Gutierrez Still Leads, But Huge Bags Shrink Margin

You know you're in a big-league whackfest when you start the day in 3rd place and catch a 35 1/2-pound bag, and you don't budge in the standings.

Such was the fate of Californian Skeet Reese today at the Clear Lake Bassmaster Elite Series. His big haul wasn't quite enough to catch 3-day leader Greg Gutierrez, and it was overshadowed by the monstrous 40-07 stringer brought in by Alabama's Steve Kennedy.

Gutierrez, another Californian, caught 25-07 to maintain the top slot with a 91-14 total for 3 days. But a lead that was just an ounce shy of 11 pounds when the day began is now down to 1-10.

That's because Kennedy caught the type of bag that everybody said was possible at this fertile highland body, which is California's largest natural lake and arguably the top hawg factory in the country. It pushed his total to 90-04 and, remarkably, allowed him

to overtake Reese from nine spots further down the leaderboad.

Reese's 35-07 bag gave him an 89-12 total. Then there's a big – but obviously not insurmountable – drop to the rest of the Top 12 field.

California's Jared Lintner caught 28-10 today and is 4th with 79-13. Mississippi's Paul Elias jumped 22 spots today with a 32-13 sack that left him in 5th with 79-10.

Here's a look at the Top 12 who'll fish tomorrow (red numbers in parentheses indicate deficit margin from the leader):

1. Greg Gutierrez: 91-14
2. Steve Kennedy: 90-04 (1-10)
3. Skeet Reese: 89-12 (2-02)
4. Jared Lintner: 79-13 (12-01)
5. Paul Elias: 79-10 (12-04)
6. John Murray: 78-12 (13-02)
7. Kelly Jordon: 76-14 (15-00)
8. Gerald Swindle: 76-04 (15-10)
9. Pete Ponds: 75-15 (15-15)
10. Glenn DeLong: 75-01 (16-13)
11. Scott Rook: 74-12 (17-02)
12. Peter Thliveros: 74-11 (17-03)

If any of the Top 3 catches their tournament average tomorrow, Preston Clark's year-old, 4-day weight record of 115-15 at Santee Cooper will go by the wayside. There's a good chance that the entire trio – and possibly others – will eclipse the mark.

Hordes of giant bass are visible in shallow water. Some are locked onto beds and ready to protect them, but others are still in the transitional stage and are tough to catch. Everybody will be around big fish tomorrow, but the winner will be around the right ones.

There's no doubt that Reese is in the vicinity of a lot of bruisers that are willing to eat – he reportedly culled a limit that was in the neighborhood of 30 pounds. Kennedy's bag was so pig-laden that BASS tournament director Trip Weldon couldn't figure out which fish to weigh for big-bass honors after Reese had set the benchmark at 8-02 – the first one he tried tied it, and the second one toppled it by 1-06.

Gutierrez's 25-pound bag can't be called a real slip-up, but the reality is that it was 7 pounds lighter than either of his previous two. He'll likely have to get back into the 30s tomorrow – maybe the mid-30s – to nail down his first tour-level win.

Gutierrez and Reese both have extensive knowledge of the lake – as do some others who'll fish the final day. Kennedy, in just his 2nd season on BASS' top tour, seems to be at home just about everywhere he goes.

Along with Elias, others who climbed into the Top 12 were Gerald Swindle (21st to 8th with 28-01 today), Pete Ponds (22nd to 9th, 27-13), Glenn DeLong (32nd to 10th, 28-14) and Scott Rook (19th to 11th, 26-06). Going the other direction were Ish Monroe (5th to 24th, 16-01), Ray Sedgwick (tied for 6th to 17th, 20-09), Kevin VanDam (tied for 6th to 19th, 19-10), Boyd Duckett (8th to 26th, 16-14), Fred Roubanis (10th to 20th, 20-12) and Jason Williamson (tied for 12th to tied for 13th, 24-08).

Tomorrow's weather forecast calls for early clouds and afternoon sun. The wind is predicted to blow at 13 mph, but it could be considerably stiffer on the lake, and that could hinder the sight-bite.

Everybody gets one more shot, and it had better be a good one. The winner will be determined by highest 4-day weight.

Gutierrez Pulled Out Early

Had Gutierrez known that Kennedy would come in so big, he would have fished a little harder this morning.

"I think I made a judgment error by leaving my fish too early today," he said. "I had a decent stringer (about 21 pounds) and I didn't want to hurt the area so bad that I wouldn't have anything for tomorrow.

"I didn't count on a 40-pound bag. I thought there'd maybe be a 35 somewhere, but not 40. This is all a learning experience for me, and I'm just glad for the chance to be here."

