The 18-pound bag remains the benchmark. Four bags of that class have come to the scales so far, but they belonged to four different pros. Any pro who can weigh 18 pounds twice might very well walk away with the Forrest Wood Cup.
For day 2 of the Cup, conditions at Arkansas' Lake Ouachita offered a complete turnaround from yesterday's cold front, and a return to what
the field experienced in practice. Winds were light, the sun was bright and the bite overall turned tougher.
The winning pace, set today by Jason Christie after his 13 1/2-pound catch, is a little better then 15 pounds a day (down from a 19-pound opening pace). That was expected, and the pace should dip at least another pound tomorrow.
The big surprise, instead, was Scott Martin – or more specifically, his co-angler Jeffrey Cummins, who caught 18 pounds against Martin's 11-09. That dropped Martin to 2nd, but he's alone among the leaders in his choice of pattern. He's fishing deep and is clearly around big fish. He left his fish again this morning, so he should be able to rope another good limit.
Christie, on the other hand, is running a timber and wood pattern that he's started to refine. Yesterday, he said he caught his 18 pounds with 100% junk-fishing. Today, he said he caught his 13-06 with about 60% junk-fishing. So he's 40% dialed in and hopes to improve that percentage tomorrow.
The 3rd- through 4th-place spots are held by Randall Tharp and Andy Morgan, respectively, who are both fishing the same kind of shallow stuff where wolfpacks roam. Seventh-place Brent Ehrler and 8th-place Andy Montgomery are right there with them.
Of the four wolfpack hunters, Morgan's the only one to break the 18-pound barrier. His 18-15 limit was the heaviest catch of the day, the second-heaviest of the event, and it fueled a massive 32-spot climb today. Morgan, however, is still hampered by a four-fish day 1.
Cody Meyer, who's 5th, ditched his topwater pattern after an early fish and dropshotted brush for most of the day.
The feeling is, with the weights so tight, and so many big, visible fish up shallow, the event could be won shallow. As well, it'll likely take at least one 18-pound bag to win. In other words, the angler who catches 18 pounds tomorrow or Sunday, and backs it up with at least 12 pounds, might emerge the winner.
Here's a look at the 20 pros who made today's cut. Total weight is followed by distance from leader in red.
1. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 5, 18-01 -- 5, 13-06 -- 10, 31-07
2. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 19-02 -- 5, 11-09 -- 10, 30-11 (0-12)
3. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, AL -- 5, 16-00 -- 5, 13-01 -- 10, 29-01 (2-06)
4. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, TN -- 4, 9-12 -- 5, 18-15 -- 9, 28-11 (2-12)
5. Cody Meyer -- Grass Valley, CA -- 5, 14-02 -- 5, 13-01 -- 10, 27-03 (4-04)
6. Mark Rose -- Marion, AR -- 5, 14-09 -- 5, 12-08 -- 10, 27-01 (4-06)
7. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, CA -- 5, 11-11 -- 5, 15-04 -- 10, 26-15 (4-08)
8. Andy Montgomery -- Grover, NC -- 5, 12-05 -- 5, 14-08 -- 10, 26-13 (4-10)
9. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, IN -- 5, 14-10 -- 5, 12-02 -- 10, 26-12 (4-11)
10. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 18-00 -- 5, 8-00 -- 10, 26-00 (5-07)
11. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, WA -- 5, 13-15 -- 5, 11-12 -- 10, 25-11 (5-12)
12. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, AR -- 5, 11-01 -- 5, 13-07 -- 10, 24-08 (6-15)
13. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, OR -- 5, 17-05 -- 2, 7-01 -- 7, 24-06 (7-01)
14. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, VA -- 5, 13-06 -- 5, 11-00 -- 10, 24-06 (7-01)
15. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 13-09 -- 5, 10-11 -- 10, 24-04 (7-03)
16. Jon Strelic -- El Cajon, CA -- 5, 14-12 -- 5, 9-07 -- 10, 24-03 (7-04)
17. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, VA -- 5, 11-00 -- 5, 13-02 -- 10, 24-02 (7-05)
18. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 14-14 -- 5, 8-12 -- 10, 23-10 (7-13)
19. Robbie Dodson -- Harrison, AR -- 3, 7-11 -- 5, 15-14 -- 8, 23-09 (7-14)
20. Shane Long -- Sarcoxie, MO -- 5, 12-08 -- 5, 10-11 -- 10, 23-03 (8-04)
Scott Martin's convinced he'll still be around good fish tomorrow.
