Bryan Thrift of Shelby won the FLW Tour event on Arkansas’ Beaver Lake in early March with a 4-day catch of 54 pounds, eight ounces, to take the first-place prize of $100,000 plus a Ranger Cup bonus of $25,000.
Thrift, the reigning FLW Tour Angler of the Year, caught most of his fish on a jerkbait around timber.
Matt Arey, also from Shelby, finished fifth with 48-4 and won $25,000.
Mike McDonald of Randleman finished 29th among co-anglers with 6-10 and collected $1,200.
Two N.C. anglers get BASS money
Two North Carolina anglers had paydays in Bassmaster Elite Series event on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes in mid-March.
High Point’s Pat Golden finished sixth with 55 pounds, five ounces, winning $13,500; Rocky Mount’s Dustin Wilks was 42nd with 28-11 for $10,000.
Shaw Grigsby of Gainesville, Fla., won the event with 75-4, taking home $101,000. Grigsby and Golden caught their bass sight-fishing in the same area.
Wilks, Golden and Dave Wolak of Wake Forest took home checks in the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Florida’s St. John’s River the following week.
Wilks had the best finish among the trio, placing eighth with 58-12 and winning $12,500. Golden was 15th with 43 pounds, and Wolak was 41st with 32-7; Golden and Wolak won $10,000 each.
Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., took the first-place prize of $101,000 with 77-1.
Wilkinson scores at Kerr
Oxford’s Tom Wilkinson won the Bassmaster Weekend Series Virginia Division 19 event at Kerr Lake on March 19 with 14.89 pounds, a catch anchored with a 4.91-pound bass, the tournament’s big fish.
Wilkinson, who caught his fish on spinnerbaits and jerkbaits, won $2,157 for first place and $225 for big-fish honors.
Hal Caldwell of Wilson placed second with 14.20 pounds, winning $1,078.
Other top anglers were: Dan Jackson of Madison, third with 13.05 pounds for $719; Rodney Sorrell of Stokesdale, fourth with 12.47 pounds for $503; Wesley Cashwell of Roanoke Rapids, fifth with 11.87 pounds for $431; Marty Warren of Elon, seventh with 11.06 pounds for $359; and Tony Woodard of Four Oaks, ninth with 10.78 pounds for $288.
Among co-anglers, Jim Opetaia-Williamson of Henderson finished third with 8.26 pounds, winning $360; Robert Perkins of Rougemont ranked fifth with 6.78 pounds, winning $216; and James Way Jr. of McLeansville tied Brian S. Young of Kill Devil Hills for seventh place with 6.32 pounds, each winning $171.
BASS TOURNAMENTS
Yadkin Team Tournaments
High Rock Lake, March 5
1. Ronnie Smith-Randy Weddington (China Grove), 25.81, $520; 2. David Wright-Chris Brown (Lexington), 20.86, $270; 3. Gerald Beck-Orlando Giles (Lexington), 20.49, $164; 4. Thomas Ludwick-Tom File (Salisbury), 19.93, $110; 5. Shane Floyd-Tony Garitta (Lexington), 18.39, $95. Big fish: Wright-Brown, 7.01 pounds, $123.50.
Southern Championship Trail
Badin Lake, March 5
1. Bob Jennett (Kernersville)-Derek Crumbley (High Point), 19.41, $700; 2. Scott Threadgill (Troy)-Jason Threadgill (Albemarle), 19.35, and big fish, 7.03 pounds, $460; 3. David Drye (New London)-Robert Parrish (Albemarle), 17.26, $120.
Adam & Eve Trail
Lake Tillery, March 12
1. Brian Price-Plushette Price, 12-06, $287.50; 2. Jimmy Sanders-Kathy Sanders, 11-08, $172.50; 3. Chip Hurley-Cheryl Hurley, 11-04, $115. Big fish: Chip Hurley-Cheryl Hurley, 6.0, $115.
