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Plattsburg, New York - Using only a fraction of his allotted fishing time Sunday, Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala., cruised to his first Bassmaster Elite Series win in the Champion's Choice presented by Toyota Tundra at Lake Champlain, finishing with a four-day weight of 83 pounds, 10 ounces for a victory of nearly 13 pounds over Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif.
But Reese was also a winner Sunday: His runner-up finish propelled him past Kevin VanDam and into the lead in the Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year standings. With three tournaments left in the 11-event Elite Series season, Reese is 12 points in front of VanDam in the battle for the $125,000 AOY title. The top 50 anglers will share in a total purse of $601,000.
Horton collected $109,000 Sunday. Fishing fans can watch all the action of the Champion's Choice presented by Toyota Tundra on The Bassmasters Saturday, July 21, at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
Horton, who entered the final day with a 10-pound lead, made a 90-minute run south on Lake Champlain after the 5:40 a.m. launch and was back at the Plattsburgh, N.Y. Boat Basin by 10 a.m., well ahead of his scheduled check-in time of 3:15 p.m. With a five-fish limit of 19 pounds, 4 ounces of largemouth bass boated in one hour of fishing, he decided to play it safe and get back to the dock.
"I knew a 30-pound bag was virtually impossible," said Horton, the 2000 Bassmaster Angler of the Year who scored the fourth BASS win of his career on Sunday. "I've never come in early like that before, but I thought about it and one thing I was really worried about was the wind getting up and not being able to get back in."
Horton said all his fish were caught on a Booyah Football Head jig. He said he managed his best spots on the massive lake over the three previous days and saved his most productive spot for Sunday.
"I fished for an hour and that was absolutely the most unbelievable hour I've ever had," he said. "I wish everybody who enjoys fishing could have a chance to hit a spot like that. It was incredible and was like experiencing fishing for the first time. It was total bliss."
Reese, who was in fourth place entering the final day, boated the largest weight of the final day — 20 pounds, 4 ounces — to finish second. He said he caught all of his fish Sunday cranking a Lucky Craft BDS 3 on the outside edge of grass.
"I found a school the second day of the tournament and I didn't know what I had found," said Reese. "I found out a little bit more (Saturday) and I caught 17 pounds off of it, but I didn't start on it until later. So I started on that school (Sunday) and I caught 20 pounds. When you got around them, they let you know. It was fun."
He said he plans to take the Angler of the Year race one day at a time over the final three tournaments.
"That's all I can do," he added. "There's still 12 days of competition left and I hope I fish all 12 days. My ultimate goal in tournament fishing is to achieve that title. I hope I'm able to get it."
Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., who led the first day and held second place Friday and Saturday, finished third with 68 pounds, 13 ounces. Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., was fourth with 68 pounds, 11 ounces; and Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., rounded out the top five with 67 pounds, 2 ounces.
The next Bassmaster Elite Series tournament is July 19-22 on Lake Erie and the Niagara River out of Buffalo, N.Y.
Day 4 Purolator Big Bass
Pro: Takahiro Omori; Emory, Texas; 6-3
Location and Field
Champion's Choice presented by Toyota Tundra - Bassmaster Elite Series
Lake Champlain
Plattsburgh, N.Y.
July 12-15
Field
108 pros, 108 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3
Launch
Plattsburgh Boat Basin
5 Dock Street
Plattsburgh, N.Y.
