Pikes Peak Bass Masters: Ferg Cup-Elimination Rnd

Gentzel, Phillips, and Conway

make the cut on "Day 1-Elimination Rnd!"

The first day of the new competitive format in the Pikes Peak Bass Masters-Ferguson Cup Challenge went off without a hitch, although some bluff signal blockage was a minor, temporary set back.  Some of the best weather we have had during a tournament, in many a October, greeted the 6 anglers that were set to prove they could make the Top 3 cut.  Yes....only 3 would move on to the "Sudden Death Round!"    

Todd Gentzel, yea-that guy again, had a massive 30lb-2oz limit after the first period (second place had 12lb-12oz).  Thanks to Todd and his observer for volunteering some of their rest time during the first break period to help lift everyone's bottom jaw back up into place.  Gentzel continued his domination of the club members this year by stroking an impressive total weight of 42lbs 12 oz (No, that is not a misprint) to take the top spot of the 3 that are moving on after this Day 1 match up.

   Derek Phillips, who had held the third spot all day, pulled a last minute fish, (a real "last minute" fish) that weighed 2-6 helping him to take over and finish in 2nd place by just a couple ounces with 17 lbs even.  

Joe Conway felt the pressure all during the first period as the text message "beeps" kept coming in consistantly and right away.  He finally started to relax once he got a few texts to get sent out for himself and felt like he was in position to at least "hang" with the Top 3, for now, knowing nothing is for sure in bass fishing.  By the third period, Conway was slightly concerned with the possibility of Phillips running him down, but felt comfortable, and very fortunate, about having a good grasp on the 3rd position, as 4th place was a good 13lbs behind him.  Although Conway took the 3rd spot comfortably with 16lbs-14oz, he really wasn't totally happy about being beat out in the final seconds by Phillips.  Losing a couple of good keepers to tree limbs in the third period, Conway knew that getting bumped like that could have been much more devastating and he can't let that happen in the future.  Next time, those 2 ounces that pushed him down, could be for 3rd and 4th place, knocking him out of the event.  What a nightmare this could have been!    

The next group of 6 anglers await their chance tomorrow morning, Oct. 21st, 2012, to see who belongs in the final 6 that compete for the final 3 spots in the "Ferguson Cup Challenge!"

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Scully, Limmer, and Ealey

make the cut on "Day 2-Elimination Rnd!"

 Walt Scully (6lbs-7oz), Troy Limmer (6lbs-5oz), Steve Ealey (5lbs-13oz)

Oh my! What a race the second group had for the Top 3 spots in Day 2-Round 1 of the Ferguson Cup Challenge!  Predictions of who would make the Top 3 were abound, but a few anglers decided they had as good a chance as anyone else to catch those 13" keeper fish and gave everything they had.....right up until the final cast!  Next up-"Sudden Death Round-Nov. 10th!" 

Walt Scully was given the opportunity to fish this event when a spot opened up by Brandon Boyd dropping out ("Boyd has a new baby in the family-Congrats!").  Walt hadn't fished for months after getting another heart attack recently.  Although a giant underdog in this match-up, he decided he could get himself together and would make the event, as this may be his last chance to get on the water this year.   

Once finding out the "unit" or "area" he was to be fishing in, Walt made the dicision to fish an area that he knew well, but wasn't sure the fish would participate with him at this time of year.  He stayed with his game plan and fished hard with what he knew, but was rewarded very little for his efforts.  Fortunately for him, those few fish he did catch, kept him in 2nd place after the first period of his round.

The second period found Steve Ealey catching a few keepers and sent Walt falling to 3rd place.  Now he was within striking distance of the hard charging 4th place angler,  Mr. Bob Zyer!  Bob had moved up to within a good fish of over-taking 3rd place.  Walt knew he had to finish the third period strong, or he would be out of the Top 3 and the event!

Staying with his one pattern, which was producing no attention by keeper fish in this third period, Walt held steady and believed in his decision (out loud occasionally), that it would work out for him to make the cut and he would stay in 3rd place.  With just 20 minutes to go, and not one keeper fish recorded as being caught by anyone else in the third period, Walt hooked a fish that immediately went airborn numerous times after feeling the sting of the Spinnerbait hook!  The fish was one of the largest Walt had hooked this day and he stiffened up like a telephone pole while trying to get that fish into the boat, talking to someone out loud (perhaps our Lord), to help him get that fish in the boat....PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!

With a "straight up jerk," and a not so good 90 degree swing that kept the big fish hanging over the water a long time, the fish made it to the bottom of the boat and fell off the hook! The fish proved to be the biggest fish of the day for these anglers, and barely slipped Walt past the leader Troy Limmer (whom held the top spot all day up to that point) for the top spot of the 3 moving on to the "Sudden Death Round" taking place Nov. 10th!