Fugate Dominates on Lake Okeechobee
 ATHENS, AL – Fugate dominates the water at the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series, operated by American Bass Anglers, Florida Division 6 tournament, held Sept 22-23, 2012, on Lake Okeechobee.
Running out of C. Scott Driver Park Landing, Bill Fugate of Kissimmee, FL, had an immense lead of 7.15 pounds on Day one with 30.28 pounds including his big fish at 7.53 pounds and wrapped up Day two with 16.76 pounds for a total of 47.04 pounds, which was more than a ten pound lead over second place. He is the points leader of the Florida division and collects $2,841 for this win.
“I was in the north end of Harney Pond and we were trying a new frog that is a proto-type and it seemed to work down here real well this weekend but we have a little tweakin’ to do on it. Today it hurt me because the wind wasn’t blowing like it was yesterday.”
In second, Jason Burgess of Lake Butler, FL caught a two-day weight of 36.75 pounds for a pay of $1,422. He was in twelfth place at the end of the first day with 14.98 pounds and came back on the second day with the largest bag with 21.77 pounds to secure his place.
“I was fishing the north end of the lake landing senkos and skinny dippers. On Saturday, that weather blew in and it scattered the fish everywhere so the weight was way down. Today, the sun came up with no wind and they concentrated to one hole and I just wore them out all day.”
In third of the boaters, Roger Gonzalez of Miami was ten for ten with a weight of 34.90 pounds including his 6.93 pounder. He had two identical days with 17.52 pounds on Day one and 17.38 pounds for Day two and earned a check for $947.
“Both days I fished all the way down to the south end of the lake and all I was doing was throwing a swimbait. I tried the frog but it was the swimbait both days.”
Thomas Toth of Clermont, FL, was the big fish holder for the boaters with an 8.08 pound kicker.
 In the Co-Angler Division, Eddie Scaturro of Orlando, took a big lead on the first day with 22.18 pounds for three fish and anchored his catch with the big fish of 7.60 pounds for the title. That is an average of 7.39 pounds. He stayed on the board on the second day with 4.79 pounds to hold on for the win and a check for $1,556 and a third place finish in the divisional point standings.
In second for the co-anglers, Fred George of Okeechobee finished closely behind first with 26.22 pounds including his 6.85 pounder. His two-day total consisted of 12.36 pounds for Day one and 13.86 pounds for Day two.
“On Saturday I caught most of my fish on a skinny dipper and a few on the senko. And today everything came on skinny dipper at the north end of the lake.”
In third place for the tournament and first place in the divisional points is Nik Kayler of Apopka, FL. He caught the six bass limit for a two-day total of 17.65 pounds with 7.98 pounds on Day one and 9.67 pounds on Day two.
For more information on this tournament, call Billy Benedetti at (256) 230-5632 or call ABA at (256) 232-0406. On line, see www.americanbassanglers.com.
About American Bass Anglers
The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series provides weekend anglers a professionally operated competitive tour with a path the world championship of bass fishing the Bassmaster Classic. American Bass Anglers commitment is to provide low cost, close to home tournaments for the weekend angler and at the same time offer each competitor an upward path for individual angler progression. For more information about American Bass Anglers and the American Fishing Tour, The Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series or the American Couples Series, visit www.americanbassanglers.com.
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