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Florence, AL. .... Leon Tidwell and Roland Martin both won big at the Alabama BASSMASTER Eastern Invitational on Saturday. Tidwell caught 55 pounds, 2 ounces to claim his first B.A.S.S. win and Martin clinched his 23rd BASS Masters Classic berth by winning the BASSMASTER Eastern Division championship.
Tidwell easily outdistanced second place by 5-6 to claim the $51,000 first prize.
"I^m thrilled to win this," said Tidwell. "It was tough going out there today, but I^m proud of the catch I had. Because it was St. Patrick^s Day, I used a green jig on green line, and even wore a green jacket. I caught all of my fish on a smoke colored H&H 3-inch grub on a 1/4 ounce jighead. If the bass hadn^t biting that smoke colored grub, I would have been in trouble."
In a tournament where many anglers struggled, only 11 limits were weighed in over the competition, Tidwell had everything going his way.
"Where I was fishing, the current was important, and it was perfect every day. The only thing that wasn^t perfect was the wind, and it aggravated everybody about the same. The current was important because I let it do all the work with the jig by throwing the bait into the current and letting it drift back down. My area was a spawning flat about 10 feet deep with a gravel bottom," explained Tidwell.
Jason Quinn of Lake Wylie, S.C. caught fish on a staging flat in Wilson Lake to claim second place and $32,000. Quinn brought in 49-12 over three days.
"I used a one-ounce Hawg Caller 3 blade spinnerbait (chartreuse and white) and a 4 inch watermelon Hawg Caller grub," explained Quinn. "The current wasn^t as important in my area as the weather systems were. The wind and the cold weather that we had this week worked against me, if there had been some sun, things would have been different."
Third place in the event went to day one leader Robert Robbins of Branson, MO. Robbins takes home $30,000 for bringing in 41-7.
"I fished the edge of the current using a Bass Pro shops Hula Grub, which is a skirted twin tail grub," explained Robbins. "The grub was five inches (lemon pepper) on a 5/16 ounce lead head. The key was to keep it right on the bottom because the bite from the smallmouths was so subtle."
Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, N.C. brought in 40-11 for fourth place and Marty Carter of Hamilton, Ala., finished fifth with 35-10.
The legendary Martin finished 11th with 18-15 to claim his Classic berth.
"It^s great to be going back to the Classic," said Martin. The Louisiana Delta is an excellent fishery and I^m looking forward to going back there."
Others qualifying for the Classic to be held in New Orleans, La., were Rufus Johnson, Knoxville, Tenn.; Dwayne Horton, Knoxville, Tenn.; Mark Menendez, Paducah, Ky. and Gerry Williams, Winter Garden, Fla.
In the CastingKids event sponsored by Chevy Trucks, Mitchell Ray of Florence, Ala., claimed victory in the 7-10 age group and Brock Burroughs of Rogersville, Ala., won in the 11-14 age group. This fun-filled national program, designed by B.A.S.S. CEO Helen Sevier, encourages children to perfect the skills of casting, pitching and flipping. The Alabama B.A.S.S. Federation will conduct the event and provide instruction to all youngsters.
Uploaded: 3/18/2001
Uploaded: 3/18/2001