Fishers of Men National Championship Day 1 Standings

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The Fishers Of Men National Tournament Trail kicked off its eight annual no fee National Championship Wednesday evening at the Agricultural Center (Nora Mayo Hall) in Winter Haven FL. Sarah Smith, Sales and Events Rep for Polk County Sports Marketing, cordially welcomed us to Winter Haven. Afterwards, Ryan Pickles, with the help of a host of others from PCSM, provided us with a banquet that was without question, the finest that we have ever enjoyed throughout our many Championship Series events.

Following the fine meal, we were honored to have Randy Howell as our special guest speaker for the night and wish him much success as he competes on the Pro trail.

The Thursday morning blast off from Roe Park Ramp on Shipp Lake, of the Winter Haven Chain, greeted the 250 top competitors with bone chilling temperatures and bluebird skies. These seasoned anglers were here after doing extremely well in their 5 respective division events of the 260 Fishers Of Men qualifying tournaments in 2005 that are spread across twenty-five states, and five Regional Championships.

140 of the top teams from the 52 divisions earned the opportunity to win a share of the $65,000 payout in cash and prizes. After 2 days of competition, the field will be cut to the top 30 teams (all will earn a check) who will fish on Saturday for the brand new Triton TR-20X/225hp Mercury combo. There will also be 2 big fish cash awards each of the 3 days ($500. and $250.)

During day-1, the fish appeared to be in both pre and post spawn, while others were caught in staging areas near deeper water. The recent harsh cold front, along with strong winds that moved in at mid-day, made productive fishing difficult for many anglers. While many competitors struggled to find quality fish, the first day of competition surprised everyone with some heavy weights and big bass being brought to the scales. 19 five-fish limits, weighing over 10lbs, and 14 bass, going over 4lbs, confirm that quite a few teams had overcome the less than favorable fishing conditions and had connected with large fish. Overall, 375 bass, grossing 760.47lbs, and 37 5-fish limits were weighed in.

Leading the tournament and after the first of three days of competition are Tennessee Central’s Jeff Lokken and Mickey Smathers. The skilled pair caught an astounding 26.94lbs 5 fish limit that included a pair weighing in at 6.17 and 8.56.

Presently in 2nd place with 5 fish going 18.68lbs is Ken and Ernie Pate. The PA West team brought in a 5.71lbs kicker with their limit of bass.

Fishing out of the Texas Northeast Division and now holding the 3rd place spot is Rick Campbell and Jimmy Kinsey, with 16.68lbs.

Delaware anglers, Jay Walls and Greg Alexander, are currently holding 4th place with 15.69lbs, which included a 5.55lbs lunker.

Rounding out the top 5 for Day-1 is the FL Central team of Scott Hash and Dusty McDevitt, with 5 fish crossing the scales at 15.22.

Eight-grade student, Wesley Cumbest, fishing with his father Robbie, took the advice of Randy Howell (who told everyone at the meeting to throw a 10” black worm). Ten minutes after blasting off, Robbie netted a 7.01lbs hawg for his son, Wes.

We want to sincerely thank the city of Winter Haven, Mark Jackson, Director of Sports Marketing; Sarah Smith, Sales and Events Rep; Ryan Pickles, coordinator of the banquet; Brenda Schloerb, Ryan Delaney, and Carrie Richards (Marketing Assistants) for sponsoring our event.

We also want to thank our national sponsors who faithfully support us: Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Kistler Custom Fishing Rods, Strike King Lure Company, Presnell Plantation, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Marshall’s Marine, Solar Bat, Spike-It Bait Company, Castrol, V & M Baits, Motorguide, Keelshield, Lowrance Electronics, All-Terrain Tackle, Spot Remover, HOT RODS Marine Care Products, Stanley Jigs, Dual Pro Chargers, X Tools, Deka Marine Master Batteries, Jacobs Glass Company, BASS RX, Keep Alive Oxygen Infusor, The Original Fish Formula, Hooah Energy Bars and Drinks, T & H Marine, Shakespeare, and All Star Rods.


