Chapman Still Leads, But Evers Just 1-03 Back

By BassFan Staff

Brent Chapman retained his lead today at the Alabama River Bassmaster Elite Series, but his advantage is much more precarious than it was a day ago due to a huge bag brought in by Angler of the Year (AOY) leader Edwin Evers.

Chapman scaled a strong 18-03 to push his 3-day total to 59-04. But the 4 1/2-pound advantage he enjoyed after day 2 is now just 1-03 after Evers sacked 22-06 for a 58-01 aggregate.

Making Chapman's reduced edge even more precarious, he'll be unable to return to the area just below the Jordan Dam on day 4 due to the constantly decreasing flow in the Coosa River. Meanwhile, Evers will have no such issues in the Bouldin Dam canal, where he's resided all week, unless some competitors in need of new water head his way.

Steve Kennedy boxed a day-best 23-03 to move up six places to 3rd with 55-00. Alton Jones brought in 17-04 and fell two spots to 4th with 53-14.

Bobby Lane held onto the No. 5 position he began the day with as his 16-13 bag gave him a 51-00 total.

Here are the totals for the 12 anglers who'll compete on the final day, with red numbers in parentheses indicating deficit margin from the leader:

1. Brent Chapman: 59-04
2. Edwin Evers: 58-01 (1-03)
3. Steve Kennedy: 55-00 (4-04)
4. Alton Jones: 53-14 (5-06)
5. Bobby Lane: 51-00 (8-04)
6. David Walker: 50-13 (8-07)
7. (tie) Skeet Reese: 47-00 (12-04)
7. (tie) Aaron Martens: 47-00 (12-04)
9. John Murray: 46-11 (12-09)
10. Tommy Biffle: 45-09 (13-11)
11. Paul Elias: 44-09 (14-11)
12. Randy Howell: 44-01 (15-03)

The river continued to run hard today, but not nearly as swiftly as it had on the previous 2 days. Just a single flood gate on the Jordan Dam was open, compared to a dozen or more on days 1 and 2.

The reduced current helped some competitors and hindered others. Kennedy, in particular, found the river's big spotted bass to be much more accessible in the narrowed channel.

It's anyone's guess what'll occur on day 4 if the flow continues to drop – some feel it could cause the current-loving spotted bass to go off the bite. On the flip side, it could bring the river's largemouth population (which has been virtually ignored this week) to the forefront as those fish will be forced to return to places where anglers can reach them.

Reese, the winner last week at Georgia's West Point Lake, moved up 19 places today with a 19-13 stringer. Other newcomers to the Top 12 were Martens (up 12 places with 18-12) and Biffle (up 11 with 17-10). That trio supplanted Scott Ashmore (7th to 16th, 9-07), Greg Vinson (10th to 24th, 9-08) and Davy Hite (11th to 15th, 10-11).

Tomorrow's forecast for the Montgomery area predicts partly cloudy skies, a high temperature of 76 degrees and a north/northwest wind to 13 mph.

Chapman Committed

> Day 3: 5, 18-03 (15, 59-04)

When Chapman heads north tomorrow morning, he knows he won't be able to get nearly as far up the Coosa as he's gone the past 3 days. Nonetheless, he's committed to going as far as possible.

"It's my best chance of winning," he said. "I've still got a lot of places I haven't fished, but the biggest ones I know of live up there. I know what I need to do in that river, so that's the plan.

"(The water level) was 4 or 5 feet down today, so who knows where it's going to be tomorrow. I'll just run as far as I can and then start fishing.

He went through 12 keepers today and employed three different baits. He boated one that was just a little under 5 pounds and lost one that he estimated to be in the 4-pound class.

"The smallest one I weighed in was a 3-pounder, so that definitely hurt."

2nd: Evers Bulks Up

> Day 3: 5, 22-06 (15, 58-01)

Evers had weighed just under 18 pounds on each of the first 2 days, but far exceeded that number today.