Fishers of Men Piedmont Division
Lake Norman, March 19
1. Marty Nester-Dusty Nester, 17.53, $1,363.50; 2. Kenneth Shumate-John Shumate, 13.65, $632.50; 3. Willie Davis-Billy Wright, 13.36, $494; 4. Stephen Singleton-Bradley Singleton, 12.85, $422; 5. Drew Montgomery-Andy Montgomery, 12.14, $352; 6. Charlie Hawks-William Embry, 11.96, $280; 7. James Perdue-Steven Perdue, 11.31, and big fish, 4.62 pounds, $444.
Fishers of Men N.C. Championship
Lake Norman, March 5
1. Allen Snyder-Robbie Hunter (Concord), 14.96, $1,100; 2. Kenneth Shumate-William Embry (Mt. Airy), NA, $410; 3. Drew Montgomery-Amy Montgomery, NA, $300. Big fish: Snyder-Hunter, 4.94 pounds, $150.
Piedmont Bass Classics
Shearon Harris Lake, Feb. 26
1. Chad Eriksen-Jay Eriksen (Raleigh), 19.10, $1,006; 2. Donald Williams-Rick Ohlson (Garner), 17.18, $562; 3. John Reveks-Ricky Revels (Pembroke), 16.22, $444; 4. Keith Deal (Fuquay-Varina)-William Richards (Wendell), 15.01, $325; 5. Johnny Wilder (Butler)-Mike Harris (Oxford), 14.60, $236; 6. Billy West (Raleigh)-Tracy Sykes (New Hill), 12.76, $207; 7. Paul Anagnous (Richlands)-Ray Brewer (Jacksonville), 11.09, $180. Big fish: Dennis Digman (Dunn)-John Kane (Garner), 8.70 pounds, $518.
Shearon Harris Lake, March 6
1. Dan Glosson(Rougemont)-Phillip Eakes (Bahama), 28.45, $1,375; 2. Donald Williams-Rick Ohlson (Garner), 26.93, $850; 3. Todd Gibson (Archdale)-Mark Bayse (Thomasville), 22.53, $655; 4. Randy Fisher (Hillsborough)-Donnie Lowe (Mebane), 22.37, $590; 5. Mike Eggers (Garner)-Randy Carr (Raleigh), 17.26, $520; 6. Richard Linton-Marc Peck (Pikeville), 16.90, $455; 7. Richard Cooper (Clayton)-Mike Vaughn (Raleigh), 16.77, $390; 8. Jule Cameron (Wendell),-William Small (Creedmoor), 15.23, $325; 9. Ken Wall (Asheboro)-Ben Cannon (Apex), 15.14, $260; 10. Steve Woodlief -John Strother (Wake Forest), 14.32, $260; 11. Phil Hankins(Raleigh)-Patrick Rose (Wake Forest), 13.96, $195; 12. Jason Dew-Randall Soles (Whiteville), 13.50, $195; 13. Ronnie Williams-Jason Butler (Clayton), 13.41, $131; 14. Thomas Sheffer (Cary)-Ken McNeill (Raleigh) tied William Burns Jr.-Jerry Marshburn (Sanford), 13.15, each team winning $131; 15. Jesse Soles-Ron White (Aberdeen), 13.03, $100. Big fish: Glosson-Eakes, 10.23 pounds, $1,106.
Jordan Lake, March 12
1. Todd Sumner-Jeff Sumner (Southern Pines), 28.53, $720; 2. Keith Deal (Holly Springs)-Ricky Kenworthy (Selma), 23.83, $400; 3. Bobby Matthews-David Matthews (Durham), 20.25, $270; 4. Chad Craven (Raleigh)-Josh Quesinberry (Clayton), 16.06, $130. Big fish: Todd Sumner-Jeff Sumner, 7.29 pounds, $266.
