Lefebre Maintains Edge with 20-10 Haul On Day 3

By BassFan Staff

Just a few days ago, the idea of anyone catching 20 pounds per day at the Wheeler Lake Bassmaster Elite Series seemed preposterous. The prevailing opinion among competitors was that the lake was in a "funk" due to changing environmental conditions and that it likely wouldn't take much more than 60 pounds over 4 days to win the derby.

Dave Lefebre has debunked that notion over the past 3 days as he's compiled that previously incomprehensible 20-pound average. Takahiro Omori was a day late to the whacking party, but he's now amassing sacks that would be more-than-respectable hauls from renowned hawg havens such as Falcon Lake in Texas or Clear Lake in California.

Lefebre, who's catching pre-spawn fish from a backwater area, boxed 20-10 Saturday to improve his total to 60-09. Omori, who's hammering post-spawners in open water, backed up his tournament-best 23-03 haul from Friday with 22-09 on day 3. With a 56-03 total, he's the only competitor within 9 pounds of Lefebre heading into the final day.

Day-1 leader John Crews rebounded from a lackluster day 2 with a 19-01 stringer that moved him from 6th to 3rd with a 51-08 aggregate. Casey Ashley was next with 47-08 after bagging 14-01 on day 3.

Bobby Lane, whose weights have been steady throughout the tournament, rounded out the Top 5 with 47-07 after catching 15-01.

For the first time since the 2006 inception of the circuit, 13 anglers will take the water for the final day. Luke Clausen, who ended day 3 in 7th place with 45-10, has been disqualified after reportedly failing a routine polygraph exam due to his response to a question about the no-information rule. Clausen has appealed, and Elite Series rules allow anglers to compete until the process has been finalized (for more on that, click here).

Here are the totals for the final-day competitors, with deficit margins from the leader indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Dave Lefebre: 60-09
2. Takahiro Omori: 56-03 (4-06)
3. John Crews: 51-08 (9-01)
4. Casey Ashley: 47-08 (13-01)
5. Bobby Lane: 47-07 (13-02)
6. Greg Hackney 46-09 (14-00)
7. Luke Clausen: 45-10 (14-15)
8. Gerald Swindle: 44-12 (15-13)
9. James Elam: 44-01 (16-08)
10. Gary Klein: 43-11 (16-14)
11. James Niggemeyer: 43-05 (17-04)
12. Steve Kennedy: 43-04 (17-05)
13. Cliff Crochet: 43-00 (17-09)

This isn't one of those events in which everyone who made the final cut has a realistic chance to win on day 4. From Ashley on down, the deficits are 13 pounds or greater, and the chances of both Lefebre and Omori stumbling to that extent are extremely slim. Both leaders are certain that they have plenty of quality remaining in their respective areas for Sunday.

Niggemeyer made the biggest move to make the final day as his 17-07 sack brought him up from 36th place. Clausen was the only other newcomer to the Top 12 and his climb was only seven places.

That duo supplanted Randy Howell (3rd to 23rd with two fish for 5-04) and Josh Bertrand (10th to 22nd with a 9-00 limit).

The chilly rain that hammered the Decatur, Ala. area overnight seemed to have a positive impact on the programs of some anglers while negatively impacting others. For instance, Lefebre mentioned that the darker-colored water stirred things up in his area and made the fish susceptible to a jig, while the higher level drove the baitfish from the mussel bed that Howell was working.

The final-day forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms, a high temperature of 79 degrees (the coolest of the week) and wind out of the south to 8 mph.

Lefebre Stuck with Jig

> Day 3: 5, 20-10 (15, 60-09)

Lefebre said the hard rain overnight altered the scene in his primary area.

"It changed things, and change can be good when you're fishing the same spot every day," he said. "It muddied it up and I found out real quick that they weren't going to bite a buzzbait or a frog.

"I got a couple key bites real quick flipping a jig – a 4 1/2-pounder and another decent one, so I decided to stick with the jig all day. I didn't even mess with anything else."

He went through more than a dozen keepers, including a 5 1/2-pounder that bit at about 9:30. He lost one good one that might've added a pound to his bag. He made his final cull around noon – 3 hours before he had to be back at the launch.

"I had three other 4-pound-plus fish that blew up on the bait while I was pulling it over branches. I threw back in there each time, but none of them would bite again. I know there's more in there, and it'll be nice to fish tomorrow without having to worry about conserving anything.

"I haven't fished there at all in the afternoon – I've been fishing pads. That's something I won't do tomorrow. I'll just keep going around and around."