His biggest fish today was about 7 pounds, and he said he lost a couple that would have topped that. He thinks he's got plenty of fish to make a run at the win tomorrow.

"I'm catching lots of fish and I've saved quite a bit," he said. "But obviously there's a couple of other sticks who are here to play.

"There's no more laying off water or trying to shake off bites because I think they're too small. From here on, everything goes in the boat. Come tomorrow, it's on."

He got nothing today from the spot where he'd seen 10 fish that weighed about 10 pounds each at the end of day 2. "I gave them about 15 minutes, but the wind was blowing in on them and they weren't happening."

He' said he's had butterflies in his stomach just once the whole tournament tournament – at the dock today when Kennedy revealed that he had an enormous sack.

"But I'm over that now."

2nd: Kennedy Scored Quickly

Kennedy had most of his huge bag by 7:30 this morning. It came from a place he'd found on day 2.

"I could see 15 (fish) that were over 5 pounds in one little area," he said, "but at the time I didn't realize what was actually there. I had close to 30 pounds, so I went back late in the day and started playing with baits, and I got one that was about 9 pounds to bite.

"I went out this morning armed with that bait, and it was over."

He temporarily lost that bait, which he had only one of, when a huge fish broke his line on the hookset. Luckily, he got it back later on.

"Late this afternoon I went back to that same spot, and when I came up on the rock where I'd gotten the big bite, I could see it on the bottom in 4 feet of water. So I fished it out and tied it on, and on my second cast, I caught an 8-pounder."

That bait (which he declined to reveal) will be ready for action tomorrow, along with five more just like it that he purchased after the weigh-in.

He actually culled a 6-06. "I think my little one was 6 3/4."

He thinks he can catch 30 pounds tomorrow, but might not get much from the location he visited first today.

"I'm afraid I might have burned that spot up. I went back this afternoon and I only saw one 6-pounder.

"But I had a lot of time to practice today and I found some pretty awesome stuff. It's a different pattern, but the same bait."

4th: Lintner set to Swing

Lintner, who won a Bassmaster Open here 2 years ago, will go for broke tomorrow.

"I'm not really big into the points thing," he said. "They're important, don't get me wrong, but I'm not going to lose a whole lot even if I fall to 12th.

"This is Clear Lake, and anything can happen – there are giants everywhere. There's definitely the potential for 40 pounds and if I get that, I'll be right there."

He caught more than 30 keepers today, but his biggest was only 6 1/2 pounds.

"I'm doing the same stuff and fishing the same areas. There's a bunch of big fish in those areas, but I need to get them to eat (the bait) instead of just follow it."

He said he'll throw a ripbait first thing tomorrow, then switch to a swimbait for the rest of the day. He didn't plan to sight-fish.

"I've been looking around in the places I'm in, and the ones I'm finding aren't ready. I've found a few that were paired up and a few that were getting close, but they weren't on the beds yet.

"I'll still look – I'm not counting it out by any means."

5th: Elias On and Off

Elias is sharing an area with fellow Mississippian and Top-12 member Pete Ponds, but he said that's not a real problem because they're not fishing the same pattern.

His bag was third-biggest of the day behind Kennedy and Reese.

"I've done the same thing all week," he said. "I found one area in practice that I've been starting on, but it never really turned on until today.

"I'm using a crankbait and fishing real slow, and it's real boring. It'll turn on and I'll catch a couple, then I won't get bit again for awhile, then I'll catch a couple more."

An 8-pounder was the biggest of his 20 keepers. He'll try to hook up with a few more of those tomorrow.

"Anything could happen – this place is amazing. I might catch 30 again, or I might catch 15.

"This place has to have more 5- to 10-pounders than any lake in the country."

6th: Murray Concerned

BassFan Big Stick John Murray caught his best bag of the tournament today (28-08), but he's concerned about tomorrow's forecast.

"It's supposed to blow, and that's a little bit unnerving because I've caught so many of my fish on a worm," he said. "I'll just have to wait to see what happens."

He caught a limit on a swimbait within a half-hour. He also fished a wacky-rigged worm and a spinnerbait.

His biggest fish was a 7-11, and the others were all over 5. He said he caught 50 keepers, easily.

"I didn't go more than 20 minutes without a bite, and even when I got back by the ramp I caught a 6-pounder on my first cast. I was culling 5s pretty much all day."

He wants to catch at least 22 pounds tomorrow.

"I want to break the 100-pound mark. I've never done it before."

17th: Sedgwick not Down

South Carolina's Ray Sedgwick dropped 11 spots with a 20-09 bag and missed a chance to make his first Top 12 since 2003, but he wasn't too disappointed.

