Consistency Puts Blaylock In Lead At Chick

By Sean Ostruszka
Special to BassFan

It shouldn’t be that hard to catch five legal fish on one of the best lakes in the country. Don’t tell that to the Bassmaster Elite Series anglers fishing Lake Chickamauga this week.

After two days, only 11 pros out of 85 have managed to catch a limit both days. And 23 haven't caught five keepers between both days combined. Yeah, it’s that tough.

Basically, the early days of this event have been all about survival in the hope the fishing finally improves over the final 2 days. No one has survived better than Stetson Blaylock – the Arkansas pro is one of the few to catch limits both days and his 12-pound bag on day 2 moved him to the top of the standings with a 28-01 total.

Meanwhile, John Cox failed to bring in a limit and still managed to climb up the standings to 2nd, as his four fish outweighed Blaylock’s by 5 ounces to give him 27-03 total.

Lee Livesay (26-03), Jake Whitaker (25-05) and Kyle Welcher (25-00) all are in the double-limit club to rank just behind the leaders. After that, it’s a hodge-podge of success and failure. Matt Arey (24-12) and Brad Whatley (23-13) both failed to bring in limits after doing so yesterday. Yet Todd Auten (23-09), Austin Felix (23-08) and Patrick Walters (23-07) all did bring in limits both days, yet they were all small.

Still, with how tough and fickle the fishing has been, even a small limit is considered a success this week. After all, yesterday’s leader, Brandon Cobb, backed up his near 20-pound bag with two fish for 3-12 to fall to 12th.

On the flip side of Cobb, Steve Kennedy and Derek Hudnall both caught two fish yesterday, only to bring in 17-13 and 18-01 on day 2, respectively. Kennedy admits there was plenty of luck involved as he was able to cull up roughly 7 pounds in the last 16 minutes of his day when he caught 5- and 3-pounders with seconds to spare.

Welcome to the fickle nature of fall fishing on Lake Chickamauga.

The two leaders sounded more like they’d bombed on day 2 than as if they were winning. The fact they only got nine bites combined probably contributed to that.

Blaylock went back to his deep points again hoping that fish had moved back on them, but he actually did worse than yesterday, finally abandoning them with only two fish in the box. He ran around and made some moves for a while, with nothing to show for it. Then, with about 2 hours left in his day, he made the right move.

“I pulled into a cove and it was like something you dream of,” said Blaylock. “They were schooling everywhere, and they did it for like two hours straight. I’d say there were maybe 40 or 50 fish in there, with some 4-pounders and some good, solid fish.”

With that many active fish feeding for that long, Blaylock should’ve loaded the livewell, right? Wrong. He managed three bites and landed them all to barely bring in a limit.

“It was very frustrating,” said Blaylock. “I managed to catch what I needed to keep me in the game, fortunately.

“As for tomorrow, with how tough it’s fishing, I can’t abandon what I know. I just have to keep hoping those deep fish move back up because that can happen overnight. Otherwise, I’ll probably struggle again tomorrow.”

Cox was equally as pessimistic about his day, though it at least started well. A day after spending the first 30 minutes of his day missing fish, backlashing and breaking his reel handle, Cox ran up the river and quickly caught a 3/12-pounder. When he boxed another soon after, he really got excited.

“I thought, ‘Oh, my gosh,’” says Cox. “I figured I had something and was going to sit up there and grind it out the rest of the day. I went more than an hour and never got another bite, so I left.”

Back in the main lake, Cox was equally as frustrated as Blaylock while throwing a frog.

“I just saw so many fish,” says Cox. “I can’t tell you how many blowups I saw, but I probably saw 20 within casting distance that I’d fire at. I never got one. The only two other ones I got were just random.

“Honestly, I feel defeated. It’s just so tough. It’s mind-blowing. About the only good thing I can say Is I think the fishing will get better with the water dropping, and I think I know what I need to find to have a shot at winning this thing. I just still don’t know what I need to do to get them to bite when I find it, though.”

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 85 anglers, 20 limits (9 fewer than day 1), 16 fours, 17 threes, 16 twos, 11 ones, 5 zeros (6 more than day 1).

Weather Forecast

> Sat., Oct. 17 – Mostly Sunny – 71°/53°
- Wind: From the S at 7 mph

> Sun., Oct. 18 – Partly Cloudy – 76°/56°
- Wind: From the SSW at 6 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 10, 28-01 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00

2. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 9, 27-03 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 4, 12-05

3. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 10, 26-03 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03

4. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 10, 25-05 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03

5. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 10, 25-00 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09

6. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 9, 24-12 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 4, 10-11

7. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 9, 23-13 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 4, 08-01

8. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 23-09 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09

9. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 10, 23-08 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 09-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01

10. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 10, 23-07 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05

11. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 23-06 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-08

12. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 7, 23-02 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 19-06 -- Day 2: 2, 03-12

13. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 8, 23-00 -- 88
Day 1: 4, 11-00 -- Day 2: 4, 12-00

14. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 7, 22-12 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 2, 09-09

15. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 7, 22-04 -- 86
Day 1: 2, 04-07 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13

16. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 7, 22-02 -- 85
Day 1: 2, 08-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04

17. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 7, 21-11 -- 84
Day 1: 2, 03-10 -- Day 2: 5, 18-01

18. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 8, 21-05 -- 83
Day 1: 3, 09-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09

19. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 8, 21-04 -- 82
Day 1: 4, 12-09 -- Day 2: 4, 08-11

20. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 21-04 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 09-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-12

21. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 7, 21-00 -- 80
Day 1: 2, 08-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06

22. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 20-12 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05

23. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 8, 20-11 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 3, 06-15

24. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 7, 20-02 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 2, 06-12

25. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 9, 20-02 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 09-11 -- Day 2: 4, 10-07

26. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 19-11 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 09-12 -- Day 2: 5, 09-15

27. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 8, 19-10 -- 74
Day 1: 4, 09-06 -- Day 2: 4, 10-04

28. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 7, 19-07 -- 73
Day 1: 3, 09-09 -- Day 2: 4, 09-14

29. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 7, 19-06 -- 72
Day 1: 3, 09-00 -- Day 2: 4, 10-06

30. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 8, 19-05 -- 71
Day 1: 4, 09-06 -- Day 2: 4, 09-15

31. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 6, 19-03 -- 70
Day 1: 2, 06-13 -- Day 2: 4, 12-06

32. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 8, 19-01 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 3, 06-11

33. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 8, 18-15 -- 68
Day 1: 3, 06-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03

34. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 9, 18-13 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 10-10 -- Day 2: 4, 08-03

35. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 9, 17-12 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 4, 07-04

36. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 7, 17-07 -- 65
Day 1: 2, 03-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13

37. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 8, 17-07 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 3, 06-01

38. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 7, 17-05 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 2, 04-02

39. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 7, 17-00 -- 62
Day 1: 2, 06-10 -- Day 2: 5, 10-06

40. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, ON -- 7, 16-14 -- 61
Day 1: 4, 08-09 -- Day 2: 3, 08-05

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

41. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 8, 16-06 -- 60 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 09-00 -- Day 2: 3, 07-06

42. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 7, 16-04 -- 59 -- $7,500
Day 1: 4, 06-13 -- Day 2: 3, 09-07

43. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 7, 16-00 -- 58 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 2, 04-10

44. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 7, 15-13 -- 57 -- $7,500
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 2, 03-12

45. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 6, 15-09 -- 56 -- $7,500
Day 1: 3, 08-09 -- Day 2: 3, 07-00

46. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 6, 15-08 -- 55 -- $5,000
Day 1: 3, 06-00 -- Day 2: 3, 09-08

47. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 7, 15-08 -- 54 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 08-00 -- Day 2: 3, 07-08

48. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 8, 15-00 -- 53 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 3, 04-11

49. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 6, 14-09 -- 52 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 1, 02-03

50. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 6, 13-08 -- 51 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 06-15 -- Day 2: 3, 06-09

51. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 13-04 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 06-03 -- Day 2: 2, 07-01

52. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 13-03 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 10-12 -- Day 2: 1, 02-07

53. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 7, 13-03 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-00 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03

54. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 5, 12-12 -- 47 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 03-13 -- Day 2: 4, 08-15

55. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 4, 11-12 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-10 -- Day 2: 2, 08-02

56. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 6, 11-10 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 06-15 -- Day 2: 2, 04-11

57. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 5, 11-10 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 05-10 -- Day 2: 3, 06-00

58. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 4, 11-06 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 08-01 -- Day 2: 1, 03-05

59. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 5, 11-00 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 07-08 -- Day 2: 2, 03-08

60. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 5, 10-14 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 05-07 -- Day 2: 3, 05-07

61. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 5, 10-11 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 05-03 -- Day 2: 3, 05-08

62. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 5, 10-05 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 06-03 -- Day 2: 2, 04-02

63. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 3, 10-04 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 3, 10-04

64. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 5, 09-06 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-08 -- Day 2: 2, 03-14

65. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 08-14 -- 36 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-13 -- Day 2: 4, 07-01

66. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 4, 08-13 -- 35 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-15 -- Day 2: 3, 06-14

67. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 4, 08-13 -- 34 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 02-04 -- Day 2: 3, 06-09

68. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 4, 08-08 -- 33 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 4, 08-08

69. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 4, 08-08 -- 32 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-14 -- Day 2: 1, 02-10

70. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 4, 07-13 -- 31 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 04-07 -- Day 2: 2, 03-06

71. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 3, 07-12 -- 30 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 07-12 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

72. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 3, 07-05 -- 29 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-15 -- Day 2: 1, 03-06

73. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 4, 07-03 -- 28 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-06 -- Day 2: 2, 03-13

74. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 3, 06-07 -- 27 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 02-03 -- Day 2: 2, 04-04

75. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 3, 06-01 -- 26 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-03 -- Day 2: 1, 02-14

76. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 2, 05-14 -- 25 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-06 -- Day 2: 1, 04-08

77. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 3, 05-02 -- 24 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-11 -- Day 2: 1, 01-07

78. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 2, 04-10 -- 23 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 02-11 -- Day 2: 1, 01-15

79. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 2, 04-08 -- 22 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 2, 04-08

80. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 2, 03-15 -- 21 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-10 -- Day 2: 1, 02-05

81. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 1, 03-14 -- 20 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 03-14 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

82. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 2, 03-11 -- 19 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-14 -- Day 2: 1, 01-13

83. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 1, 02-01 -- 18 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 02-01 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

84. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 1, 01-15 -- 17 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-15 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

85. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 1, 01-11 -- 16 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-11 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00