2013 Walmart FLW Beaver Lake Day 2: Coulter in Lead at Alabama Rig Fest!

Johnson leads co-anglers by 3 pounds
by Kyle Wood

FLW Press Release

ROGERS, Ark. – With this being the second day after a front, most people figured the bite would slip on Beaver. To degree that was the case with several of the top pros from day one failing to match their catches. But day two of the Walmart FLW Tour on Beaver Lake was highlighted with consistent catches, some big stringers and the Alabama rig.

Coming into this tournament a lot of the focus was on how big of a factor the A-rig would become. The general consensus was the rig could hold up early in the derby but would slowly dwindle throughout the event. Today was a case of several anglers making huge moves on the leaderboard including Brandon Coulter who has utilized nothing but the rig to move into the lead.

With 17 pounds, 3 ounces on day one, Coulter went back to work to haul in 14-12 today. The Tennessee resident kept the same three rods on his deck consisting of umbrella rigs and now holds a total weight of 31-15 and the lead by 1-12.

All smiles as Coulter takes lead on difficult day.
(Photo: FLW)

“I think the momentum I have really started at the beginning of the year for me,” said Coulter. “My son told me to just go out and catch 12 pounds on the second day of Okeechobee and just cash a check. That made me realize all I have been doing for the past few years is just trying to cash a check and not win. Since then I have been fishing much more relaxed, calm and comfortable – I put no pressure on myself.”

With a less than favorable track record on Beaver, Coulter opted to arm himself with three different umbrella rigs and target transition areas. So far the decision is paying off.

“I went to a lay-down this morning that I caught my second biggest bass on yesterday,” the Knoxville, Tenn., native said. “I figured I could start there and catch a limit quick like I did yesterday, but it was nothing but crickets this morning. I went back there later and caught a solid fish off it. On my next cast back at the lay-down I got hung up and one eats one of the free swimbaits and pulls it off the tree. On my very next cast after that I caught a 4-pounder. You can’t create stuff like that; sometimes things just go your way.”

2013 Walmart FLW Beaver Lake Day 1: Benton Take Lead with 18 Pounds

FLW Press Release

ROGERS, Ark. – Rookie pro Drew Benton of Panama City, Fla., brought a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce to the scales Thursday to lead day one of the Walmart FLW Tour at Beaver Lake presented by Kellogg’s. Benton holds a 14-ounce lead over Brandon Coulter of Knoxville, Tenn., who caught five bass weighing 17-3 in a tournament of the world’s best bass-fishing pros competing in the four-day event with a top cash award of up to $125,000.

“I was pleasantly surprised with how my day went,” said Benton, who was the FLW Tour season opener champion at Lake Okeechobee. “I caught over 20 keepers today. I had some bites in the last day of practice that I had shook off and I didn’t really know how big they were. I went back to that area today and they were a little bigger than I had expected.

“I’m fishing in some stained water, doing what I’m used to doing,” Benton continued. “I’m running a long way up the river. I have seen some boats, but no one is fishing close to me.”

Benton said that all of his fish that he caught Thursday came on a Yum Yumbrella rig, but said he was fishing it differently than his competitors.