"I swung for the fence and went for a big bag, and it was fun doing it," he said. My feelings aren't hurt. I would've liked to have made (the Top 12), but when you catch more than 70 pounds for three days, you can't feel too bad.

"I thought I could catch 20 pounds a day, and I had no idea it would take 25."

He focused primarily on grass clumps in 5 feet of water. He caught fish on a jerkbait, a dropshot rig and a swimbait.

"I've been fishing in BASS on the pro side for 14 or 15 years now, and an old dog can still learn new tricks. That swimbait is a phenomenal thing and it's going to whack them everywhere we go.

"You don't get bit a bunch, but when you do get bit, you've got a chance to win tournaments."

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 50 limits.

> Murray predicted that the Top 3 would all break Clark's record tomorrow. "It's really a crapshoot, but I'd have to go with Skeet (to win)," he said. "He's due, and it looks like he's really dialed in."

> South Carolina rookies Jason Williamson and Casey Ashley and Alabama veteran Tim Horton tied for 13th place (the first spot out of the cut) with 74-05. Ashley caught a 30-pound sack today.

> California's Jim White won the co-angler division with 72-09. He caught 33-08 on day 2.

> The co-angler big-bass winners on days 2 and 3 (Johnny Graham of Oklahoma and Wally Smith of California) both fished with Murray.

Weather Forecast

Here's the Weather Channel's forecast for the final tournament day.

> Sun, April 1 – AM Clouds/PM Sun – 67°/38°
- Wind: From the W/NW at 13 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 15, 91-14 -- 315
-- Day 1: 5, 32-13 -- Day 2: 5, 33-13 -- Day 3: 5, 25-04

2. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 15, 90-04 -- 295
-- Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 29-13 -- Day 3: 5, 40-07

3. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 15, 89-12 -- 290
-- Day 1: 5, 26-12 -- Day 2: 5, 27-09 -- Day 3: 5, 35-07

4. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 15, 79-13 -- 285
-- Day 1: 5, 21-12 -- Day 2: 5, 29-07 -- Day 3: 5, 28-10

5. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Miss. -- 15, 79-10 -- 280
-- Day 1: 5, 23-01 -- Day 2: 5, 23-12 -- Day 3: 5, 32-13

6. John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 15, 78-12 -- 276
-- Day 1: 5, 27-13 -- Day 2: 5, 22-07 -- Day 3: 5, 28-08

7. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 15, 76-14 -- 272
-- Day 1: 5, 23-03 -- Day 2: 5, 32-08 -- Day 3: 5, 21-03

8. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala. -- 15, 76-04 -- 268
-- Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 28-09 -- Day 3: 5, 28-01

9. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Miss. -- 15, 75-15 -- 264
-- Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 29-02 -- Day 3: 5, 27-13

10. Glenn DeLong -- Bellville, Ohio -- 15, 75-01 -- 260
-- Day 1: 5, 25-08 -- Day 2: 5, 20-11 -- Day 3: 5, 28-14

11. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark. -- 15, 74-12 -- 257
-- Day 1: 5, 19-15 -- Day 2: 5, 28-07 -- Day 3: 5, 26-06

12. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville , Fla. -- 15, 74-11 -- 254
-- Day 1: 5, 28-11 -- Day 2: 5, 25-07 -- Day 3: 5, 20-09

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not be fishing tomorrow.

13. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, S.C. -- 15, 74-05 -- 248 -- $10,700
-- Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 26-15 -- Day 3: 5, 30-01
13. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, S.C. -- 15, 74-05 -- 248 -- $10,700
-- Day 1: 5, 28-10 -- Day 2: 5, 21-03 -- Day 3: 5, 24-08
13. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 15, 74-05 -- 248 -- $11,700
-- Day 1: 5, 19-12 -- Day 2: 5, 28-09 -- Day 3: 5, 26-00
16. William Smith -- Somerset, Ky. -- 15, 73-00 -- 243 -- $10,500
-- Day 1: 5, 22-08 -- Day 2: 5, 23-15 -- Day 3: 5, 26-09
17. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, S.C. -- 15, 72-15 -- 241 -- $10,500
-- Day 1: 5, 27-00 -- Day 2: 5, 25-06 -- Day 3: 5, 20-09
18. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 15, 72-11 -- 239 -- $10,500
-- Day 1: 5, 20-07 -- Day 2: 5, 28-01 -- Day 3: 5, 24-03
19. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 15, 72-00 -- 237 -- $10,500
-- Day 1: 5, 27-08 -- Day 2: 5, 24-14 -- Day 3: 5, 19-10
20. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, Calif. -- 15, 71-10 -- 235 -- $10,500
-- Day 1: 5, 25-00 -- Day 2: 5, 25-14 -- Day 3: 5, 20-12
21. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 15, 71-01 -- 233 -- $10,250
-- Day 1: 5, 24-11 -- Day 2: 5, 19-06 -- Day 3: 5, 27-00
22. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 15, 69-15 -- 230 -- $10,250
-- Day 1: 5, 27-02 -- Day 2: 5, 20-14 -- Day 3: 5, 21-15
22. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas -- 15, 69-15 -- 230 -- $10,250
-- Day 1: 5, 22-04 -- Day 2: 5, 26-05 -- Day 3: 5, 21-06
24. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 15, 69-01 -- 227 -- $10,250
-- Day 1: 5, 32-09 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07 -- Day 3: 5, 16-01
25. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fla. -- 15, 68-14 -- 225 -- $10,250
-- Day 1: 5, 25-15 -- Day 2: 5, 23-05 -- Day 3: 5, 19-10
26. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 15, 68-09 -- 223 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 24-07 -- Day 2: 5, 27-04 -- Day 3: 5, 16-14
27. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, Mo. -- 15, 67-08 -- 221 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 21-03 -- Day 2: 5, 22-15 -- Day 3: 5, 23-06
28. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 14, 66-03 -- 219 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 28-09 -- Day 2: 4, 19-05 -- Day 3: 5, 18-05
29. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Texas -- 15, 65-13 -- 217 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 26-06 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07 -- Day 3: 5, 20-00
30. Kurt Dove -- Fairfax, Va. -- 15, 65-09 -- 215 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 27-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06 -- Day 3: 5, 20-11
31. Mark Tyler -- Vian, Okla. -- 15, 65-07 -- 213 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 21-15 -- Day 2: 5, 22-06 -- Day 3: 5, 21-02
32. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Texas -- 15, 65-06 -- 211 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 20-13 -- Day 2: 5, 20-14 -- Day 3: 5, 23-11
33. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, Okla. -- 15, 65-04 -- 209 -- $11,000
-- Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 29-06 -- Day 3: 5, 16-04
34. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, S.C. -- 15, 65-01 -- 207 -- $10,500
-- Day 1: 5, 25-15 -- Day 2: 5, 21-13 -- Day 3: 5, 17-05
35. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala. -- 15, 64-05 -- 205 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 26-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-04 -- Day 3: 5, 18-01
36. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla. -- 15, 64-02 -- 203 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 22-12 -- Day 2: 5, 21-02 -- Day 3: 5, 20-04
37. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, Ark. -- 15, 63-04 -- 201 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 26-12 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09 -- Day 3: 5, 18-15
38. Mark Rogers -- Naples, Fla. -- 15, 63-03 -- 199 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 24-11 -- Day 3: 5, 18-08
39. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 15, 62-14 -- 197 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 24-06 -- Day 2: 5, 24-12 -- Day 3: 5, 13-12
40. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Kan. -- 15, 62-13 -- 195 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 23-11 -- Day 2: 5, 22-15 -- Day 3: 5, 16-03
41. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 15, 61-12 -- 193 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 23-06 -- Day 2: 5, 21-03 -- Day 3: 5, 17-03
42. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas -- 15, 61-08 -- 191 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 22-05 -- Day 2: 5, 24-15 -- Day 3: 5, 14-04
43. James Kennedy -- Lacombe, La. -- 15, 61-04 -- 189 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 26-09 -- Day 3: 5, 19-09
44. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 15, 61-01 -- 187 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 18-08 -- Day 2: 5, 24-14 -- Day 3: 5, 17-11
45. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, Ala. -- 15, 60-00 -- 185 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 19-11 -- Day 2: 5, 22-14 -- Day 3: 5, 17-07
46. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, N.C. -- 15, 59-11 -- 183 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 21-02 -- Day 2: 5, 22-10 -- Day 3: 5, 15-15
47. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, Va. -- 15, 59-07 -- 181 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 17-01 -- Day 2: 5, 29-03 -- Day 3: 5, 13-03
48. Russ Lane -- Prattville, Ala. -- 15, 58-11 -- 179 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 26-13 -- Day 2: 5, 18-14 -- Day 3: 5, 13-00
49. Cliff Pace -- Petal, Miss. -- 15, 58-00 -- 177 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 21-01 -- Day 2: 5, 23-10 -- Day 3: 5, 13-05
50. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La. -- 15, 55-11 -- 175 -- $10,000
-- Day 1: 5, 21-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-14 -- Day 3: 5, 13-15

Big Bass

Day 3: Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 12-01 -- $1,000
Day 2: Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, Okla. -- 12-11 -- $1,000
Day 1: Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 10-00 -- $500
Day 1: Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, S.C. -- 10-00 -- $500