2014 Walmart FLW Tour Lake Pickwick Day 1: Jeff Gustafson Grabs Lead with 10 Pounder Kicker!

Canadian angler take his first lead on the FLW Tour
by Curtis Niedermier
FLW Press Release

Last week he was catching 65-pound sturgeon in British Columbia. Today, he was hauling his personal best bass, a 10-pound, 12-ounce brute, over the gunwale on day one of the Walmart FLW Tour event on Pickwick Lake, which is presented by Straight Talk Wireless and hosted by the Florence/Lauderdale Tourism Bureau.

Such is the life for Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson, the second-year pro and popular Canadian outdoor television host from Keewatin, Ontario, who took the early lead on what began as a beautiful, mild morning in Florence, Ala., and ended with a thunderstorm that washed out weigh-in and sent nearly the entire crowd running for cover.

Gussy’s first-day total of 24 pounds, 8 ounces gives him a 15-ounce cushion over the hands-down favorite in this event, Randy Haynes.

As a well-traveled outdoorsman, Gussy has been exposed to some of the best fishing in North America, but he says today ranks right near the top of his greatest fishing experiences.

“I’ve been to Mexico five times, and I’ve never caught one over 10,” he says. “I was shaking like a leaf. When I caught it, I had pulled up to a spot and caught three 1 1/2-pounders in three casts. Then I fired back out there and it bit.

“I’ve never been in this position before,” Gussy adds. “It feels awesome. I picked the right day to catch the biggest bass of my life.”

Bill Godin and Leroy Wilson win the 2013 KBI Tournament

By Luigi De Rose

KBI crowned a new championship team! Bill Godin and Leroy Wilson’s three-day limit of 52.50lbs allowed them to leap into the lead and claim the crown. Powered by a day 3 catch of 18.60lbs, the heaviest of the day, was enough to hold off Brain McNanney and Matthew Rydberg who amassed 51.52lbs for second. The hometown super star team of Jeff “Gussy” Gustafson and Chris Savage who lead the tournament for the first two days faltered and fell to 9^th place.

Full results

The Kenora Bass Invitational Tournament: My Quest for Northern Bass

Kenora Bass Invitational

By Luigi De Rose

(originally dated for Friday but wireless is spotty)

The Kenora Bass Invitational is my goal for the next week. Celebrating its 26^th Anniversary, this tournament is known simply as the KBI. This year the tournament dates are August 8, 9 and 10. Wednesday the 7^th is a rest day and the lake is off-limits for half the day. The tournament site is Kenora, on the shores of famed Lake of the Woods, in northwestern Ontario. I along with my tournament partner, Drew Myers, will be fishing out guts out trying to best the bass and the hundred plus teams in this three day event. Having never seen it before, it will be a true test of my personal skill.

Tournament angling is about taking risks and this one is a whopper. KBI brings the best of the best. For many, it seems remote but don’t be fooled. Top tier pros from Canada and America will be there. Plus, the lake is home to hundreds of guides who often enroll hoping to cash in on their years of local knowledge.

Gussy Ready for 2013 FLW Tour

FLW Press Release

(photo: FLW)

Canadian bass fisherman Jeff Gustafson announced Thursday he has committed to fishing the entire 2013 Walmart FLW Tour season. Gustafson competed in the four FLW Tour Opens in 2012 and cashed checks at each, despite being a rookie with little or no previous lake knowledge. He finished the season 14th in the points race.
Known in the industry as “Gussy,” the Keewatin, Ontario, angler has quite a reputation in the North Country as a guide and tournament angler – having won both the Kenora Bass International and the International Falls Bass Championship. In addition, the 30-year-old hosts his own TV show called “Fishing with Gussy” as well as writes a weekly outdoors column called the “Livewell” for the Fort Frances Times. Gustafson is also active on social media and quickly became a fan favorite this season on FLW’s On-The-Water coverage page.
“Having a solid rookie season in the Opens makes me even more excited for next year,” said Gustafson. “Fishing the tour down south was an eye-opening experience. Now that I’ve got my feet wet I’m ready for a full season.”
Gustafson will once again run a Kruger Farms/International Comfort Products-wrapped Lund Predator with a 225-horsepower Mercury Optimax.
The 2013 FLW Tour season opener kicks off Feb. 7 on Lake Okeechobee, the same fishery where Gustafson notched a top-20 finish this February.

