Kraig Kettlekamp faces daily pressure as a salesman in the medical industry. Saturday, he faces closing a deal that requires defending his lead at the Lake Oneida Bassmaster Northern Open.
That won’t be easy.
“It’s almost uncomfortable, nerve-wracking,” said the tournament leader from Clifton Springs, N.Y.
Kettlekamp caught 16-01 on Friday to bring his 2-day total to 36-8. He's about 2 pounds ahead of 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion Randy Howell and a little more than 4 in front of 2014 Forrest Wood Cup winner Anthony Gagliardi, who's in 3rd.
Being an unknown surrounded by high-profile anglers might be an advantage. The pros behind him are fishing open water, making them easy to spot by spectators on Saturday. Meanwhile, Kettlekamp has quietly settled into his productive area.
The spot features aquatic vegetation, covering rocky shoals at depth ranges from 4 to 10 feet. On Oneida Lake, miles of similar shoreline make the area unimpressive. The key fish attractant to his area is nearby.
“I’m a believer that some populations of largemouth don’t move far away from their spawning areas,” he said. “This lake is shallow enough for largemouth to spend their entire life cycle there.”
Here are the totals for the 12 anglers who advanced to the final day:
1. Kraig Kettelkamp: 36-08
2. Randy Howell: 34-09
3. Anthony Gagliardi: 32-06
4. Chad Pipkens: 31-14
5. Boyd Duckett: 31-10
6. Pete Garnier: 31-10
7. Wesley Strader: 31-03
8. (tie) Austin Felix: 30-15
8. (tie) Jamie Hartman: 30-15
10. Shane Lineberger: 30-12
11. Stephen Mui: 30-10
12. Dave Lefebre: 30-02