5:30 a.m. ET
Weigh-in
Plattsburgh Boat Basin
5 Dock Street
Plattsburgh, N.Y 3 p.m. ET
2007 Champion's Choice 7/12-7/15
Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 20 83-10 315 $109,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 24-12 Day 3: 5 18-08 Day 4: 5 19-04
2. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 20 70-13 295 $31,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 17-08 Day 4: 5 20-04
3. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 20 68-13 295 $26,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 17-14 Day 3: 5 15-05 Day 4: 5 14-04
4. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 20 68-11 285 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 16-09 Day 4: 5 19-04
5. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 20 67-02 280 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 18-00 Day 4: 5 18-02
6. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 20 67-00 276 $18,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 5 19-05 Day 4: 5 17-11
7. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, FL 20 65-15 272 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 18-14 Day 4: 5 16-03
8. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, TX 20 65-11 268 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 16-13 Day 4: 5 15-07
9. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, CA 20 64-15 264 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 14-05 Day 4: 5 13-06
10. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, NC 20 64-02 260 $13,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 18-13 Day 4: 5 12-04
11. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, FL 20 63-04 257 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 19-02 Day 4: 5 12-07
12. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 20 62-01 254 $13,300.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 16-09 Day 4: 5 13-10
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PUROLATOR BIG BASS
Day
1 Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 05-08 $1,000.00
2 Fred Roumbanis Auburn, CA 05-07 $1,000.00
3 Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 04-13 $1,000.00
4 Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 06-03 $1,000.00
PUROLATOR BIG BASS OF TOURN
Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 06-03 $1,000.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT
Day
1 Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 21-06 $1,000.00
2 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 24-12 $1,000.00
3 Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 19-05 $1,000.00
4 Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 20-04 $1,000.00
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT OF TOURN
Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 24-12 $8,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 103 530 1509-14
2 104 532 1438-08
3 48 246 723-08
4 12 60 192-02
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267 1368 3864-00
TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Skeet Reese Calif. 2008
2 Kevin VanDam Mich. 1996
3 Jared Lintner Calif. 1915
4 Terry Scroggins Fla. 1790
5 Timmy Horton Ala. 1740
6 Steve Kennedy Ala. 1737
7 Kelly Jordon Texas 1729
8 Aaron Martens Ala. 1728
9 Jeff Kriet Okla. 1715
10 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 1710
11 Ishama Monroe Calif. 1702
12 Scott Rook Ark. 1678
13 Tommy Biffle Okla. 1655
14 Peter Thliveros Fla. 1650
15 Stephen Browning Ark. 1643
16 Edwin Evers Okla. 1625
17 Todd Faircloth Texas 1622
18 Chris Lane Fla. 1601
19 Derek Remitz Texas 1599
20 John Murray Ariz. 1592
21 John Crews Va. 1576
22 Mike McClelland Ark. 1558
22 Greg Hackney La. 1558
22 Takahiro Omori Texas 1558
25 Casey Ashley S.C. 1557
26 Kevin Wirth Ky. 1554
27 Brent Chapman Kan. 1552
27 Dean Rojas Texas 1552
29 Alton Jones Texas 1548
30 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 1546
31 Cliff Pace Miss. 1519
32 Boyd Duckett Ala. 1515
33 Gary Klein Texas 1507
34 Davy Hite S.C. 1504
34 Kevin Short Ark. 1504
