3. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 20 66-01 290 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 16-05 Day 4: 5 14-05
4. John Crews Salem, Va. 20 61-01 285 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 14-12 Day 4: 5 16-12
5. Derek Remitz Hemphill, Texas 20 59-09 280 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 5 10-11 Day 4: 5 13-05
6. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 20 58-12 276 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 17-00 Day 4: 5 14-02
7. Bryan Hudgins Orange Park, Fla. 20 58-06 272 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 10-08 Day 4: 5 13-03
8. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 20 57-09 273 $23,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 9-05 Day 4: 5 11-06
9. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 20 56-09 264 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 15-07 Day 4: 5 9-05
10. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 20 56-07 260 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 14-12 Day 4: 5 12-09
11. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 20 54-05 257 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 13-14 Day 4: 5 11-04
12. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 20 52-13 254 $14,300.00
Day 1: 5 9-14 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 19-12 Day 4: 5 8-14
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Big Bass
Day
1 Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 8-02 $1,000.00
2 Brent Chapman Moneta, Va. 8-05 $1,000.00
3 Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 7-10 $1,000.00
4 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 5-13 $1,000.00
Big Bass of Tournament
Brent Chapman Moneta, Va. 8-05 $1,000.00
Big Bag
Day
1 Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 22-06 $1,000.00
2 Russell Lane Prattville, Ala. 21-12 $1,000.00
3 Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 19-12 $1,000.00
4 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 19-15 $1,000.00
Big Bag of Tournament
Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 22-06 $8,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 84 491 1119-05
2 97 513 1282-01
3 42 232 558-00
4 12 60 157-04
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235 1296 3116-10
2007 Pride of Georgia - Pride of Georgia Pro Points
After Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, Ga. Ending 04-22-2007, Day 4
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Skeet Reese Calif. 1120
2 Jared Lintner Calif. 1029
3 Derek Remitz Texas 1015
4 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 965
5 Kevin VanDam Mich. 958
6 Ishama Monroe Calif. 930
7 Aaron Martens Ala. 927
8 Brent Chapman Va. 921
9 Jeff Kriet Okla. 891
10 Mike McClelland Ark. 876
11 Steve Kennedy Ala. 867
12 Tommy Biffle Okla. 866
13 John Crews Va. 852
14 Chris Lane Fla. 851
15 Casey Ashley S.C. 847
16 Scott Rook Ark. 836
17 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 813
18 Gerald Swindle Ala. 812
19 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 811
20 John Murray Ariz. 800
21 Pete Ponds Miss. 796
22 Stephen Browning Ark. 791
23 Mark Tyler Okla. 789
23 Gary Klein Texas 789
25 Kevin Wirth Ky. 788
26 Cliff Pace Miss. 782
27 Greg Hackney La. 775
28 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 772
29 Todd Faircloth Texas 764
30 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 756
31 Scott Campbell Mo. 754
32 Alton Jones Texas 753
33 Paul Elias Miss. 751
33 Kelly Jordon Texas 751
35 Randy Howell Ala. 749
36 Mark Menendez Ky. 748
36 Russ Lane Ala. 748
38 Terry Scroggins Fla. 747
39 Dean Rojas Texas 745
40 Ken Brodeur Conn. 739