There was plenty of up-down movement today. A few of the bigger falls were Brandon Coulter (3rd to 10th) and Jay Yelas (4th to 13th). Both had made their day-1 hay up shallow, but their shallow bites dried up in today's sun – perhaps a signal they're on a different pattern, or in a different area, than the wolfpack gang of Morgan, Tharp, et. al.
A severe thunderstorm with potentially damaging winds moved over lake Ouachita at approximately dusk tonight. Tomorrow's forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms and 13 mph winds from the southwest. There remains the possibility that tonight's storm could affect conditions in the shallows tomorrow.
Christie Lovin' Timber
> Day 1: 5, 13-06 (10, 31-07)
Christie's from Okalahoma, which means he likes to fish shallow, and he likes to have something to throw at. He said he's largely fishing timber in pockets not only because it's producing, but also because the visible cover provides some mental comfort.
He's still covering "a lot of water," he said, but as reported above, he's been able to dial things in a little. He doubled his main area today, and hopes to double it again tomorrow to improve his efficiency.
"The timber just makes me feel comfortable, I think. And I think some of the other guys aren't fishing as much timber. That's not all I'm fishing, but when I see some, my boat just heads that way.
"Some of the timber's shallow," he added. "If you can find the right stump, the bream should probably be around that stump."
Overall, he's fishing about 10 different coves and he can see at least 20 others he might fish. His strategy thus far is to stay in one cove until he catches five, then leave. But he generally catches better fish on his next stop, so tomorrow he may start where he's been ending.
He noted that he did throw some topwater, but he caught his biggest fish flipping today.
Regarding his mental focus, he said: "I'm a lot more relaxed than I was last year. Last year, I lost a 5-pounder on the third day that would have almost had me leading. I had a bad break. This time, I'm catching them good enough that I feel confident I can win. But it's fishing. It can change from day to day. It's also changing for everybody though.
"I think whoever wins is going to get a couple of big bites and they're going to get that bite by changing every day. I'm changing. I'm getting more than one rod out on the deck, I'm changing baits and just trying to figure it out."
2nd: Martin Changed to Plastic
> Day 2: 5, 11-09 (10, 30-11)
If Martin had caught even one of the giants his co-angler roped, he'd be leading by a country mile. When asked about his co-angler's fortune, Martin was gracious, but also reflective.
"He's a great guy – a good fisherman – and he caught over 18 pounds of bass. But you know what? That's the way this game is played. I'm fine with it. The best thing about it is I know the area still has big fish. If I just duplicate what I had the first day or what he had today, I can instantly move up pretty high and maybe take over the lead."
When asked further about whether a co-angler should be able to affect the results of major championship, he told BassFan: "At this point I do accept the fact that that's how the rules are set, and at this point I'm happy with that. At the end of the day it's still a game. But personally, if it was up to me, I'd like to have the championship be just for pros and have observers or media in the boat. I think it would be good. I was a co-angler myself, and enjoyed my time when I got to go to the Cup. It's an honor to be here for pros and cos. But it sure would be nice to fish a championship with all pros."
A few other notable quotes from Martin:
Randall Tharp saw another 20-pound bag swimming shallow today.
3rd: Tharp Had Better Day
> Day 2: 5, 13-01 (10, 29-01)
Tharp rebounded from yesterday's lost-fish nightmare and posted a stout 13 pounds, which moved him up two spots to 3rd. He's still shallow and he's still hunting wolfpacks. He said he saw a 20-pound bag again today and is confident the event can be won shallow.
"It does surprise me to see the stuff Scott has going on, but all the stuff out there is bait-related, so it could be gone tomorrow," Tharp said. "But those bluegills and wolfpacks of bass will still be there for the next 2 days. They're not going anywhere. The whole key for me is just getting the bites."
