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Kennewick, Wash .... Oregon^s Ron Wiseman Jr. battled weather conditions that included low temperatures and high winds to claim the BASSMASTER Washington Western Invitational championship. Wiseman bagged 46 pounds of bass over three days to claim the $36,500 that goes to the champion.
A final day total of 17-5 allowed Wiseman-fishing in his first pro tournament-- to slide past Stan Scott for the championship. Washington^s Scott, relinquished the lead he held for the first two days of the tournament when he only brought 11-11 to the scales. Despite finishing second with a 40-10 total Scott takes home $30,000.
Finishing in third and claiming $30,000 was Washington^s Jason Allred with 35-2. Californian Mark Tyler and Washington^s Peter Krause tied for fourth and claimed $5,240 with a 31-15 total.
"It was a terrific day," said Wiseman, "I loved every minute of it. I fished one little spot all three days and that is where I caught all of my fish. I was Carolina-rigging a five inch Zoom green pumpkin lizard. The difference today is that I had a good current flowing over my rockpile and that got some of the bigger bass active."
Although he held the lead for the first two days, Scott knew it would take a big bag to claim the championship. "It is what I expected," said Scott. "I was hoping to get around 9 or 10 pounds, because I knew that if Wiseman was able to get down on his fish that I would be in trouble. I didn^t catch any fish until about 10 a.m., which had me really nervous. Then the fish turned on. The first two days I fished upriver near Richland, but today I went the Snake River about 15 miles. The fish on the Columbia were giving out so we went to a spot my partner had on the Snake."
Local knowledge of the fishery played a huge part in the tournament with 6 out of the top 10 anglers being locals. One of those was 17 year old Justin Campbell of Pasco. Campbell placed sixth in the event and claimed $4,280 including a big bass bonus. "I think that knowing what the fish are going to do is real important," said Campbell. "I probably get to fish this body around 100 days a year, depending on the weather."
The next event for the pros on the BASSMASTER Western Invitational trail is the BASSMASTER California Western Inviational. That event will be held on Lake Shasta, Novermber 2-4.
Uploaded: 10/8/2000
Uploaded: 10/8/2000