Mike McClelland Surges to Victory On Clarks Hill

Arkansas’ Mike McClelland Surges to Victory at Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Clarks Hill Lake

Despite Comfortable Lead, Florida’s Chris Lane Falters, Finishes Second

EVANS, Ga. – Scoring his fifth BASS victory Sunday, Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., posted a four-day total of 70 pounds, 7 ounces, and overcame a six-pound-plus deficit to edge out Florida’s Chris Lane by more than one pound at the Bassmaster Elite Series’ Pride of Georgia presented by Evan Williams Bourbon on Clarks Hill Lake.

McClelland weighed in 19-15 on the final day of competition, while two-day leader Lane managed only 12-4.

The 39-year-old McClelland has now amassed over $650,000 in career earnings and scored his second victory in Elite Series competition, the most visible and prestigious fishing tournament circuit.

Fishing fans can see on-the-water action of McClelland’s victory on Saturday, April 28 at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.

The win elevated McClelland from 30th to 10th in the points race, which determines the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, and from 14th into 13th place in the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index.

All four days of competition McClelland fished a jig in locations he had established during the three-day practice period. He said a rough practice almost caused him to abandon the jig, but fellow Elite pro Jeff Kriet of Oklahoma encouraged him to “fish his strengths” and stay with the jig.

“To be honest, I started the day fishing for second place,” said McClelland, who took home the $100,000 top prize. “But I got off to a decent start and around 10 a.m., I figured I would go for broke because I had a shot to win this tournament.

“After I won the Open Championship [in 2005], I felt I learned how to win a tournament again,” he added. “Now that I have won two events in this top level of competition, there is no way anyone can take away my credibility in this sport.”

With the victory purse in hand, McClelland and his wife, Stacy, are planning to shop for a new, larger home in the Bella Vista area.

It was Lane who was in a comfortable position heading into the final day of action, but the Winter Haven, Fla., angler’s “magic” spot couldn’t produce for a fourth consecutive day.

“I knew Mike had to catch a big limit to get close to me, and that is just what he did,” said the 31-year-old, who totaled 69 pounds, 0 ounces. “I feel happy that I put myself in position to win. My hat’s off to Mike for having a tremendous last day.”

In third, slipping from second, was Pete Ponds of Madison, Miss., with 66 pounds, 1 ounce; in fourth, moving up from ninth, was John Crews of Salem, Va., with 61 pounds, 1 ounce; and fifth was Toyota Rookie of the Year leader Derek Remitz of Madison, Ala., with 59 pounds, 9 ounces.

Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points leader Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., finished sixth with 58 pounds, 12 ounces. The Angler of the Year program rewards the top-performing angler on the 11-event Bassmaster Elite Series circuit with a $125,000 top prize.

The next Bassmaster Elite Series event, the fifth of the season, is scheduled for Alabama’s Lake Guntersville, April 26-29.

For related photos of the event, click here.

Purolator Big Bass Day 4

Mike McClelland; Bella Vista, Ark.; 5-13

Location and Field
Pride of Georgia presented by Evan Williams Bourbon–Bassmaster Elite Series
Clarks Hill Lake
Evans, Ga.
April 19-22

Field
108 pros, 108 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3

Launch
Wildwood Park
6212 Holloway Rd.
Appling, Ga.

Weigh-in
Wildwood Park
6212 Holloway Rd.
Appling, Ga.

Local sponsors: Local sponsors include Columbia County.

Bassmaster Elite Series sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Costa Del Mar, Ramada Worldwide and Evan Williams Bourbon.

2007 Elite Series - Pride of Georgia PRO 04/19-04/22 Clarks Hill Lake, Evans Ga.

(PRO Division) Standings Day 4

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 20 70-07 305 $102,000.00

Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 12-11 Day 4: 5 19-15

2. Chris Lane Winter Haven, Fla. 20 69-00 305 $30,000.00

Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 5 18-13 Day 4: 5 12-04

3. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 20 66-01 290 $25,000.00

Day 1: 5 21-01 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 16-05 Day 4: 5 14-05

4. John Crews Salem, Va. 20 61-01 285 $18,000.00

Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 14-12 Day 4: 5 16-12

5. Derek Remitz Hemphill, Texas 20 59-09 280 $17,000.00

Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 20-00 Day 3: 5 10-11 Day 4: 5 13-05

6. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 20 58-12 276 $15,500.00

Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 17-00 Day 4: 5 14-02

7. Bryan Hudgins Orange Park, Fla. 20 58-06 272 $15,000.00

Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 15-00 Day 3: 5 10-08 Day 4: 5 13-03

8. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 20 57-09 273 $23,500.00

Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 9-05 Day 4: 5 11-06

9. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 20 56-09 264 $14,000.00

Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 15-07 Day 4: 5 9-05

10. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 20 56-07 260 $13,500.00

Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 14-12 Day 4: 5 12-09

11. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 20 54-05 257 $12,500.00

Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 13-14 Day 4: 5 11-04

12. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 20 52-13 254 $14,300.00

Day 1: 5 9-14 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 19-12 Day 4: 5 8-14

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Big Bass

Day

1 Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 8-02 $1,000.00

2 Brent Chapman Moneta, Va. 8-05 $1,000.00

3 Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 7-10 $1,000.00

4 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 5-13 $1,000.00

Big Bass of Tournament

Brent Chapman Moneta, Va. 8-05 $1,000.00

Big Bag

Day

1 Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 22-06 $1,000.00

2 Russell Lane Prattville, Ala. 21-12 $1,000.00

3 Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 19-12 $1,000.00

4 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 19-15 $1,000.00

Big Bag of Tournament

Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 22-06 $8,000.00

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Totals

Day #Limits #Fish Weight

1 84 491 1119-05

2 97 513 1282-01

3 42 232 558-00

4 12 60 157-04

----------------------------------

235 1296 3116-10

2007 Pride of Georgia - Pride of Georgia Pro Points After Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, Ga. Ending 04-22-2007, Day 4

