7 Surpass 20 Pounds
Browning Extends Advantage, But Ike Makes Big Move

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Stephen Browning topped the 20-pound mark for the second straight day and boosted his lead at the California Delta Bassmaster Elite Series to 5 1/2 pounds.

New Jersey's Mike Iaconelli caught a tournament-best 25-12 and climbed 18 spots to 2nd with 39-12. He also has sole dominion over his water and his massive bag today kept Browning within one big bite's reach.

Virginian John Crews moved up four places with a 21-13 sack that gave him a 36-15 total. Native Californian and current Texas resident Gary Klein, who has decades worth of experience here, sacked 21-10 and catapulted from 19th place to 4th with 35-03.

California's Skeet Reese, who's always a factor here, completed the Top 5 as he moved up six spots on the leaderboard with an 18-13 bag for a 33-14 total.

Here's how the Top 12 shakes out at the midway point, with deficit margin from leader indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Stephen Browning: 45-04
2. Mike Iaconelli: 39-12 (5-08)
3. John Crews: 36-15 (8-05)
4. Gary Klein: 35-03 (10-01)
5. Skeet Reese: 33-14 (11-06)
6. Shaw Grigsby: 33-06 (11-14)
7. Greg Vinson: 33-02 (13-02)
8. Greg Hackney: 31-14 (13-06)
9. Derek Remitz: 31-05 (13-15)
10. Jeff Kriet: 31-04 (14-00)
11. Scott Rook: 30-02 (15-02)
12. Russ Lane: 29-07 (15-13)

Today's rainy skies certainly had a positive effect on the bite as weights were up considerably throughout the field. The sun is scheduled to reappear tomorrow, though, and it'll bring a stiff north wind with it, so at least somewhat of a drop-off is anticipated.

Half of the Top 12 from day 1 carried over to today. The newcomers were Iaconelli, Klein, Shaw Grigsby (15th to 6th with 18-14 today), Greg Vinson (26th to 7th, 20-06), Jeff Kriet (17th to 10th, 17-01) and Scott Rook (68th to 11th, 25-11).

They supplanted Dave Wolak (2nd to 28th with two fish for 4-07 today), Dennis Tietje (5th to 48th, two fish for 4-06), Mark Davis (6th to 25th, 9-14), Kota Kiriyama (tied for 7th to 20th, 12-11), Guy Eaker (tied for 7th to 18th, 12-14) and Tim Horton (7th to 65th with an empty bag).

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Mike Iaconelli caught a 25-12 bag that's the best of the tournament to this point.

Browning Switched Baits

Browning fished the same area he plied on day 1, but he made a bait change that paid off.

"It was just one of those gut feelings," he said. "I caught a 3-pounder and a 6 on it about 5 minutes apart and that gave me the confidence to stick with it the rest of the day, and I ended up adding a 7 1/2 and a 4.

"It was just one of those days when I was able to take advantage of a few bites, When you can catch a 7-09 and a 6 within an hour, it makes your day."

He had six bites and got all of them into the boat. He had one angler slide into his area for awhile, but that competitor quickly moved out once he saw Browning's boat.

"I'm learning a little bit more about the area every day – I caught a few of them today from a different spot within that area. That 4-pounder came on almost my final cast, and that led me to believe I might be able to expand on it some more.

"I think the only thing that could mess it up would be if the wind blew really hard – that might make fishing it a little difficult. I wouldn't say it's totally weather-proof, but it's closer to that than a lot of places."

His target weight will be 20 pounds for each of the next 2 days. He hasn't been to his backup area during the tournament and hopes he won't have to go.

"I don't think you can fish both places effectively in the same day, so I'll go back to my main place and put down some squatter's rights on it."

2nd: Ike has 'Special Area'

Iaconelli hasn't seen another competitor's boat in 2 days in his primary area and he's averaging 20 bites a day.

"From practice I had two areas where I could get bites," he said. "One of them fizzled, but the one I'm fishing now is really a special area. It's a perfect combination of clearer water, lots of grass, nice current flow and big spawning flats, and that's a good mix for this time of year."

