Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, October 22, 1995 TAG: 9510230132
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
But the 20-year-old from Lynchburg didn't let it affect his performance, as he weighed in a five-bass limit of 13 pounds, 14 ounces to win his first BASS tournament in a field that included the best pro anglers in the United States.
Dudley, in fifth place after Friday's competition, won by 4 pounds, 14 ounces over second-place Darrell Wilbanks of Jay, Okla. Dudley was one of only two anglers in the top 10 who caught a 20-fish limit for the four-day event.
His consistency was a big key to his victory.
``The last few hours, I was nervous,'' Dudley said. ``It's a good thing I didn't eat anything this morning.''
Dudley said his main lure was a pearl white Zoom Super Fluke, which resembles a Slug-go. He fished it mainly around barges and an adjacent channel where large populations of bait fish were swimming.
The Zoom Super Fluke ``represents a shad, and it really represents the size of the bait fish here,'' said Dudley, who in August became the youngest angler to compete in a BASS Masters Classic. ``[The fish] were everywhere. I kept the boat in 10 to 12 feet of water and was throwing on top of the barge. The bass were on the edge of the barge.''
Other top finishers in the star-studded field include former Classic champions Ken Cook in eighth, Rick Clunn in 12th and Guido Hibdon in 14th.
Mike Auten, who led the first two days, finished seventh.
Dudley earned $45,000, Wilbanks received $25,000 for second, and third-place finisher Randall Romig won $23,000.
Rick Morris of Virginia Beach got $3,000 for finishing 25th, the last position in the money, He had 20 fish weighing 29 pounds, 5 ounces.
Woo Daves of Spring Grove slipped to 64th from 37th on the last day with 10 fish weighing 19 pounds, 10 ounces.
by CNB