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WALKER TAKES EARLY CLASSIC LEAD
America's Top Pros Find Louisiana Delta Challenging
NEW ORLEANS, La.--August 2, 2001- With an approaching weather front looming large on the horizon, Kentucky pro David Walker made sure to get off to the best start possible Thursday, catching 12 pounds, 4 ounces of Louisiana Delta bass to take the first-round lead in the 31st BASS Masters Classic.

The 45 pros competing in the crowning event of the BASSMASTER Tournament Trail spent Thursday searching for the five largest bass they could find with knowledge that the weather was deteriorating. Tropical Storm Barry, located in the Gulf of Mexico seems to have designs on heading toward the New Orleans area.

"I've got to be a fortune-teller and a bass fisherman," said Walker, when asked about his chances of maintaining the lead on Friday and Saturday. "I don't know what the weather is going to do. The weather does effect us, but it doesn't change the days or times we have to fish. I'll just go out and do the best I can."

Walker, 36, is competing in his second consecutive Classic. His success came on a Gambler jig.

"Today went pretty well for me. The first area I stopped at (produced) eight or nine fish by 11 o'clock," he said. "I've got plenty of confidence after today, and that's what it's going to take to win this thing."

In second place is veteran Harold Allen with 11-13. The 56-year-old Texas pro, who is competing in his 13th Classic, was the runner-up in this event in 1981.

"Everybody will tell you it's going to be a guessing game," Allen said. "We've got weather coming in. And the fish are changing every day. So we don't know what's going to happen.

"We're fishing differently every day and having to try new things every day. I am fishing several baits. It's going to be interesting. Mother Nature is going to get right in the middle of it. But we're going to hang tough."

Three-time B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam of Michigan is third with 11-5, followed by California's Robert Lee (11-1) and Dwayne Horton of Alabama (10-2).

"I had to go way down my list of plans to get bit today," VanDam said. "I did learn some things that should help me. "

The Classic contenders will be fishing for a $100,000 top prize and the most important title in the sport. Winning the Classic is the high-water mark in professional fishing and an accomplishment that has rewarded past winners with as much as $1 million in residual earnings. The Classic is the championship event of the BASSMASTER Tournament Trail.

By sanctioning over 20,000 tournaments worldwide, B.A.S.S. is the world's largest fishing organization. The BASSMASTER Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass fishing tournament circuit. It continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism, and sportsmanship after more than three decades. B.A.S.S. is a wholly owned subsidiary of ESPN.

Sponsors of the 2001 BASS Masters Classic include: Chevrolet Trucks, Mercury Marine, Yamaha Outboards, Triton Boats, Skeeter Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Pennzoil Marine, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Stowaway Batteries, Kumho Tires, Long John Silvers, Gore-Tex Outerwear, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Bass Pro Shops, Armstrong Industrial Hand Tools, GMAC Vehicle & Boat Insurance, B.A.S.S. Platinum First USA Visa Card.

Associate Sponsors include: Bass Cat Boats, G3 Boats

The 2001 BASS Masters Classic is presented locally in conjunction with: State of Louisiana, Jefferson Parish Tourism and Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation.

