Benton Takes Win at Big O
Category: article
Feb 10th, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Feb 10th, 2013 at 12:00 AM
Drew Benton, from Panama City, FL, took the first place trophy home at the first FLW Tour event of the 2013 season at Lake Okeechobee out of Clewiston, FL. This was Benton’s first FLW Tour event. He is no stranger to tough tournament competition making his way up the pro ladder fishing B.A.S.S. Opens and the Everstart events. Benton kept veteran pro Brent Ehrler at bay with a 4-day total of 75-pounds 7-ounces vanquishing him to a second place finish with 70-pounds 8-ounces.
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| Drew Benton (Photo FLW Outdoors) |
Benton’s tournament was filled with plenty of fuel consumption and running between two areas. His “fishing hole”, in South Bay and his bed fishing area between Cochran’s and Uncle Joe’s in the north.
“In practice I found some pre-spawners, males on beds and old beds with cruising fish up north,” said Benton. “On the Day 1, I went there first and caught a limit. Then I ran down to my fishing holes and culled two out with bigger fish. My primary baits for most of the tournament were Bass Assassin Vapor Shads and Die Dappers.
“On Day 2 I, went to the north first for my sight fish. I ended up with a solid limit and felt pretty good about it going into Day 3.”
Wind almost messed up Benton’s shot at the title.
“On Day 3, wind trashed my fishing areas,” said Benton. “There were some 4-to 5-footers out there. I just wanted to survive and catch enough to make it to the final day of fishing. I ended up staying up in my north areas to try and survive.
“On the final day, I thought the wind was going to be out of the southeast. I decided to head to my fishing hole area first. Instead, the wind was more out of the east. It made fishing rough. I fished for about an hour and a half and decided to pack up and run back up to my Day 3 areas. Wind was blowing on it, too.
“I caught some fish and decided to run down south since the sun started coming out and Florida bass like the sun. Well, I just pulled out buck bass. I started thinking I needed a big ‘un and had about 30 minutes left. I made another run and had about 15 minutes to fish. Instead of my plastics, I decided to throw a Hildebrandt “The Blade” spinnerbait. I caught a fish around 6 pounds on that spinnerbait and that is what made the difference for the win.”
Final Standings
1. Drew Benton — Panama City, Fl — 23-07 (5) — 23-09 (5) — 15-03 (5) — 13-04 (5) — 75-07 (20) — $100,000
2. Brent Ehrler — Redlands, Ca — 19-07 (5) — 16-10 (5) — 20-02 (5) — 14-05 (5) — 70-08 (20) — $35,000
3. Michael Neal — Dayton, Tn — 15-07 (5) — 22-12 (5) — 16-08 (5) — 13-01 (5) — 67-12 (20) — $30,000
4. Wade Hendricks — Thompsons Station, Tn — 13-14 (5) — 24-06 (5) — 16-07 (5) — 12-02 (5) — 66-13 (20) — $25,000
5. Rick Cotten — Guntersville, Al — 24-00 (5) — 30-03 (5) — 7-00 (3) — 5-08 (3) — 66-11 (16) — $20,000
6. Casey Martin — New Market, Al — 26-12 (5) — 18-09 (5) — 8-04 (5) — 8-05 (5) — 61-14 (20) — $17,000
7. Bryan Thrift — Shelby, NC — 17-05 (5) — 19-14 (5) — 14-03 (5) — 9-08 (5) — 60-14 (20) — $16,000
8. Adrian Avena — Vineland, NJ — 21-02 (5) — 16-09 (5) — 10-15 (5) — 10-03 (5) — 58-13 (20) — $15,000
9. Chad Grigsby — Maple Grove, Mn — 12-10 (4) — 25-11 (5) — 10-11 (5) — 6-10 (5) — 55-10 (19) — $14,000
10. Philip Jarabeck — Lynchburg, Va — 17-08 (5) — 19-01 (5) — 9-04 (5) — 9-13 (5) — 55-10 (20) — $13,000