Posted -  May 17th, 2008 8:32pm CST

Newby Remains in Second, Mabrey Just Two Ounces Behind 

Story by Dru Smith - Photos by  Matt Pangrac

Rogers, AR -“To go fishing is the chance to wash one’s soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience towards fish, a mockery of profits and ego, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men – for all men are equal before fish,” – Herbert Hoover, 31st President of the United States.

If given the opportunity today, there is no way that President Hoover could describe the flooded Beaver Lake as “blue water. Nor, would he suggest “charity” be given to the likes of FLW pro and professional “tackle-maker,” Andre Moore. However, on Saturday at an FLW Tour event, all men, in this case the top ten finalists, are equal before the fish.

After a small adjustment to the top ten list late on Friday, the field was set for day three. After advertently stopping to fish in an off-limits area, Joel Richardson called tournament officials and ultimately his day two catch was disqualified. Instead of fishing for a chance at $200,000.00, Joel headed home with a 102nd place finish.

“Gentle” George Cochran was the beneficiary of Richardson’s mishap and as the tenth place qualifier, he was the first to cross the stage on Saturday. With an eight pound limit on Saturday, Cochran landed right in the middle of the pack at number five.

It was one of three Texans represented in the finals that took the number one spot on day three. Mike Hawkes, in his eighth year as an FLW Tour pro, took the lead on Saturday with a five fish limit of 9 pounds, 5 ounces.

Right on the heels of Hawkes was Oklahoman Sam Newby. Newby continued his strong showing with 8-15 on Saturday and he will begin the final day just six ounces back.

Sam Newby had the honor of driving this week’s co-angler champion around on Saturday. Newby’s back-seater for the day, Stetson Blaylock caught 10 pounds, 9 ounces worth of Beaver Lake bass to take the title and $40,000.00

Just two ounces behind Newby was rookie, Kyle Mabrey. With a five fish limit that totaled 8-13, Mabrey will take the third position into Sunday.

Another Tour rookie, Matt Arey came in at number four with a limit of bass totaling 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

Tournament leader prior to Saturday, Alvin Shaw struggled on Saturday boating just two fish. His 2 pound, 5 ounce effort left him in tenth place.

Hawkes Eyes Victory
Fishing in his third top ten, Mike Hawkes is looking to notch his first FLW Tour victory this week at Beaver Lake. “I had a real good practice and I’ve also covered new water all week,” Hawkes explained. “I saved a spot from practice until today and I had five fish in five casts.” Making the finals of the strength flipping a Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver – Hawkes believes that bite is dying. “It is getting later in the spawn and we are wearing our areas out, so the shallow bite is going away.”

Hawkes will return to that same area on Sunday, but believes covering new water will be vital to his chances at a win. “The fish were guarding fry earlier in the week and you had to keep you bait in high in the water column. I would pitch it out there and swim it back just under the surface. Maybe, I can find some more of those fish tomorrow.”

Newby Second 
Oklahoma’s Sam Newby has never done well on Beaver Lake. In six attempts his best finish was 27th back in 2002. More at home with a flipping stick in his hands, Sam is enjoying the high, muddy conditions FLW pros are facing this week. “I think I finally wore out my primary spot today,” Newby said. ‘I did find another area that I caught two good ones from and lost one five pounder.” The area Newby referred two is the same spot Stetson Blaylock, Sam’s co-angler for the day, caught his two best fish in route to the co-angler title.

I’ve probably landed some fish a I shouldn’t have so it all evens out,” he said about loosing a big fish on Saturday. “I’ll cover some new water tomorrow and see what happens.”

Kyle Still Rock-in
Kyle Mabrey, the rookie from Alabama, caught 8-13 on Saturday to put himself within striking distance of the leader. “I pulled up to that rock and caught 7 or 8 fish,” Mabrey said about his magic rock. “It has potential to produce fish each time I pull up on it.”

Mabrey said that 75% of the fish he has caught this week have all come off that one rock. “It has deep water right next to it. I have to have confidence that it will continue to produce. It is a perfect staging area.”


FLW Beats NASCAR
Deciding to forego a NASCAR filled weekend, Matt Arey’s family decided to fly down for the finals when they learned Matt had made the weekend cut. “I didn’t expect them to be here,” he said. “My wife’s family is at our house right now, well actually they are the race, but they are staying at the house.”

“I caught one largemouth flipping today, but the rest came on crankbaits or the chatterbait,” he said. “I caught 15 keepers in about an hour from one spot.”

Arey’s primary pattern is fishing the lakeside yards of Beaver Lake residents. “The bait is up in the grass and the bass are holding on the break line where the bank used to be. It is a timing thing along with being in the right spot.”

With a limit in the boat, Arey knew he needed a good bite to be competitive. “Once my co-angler had his limit, I decided to go look for a big bite. I’ll probably do the same thing tomorrow. Nine pounds might win it. But 12 pounds would look real nice.”

Gentle George Eases into Fifth
George Cochran found out late Friday night that he would be in the finals after FLW disqualified Joel Richardson’s day two catch. “It took a while to get my fishing equipment ready, but it didn’t have an effect on my performance,” George said. “On one hand I feel sorry for Joel, but on the other I’m excited about the chance to fish for this kind of money.”

“I always have good time fishing and I fished my heart out today. I lost two good fish today. I’m only a little over a pound out and if I can get one good bite, I will have a chances.”

The Wal-Mart Open is equivalent to a Major on the PGA tour and the anglers realize the importance of finishing high this week. “It always means more to do well in Arkansas. It is noticed more when I perform well here and all the people from Wal-Mart and the other Corporate sponsors are here this week,” George said.

Statement from FLW concerning Richardson DQ - As reported Saturday morning by the BZ, FLW issued this statement concerning the Richardson DQ:

Joel Richardson of Kernersville, N.C., was disqualified Friday evening after learning he inadvertently fished in an off-limits area that was obscured by high-water and fog on day two of the Wal-Mart Open. 

Richardson, a veteran pro with 20 top-10 finishes in FLW Outdoors competition, including an FLW Tour win on Lake Okeechobee, notified FLW Outdoors officials of the inadvertent rule infraction, which bumped him out of the top-10 and advanced George Cochran of Hot Springs, Ark., to the final round. 

“Joel is a true professional with the utmost integrity,” said FLW Outdoors President and CEO Charlie Evans. “This was simply an inadvertent violation on his part, but a violation nonetheless. We appreciate his actions in notifying the tournament director as soon as he realized his mistake.”

THE TOP 10 AFTER DAY THREE