2013 Walmart FLW Day 4: Christine is Crowned the Winner!

by Gary Mortenson

FLW  Press Release

Jason controlled this tournament from Day1. He
made the victory look ease.
(Photo: FLW)

GROVE, Okla. – Simply put, Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., owned Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees this week. After leading the fifth FLW Tour event of the 2013 season for the first three days, Christie turned on the afterburners on day four, landing the biggest stringer of the day at 19 pounds, 13 ounces en route to a rather comfortable 5-pound, 5-ounce margin of victory. As a result of Christie’s four-day catch of 78 pounds, 1 ounce, the Oklahoma native took home the top prize of $125,000.

To say that Christie is on a roll would be an understatement to be sure. In the last four FLW Tour events, he’s won two (Beaver Lake in April and Grand Lake today) and placed fourth in another (Lewis Smith Lake in March). Throw in come-from-behind win at the BASSmaster Elite Series event at Bull Shoals this past April and it suddenly appears as if Christie is unstoppable.

But while Christie has tasted victory before, winning on his home turf seemed to provide him with a great sense of satisfaction – if not a little bit of relief – as he was able to perform at the highest of levels in front of his friends, family and hometown crowd.

“This is the biggest crowd I’ve seen all year,” said Christie. “A lot of these people are my friends and I’ve fished against a lot of them over the years as well. This lake taught me how to fish. It’s just a special place for me. I had a great week. And the way I was catching them today, it brought back memories. It was definitely a special week.”

Christie, who is part Native American, also took some time to pay tribute to his heritage.

Jason Christine Wins 2013 Walmart FLW Grand Lake!

Jason Christine wins Grand Lake. Leading wire to wire, this Oklahoma local and fan favourite dominated with a total of 78-01lbs. This is Jason's second win on the 2013 FLW circuit. He also claimed a victory earlier this year on the BASSMASTER Elite circuit. Jason is undeniably the hottest bass angler in the world.

More to come..

2013 Walmart FLW Grand Lake Day 3: Jason Christie Still Controlling Grand!

Gary Mortenson
FLW Press Release

GROVE, Okla. – For the first time all tournament, Rayovac team pro Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., didn’t catch the biggest stringer of the day. But then again, it didn’t much matter. Not only did Christie’s total, three-day stringer weighing 58 pounds, 4 ounces, keep him in the overall lead for a third consecutive day, but he actually upped his margin over his next closest competitor to 3 pounds, 8 ounces.

“This lake is pretty special to me,” Christie said. “It’s a lake that really taught me how to fish. I’ve been trying to get FLW to come here for six years because it is one of the best lakes in the country. When you’re in a bass tournament, all you want to do is have a legitimate chance to win on the final day. And I’ve given myself that chance. So yes, I’m where I want to be.”

Christie said that he didn’t change up much for today’s competition even though the bite appeared to be tougher for the field. He’s continuing to run three different patterns predominately siding with flipping techniques. He said he’s still employing combinations of Yum Wooly Bugs and Booyah spinnerbaits as well.

2013 Walmart FLW Grand Lake Day 2: Jason Christie Still Leads!

by Gary Mortenson
FLW Press Release 

GROVE, Okla. – For the most part, the changing landscape of the FLW Tour event on Grand Lake has been a sight to behold. Water levels have shifted somewhat dramatically, starting off nearly 4 feet above normal pool and then receding steadily with each passing day. The muddied up waters that greeted anglers upon their arrival have slowly given way to more gin-clear conditions throughout significant portions of the lake. Throw in the fact that anglers witnessed sunny and calm conditions today, in stark contrast to the overcast skies and medium winds on day one, and it’s obvious that anglers have had much to process throughout this tournament.

Jason's first of the day. The high water has kept many
bass in the flooded shoreline cover.
(Photos: FLW)

However, given all of the significant changes anglers have had to battle through this week, the one constant appears to be the standing atop the leaderboard. For a second day in a row, pre-tournament favorite and Rayovac team pro Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., has dominated the headlines. Bolstered by a total, two-day catch of 40 pounds, 10 ounces, Christie took a 5-ounce lead after yesterday’s competition and inflated it to nearly 3 full pounds after Friday’s weigh-in.

And although Christie – who considers Grand Lake to be his hometown water – had attempted to argue at the start of the tournament that the conditions left him with no local advantage, the results say otherwise. Christie is clearly on top of his game. And he’s now obviously the man to beat.

“Twenty pounds a day, I’ll take it,” said Christie. “I’m where I wanted to be.”