He had 21 keeper bites today and missed only two of them. His bag was topped by a 6-pounder and he weighed nothing smaller than 4.

"I can say that I'm power-fishing – there's no finesse at all. I'm creating a reaction strike in an area that's really unique.

"I was a little bit worried because yesterday I went through a lot of bites just to get that 14 pounds, but today I got another 20 bites and that makes me think they're continually coming. And I think this weather really did turn on those bigger fish – I knew they lived there, but these conditions were conducive to getting them to eat."

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito John Crews caught a strong day-2 bag, but emphasized that it wasn't easy.

"I'm confident that I'm going to work a lot of fish again tomorrow and I think the area's good for 15 or 20 pounds. Today's bag was cloud- and rain-driven, but they're there and the biggest thing is confidence.

"If you can get one of those 10- or 12-pound bites that are in here, then your day's changed."

3rd: Crews Grinding

Crews posted a big weight, but said his day was by no means easy.

"It was pretty much a grind for me, even though the outcome was fantastic," he said. "I got six bites and put five in the boat and I feel fortunate to be where I am.

"I'm going to continue to tweak what I'm doing and where I'm doing it and see if I can get my area figured out a little better, because I'd like to get a little more than five or six bites."

He had a 7-12 brute today and another fish in the high 6s.

"I'm definitely around some big ones and if I could put five of them together, it would be awesome. About 85% of what I've caught has come out of one really good area and I didn't fish any of it twice today. Also, I don't have any company to speak of.

"They're not biting fast enough in there for anybody else to have figured anything out."

He plans to do pretty much the same thing tomorrow – he feels he has little choice.

"I'm just committed to the one big area and I'll fish it all day. I'll try to move around a little bit and try a few different things.

"The bite seems to be about the same no matter what the tide or the weather are doing, but the outcome's all that matters."

4th: Klein's Fish Grew

Gary Klein fished the same way (flipping grass) he had on day 1, when he weighed just 13 1/2 pounds. He got about the same number of bites, too, but they were much larger on average.

"I fished the same area with the same rods and the same baits, but today I ended up catching them," he said. "Without a doubt it was the weather – when you get dark skies like this, it's a lot easier.

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Gary Klein's bag would've been even bigger had he not lost three good fish.

He's not focused on making up the 10-pound deficit he faces.

"I'm not worried about anybody but me and the fish. I'm going to go out and try to catch fish tomorrow, and after that I'll think about Sunday.

"I think I can catch another good bag, but I'm not around 30 pounds – 23 would be a big sack for me. Fish that big just don't live where I'm fishing."

43rd: Murray Slips In

BassFan Big Stick John Murray was one of two anglers (James Niggemeyer was the other) to make the cut despite having weighed just six fish so far. He's had only three bites each day and his quality went way downhill today.

"I threw a Chatterbait most of the day, but it didn't work," he said. "I caught big ones yesterday and little ones today. The conditions weren't good for me – I like it calm and sunny.

"I was fishing near Skeet and he caught them and I was around other people who caught them, too. The fish were there, but evidently I didn't know how to catch them."

He'll abandon the southern locales he's fished the first 2 days and head west from the launch tomorrow.

"I'm going to go for big ones. That's where I like to fish and I know there's a lot of 5-pounders over there.

"I'm giving up on the stuff down south – I've got nothing going there."

With the sun expected to return, he'll likely revert to flipping a Reaction Innovations Boom Boom tube. That bait produced his three quality bites (including a 7-pounder) on day 1.

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 55 limits (25 more than yesterday), 10 fours, 11 threes, 12 twos, 3 ones, 2 zeroes (seven fewer than yesterday).

> None of the seven Elite Series rookies made the cut (with a smaller overall field this year, BASS has raised the cut line to 47th place from 50th). Dennis Tietje finished 48th, Bradley Roy 50th, Matt Greenblatt 57th, Cliff Crochet 78th, Scott Ashmore 80th, B.J. Haseotes 81st and Keith Poche 93rd.

