CITGO BASSMASTER SOUTHERN DIVISION SEASON OPENS ON SOUTH CAROLINA\'S LAKE MURRAY
COLUMBIA, S.C. - After a two-year absence, the CITGO BASSMASTER Tournament Trail
presented by Busch Beer returns to bass-rich Lake Murray and the South Carolina
capitol of Columbia to kick off the 2002 Southern Division season Sept. 19-21.

The $320,950 South Carolina CITGO BASSMASTER Southern Open presented by Busch Beer
is the first of three events in the newly established Southern Division. As with the
Central and Northern Opens, these tournaments have been changed from draw to pro-am
events. The size of the Open fields have been changed from 150 to 200 boats this
season, and will be reduced to the top 50 pros and amateurs for the Saturday finals.


The pros will be competing for a total purse of $242,200 and a first-place prize of
$50,000. The amateurs will split up $78,750, while competing for the $24,000 top
prize.

Lake Murray, a 50,000-acre impoundment of the Saluda River, has proven to be home to
a spectacular largemouth fishery in the five previous B.A.S.S. events held there.
One of the highlights was Texas pro David Wharton's 1993 Top 100 win with more than
87 pounds of bass. Fellow Texan Alton Jones won the last tournament held there - the
2000 BASSMASTER MegaBucks Tournament.

This year's pro field includes 11 members of the 2002 CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic
force. Among them is reigning B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year Davy Hite, who grew up in
Lake Murray country.

"I'm looking forward to the tournament and getting back to fishing tournaments
again," Hite said. "But Lake Murray won't be showing its best. It's still the dog
days of summer. And they don't call it the dog days for nothing.

"The fishing is going to be a little slow - just typical end-of-the-late-summer (or)
early fall situation where it's not far enough into the fall for the fishing to
really start picking up. It's just a transition period that's going to be a little
tough on us."

Ohio pro Frank Scalish agreed. During a four-and-a-half-day period before the lake
went off limits a week ago, the 2002 Classic rookie managed to catch just eight or
nine keeper-sized bass.

"The fishing was real tough," Scalish said. "The oxygen content went down to 1.03,
which is crazy low. I know what the fish are doing down there, but catching them is
a bear. They are suspending over 40 feet of water underneath the stripers right now.
That is a nightmare. You can spoon them up, but that involves going through stripers
trying to catch bass.

"Traditionally in the summertime, the fish get structure-oriented and they're very
easy to catch. On this particular lake, I found most of the fish suspended over
humps in 50 feet of water."

Scalish expects the fishing to improve somewhat because the oxygen content is
considerably higher and the lake's famous aquatic vegetation is plentiful and
"vibrant."

Hite, who spent just a half-day on Lake Murray in preparation for the tournament,
pointed out that plans call for the lake level to be lowered during the tournament
(to allow some repair work on its earthen dam). That development, though, should not
impact the fishing, he said.

"But the lake is lower than it would normally be this time of year because we've had
such an extreme drought," Hite said. "We've had so little rain that the water is
extremely clear and that just makes it tougher fishing in the daytime."

Hite predicted that the winning weight will be in the 40- to 42-pound range. "The
reason for that is because it's such an unpredictable time of year," he explained.
"The fish are roaming with the (baitfish), so you might catch a 20-pound stringer
one day and 5 pounds the next. The fish will move on you from one day to the next.

"I think most of the fish will be caught on the lower end of the lake in deeper water."

Daily weigh-ins will take place at Billy Dreher Island State Recreation Area at 2:45
p.m. Anglers launch beginning at 6:45 a.m.

Additionally, a free CastingKids event, presented by Chevy Trucks and CITGO, will be
held there Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This fun-filled national program
encourages children to perfect the skills of casting, pitching and flipping. The
South Carolina B.A.S.S. Federation will conduct the event and provide instruction to
all youngsters.

By sanctioning over 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation, B.A.S.S. is
the world's largest fishing organization. The CITGO BASSMASTER Tournament Trail is
the oldest and most prestigious pro bass fishing tournament circuit. It continues to
set the standard for credibility, professionalism, and sportsmanship after more than
three decades.