"I figured out another way to catch them today," he said. "I haven't caught a bass in the same place twice, but I'm power-fishing and doing what I like to do.

"I ought to be able to get to my fish tomorrow, but I'll have to go and catch them."

He went through about a dozen keepers and the five he took to the scale all registered between 4 and 5 pounds.

"I've got three different areas I'm catching them from and I caught one that I weighed in on literally my last stop. They live here, so (another 20-plus pounds on day 4) is always a possibility."

3rd: Kennedy Dialed In

> Day 3: 5, 23-03 (15, 55-00)

Kennedy was on his way up the Coosa this morning when the lower unit on his motor banged off a rock, and he pulled into an eddy to check on it. He opted to make a few casts while he was there and boated four quality fish, including two that he eventually weighed in.

His bag was just 2 ounces shy of Chapman's tournament-best haul from day 2.

"I probably got a little lucky there, but once I dialed in, I smoked them," he said. "I caught at least 20 or maybe 30 keepers (for the day). After that first stop, all I was fishing for was big ones."

His best fish was just a couple ounces shy of 5 pounds and the smallest he weighed was just under 4.

"That water dropping out left a lot of those fish sitting high and dry – they hadn't figured out where to move to yet. I was calling my shots on several of them and I'm not sure I caught my biggest bite. I had one that broke 20-pound fluorocarbon that I never saw, but I'm guessing it was a spot in the 6- to 7-pound class.

"It was one of the most fun days I've ever had in my life. This river's that good right now."

Tomorrow, he won't be able to reach the eddy where he began the day, but might be able to return to the place where he broke off the big one.

"I've got a couple of spots that Ott DeFoe told me to go try – he put me on a pretty good little deal that's outside of what everybody's been doing. I think I can catch a pretty good bag doing that, but I doubt I can get 23 pounds."

4th: Jones Still in the Hunt

> Day 3: 5, 17-04 (15, 53-14)

Jones will be about a pound farther back when day 4 starts than he was when he launched this morning, but still thinks he has a decent shot at his second victory in 2 years.

"It's still kind of anybody's game, really," he said. "Edwin had been catching 17 to 18 pounds a day and today he shows up with more than 22, and the areas I'm fishing are capable of producing a stringer like that. I haven't caught one yet, but it might be somebody else's turn tomorrow and I'd love for that person to be me."

He's running in the opposite direction than most competitors – south about 60 miles and through the lock to Jones Bluff Reservoir. He caught about 10 keepers, including a 4 1/2 pounder that bit late in the day.

"One thing I've been doing this year is selecting a Bible verse for each tournament week and putting it on the side of my boat wrap. This week's verse is Colossians 3:17, which says, 'And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the father through him.'

"I'm thankful in the name of Christ for the opportunity to fish on the final day. I consider it a great blessing."

24th: Vinson should've Bailed

> Day 3: 5, 9-08 (15, 41-04)

Greg Vinson surrendered 14 places in the standings today and fell out of the Top 10 with a bag that was a half-pound short of the double-digit mark.

"It'd be easy to blame it on the water level coming down, but it was really just bad decisions," he said. "I know this river well enough that I had options to try to find fish in other areas, but I tried to find that group of fish I was on yesterday (when he weighed nearly 18 pounds).

"I thought I knew where they'd go in the falling water and I got one big bite that kept me hanging around there, but I never could get anything to go with that. I caught one that was close to 4 pounds, but the other ones were just babies."

He primarily threw a NetBait Salt Lick (a Senko-style) bait, but a 3/4-ounce War Eagle spinnerbait enticed his biggest fish of the event.