Day 1 Standings
Standings Division Partner #1 Partner #2 # of Fish Total Weight
1 TN C Jeff Lokken Mickey Smathers 5 26.94
2 PA W Ernie Pate Ken Pate 5 18.68
3 TX NE Rick Campbell Jimmy Kinsey 5 16.68
4 DE Jay Walls Greg Alexander 5 15.69
5 FL C Scott Hash Dusty McDevitt 5 15.22
6 AL S J.R. O'Gwynn Phillip Potts 5 14.91
7 GA S Rodger Beaver Derrick Millirons 5 14.45
8 MS S Gary Brown Andy Niles 5 13.66
9 PA E Michael Piccolo 4 13.57
10 IN S Eric Johnson Nathan Gray 5 13.37
11 MD E Tim Kowalewski Steve Patrick 4 12.95
12 FL C Kevin Lucas Travis Totman 5 12.83
13 KY W Roger Claiborne Ronnie Claiborne 5 12.74
14 SC L Lee Morris Ronnie Morris 5 12.47
15 AR C Mike Courtney Rufus White 5 11.21
16 SC L David Croft Hugh Jackson 4 10.51
17 AL C Allen Yarbough Chris Rutland 5 10.43
18 FL S Will Strasser Billy Mullen 5 10.28
19 AL NE Randy Smith Jamie Perry 3 10.20
20 IN N Bill Bacon Scott Bacon 5 9.82
21 MS S Robbie Cumbest Wesley Cumbest 2 9.43
22 KY W Todd Buckingham Herbie Phelps 3 9.26
23 GA S Steve Stewart Johnny Creel 3 9.11
24 MS S Terry Foskey Norman Foskey 2 9.10
25 SC L Wade Grooms Albert Pieper 5 9.03
26 WI W Nathan Whiting Chad Whiting 5 9.00
27 OZ Kevin Jackson Bryan Jackson 3 8.67
28 KY SC David Morgan Ronnie McClure 2 8.61
29 TX NC Tom Ward Jeff Linville 5 8.40
30 OH Doug Hanes Trent Spencer 5 8.20
31 MD W Shawn Skobel Gary Crayton 5 8.18
32 MD E Tom Rufenacht Jimmy Rufenacht 4 8.10
33 AR C Brian Smith Billy Smith 4 7.85
34 OH Jason Merschman Matt Elkins 5 7.69
35 WI E Rick Hartwig Jeff St. Clair 5 7.68
36 IA Christopher Calkins Jon Andreson 5 7.66
37 FL C John Cox Keith Carson 5 7.54
38 WV Jim Davis Jim Davis 4 7.28
39 NC F Craig McGlamery Ricky Harrington 4 7.19
40 MD E Brian McNulty Eric McNulty 3 7.17
41 AR C Gordon Parham Nathan Reel 4 7.12
42 AL NW Kerry Copeland Eric Davis 5 7.11
43 SC L Wayne Frierson Ronnie Mueller 5 7.06
44 KY N Don Meade David Lawson 5 7.05
45 AR S Ricky Ferguson David Patrick 2 7.03
46 PA W Brad Billeter Ryan Fulks 5 6.97
47 LA S Dale Knott Randy Nowell 5 6.96
48 TX NC Randy Parks Steve Terry 5 6.82
49 IN N Bob Sheehan Bobby Maples 5 6.70
50 TN W Billy Cooper Linda Cooper 4 6.68
50 AR S Alan Melder Mark Maxey 5 6.68
52 MS C Robbie Myers Dan Brown 4 6.65
53 IN N Eric Foister Roger Spaulding 5 6.61
54 OK Scott Dickey Chuck Tillman 4 6.51
55 TN E Brian Jordan Michael Smith 3 6.49
56 TX NC Randy Murphy Jerry Kleam 4 6.39
57 WV Jim Merical Ryan Harmon 3 6.24
58 FL S Bob Schields Axel Riley 4 6.21
59 NC F Jody Wright Clyde Whiteside 3 6.20
60 MS C Roy Lewis Stephen Williams 5 6.13
61 WI S Kevin Johnson Edwin Hanson 1 5.95
62 GA N Steve Perdue Alan Hampton 5 5.90
