Drury Sweeps Overall, Big Bass At Harris Chain

James Drury of Lakeland, a member of the Lakeland Bassmasters, netted both the biggest bass, 6.90 pounds, and first place in the non-boater division of the Florida BASS Federation Nation Central Region qualifier on the Harris Chain May 4 with 13.38 pounds.

"I got lucky and caught the right fish at the right time,'' said Drury, who won with only two bass.

"I had three bites all day - the two largemouth and about a 9-pound mudfish. I didn't have a whole of bites, but the ones I caught counted,'' he added.

Drury, 33, produced more weight and a bigger bass than the top boaters casting to docks and grass lines in canals.

Mark Orrange won the boater division with 10.71 pounds, and the biggest bass for the boater division was 4.08 pounds by Nathaniel Stone.

Drury's 6.90-pounder went for a black-and-blue, 10-inch Mann's Hard-Nosed worm, while the 6.48-pounder inhaled a watermelon red Gambler Flappin' Shad.

Drury said fishing as a co-angler in the Lakeland Bassmasters tournament on the Harris Chain on April 13 proved beneficial. He was paired with Bill Fugate, who won the boater division with almost 20 pounds.

"I learned quite a bit from him. He's known in our club for his ability to fish with a frog. He definitely showed me some things,'' Drury said.

Drury has already qualified for the state Federation Nation tournament on Lake Seminole Oct. 4-5, and is third in points in the Central Region.

Drury can advance to the regional tournament as part of the Florida team by finishing in the top six at the regional.

David Haskins placed second in the non-boater division behind Drury with 12.99 pounds, while John Hunt of the Lakeland Bassmasters took third with 7.35 pounds.

Harold Beasley finished second in the boater division with 8.10 pounds. Jim Hooven of the Lakeland Bassmasters was third with 7.39 pounds, followed by Sam Sanders (7.23) and Justin Willits (7.05).

Arnie Lane 20th in S.C.

Arnie Lane of Lakeland finished 20th in the Bassmaster Southern Open at Santee Cooper Lakes in South Carolina on Saturday.

Lane led Polk anglers in the event, weighing in 27 3/4 pounds over two days. He is 54th in the points standings. The top 10 at the end of the season advance to the Bassmaster Elite Series. The top three make the Bassmaster Classic.

The event was shortened from three days to two because of high winds on Friday.

Randall Tharp of Alabama won the tournament, and $47,571, jumping from sixth to first with 25 pounds, 10 ounces on Saturday. He finished with 44 pounds, 10 ounces, more than 6 pounds ahead of runner-up Matt Herren.

Tharp, who won in his first BASS event, flipped trees with a green pumpkin Zoom Critter Craw and a 1/4-ounce weight, along with a buzzbait and Spro Dean Rojas frog. Herrin went with a Reaction Innovations prototype swim-bait he said is called "white trash.''

Bobby Lane of Lakeland took a break from the Elite Series and took 25th place with 26 pounds, 15 ounces. He's ranked ninth in points.

Other local fishermen in the event: Jason Danes of Winter Haven (47th, 22-12); Cecil Douberly of Lakeland (101st, 12-9); Kyle Fox of Lakeland (tie for 126th, 9-5); and Chris Lane of Winter Haven (175th, 1-3).

Jeff Sullivan of Frostproof placed 24th in the co-angler division (9-7).

For complete results, check www.bassmaster.com.

GPS Class at West Marine

The Lakeland Sail and Power Squadron will teach a Global Positioning System seminar on Thursday, May 29, at 7 p.m. at West Marine in Winter Haven. The cost is $25.

Call Richard at 863-667-9047 or send an e-mail to WLITT66455@aol.com.