By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

Putting significant distance between himself and the rest of the 98-boat field, Jason Christie moved into the lead at the Sabine River Bassmaster Eilite Series in Texas with a two-day total of 28-15. Placing 2nd on Thursday with 15-01, the pro from Park Hill, Okla., added 13-14 Friday.

Christie is running nearly two hours up the Sabine to fish a small backwater area with abundant shallow cover and clear water. He caught fish flipping on day 1, but with more inflowing water, a 1/2-ounce chartreuse/white/blue Booyah Covert spinnerbait with tandem nickel and gold Colorado blades produced best Friday.

“The water was high and the current was ripping in there and I’m starting to think that the best thing to do is just cover water when it’s high,” Christie said. “Tomorrow, I might go up there and it might be low and the current’s slowed down and I can catch them flipping again. I’ll just have to see what happens when I get there.”

Christie had previously visited his general area when the Elites last visited the Sabine in 2018. Expanding his waters led him to greater opportunity.

“I just didn’t go far enough the last time we were here, and it seems like they’re tucked in there a little ways,” Christie said. “I had practiced up there and, honestly, I had written it off, but I got home and looked at Google Earth and there was one place I hadn’t been.

“The bites I had in other places had been one here, one there, so I needed a place like I found that had a lot of fish.”

Christie has the place to himself, but that’s largely because of the daunting run through a winding river peppered with sandbars, floating logs and other day-wreckers. He’s running up and back at a cautious 35 to 40 mph.

“I could run faster, but maybe that was a blessing, because as soon as you start thinking you can run up there, you hit something,” Christie said. “So, I’m just cruising.”

The other consideration is fuel consumption. Christie runs a 21-foot XPress aluminum boat, which is significantly lighter than similar-sized fiberglass boats. To further lighten his load and increase fuel economy, he removed about 150 pounds of tackle from his boat.

Nevertheless, with no fueling options upriver from the takeoff site, Christie had to account for the extra weight of a cameraperson and related gear.

“I ran it in practice and I ran it the first day of the tournament by myself and both times when I shut down in my place, I’d have 20.8 or 20.6 gallons left, which is almost half of what I can carry,” Christie said. “Today, when I shut down, I had 19.4, so I knew that I had to do some switching.

“I dropped two gallons per hour and cruised at 10 to 11 and it really helped. The best I can figure, I (returned with) 3/4 gallon left.”

Christie said his conservative approach was essential for making the Top 49 cut. On Saturday, he’ll still carefully monitor fuel flow on his Garmin unit, but he may fish longer.

“Tomorrow, I feel like to have a chance to win I’m going to have to push it a little bit,” he said. “But it’s very nerve-wracking as far as fuel and getting back.”

Day-1 leader Brock Mosley again made the long run to the Houston area, added 12-04 to his opening weight of 15-10 – the event’s largest bag – and tallied 27-14. Facing windier conditions on day 2, Mosley was initially planning to remain in the Sabine, but he made a spontaneous call to replicate his first day’s game plan.

“I asked a lot of my buddies on tour what they would do; most of them said they would go in a heartbeat," Mosley said. “I made up my mind last night that I wasn’t going, but I was sitting there before takeoff and (fellow Elites) Drew Benton and Drew Cook were like, ‘Why aren’t you going?’

“I said, ‘I don’t think I can make it,’ and they said, ‘You know you already have enough to make the cut, you might as well try to win this thing and you’re not going to win it over here.’”

Returning to the same bayou on Houston’s east side, Mosley again targeted seawalls, docks and shoreline wood with a 1/2-ounce chartreuse/white Z-Man ChatterBait JackHammer with a white Yamamoto Zako trailer.

“I got over there, caught a couple of good ones really quick, left a little before 12 and got back a little after 2,” Mosley said. “I actually made it there quicker than I did yesterday, but I gave myself over three hours to get back. It only took me a little over two.”

Caleb Kuphall of Mukwonago, Wis., held steady in 3rd place with 22-03. Adding 9-03 to the 13 pounds he weighed in on day 1, Kuphall returned to the same area and fished a series of small channels off the main river.

