The pros in the Oct. 30-Nov. 1 Bassmaster Central Open season finale on Lake Texoma out of Denison, Texas, will be fishing for points as well as for pounds.The top prize of $45,000 is the goal of every pro in next week’s tournament. But several of the pros are within range of another big prize — one of three 2009 Bassmaster Classic berths up for grabs through the Central Open — and they’ll need points earned at Texoma to make that happen.The top three finishers in the Central Open points standings, fashioned after the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points, after the Texoma event will qualify for the Classic, Feb. 20-22 out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. The Central Open pros will join 48 other anglers for the competition on the Red River.To secure a ticket to the Classic, the current top three in the Central points race will have to fend off all comers. Points leader Jerry Williams of Conway, Ark., has a 65-point margin to ride on, thanks to a strong showing in the season’s first two Open events.In second place is Aaron Johnson of Bossier City, who won the Kentucky Lake event in September. Johnson is only six points in front of Billy McCaghren Jr. of Mayflower, Ark., winner of the season-opener on the Red River.
“The Classic’s my goal,” said McCaghren. “I’m going to do the best I can to stay up there in points. I’ll just have to wait and see when I get to Texoma. I’ve been there once, so I have seen the lake. I’ve thought a lot about the Elite Series, but I’ll have to wait and see how this ends up.”McCaghren’s thoughts on the Bassmaster Elite Series have to do with the fact that the 10 pros with the highest point totals from the Central Open season will get a coveted invitation to join the 2009 Elite circuit, which will kick off March 12-15 on another Texas fishery, Lake Amistad.
But no one has the points race in the bag. One of the anglers making a run at a Classic berth is Michael Burns of Plano, Texas, a 39-year-old financial manager competing in his second Open season. He sits sixth in the standings, just 10 points below McCaghren”Making it to the Classic was definitely a goal when I entered the Opens,” Burns said. “Fishing the Classic would be a once-in-a lifetime event.”Perhaps in Burns’ favor is that he considers Texoma to be home water.
“It’s a time of the year I like to fish up there,” he said. “The question will be who can find the bigger fish. I think limits will be easy to find, but it will be harder to catch the big fish.
“It’s an interesting time of year. Usually the shad are into their normal fall migration and become shallower, and the bass will definitely follow them. The strong patterns that time of the year will depend on the weather — the bass will either be on the points, the rocks, or back in coves chasing shad. Brushpiles sometimes can become a factor, but that’s really dependent upon the weather. If we get clear and sunny conditions, the fish will pull back on any brushpiles, otherwise they’ll be out roaming, chasing the shad.”
Fans are invited to the Open’s Thursday-Saturday takeoffs and weigh-ins at Highport Resort and Marina, 120 Texoma Harbor Drive in Pottsboro, Texas. The pros will launch at 7:30 a.m. CT, and the weigh-ins are scheduled to begin at 3:45 p.m. CT. All events are free and open to the public.
Bassmaster.com will provide coverage that includes live, streaming video of the daily weigh-ins and real-time leaderboards beginning at 4:45 p.m. ET each day. Photo galleries and daily results also will be available at Bassmaster.com.Competing from the back of the pros’ boats will be co-anglers vying for their division’s top award, a $32,000 Triton/Mercury rig.The Lake Texoma event is hosted by the Denison Chamber of Commerce. Information about the city — known as the birthplace of 34th U.S. president Dwight D. Eisenhower — is at www.denisontexas.us. The host hotels are Comfort Inn & Suites and Holiday Inn Express in Denison.
Bassmaster Open sponsors include Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Berkley, Lowrance, Mercury, Purolator, Skeeter, Yamaha, Optima Batteries and Triton Boats.
