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Johnson dominates field at FLW Stren Series on Rayburn
After a grueling four days, Local pro Stephen Johnston of Hemphill won first place with a four-day total weight of 70 lbs 2 oz. Kerry Barnett of Waldron, AR won the Co-Angler division with 52 lbs, eight ounces. The full field fished the first three days of competition. Only the top 10 in each division would compete on the fourth and final day. Trying to establish a pattern on these fish was very difficult at best, with changing weather patterns and dropping water levels. It kept everyone scrambling to find quality cooperative fish each day. Big Bass in each division was paid each day, then at the end of day three the top 60 were awarded checks, excluding the top 10 who continued fishing for final standings. Big Bass Pro division: Day 1 - 7-05 lbs. Art Garza Buna Day 2 - 10-14 lbs. Ronnie Hopkins Jr. Mounds, OK Day 3 - 7-02 lbs. Jeff Jackowski, Tomball Big Bass Co Angler division: Day 1 - 7-11 lbs. Matt Purgahn, Orange Day 2 - 8-15 lbs. Steve Evans, Lufkin Day 3 - 8-15 lbs. Wendell Williams, Alba At the end of day three, anglers who placed 11th- 60th in each division received checks. On the Pro side, it took 41 lbs. 15 oz. to make the top ten cut, and in the Co Angler division 28-13 lbs. was in 10th place. The final weigh in was held at Jasper Wal-Mart. Beginning with the Co Anglers, Kerry Barnet was brought to the stage, having been in the lead coming into the final day with 38 lbs. 15 oz., to sit in the hot seat until his three day weight was beaten. Starting with Gilbert Herald, who was in 10th place coming into day 4, each fish was put on the scales one at a time. He needed 10 lbs. 3 oz. to take the lead, but his limit only weighed 9-15. Next up was Bill Guillory of Jasper. He needed 9 lbs. 12 oz. With only four fish in his bag, he took the lead with 10-4, giving him a four-day total weight of 39 lbs. 8 oz. The weigh in continued one angler, one fish at a time. Ray Peace of Arlington, who was in sixth place on day 3, needed 9 lbs. 4 oz. to take the seat away from Guillory. His five-fish limit brought in 10- 6 for a new leader at 40 lbs. 11 oz. He held the lead through several more anglers, until Bill Rogers from Jasper took it away from him with a three day total of 43 lbs. 1 oz. Finally, it was Kerry Barnett's turn. He needed nearly five pounds to take the win. His limit of bass weighed 13 lbs. 9 oz., winning Co Angler Champion and $5,000! "I've had a fantastic week," Barnett began. "I've been blessed with some awesome partners." Even struggling on the third day, only weighing in 6 lbs., he managed to keep the lead. "The Good Lord blessed me with good fish," Barnett said as he caught most of his fish on an orange/black suspending rattling rogue. Top 10 Co Anglers: First - $5,000 52-08 Kerry Barnett of Waldron, AR Second - $4,000 43-01 Bill Rogers of Jasper Third - $3,250 40-11 Ray Peace of Arlington Fourth - $2,500 40-08 Alan Moore of Lufkin Fifth - $2,000 39-08 Bill Guillory of Jasper Sixth - $1,900 38-12 Gilbert Herald Pittsburg Seventh - $1,800 37-01 Danny Cherry of Kountze Eighth - $1,700 35-06 Kenny Moser of Alba Ninth - $1,600 35-03 Michael Savage of Clever, MO 10th - $1,500 34- 00 Joey Teer of Texarkana Then it was time for the pros to weigh in their catch. No one could see what was in their black weigh in bags until they placed each bass on the scale. Stephen Johnston who had maintained the lead after the first three days with just over 52 lbs. was placed in the hot seat. The first pro angler to the scales, Shane Gibson of Kilgore knocked him out of the lead with a four-day total of 58-07. "I'd like to thank Rusty & Jimmy Clark. They really helped me out a lot. I caught my fish dragging a big lizard inside the grass line. I caught at least two limits per day that way. These are all good fishermen here - they are all winners!" Shane stayed in the lead throughout the weigh in until it was Johnston's turn to bring his fish to the scales. He needed six pounds to win and he had five fish to do it with. His weight was announced at 18 lbs. 1 oz., winning by more than 11 pounds! "I've been doing this a long time" Steve began. I've been in the (fishing) industry for 16 years. When it's your time, it's your time. Each day I scratched out a few keepers, then just went fishing." This win included a $3,000 Ranger Cup check, $25,000 for first place, plus a fully rigged, ready to go Ranger boat for a total package worth over $65,000. "I'd like to thank my family. Without their love and support I wouldn't be here," said Johnston, who has fished local team circuits the past three years with his son, now 15 years old. Since 1998, Stephen has fished 37 Wal-mart tour events. He has finished top 10 in eleven of these, including a Big Bass award in 2000. This year, he's off to a great start. He finished top 10 in the TTT event on Lake Amistad recently, now adding FLW Stren Champion to his list of wins Top 10 Pro Anglers First - $65,000 pkg 70-02 Stephen Johnston Hemphill Second - $10,000 58-07 Shane Gibson Kilgore Third - $9,000 53-00 Jim Guzman Coldspring Fourth - $8,000 52-11 Randy Millender Teague Fifth - $7,000 52-08 Charles Haralson Laredo Sixth - $6,000 51-13 David Truax Beaumont Seventh - $5,500 51-02 Stan Burgay Timpson Eighth - $5,000 50-03 Tommy Durham Waxahachie Ninth - $4,500 46-0 John Bond Owasso 10th - $4,000 42- 12 Dicky Newberry Houston This division of the Stren Series will be held all on Texas lakes. The next stop is Amistad, and then Toledo will be re-visited after an eight-year sabbatical. With the lack of tournament pressure the past couple of years on Toledo, many are expecting some really large catches there this year. For more information, click to www.flwoutdoors.com  |
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