He figures he'll need another 20-pound stringer to keep Omori at bay.

"He's out there on the flats where the post-spawn fish are funneling to him and he's catching a ton super-quick. I can't control that. I'm in one area and I can't leave because I've got nothing else.

"I'll just put seven rods out, keep an open mind and change as I need to."

2nd: Omori Struck Quickly

> Day 3: 5, 22-09 (15, 56-03)

Omori's entire stringer was complete by 8 o'clock.

"I've caught the two biggest bags of the tournament 2 days in a row, so I'm on something special," he said. "I'm going to grind it out tomorrow and see what happens.

"I'm just going to do my best and not worry about anything. I had perfect days yesterday and today, and if I have another perfect day tomorrow, that's all I can ask for."

He brought three largemouths and two smallmouths to the scale on day 3. His bag consisted of a trio of 5-pounders and two others that were pushing 4.

"One of my spots from yesterday I didn't go to today – I'm saving it for tomorrow. I also found one new spot today, so now I've got four.

"I don't know what will happen in the afternoon because I've been laying off them after I catch (his weight), but they're definitely there in the morning. I'll just keep pounding them tomorrow."

3rd: Crews Figured Things Out

> Day 3: 5, 19-01 (15, 51-08)

Crews rebounded from a 12-pound day 2 with his second big stringer of the derby (he led after day 1 with 20-07).

"It worked out good," he said. "I figured out where the fish were sitting on this one place and that made a huge difference. I've only got a couple of things going on – it's not like I'm blistering them or anything.

"I'll spend more time in the productive areas tomorrow and there'll be no holding back. Hopefully I can get extremely lucky again."

A 4-10 specimen was the biggest of the eight keepers he boated. He lost one that might've helped him, but he was uncertain about that because he never saw the fish.

"The first day I caught most of them on a bait I didn't even have tied on (to start the day), and today was the same thing. I just thought, hey, these fish are funny, so I'll try this. Maybe I can pull another rabbit out of my hat tomorrow.

"Honestly, it looks like a shootout between (Lefebre and Omori), but if they both slip up, I'm probably the only other guy with a chance. I'd have to catch over 20 pounds, but it's possible – I've seen the fish to do it. I'll go do all I can and wherever I end up (in the final standings) is where I was meant to be."

5th: Two Late Ones Lifted Lane

> Day 3: 5, 15-01 (15, 47-07)

Lane's day was fairly miserable until late in the afternoon, when he caught a pair of bruisers.

"Today I was more lucky that good," he said. "I had 6 or 7 pounds at 1 o'clock when I fished a laydown and caught a 5-pounder, and then I found another laydown and caught another 5-pounder off of it.

"For some reason it was meant for me to go fishing tomorrow, and I'm just happy I've got something to work on. Where I had been fishing only had little fish today."

He's guaranteed of posting his highest finish of the season, as his best so far was a 45th at Winyah Bay.

"I'm just going to go out and have fun. I'm glad to be in the Top 12 after such a poor start to my Elite Series season. I needed this ice-breaker and hopefully it leads to better things."

He's among those who believe that the Friday night storm benefited the overall bite.

"When a cool front comes through and you've got post-spawn fish that are shallow, a lot of times you go from just catching keepers to having big ones that want to feed a little bit."

23rd: Howell Had a Hard Time

> Day 3: 2, 5-04 (12, 40-06)

Howell endured an extremely frustrating day.

"I couldn't get anything to happen right," he said. "I wish I could do the whole day over again, but unfortunately I can't.

"We had the rain last night and the water came up almost a foot right here at Decatur. I was fishing a mussel bar that was pretty shallow and it had shad on it, but there hadn't been any current. This morning there was current sweeping across it and the shad won't sit in the current – they probably just went downstream to another bar. I think the bass stayed there, I saw enough of them, but I couldn't make them bite."

He saw at least two dozen quality smallmouths during one schooling period.

"That's what got me trapped into thinking I could make them bite – like when I came back yesterday at 2 o'clock and caught two 4-pound smallmouths and that 6-pound largemouth. I thought I could go back and do that, but I couldn't get them to bite at all.

"Catching five every day is so important and I'm usually all about doing that, but I've started taking more risks recently because winning is addictive. It makes you want to win more. (Finishing) 23rd wouldn't be bad if I hadn't been in 3rd, but to drop that far and lose 20 Angler of the Year points is disappointing."

