2007 FLW Outdoors Redfish Series

Johnson-Hudec hope to make long runs pay in Redfish Series finals
24.Feb.2007 by Rob Newell

CLEARWATER, Fla. – When Bo Johnson and Rich Hudec took the lead on day two of the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series Eastern, Johnson told the weigh-in crowd, “If you want to help me, bring me an east wind tomorrow.”

Well, apparently someone was listening because as the top five teams set sail for final-round competition Saturday morning, they had an east-southeast wind in their sails.

The American flag, waving toward the Gulf of Mexico, brought smiles to the faces of Johnson-Hudec.

That’s because Johnson and Hudec are running some 100-plus miles from Clearwater, Fla., south to Pine Island Sound to catch their fish.

“If it’s going to blow, that’s probably the best direction for us,” Hudec said. “Hopefully the Gulf down there.”

The team has a 1-pound, 10-ounce lead going into the final day. So at what point will they stop fishing and leave Pine Island Sound today?

“I’d feel pretty good with 11 pounds,” Johnson said. “Ten pounds? Well, not so much. But if all goes well and we get 11-plus in the first hour, we’re coming back. I’m ready to make one of these monster long runs pay, and hopefully today is the day.”