While weights were down across the board in Friday’s competition, including Christie who recorded nearly 2 pounds less than yesterday’s catch, the Oklahoma pro still managed to haul in the day’s biggest stringer in either division with a whopping 18-pound, 14-ounce stringer.

“I have three different patterns going on in three different sections of the lake,” said Christie. “And I’m using all three patterns each day. I have about 1,000 places on this pond, but it has to be the right deal. A stretch that was good today might not be good tomorrow. The water levels are starting to stabilize and there’s still plenty of fish. But you have to be in the right place at the right time. Believe it or not, I’ve never fished a four-day tournament here and I’m learning just like everyone else.”

While Christie lost two nice fish today, he basically chalked it up to the way he’s fishing.

2013 Walmart FLW Grand Lake Day 1: Christie and Houston Land One & Two!

by Gary Mortenson
FLW Press Release

GROVE, Okla. – Heading into the first day of FLW Tour competition this week, the big story was the overwhelmingly muddy conditions of Grand Lake and how it would affect the field’s ability to find clean water in an attempt to land bountiful stringers. However, by the time day-one weigh-in had concluded, the big news was focused squarely on the personalities that dominated the leaderboard.

Jason has been on a hot streak! This could his third win this year.
(Photo: FLW)

Standing in first place was Rayovac team pro Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., who parlayed a total catch of 21 pounds, 12 ounces into the overall lead. But sliding into second place, a mere 5 ounces behind Christie, was none other than larger-than-life television personality and fishing legend Jimmy Houston of Cookson, Okla.

The all-Oklahoma one-two punch proved, not surprisingly, to offer up a series of distinct contrasts to the delight of bass-fishing fans everywhere.

CLIFF PACE is the 2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC CHAMPION!

The Top 3

1. Cliff Pace
2. Brandon Palaniuk
3. Hank Cherry 

2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC DAY3 : Today's Top Anglers

By Luigi De Rose

Mike was lucky to get them early.
(Photo: BASS)

Day 3 has be horrible for the top leaders except for Brandon Palanuik. Here are the top estimated catches of today's best catches. Remember, the leader Cliff Pace had a huge 7 pound lead but he has only 4 small ones as of 2pm Central time.

Here are today's best limits
Hank Cherry 17-08
Mike McClelland 16-14
Tracy Adams 14-08
Todd Faircloth 14-04
Bradon Palaniuk 13-00

The rest of the field is doing very poorly. Very sporadic catches and long gaps between bites. The BASS crew is worried that there will be a tie resulting in a fish-off on Monday.

Stay tuned!

2013 BASSMASTER CLASSIC: Day 1 &2 in Review

By Luigi De Rose

Palaniuk was on fire on day 2.
(Photo: BASS)

Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, Tulsa, OK, is a super weird lake! It is not considered a southern lake even though it is geographically located in the south. The bass are northern strain largemougth, which means they live and flourish in cool to cold water. Popular belief is that cold water means difficult fishing. Traditionally, sunny days and increasing air temperature, especially in the late winter period means success. On Grand Lake O' the Cherokees, all this conventional thinking is wrong. The majority of the field at this Classic wanted snow, wind and overcast conditions. Why? These Grand lake bass bite better when it is miserable.

Dotted by thousands of boat docks, one might think that the bass would be tucked up under them and the winning patterns would be pitching a jig to them. But, the majority of the leaders are targeting bass off the docks and using horizontal baits. Sunny, slick conditions kill the jerkbait bite. Crankbaits don't fair much better. 

Quick Tips for Success at the Classic

• 45 degree rock bank
• docks and points on main lake points
• pea gravel
• wind, rain, overcast conditions are best
• local favourite is Swithwick Rogue
• Jason Christie (local favourite and currently in ) started with the magnum Rogue in Silver/Blue
• best bite in first few hours and late afternoon
• Alabama rig is banned on Elite tournament trail but devastating on recent Grand Lake tournaments
• Best jerkbaits: Jackall Sqaudminnow (Pace); Molix jerkbait (Iaconelli), Rogue (Christie and many others); Megabass Vision 110 (Martens and many others);Strike King (both Van Dams); Lucky Craft (Palaniuk)

2012 BASS MASTER Classic Qualifiers

BASS Press Release

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Thirty-one Bassmaster Elite Series pros were winners on Sunday, even though their victories didn’t involve trophies or titles.

What they received were coveted qualifications for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic, Feb. 22-24 on Grand Lake out of Tulsa, Okla. The Top 28 in the 2012 Elite points standings were officially awarded the berths at the Aug. 26 close of the regular season, the Ramada Championship on Oneida Lake.