New York B.A.S.S. Nation member George Yund faced a dilemma Friday after weighing in his fish during the Bassmaster Northern Open at the James River. The 43-year-old fireman for the City of Albany, N.Y. found out he took the lead with a 2-day total of 30 pounds and had to notify the fire department that he would have to miss work on Saturday.
“I'm supposed to be at work at 8 o’clock in the morning, and I have to figure out how to take off,” he said. He later disclosed that the department gave him the extra day off, but it was “going to cost” him later.
Playing the tide was the key to Yund catching a 20-pound sack after weighing in a 10-pound bag the first day.
“I made a wrong turn (in the morning) and fished half the day without the right tide in front of me, but I got down to what I had to do and had the tide working for me for at least half the day,” he said.
The Glenmont, N.Y. resident understands how to work the tide because he lives near the Hudson River and also fishes the Connecticut River.
“This is my first time here, and I basically practiced for 2 days,” he said. “I just looked for hard structure like rock and wood, which I am used to doing on the Hudson.”
Tied for second with 29 pounds each are three-time FLW Tour Angler of the Year David Dudley and Cody Pike of Powhatan, Va. Dudley believes timing the tide right helped him catch his fish. Making the long run to the Chickahominy River, Dudley caught his limit early and then culled several times throughout the day to get to 14-14.
“My pattern is whatever comes in front of me,” he said. “If I see a dock, I'm throwing at a dock. If I see lily pads, I'm throwing at lily pads. I'm not doing anything special.”
Pike caught a limit early but ran into motor problems around 11 o’clock. “So I kind of limped my way back (to the takeoff site),” he said. Stopping on a place he had never fished before, Pike caught about a 5-pounder that kicked his limit up to 14-08.
Day-1 leader Chris Dillow, the 2015 winner at the James, managed just two keepers for 4-03 on Friday and finished 30th.
Here are the totals for the 12 competitors who advanced to the final day:
1. George Yund: 30-00
2. (tie) David Dudley: 29-00
2. (tie) Cody Pike: 29-00
4. Charlie Hartley: 28-02
5. Brandon Palaniuk: 27-09
6. Steve Miller: 26-15
7. (tie) Kelly Pratt: 26-11
7. (tie) Chad Pipkens: 26-11
9. Matthew Sphar: 25-15
10. Gerald Sensabaugh: 25-14
11. Vince Troiano: 25-12
12. Rob Uzzle: 25-10