41 Takahiro Omori Texas 738
42 Dave Wolak N.C. 736
43 Rick Morris Va. 734
44 Edwin Evers Okla. 732
45 Davy Hite S.C. 726
46 Peter Thliveros Fla. 724
47 Timmy Horton Ala. 720
48 Brian Snowden Mo. 719
49 Jason Williamson S.C. 718
50 Britt Myers S.C. 712
51 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 705
52 Kevin Short Ark. 682
53 Lee Bailey Ala. 679
54 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 677
55 Jason Quinn S.C. 660
56 Bernie Schultz Fla. 654
57 Bill Smith Ky. 649
58 Marty Robinson S.C. 648
59 Bill Lowen Ohio 644
60 Paul Hirosky Pa. 643
61 James Charlesworth Fla. 639
61 Kenyon Hill Okla. 639
63 Guy Eaker N.C. 636
64 James Niggemeyer Texas 635
65 Matt Reed Texas 629
66 Zell Rowland Texas 628
67 Jimmy Mize Ark. 620
68 Jeff Connella La. 613
69 Glenn Delong Ohio 611
70 Ken Cook Okla. 610
71 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 593
72 Boyd Duckett Ala. 589
73 Ben Matsubu Texas 583
73 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 583
73 Kurt Dove Va. 583
76 Denny Brauer Mo. 580
77 Kevin Langill N.C. 577
78 Jim Murray Ga. 567
79 Matt Amedeo Ohio 557
80 Bradley Hallman Okla. 556
81 Mark Tucker Mo. 552
82 Mark Rogers Fla. 551
83 Steve Daniel Fla. 550
83 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 550
85 Charlie Hartley Ohio 546
86 Marty Stone N.C. 544
87 James Kennedy La. 516
88 Rick Clunn Mo. 515
89 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 512
90 Jami Fralick S.D. 511
91 Mike Wurm Ark. 510
92 Jon Bondy Canada 509
92 Eric Nethery Ga. 509
94 Grant Goldbeck Md. 503
94 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 503
96 Dave Smith Okla. 494
97 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 487
98 Preston Clark Fla. 486
99 Jimmy Mason Ala. 479
100 Doc Merkin Ill. 458
101 Keith Phillips Ala. 439
102 Charlie Youngers Fla. 424
103 Rick Ash Pa. 416
104 Byron Velvick Texas 410
105 Frank Scalish Ohio 398
106 Bradley Stringer Texas 352
107 Elton Luce Jr Texas 323
108 Terry Butcher Okla. 295
2007 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
After Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, GA ending 04-22-2007, Day 4
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Derek Remitz Texas 1015
2 Casey Ashley S.C. 847
3 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 811
4 Scott Campbell Mo. 754
5 Jason Williamson S.C. 718
6 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 705
7 Marty Robinson S.C. 648
8 James Charlesworth Fla. 639
9 James Niggemeyer Texas 635
10 Glenn Delong Ohio 611
11 Matt Amedeo Ohio 557
12 James Kennedy La. 516
2007 Toyota Moving Forward Award
After Evans, GA ending 04-22-2007, Day 4
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Place Name 2006 Finish 2007 Standings
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1 Fred Roumbanis 69 4
2 Pete Ponds 83 21
3 Ken Brodeur 98 40
4 Chris Lane 61 14
5 Mark Tyler 64 23
6 Rick Morris 81 43
7 Brent Chapman 41 8
8 Mark Menendez 68 36
9 Ishama Monroe 37 6
9 Scott Rook 47 16
11 Greg Gutierrez 46 17
12 Britt Myers 76 50
13 Jeff Kriet 33 9
14 Stephen Browning 45 22
15 Guy Eaker 85 63
16 Mark Rogers 99 82
17 Paul Elias 49 33
17 Jared Lintner 18 2
19 Kevin Short 67 52
19 Paul Hirosky 75 60
21 Gary Klein 36 23
22 Mike McClelland 22 10
23 Kurt Dove 82 73
24 John Crews 20 13
25 Brian Snowden 54 48
25 Skeet Reese 7 1
27 Ken D Cook 73 70
28 Ray Sedgwick 56 54
29 David Wolak 43 42
Berkley Heavyweight Report
Place Name Lbs-Ozs
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1 Derek Remitz 173-05
2 Jared Lintner 166-09
3 Kevin VanDam 163-13
4 Aaron Martens 159-07
5 Skeet Reese 158-11
6 Fred Roumbanis 158-00
7 Brent Chapman 155-12
8 Greg Gutierrez 152-05
9 Tommy Biffle 151-11
10 Cliff Pace 149-00