Jordan Lake, March 19
1. Bobby Matthews (Durham)-David Matthews (Butner), 21.78, $1,288; 2. Dennis-Travis Allen (Four Oaks), 18.61, $784; 3. Tim Goad (Pittsboro)-Scott Smith (Apex), 17.50, $560; 4. Keith Deal (Holly Springs)-William Richards (Wendell), 17.25, $504; 5. Tim Parker (New Hill)-Billy Womble (Sanford), 17.13, $448; 6. Bubba Haywood (Roxboro)-Steve Goodwin (Durham), 16.74, $392; 7. Drew Smith -Lee Williams (Durham), 16.55, $336; 8. Geno McCree-Phillip Johnson (Durham) tied Doug DeWitt-Ken Carnes (Apex), 16.54, each team winning $252; 10. Jerry Marshburn-William Burns (Sanford), 16.45, $224; 11. Dan Glosson (Rougemont)-Phillip Eakes (Durham), 16.33, $168; 12. Caleb Sutton (Raeford)-Paul Ankney (Fayetteville), 16.23, $168; 13. Billy Bledsoe-Henry Thomason (Fayetteville), 15.75, $112; 14. Todd Gibson-Mark Bayse (Thomasville), 15.58, $112. Big fish: Tim Morris (Apex)-Rob Griswold (Charlotte), 8.91 pounds, $938.
Reel ’Em In Bass Club
Shearon Harris Lake, March 19
1. Richard Cooper (Raleigh), 16.43, and big fish, 5.65 pounds, $310; 2. Brian Grady (Raleigh), 9.69, $115; 3. Danny Lyons (Clayton), 8.33, $76.
CRAPPIE TOURNAMENTS
Carolina Crappie Association Championship
March 18-19, Badin/Tillery
1. Ed Duke-Keith Manus (Concord), 19.28, $1,617; 2. Jimmy Perry (Knightdale)-Doug Reinhardt (Mt. Pleasant), 18.93, $808; 3. Nick Babin (Gilbert, S.C.), 18.60, $438; 4. Tom Sprouse (Advance)-Glynn Sharon (Madison), 18.06, $303; 5. Joe Foley (Denton)-Billy Rayburn, 17.45, $203; 6. Gary Ashe- Max Fortner (Concord), 17.30, $155. Big fish: David Perrell-Phenice Perrell (Germanton), 2.20 pounds, $150, and $500 bonus as Lowrance Elite 5x Sponsor. Points champions: David Perrell-Phenice Perrell, $500.STRIPED BASS TOURNAMENTS
Tarheel Striper Club
High Rock Lake, March 12
1. Willie Duvall-Phil Gray (Randleman), 10.20; 2. Jim Merritt-Chris Price (Asheboro)-Mike Vaughn (Trinity), 7.30; 3. Jay Childress-Blake Phillips, 4.70. Big fish: Merritt-Price-Vaughbn, 7.30 pounds.
Carolina Fishers of Men Inshore Tournament
Neuse River, March 5
1. Billy Ray-Chris Olsen (Wilson), $347, and $110 for big fish; 2. Matthew Waddell-Lance Kornegy (Goldsboro), $169; 3. Bobby Peele-Brandon Scott (Kenly), $101; 4. Joe Blaze-Tony Vick-Scott Thomas, $68.
SHAD TOURNAMENTS
Roanoke River Hickory Shad Tournament
Adult Division: 1. Julian Shearin, 2.60; 2. David Myers; 3. Ruth Williams; 4. Oliver Bowser. Junior Division: 1. Tyler Gardner, 2.33; 2. Eric Pittard; 3. Austin Boyette; 4. Austin Lancaster. Children’s Division: Colton Powers, 1.91; 2. Noah Lassiter; 3. Tyler Snider; 4. Ben Smith. Lady Anglers: 1. Ruth Williams, 2.28; 2. Sally Bowser; 3. Phyllis Mason; 4. Theresa Smith.
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