News: 4/02/06
Gordon Wins 2005 Arkansas B.A.S.S. Federation Championship
Shawn Gordon of Russellville topped the
field of 252 anglers fishing the 2005
Arkansas B.A.S.S Federation State
Championship at Felsenthal National
Wildlife Refuge by bringing in 10 bass
weighing 22.39 over the two-day event.
Larry Dugger, also from the Russellville area,
placed second with 9 bass weighing 21.49. Shawn Gordon wins with 22.39
Gordon and Dugger were followed by Robert
Duggar (9 fish - 17.22), Zach King (7 fish - 16.84),
and Hoyt Atkins (7 fish - 16.61).
1st place - Shawn Gordon (10 bass - 22.39)
In an event where high water levels wreaked havoc on the field, Gordon
was the only angler to "Get 5" both days of the tournament. He
concentrated on a single area of newly flooded trees on the east side of
Lake Jack Lee. He made short casts to the base of the trees with a 3/8 oz.
Arkansas Hawg Caller spinnerbait to elicit reaction strikes from bass that
were waiting to ambush the numerous bait fish that were in the area.
2nd place - Larry Dugger (9 bass - 21.49)
Dugger, who also fished the east side of Lake
Jack Lee, landed most of his fish with a 1/8 oz.
Texas-rigged Yum Dinger (Black Neon). He was
pitching to the base of large cypress trees and
fishing extremely slow. Late on the second day,
he landed a couple fish on a 3/8 oz. Arkansas
Hawg Caller spinnerbait.
3rd place - Robert Duggar (9 bass - 17.22)
Duggar fished a hidden lake near the dam to
capture third place. He used a 3/16 oz.
Texas-rigged Sweet Beaver (Watermelon/
Green pumpkin) on day 1. On day 2, he switched
to a 3/8 oz. White Bluenose Mule spinnerbait.
4th place - Zach King (7 bass - 16.84)
King caught his fish in the Open Brake area.
He was flipping a 3/8 oz. Black/Blue Cyclone
jig. He also landed a few fish on a 3/8 oz.
Arkansas Hawg Caller spinnerbait.
5th place - Hoyt Atkins (7 bass - 16.61)
Atkins caught his fish from two different areas of Lake Jack Lee, and relied
on two different patterns to do so. On day 1, he cranked a Firetiger Norman
Deep Baby N around cypress trees. On day 2, he slowed down and pitched
a Black Neon tube on 20 lb. Gamma line. Hoyt commented that he had to
fish so slow "it was killing me".
The following anglers will be representing the state team at Ft. Gibson Lake
in Oklahoma, June 11-16:
1st Shawn Gordon (10 bass - 22.39)
2nd Larry Dugger (9 bass - 21.49)
3rd Robert Duggar (9 bass - 17.22)
4th Zach King (7 bass - 16.84)
5th Hoyt Atkins (7 bass - 16.61)
6th Bruce Johnson (7 bass - 14.07)
7th Shane Malone (5 bass - 13.28)
8th Patrick Chapman (7 bass - 13.23)
9th Michael Smith (5 bass - 12.55)
10th Mance Fowler (8 bass - 12.47)
11th Steve Corbett (6 bass - 12.23)
12th Justin Lancaster (7 bass - 12.11)
Mill Creek Bass Club wins Ranger 519 VX !!!
Shawn Gordon accepts the certificate for a Ranger 519 VX
Pictured from left to right: Shawn Gordon, Dan Balloun, Mike
Schafer, Larry Dugger, Terrance Narveson, and Frank Leone
(Yeah, that's me - and I zeroed both days).
Mill Creek wins Club Competition with 57.44
Lead by the solid fishing of Gordon and Dugger, Mill Creek Bass Club (Based
out of Russellville) found itself within striking distance (5 lbs) of the leaders (Deep
South Bassmasters) after the first day of competition. Every team member knew
that to be able to close the gap, one of the other anglers on the team would have to
"step-up" on day 2. That man turned out to be Mike Schafer, who landed 5 bass
weighing 9.90 from the back of another competitors boat - enough to put Mill
Creek over the top by less than a pound. "I thought winning belt buckles and
saddles was cool - but now I'm hooked on fishing" said Schafer (who used to
compete in rodeos). Schafer slowed down on day 2, and pitched a 1/16 oz.
Texas-rigged Black Neon tube around cypress trees. He commented that the key
to his success was switching to the lighter weight, which slowed the fall of his bait
way down.