Sponsors of the CITGO BASSMASTER Southern Open event include: CITGO Petroleum Corp.,
Busch Beer, Chevrolet Trucks, Mercury Marine, Yamaha Outboards, Triton Boats,
Skeeter Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Kumho Tires, Long
John Silver's, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, Bass Pro Shops, Armstrong Industrial Hand
Tools, and B.A.S.S. Platinum Visa/First USA.

Associate Sponsors include: Bass Cat Boats and G3 Boats

The South Carolina CITGO BASSMASTER Southern Open is presented locally by the Lake
Murray Tourism & Recreation Association.

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Trout Fishing Arkansas

South Carolina CITGO BASSMASTER Southern Open

Pro Registration
ALABAMA
Ricky D. Barnett, Alex City
Fred Bland, Birmingham
Dalton Bobo, Northport
Hobson Bryan Jr., Tuscaloosa
Coby Carden, Shelby
Marty Carter, Hamilton
Ken Dodson, Ashville
Boyd L. Duckett, Demopolis
Terry Goggans, Ft. Payne
Kenneth Grover II, Decatur
Edward Guice, Decatur
Rickie Harp, Cottondale
Willie V. Hill, Tuskegee
Barry Holt, Sheffield
Larry Hopson, Hamilton
Jamie Horton, Centreville
Tim Horton, Muscle Shoals
Randy Howell, Trussville
Gary Howington, Gadsden
William F. Huntley, Athens
Chris Ingram, Eclectic
Troy Jens, Huntsville
Felton Langley, LaFayette
Jerry Lawler, Athens
Lewis Lecroy, Ohatchee
Richard Leigeber, Cullman
Thomas C. Lynch, Birmingham
Kyle Mabrey, McCalla
Chris McCollum, New Hope
Jerry McCullough, Birmingham
Hank Miller, Hamilton
Daniel Moody, Rogersville
James Moore, Locust Fork
Jonathan Newton, Rogersville
David Parsons, Dothan
Daron Patrick, Cullman
Lee Pitts, Gaylesvillle
Joe Pochis, Sheffield
Gregory Pugh, Cullman
Brian Randall, McCalla
Ronnie Ray, Phenix City
Mark Rizk, Arab
Roger Schofield, Killen
Rick Sharp, Florence
Ricky D Smith, Anniston
Gerald Swindle, Hayden
Rusty Taylor, Muscle Shoals
Barry Wilson, Chelsea
Keith Wayne Wray, Arab

ARKANSAS
Mark Rose, Marion

CALIFORNIA
Aaron Martens, Castaic
Warren Wyman, Castaic

FLORIDA
Lee Cepero, Thonotosassa
Rick Chapman, Melbourn
Barry DiAntonio, Tavares
Cecil Douberly, Lakeland
Chuck Economou, Redington
Jim Findley, Winter Garden
Pierre Fortin, Lady Lake
David Foshee, Pensacola
Carroll Hagood, Auburndale
Art Hodges, Moore Haven
Tony Hogan, Pensacola
Gregory S MacLean, Okeechobee
Scott R. Martin, Clewiston
Robert Miley, Miami
Antonio Modino, Hileah
Mark Rogers, Naples
Robert W. Sanders, Jr., Santa Rosa Beach
Terry Scroggins, Palatka
Terry Segraves, Kissimmee
Walter Swafford, Winter Garden
Craig Taylor, Tallahassee
Peter E. Thliveros, Jacksonville
Jesus Villegas, Miami
Karl Waller, Tallahassee
A. J. Willequer, Eustis
Jim Williams, Winter Springs