He landed seven of his eight keeper bites today, which made him happy. He thinks that in the sun, the fish totally commit to the bait and engulf it, whereas yesterday they weren't precisely on target.
About his position, he said: "If I catch 13 pounds tomorrow I'll have a good chance to win. To win, I think I'd need an 18-pound bag one of the next 2 days. My best areas aren't getting pressured. I did see Andy Morgan near two of my best areas, but he wasn't on the precise stuff."
4th: Morgan Wanted Sun
> Day 2: 5, 18-15 (9, 28-11)
Given all the times Morgan's scored a Top 5 or Top 10, it's amazing he hasn't won more, and that a major title still eludes him. He's matter-of-fact about it, though. In today's sport, a shallow bite seldom wins. It's a way to a check, and he'll always be a shallow fisherman, but may never win much if at all.
He's all about the shallow bite this week and busted 19 pounds today under high, clear skies.
"Sunshine made all the difference," he said. "I do not like cloudy, nasty days all that well. Every now and then it falls in my wheelhouse when we have those sunny summer days. It's been sunny and hot for the last 60 days and rain and clouds just moves stuff out of my path."
Andy Morgan, who's fishing shallow, thrived under the sunny, hot conditions today.
He doesn't feel the other pros running the same pattern will affect him – nobody's on top of each other and there's tons of water. Saturday local traffic could be a different story though – especially if it muddies his banks. But in all, he thinks the shallow bite could win this thing.
5th: Meyer Combed Brush
> Day 2: 5, 13-01 (10, 27-03)
Meyer continues his astounding Cup streak. He finished 2nd and 3rd in the two most recent Cups and is in position to finally ascend to No. 1.
He worked a topwater for most of yesterday - a Jackall Bowstick – and threw it some this morning. It produced a 3-pounder, but that was it and then he went to fish dropshot in brush.
He said the brush bite was a grind and the day might have been lost, but he roped a 3-pounder in the last 5 minutes that culled out a dink.
"I'm just trying to fish new water," he said. "I don't have a lot of stuff right now, so whether I can catch them tomorrow or not, I don't know. Today at noon, I would have been happy with a small limit.
"I heard tomorrow's going to be overcast, and if it is, I'll throw the topwater a lot more. I feel that when it's overcast is when I have my best chance to really catch a big limit. Of course, if it's not overcast, I'll probably throw it for a couple hours, then fall back on the dropshot again."
He noted his brush is in depths from 10 to 25 feet and he's running "probably 20 different piles."
6th: Rose Lacked a 5
> Day 2: 5, 12-08 (10, 27-01)
Mark Rose's practice delivered about 12 pounds a day. He bettered that yesterday with a 5-pound bite, but there was no such bite today and his weight settled back into the anticipated range.
He doesn't plan to change and "go chase rabbits" – that 5-pound bite showed him the potential's there within his pattern. So his approach is to treat all 4 days as an endurance test.
"With that mentality, hopefully I'll be there in the end," he said. "I need another 5-pounder to give myself a shot at winning though. I'm fishing the best stuff that I found and I just hope the big bite comes along. I won't go chase something goofy that I haven't done."
About whether or not he thinks he can win, he said: "Scott's obviously around some better fish than anybody else, and that's what I thought would happen in this tournament – one or two guys would really bust them. Then, if you have 13 pounds a day, you could compete. And that's what's happened.
"It's whoever's time it is in this tournament. There's going to be four or five guys up there close and if it's their time to win, they're going to win it. Hopefully it's my time."
Additional Notes
7th: Brent Ehrler (10, 26-15)
"It's not easy. It's really a grind. You don't really know where your next bite is going to come from. It's really random. It could happen or not happen so easily. I'm only getting three or four good bites each day.
"I'm fishing around some people. I saw Randall Tharp today and I saw Andy (Montgomery)."
8th: Andy Montgomery (10, 26-13)
"Yesterday I caught all 2 1/2s and today I caught all 2 3/4s. I've not caught a big one yet and I'm waiting on that 5-plus. That's what'll set me above. I'm just one 5-pounder away.
