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Mustang Survival pro-staffer Mike McClelland staged an amazing come from behind win this past weekend at the Sunshine Showdown on the Harris Chain of Lakes, where his Bassmaster career started 20 years ago.

Brian Snowden almost won the first BassMaster Elite Series event of the season without catching a fish Sunday. Ten of the final 12 anglers had weighed in at the Harris Chain of Lakes, and Snowden’s 54-pound, three-day total remained unsurpassed. But when Mike put 15 pounds on the scales Sunday, he took a lead of just over 5 pounds!

With the win, Mike takes the top position in the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, the season long chase that will determine the top 36 qualifiers for the 2009 Bassmaster Classic, with the AOY winning $250,000. The next stop on the Elite Series circuit is the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes out of Lake Wales, Fla., for the March 13-16 Citrus Slam presented by Longhorn.

You can watch Mike’s come-from-behind victory on ESPN2 Saturday, March 15, at 9 a.m. on The Bassmasters.

Hey all, Just wanted to check in and write my first entry into the blog. My name is Brian Henley and not only do I tournament bass fish, I am also an employee of Mustang Survival! My primary duties are Business Development Military but fortunate for me, I also help the marketing team with Bass fishing. There will be more about me in upcoming posts, what I really wanted to talk about today is the launch of the Mustangs Survival Safe Money Incentive Program.

Safe Money is open to all divisions of the BassMaster Weekend Series anglers who purchase a Mustang Survival Inflatable PFD in 2008. Safe Money members who finish first at approved tournaments are eligible to win $300.00 in prize money by simply wearing their Mustang Survival PFD at all required times during the tournaments.

Talk about exciting…. This is the first and only Incentive Program that I have ever heard of that will actually pay you more then the purchase price of the product!!

Visit the Safe Money page for full details.

On another note, I wanted to post a picture of the newly wrapped Mustang Survival bass boat that I will be fishing out of this season. It was taken at the Bassmaster Classic when Roland Martin was visiting our booth. Check back regularly to see my progress. Also, If you see me driving down the road or on the water, please stop and say hello!

Mustang Survival pro-staffer and TV host Dave Mercer’s Facts of Fishing Tips Series has been airing for many years on OLN, TSN, ESPN Classic, WFN, Wild TV and The Weather Network in Canada. His one minute segments are fast-paced, fun, energetic, educational, and very entertaining!

His new half-hour program - Dave Mercer’s Facts of Fishing™ THE SHOW has been airing on WFN featuring what really happens on the water. Shot in real time over one day, you get to see how many casts, how long Dave’s been fishing, how many fish he has or hasn’t caught, and everything else that happens!

If you don’t have access to WFN on digital cable, the show is coming to The Score in April. Check it out!

Louisiana pro angler, Judy Wong is now the 2008 Women’s Bassmaster Tour - presented by Academy Sports & Outdoors 2008 world champion. The majority of her catch came from the Oconee Nuclear Station hot water discharge on Lake Keowee, SC. Wong fished there all three days for a total winning weight of 26-10 – beating her nearest competitor, Pam Martin Wells by a mere 6 ounces.

Wong said she chose the hot water outlet due to the cold weather this time of year. “Like everyone, I hoped to get my limit early each day then try to find a kicker largemouth bass” she said” but that never happened.

Despite bringing a five fish limit to the scales weighing 7-9 for a total weight of 26-4, defending 2007 champion, Pam Martin Wells, of Bainbridge, GA finished second – by a mere 6 ounces. Martin-Wells needed sun to catch the larger fish. “It didn’t come out soon enough,” she said.

“I predicted a 40 pound weight to win this event,” said Wong, “so it surprised me when it only took 26 (pounds.)

Wong’s winning lures included a Gary Yamamoto Senko in watermelon red or silver metal-flake rigged wacky style, a spinner bait, Fluke, and her largest fish on a Senko rigged on a ¾-ounce football jig. “I used lures I felt these fish would hit,” she said. “I think the reason I was able to catch the fish was bait choice. There were other anglers fishing near me who left without catching anything, she noticed.

