ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, March 11, 1996 TAG: 9603110017
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BILL COCHRAN OUTDOOR EDITOR
Howie Davies already is practicing for the Mr. Bass Tournament on Smith Mountain Lake. Never mind that it is a month away, and the bass, driven by the ardor to reproduce, will be doing some unpredictable things between now and then.
``It is going to be real tricky,'' said Davies, a member of the Stone Mountain Bassmasters on Smith Mountain Lake.
Tricky might be the word that describes James Dudley's bid for a berth in the BASS Masters Classic via the 1996 Wrangler/B.A.S.S. National Championship in April. Dudley, who lives in Lynchburg, will be Virginia's entry in the tournament, as he was last year. And like last year, the championship will be held on the muddy Mississippi River.
Even B.A.S.S. officials are saying maybe Dudley should get a medal - perhaps a Bronze Star - for going back to the Quincy, Ill., tournament site.
Last time, the river was high, muddy, cold and falling, factors that scattered the bass and made them tight-lipped. Dudley placed fifth overall and missed the Classic cut by one position.
He gambled the first day by running two river locks and was late getting to the weigh-in.
``I won't make that gamble again, since I was eight minutes late the first day, and I could have better spent my time by staying closer,'' he said.
While Dudley isn't excited about returning to the Mississippi, he believes last year's experience could be beneficial. ``I am sort of hoping for maybe the same conditions as last year. That will be to my advantage.''
A second Classic appearance for Dudley's son, David, looks promising. David Dudley ranked 17th in the Top 100 (Angler of the Year) standings going into last weekend's B.A.S.S. MegaBucks tournament in Texas.
Closer to home, Davies will be casting with many of the best competitive fishermen in Virginia during the Mr. Bass tournament.
``The last two Mr. Bass tournaments, we had around 200 fishermen,'' said Ed Rhodes, a Virginia State B.A.S.S. Federation spokesman.
The event will be one of the largest bass tournaments ever for Smith Mountain. It will send the top three finishers to B.A.S.S. Eastern Division competition, which is the road to the Wrangler championship and the Classic - maybe even to the muddy Mississippi.
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: GERALD CRAWFORD. James Dudley celebrates at last year'sby CNBWrangler championship. The Lynchburg angler will return to the
Mississippi River near Quincy, Ill., in April for a second try at a
Classic berth. color.