> It's been a good tournament thus far for a couple of grizzled veterans who've struggled recently. Zell Rowland, who finished 77th or lower in six of eight events last year, is 17th and Guy Eaker, who's ended up no better than 29th since 2006, is 18th.

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days.

> Sat., March 13 - Mostly Sunny - 60°/38°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 14 mph

> Sun., March 14 - Partly Cloudy - 65°/43°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 6 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 10, 45-04 -- 310
Day 1: 5, 21-11 -- Day 2: 5, 23-09

2. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 10, 39-12 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 25-12

3. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 9, 36-15 -- 290
Day 1: 4, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 21-13

4. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 10, 35-03 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 21-10

5. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 10, 33-14 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 15-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-13

6. Shaw E Grigsby -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 33-06 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 14-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-14

7. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 10, 33-02 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 20-06

8. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 31-14 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00

9. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 10, 31-05 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08

10. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 10, 31-04 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01

11. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 7, 30-02 257
Day 1: 2, 04-07 -- Day 2: 5, 25-11

12. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 9, 29-07 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 18-10 -- Day 2: 4, 10-13

13. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 10, 29-06 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01

14. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 10, 29-06 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01

15. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, NC -- 10, 29-01 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06

16. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 9, 28-12 -- 243
Day 1: 4, 09-13 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15

17. Zell Rowland -- Austin, TX -- 7, 28-11 -- 241
Day 1: 2, 05-07 -- Day 2: 5, 23-04

18. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 10, 28-00 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14

19. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 10, 27-15 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06

20. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 9, 27-13 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 4, 12-11

21. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 9, 27-01 -- 233
Day 1: 4, 09-09 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08

22. Clark Reehm -- Russellville, AR -- 9, 26-10 -- 231
Day 1: 4, 07-04 -- Day 2: 5, 19-06

23. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, LA -- 9, 26-06 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 4, 13-05

24. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 8, 25-05 -- 227
Day 1: 3, 05-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07

25. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 10, 25-01 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 09-14

26. Peter E Thliveros -- St Augustine, FL -- 10, 24-07 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 10-15

27. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 24-05 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

28. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 7, 23-15 219
Day 1: 5, 19-08 -- Day 2: 2, 04-07

29. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 9, 23-14 -- 217
Day 1: 4, 09-06 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08

30. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 9, 23-13 -- 215
Day 1: 4, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11

31. Matt Herren -- Trussville, AL -- 10, 23-02 -- 213
Day 1: 5, 08-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13

32. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 9, 22-07 -- 211
Day 1: 4, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12

33. Vince Fulks -- Purcell, OK -- 9, 22-04 -- 209
Day 1: 4, 07-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00

34. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 10, 21-15 -- 207
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00

35. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 10, 21-14 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 08-09

36. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 7, 21-14 -- 203
Day 1: 2, 10-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14

37. Pat Golden -- High Point, NC -- 7, 21-11 -- 201
Day 1: 2, 05-08 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03

38. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 9, 21-09 -- 199
Day 1: 4, 09-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15

39. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 6, 21-01 -- 197
Day 1: 1, 02-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-09

40. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 8, 20-11 -- 195
Day 1: 3, 04-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13

41. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, OK -- 10, 20-09 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 08-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15

42. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 8, 20-07 -- 191
Day 1: 3, 03-15 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08

43. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 6, 20-02 -- 189
Day 1: 3, 14-06 -- Day 2: 3, 05-12

44. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 9, 20-01 -- 187
Day 1: 4, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 08-07

45. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 8, 20-01 -- 185
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 3, 06-12

46. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 9, 19-15 -- 183
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 4, 07-00

47. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 8, 19-11 -- 181
Day 1: 3, 05-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08

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

48. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, LA -- 7, 19-10 -- 179
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 2, 04-06

49. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 6, 19-04 -- 177
Day 1: 2, 05-13 -- Day 2: 4, 13-07

50. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 8, 18-14 -- 175
Day 1: 3, 06-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08

51. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 18-12 -- 173
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-12

52. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 18-03 -- 171
Day 1: 2, 05-05 -- Day 2: 3, 12-14

