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Byron Velvick Takes WildCard PDF Print E-mail
Written by BASS   
Tuesday, 04 December 2007
Byron Velvick of Del, Rio, Won the Bassmaster Elite Series WildCard Event with 40 pounds, 8 ounces. Photo by BASS
Byron Velvick of Del, Rio, Won the Bassmaster Elite Series WildCard Event with 40 pounds, 8 ounces. Photo by BASS
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. ­ After sharing the same stretch of water for the first two days of the Bassmaster Elite Series WildCard Event, Byron Velvick of Del Rio, Texas, and Keith Phillips of Calera, Ala., were forced to find new water Saturday on Florida's Lake Okeechobee. In the end, Velvick located the most productive secondary areas and held off Phillips with a three-day total of 40 pounds, 8 ounces, besting him by nearly 2 pounds.

Crappie boat traffic crowded the area, centered around a bridge, causing both anglers to move from their shared spot. Velvick's decision proved best as he boated three fish by 9:30 a.m. He used the remainder of the competition day to build and upgrade his five-fish limit.

"This was a tough, tough tournament," said Velvick, who scored his second BASS win. "It was a do-or-die situation for a lot of these anglers and it was very stressful. But it's a nice end to what has been a roller-coaster season."

Velvick primarily used four baits: a Gambler worm, a Berkley Power worm, a River2Sea Tungsten Vibe and a Bill Lewis Rat-L-Trap. The 10-inch Gambler worm in redbug color proved to be the most effective, he said.

ImageThe area that was key for the top two competitors in the first two days of competition was a migratory spot that had key cover for pre-spawning bass.

That location allowed Velvick to build a lead for the first two days, and the Texan was able to close with a modest limit Saturday.

"I played it safe today," Velvick said. "And it was a good decision. This was an exciting tournament and I knew it was going to be really close."

Phillips charged into second place after a 16-pound, 4-ounce limit Friday, but he wasn't able to catch the quality of fish that Velvick found. Phillips rounded out his limit at 2 p.m., barely before check-in time.

"My best decision was waiting out the bridge the first two days," said Phillips, 35. "I feel comfortable with all the decisions I made. I wouldnšt take anything back."

Rounding out the top five were John Cox of Debary, Fla., in third with 36 pounds, 14 ounces; Corey Waldrop of Fort Worth, Texas, in fourth with 36 pounds, 11 ounces; and Texan Elton Luce, who was aided by a 10-pound, 1-ounce behemoth caught Saturday, in fifth with 35 pounds, 5 ounces.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 04 December 2007 )
 
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