2006 Central Pro Am Results - Table Rock Lake Day 2

Beehler Wins at Beaver Lake

Carrell Wins Amateur Division

Story by John Neporadny - Photo by CE Hanes L.L.C.

(Rogers, AR) Ranger Boats Pro JR Beehler, of Bella Vista AR has had the dubious honor of finishing 2nd in more Central Pro Am Association events than all but one other angler—Jim Eakins of Nixa, MO. But Eakins had something on Beehler, at least until this past weekend’s Beaver Lake Pro Am Fishing tournament; Eakins had won against the tough field, Beehler had not. But all of that changed, as Beehler managed to catch two limits of fish at Beaver that tipped the scales at better than 31 pounds.

Pro Division Winner - JR Beeler

Keying on schools of shad in Van Hollow and Rocky Branch, Beehler’s game plan included targeting deep Kentucky bass early to get his limit, then fishing for largemouth afterwords to improve his creel. Utilizing a baby bass colored grub on a ¼ ounce leadhead, Beehler caught his fish anywhere from 22 to 55 feet deep in the canyon like pockets. His day one catch of over 17 pounds came after he was able to cull out some of his Kentucky bass with larger largemouths that he found schooled up around a fallen cedar tree along a rocky ledge.

On Day 2, Beehler’s amateur division partner Ira Carrell started the day out with a bang, boating several keepers on a white grub behind Beehler, before Beehler changed baits and started imitating Carrell’s pattern. Both anglers managed limits, and both climbed to the top of their respective divisions.

Day 1 leader Tadjen Peterson of Olathe KS found the changing weather patterns on day 2 also changed his fishing—to the negative. His nearly two pound lead was not enough to fight off Beehler, or several other anglers, including eventual runner up Travis Fox.

Fox, who utilized a Hildebrandt Spinnerbait with white and chartreuse blades, moved up one position from his day one performance to capture 2nd place honors. The former amateur division angler, who made the move to the front deck of the boat last season, wasted little time in climbing toward the top of the standings early in his career. He praised the pros he had fished with during his amateur career. “There is not a better place to learn to fish than with the pro anglers of Central Pro Am,” Fox boasted. “I learned so much from them, and that background really helped my decision making this tournament,” he finished.

In the amateur division, Tahlequah, OK angler Ira Carrell boated a five fish limit on Sunday to climb to the top place, which earned him $1400 for his finish, plus an additional $1000 in Ranger Cup Incentive money. JR Beehler added $2500 Ranger Cup Money to his winning payday of $6,000; plus an additional $1,000 Mercury money, as well as $200 from Dennis Hanks Chevrolet in Ozark, bringing his total winnings to $9750.

Over $30,000 was paid out in this third stop of the 2006 season, which will culminate with the top 40 pros and amateurs qualifying for the prestigious Ranger Mercury Pro Am Bass Fishing Championships in October.