Mueller Moves To Top With 2nd Straight 15-03 Bag

By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

Paul Mueller said consistency will decide who wins the Neely Henry Lake Bassmaster Elite Series. If that’s the case, the 37-year-old pro from Naugatuck, Conn., is in the perfect position at the halfway point of the tournament.

Mueller caught a five-bass limit on day 2 that weighed 15-03, the same total he boated Friday on this 11,200-acre reservoir of the Coosa River in northeast Alabama. His 30-06 total leads the event, which began a day late due to heavy rains earlier in the week that swelled Neely Henry’s water level in places and stained the water throughout.

Those conditions have made fishing tricky for most anglers through day 2, but Mueller has stayed steady. Fifty other anglers weren’t so lucky as the 98-angler field was trimmed to 48 following the day-2 weigh-in at the Gadsden City Boat Docks.

“To win one of these, you can’t have one bad day,” Mueller said. “If you slip, it’ll keep you from winning. I’ve been in that position more times than winning. You have that bad day, you finish 5th or whatever.”

Mueller weighed three largemouth and a pair of spotted bass on Saturday. He said he didn’t cover nearly as much water as he did a day earlier, but he’s pounding the areas he is fishing.

“I’m doing what I like to do, chunking and winding a crankbait,” he said. “I’d rather do that than eat. I like to do my own thing and not fish next to anyone. It’s important for me to fish my own stuff. And if you can do what you like to do, you’re better off. You don’t play someone else’s ball game.”

Mueller’s heaviest fish on Saturday was a 4-pound largemouth. He added a spotted bass that weighed about 3 1/4 pounds, another quality bite here this week, but he lamented missing two spots he said were heavier than the couple of 2 1/2-pounders that rounded out his day-2 bag.

“You really need one big bite here to go with four 2 1/2-pounders,” he said. “If you get that, you’ll have the right weight.”

Brock Mosley, a 32-year old lite from Collinsville, Miss., caught 12-14 Saturday. Coupled with his day-1 weight of 16-15, he’s in 2nd place with 29-13.

Mosely said he continued the “junk-fishing” that vaulted him to the top of the standings Friday.

“I’m just trying to not get into a bad rotation,” Mosley said. “I’m fishing a lot of new water and I don’t know where my good bites are going to come from. I’m just trying to keep my head down and fish as hard as I can.”

Mosley said Neely Henry was draining Saturday, which produced different conditions and made more water available to him.

“I caught a couple on topwater today after not catching anything in practice on that,” he said. “I’m just fishing what’s in front of me and trying to survive each day.”

Mosley said the pleasant weather on Saturday (mid- to high 60s, sunny) attracted many local anglers, which made Neely Henry fish smaller than it would with just 98 pros on the water. He was able to fend off the crowd, though, and knows he’s in a power position with the derby halfway home.

“There’s so much still that can happen,” he said. “My goal today was a 13- or 14-pound bag and one big bite could make it 15 pounds. There’s a chance to catch a 5- to 7-pound fish, too. There are some in here, I just have to make them open their mouths. It’ll be interesting.”

Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C., is in 3rd with 29-06. He caught 14-04 Saturday to go with the 15-02 that had him in 6th place after day 1.

“I’m just moving around the lake, trying to fish a pattern and key on some things when the weather’s right,” the 55-year-old pro said. “I really need the sunshine to help my bite.”

Sunday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and a continued warming trend, with temperatures peaking above 80 degrees. There’s a 60-percent chance of rain on Monday, though.

That forecast didn’t dampen Auten’s spirit. He’s won a tournament on Neely Henry previously and finished 3rd in another.

“This lake has been good to me,” he said.

The next five anglers are all within 13 ounces of one another, though at least 2 pounds behind Auten and 3 behind Mueller.

Gerald Swindle of Guntersville, Ala., is 4th with 27-06, followed by Bob Downey of Hudson, Wis., with 27-01 and Drew Benton of Blakely, Ga., with 27-00. Alabamians Clent Davis of Montevallo and Wes Logan of Springville are 7th and 8th, with 26-10 and 26-09, respectively.

Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., won the daily $1,000 Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award for the 5-11 he caught Saturday. That’s the heaviest bass caught through two days of competition.

The remaining 48 competitors will take off at 6:30 a.m. CT from the Gadsden City Boat Docks, also known as Coosa Landing, with weigh-in back at the docks at 2:30 p.m. The Top 10 following Sunday’s weigh-in will compete in Monday's final round with $100,000 on the line.

