PITTSBURGH (April 26, 2005) – The big boys came to play in this year’s CITGO Bassmaster Classic. And the Lucky Craft Pro Staff was right in the middle of it, wrapping up impressive finishes on Pittsburgh’s Three River system.

On this weekend, Gerald Swindle was one of the biggest stars. His tenacious work ethic and aggressive style led to a supreme effort, as the Alabama star finished a mere 1 pound and 2 ounces shy of Kevin VanDam’s winning weight of 12 pounds, 15 ounces – the lowest in the Classic’s 35 years of competition.

Despite capturing the best Classic finish of his flourishing career, Swindle wasn’t satisfied.

“Losing the Classic this way is like going to a buffet with a muzzle on,” Swindle said. “When you go out there and compete like I did, it’s hard to swallow. I have taken this loss personally. I have the greatest sponsors in the world - like Lucky Craft - and I want to win one of these so badly for them.

Swindle’s success was based on a Lucky Craft strategy and a couple key areas of suspended fish.

“I fished a really small Lucky Craft Bevy Crank 45 DR and the Lucky Craft G-Splash,” said the 2004 CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year. “I threw a Ghost Minnow the first day and then threw something similar to Shell White the final two days – they seemed to bite that better.”

California’sSkeet Reese was also in the hunt all the way up until the final weigh-in. During Sunday’s competition, Reese had played out in his head what he needed to do, which included catching at least one ‘kicker’ type fish.

When it was said and done however, Reese came home in eighth with an overall weight of 9 pounds and 4 ounces.

“I felt I had a chance to win it going out there on the final day,” Reese said. “I needed to catch a big one though, but the possibilities were there. I felt if I could have caught five pounds and the others ahead of me stubbed their toe a little bit – I would have had an opportunity.

“Unfortunately, that didn’t happen,” Reese continued. “They beat me fair and square, so I can’t complain. I’m disappointed I couldn’t catch more fish and finish higher in the tournament than I did. I don’t like to get beat.”

Reese focused on smaller lures to generate bites.

“I was able to catch fish on a Lucky Craft Combat Crank in Ghost Minnow color,” Reese continued. “I have a feeling, with the lack of current coming down the river, the lower pools were where they ended up catching them. Those areas had a lot more boat traffic and they stirred up the water a little, which generated some bites.

“I never rushed myself and fished very slowly,” Reese said. “If I were to look back on my tournament, I would have gone back down to the lower pools.”

Defending Classic champ Takahiro Omori didn’t have the tournament he was hoping for. The Texas resident landed in the 35 th position after boating two fish for the weekend, weighing in at two pounds.

Omori was asked if he felt any extra pressure after last year’s performance in Charlotte, N.C.

“I did feel it a little,” said Omori, who followed up his Classic success with a Tour victory during the season-opening event on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes earlier this year. “I really didn’t have a good practice here a month ago, catching five keepers in my five days out on the water.