GEORGIA
Horace Alred, Cedartown
John H. Blizzard, Columbus
Evan Boutwell, Ashburn
Mickey Bruce, Buford
Allen Burkhalter, Columbus
Ryan Coleman, Flowery Branch
Jody Cordell, Stone Mountain
Tony Couch, Buckhead
Joe Crosby, Gainesville
John D. Curry, Norcross
Mike Echols, Athens
Mark Fletcher, Palmetto
George T. Forrester, Jr., Lula
Jerry Guest, Royston
Gene Hacker, Buford
Tom Hamlin, Jr., Macon
Paul Hanley, Hull
Loren Hill, Dallas
Kenny Holloway, Eatonton
Tim Hoskins, Gainesville
Michael Johnson, Talking Rock
Larry Jones, Acworth
Danny Kirk, Bartow
John Kitchens, Smyrna
Robert "Duke" McCardle, Marietta
Ricky McFarlin, Toccoa
Shane Meers, Rome
Jimmy Millsaps, Canton
Mike Morris, White
Jim Murray, Jr., Arabi
Eric Nethery, Acworth
Jeff Norris, Newborn
Bobby Padgett, Columbus
Eric Perkins, Monticello
David Pollard, Carrollton
Jeff Redfern, Canton
Robert T Richardson, Palmetto
Brendan Smith, Kennesaw
Jay Tucker, Moultrie
Butch Tucker, Moultrie
Bud Waugh, Gainesville
Danny White, Milledgeville

ILLINOIS
Bud Goeke, Pinckneyville
Robert Merkin, Downers Grove
Adrian Kent Reagan, Salem
Curt Samo, Creston

INDIANA
Tommy D. Creech, Amboy
Roger M. Hensley, Jonesboro
T. W. Loring, Lawrenceburg
Douglas Lubs, Indianapolis
Mike Renfro, Greenfield

KENTUCKY
Brian Coleman, Louisville
Charlie Hill, Franklin
Mark Menendez, Paducah
Bill Smith, Prestonsburg
Charlie Waugh, Louisville

LOUISIANA
Gene Pizzalato, Baker

MICHIGAN
Andy Krizan, Sturgis
Scott Webster, Manchester
Gerald A. Wilson, Coloma

MINNESOTA
Jeremy Flicek, Prior Lake
Brad Leuthmer, Victoria

MISSOURI
Ken Christ, Kansas City
Shane Voyles, Blue Springs

MISSISSIPPI
Bryan Faulkner, Amory
Tim Loper, Terry
Clint Pippen, Ellisville
Roger Stegall, Iuka
Harlan Waldrup, Laurel

NORTH CAROLINA
Chris Baumgardner, Gastonia
Gerald Beck, Lexington
David Cooke, Mooresville
Larry Cunningham, Elizabeth City
Guy H. Eaker, Cherryville
Todd Fulk, Mt. Pleasant
Brain T. Key, Spring Lake
Alex Ormand, Bessemer City
James A. Parker, Fayetteville
Jim Sheehan, Fayetteville
Marty Stone, Linden
Jeffrey Thomas, Broadway

NEVADA
Byron Velvick, Boulder City

NEW YORK
Eric Lohwasser, Farmingdale

OHIO
James H. Delong, Kitts Hill
Steve Floyd, Sabina
Frank Scalish, Cleveland
Greg Scythes, Ironton
Mitch Stevenson, Cincinnati
OKLAHOMA
Dave Smith, Del City

SOUTH CAROLINA
Todd Auten, Lake Wylie
David A. Castleberry, Chapin
Allen Cauthen, Lancaster
Nick Gainey, Charleston
Jack A. Hayes, Jr., Belton
Davy Hite, Prosperity
Wayne Jeffcoat, Chapin
Mickey S. Phipps, Lexington
Jason Quinn, Lake Wylie
Richard Shumpert, Lexington
Joseph Swenda, Greenville
Bobby Wilson, Manning

TENNESSEE
Otto Adair, Ellendale
Chad Baker, Pine Flats
Ray Brazier, Lawrenceburg
Jim Butler, Clarksville
Chris Duke, Old Hickory
Luke Dunkin, Lawrenceburg
William L. Fletcher, Memphis
Christopher S. Forsyth, Bartlett
Bryan Gibson, Bartlett
Chuck Hannaford, Germantown
Dwayne Horton, Knoxville
Rufus Johnson, Knoxville
Jay Kendrick, Ooltewah
John McLain, Cleveland
Robert Morin, Sieverville
James Nuckols, Rockwood
Ralph Petty, Jr., Cleveland
Tommy Pickett, Bartlett
Ray Robinson, Kingsport
Jeff Stephens, Knoxville
Tommy Stiles, McMinnville
Shawn Strader, Rockwood
Wesley A. Strader, Spring City
Troy G. Thraen, Old Hickory
David Walker, Sevierville
Jimmy Watson, Jr., Springfield
Billy Wheat, Harriman

