Ranger Pro Dave Lefebre Wins FLW Tour Event on Lewis Smith Lake
Category: npaa
Mar 31st, 2015 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Mar 31st, 2015 at 12:00 AM
Ranger Pro Dave Lefebre Wins FLW Tour Event on Lewis Smith Lake
Pennsylvania native mounts comeback to capture $125,000 first-place prize
FLIPPIN, ARK. (March 31, 2015) – Ranger Pro Dave Lefebre shocked fellow competitors and spectators alike by completing an unprecedented, come-from-behind victory in the FLW Tour event on Lewis Smith Lake. Facing an eight-plus-pound deficit, his final day’s total of five bass weighing 19 pounds, 5 ounces was enough to propel him to the sixth Tour-level victory of his career and a $125,000 payday.
After moving from 23rd to seventh place during the tournament’s first three days, Lefebre trailed tournament leader Zack Birge by more than eight pounds at the start of the tournament’s final day. Focusing on blueback herring spawning areas in the backs of creeks, Lefebre used waking winnow lures to target the fishery’s population of heavy, hungry largemouths, including a pair of fish that comprised more than half of his Day 4 weight that were caught on the same cast.
“I wasn’t even thinking about winning the tournament, I just wanted to move up a few spots and cash a nice check,” Lefebre said, after he notched his first FLW Tour win since 2012. “Today was one of the biggest surprises of my career.”
Lefebre brough five-fish limits to the weigh-in stand each of the tournament’s four days, finishing with 65 pounds, 5 ounces and hold off second-place finisher and fellow Ranger Pro Clark Wendlandt, who finished with 63 pounds, 7 ounces. With the win, Lefebre earned the $100,000 first-place prize from FLW Outdoors as well as the $25,000 Ranger Cup bonus. Lefebre’s big finish at Lewis Smith Lake also keeps him in contention to qualify for his 12th Forrest Wood Cup.
“This feels good,” Lefebre said. “Last year was a nightmare season for me, so this is sweet redemption.”
In total, five anglers who finished in the Top-10 at Lewis Smith Lake were members of the Ranger Pro Staff.
“This is an incredible come-from-behind win and testament to Dave’s character and competitiveness – two of the things that make him such a great ambassador for the Ranger brand ” said Ranger Boats Vice President of Marketing Bart Schad. “What a tremendous finish to an already exciting event by Dave and we congratulate him and the rest of our Ranger Pros for their successes during the tournament.”
The Wal-Mart FLW Tour resumes April 23-26 on Arkansas’s Beaver Lake for the third stop on the 2015 schedule.
About Ranger Boats
Headquartered in Flippin, Ark., Ranger Boats is the nation’s premier manufacturer of legendary fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, which include series of bass, multi-species, fish ‘n play, waterfowl utility and saltwater boats. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water. For more information, go to RangerBoats.com.