Day 1 of the 2011 FOM South East Rodman Reservoir Regional Championship
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Larry Bullock and Roger Caldwell on Top with 22.20 lbs
By: Senior Writer
Fri. Nov. 11, 2011 Silver Springs, FL… The final stop along the way in the 2011 Fishers of Men Championship Series kicked off its Thursday night pre-tournament meeting at the Southeastern Livestock Auditorium, where over 200 competitors and family members enjoyed an evening of food, fun, and fellowship, thanks to the event host, Ocala/Marion County Visitors and Convention Bureau.
Teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, overran Silver Springs and Ocala this week as a result of rising to the top of their respective divisions thru five qualifying events that were held this past spring and summer, thereby earning them the privilege to compete in this year’s South East Regional Championship where the top prize is a 2011 Skeeter TZX-190, 150hp Yamaha, VMAX, valued at more than $26,000.00.
93 boats blasted off out of the Kenwood Boat Launch onto world famous Rodman Reservoir this morning under cool, clear post-frontal conditions, thus causing productive patterns that were developed during practice to fail for many. 228 bass crossed the scales today, weighing in at 427.21 lbs. Today’s total catch included 24 five-fish limits.
Well into the weighin, the Alabama South team of Larry Bullock & Roger Caldwell hauled in a huge bag of fish and took the Day-1 lead with 22.20 lbs. Larry and Roger also earned $300.00 for their 6.26 lbs bucketmouth. The leaders would only reveal that their fish came out of vegetation, in deeper water away from the shoreline, and that they had culled through about 15 fish and felt confident that they could repeat on Saturday.
Resting in the second place spot are John Kremer and Daniel Lanier. The Florida Central men were tight-lipped as to how they caught their 17.97 lbs of fish.
With 15.31, the Florida Central team of Neil Davis and Donald Fisher placed third today.
Presently sitting in the fourth slot, with 14.40, are Alabama Central teammates, Jason Hopper and Eric Hutcheson.
Mark Watson and Hubble Sowards, Alabama Central, are holding down fifth place with 12.32
Errol Duckett and Robert Price, South Carolina Lowcountry, took the Day-1, $200.00, 2nd Big Fish Award with their 5.41 lbs largemouth and are in sixth place with 11.62 lbs.
The 2011 South East Regional Championship will be paying out 20 places. The top 10 teams by weight and the highest finishing team from each division, not already in the top ten, along with the highest placing 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, for a total payout of $125,000.00 in cash and prizes and where the final paying slot will net the anglers a $1000.00 check.
We want to thank the event host, Ocala / Marion County Visitors & Convention Bureau, Executive Director Matt Dunn, Tourism Director Denise Alexander, special speaker Royce Railey, MOJO Catering, Florida Fish and Wildlife, and Lockmaster, Jim Dunlop.
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.
For full-size pics contact: fevans@fomntt.com
