Guard Angler Ramie Colson Jr. Wins on Wheeler Lake

Courtesy of Docupak
DECATUR, Ala. (March 29, 2008) – National Guard Pro Angler “Reel Them In” Ramie Colson Jr. of Cadiz, Ky., caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 2 ounces Saturday to win $125,000 in the $1 million Wal-Mart FLW Series® BP Eastern Division tournament on Wheeler Lake with a four-day catch of 20 bass weighing 59-02.

The catch brought Decatur crowds to there feet in a dramatic win Saturday by a slim 1-ounce margin over Brad Hallman of Norman, Okla.

“I never thought it would happen,” said Colson, who has amassed over $296,000 in FLW Outdoors events. “I never imagined I’d catch the kind of fish all four days it would take to win.”

Colson opened the tournament in 49th place Wednesday with five bass weighing 11-10. On Thursday he added another five bass weighing 16-04 using a jig to capture his lead. He then caught five bass weighing 14-02 throwing a jig near rock in 4 to 8 feet of water in bays Friday to make the crucial top 10 cut in second place. On Saturday he sealed his victory with the same 5/16-ounce jig. Going into the final weigh-in, Colson said he felt good about what he caught.

“I knew it was within reach when I caught that big fish,” Colson said. “When I heard Hallman put 19 pounds in the basket, I knew right then I was done for, because I thought I only had about 15 or 16 pounds. I was very shocked when I put my fish in and saw 17-02 on the scale.”

Colson snagged his fish today in one of the spots where he caught a 3-pounder during practice. He attributes his first FLW Series win to being relaxed and focused. “I was sitting down, just fishing the way I like to fish,” Colson said. “I had everything mentally blocked out and didn’t worry if there was somebody coming out there; we’d talk and they’d leave, and I’d go right around to
where they were and get a fish.”

Colson was not the only National Guard angler making news in Decatur this week. Home town boy Jonathan Newton brought in a five bass limit on Friday bringing him to a three day total of 39 pounds, 6 ounces which was good enough for a 26th place finish and a check for just under $10,000.

National Guard Co angler’s Pat Lay and CSM Michael McGhee had a great showing in Decatur as well both finishing in the top 30 for the tournament which earned them both a nice check for the week. All in all the cold an windy Lake Wheeler turned out to be no match for the fierce National Guard Eastern Series Fishing team.

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