-------------------------------------------

Place Name St Pts

-------------------------------------------

1 Skeet Reese Calif. 1120

2 Jared Lintner Calif. 1029

3 Derek Remitz Texas 1015

4 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 965

5 Kevin VanDam Mich. 958

6 Ishama Monroe Calif. 930

7 Aaron Martens Ala. 927

8 Brent Chapman Va. 921

9 Jeff Kriet Okla. 891

10 Mike McClelland Ark. 876

11 Steve Kennedy Ala. 867

12 Tommy Biffle Okla. 866

13 John Crews Va. 852

14 Chris Lane Fla. 851

15 Casey Ashley S.C. 847

16 Scott Rook Ark. 836

17 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 813

18 Gerald Swindle Ala. 812

19 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 811

20 John Murray Ariz. 800

21 Pete Ponds Miss. 796

22 Stephen Browning Ark. 791

23 Mark Tyler Okla. 789

23 Gary Klein Texas 789

25 Kevin Wirth Ky. 788

26 Cliff Pace Miss. 782

27 Greg Hackney La. 775

28 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 772

29 Todd Faircloth Texas 764

30 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 756

31 Scott Campbell Mo. 754

32 Alton Jones Texas 753

33 Paul Elias Miss. 751

33 Kelly Jordon Texas 751

35 Randy Howell Ala. 749

36 Mark Menendez Ky. 748

36 Russ Lane Ala. 748

38 Terry Scroggins Fla. 747

39 Dean Rojas Texas 745

40 Ken Brodeur Conn. 739

41 Takahiro Omori Texas 738

42 Dave Wolak N.C. 736

43 Rick Morris Va. 734

44 Edwin Evers Okla. 732

45 Davy Hite S.C. 726

46 Peter Thliveros Fla. 724

47 Timmy Horton Ala. 720

48 Brian Snowden Mo. 719

49 Jason Williamson S.C. 718

50 Britt Myers S.C. 712

51 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 705

52 Kevin Short Ark. 682

53 Lee Bailey Ala. 679

54 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 677

55 Jason Quinn S.C. 660

56 Bernie Schultz Fla. 654

57 Bill Smith Ky. 649

58 Marty Robinson S.C. 648

59 Bill Lowen Ohio 644

60 Paul Hirosky Pa. 643

61 James Charlesworth Fla. 639

61 Kenyon Hill Okla. 639

63 Guy Eaker N.C. 636

64 James Niggemeyer Texas 635

65 Matt Reed Texas 629

66 Zell Rowland Texas 628

67 Jimmy Mize Ark. 620

68 Jeff Connella La. 613

69 Glenn Delong Ohio 611

70 Ken Cook Okla. 610

71 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 593

72 Boyd Duckett Ala. 589

73 Ben Matsubu Texas 583

73 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 583

73 Kurt Dove Va. 583

76 Denny Brauer Mo. 580

77 Kevin Langill N.C. 577

78 Jim Murray Ga. 567

79 Matt Amedeo Ohio 557

80 Bradley Hallman Okla. 556

81 Mark Tucker Mo. 552

82 Mark Rogers Fla. 551

83 Steve Daniel Fla. 550

83 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 550

85 Charlie Hartley Ohio 546

86 Marty Stone N.C. 544

87 James Kennedy La. 516

88 Rick Clunn Mo. 515

89 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 512

90 Jami Fralick S.D. 511

91 Mike Wurm Ark. 510

92 Jon Bondy Canada 509

92 Eric Nethery Ga. 509

94 Grant Goldbeck Md. 503

94 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 503

96 Dave Smith Okla. 494

97 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 487

98 Preston Clark Fla. 486

99 Jimmy Mason Ala. 479

100 Doc Merkin Ill. 458

101 Keith Phillips Ala. 439

102 Charlie Youngers Fla. 424

103 Rick Ash Pa. 416

104 Byron Velvick Texas 410

105 Frank Scalish Ohio 398

106 Bradley Stringer Texas 352

107 Elton Luce Jr Texas 323

108 Terry Butcher Okla. 295

2007 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

After Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, GA ending 04-22-2007, Day 4

-------------------------------------------

Place Name St Pts

-------------------------------------------

1 Derek Remitz Texas 1015

2 Casey Ashley S.C. 847

3 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 811

4 Scott Campbell Mo. 754

5 Jason Williamson S.C. 718

6 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 705

7 Marty Robinson S.C. 648

8 James Charlesworth Fla. 639

9 James Niggemeyer Texas 635

10 Glenn Delong Ohio 611

11 Matt Amedeo Ohio 557

12 James Kennedy La. 516

2007 Toyota Moving Forward Award

After Evans, GA ending 04-22-2007, Day 4

---------------------------------------------------------

Place Name 2006 Finish 2007 Standings

---------------------------------------------------------

1 Fred Roumbanis 69 4

2 Pete Ponds 83 21

3 Ken Brodeur 98 40

4 Chris Lane 61 14

5 Mark Tyler 64 23

6 Rick Morris 81 43

7 Brent Chapman 41 8

8 Mark Menendez 68 36

9 Ishama Monroe 37 6

9 Scott Rook 47 16

11 Greg Gutierrez 46 17

12 Britt Myers 76 50

13 Jeff Kriet 33 9

14 Stephen Browning 45 22

15 Guy Eaker 85 63

16 Mark Rogers 99 82

17 Paul Elias 49 33

17 Jared Lintner 18 2

19 Kevin Short 67 52

19 Paul Hirosky 75 60

21 Gary Klein 36 23

22 Mike McClelland 22 10

23 Kurt Dove 82 73

24 John Crews 20 13

25 Brian Snowden 54 48

25 Skeet Reese 7 1

27 Ken D Cook 73 70

28 Ray Sedgwick 56 54

29 David Wolak 43 42

Berkley Heavyweight Report

Place Name Lbs-Ozs

-----------------------------------------------------------

1 Derek Remitz 173-05

2 Jared Lintner 166-09

3 Kevin VanDam 163-13

4 Aaron Martens 159-07

5 Skeet Reese 158-11

6 Fred Roumbanis 158-00

7 Brent Chapman 155-12

8 Greg Gutierrez 152-05

9 Tommy Biffle 151-11

10 Cliff Pace 149-00

BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES POWER INDEX

After Evans, GA ending 04-22-2007, Day 4

Rank Name Total Weight Average Weight Power Index (Avg. Weight)