Bassmaster Central Open
Lake Texoma
Denison, Texas
Oct. 30- Nov. 1, 2008
Field
Cut to top 30 pros and co-anglers after Day 2
Launch/Weigh-in
7:30 a.m. CT/3:50 p.m. CT
Highport Resort and Marina
120 Texoma Harbor Drive
Pottsboro, Texas
BASSMASTER CENTRAL OPEN POINTS STANDINGS- PROS
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Jerry Williams Ark. 595
2 Aaron Johnson La. 530
3 Billy Mccaghren Ark. 524
4 Homer Humphreys La. 522
5 Jami Fralick S.D. 519
6 Michael Burns Texas 514
7 Rick Clunn Mo. 505
8 Mark Smith La. 465
9 Roger Boler La. 460
10 Bradley Hallman Okla. 456
11 Scott Pennington Ark. 454
11 John Gray Ind. 454
13 Vince Fulks Okla. 450
14 Terry Butcher Okla. 443
15 Preston Clark Fla. 439
16 Justin Haynes Okla. 432
17 Jamie Laiche La. 431
18 Patrick Pierce Fla. 419
19 Lonnie Dean La. 418
20 Mark Goines Okla. 415
21 Clark Reehm Ark. 410
22 J Todd Tucker Ga. 406
23 Mike Ward Tenn. 391
24 Danny Smith La. 389
25 Doug Garrett Ark. 388
26 Brent Broderick Ohio 378
26 Richard Gay Ark. 378
28 Mark Burgess Mass. 371
29 Lucy Mize Ark. 369
30 Zachary King Ark. 366
31 Preston Johnson Wisc. 357
32 James Biggs Texas 356
32 Bobby Kilzer Tenn. 356
32 Aaron Jakub Neb. 356
32 Marvin Ettredge La. 356
36 Mike Pickett Ky. 351
37 Ken Adamson Ark. 349
38 Kenneth Chapman Tenn. 346
39 Ray Brazier Tenn. 338
40 Kyle Fox Fla. 335
41 Sammy Burks Mo. 331
41 Chris Michels Texas 331
43 Randy Dearman Texas 324
44 Billy Hurt Tenn. 321
45 Russell Parrish Texas 319
46 Mike Pedroza La. 305
47 Willard Moore La. 303
48 Tom Hamlin Ga. 296
49 Larry Byrd La. 293
50 Paul Ferguson Texas 292
51 Johnny Grice Texas 288
52 Scott Dean Texas 286
53 Billy Schroeder Ky. 285
53 Dustin Evans Tenn. 285
55 Mike Blaha Kan. 282
56 Teddy Bogard Ark. 278
57 Doug Anderson Mo. 274
58 Gerald Swindle Ala. 272
59 Yukinari Uchiyama Texas 266
60 Charlie Youngers Fla. 264
61 Chris Burnham La. 261
62 Gary Giudice Okla. 259
63 Luke Estel Ill. 258
64 Monty Fralick S.D. 257
64 Chad Griffin Texas 257
66 Lee Sanders Okla. 255
67 Byron Velvick Texas 252
68 Randy Alexander Ky. 251
68 Mike Myers Okla. 251
70 Bruce Brown La. 250
70 Jeff Stevens Texas 250
72 Joe Erwin Okla. 249
73 Marc Schilling Texas 245
74 Lee Hartley Ga. 244
75 Frank Scalish Ohio 243
75 Trent Huckaby Texas 243
77 Greg Hackney La. 237
77 Brandon Mosley Okla. 237
77 Kenyon Hill Okla. 237
80 Michael Adams Miss. 235
81 Brad Outersky Mo. 233
82 Thomas Loving Texas 231
83 Pat Golden N.C. 229
84 Darrell Newman Texas 226
85 Jason Lieblong Ark. 221
85 Robert Byrd Texas 221
87 Karla Bullard Texas 213
87 Jeff Avery Ark. 213
89 Lance Vick Texas 211
90 Dale Jackson Texas 210
91 Eric Shelton Tenn. 207
92 Scott Smith Tenn. 206
93 Jason Berg Minn. 204
93 Jonathan Garrie Texas 204
95 Dave Wolak N.C. 196
96 Benjamin Jackson Okla. 189
97 Ernest Smoak La. 186
98 Bob Morin Tenn. 184
98 Tyler Swaney Colo. 184
100 Darrell West Ark. 183
101 Sean Dassau Ala. 181
101 Kevin Ledoux Okla. 181