53. Wade Grooms -- Bonneau, SC -- 10, 17-00 -- 169
Day 1: 5, 06-02 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14

54. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 9, 16-14 -- 167
Day 1: 4, 05-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14

55. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 7, 16-14 -- 165
Day 1: 2, 03-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13

56. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, MD -- 8, 16-13 -- 163
Day 1: 3, 05-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09

57. Matt Greenblatt -- Palm Beach Gardens, FL -- 8, 16-11 -- 161
Day 1: 5, 10-12 -- Day 2: 3, 05-15

58. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 7, 16-08 -- 159
Day 1: 2, 04-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06

59. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 7, 16-02 -- 157
Day 1: 2, 06-06 -- Day 2: 5, 09-12

60. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 6, 16-00 -- 155
Day 1: 1, 02-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09

61. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, VA -- 6, 15-14 -- 153
Day 1: 1, 01-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11

62. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 8, 15-07 -- 151
Day 1: 3, 05-12 -- Day 2: 5, 09-11

63. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 7, 15-06 -- 149
Day 1: 3, 08-04 -- Day 2: 4, 07-02

64. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 6, 15-06 -- 147
Day 1: 3, 08-01 -- Day 2: 3, 07-05

65. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 4, 15-02 -- 145
Day 1: 4, 15-02 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

66. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 5, 14-12 -- 143
Day 1: 2, 05-09 -- Day 2: 3, 09-03

67. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 4, 14-12 -- 141
Day 1: 1, 05-07 -- Day 2: 3, 09-05

68. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan -- 4, 14-08 -- 139
Day 1: 1, 01-01 -- Day 2: 3, 13-07

69. Mark Burgess -- Norton, MA -- 7, 14-00 -- 137
Day 1: 3, 05-02 -- Day 2: 4, 08-14

70. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 5, 13-11 -- 135
Day 1: 3, 06-04 -- Day 2: 2, 07-07

71. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 7, 13-01 -- 133
Day 1: 2, 03-09 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08

72. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 12-15 -- 131
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15

73. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 9, 12-11 -- 129
Day 1: 4, 04-06 -- Day 2: 5, 08-05

74. David Smith -- Del City, OK -- 7, 12-10 -- 127
Day 1: 2, 02-11 -- Day 2: 5, 09-15

75. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 4, 11-08 -- 125
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 4, 11-08

76. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, NC -- 5, 11-06 -- 123
Day 1: 3, 06-12 -- Day 2: 2, 04-10

77. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 4, 11-05 -- 121
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 4, 11-05

78. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 4, 11-03 119
Day 1: 2, 07-06 -- Day 2: 2, 03-13

79. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 6, 09-13 -- 117
Day 1: 4, 05-15 -- Day 2: 2, 03-14

80. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, OK -- 3, 09-05 -- 115
Day 1: 1, 01-13 -- Day 2: 2, 07-08

81. Byron Haseotes -- Centerville, MA -- 4, 08-13 -- 113
Day 1: 2, 04-12 -- Day 2: 2, 04-01

82. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 3, 08-12 -- 111
Day 1: 1, 02-08 -- Day 2: 2, 06-04

83. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 6, 08-01 -- 109
Day 1: 3, 04-02 -- Day 2: 3, 03-15

84. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 2, 08-00 -- 107
Day 1: 1, 05-10 -- Day 2: 1, 02-06

85. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 4, 07-11 -- 105
Day 1: 2, 04-09 -- Day 2: 2, 03-02

86. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 4, 07-07 -- 103
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 4, 07-07

87. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 4, 06-07 -- 101
Day 1: 1, 01-12 -- Day 2: 3, 04-11

88. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 2, 05-07 -- 99
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 2, 05-07

89. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 3, 05-00 -- 97
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 3, 05-00

90. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 2, 03-12 -- 95
Day 1: 1, 02-01 -- Day 2: 1, 01-11

91. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 2, 03-03 -- 93
Day 1: 1, 01-14 -- Day 2: 1, 01-05

92. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, WV -- 2, 02-04 -- 91
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 2, 02-04

93. Keith Poche -- Troy, AL -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00