He caught his 18-11 bag on day 2 on a combination of a Livingston Lures Walking Boss topwater, a Carolina rig with a 4-inch Senko and a 4-inch Basstrix swimbait on a quarter-ounce jighead.

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 44 limits, 1 four, 3 threes, 1 two, 1 one.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., May 1 – Scattered T-Storms - 79°/65°
- Wind: From the S at 8 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 15, 60-09 -- 110
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 21-03 -- Day 3: 5, 20-10

2. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 15, 56-03 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 23-03 -- Day 3: 5, 22-09

3. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 15, 51-08 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 20-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00 -- Day 3: 5, 19-01

4. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 15, 47-08 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 19-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11 -- Day 3: 5, 14-01

5. Bobby Lane Jr. -- Lakeland, FL -- 15, 47-07 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01 -- Day 3: 5, 15-01

6. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 46-09 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00 -- Day 3: 5, 15-07

7. Luke Clausen -- Otis Orchards, WA -- 15, 45-10 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15 -- Day 3: 5, 15-12

8. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 15, 44-12 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 16-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06 -- Day 3: 5, 13-14

9. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 15, 44-01 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 17-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08 -- Day 3: 5, 11-11

10. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 15, 43-11 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07 -- Day 3: 5, 08-03

11. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 15, 43-05 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04 -- Day 3: 5, 17-05

12. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 43-04 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06 -- Day 3: 5, 11-08

13. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 15, 43-00 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 18-01

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

14. Brandon Card -- Caryville, TN -- 15, 42-08 -- 97 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 09-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-13 -- Day 3: 5, 16-08

15. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 15, 42-00 -- 96 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02 -- Day 3: 5, 14-13

16. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 15, 41-11 -- 95 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 14-05

17. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 15, 41-06 -- 94 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-11 -- Day 2: 5, 08-07 -- Day 3: 5, 14-04

18. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 15, 41-02 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 5, 15-12

19. David Williams -- Newton, NC -- 15, 41-01 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00 -- Day 3: 5, 12-10

20. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 15, 40-11 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 11-06

21. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 15, 40-09 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-01 -- Day 3: 5, 12-00

22. Josh Bertrand -- Gilbert, AZ -- 15, 40-08 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07 -- Day 3: 5, 09-00

23. Randy Howell -- Guntersville, AL -- 12, 40-06 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11 -- Day 3: 2, 05-04

24. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 15, 40-04 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-10 -- Day 3: 5, 14-03

25. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 14, 40-02 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 4 -- 09-11 -- Day 3: 5, 16-01

26. Fletcher Shryock -- New Philadelphia, OH -- 15, 39-06 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05

27. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 15, 38-15 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14 -- Day 3: 5, 13-01

28. Chris Zaldain -- Laughlin, NV -- 15, 38-10 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10 -- Day 3: 5, 09-05

29. Boyd Duckett -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 38-06 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13 -- Day 3: 5, 09-05

30. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 15, 38-01 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-07

31. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 37-10 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-03 -- Day 2: 5, 18-03 -- Day 3: 5, 08-04

32. Hank Cherry Jr -- Maiden, NC -- 15, 37-08 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15 -- Day 3: 5, 11-15

33. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 15, 36-15 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03 -- Day 3: 5, 10-06

34. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 15, 36-05 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07 -- Day 3: 5, 11-07

35. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 15, 36-03 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15 -- Day 3: 5, 08-02

36. Ott DeFoe -- Knoxville, TN -- 15, 36-01 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-02 -- Day 3: 5, 09-01

37. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 15, 35-14 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-15 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08 -- Day 3: 5, 09-07

38. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 15, 35-14 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 08-11

39. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 35-07 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08 -- Day 3: 5, 05-08

40. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 35-04 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00 -- Day 3: 5, 08-00

41. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 15, 34-06 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 5, 06-15

42. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 14, 34-03 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 4 -- 10-06 -- Day 3: 5, 08-07

43. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 15, 33-14 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02 -- Day 3: 5, 08-04

44. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 33-09 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-12 -- Day 3: 5, 08-09

45. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, Australia -- 14 -- 32-13 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 4 -- 06-06

46. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 13, 31-15 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 3, 04-07

47. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 15, 31-03 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05 -- Day 3: 5, 05-10

48. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 13, 30-14 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02 -- Day 3: 3, 05-11

49. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 13, 29-15 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-15 -- Day 3: 3, 04-11

50. Randy Allen -- Shreveport, LA -- 11, 27-11 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-08 -- Day 2: 5, 09-14 -- Day 3: 1, 03-05