Lubbock, Texas resident Jeff Cloud, who's fished numerous Bassmaster Opens over the past decade but has never logged a Top-20 finish, took over the lead today at the Lake Toho Southern Open in Florida with an 18-06 sack that pushed his 2-day total to 34-12. He'll start the final day with a 2 1/2-pound advantage.
Day-1 leader Todd Auten blanked and fell all the way to 28th place. Kota Kiriyama, who began day 2 in 2nd place, weighed three fish for 4-06 and plummeted to 19th.
Cloud's closest pursuers are three Floridians – Phillip Cury with 32-04, John Brazzell with 31-06 and Garrett Rocamora with 30-03. Van Soles, who's in 6th with 29-06, weighed the biggest fish of the tournament today – a 10-07 bruiser that he caught while punching with a 2-ounce weight.
Russ Lane (9th, 28-02) was the only tour-level angler to make the Top 12.
Here are the totals for the 12 anglers who'll fish the final day:
1. Jeff Cloud: 34-12
2. Phillip Cury: 32-04
3. John Brazzell: 31-06
4. Garrett Rocamora: 30-03
5. David Williams: 29-13
6. Van Soles: 29-06
7. Micah Silverman: 28-08
8. Red Flowers: 28-03
9. Russ Lane: 28-02
10. Jared Dial: 27-14
11. Eric Conant: 27-11
12. Joe Ventrello: 27-10