What’s at stake: $263,313 in Elite Series entry fees, cash and merchandise to the top 15 pros. The top 15 co-anglers will compete for $206,424 in prizes. The top 10 anglers will receive the final coveted spots in the 2007 CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series.

The Pros Said It
“I’ve had a pretty good practice so far. Just yesterday, I caught 13 pounds pretty easily - including an 8-pounder. But there is no rhyme or reason to the big bites and I think the difference between missing and making the cut is going to be which angler can execute the big bite.” – Clark Reehm, 27, Leesville, La., who finished 14th in CITGO Bassmaster Southern Tour points

“It’s very tough out here because the fish just aren’t biting. The good news is a cold front is coming and I think it will cause the fish to bite a little more. All in all, there are some big fish to be caught on this fishery and someone is going to find them.” – Terry Segraves, 58, Kissimmee, Fla., 2006 CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series angler

“It’s tough and getting tougher as the week progresses. If I can manage to catch a limit of fish each day, then I will be happy. I am finding my fish in a little bit of deeper water – about 8 to 10 feet – than most anglers are targeting.” – John Cox, 20, DeBary, Fla., who finished 22nd in Bassmaster Northern Tour points standings

“I know there are some very big fish that will be caught in this tournament. The problem is that the big bites are spread out and there is no telling where you can find them. The cold-front conditions coming through later in the week should toughen things up a bit, but someone will find a way to catch them.” – Pete Ponds, 47, Madison, Miss., 2006 Bassmaster Elite Series angler

The Strategy
Reehm: Reehm believes an angler must have already developed a solid pattern or they will not be in contention. The Louisiana angler boated an 8-pound largemouth on the first day of practice and has consistently landed keepers since, he said. He feels effective lures run the gamut and there are a number of ways to entice the bass.

Segraves: In an earlier scouting trip before the off-limits period began, Segraves developed a solid crankbait pattern, but during practice this week, the Kissimmee, Fla., angler has not been able to duplicate his success. He now feels soft plastics are the best method to entice the bigger bass. The 2006 Elite angler believes most of his success will come from flipping a worm.

Cox: At 20 years old, this DeBary, Fla., angler could become the youngest Elite Series angler in the 2007 season. He plans to throw a crankbait to deep water and fish a frog in relatively shallow water. He believes it will take 10 pounds per day to make the top-12 cut and fish the final day on Saturday.

Ponds: Ponds is concentrating on flipping into grass lines in shallow water. The Mississippi angler is seeking an Elite Series berth to return to the premier circuit and feels that if he can catch a limit on Days 1 and 2, he will put himself in good position. He estimates that 21 pounds will be enough weight to make the cut and fish the third day.

Location and Field
CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series Wildcard
Harris Chain of Lakes
Leesburg, Fla.
Nov. 16-18

Field
Cut to top 12 after Day 2

Launch & Weigh-in
Venetian Gardens
201 E. Dixie Ave.
Leesburg, Fla. 34748
6:30 a.m./ 2:30 p.m.

Anglers
Alabama
Jimmy Mason - Rogersville
Travis Rulle - Huntsville

Arkansas
Doug Garrett - Cabot
Lucy Mize - Ben Lomond

California
Vince Hurtado - Waterford

Canada
Lawren Wetzel - Sharon, Ontario

Connecticut
Ken Brodeur - Niantic

Florida
John Cox - Debary
Chris Daniels - Panama City
Larry Gaines - Valparaiso
Bryan Hudgins - Orange Park
Shawn Johnson - Jacksonville
Patrick Pierce - Jacksonville
Mark Rogers - Naples
Terry Segraves - Kissimmee