2001 BASS MASTERS CLASSIC
08/02-08/04
LOUISIANA BAYOU DELTA; NEW ORLEANS, La.
S t a n d i n g s D a y 1

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

1. David Walker Cannon, Ky. 5 12-04
2. Harold Allen Shelbyville, Texas 5 11-13
3. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 11-05
4. Robert Lee Angels Camp, Calif. 5 11-01
5. Dwayne Horton Knoxville, Tenn. 5 10-02
6. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 5 10-00
7. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 3 9-11
8. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 5 9-04
9. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 5 8-14
10. Gerry Williams Winter Garden, Fla. 5 8-01
10. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 5 8-01
12. Paul L Elias Pachuta, Miss. 4 7-04
13. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 4 6-15
14. Clark Wendlandt Cedar Park, Texas 4 6-12
14. Kotaro Kiriyama New Milford, N.J. 5 6-12
16. Chet Douthit Clewiston, Fla. 5 6-09
17. Chris Baumgardner Gastonia, N.C. 5 6-06
18. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 4 5-15
19. Roland Martin Clewiston, Fla. 3 5-14
20. Gary Yamamoto Mineola, Texas 3 5-11
21. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 2 5-09
22. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 4 5-03
23. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 3 5-02
24. Michael Holt Lexington, Tenn. 3 4-13
25. Randy Howell Trussville, Ala. 2 4-12
26. Rufus Johnson Strwplains, Tenn. 3 4-09
27. John Semken Olympia, Wash. 4 4-05
28. David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 3 4-02
29. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 2 3-10
30. Keith Green Arkadelphia, Ark. 2 2-15
31. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 2 2-09
32. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 1 2-03
33. Aaron Martens Castaic, Calif. 2 1-15
34. Mark Tyler Concord, Calif. 1 1-14
35. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz. 1 1-13
36. Woo Daves Spring Grove, Va. 1 1-11
37. Jim Johnson LaCrosse, Wisc. 1 1-06
38. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 1 1-01
39. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 1 0-15
40. Robert L. Kilby Hot Springs, Ark. 0 0-00
40. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 0 0-00
40. Randy Blaukat Lamar, Mo. 0 0-00
40. Peter E. Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 0 0-00
40. Curt Lytle Suffolk, Va. 0 0-00
40. Harry Charcalis Gilmanton, N.H. 0 0-00

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 4-11 $1,000
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 13 129 229-01

2001 BASS Masters Classic Notebook
New Orleans, Louisiana
August 2, 2001

Travel Time
Roland Martin won the award for traveling the longest distance during the first day of competition. Martin fished the south end of Venice and logged a total of 220 miles and more than six hours of driving time.

Stay The Course
The Louisiana Delta encompasses hundreds of square miles of water. The maze of canals, cuts and swamps the fishermen must navigate all look alike after the first turn. If a contender zigs when he should have zagged - and is even one minute late checking in - it could cost him the championship title and the $100,000 payday. To help anglers avoid this costly mistake, B.A.S.S. officials have included the most advanced sportfishing electronics available on every contender's boat.
The new Lowrance LCX-15 MT sonar/GPS gets its name from the 6.54-inch diagonal, 480x350 pixel Monochrome Transflective (MT) display. In laymen's terms, the MT's screen can be viewed at any angle, through polarized sunglasses, and while the sun is full bore. The underwater detail and mapping readability are unmatched in marine electronics. The memory of the unit is capable of storing 1,000 waypoints, 1,000 event markers, 100 routes, 10 plot trails with 10,000 waypoints per trail, 34 map zoom ranges, and probably even your anniversary if you need a reminder.

Factoid
David Walker, the BASS Masters Classic Day One leader, is fishing in his second "Super Bowl" of bass fishing. Walker's first Classic appearance was last year in Chicago where he finished 37th.

In Control
The electric trolling motor is undoubtedly the most misnamed item on the BASS Masters Classic boats. That's because it isn't used for trolling at all, but rather to move or position the boat in response to the controlling angler's every whim. It has been one of the most relied upon tools on a bass boat ever since MotorGuide introduced the first foot-control model with a retractable bow mount some three decades ago. Early-day tournament anglers described the advantages of having it on the front of the boat versus the rear with the analogy, "it is a lot easier to pull a chain, than to push one."
The MotorGuide TE7109V is the most powerful ever used on a Classic rig. It is a 36-volt system that delivers an incredible 109 pounds of thrust. And although power is important, particularly for holding in strong wind or water current, so is battery efficiency. The 36-volt system affords minimum amp draw to deliver maximum time on the water. MotorGuide is the oldest of the BASS Masters Classic sponsors, entering its 24th year.

Weather To Go
The tropical storm looming in the Gulf of Mexico has many Classic anglers and spectators worried about the second day of competition. No official word has come from the tournament department on possible delays or cancellations. There has never been a competition day lost during a BASS Masters Classic due to weather. In 1991, a practice day was cancelled when a hurricane was bearing down on Baltimore's Chesapeake Bay.

Quote Of The Day
"When you come to a tournament like this, you have to have a Plan A, B and C. Today I think I made it to F."
Kevin Van Dam, Currently in 3rd Place