103 Brent Anderson Tenn. 179
104 Mike Edwards Texas 177
105 Wayne Brown Okla. 175
105 Stacy Benningfield Ky. 175
107 Brian Kanke Texas 174
107 Rob Burns Texas 174
109 Spencer Grace Ark. 173
110 Marvin Wells Okla. 169
111 Eddie Borne Miss. 162
112 David Stewart Texas 155
113 Jay Fuller Okla. 152
114 Robert Swisher Ill. 149
115 Brad Mcculley Miss. 147
116 Mark Hicks Ohio 145
117 Dan Rodlund Kan. 143
118 Brian Henley Tenn. 139
119 Mike Pharr La. 138
120 Ed Whaley Texas 137
121 Craig Hatchel Texas 136
122 Terry Bolton Ark. 130
123 Steve Holland Texas 129
124 Steven Lynam Texas 125
125 Corey Waldrop Texas 122
126 David Lee Miss. 121
126 T. Isaacs Okla. 121
128 Glenn Delong Ohio 120
129 David Sherrer La. 119
129 Marc Anderson La. 119
131 Logan Sherrer La. 118
132 Sam Greer Ky. 117
133 Keith Blackstone Okla. 116
133 Cliff Crowder Ark. 116
135 Ryan Lovelace Texas 113
136 Jeff Bruhl La. 111
136 Harmon Davis Okla. 111
138 Michael Bass Texas 107
139 Kerry Kruep Kan. 105
140 Louis Consoli Pa. 103
141 Sam Newby Okla. 101
142 Matt Michel La. 99
143 Michael Randolph Texas 91
144 Tom Ives Ill. 89
145 Chad Kallina Texas 88
146 Justin Titus Okla. 87
147 Justin Russell Kan. 85
148 Christopher Wayand La. 83
149 Jody Floyd La. 80
150 Tony Chachere La. 75
150 Jeff Cloud Texas 75
152 Doug Spigler Texas 73
152 Mary Delgado Fla. 73
154 Joel Newman Ark. 72
154 Charles Hammack Texas 72
154 Shane Malone Ark. 72
157 Theron Caldwell Texas 70
157 Ken Warren Iowa 70
159 Ryan Brown La. 69
159 Doc Merkin Ill. 69
161 Teb Jones Miss. 67
161 Russ Moran Tenn. 67
163 Jason Dudek Minn. 66
164 Justin Cleveland Ark. 65
165 Warren Gensel Pa. 64
166 David Mullins Texas 62
167 Bart Doty Texas 61
168 Shawn Johnson Texas 60
169 Raul Morineau Mexico 59
170 Frank Boothe La. 58
171 Patrick Amick Texas 56
171 Mike Haggerty Tenn. 56
173 Ricky Fields Ala. 55
174 Stan Gerzsenyi Texas 54
175 Matt Mize Ark. 51
175 Larry Vick Texas 51
177 Morris Herring Texas 49
178 Dave Parsons Texas 46
179 Earl Sharpe Minn. 44
180 Larry Ford Ark. 43
181 Billy Glascock Okla. 42
182 Craig Schuff Texas 38
182 Tom O'Bryant Tenn. 38
184 Jamie Jones Ark. 34
184 Pete Cherkas Iowa 34
186 Ken W Peaker Kan. 30
187 Lewis Denney Tenn. 29
188 Robert McFarlane Texas 28
188 Yoshikazu Sato Japan 28
188 Tim Ezell Fla. 28
191 Trevor Rogge Minn. 26
192 Brandon Collins La. 24
192 Jim Smith Texas 24
194 James Butler Tenn. 23
195 Kyle Walling Ky. 22
196 Ron Cherkas Iowa 21
197 Brian Penso Texas 20
198 Mike Bates Texas 18
199 Kenny Rooke Texas 15
200 David Gillham Texas 14
201 Don Stringer Texas 11
202 Edward Bohn Ill. 8
203 John Moon Texas 5
204 Mickey Thomas Mich. 1
204 Matt Morris La. 1
204 Jerry Savage Miss. 1
204 Kevin Stanley Texas 1
204 Brad Young N.M. 1
209 Robert Baney Texas 0
209 David Landry Texas 0
209 Will Boatright Miss. 0
209 Christopher Johnson Tenn. 0
209 Bill Dowding Okla. 0
209 Eric Johnson Ind. 0
About BASS
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