"I'm fishing shallow and the bite's definitely wearing down. There's a lot of pressure and the best area of the lake just got hammered. You can go to other places and catch some, but it's really hard. You may go 2 hours without a bite. There's just a lot of dead water on Ouachita. So everyone knows where the best area is and, like I said, it got hammered."
9th: Jacob Wheeler (10, 26-12)
"I didn't really get a quality bite today. I'm feeling good about tomorrow. I think I'm doing the right thing. I think the lot of the guys who are catching them don't think their fish will run out, so I'm pumped. I really am.
"I was shallow most of the day. A lot of the guys are running multiple areas during the day, but I have a little area where I feel there are a lot of fish. Maybe not 5-pounders, but I think I can catch 10 to 12 pounds tomorrow morning, then run around and try to catch a good 5- or 6-pound fish."
10th: Brandon Coulter (10, 26-00)
Coulter clobbered skinny-water topwater fish on day 1, but he hobbled in with 8 pounds today.
"I don't think it was necessarily the sun, because they bit pretty good in practice, which was sunny. I think it was just the post-front conditions. I saw a bunch. Today, I came around a point and here comes five or six 4-pounders swimming right at me. By then it was too late. If they're 20 yards further down the bank and I'm around that point 10 seconds earlier, I would have caught one or two. So I'm still committed to the pattern."
11th: Luke Clausen (10, 25-11)
"Today was totally different conditions and I had to change entirely. I went until 10:00 and didn't have a bite. I did a 360 from the stuff I was throwing and the areas I was fishing. I went to a different type of water and different baits."
Notable
> Day 2 stats – 58 pros, 34 limits (5 fewer than yesterday), 5 fours, 7 threes, 6 twos, 5 ones, 1 zero (one less than yesterday).
> Yelas caught a 5-pounder deep and that made him stick with that bite. Bad choice. He only weighed two fish and tumbled to 13th. For his day-2 report, click here to go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks.
Day 2 Standings
1. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 5, 18-01 -- 5, 13-06 -- 10, 31-07
2. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 5, 19-02 -- 5, 11-09 -- 10, 30-11
3. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, Al -- 5, 16-00 -- 5, 13-01 -- 10, 29-01
4. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 4, 9-12 -- 5, 18-15 -- 9, 28-11
5. Cody Meyer -- Grass Valley, Ca -- 5, 14-02 -- 5, 13-01 -- 10, 27-03
6. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 5, 14-09 -- 5, 12-08 -- 10, 27-01
7. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 11-11 -- 5, 15-04 -- 10, 26-15
8. Andy Montgomery -- Grover, Nc -- 5, 12-05 -- 5, 14-08 -- 10, 26-13
9. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, In -- 5, 14-10 -- 5, 12-02 -- 10, 26-12
10. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 18-00 -- 5, 8-00 -- 10, 26-00
11. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 13-15 -- 5, 11-12 -- 10, 25-11
12. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 5, 11-01 -- 5, 13-07 -- 10, 24-08
13. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 5, 17-05 -- 2, 7-01 -- 7, 24-06
14. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5, 13-06 -- 5, 11-00 -- 10, 24-06
15. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 5, 13-09 -- 5, 10-11 -- 10, 24-04
16. Jon Strelic -- El Cajon, Ca -- 5, 14-12 -- 5, 9-07 -- 10, 24-03
17. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 11-00 -- 5, 13-02 -- 10, 24-02
18. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, Al -- 5, 14-14 -- 5, 8-12 -- 10, 23-10
