By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

Despite cool, rainy conditions, Jeff Gustafson maintained the lead during Friday’s second round of the Tennessee River Bassmaster Elite Series, catching a limit of smallmouth bass that weighed 15-10.

His two-day total of 33-08 gives him more than a 3-pound advantage over Brandon Card, who is 2nd with 30-07.

Gustafson, a two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier from Canada, said he never expected to catch two limits of smallmouth with the 18-inch minimum size restriction in place for this week’s tournament waters.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “Now with the position I’m in, there’s that stress. It’s been a good week so far. You could have signed me up for 50th place on Wednesday night. One thing I’ve learned doing this, these chances to win don’t come along very often and you just hope you take advantage of it when it happens.”

While the area Gustafson is fishing is still producing quality smallmouth, the bites didn’t come quite as fast Friday as they did on day 1. The Keewatin, Ontario native said he had more bass bump his bait instead of eating it.

After catching four fish in the first two hours, it took Gustafson until just before 1 p.m. to secure his final keeper.

“There are still some fish there, but they were harder to catch today and they are getting harder to catch,” he said. “I wasn’t really able to expand a whole lot and part of that was it took me so long to catch my fifth fish.

“It was important to get that last one.”

With bass setting up in two or three “sweet spots” in his primary area, precision has been important. If he misses his spot by a couple of feet, he feels there is little chance of getting a bite.

The specific technique used to catch his fish on day 1 has continued to produce, however.

“The way I’m fishing is the primary way we catch smallmouths back home in mid-summer through the fall, and I’ve been dying to utilize it in a tournament down here since I started fishing (professionally) in 2013,” Gustafson said.

With very few options outside of his current strategy, Gustafson will return to the same area for Saturday’s semifinal round.

“I’m not leaving that area I’m fishing. I’m sure the fish are there, it’s just a matter of if I can wrangle five of them,” he said. “It seems like the morning is better and hopefully I can capitalize on that; hit the juicy stuff first thing.”

With the big bag of the day at 16-10, Card jumped from 4th to 2nd. He used a flurry around mid-morning to secure four of his five bass, including a 4-pounder and a 3-pounder on back-to-back casts.

“I’m just grinding it out in an area,” Card said. “I have a section that seems like there is big fish. You can go hours and not even get a sniff and then you'll catch like two or three or four in a row.

“I went from zero to five fish in literally 20 minutes. I culled and then to catch my seventh fish, it took me hours.”

While dragging an Advantage Baits Wild Card Finesse prototype jig was the key for Card on day 1, he relied on jerkbaits and a jig on day 2. Although he’s fishing a reaction bait, Card said he's using a deliberate approach.

“Yesterday with the high sun, they wouldn’t come up on a jerkbait,” Card said. “So yesterday, I had to drag. I’m fishing so slow it's unbelievable. I’m barely even moving.”

On his final cast Friday, Mississippi native Brock Mosley caught a 6-10 largemouth on spinning gear to anchor his limit of 14-10. The fish took Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day and helped move him from 5th to 3rd with a two-day total of 27-10.

“I was stuck on four fish and I saved enough time to hit two spots on my way back,” Mosley said. “One was the exact same spot I caught a big smallmouth yesterday.

“About 10 casts into it, I leaned into her. I actually thought I had some carpet or something until she shook her head. I got her in the boat to fill my limit and that’s huge on this place.”

With largemouth being the primary target, Mosley said he's trying to change with the conditions.

“It seems like this lake wakes up in a different mood every day,” he said. “I decided not to go to Tellico today about lunch as I was working that way. I figured I would stay up here and grind it out.

“I was really fortunate to get that last bite. Otherwise, I would have only had 8 pounds.”

The Top 50 remaining anglers will take off Saturday from Volunteer Landing at 7 a.m. ET. Weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at World’s Fair Park Performance Lawn. Only the Top 10 will advance to Sunday's final round.



