The final day of the 2011 Fishers of Men National Championship held on Lake Guntersville came to an exciting close as Day 2 leaders, Cody Davis and Tim Marshall posted an additional 18.43 lbs to the boards and sealed their victory with a 3-day total of 65.52 lbs.

The new FOM National Champions earned championship plaques, a share of bonus bucks, plus a "Power Pole" certificate, and most importantly, a beautiful 2011 Skeeter 21FX, powered by a strong Yamaha 250 SHO, 4-stroke motor, with the total package valued at more than $72,000.00.

The new champs raced down Guntersville Lake each day to the vast flats and numerous islands in the Alred area beyond the Guntersville Yacht Club. Cody and Tim's magic weapon was an Xcalibur, square-billed, shallow running, Rayburn Red-Blk-Back crankbait. The pair said that they ripped the little crankbait through 2 to 5 foot depths of grass-filled water, where four and five-plus pound bass would then attack, as they were preparing to spawn. With numerous boats in the area the first two days and absolute overcrowding today, the new champions still managed 20 pound-plus bags of fish each day by finding a solid pattern that held up throughout the championship event.

Another Razorback team, Flannagan Fife and Steve Cannon parlayed their 3-day catch of 15 bass, at 64.78 lbs, into a $10,000.00 check and a second place finish. Steve and Flannagan, also worked the same area each day to amass 23.61, 20.78, and 20.39 with a variety of baits. After reaching the Alred area below the 431 bridge each day, Steve and Flannagan worked white Chatterbaits through the submerged grass on Day 1 and culled through 20 keeper fish. Day 2 saw the Arkansas Central boys running Lucky Craft RC-2.5 Blk-splatter crankbaits through the grass in 3 to 5 feet of water on the flats around the islands, to net an additional 20 keepers. As they endured the large number of boats in the area today, Flannagan and Steve switched to a texas-rigged, Blk, 10-inch, Zoom Ole' Monster worm to take about 15 skittish keepers.

Long-time fishing partners, Martin Elshout and Mark Price, Louisiana-North Central, earned $7000.00 and 3rd place for a 3-day total of 64.46 lbs. Martin and Mark made the run up to Scottsboro's North Bay area and Jones Creek to fish in 2 feet of water which contained primrose. On Day 1, they flipped grn-pumpkin jigs, tipped with Paca and Speed Craws, to take 26.68 lbs, which included the tournament high 9.85 lbs beast. Day 2 saw them running and gunning with senkos in order to limit out with 19.11 lbs. Today, Mark caught his 7.34 lbs, $250.00, 2nd Big Fish, up in Jones Creek on a Yellow Magic topwater bait and the rest of their bass inhaled senkos.

The Alabama Northwest father-son team of Jack Napier Sr and Jack Jr placed 4th overall and earned $5000.00 for their 3-day catch of 63.81 lbs. Team Napier worked 4 to 6 feet of grass-filled water near the Alred Marina each day for prespawn bass. Grn-pumpkin Zoom Brush Hogs yielded 23.75 on Day 1, 22.08 on Day 2, and 17.98 on Day 3. Jack stated that they had limited out by 9:00 am this morning, however, the day was slow and steady work in order to come up with today's fish.

The Alred bay and islands area seemed to be the hottest place on the entire lake this week.

The Day 3, $500.00, 1st Big Fish Award went to FLW Tour Pro, Jon Cox and FLW co-angler Keith Carson. The 7.40 lbs sow was pulled from a bed with a jig.

Throughout three days of fishing, 143 teams brought in 1266 bass that weighed 4074.19 lbs. On day three, 27 teams hauled 123 fish, weighing 464.31 lbs for a3.75 lbs average.

The FOM organization would love to express their grattidute to presenting sponsor Abu Garcia, along with Lisa Socha and Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau, event host, Jim Morgan, CEO of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Pastor Rick Douglas, and Creek Path Baptist Church; Jeff Stone, President of Skeeter Boats; Wil Spann, with Pure Fishing, and Ted Winsel from Markel Insurance.

FOM would also like to thank all the fine companies that make these tournaments possible; Primary: Skeeter Boats, Yamaha Outboards, Strike King Lure Company, Abu Garcia, Markel American Insurance, Nester Hosiery, Power Pole, Presenting; Marshall’s Marine of Lake City SC, Berkley, Keelshield, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Official: Solar Bat, Buckeye Lures. Jacobs Glass, Outdoor Specialty Products (Rejuvenate), Dual Pro Chargers, and Keep Alive Oxygen Infusers.