1 Reese, Skeet 639 lbs 12 ozs 53 lbs 5 ozs 100.00 %

2 VanDam, Kevin 616 lbs 13 ozs 51 lbs 6 ozs 96.37 %

3 Lintner, Jared 565 lbs 11 ozs 47 lbs 2 ozs 88.39 %

4 Biffle, Tommy 528 lbs 10 ozs 44 lbs 1 ozs 82.65 %

5 Kennedy, Stephen 526 lbs 10 ozs 43 lbs 14 ozs 82.30 %

6 Martens, Aaron 486 lbs 8 ozs 40 lbs 9 ozs 76.08 %

7 Chapman, Brent 481 lbs 9 ozs 40 lbs 2 ozs 75.26 %

8 Swindle, Gerald 478 lbs 12 ozs 39 lbs 14 ozs 74.79 %

9 Faircloth, Todd 474 lbs 12 ozs 39 lbs 9 ozs 74.21 %

10 Lane, Russell 452 lbs 14 ozs 37 lbs 12 ozs 70.81 %

11 Gutierrez, Greg 452 lbs 2 ozs 37 lbs 11 ozs 70.69 %

12 Kriet, Jeff 446 lbs 5 ozs 37 lbs 3 ozs 69.75 %

13 McClelland, Mike 441 lbs 12 ozs 36 lbs 13 ozs 69.05 %

14 Monroe, Ishama 438 lbs 5 ozs 36 lbs 8 ozs 68.46 %

15 Iaconelli, Michael 436 lbs 14 ozs 36 lbs 7 ozs 68.35 %

16 Jordon, Kelly 433 lbs 1 ozs 36 lbs 1 ozs 67.64 %

17 Murray, John 432 lbs 5 ozs 36 lbs 0 ozs 67.53 %

18 Snowden, Brian 430 lbs 14 ozs 35 lbs 15 ozs 67.41 %

19 Lane, Chris 429 lbs 4 ozs 35 lbs 12 ozs 67.06 %

20 Roumbanis, Fred 423 lbs 0 ozs 35 lbs 4 ozs 66.12 %

21 Rook, Scott 422 lbs 1 ozs 35 lbs 3 ozs 66.00 %

22 Evers, Edwin 418 lbs 12 ozs 34 lbs 14 ozs 65.42 %

23 Wirth, Kevin 417 lbs 9 ozs 34 lbs 13 ozs 65.30 %

24 Hackney, Greg 411 lbs 13 ozs 34 lbs 5 ozs 64.36 %

25 Elias, Paul 411 lbs 0 ozs 34 lbs 4 ozs 64.24 %

26 Howell, Randy 408 lbs 7 ozs 34 lbs 1 ozs 63.89 %

27 Browning, Stephen 404 lbs 1 ozs 33 lbs 11 ozs 63.19 %

28 Hite, Davy 399 lbs 4 ozs 33 lbs 4 ozs 62.37 %

29 Rojas, Dean 397 lbs 4 ozs 33 lbs 2 ozs 62.13 %

30 Klein, Gary 395 lbs 11 ozs 33 lbs 0 ozs 61.90 %

31 Bailey, Lee 395 lbs 9 ozs 32 lbs 15 ozs 61.78 %

32 Jones, Alton 394 lbs 3 ozs 32 lbs 14 ozs 61.66 %

33 Short, Kevin 393 lbs 8 ozs 32 lbs 13 ozs 61.55 %

34 Wolak, David 390 lbs 8 ozs 32 lbs 9 ozs 61.08 %

35 Quinn, Jason 386 lbs 7 ozs 32 lbs 3 ozs 60.38 %

36 Crews, John 380 lbs 11 ozs 31 lbs 12 ozs 59.55 %

37 Fralick, Jami 380 lbs 3 ozs 31 lbs 11 ozs 59.44 %

38 Thliveros, Peter 379 lbs 6 ozs 31 lbs 10 ozs 59.32 %

39 Connella, Jeff 377 lbs 13 ozs 31 lbs 8 ozs 59.09 %

40 Morris, Rick 377 lbs 9 ozs 31 lbs 7 ozs 58.97 %

41 Brauer, Denny 375 lbs 6 ozs 31 lbs 5 ozs 58.73 %

42 Lowen, Bill 373 lbs 2 ozs 31 lbs 2 ozs 58.38 %

43 Horton, Timmy 371 lbs 3 ozs 30 lbs 15 ozs 58.03 %

44 Ponds, Pete 369 lbs 12 ozs 30 lbs 13 ozs 57.80 %

45 Smith, William 368 lbs 15 ozs 30 lbs 12 ozs 57.68 %

46 Reynolds, Jeff 364 lbs 11 ozs 30 lbs 6 ozs 56.98 %

47 Rowland, Zell 358 lbs 13 ozs 29 lbs 14 ozs 56.04 %

48 Scroggins, Terry 356 lbs 5 ozs 29 lbs 11 ozs 55.69 %

49 Shimizu, Morizo 349 lbs 6 ozs 29 lbs 2 ozs 54.63 %

50 Tyler, Mark 346 lbs 14 ozs 28 lbs 15 ozs 54.28 %

51 Cook, Ken 345 lbs 14 ozs 28 lbs 13 ozs 54.04 %

52 Brodeur, Ken 344 lbs 13 ozs 28 lbs 12 ozs 53.93 %

53 Menendez, Mark 344 lbs 1 ozs 28 lbs 11 ozs 53.81 %