36 Mark Tyler Okla. 1492
37 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 1475
38 Jason Quinn S.C. 1469
39 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 1460
40 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 1453
41 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 1446
42 Dave Wolak N.C. 1445
43 Denny Brauer Mo. 1438
44 Mark Menendez Ky. 1437
45 Gerald Swindle Ala. 1433
46 Scott Campbell Mo. 1404
47 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 1401
48 Jason Williamson S.C. 1389
49 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 1387
50 Mark Tucker Mo. 1379
51 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 1378
52 Britt Myers S.C. 1377
53 James Niggemeyer Texas 1359
54 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 1351
55 Marty Robinson S.C. 1345
56 Kenyon Hill Okla. 1343
57 Pete Ponds Miss. 1341
58 Russ Lane Ala. 1334
59 Randy Howell Ala. 1333
60 Paul Elias Miss. 1328
61 Brian Snowden Mo. 1311
62 Mike Wurm Ark. 1295
63 Rick Morris Va. 1288
64 Ken Cook Okla. 1287
65 Lee Bailey Ala. 1273
66 Bernie Schultz Fla. 1272
67 Matt Reed Texas 1265
68 Rick Clunn Mo. 1257
69 Bradley Hallman Okla. 1246
70 Ben Matsubu Texas 1245
71 Bill Lowen Ohio 1234
72 Kurt Dove Va. 1223
73 James Kennedy La. 1222
74 Ken Brodeur Conn. 1221
75 Marty Stone N.C. 1215
76 Jim Murray Ga. 1210
77 Grant Goldbeck Md. 1208
78 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 1206
79 Jimmy Mize Ark. 1201
80 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 1185
81 Preston Clark Fla. 1157
82 Jami Fralick S.D. 1148
83 Zell Rowland Texas 1135
84 James Charlesworth Fla. 1128
85 Kevin Langill N.C. 1117
86 Jeff Connella La. 1088
87 Paul Hirosky Pa. 1083
88 Mark Rogers Fla. 1073
89 Bill Smith Ky. 1069
90 Matt Amedeo Ohio 1048
91 Glenn Delong Ohio 1037
92 Bradley Stringer Texas 1017
93 Guy Eaker N.C. 1012
94 Charlie Hartley Ohio 1009
95 Darrin Schwenkbeck N.Y. 1004
96 Steve Daniel Fla. 997
97 Keith Phillips Ala. 966
98 Eric Nethery Ga. 953
99 Jimmy Mason Ala. 943
100 Dave Smith Okla. 930
101 Doc Merkin Ill. 917
102 Terry Butcher Okla. 908
103 Jon Bondy Canada 898
104 Frank Scalish Ohio 882
105 Byron Velvick Texas 862
106 Rick Ash Pa. 817
106 Charlie Youngers Fla. 817
108 Elton Luce Jr Texas 595
TOYOTA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Derek Remitz Texas 1599
2 Casey Ashley S.C. 1557
3 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 1446
4 Scott Campbell Mo. 1404
5 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 1401
6 Jason Williamson S.C. 1389
7 James Niggemeyer Texas 1359
8 Marty Robinson S.C. 1345
9 James Kennedy La. 1222
10 James Charlesworth Fla. 1128
11 Matt Amedeo Ohio 1048
12 Glenn Delong Ohio 1037
TOYOTA MOVING FORWARD AWARD
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Place Name 2006 Finish 2007 Standings
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1 Fred Roumbanis 69 10
2 Chris Lane 61 18
3 Scott Rook 47 12
4 Kevin Short 67 34
5 Stephen Browning 45 15
6 Mark Tyler 64 36
7 Terry Scroggins 31 4
8 Ishama Monroe 37 11
8 Pete Ponds 83 57
10 Timmy Horton 30 5
11 Mark Menendez 68 44
11 Jeff Kriet 33 9
11 Britt Myers 76 52
11 Ken Brodeur 98 74
15 Rick Morris 81 63
16 Jared Lintner 18 3
17 Brent Chapman 41 27
18 Takahiro Omori 35 22
19 Grant Goldbeck 88 77
19 Mark Rogers 99 88
21 Kurt Dove 82 72
22 Ken D Cook 73 64
23 Morizo Shimizu 48 40
24 Davy Hite 40 34
24 Yusuke Miyazaki 55 49
24 Skeet Reese 7 1
24 Todd Faircloth 23 17
28 Ray Sedgwick 56 51
28 Peter E Thliveros 19 14
30 Kelly Jordon 10 7
30 Gary Klein 36 33
32 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr 39 37
33 David Wolak 43 42
33 Kevin VanDam 3 2
BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT REPORT
Place Name Lbs-Ozs
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1 Kevin VanDam 300-14
2 Jared Lintner 278-12
3 Skeet Reese 274-07
4 Timmy Horton 272-02
5 Aaron Martens 269-12
6 Fred Roumbanis 269-01
7 Terry Scroggins 267-10
7 Derek Remitz 267-10
9 Steve Kennedy 265-02
10 Ishama Monroe 261-01
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