By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

Patrick Walters is on pace to hit a mark that few thought could be achieved at this year's Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest.

The second-year pro from South Carolina, who weighed 25-14 on the first day of the Bassmaster Elite Series season finale, came in a pound heavier on day 2 for a 52-12 total at the halfway point. The two-time Bassmaster Open winner (including one earlier this fall at Lake Hartwell) will take an 11-pound lead into the weekend in pursuit of his first tour-level triumph.

An angler catching 100 pounds this week seemed extremely unlikely with Fork's chunky fish scattered and uncooperative during practice, but the 26-year-old Walters has brought that possibility back into play.

"The bad thing is that this is Lake Fork and there's no such thing as a lead that's big enough," he said. "Big fish live here and you have to catch everything you can every day."

Ed Loughran, a 50-year-old attorney from Virginia who's also in his second year on the circuit, weighed 19-12 to climb from 5th to 2nd with a 41-09 total that all but seals his initial Bassmaster Classic qualification. Chad Pipkens (23-07 on day 2) moved up 10 places to 3rd with 41-02.

Brandon Palaniuk, who already has two victories this season, jumped into contention for a third with a 24-12 haul that propelled him from 19th to 4th with 40-15. Greg DiPalma slipped on place to 5th with a 16-00 stringer for a 38-09 aggregate.

Veteran Jay Yelas, who's tallied 19-02 on both days, is 6th with 38-04. He's followed by Seth Feider with 37-03 (13-15 on day 2), John Cox with 36-11 (15-13), day-1 leader Rick Clunn with 36-04 (three fish for 7-00) and Skylar Hamilton with 35-13 (16-00).



B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito
Photo: B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito

Walters is using a jerkbait to catch timber-oriented fish.

Clark Wendlandt (19th with 31-01) took another step toward claiming the Angler of the Year title although David Mullins, the points leader coming into the tournament, kept his hopes alive by catching a 7 1/4-pounder in the afternoon – one of his two keepers for the day.

Mullins exited the derby with a 47th-place finish and Wendlandt will hold him off as long as he ends up no lower than 31st. He also must stay with 13 places of Jake Whitaker (currently 27th with 25-03).

Walters is using a suspending jerkbait to catch timber-oriented fish. There's no key depth range – he's pulled good ones from water as shallow as 2 feet and as deep as 35.

"There's some other people in my areas, but they're flipping trees and doing some different stuff. I'm not worried about fishing behind anybody; I'm just worried about getting the fish to bite."

He's seeing the majority of his fish on his graph before casting to them. He went through about 25 keepers on day 2, the biggest of which weighed 6-01.

"It might've been a little tougher to get them firing today due to the weather conditions, but it wasn't too much different (than day 1)," he said. "It started out cloudy, but then it slicked off and just got warm and sunny."

B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito
Photo: B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito

Ed Loughran has pounded a single pocket to catch 41-09 over 2 days.

Loughran is relying primarily on a bladed jig to catch fish around docks.

"I'm on almost nothing – I've basically got one pocket that I've beat the heck out of for 2 days," he said. "There might be some more left; I caught a 6-pounder off the exact same piling where I caught a 5 yesterday. If stuff like that keeps happening, you never know.

"Patrick Walters with a double-digit lead isn't a good thing for everybody else. He's such a great competitor and such a closer."

Pipkens came in needing a Top-40 finish to make the Classic and was second-guessing himself after spending most of the practice period graphing and finding just one location that he had confidence in. It was very good to him on day 2 as it gave him a 6 1/2-pounder on his third cast of the day and a 4 1/4 and two 3 3/4s on a later visit.

A big crankbait is his primary weapon.

"Those fish come from the timber and they get on the flats to feed," he said. "If you miss it by 30 minutes, they're done.

"I think I found a few other places that I just didn't graph at the right time in practice. I'll hit some of those tomorrow and see what happens."

Palaniuk's stringer contained two fish that weighed between 6 1/2 and 7 pounds. He's cranking, throwing a swimbait and occasionally mixing in a Storm Arashi Glide Bait.

"I really did the same thing I did yesterday (when he caught 16-03), but I just got some bigger bites," he said. "Other than that, I fished all the same stuff. I've got one area that seems to have a little bit better fish and I really haven't had to share any water with anybody."

Notable

> Day 2 Stats – 85 anglers, 38 limits (9 fewer than day 1), 7 fours, 12 threes, 15 twos, 6 ones, 7 zeroes (6 more than day 1).

Weather Forecast

> Sat., Nov. 7 – Sunny - 75°/58°
- Wind: From the ESE at 4 mph

> Sun., Nov. 8 – Partly Cloudy - 79°/64°
- Wind: From the SSE at 8 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 10, 52-12 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 25-14 -- Day 2: 5, 26-14

2. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 10, 41-09 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 21-13 -- Day 2: 5, 19-12

3. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 10, 41-02 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 17-11 -- Day 2: 5, 23-07

4. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 10, 40-15 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 24-12

5. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 10, 38-09 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 22-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00

6. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 10, 38-04 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 19-02

7. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 37-03 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 23-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15

8. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 10, 36-11 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 20-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13

9. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 8, 36-04 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 29-04 -- Day 2: 3, 07-00

10. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 10, 35-13 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 19-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00

11. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 10, 35-05 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 23-14

12. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 10, 35-04 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 20-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01

13. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 9, 34-11 -- 88
Day 1: 4, 09-08 -- Day 2: 5, 25-03

14. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 10, 32-15 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10

15. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 10, 32-13 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00

16. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 32-12 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07

17. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 9, 32-02 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 20-01 -- Day 2: 4, 12-01

18. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 9, 31-08 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 17-15 -- Day 2: 4, 13-09

19. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 31-01 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06

20. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 8, 30-07 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 3, 16-07

21. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 10, 30-04 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12

22. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 10, 30-00 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13

23. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 29-14 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 17-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12

24. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 9, 29-11 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 4, 12-06

25. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 26-11 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 10-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00

26. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 10, 25-09 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-12

27. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 10, 25-03 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02

28. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 10, 25-02 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

29. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 7, 24-11 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 19-08 -- Day 2: 2, 05-03

30. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 7, 23-13 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 2, 10-03

31. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 7, 23-09 -- 70
Day 1: 2, 06-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-05

32. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 9, 23-08 -- 69
Day 1: 4, 09-01 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07

33. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 8, 23-04 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 3, 06-00

34. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 8, 22-04 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 3, 07-06

35. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 22-04 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 08-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08

36. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 8, 21-13 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 3, 09-02

37. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 7, 21-12 -- 64
Day 1: 2, 04-09 -- Day 2: 5, 17-03

38. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 10, 21-11 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00

39. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 8, 20-14 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 12-04 -- Day 2: 3, 08-10

40. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 6, 20-04 -- 61
Day 1: 2, 05-02 -- Day 2: 4, 15-02

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

41. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 7, 20-03 -- 60 -- $8,000
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 2, 05-05

42. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 10, 20-03 -- 59 -- $8,000
Day 1: 5, 09-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-10

43. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 8, 20-01 -- 58 -- $8,000
Day 1: 3, 06-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07

44. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, ON -- 7, 20-01 -- 57 -- $8,000
Day 1: 4, 10-12 -- Day 2: 3, 09-05

45. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 7, 19-11 -- 56 -- $8,000
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 2, 03-11

46. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 8, 19-03 -- 55 -- $8,000
Day 1: 4, 07-15 -- Day 2: 4, 11-04

47. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 19-01 -- 54 -- $8,000
Day 1: 3, 10-06 -- Day 2: 2, 08-11

48. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 7, 18-13 -- 53 -- $8,000
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 2, 05-03

49. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 7, 18-12 -- 52 -- $8,000
Day 1: 2, 07-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-15

50. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 6, 18-11 -- 51 -- $8,000
Day 1: 2, 08-00 -- Day 2: 4, 10-11

51. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 7, 18-09 -- 50 -- $6,000
Day 1: 2, 03-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00

52. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 7, 18-06 -- 49 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 2, 05-11

53. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 8, 18-05 -- 48 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 3, 08-01

54. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 8, 17-11 -- 47 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 3, 05-08

55. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 6, 17-04 -- 46 -- $6,000
Day 1: 1, 01-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05

56. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 9, 16-12 -- 45 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 09-04 -- Day 2: 4, 07-08

57. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 16-07 -- 44 -- $6,000
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07

58. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 15-12 -- 43 -- $6,000
Day 1: 1, 01-09 -- Day 2: 4, 14-03

59. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 15-09 -- 42 -- $6,000
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

60. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 8, 15-08 -- 41 -- $6,000
Day 1: 3, 08-13 -- Day 2: 5, 06-11

61. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 6, 14-15 -- 40 -- $5,000
Day 1: 2, 07-05 -- Day 2: 4, 07-10

62. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 7, 14-08 -- 39 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 2, 03-00

63. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 7, 14-04 -- 38 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 06-12 -- Day 2: 3, 07-08

64. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 6, 13-10 -- 37 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 10-05 -- Day 2: 2, 03-05

65. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 4, 13-00 -- 36 -- $5,000
Day 1: 2, 07-01 -- Day 2: 2, 05-15

66. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 6, 12-15 -- 35 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 08-12 -- Day 2: 2, 04-03

67. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 7, 12-10 -- 34 -- $5,000
Day 1: 2, 04-05 -- Day 2: 5, 08-05

68. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 6, 12-08 -- 33 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 1, 01-15

69. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 6, 12-02 -- 32 -- $5,000
Day 1: 3, 06-05 -- Day 2: 3, 05-13

70. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 11-11 -- 31 -- $5,000
Day 1: 3, 04-09 -- Day 2: 2, 07-02

71. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 5, 11-07 -- 30 -- $3,200
Day 1: 2, 03-01 -- Day 2: 3, 08-06

72. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 5, 10-08 -- 29 -- $3,200
Day 1: 4, 08-01 -- Day 2: 1, 02-07

73. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 4, 09-04 -- 28 -- $3,200
Day 1: 2, 03-06 -- Day 2: 2, 05-14

74. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 3, 09-01 -- 27 -- $3,200
Day 1: 3, 09-01 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

75. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 4, 09-00 -- 26 -- $3,200
Day 1: 2, 03-10 -- Day 2: 2, 05-06

76. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 4, 08-15 -- 25 -- $3,200
Day 1: 2, 06-09 -- Day 2: 2, 02-06

77. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 1, 08-12 -- 24 -- $3,200
Day 1: 1, 08-12 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

78. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 2, 08-03 -- 23 -- $3,200
Day 1: 2, 08-03 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

79. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 4, 07-13 -- 22 -- $3,200
Day 1: 3, 06-11 -- Day 2: 1, 01-02

80. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 3, 05-15 -- 21 -- $3,200
Day 1: 2, 04-07 -- Day 2: 1, 01-08

81. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 2, 05-09 -- 20 -- $3,200
Day 1: 2, 05-09 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

82. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 2, 04-10 -- 19 -- $3,200
Day 1: 2, 04-10 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

83. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 2, 03-03 -- 18 -- $3,200
Day 1: 1, 01-12 -- Day 2: 1, 01-07

84. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 2, 03-01 -- 17 -- $3,200
Day 1: 1, 01-06 -- Day 2: 1, 01-11

85. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 1, 01-03 -- 16 -- $3,200
Day 1: 1, 01-03 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00