Day 1 FOM South Central Atchafalaya Basin Regional Championship
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Day One of the 2011 FOM South-Central Atchafalaya Basin Regional Championship
Larry Nassar and Lynn Thibodeaux Capture Lead with 16.32 lbs
By: Senior Writer
Fri. Oct. 28, 2011 Morgan City, LA… The third stop along the way in the 2011 Fishers of Men Championship Series kicked off its Thursday night pre-tournament meeting at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium, where over 200 competitors and family members enjoyed an evening of food, fun, and fellowship, thanks to the event host, Cajun Coast Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Teams from Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas invaded Morgan City, Louisiana this week as a result of battling their way to the top of their respective divisions thru five qualifying events that were held this past spring and summer, thereby earning them the honor to compete for the 2011 South-Central Regional Championship’s top prize, a 2011 Skeeter ZX-190, 150hp Yamaha, VMAX package, valued at more than $35,000.00.
Rains and high winds came at safe-light Friday morning, as 90 teams blasted off from Belle River Boat Launch into the vastness of the 20-mile wide by 150-mile long, Atchafalaya River Basin. While the rain stopped after a few hours, winds blew incessantly at 10 to 20 mph with gusts much higher and temperatures never rose above the low-60s. Teams were relentlessly battered by the cold wind while searching for productive canals and sheltered but fruitful bayous. By the end of today’s weighin, 290 bass crossed the scales, weighing 655.85 lbs, which included 37, 5-fish limits.
Larry Nassar and Lynn Thibodeaux, Texas-East, took the Day-1 lead midway through the weighin with five nice bass going an impressive 16.32 lbs.
Arkansas-South teammates Mike Burton and Earshel Mauldin are now resting in second with 15.22 lbs.
Presently sitting in the third slot, with 14.46 lbs, are Arkansas-Central boys, Clay Whiting and Tim Mulligan.
Gene David and Garrett Kemp, Louisiana-South, will go in to Saturday’s competition in 4th place with a limit weighing 14.12 lbs. Gene and Garrett’s 5 fish included one at 4.71 lbs.
Rounding out the top five today is Craig Walker and Brent Bonadona, LA-S, with 14.04 lbs.
Louisiana South teammates, Will Courtney and Bobby Fowler, won the Day-1, 1st Big Fish award for their 5.40 lbs pig, while Chuck Cole and Todd Fisher, LA-N, took the 2nd Big Fish award with their 5.02 lbs largemouth.
The 2011 South-Central Regional Championship will be paying out 19 places, with the top 10 teams by weight and the highest placing team from each division, not already qualified, along with the highest finishing Adult-Youth and Male-Female team will earn the right to compete in the 2012 FOM National Championship, which will be held April 12, 13, & 14 on Pickwick Lake in Florence Alabama, where competitors will be vying for a 2012 Skeeter 21FX, powered by a Yamaha 250 SHO 4-stroke and valued at more than $72,000.00.
We want to thank Cajun Coast Commissioner, Sandra Marshall, Executive Director, Carrie Stansbury, Assistant Dir., Katie Tamporello, and the Cajun Coast Visitors & Convention Bureau, everyone who worked tirelessly at the Municipal Auditorium, Mayor Tim Mott, St. Marys Parish Councilman, Kevin Wazan, and Morgan City Councilman, Lou Temparello.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all the fine companies that make Fishers of Men possible; Primary: Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Strike King Lure Company, Abu Garcia, Markel American Insurance, Nester Hosiery, Power Pole, Presenting; Marshall’s Marine of Lake City SC, Berkley, Keelshield, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Official: Solar Bat, Buckeye Lures. Jacobs Glass, Rejuvenate, Dual Pro Chargers, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers.