63 MN E Greg Lindbloom Colin Fleck 3 5.87
64 NC C Tony Barham Rick Ohlson 4 5.84
65 NC P Carl Simmons Richard Rhyner 3 5.80
66 VA E Jackson Hudson Marty Hudson 4 5.62
67 TN C Don Sentell Chris Shivers 3 5.56
68 KY SC David Brandenburg Allen Brandenburg 5 5.04
69 AR C Randy Allen Wayne Dixon 3 5.01
70 IN S Tom Forrester John Santos 5 4.93
71 IN N Mike Shock Dan Sanders 3 4.76
72 TX NE CJ Gillard Judy Gillard 3 4.51
73 LA S Eugene Hoover Jerome Faucheux 4 4.49
74 IL N Jack Peplow Bob Nelson 3 4.47
75 WV Adrian Hoffman Larry Driggs 3 4.46
76 TN C Kenny Phelps Corlett Jaggers 2 4.44
77 AR C Ross Boling Mark Boling 2 4.31
78 IN S Danny Lee Nathan Sipes 2 4.18
79 ILC Mark Vos Stewart Cousins 3 3.98
79 MS S Richard Parker Bryan Ryals 1 3.98
81 WI W Ron Kubin Jay Slagstad 1 3.93
82 FL S Patrick Costello Adam Markley 3 3.87
83 TN W Keith Amerson Jason Martindale 1 3.76
84 KY N Butch Jacobs Rick Odom 2 3.75
85 AL C Kenny Barrett Kirk Barrett 2 3.51
86 TN E Benny Roberts Todd Nidiffer 2 3.41
87 MN E Robert Allen Chris Hulback 3 3.36
88 TX E Steve Rhea Louis Rouleau 1 3.28
89 GA S Freddie Howard Randy Ingram 2 3.02
90 MS N Johnny Avant John Avant 2 2.98
91 OZ Brian Maloney Kyle Maloney 2 2.69
92 KY W Richard Bradshaw Darrell Turley 1 2.63
93 LA S Paul Hodnett 1 2.49
94 KY W Johnnie Ford Jackie Ford 1 2.44
95 WI-S Tom Schultz Bill Schultz 2 2.42
96 TX E David Marshall 2 2.39
97 NC C Scott Miller Jim Webb 2 2.34
98 SC U Mark Hicks Oscar Hicks 2 2.33
99 MN W Ole Hallanger Bruce Hallanger 2 2.25
100 NC C Horace Mason Roger Mason 1 1.98
101 PA E Joseph Dellavalle Dan Hawley 2 1.83
101 LA N William Smith Timothy Schultz 2 1.83
103 AL NW Jon Barnette Jim Barnette 1 1.79
104 TX C Dick Chism Don Hisle 1 1.73
105 TX E Elizabeth Lewis John Lewis, Sr. 1 1.72
105 NC P Steve Singleton Wayne Needham 2 1.72
107 VA E Don Johnson Rusty Johnson 1 1.57
107 MN W Scott Lythjohn Gary Minor 1 1.57
109 IA Shawn Holly Bob Thomsen 1 1.56
110 MI John Shafer Harold Mattmiller 1 1.47
111 IN N Joe Coble Kim Coble 1 1.35
112 MS N Larry Perrin Phillip King 1 1.23
113 OH Bill Baldwin Ted Baldwin, Sr. 1 1.10
114 IN N Robert Vaughn Rebecca Vaughn 1 1.01
115 SC U Dan Morrow Tony Richardson 0 0.00
115 WI S Doug Hennings Shawn Bagley 0 0.00
115 IL N Brian McMartin Don Jacobsen 0 0.00
115 AL S Greg Hall David Crutchfield 0 0.00
115 OZ Larry Herron Tim Gingrich 0 0.00
115 AL S Chris Pope Chuck Vinson 0 0.00
115 NC F Tracy McCready Leslie McCready 0 0.00
115 FL C Mike Scarborough 0 0.00
115 FL C James Trenary Cody Trenary 0 0.00
115 MI Matthew Metzger Phil Holwerda 2 0.00
115 NC P Gary Preston Bryant Preston 0 0.00
115 WI E John Sosnowski 0 0.00