19. Robbie Dodson -- Harrison, Ar -- 3, 7-11 -- 5, 15-14 -- 8, 23-09
20. Shane Long -- Sarcoxie, Mo -- 5, 12-08 -- 5, 10-11 -- 10, 23-03
The following anglers didn't make the cut and won't be fishing tomorrow:
21. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 5, 11-15 -- 5, 11-03 -- 10, 23-02 -- $12,500
22. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 5, 12-12 -- 5, 9-12 -- 10, 22-08 -- $12,500
23. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 10-02 -- 5, 12-00 -- 10, 22-02 -- $12,500
24. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 5, 12-07 -- 5, 9-07 -- 10, 21-14 -- $12,500
25. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 5, 9-08 -- 5, 12-04 -- 10, 21-12 -- $12,500
26. John Cox -- Debary, Fl -- 5, 12-07 -- 4, 8-12 -- 9, 21-03 -- $12,500
27. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Varysburg, Ny -- 5, 11-14 -- 5, 9-02 -- 10, 21-00 -- $12,500
28. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 9-06 -- 5, 9-04 -- 10, 18-10 -- $12,500
29. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 5, 11-09 -- 3, 6-13 -- 8, 18-06 -- $12,500
30. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 5, 9-15 -- 5, 8-06 -- 10, 18-05 -- $12,500
31. Jt Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 5, 8-10 -- 5, 9-10 -- 10, 18-04 -- $10,000
32. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 5, 12-01 -- 4, 5-14 -- 9, 17-15 -- $10,000
33. Shinichi Fukae -- Palestine, Tx -- 3, 9-03 -- 4, 8-07 -- 7, 17-10 -- $10,000
34. Bill Chapman -- Salt Rock, Wv -- 5, 11-00 -- 4, 6-03 -- 9, 17-03 -- $10,000
35. Stacey King -- Reeds Spring, Mo -- 5, 10-01 -- 4, 7-01 -- 9, 17-02 -- $10,000
36. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 11-11 -- 2, 4-00 -- 7, 15-11 -- $10,000
37. Jeremy Guidry -- Opelousas, La -- 2, 3-07 -- 5, 12-02 -- 7, 15-09 -- $10,000
38. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 12-08 -- 1, 2-12 -- 6, 15-04 -- $10,000
39. Kevin Snider -- Elizabethtown, Ky -- 2, 5-03 -- 5, 9-06 -- 7, 14-09 -- $10,000
40. Terry Bolton -- Jonesboro, Ar -- 2, 4-00 -- 5, 10-07 -- 7, 14-07 -- $10,000
41. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 4, 6-06 -- 3, 8-01 -- 7, 14-07 -- $7,000
42. Matt Arey -- Shelby, Nc -- 5, 9-10 -- 3, 4-12 -- 8, 14-06 -- $7,000
43. Chad Aaron -- Ethridge, Tn -- 5, 12-00 -- 2, 2-05 -- 7, 14-05 -- $7,000
44. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 5, 10-09 -- 2, 3-11 -- 7, 14-04 -- $7,000
45. Bret Gouvea -- Redding, Ca -- 5, 12-06 -- 1, 1-12 -- 6, 14-02 -- $7,000
46. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 2, 4-11 -- 5, 9-07 -- 7, 14-02 -- $7,000
47. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, Ar -- 4, 5-09 -- 3, 8-09 -- 7, 14-02 -- $7,000
48. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 4, 7-13 -- 3, 5-09 -- 7, 13-06 -- $7,000
49. Allen Boyd -- Salem, In -- 3, 5-09 -- 5, 7-00 -- 8, 12-09 -- $7,000
50. Shawn Murphy -- Nicholasville, Ky -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 12-07 -- 3, 12-07 -- $7,000
51. Ronald Hobbs, Jr. -- Orting, Wa -- 5, 7-12 -- 3, 4-04 -- 8, 12-00 -- $7,000
52. Mike Reynolds -- Modesto, Ca -- 4, 7-05 -- 2, 4-09 -- 6, 11-14 -- $7,000
53. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, Ca -- 1, 1-06 -- 5, 9-00 -- 6, 10-06 -- $7,000
54. Robert Lee -- Angels Camp, Ca -- 2, 5-11 -- 1, 2-13 -- 3, 8-08 -- $7,000
55. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 4, 5-14 -- 1, 2-04 -- 5, 8-02 -- $7,000
56. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 4, 5-13 -- 1, 1-12 -- 5, 7-09 -- $7,000
57. Jeff Michels -- Lakehead, Ca -- 1, 2-03 -- 2, 3-05 -- 3, 5-08 -- $7,000
58. Jake Gipson -- Niceville, Fl -- 0, 0-00 -- 0, 0-00 -- 0, 0-00 -- $7,000