First place prize in the Women’s Bassmaster Tour paid Wong a fully rigged Triton boat and $10,000 in cash, for a total prize package of $60,000. ‘The title means more than the winnings,” admitted Wong. “We women are passionate about this sport and give it our all at every event, so winning this championship means a lot to us when we do win” she said.

Friday’s leader and 2006 Toyota Angler of the Year, Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, TN failed to adjust quickly enough to changing weather conditions that went from cold, rain and wind to a sunny bluebird day. She finished in 3^rd with 23-15

Karol Whitehurst of Winnsboro, Texas became the co-angler champion with a three-day total of 15-8. She won a fully rigged Triton and cash for a total prize value of $34,500.

Sponsors for the Women’s Bassmaster Tour include Academy Sports & Outdoors, Toyota Tundra, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance, Mercury, Skeeter, Yamaha, OPTIMA Batteries, Triton Boats, Legend Boats and Mustang Survival.

2008 2007 Womens Bassmaster Tour Championship BO 02/21-02/23 Lake Keowee, Seneca S.C.

(BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Judy Wong Many, La. 15 26-10 0 $60,000.00

Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 7-08 Day 3: 5 6-05

2. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 15 26-04 0 $37,000.00

Day 1: 5 7-01 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 7-09

3. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 12 23-15 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 5 9-08 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 2 3-01

4. Audrey McQueen Eagar, Ariz. 11 21-00 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 4 7-04 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 2 3-02

5. Tammy Richardson Glenwood, Ark. 11 20-09 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 5 9-06 Day 2: 5 9-10 Day 3: 1 1-09

6. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 10 19-07 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 3 4-14 Day 2: 5 9-08 Day 3: 2 5-01

7. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 9 17-07 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 2 5-02 Day 2: 5 9-08 Day 3: 2 2-13

8. Juanita Robinson Highlands, Texas 10 16-00 0 $5,000.00

Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 3 3-02 Day 3: 5 8-09

9. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, Ohio 9 12-06 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 3 4-00 Day 2: 5 7-06 Day 3: 1 1-00

10. Secret York Benton, Ky. 3 9-00 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 1 5-08 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 3-08

11. Penny Berryman Hot Springs, Ark. 4 8-10 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 1 4-08 Day 2: 1 1-15 Day 3: 2 2-03

12. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 5 7-13 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 2 3-15 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 2 1-12

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Totals

Day #Limits #Fish Weight

1 4 38 78-04

2 8 45 84-05

3 3 31 46-08

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15 114 209-01

2008 2007 Womens Bassmaster Tour Championship NB 02/21-02/23 Lake Keowee, Seneca S.C.

(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$

1. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, Texas 10 15-08 0 $34,500.00

Day 1: 3 5-00 Day 2: 5 7-11 Day 3: 2 2-13

2. Barbara Gaskins Suffolk, Va. 7 11-08 0 $27,500.00

Day 1: 5 9-13 Day 2: 1 0-14 Day 3: 1 0-13

3. Kim Stapp Ringgold, Ga. 7 11-02 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 1 2-04 Day 2: 3 4-08 Day 3: 3 4-06

4. Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 7 10-07 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 2 4-02 Day 2: 5 6-05 Day 3: 0 0-00

5. Dianne Kegley Norphlet, Ark. 6 7-11 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 4 4-13 Day 2: 1 1-00 Day 3: 1 1-14

6. Kala Wright Spiro, Okla. 6 7-06 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 5-10 Day 3: 2 1-12

7. Cheryl Buelow Pollock, La. 4 6-10 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 1 1-10 Day 3: 1 1-11

8. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, Wash. 4 6-06 0 $2,500.00

Day 1: 2 2-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 2 4-01

9. Debbie Pegoli Loveland, Ohio 3 4-15 0 $1,250.00

Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 1 1-08 Day 3: 1 1-12

10. Colleen McKay Worcester, Mass. 3 3-11 0 $1,250.00

Day 1: 1 1-04 Day 2: 1 1-04 Day 3: 1 1-03

11. Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 2 3-04 0 $1,250.00

Day 1: 1 1-14 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 1-06

12. Angie Everitt Livingston, Texas 1 1-09 0 $1,250.00

Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00

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Totals

Day #Limits #Fish Weight

1 1 23 38-00

2 1 22 30-06

3 1 15 21-11

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3 60 90-01

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