Michael Neal from Dayton, TN finishes third. (Photo by Brett Carlson)CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) - Professional angler Michael Neal from Dayton, TN came away with a third place finish in the season opening FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee this weekend. Neal had a four day total of 67 lbs. 12 ozs. which earned him a third place finish against 174 of the best anglers in the world and $30,000.
Neal fished areas that were adjacent to deep water. Deep water by Okeechobee standards is water five feet deep or deeper.
"I'm strictly throwing moving baits – a swim jig and swimbaits. I'm fishing a 1-mile stretch of water on the north end of the lake by the Kissimmee River," says Neal.
Neal said the area he was fishing held both prespawn and postspawn fish. He said a swim jig fished in the grass accounted for most of his big fish during the event.
The top ten are as follows:
1st – Drew Benton from Panama City, Fl. with 75-07 lbs. - $100,000
2nd – Brent Ehrler from Redlands, CA. with 70-08 lbs. - $35,000
3rd – Michael Neal from Dayton, TN. with 67-12 lbs. - $30,000
4th – Wade Hendricks from Thompson Station, TN. with 66-13 lbs. - $25,000
5th - Rick Cotten from Guntersville, AL with 66-11 lbs. - $20,000
6th – Casey Martin from New Market, AL with 61-14 lbs. - $17,000
7th – Bryan Thrift from Shelby, NC with 60-14 lbs. - $16,000
8th - Adrian Avena from Vineland, NJ with 58-13 lbs. - $15,000
9th - Chad Grigsby from Maple Grove, MN 55-10 lbs. - $14,000
10th - Phillip Jarabeck from Lynchburg, VA with 55-10 lbs.- $13,000
Visit www.flwoutdoors.com for complete results.
