Arnie Coons Saves the Best for Last!
By: Tim Ables/ ESPNOutdoors.com
Scottsboro, Alabama - Arnie Coons of Roanoke Rapids, N.C. leads the event after
Day One with this 7.59-pound bass. The
angler from Roanake Rapids, NC, waited until the final hour of fishing
Saturday to weigh in the biggest bass one the first day of the McDonald's Big
Bass Splash on Lake Guntersville. Coon's
7.59-pound lunker topped the field and gives him the early edge on winning the
first prize of a Triton Boat powered by a Mercury Outboard and equipped with a
Minn Kota trolling motor and Lowrance electronics. This
year, anglers have the opportunity to win a share of more than $100,000 in
guaranteed cash and prizes. Five places will be paid every hour to the five
heaviest single bass weighed in that hour. In
second place with his 7.41-pounder was James Hastings of Scottsboro, AL Lee
Oliver of Albertville, AL, weighed in a 7.28-pound bass and stands third while
David Heatherly of Huntsville, AL, and Richard Leigeber of Cullman, AL, are
fourth and fifth, respectively, with 7.10 and 6.52 fish. There
were 225 fish weighed Saturday with a total weight of 905.38 pounds.
The Big Bass Splash® on Lake Guntersville, Alabama is hosted by the
Greater Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and benefits the Ronald McDonald
Houses® and Select McDonald’s® Charities.
|
HOUR |
NAME |
CITY/STATE |
WEIGHT |
PAYBACK |
|
6-7 |
Danny Jenkins |
Gurley, AL |
5.67 |
$1,000 |
|
6-7 |
John Hairrell |
Grant, AL |
5.08 |
$500 |
|
6-7 |
James Mike Thompson |
Crossville, TN |
5.01 |
$400 |
|
6-7 |
Larry Laney |
Bryant, AL |
4.83 |
$300 |
|
6-7 |
Jason Walden |
Albertville, AL |
4.73 |
$200 |
|
7-8 |
Richard Leigeber |
Cullman, AL |
6.52 |
$1,000 |
|
7-8 |
James Stephenson |
Whitwell, TN |
6.02 |
$500 |
|
7-8 |
Chad Wood |
Resaca, GA |
5.49 |
$400 |
|
7-8 |
Phillip Stone |
Dawson, AL |
5.36 |
$300 |
|
7-8 |
Billy Appling Jr |
Birmingham, AL |
5.29 |
$200 |
|
Bonus Hour |
Jackie Sims |
Horton, AL |
5.12 |
$100 |
|
Bonus Hour |
Kent Lodari |
Seymour, TN |
4.70 |
$75 |
|
8-9 |
Tim Williams |
Opelika, AL |
6.36 |
$1,000 |
|
8-9 |
Greg Coots |
Fyffe, AL |
5.88 |
$500 |
|
8-9 |
Rusty Robertson |
LaFayette, GA |
5.68 |
$400 |
|
8-9 |
David Whitman |
Huntsville, AL |
5.53 |
$300 |
|
8-9 |
Randy Earwood |
Flat Rock, AL |
5.48 |
$200 |
|
9-10 |
James Hastings |
Scottsboro, AL |
7.41 |
$1,000 |
|
9-10 |
Timmy Flye |
Steens, MS |
5.41 |
$500 |
|
9-10 |
Patrick Kennamer |
Brownsboro, AL |
5.39 |
$400 |
|
9-10 |
Danny Leibecki |
Rogersville, AL |
5.07 |
$300 |
|
9-10 |
Mike Pitts |
Remlap, AL |
5.05 |
$200 |
|
Bonus Hour |
Mike Bonds |
Boaz, AL |
4.97 |
$100 |
|
Bonus Hour |
Joseph Dziadosz |
Shreveport, LA |
4.93 |
$75 |
|
10-11 |
Greg Coots |
Fyffe, AL |
5.93 |
$1,000 |
|
10-11 |
Mike Bonds |
Boaz, AL |
5.54 |
$500 |
|
10-11 |
Shane Dick |
Albertville, AL |
5.24 |
$400 |
|
10-11 |
Shannon Harbin |
Scottsboro, AL |
5.16 |
$300 |
|
10-11 |
Jimmy Weldon |
Ider, AL |
4.79 |
$200 |
|
11-12 |
David Heatherly |
Huntsville, AL |
7.10 |
$1,000 |
|
11-12 |
Sam Rochell |
Elmont, AL |
6.06 |
$500 |
|
11-12 |
Scott Keeling |
Guntersville, AL |
5.73 |
$400 |
|
11-12 |
David Weeks |
Hazel Green, AL |
5.70 |
$300 |
|
11-12 |
Wayne Shoemate |
Dunlap, TN |
5.45 |
$200 |
|
Bonus Hour |
Greg Alexander |
Columbus, MS |
5.01 |
$100 |
|
Bonus Hour |
James Milling |
Rossville, GA |
3.85 |
$75 |
|
12-1 |
Mark Beutjer |
Athens, AL |
6.20 |
$1,000 |
|
12-1 |
Greg Naymon |
Scottsboro, AL |
6.14 |
$500 |
|
12-1 |
Mike Bonds |
Boaz, AL |
5.88 |
$400 |
|
12-1 |
Gary Howington |
Gadsden, AL |
5.78 |
$300 |
|
12-1 |
Steve Lipham |
Opelika, AL |
5.42 |
$200 |
|
1-2 |
Arnie Coons Jr |
Roanoke Rapids, NC |
7.59 |
$1,000 |
|
1-2 |
Lee Oliver |
Albertville, AL |
7.28 |
$500 |
|
1-2 |
Jerry Strain |
Old Hickory, TN |
5.52 |
$400 |
|
1-2 |
Greg Coots |
Fyffe, AL |
5.19 |
$300 |
|
1-2 |
Marty Likos |
Guntersville, AL |
5.15 |
$200 |
|
Bonus Hour |
Nathan Owen |
Valley Head, AL |
5.11 |
$100 |
|
Bonus Hour |
Brian Haynes |
Hollywood, AL |
5.02 |
$75 |
|