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 49 limits, 1 zero.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., May 12 – Partly Cloudy - 76°/48°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 13 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 15, 59-04 -- 100 -- $500
Day 1: 5, 17-12 -- Day 2: 5, 23-05 -- Day 3: 5, 18-03

2. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 15, 58-01 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 17-15 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12 -- Day 3: 5, 22-06

3. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 55-00 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 23-03

4. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 15, 53-14 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 16-06 -- Day 2: 5, 20-04 -- Day 3: 5, 17-04

5. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 15, 51-00 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 17-15 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04 -- Day 3: 5, 16-13

6. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 15, 50-13 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-09 -- Day 3: 5, 20-04

7. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 15, 47-00 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15 -- Day 3: 5, 19-13

8. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 47-00 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05 -- Day 3: 5, 18-12

9. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 15, 46-11 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01 -- Day 3: 5, 14-01

10. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 15, 45-09 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-06 -- Day 3: 5, 17-10

11. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 15, 44-09 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 18-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 10-04

12. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 15, 44-01 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 4.

13. Jared Miller -- Norman, OK -- 15, 42-15 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-12 -- Day 3: 5, 13-00

14. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 15, 42-02 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11 -- Day 3: 5, 16-05

15. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 15, 42-02 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-09 -- Day 3: 5, 10-11

16. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, OK -- 15, 41-15 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08 -- Day 3: 5, 09-07

17. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 41-13 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 15-05

18. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 15, 41-12 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 5, 15-03

19. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 15, 41-11 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 09-09 -- Day 3: 5, 15-07

20. Hank Cherry -- Maiden, NC -- 15, 41-11 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09

21. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 41-06 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09 -- Day 3: 5, 12-06

22. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 15, 41-05 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12

23. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 15, 41-05 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01 -- Day 3: 5, 12-13

24. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 15, 41-04 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13 -- Day 3: 5, 09-08

25. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 15, 40-15 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04 -- Day 3: 5, 10-09

26. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 15, 40-01 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04 -- Day 3: 5, 14-04

27. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 39-08 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01 -- Day 3: 5, 13-05

28. Jeremy Starks -- Scott Depot, WV -- 15, 39-08 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 5, 13-15

29. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 15, 39-04 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-08

30. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 15, 39-01 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08 -- Day 3: 5, 12-15

31. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 15, 38-15 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05

32. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 38-14 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-05 -- Day 3: 5, 12-02

33. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 15, 38-07 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 10-06

34. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 15, 38-05 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-11 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03

35. Jamie Horton -- Centerville, AL -- 15, 38-04 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-12 -- Day 3: 5, 11-02

36. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 15, 38-04 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-10 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15 -- Day 3: 5, 12-11

37. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 15, 38-03 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 10-12 -- Day 3: 5, 11-12

38. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 38-03 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03 -- Day 3: 5, 10-15

39. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, CA -- 15, 38-02 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08 -- Day 3: 5, 12-01

40. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 15, 37-09 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 11-07

41. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 15, 37-07 -- 60 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12 -- Day 3: 5, 10-00

42. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 15, 37-03 -- 59 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05 -- Day 3: 5, 10-05

43. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 15, 36-06 -- 58 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-04 -- Day 2: 5, 09-10 -- Day 3: 5, 08-08

44. Casey Scanlon -- Lenexa, KS -- 15, 36-05 -- 57 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-00 -- Day 3: 5, 10-00

45. Chad Pipkens -- Holt, MI -- 15, 35-08 -- 56 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 10-06

46. Clark Reehm -- Shreveport, LA -- 15, 34-12 -- 55 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 08-09 -- Day 2: 5, 17-02 -- Day 3: 5, 09-01

47. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 15, 33-08 -- 54 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 07-02

48. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 15, 31-12 -- 53 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11 -- Day 3: 5, 06-05

49. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 15, 30-14 -- 52 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 08-13 -- Day 3: 5, 05-01

50. Matt Herren -- Trussville, AL -- 10 -- 25-09 -- 51 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00

Big Bass

Day 3: David Walker -- 5-02
Day 2: Brent Chapman -- 5-11
Day 1: Kelly Jordon -- 6-04