Day 2 Standings

1. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 10, 30-06 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-03

2. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 29-13 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 16-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14

3. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 29-06 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04

4. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 27-06 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03

5. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 10, 27-01 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02

6. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 10, 27-00 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08

7. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 10, 26-10 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01

8. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 10, 26-09 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08

9. Bryan New -- Belmont, NC -- 10, 26-02 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 09-11

10. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 25-14 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07

11. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10, 25-11 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07

12. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 25-10 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13

13. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 10, 25-05 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12

14. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 10, 25-01 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

15. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 24-03 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11

16. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 10, 24-02 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 11-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15

17. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 10, 23-14 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 09-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14

18. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 23-13 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 09-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04

19. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 10, 23-09 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-05

20. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 10, 23-06 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07

21. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 10, 23-06 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01

22. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 10, 23-05 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08

23. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 10, 23-02 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00

24. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 10, 22-15 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 09-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06

25. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 22-13 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 10-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14

26. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 22-11 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05

27. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 9, 22-10 -- 74
Day 1: 4, 09-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00

28. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 22-10 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

29. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 9, 22-09 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 4, 12-10

30. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 22-09 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06

31. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 22-08 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00

32. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 22-04 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04

33. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 21-10 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 07-12

34. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 10, 21-05 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 09-09

35. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 9, 20-15 -- 66
Day 1: 4, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

36. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 20-14 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 09-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

37. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 9, 20-14 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 4, 09-07

38. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 10, 20-11 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 09-09

39. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 10, 20-10 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05

40. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 20-02 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 09-14

41. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 8, 20-00 -- 60
Day 1: 3, 06-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08

42. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 10, 19-14 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-01

43. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 10, 19-11 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 09-04

44. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 10, 19-10 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 09-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13

45. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 10, 19-09 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 09-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-00

46. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 10, 19-08 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 07-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03

47. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 10, 19-02 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 09-03

48. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 10, 18-13 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 09-01 -- Day 2: 5, 09-12

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 3.

49. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 9, 18-10 -- 52 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 4, 07-05

50. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 9, 18-09 -- 51 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 06-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

51. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 8, 18-07 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11

52. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 9, 18-07 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 4, 08-04

53. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 10, 18-05 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-08 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13

54. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 8, 18-04 -- 47 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 06-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01

55. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 10, 18-03 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 5, 07-02

56. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 10, 17-15 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-10 -- Day 2: 5, 09-05

57. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 10, 17-14 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 5, 07-13

58. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 10, 17-13 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08

59. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 10, 17-10 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-00 -- Day 2: 5, 08-10

60. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 10, 17-06 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-09 -- Day 2: 5, 08-13

61. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 17-03 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 07-11 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08

62. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 10, 17-03 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-14 -- Day 2: 5, 08-05

63. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 7, 17-02 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11

64. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 10, 17-02 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 06-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-04

65. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 6, 16-15 -- 36 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-11

66. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 8, 16-13 -- 35 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13

67. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 10, 16-05 -- 34 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 05-08

68. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 9, 16-05 -- 33 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 06-11 -- Day 2: 5, 09-10

69. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 10, 16-03 -- 32 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-01 -- Day 2: 5, 08-02

70. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 9, 16-00 -- 31 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 06-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-03

71. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 9, 15-15 -- 30 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 06-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-02

72. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 9, 15-10 -- 29 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 07-07 -- Day 2: 5, 08-03

73. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 10, 15-02 -- 28 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 07-04 -- Day 2: 5, 07-14

74. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 9, 14-10 -- 27 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 07-10 -- Day 2: 4, 07-00

75. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 9, 14-04 -- 26 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-00 -- Day 2: 4, 04-04

76. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 7, 14-03 -- 25
Day 1: 2, 03-06 -- Day 2: 5, 10-13

77. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 6, 14-01 -- 24
Day 1: 2, 05-05 -- Day 2: 4, 08-12

78. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 8, 13-12 -- 23
Day 1: 3, 04-04 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08

79. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 6, 13-11 -- 22
Day 1: 2, 04-03 -- Day 2: 4, 09-08

80. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 7, 13-07 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 10-06 -- Day 2: 2, 03-01

81. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 6, 12-09 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 1, 00-12

82. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 9, 12-09 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 05-09 -- Day 2: 4, 07-00

83. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 8, 12-09 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 06-11 -- Day 2: 3, 05-14

84. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 7, 12-05 -- 17
Day 1: 3, 03-09 -- Day 2: 4, 08-12

84. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 7, 12-05 -- 17
Day 1: 2, 03-09 -- Day 2: 5, 08-12

86. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 9, 12-02 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 07-12 -- Day 2: 4, 04-06

87. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 11-12 -- 14 -- $1,000
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-12

88. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 6, 11-10 -- 13
Day 1: 3, 05-02 -- Day 2: 3, 06-08

89. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 5, 11-01 -- 12
Day 1: 1, 03-05 -- Day 2: 4, 07-12

90. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 6, 10-15 -- 11
Day 1: 2, 02-10 -- Day 2: 4, 08-05

91. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 7, 10-09 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 07-10 -- Day 2: 2, 02-15

92. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 5, 10-08 -- 9
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 10-08

93. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 8, 10-07 -- 8
Day 1: 3, 04-04 -- Day 2: 5, 06-03

94. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 8, 10-05 -- 7
Day 1: 3, 04-00 -- Day 2: 5, 06-05

95. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 09-09 -- 6
Day 1: 3, 06-09 -- Day 2: 2, 03-00

96. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 09-02 -- 5
Day 1: 1, 03-08 -- Day 2: 4, 05-10

97. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 2, 06-12 -- 4
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 2, 06-12

98. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 4, 06-10 -- 3
Day 1: 1, 02-06 -- Day 2: 3, 04-04