Georgia
Jim Murray - Arabi
J Todd Tucker - Moultrie

Idaho
Bink Desaro - Boise

Illinois
Doc Merkin - Downers Grove

Indiana
Rodney Hardwick - Connersville

Kentucky
Randy Alexander - London
David Gliebe – Benton

Louisiana
Craig Dowling - Many
James Kennedy - Lacombe
Clark Reehm - Leesville

Maryland
Grant Goldbeck - Gaithersburg
Brian Wilhoit - Oxon Hill

Maine
David Barnes - Weeks Mills

Missouri
Sammy Burks - Joplin

Mississippi
Teb Jones - Hattiesburg
Pete Ponds - Madison

North Carolina
Guy Eaker – Cherryville
Pat Golden - High Point

Nebraska
Aaron Lee Jakub - Lincoln

New Jersey
Gregory Dipalma - Millville

Nevada
Byron Velvick - Boulder City

New York
David Hovanec - Unionville
Matthew Sphar - Pavilion

Ohio
Matt Amedeo - Akron
Glenn Delong - Bellville
Tim Dungan - Cinncinati
Charlie Hartley - Grove City

Pennsylvania
Rick Ash - Pottstown
Randy Yarnall - Womelsdorf

South Africa
Anre' De Villiers – Goodwood

South Carolina
Marty Robinson - Landrum

South Dakota
Monty Fralick - Martin

Tennessee
Rogne Brown - Kimball
Jason Sain - Beechgrove

Texas
Deryl Janzen - Hemphill
Ben Matsubu - Hemphill
Darrell Newman - Bruceville
Dave Parsons - Yantis
Brian Penso - Houston
Steve Sennikoff - Forney
Bradley Stringer - Huntington
Corey Waldrop - Fort Worth
Jason Welch - Royse City

Virginia
Kurt Dove - Fairfax

Co-anglers
Alabama
Bradley Dortch - Bay Minette

Arkansas
E.P. Fletcher - Little Rock

Canada
Stephen Barrett - Kirkfield, Ontario
Peter Typer - Pt Colborne, Ontario
Justin Walker - Markham, Ontario

Colorado
Bob Howard - Colorado Springs

Connecticut
Alonzo Evans - East Hartford

Florida
Keith Carson - Debary
Robert Dice - Perry
Phillip Lee - Deltona
Dave Morningstar - Ft Myers
Bill Poirier - Riverview
Wayne Pomeroy - Wellington
Mike Prance - Palatka
Kevin Pulsifer - Cocoa
Milton Shuffield - Beverly Hills

Georgia
Roger Morrow - Griffin
Heath Pack - Mineral Bluff

Kentucky
Johnny Denny - Lancaster
Craig Gipe - Lancaster
Jack Palmer - Hopkinsville
Bill Williams - Corbin

Louisiana
Kenneth Harris - Calhoun
Mark Richard - Bridge City
Vernon Silver - Boutte

Massachusetts
Earl Purcell - Granville

Maryland
Joshua Fiedler - Clear Spring
Jim Kline - Hagerstown

Maine
Michael Sills - Oakland
Jim Staszewski - West Gardiner

Michigan
Travis Green - Grand Blanc

Missouri
Jim Mcdevitt – Eldon

North Carolina
Wayne Hauser - Winston-Salem
New Jersey
Richard Favire - Winfield Park

New York
Tony Dadante - Derby
Olexiy Luchnikov - Brooklyn
Kenneth Strimple - Fairport

Ohio
Tony Johnson - Westerville
Bill Rea - Greenfield
Del Smith - Castalia
Lee Winkler - Cincinnati

Oklahoma
Marvin Wells - Claremore

Pennsylvania
Charles Robison - Allison Park
Andy Starner - Dover
Valeri Timofeev - East Stroudsburg

South Carolina
William Glenn Kimbrell - Townville
Billy Schwach - Charleston
Howard Stephens - Columbia

Tennessee
Dennis Arendt - Jackson
Larry Bryant - Goodlettsville
Wayne Prater - Jacksboro

Texas
Joe Lee - Desoto
John Moon - Brookeland
Keith Morris - Nacogdoches

Virginia
Richard Strubell - Huddleston

Vermont
Larry Butler - New Haven