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2005 BASS Federation Championships
Report #4 - Day 3
By Will Wegman,
OBF Media and Conservation Director
Day 3 Report, Friday April 29, 2005
Walt Disney World, Florida: Today it was a whole new ball game, as those 15 anglers who made the cut all had their previous two days weights zeroed to each begin the day on even keel. Three anglers from each of the five divisions moved to Disney today where they fished the exclusive waters of Bay Lake for two days in hopes of earning a trip to the 2005 CITGO Bassmaster Classic in Pittsburgh, July 29-31.
In an event that is traditionally dominated by anglers from the hosting region anglers that made the cut came from Virginia, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Maine, New Hampshire, Iowa, North Carolina, South Dakota, Connecticut, Ohio and even Zimbabwe. Interestingly enough, the guy who was more local than anybody did not make the cut. Florida's Leon Roy of Tallahassee, rebounded after a tough first day to post a two-day total of 15-12 but was 4th in his Southern Division and finished 22nd overall behind our very own Canadian contender Bill Todd of Orr Lake Ontario.
Yesterday back in Lake Toho, New Hampshire's Joe Lucarelli may have suffered the tournament's cruelest cut. He led after the first day and finished fifth overall, but missed the cut because three other anglers from the East finished ahead of him.
Tyler Swaney of Craig, Colo., caught a five-fish limit weighing 19-7 on Day Two to give him a two-day total of 31-1 — good enough for second overall and the top spot in the Western Division. The 21-year-old former CastingKids champion anchored his catch with a six-pound, eight-ounce largemouth that fell to a Yamamoto craw after missing Swaney's spinnerbait.
Swaney may have had an edge over the rest of the field going in because he's fished the lake before. "I took one of the guided trips on Bay Lake after learning that the Federation Championship would be held there," Swaney said. "I thought it might come in handy to know the water a little." However today proved that there is something to be said for going into a lake with an open mind as Swaney only weighed in 7-2 pounds and after day one finds himself down the pack in 12th spot out of the 15 anglers. In a tough break for the young angler four out of his five bass died before the weigh in.
The top five anglers at the end of this World Amateur Championship Tournament will not necessarily be the same five going to the Bassmasters Classic this summer in Pittsburg. No, it will be the top angler from each of the five divisions – so with three from each division making up the 15 who made the cut for the final two days, each angler has a one in three shot at going to the Classic. Pretty good odds I would say. Leading the pack on Day 3 with an even 16 pounds is amiable veteran angler Ed Cowan who is representing the New Jersey Federation and the Eastern Division.
Ed Cowan a Classic Federation Angler
Fourteen years after his only trip to the Bassmaster Classic, the New Jersey based angler wants a return engagement to the big show, big time. He's only one step and one day away right now, but he knows how hard Federation anglers have to work to make it this far more than most. Cowan has been on the state team 16 times, and this is his 6th Federation National Championship, so he realizes how tough it is to obtain a berth to the Bassmasters Classic. Cowan won the (then Wrangler) National Federation Championship on Virginia's Smith Mountain Lake to qualify for the 1991 Classic. The 1991 Classic in Baltimore Maryland is where I first met Ed as it too was ‘my first Classic’, but alas I was just there as an outdoor writer and press observer. At Cowan’s first, and so far only Classic appearance on the Maryland’s upper Chesapeake Bay, he held his own. "I finished 13th and I was pretty satisfied”, Cowan remarked.
Since then, he's had other chances to make the Classic, most notably at the 2000 Championship at Tellico/Ft. Loudoun (Tennessee), where he missed a berth by a mere 2 ounces.
If he makes it to the Pittsburg Classic, he'll have a new outlook this time around as he has already set the bar much higher. "The last time," he said, "I didn't understand that the only thing at the Classic was winning. I was looking for a 10th or better. I've fished the Ohio River before (one of the rivers where the Pittsburg Classic is) – the last time the divisional was there. I finished 4th in my division – I was leading after two days – and I know where I made my mistake. I'm confident I'd finish in the top 10."
But … Back To Day 3 of the Federation Championship For Now …
In 2nd spot overall is Jamie Fralick from South Dakota with 15-4 pounds. Fralick won the Northern Divisional Championships that guys like yours truly and Bill Todd competed in last September. Third spot after Day 3 goes to Todd Schaaf of Virginia with 14-5 pounds. Fourth is Jeff Hager from North Carolina with 13 pounds and in fifth is Thad Takes, IA with 11-12 pounds. All 15 anglers caught limits.
Tomorrow, Day 4 will be the final championship round of this exciting tournament so be sure to stay tuned for complete results right here on big fat bass.
From Kissimmee Florida, covering the Citgo BASS Federation Championships, this is Wil Wegman signing off.
2005 Federation Championship 04/27-04/30
Toho, Kissimmee-St Cloud, Fl/Disney Lakes, Orlando, Fla.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown D No./lbs-oz Total
1. Ed Cowan Greeley, Pa. (NJ) E 5 16-00
2. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. (SD) N 5 15-04
3. Todd Schaaf Hume, Va. (VA) E 5 14-05
4. Jeff Hager Alexis, N.C. (NC) S 5 13-00
5. Thad Takes Center Point, Iowa (20 N 5 11-12
6. Dave Palmer Roseburg, Ore. (OR) W 5 11-05
7. David Mehalechko Glendale, Ariz. (AZ) W 5 9-11
$1,000.00
8. Russell Hosick Smithland, Ky. (KY) S 5 9-06
9. Gerry Jooste Harare, Zimbabwe, Zimb C 5 9-03
10. Marc Gilliland Louisburg, Kan. (KS) C 5 7-12
11. Bryan McNeal Springfield, Ohio (OH) N 5 7-11
12. Tyler Swaney Craig, Colo. (WY) W 5 7-02
13. Joshua Mabee Kennebunkport, Maine ( E 5 6-15
14. Reid Sanders Newton, Miss. (MS) C 5 6-13
15. Gary Pope Georgetown, S.C. (SC) S 5 6-09
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Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 David Mehalechko Glendale, Ariz. (AZ) 6-01 $1,000.00
2 Eric Stewart Morgantown, W.Va. (WV) 7-09 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 25 201 388-05
2 27 194 404-13
3 15 75 152-12
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67 470 945-14
DIVISIONAL STANDINGS Day 3
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Eastern
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total
1 Ed Cowan Greeley, Pa. (NJ) 5 16-00
2 Todd Schaaf Hume, Va. (VA) 5 14-05
3 Joshua Mabee Kennebunkport, Maine (ME) 5 6-15
Northern
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total
1 Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. (SD) 5 15-04
2 Thad Takes Center Point, Iowa (2004 5 11-12
3 Bryan McNeal Springfield, Ohio (OH) 5 7-11
Southern
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total
1 Jeff Hager Alexis, N.C. (NC) 5 13-00
2 Russell Hosick Smithland, Ky. (KY) 5 9-06
3 Gary Pope Georgetown, S.C. (SC) 5 6-09
Western
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total
1 Dave Palmer Roseburg, Ore. (OR) 5 11-05
2 David Mehalechko Glendale, Ariz. (AZ) 5 9-11
$1,000.00
3 Tyler Swaney Craig, Colo. (WY) 5 7-02
Central
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total
1 Gerry Jooste Harare, Zimbabwe, Zimbabw 5 9-03
2 Marc Gilliland Louisburg, Kan. (KS) 5 7-12
3 Reid Sanders Newton, Miss. (MS) 5 6-13
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