2012 FLW Open San Rayburn Day 2: Combs Take Lead

Combs can win if he can continue to catch 7 pounds like this one.
(Photo:FLW)

Lake San Rayburn, the final stop of the FLW Open, was fickle again. Most anglers found fewer fish willing to bite than on day 1. More five fish limits between 10 and 14 pounds were weighted in today but for the most part fishing was a struggles. Yesterday's leader JT Kenney discovered that his off-shore areas were void of bait and bass and fell to 4th. The largest bag of the day came from recently crowned FLW Cup Champ Jacob Wheeler who collected 19-15 of bass and jumped up to 7th. Texas pro, Keith Combs grabbed the leader position on the back of his 16-11 pound bag.

Tomorrow the field is cut to the Top 20 anglers. Only the Top 10 anglers fish on Sunday.

Here is a look at the Top 10
place/angler/home town/ day 1/ day 2/ total

1	KEITH COMBS	HUNTINGTON, TX	16-12 (5)	16-11 (5)	33-07 (10)
2	TODD CASTLEDINE	NACOGDOCHES, TX	11-10 (5)	19-12 (5)	31-06 (10)
3	PHIL MARKS	DALLAS, TX	17-01 (5)	14-02 (5)	31-03 (10)
4	JT KENNEY	PALM BAY, FL	19-06 (5)	11-07 (5)	30-13 (10)
5	MATT HERREN	TRUSSVILLE, AL	14-13 (5)	15-11 (5)	30-08 (10)
6	MIKE SURMAN	BOCA RATON, FL	11-07 (5)	18-08 (5)	29-15 (10)
7	JACOB WHEELER	INDIANAPOLIS, IN	9-13 (5)	19-15 (5)	29-12 (10)
8	JASON WELLS	CENTER, TX	12-00 (5)	17-02 (5)	29-02 (10)
9	JOHN COX	DEBARY, FL	14-00 (5)	14-04 (5)	28-04 (10)
10	DARRELL DAVIS	DOVER, FL	13-01 (5)	14-13 (5)	27-14 (10)

2012 FLW Open San Rayburn Day 1: Kenney Lead with over 19.

East Texas was the epicenter to bass fishing in the early years of bass tournaments. Big Sam, Toledo Bend were king. Many fishing legends came from these parts. Tommy Martin, Larry Nixon,  Harold Allen, and Lonnie Stanley are a few of the big names that made this place so famous. As famous as San Rayburn is, early October is a time of transition and fishing has been difficult. For most on the last FLW Open of the 2012 season fishing has been terrible. Even though most could only catch single digit limits, JT Kenny topped the field with 19.06 to grab first place on day 1. a great fishing day on any lake but remember, this is Texas, and big bass abound. If they start to bite, the leader board will change rapidly.

Top 10

1	JT KENNEY	PALM BAY, FL	19-06 (5)
2	TOMMY DURHAM	WHITNEY, TX	17-02 (5)
3	PHIL MARKS	DALLAS, TX	17-01 (5)
4	KEITH COMBS	HUNTINGTON, TX	16-12 (5)
5	BILL MCDONALD	GREENWOOD, IN	15-03 (5)
6	MATT HERREN	TRUSSVILLE, AL	14-13 (5)
7	ART FERGUSON III	ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI	14-11 (5)
8	DION HIBDON	SUNRISE BEACH, MO	14-07 (5)
9	JOHN COX	DEBARY, FL	14-00 (5)
9	KEVIN WALKER	BUNA, TX	14-00 (5)