54 Sedgwick, Ray 343 lbs 6 ozs 28 lbs 10 ozs 53.69 %

55 Myers, Britt 342 lbs 6 ozs 28 lbs 9 ozs 53.58 %

56 Reed, Matt 341 lbs 15 ozs 28 lbs 8 ozs 53.46 %

57 Wurm, Mike 340 lbs 5 ozs 28 lbs 6 ozs 53.22 %

58 Hallman, Bradley 338 lbs 14 ozs 28 lbs 4 ozs 52.99 %

59 Starks, Jeremy 334 lbs 11 ozs 27 lbs 14 ozs 52.29 %

60 Bondy, Jon 332 lbs 10 ozs 27 lbs 12 ozs 52.05 %

61 Langill, Kevin 331 lbs 10 ozs 27 lbs 10 ozs 51.82 %

62 Omori, Takahiro 330 lbs 0 ozs 27 lbs 8 ozs 51.58 %

63 Grigsby, Jr, Shaw 329 lbs 10 ozs 27 lbs 8 ozs 51.58 %

64 Daniel, Stephen 329 lbs 2 ozs 27 lbs 7 ozs 51.47 %

65 Schultz, Bernie 324 lbs 3 ozs 27 lbs 0 ozs 50.64 %

66 Luce Jr, Elton 316 lbs 11 ozs 26 lbs 6 ozs 49.47 %

67 Kiriyama, Kotaro 316 lbs 4 ozs 26 lbs 6 ozs 49.47 %

68 Scalish, Frank 312 lbs 4 ozs 26 lbs 0 ozs 48.77 %

69 Clunn, Rick 308 lbs 11 ozs 25 lbs 12 ozs 48.30 %

70 Eaker, Guy 307 lbs 15 ozs 25 lbs 11 ozs 48.18 %

71 Mize, Jimmy 306 lbs 8 ozs 25 lbs 9 ozs 47.95 %

72 Hirosky, Paul 306 lbs 0 ozs 25 lbs 8 ozs 47.83 %

73 Stone, Marty 304 lbs 4 ozs 25 lbs 6 ozs 47.60 %

74 Schwenkbeck, Darrin 303 lbs 13 ozs 25 lbs 5 ozs 47.48 %

75 Dove, Kurt 301 lbs 2 ozs 25 lbs 2 ozs 47.13 %

76 Butcher, Terry 300 lbs 9 ozs 25 lbs 1 ozs 47.01 %

77 Phillips, Keith 297 lbs 4 ozs 24 lbs 12 ozs 46.42 %

78 Youngers, Charlie 296 lbs 0 ozs 24 lbs 11 ozs 46.31 %

79 Hill, Kenyon 294 lbs 6 ozs 24 lbs 9 ozs 46.07 %

80 Goldbeck, Grant 291 lbs 11 ozs 24 lbs 5 ozs 45.60 %

81 Miyazaki, Yusuke 285 lbs 12 ozs 23 lbs 13 ozs 44.67 %

82 Tucker, Mark 280 lbs 11 ozs 23 lbs 6 ozs 43.85 %

83 Merkin, Doc 277 lbs 1 ozs 23 lbs 1 ozs 43.26 %

84 Smith, Dave 272 lbs 4 ozs 22 lbs 11 ozs 42.56 %

85 Hartley, Charlie 271 lbs 0 ozs 22 lbs 9 ozs 42.32 %

86 Velvick, Byron 268 lbs 1 ozs 22 lbs 5 ozs 41.85 %

87 Rogers, Mark 262 lbs 4 ozs 21 lbs 14 ozs 41.03 %

88 Matsubu, Ben 257 lbs 1 ozs 21 lbs 7 ozs 40.21 %

89 Stringer, Bradley 251 lbs 5 ozs 20 lbs 15 ozs 39.27 %

90 Clark, Preston 240 lbs 11 ozs 20 lbs 1 ozs 37.63 %

91 Ash, Rick 239 lbs 15 ozs 20 lbs 0 ozs 37.51 %

92 Nethery, Eric 218 lbs 12 ozs 18 lbs 4 ozs 34.23 %

93 Mason, Jimmy 184 lbs 12 ozs 15 lbs 6 ozs 28.84 %

*** Remitz, Derek

*** Pace, Cliff

*** Ashley, Casey

*** Hudgins, Bryan

*** Duckett, Boyd

*** Niggemeyer, James

*** Charlesworth, James

*** Sphar, Matthew

*** Williamson, Jason

*** Campbell, Scott

*** Delong, Glenn

*** Kennedy, James

*** Robinson, Marty

*** Amedeo, Matt

*** Murray, Jim

***An angler must have fished 12 qualifying events during the last two seasons for his weight to appear. A qualifying event is a Bassmaster Tour tournament, an Elite 50 tournament or Bassmaster Classic. In 2006 and beyond, a qualifying event is defined as a Bassmaster Elite Series tournament, a Bassmaster Major and a Bassmaster Classic.