TEXAS
Robert Tucker, Sachse

UTAH
Ron Colby, West Jordan

VIRGINIA
John Crews, Jetersville
Alan Garrison, Bracey
Davis Murphy, Blue Ridge

WISCONSIN
Mark Pattinson, Ridgeway
Joe Stiehl, Appleton
Chris Wenzel, Neenh

WEST VIRGINIA
Daniel Welch, New Martinsville



Amateur Registration

ALABAMA
Todd Ary, Birmingham
Larry Barron, Dadeville
David Brown, Montgomery
John Calhoun, Alpine
David Conaway, Balley
Fred Darnell, Foley
Glenn Deal, Headland
Michael H. Fehsenfeld, Foley
T.R. Fuller, Auburn
Roger Gean, Huntsville
Glen Hamer, Montevallo
Stephen Hester, Florence
Tyrus Hester, Russellville
Darrel L. High, Opelika
Ricky Hornbuckle, Huntsville
Randy King, Auburn
Walter Lawrence, Millbrook
Bill Logsdon, Ozark
Tim McCormick, Fairhope
Jonthan Oliver, Hodges
Terry D Owens, Aliceville
John Pate, Grant
Thomas R. Pemberton, Dadeville
Harry Potts, Ozark
Ronald D. Rainey, Birmingham
Herbert Rix, Montgomery
Michael Roberti, Wetumpka
Shane Robertson, Gadsen
Henry Rockhill, Jr., Tuscumbia
William Scott, Pike Road
Mark Shannon, Athens
Toby Simpson, Ft. Payne
Anthony Skinner, Silas
Paul Stark, New Hope
Ty Story, Montgomery
Chuck Thurlow, Auburn
Brad Vandiver, Phil Campbell
John Vardaman, Anniston
Randy Weatherford, Millbrook
Arthur R Webb, Eufaula

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Trout Fishing Arkansas

FLORIDA
Larry Cahan, East Palatka
William Closson, Beverly Hills
Tim Ezell, Key West
James Fowler, Satsuma
Hugh Gray, Kissimme
David Hagens, Brandenton
Fred W. Huch, Cape Coral
Jeff Hutchins, Seminole
Roan McCollough, Laverness
Marvin C Mobley, Cantonment
Mike Mowery, Silver Springs
Richard Persson, Miami
Patrick Pierce, Jacksonville
Chris Pope, Pace
Brian Prowant, Moore Haven
Roger Seebaugh, Sorrento
Robert Theilacker, Rockledge
Todd Wagman, Winter Garden
David Wright, Tarpon Springs

GEORGIA
Eddie Amos, Dalton
Randy Bartholomew, Bainbridge
Danny R. Bishop, Buchanan
Charles Bowling, Franklin
Danny Brown, Ellabell
Lyle Burns, Bishop
Keith Carpenter, Cave Spring
John David Childress, Calhoun
Jeff Davidson, Austell
William L. Deese, Clayton
James Dudley, Lake City
Jeff Ellis, Acworth
Van R. Foster Jr., Dalton
Jeff Graham, Augusta
Mark Grizzle, Blairsville
John W Hembree, Blue Ridge
Tony Hill, Chatsworth
Wayne Isaac, Acworth
Rodney Jones, Bogart
Dave Jones, Acworth
Billy Joyce, Fayetteville
Byron Kidd, Milledgeville
Steve Knight, Lookout Mountain
Keith Loveday, Penbroke
Tim McTyre, Powder Springs
Jamie Mills, Resaca
Lamar Moody, Billa Rica
Brad Morley, Woodstock
Roger Morrow, Griffin
Skip Mundy, Cusseta
Matt Van Paepeghem, Marietta
Curtis A Reeves, Riverdale
Christopher Thompson, Clyo
Donald Warren, Collins
George W. Williams, Pembroke
Alan Writch, Springfield

IDAHO
Michael Blanch, York Town

ILLINOIS
Travis Cockburn, Johnston City
Bob Gutter, Chicago
Steve Herrington, Ingleside
Jim Smith, Minooka

