Kevin VanDam

Faircloth mines Amistad tree for second straight year

April 14, 2008
(bassmaster.com, April 14, 2008)

DEL RIO, Texas — In placing fourth last year at Lake Amistad, Todd Faircloth found what he calls “a magic tree.” It did him one better Sunday in the Bassmaster Elite Series Battle on the Border presented by Mahindra Tractors.

The 32-year-old Jasper, Texas, pro landed a five-bass limit weighing 29 pounds, 14 ounces, jumping all the way from eighth place to the $100,000 first-place check at Lake Amistad. In the three-day event, shortened by one day due to a high wind forecast, Faircloth totaled 76-15.

“I can’t believe it,” Faircloth said. “Even after I caught what I caught, I didn’t expect to win this event.”

Rookie Clark Reehm of Russellville, Ark., entered the day in second place and finished there with a total weight of 76-3.

Faircloth was 8-11 behind leader Jason Williamson going into Sunday’s 12-angler finale. His 29-14 not only took Berkley Heavyweight Bag honors for the day, it easily outdistanced what any of the other 11 contenders could produce. Kevin Short’s 22-7 allowed him to end in third place, exactly where he has started the day.

There were only two other bags over 20 pounds after a calm, sunny day made fishing tougher than it had been all week.

Faircloth’s fourth-place finish at Lake Amistad last year included a day in which he caught 36-7 from one tree, isolated just off a point. He caught a 5 1/2-pounder there Friday, but went back to it several times Saturday and didn’t get a bite.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=3345533

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