Larry Bean

Larry is a long-time employee of Daimler-Chrysler in St. Louis, MO. Larry's favorite lures are - as he says it - "That ol' Jewel Spinnerbait and Buzzbait". These two baits, along with others, helped Larry compete in eight consecutive Red Man Regional and one Red Man All American Tournament. Larry qualified to compete in the Millennium Tournament at Cypress Gardens, FL, where he recently returned from fishing. Larry has won or moneyed in several Bass O Thon Tournaments, Operations Bass and Forest L. Wood Tournaments.

Tim Sainato

Tim is a full time touring Professional Angler and Guide on Table Rock and Bull Shoals Lakes. Tim refers to the Jewel Spider Jig as his "bread and butter lure". It is easy to understand why since Tim has used the Spider Jig to help him earn the Central Pro Am Championship title as well as win the Nitro Savage Summit Bass Tournament and numerous top ten finishes. Tim says the Spider Jig combined with a Hyperflex Grub trailer has... "contributed greatly to my tournament success." In addition to guiding, Tim is a member of Real Estate's "Million Dollar Clubs" and is actively involved in ownership of a fishing tackle distribution company. Tim is married to wife Kim and has 2 children, Matthew and Blakely. They reside in Branson, MO.

Eric Holt

"Eric Holt, Runner-up at Forest L. Wood Championship." Yes, the one you read about and see on television! Wow - what a tournament! Wow - what a competitor! After six stops (cashing checks in four of six tournaments) during the Forest L. Wood Tour, Eric qualified for the Championship and clinched the runner-up spot at one of the most competitive Tournament Circuits in the nation. The 4-day event was held at Lake Fort Gibson, OK. Talk to anyone who has met Eric, and they will tell you he exhibits a winning attitude. I have copies of letters sent to me at Jewel from amateur partners who have fished with Eric and they all say the same. In the six or so years I have known Eric, I have witnessed his successes and failures. Eric has endured. It is these qualities which enable his success: perseverance, patience, persistency (and personality). They are what makes him a winner. Congratulations Eric and Denise on your present, and future, successes - you have earned them.

Junior Stewart

Junior has probably done as much to put the Jewel Spider Jig "on the map" in the Jig's early days as anyone. The Spider Jig was somewhat a "secret"; however, as soon as Junior and his partner won the Tournament of Champions on Table Rock Lake, the "secret" was out. Junior uses the heavier weights of the Spider Jig and 3/4 oz. Jewel Football Jig to fish 20 to 50 feet deep. Junior comments, "... these fish are more predictable and less bothered than shallow fish." Obviously his theory pays off. Junior has many victories that include qualifying for two Ultimate Challenge Tournaments, moneyed in 5 Red Man tournaments and qualified for two Red Man Regional Tournaments, has 7 Winter Bass O Thon wins and a couple of Bass O Thon Championship wins. Junior owns Stewart Bros. Construction in West Plains, MO where he, his wife Cathy, his sons and grandchildren live.

J.R. Williams

J.R. has finished in the Top Ten of the Heartland Pro-Am circuit the last three years. This past year he had a second place finish, received Big Bass twice and finished in the Top Ten in several tournaments. In the annual Bass Cat tournament this year, he finished in the top twenty with over 700 anglers. J.R. has been fishing tournaments for approximately 10 years. He enjoys the competition and camaraderie with the other fishermen. He enjoys representing his sponsors while competing with some of the top anglers in the nation.

Buster Loving

Buster spends more than 300 days a year fishing for a living. Buster has owned and operated Buster's Guide Service, chartering trips on Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Taneycomo and Lake Fork. Buster fishes an average of 30 tournaments annually, with recent victories in the Forest L. Wood Tournament, 2nd place '98 Table Rock Central Pro-Am, 9th place '99 Central Invitational B.A.S.S. and runner-up in the '99 Heartland Pro-Am Fall Spectacular. Buster comments, "I started using Jewel products three years ago and have become a much more consistent fisherman. I know for a fact that Jewel has played a huge part in my success as a fisherman."

Scott Pauley

Scott has enjoyed tremendous success using the Rave Perma Jig. Scott calls the Rave his "favorite lure" when fishing heavy cover such as laydowns, buck brush and boat docks because the Rave works easily over cables and through brush. Scott's recent career highlights include: '99 Heartland Buddy Bass Bull Shoals Winner, 3rd at the '99 BassMaster MO Regional Lake of the Ozarks, and numerous top ten Red Man and Heartland Pro-Am finishes. Scott is the Outdoor Marketing Specialist for the Missouri Division of Tourism. As spokesperson, he represents and promotes Missouri fishing throughout the world, just recently returning from Japan and London, England. Scott is a Sergeant for the MO Highway Patrol and is married to wife, Janet, who also works full time as Scott's manager.

Troy Eakins

Troy Eakins is, without a doubt, the hottest young Pro Division Angler on the Central Pro-Am Association tournament trail. During 1999, he made history by becoming CPAA's fourth "Triple Crown" winner. Fishing, nearly exclusively, with a jig and plastic trailer, Troy won the 1999 Lake of the Ozarks Pro-Am Bass Tournament, was the 1999 Pro Division Angler of the Year, and took home the Pro Division Championship Title at CPAA's prestigious Ranger-Mercury Pro-Am Bass Fishing Championship. Using a (prototype) Eakins Pro Model Jig, Troy has won over $90,000 in Central Pro-Am Tournament competition. Troy's confidence in jig fishing and the Eakins Pro Model Jig has paid off with big rewards during the past 2-3 years. "I cannot imagine competing in a bass tournament and not using a jig, especially the Eakins Pro Model Jig, as my #1 confidence bait," said Troy. "I know this lure is a major contributor to my tournament success."

Jim Eakins

In 1989, Jim Eakins won Central Pro-Am Associations first Pro Division championship title on a jig. Since that time, he has qualified for eleven consecutive Central Pro-Am Association Championship appearances, became a B.A.S.S. top 100 qualifier, and a 1993 BassMaster Classic qualifier. During the past five years, Eakins has perfected the use of a jig and has won a Central Pro-Am Angler of the Year Title and Central Pro-Am Associations 1998 Lake of the Ozarks Pro-Am Bass Tournament with his jig-fishing skills. He has won over $85,150 in CPAA only tournament competition by using a jig and trailer combination. The Eakins Pro Model Jig is the refined product of these tournament accomplishments. "The Eakins Pro Model Jig is an exact duplicate of the jig I have used for many years," said Eakins. "I am proud to have the Jewel Bait Company produce this jig for anglers everywhere."