INDIANA
Kevin Blanch, Muncie
David Phelps, Clarksville
Jack Sturm, Indianapolis

KENTUCKY
Mohammad Bidarian, Somerset
Ed Burnett, Louisville
Mike Carter, Nicholasville
William D. Caudill, Elizabeth Town
Sandy Jones, Lexington
Damon V. Kiper, Louisville
Robert Kise, Louisa
Timothy Lanham, Louisville
Lance Lautzenheiser, Berea
Barrett Moss, Somerset
Gary Nelson, Louisa
Bradley J Nelson, Louisa
Mike L. Pickett, Radcliff
Carl Pope, Hodgenville
Gerald Soete, Louisville
Les Underwood, Louisville
Johnny Urban, Bowling Green
Jeff Walker, Gamaliel
David Wallace, Brooks

LOUISIANA
George Fister, Lake Charles

MARYLAND
Thomas Dove, Riva

MICHIGAN
Daniel Chapman, Interlochen

MINNESOTA
Bob Sanquist, Richmond

MISSOURI
Robert Hill, St. Louis

MISSISSIPPI
Cliff Pace, Petal
Brian Parker, Corinth
Rock Rowell, Wiggins
Bryan Ryals, Brooklyn
NORTH CAROLINA
Jimmy Batts, Raleigh
Lewis Bouhkris, Hendersonville
Robert Campbell, Belmont
Terry Chapman, Cornelius
Stanley Correll, Jr., Nelo
Mark Cummings, Pembroke
Emory Dennard, Winston-Salem
Jeff Francis, Winston-Salem
Darren Gay, Concord
David Hamilton, Jamestown
Thomas Herr, Murphy
Billy Hill, Cundler
Fred Hill, Roxbow
Jim Hill, Candler
Lacy Madkins, Burlington
Bryant Medlin, Durham
Buz Merritt, Belmont
Clyde Roberts, Marshall
Travis E. Sain, Rutherfordton
Stephen Wingo, Spartanburg

NEW YORK
Peter Barello, Floral Park
OHIO
Brent Broderick, Oregonia
Clint Doench, Bellbrook
Gary Garren, Lebanon
Eddie Hicks, Centreville
Jeff Kuhar, Bridgeport
Steve Linville, Harrison
Chris Martinkovic, Liberty Twp
Greg Mills, Dayton
Raymond Robinson, Hillsboro
Bruce Wagers, Harrison
Brad D. Wall, Clarksville
James Wengerd, Hartville

OKLAHOMA
Jerry Lee, Kiefer
Todd Lee, Tulsa
Travis McKelvey, Glenn Pool

PENNSYLVANIA
Alan J. Weiss, Latrobe

SOUTH CAROLINA
Michael Agranoff, Charleston
Chance Bralley, West Columbia
Michael Dawson, Moore
Robert K. Fravel, Leesville
Michael Hughey, Gaffney
Tony Kay, Anderson
Carlton Lemmond, Barnwell
Brian Meyer, Spartanburg
Bryan S. Moeller, Columbia
Clint Pack, Gable
Earl W. Schultz, Sumter
Howard Stephens, Chapin
Jimmy Ward, Goose Creek
John Yarbrough, Columbia

TENNESSEE
Randall Boaz Sr., Pulaski
Charles Boone, Sr, Sevierville
Phillip Burnett, Ramer
FLoyd Cole, Memphis
Blue Cooper, Knoxville
Dow M. Cox, Jonesborough
Danny Davis, Franklin
Jim Dillon, Smyrna
David Eden, Springfield
Donald Ferguson, Gainesboro
Carl Guffey, Friendsville
Jeff Haines, Bartlett
Pat Hatcliff, Murfreesboro
Cindy Hill, Smyrna
Darrell J. Hille, Springfield
Stan Martin, Savannah
Curt McGuire, Murefreesboro
Craig Melton, Lawrenceburg
Ron Nelson, Kodak
Johnny Poff, Hendersonville
Tony Prince, Loretta
Claude Robison, Loudon
Ralph Rose, Knoxville
David M. Shelton, Nashville
Terry Sternard, Clarksville
Jay Wall, Springfield

VIRGINIA
Patrick G. Veltman, Jr., Midlothian

WEST VIRGINIA
Andy Godwin, Burnsville
Shelly Perry, Hurricane

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Trout Fishing Arkansas