KLINGER LEADS ROUND ONE OF EVERSTART SERIES EVENT ON LAKE MEAD

April 07, 2005 HENDERSON, Nev. – Pro Tim Klinger of Boulder City, winner of the 2004 FLW Tour Wal-Mart Open, caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 27 pounds, 9
ounces to lead round one of the EverStart Series Western Division event on Lake Mead near Henderson. Although the top-10 pros will start from zero on day three, Klinger dominated the opening round with a lead of more the 4 pounds over than the next closest competitor – Shane Meisel of Alta Loma, Calif., who caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 23 pounds, 2ounces.

The wind blew on Thursday on Lake Mead creating a few obstacles, but conditions basically remained stable. Bass are in all stages of the spawn, and numerous limits were caught. Anglers are throwing spinnerbaits, drop-shots and a variety of other baits. The sight-fishing bite also appears to be the dominant pattern for many pros.

“I did the same thing I did yesterday,” Klinger said. “I’m catching some sight fish but also finding fish with a spinnerbait and working those areas with plastics.” Rounding out the top-five pros are Dennis Kolender of Henderson (10 bass, 23 pounds, 1 ounce); Gabe Bolivar of Ramona, Calif. (10 bass, 22 pounds, 12 ounces); and Thanh Le of El Cajon, Calif. (10 bass, 22 pounds, 3 ounces). Rob Wenning of Sparks, Nev., caught a 3-pound, 153-ounce bass to earn the day’s
$425 Snickers Big Bass award for the Pro Division.

Gary Key of Phoenix, Ariz., caught a two-day total of nine bass weighing 16 pounds, 11 ounces to lead the Co-angler Division. Key also made a top-10 cut at the last Western Division event on Clear Lake and missed the cut at the season opener on Lake Havasu by a mere 6 ounces.

“I’m just trying to pick up fish that my partners are missing,” Key said. “While the pros are going after the nesting fish, I’m concentrating on fish in 10-15 feet of water that haven’t moved up yet. I’m throwing a drop-shot.”

Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Charlie Crawford of Peoria, Ariz. (eight bass, 15 pounds, 7 ounces); Gary Haraguchi of Half Moon Bay, Calif. (eight bass, 14 pounds, 15 ounces); Lewis Milligan of Roseville, Calif. (seven bass, 14 pounds, 14 ounces); and John Bitting of Westminster, Calif. (eight bass, 14 pounds, 1 ounces). Larry Gardner Sr. of Jerome, Idaho, caught Thursday’s Snickers Big Bass in the Co-angler Division – a 4-pound, 4-ounce bass – worth $185.

Anglers caught 480 bass Thursday weighing 1,056 pounds, 4 ounces.

EverStart Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 10 pros and co-anglers –based on two-day accumulated weights – advance to the final round. Anglers start at zero Friday, and pro and co-angler winners are determined Saturday based on two-day accumulated weights.

Wal-Mart and more than 40 of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as title sponsor of the FLW Tour in 1997 and today is the title sponsor of all FLW Outdoors events. For more information on FLW Outdoors and its bass, walleye, redfish and kingfish tournament programs, visit FLWOutdoors.com.

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