“I spent most of my day in there and caught most of my keepers, but it’s getting hit hard and I may have to get something else going,” Kuphall said. “I caught my biggest fish in a different area with a similar scenario.”

Kuphall caught most of his fish on a homemade 3/8-ounce green-pumpkin flipping jig with a chunk-style trailer. He caught his biggest fish on a spinnerbait.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:45 a.m. CT at the City of Orange Boat Ramp. The weigh-in will be held at the ramp at 3 p.m., with the Top 10 anglers advancing to Sunday's final round.

Live coverage of the event can be streamed on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast the action live with the leaders beginning at 7 a.m. CT.



Day 2 Standings

1. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 10, 28-15 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 15-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14

2. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 27-14 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04

3. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 10, 22-03 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 09-03

4. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 10, 21-08 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 09-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04

5. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 10, 21-02 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 08-10

6. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 21-01 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-12

7. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 20-10 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 09-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-13

8. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 10, 20-09 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 09-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05

9. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 10, 19-11 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 10-11 -- Day 2: 5, 09-00

10. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 19-08 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 09-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07

11. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 10, 19-06 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 07-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

12. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 10, 19-04 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 09-09

13. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 18-12 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 06-14

14. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 18-07 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 5, 07-14

15. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 18-04 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 5, 07-11

16. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 10, 18-04 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 08-07 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13

17. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 10, 17-13 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 10-02 -- Day 2: 5, 07-11

18. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 17-09 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 07-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-00

19. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 10, 17-07 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 08-05

20. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 10, 17-06 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 07-07

21. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 10, 17-04 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 5, 07-03

22. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 10, 17-02 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 08-00

23. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 10, 16-15 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 08-10 -- Day 2: 5, 08-05

24. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 10, 16-08 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 08-12 -- Day 2: 5, 07-12

25. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 10, 16-03 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 07-04 -- Day 2: 5, 08-15

26. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 10, 15-15 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 07-05 -- Day 2: 5, 08-10

27. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 10, 15-15 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 08-03 -- Day 2: 5, 07-12

28. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 10, 15-12 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 06-01

29. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 10, 15-08 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 10-00 -- Day 2: 5, 05-08

30. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 10, 15-08 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 07-13 -- Day 2: 5, 07-11

31. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 10, 15-05 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 09-03 -- Day 2: 5, 06-02

32. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 10, 15-05 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 07-09 -- Day 2: 5, 07-12

33. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10, 15-03 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 07-08 -- Day 2: 5, 07-11

34. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 10, 15-02 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 08-09 -- Day 2: 5, 06-09

35. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 10, 15-02 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 06-10 -- Day 2: 5, 08-08

36. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 15-02 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 06-13 -- Day 2: 5, 08-05

37. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 7, 15-01 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 2, 02-15

38. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 15-00 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 05-12 -- Day 2: 5, 09-04

39. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 15-00 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 06-11 -- Day 2: 5, 08-05

40. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 10, 14-15 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 05-14 -- Day 2: 5, 09-01

41. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 10, 14-15 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 06-02 -- Day 2: 5, 08-13

42. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 10, 14-15 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 06-13 -- Day 2: 5, 08-02

43. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 14-15 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 07-02 -- Day 2: 5, 07-13

44. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 10, 14-13 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 04-02 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11

45. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 7, 14-13 -- 56
Day 1: 2, 05-10 -- Day 2: 5, 09-03

46. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 10, 14-13 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 07-10 -- Day 2: 5, 07-03

47. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 14-12 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 07-14 -- Day 2: 5, 06-14

48. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 10, 14-11 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 07-04 -- Day 2: 5, 07-07

49. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 9, 14-10 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 4, 04-07

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

50. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 10, 14-09 -- 51 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 05-07

51. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 10, 14-07 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 06-00 -- Day 2: 5, 08-07

52. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 14-04 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-03 -- Day 2: 5, 06-01

53. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 10, 14-03 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-09 -- Day 2: 5, 05-10

54. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 9, 14-01 -- 47 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 05-11 -- Day 2: 5, 08-06

55. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 8, 14-01 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 06-04 -- Day 2: 5, 07-13

56. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 10, 14-00 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 05-00 -- Day 2: 5, 09-00

57. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 10, 14-00 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 07-03 -- Day 2: 5, 06-13

58. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 10, 13-05 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-01 -- Day 2: 5, 05-04

59. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 9, 13-03 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 06-07 -- Day 2: 5, 06-12

60. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 6, 13-01 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01

61. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 9, 13-00 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 07-07 -- Day 2: 4, 05-09

62. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 9, 12-12 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 06-04 -- Day 2: 4, 06-08

63. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 7, 12-07 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-04 -- Day 2: 4, 07-03

64. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 12-06 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 05-01 -- Day 2: 5, 07-05

65. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 10, 12-03 -- 36 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 07-12 -- Day 2: 5, 04-07

66. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 8, 12-03 -- 35 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 04-11 -- Day 2: 5, 07-08

67. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 9, 12-01 -- 34 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 06-06 -- Day 2: 4, 05-11

68. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 10, 11-15 -- 33 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 06-05 -- Day 2: 5, 05-10

69. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 11-13 -- 32 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 06-08 -- Day 2: 5, 05-05

70. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 8, 11-04 -- 31 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 07-15 -- Day 2: 3, 03-05

71. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 7, 11-03 -- 30 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 08-10 -- Day 2: 2, 02-09

72. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 8, 10-13 -- 29 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 04-10 -- Day 2: 5, 06-03

73. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 8, 10-11 -- 28 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 04-05 -- Day 2: 4, 06-06

74. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 6, 10-10 -- 27 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 02-10 -- Day 2: 5, 08-00

75. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 8, 10-10 -- 26 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 03-09 -- Day 2: 5, 07-01

76. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 6, 10-08 -- 25
Day 1: 1, 01-02 -- Day 2: 5, 09-06

77. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 8, 09-15 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 06-14 -- Day 2: 3, 03-01

78. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 7, 09-13 -- 23
Day 1: 3, 04-04 -- Day 2: 4, 05-09

79. Bryan New -- Belmont, NC -- 8, 09-10 -- 22
Day 1: 4, 04-10 -- Day 2: 4, 05-00

80. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 8, 09-09 -- 21
Day 1: 3, 03-04 -- Day 2: 5, 06-05

81. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 8, 09-09 -- 20
Day 1: 4, 05-00 -- Day 2: 4, 04-09

82. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 8, 09-07 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 06-02 -- Day 2: 3, 03-05

83. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 10, 09-06 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 05-06 -- Day 2: 5, 04-00

84. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 8, 09-05 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 06-09 -- Day 2: 3, 02-12

85. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 8, 08-15 -- 16
Day 1: 3, 03-00 -- Day 2: 5, 05-15

86. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 8, 08-15 -- 15
Day 1: 3, 03-08 -- Day 2: 5, 05-07

87. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 8, 08-08 -- 14
Day 1: 5, 05-09 -- Day 2: 3, 02-15

88. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 8, 08-05 -- 13
Day 1: 3, 03-03 -- Day 2: 5, 05-02

89. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 8, 08-02 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 04-10 -- Day 2: 3, 03-08

90. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 6, 07-06 -- 11
Day 1: 1, 01-02 -- Day 2: 5, 06-04

91. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 5, 07-05 -- 10
Day 1: 1, 01-05 -- Day 2: 4, 06-00

92. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 07-01 -- 9
Day 1: 5, 07-01 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

93. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 5, 06-03 -- 8
Day 1: 2, 02-07 -- Day 2: 3, 03-12

94. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 06-02 -- 7
Day 1: 1, 01-11 -- Day 2: 4, 04-07

95. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 05-13 -- 6
Day 1: 1, 01-01 -- Day 2: 4, 04-12

96. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 3, 04-09 -- 5
Day 1: 1, 01-05 -- Day 2: 2, 03-04

97. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 2, 02-15 -- 4
Day 1: 2, 02-15 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

98. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 1, 01-09 -- 3
Day 1: 1, 01-09 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00