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April 30, 2012 09:30:10
Posted By The Bass Hog
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ROGERS, Ark. (April 29, 2012) – Coming in to this event Castrol pro David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., had career winnings of $2.9 million dollars – the most of any professional angler on the FLW Tour. Dudley widened that gap today by winning the Walmart FLW Tour Major on Beaver Lake presented by Straight Talk. The $125,000 victory has pushed him over the $3 million mark. Dudley weighed in a five-bass limit worth 16 pounds, 9 ounces to win the tournament, besting the best bass-fishing pros from all across the United States, Canada, Spain and Japan.
Dudley weighed in 20 bass totaling 54 pounds, 7 ounces during four days of competition fishing. He edged out a man who had previously won this event in 2007, Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., who weighed in five bass today totaling 17 pounds, 8 ounces. Morgan’s four-day total of 53-15 was good enough for second place – and a $35,000 check.
Dudley used his decision-making skills today to leap from fourth place after Saturday’s weigh-in into the top spot. He caught most of his fish this week on an umbrella rig, but changed his strategy this afternoon after having a slow morning.
“That rig is something that we are all still learning about,” said Dudley. “It’s gotten a bad name because some people say that it mistreats the fish, but it doesn’t do any of that. It’s a lure that is going to catch some fish, but it does not dominate. Of my 20 bass that I weighed in, only 13 of them came on the umbrella rig. Seven of my fish came on different lures. The umbrella rig is a tool, not a cure-all tool. I believe the key decision to my tournament was not going after the spotted bass. I had a legit 10 to 12 schools located, and it was very tempting. I knew I couldn’t rely on them, though, because they would not have had the weight that helped me get to this spot today.”
Moments after his emotional victory, Dudley was already looking ahead to the next FLW Tour event on the Potomac River.
“I’m really looking forward to the Potomac, that’s for sure. I really love tidal rivers and I love the current. The Potomac is a very healthy fishery right now, so all of you Fantasy Fishing players out there better pick some good power fishermen.”
Chad Pipkens of Holt, Mich., won the co-angler division and $25,000 Saturday with a three-day total of nine bass weighing 22-15 followed by Todd Lee of Jasper, Ala., in second place with 10 bass weighing 18-14 worth $7,500.
link to picture of David Dudley: http://www.flwoutdoors.com/image.cfm?id=55851 link to video of winning moment: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp6BFyLo5dw&feature=youtu.be
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Winning the February drawing in the Royal Purple Royal Treatment program was Jonathan Marlow from Burke, Virginia. Jonathan fishes the Northeast Division of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series. For his name being drawn, Jonathan won a gallon of Royal Purple Outboard Oil and a Royal Purple hat. When called, Jonathan said, “That is great. I use Royal Purple in my truck engine, my transmission and my trailer wheel bearings. Thank you and many thanks to Royal Purple”.