Day 2 Standings

1. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 10, 33-08 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 17-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10

2. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 10, 30-07 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10

3. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 27-10 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10

4. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 25-05 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04

5. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 10, 23-14 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 09-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00

6. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 10, 23-14 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07

7. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 10, 22-15 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01

8. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 10, 22-09 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

9. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 22-05 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 10-10

10. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 10, 22-04 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 09-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06

11. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 7, 22-02 -- 90
Day 1: 4, 08-11 -- Day 2: 3, 13-07

12. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 9, 22-01 -- 89
Day 1: 4, 10-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

13. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 10, 21-15 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 08-01

14. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 10, 21-13 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 09-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03

15. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 21-12 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 09-12

16. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 10, 21-10 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 08-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11

17. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 9, 21-08 -- 84
Day 1: 4, 06-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10

18. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 10, 20-15 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 10-12 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03

19. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 7, 20-01 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 2, 06-01

20. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 8, 20-00 -- 81
Day 1: 4, 07-09 -- Day 2: 4, 12-07

21. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 10, 19-07 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 09-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-04

22. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 8, 19-06 -- 79
Day 1: 3, 05-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15

23. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 9, 18-10 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 4, 07-08

24. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 9, 18-09 -- 77
Day 1: 4, 09-10 -- Day 2: 5, 08-15

25. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 7, 18-06 -- 76
Day 1: 2, 04-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14

26. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 8, 17-13 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 3, 06-13

27. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 7, 17-05 -- 74
Day 1: 4, 10-03 -- Day 2: 3, 07-02

28. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 9, 17-03 -- 73
Day 1: 4, 07-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-00

29. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 9, 17-01 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 09-13 -- Day 2: 4, 07-04

30. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 8, 16-15 -- 71
Day 1: 3, 04-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08

31. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 10, 16-14 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 08-01 -- Day 2: 5, 08-13

32. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 8, 16-14 -- 69
Day 1: 3, 08-02 -- Day 2: 5, 08-12

33. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 7, 16-07 -- 68
Day 1: 4, 11-03 -- Day 2: 3, 05-04

34. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 7, 16-05 -- 67
Day 1: 2, 04-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

35. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 8, 16-05 -- 66
Day 1: 4, 06-10 -- Day 2: 4, 09-11

36. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 8, 16-05 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 08-03 -- Day 2: 3, 08-02

37. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 8, 16-03 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 3, 04-13

38. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 7, 16-02 -- 63
Day 1: 4, 08-08 -- Day 2: 3, 07-10

39. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 7, 16-00 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 2, 05-15

40. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 8, 15-15 -- 61
Day 1: 3, 04-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

41. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 8, 15-14 -- 60
Day 1: 3, 05-10 -- Day 2: 5, 10-04

42. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 6, 15-07 -- 59
Day 1: 1, 01-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10

43. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 8, 14-10 -- 58
Day 1: 3, 05-09 -- Day 2: 5, 09-01

44. Bryan New -- Belmont, NC -- 6, 14-02 -- 57
Day 1: 1, 02-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01

45. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 6, 13-15 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 1, 02-14

46. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 7, 13-12 -- 55
Day 1: 2, 04-01 -- Day 2: 5, 09-11

47. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 8, 13-11 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 09-04 -- Day 2: 3, 04-07

48. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 7, 13-10 -- 53
Day 1: 2, 03-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03

49. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 8, 13-04 -- 52
Day 1: 3, 04-05 -- Day 2: 5, 08-15

50. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 8, 13-02 -- 51
Day 1: 3, 04-11 -- Day 2: 5, 08-07

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

51. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 7, 12-15 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 02-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-00

52. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 7, 12-13 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 2, 02-14

53. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 7, 12-10 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-03 -- Day 2: 5, 09-07

54. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 8, 12-10 -- 47 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 04-03 -- Day 2: 5, 08-07

55. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 6, 12-06 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-07 -- Day 2: 4, 08-15

56. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 5, 11-06 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06

57. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 7, 11-06 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 07-02 -- Day 2: 2, 04-04

58. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 6, 11-04 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-00 -- Day 2: 1, 02-04

59. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 6, 11-03 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 04-08 -- Day 2: 3, 06-11

60. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 4, 11-02 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 04-15 -- Day 2: 2, 06-03

61. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 10-13 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 04-08 -- Day 2: 3, 06-05

62. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 10-07 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 08-13 -- Day 2: 1, 01-10

63. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 6, 10-07 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 03-07 -- Day 2: 4, 07-00

64. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 6, 10-07 -- 37 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-11 -- Day 2: 3, 04-12

65. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 5, 10-01 -- 36 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-10 -- Day 2: 4, 08-07

66. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 4, 09-08 -- 35 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 02-15 -- Day 2: 2, 06-09

67. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 6, 09-08 -- 34 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 04-15 -- Day 2: 3, 04-09

68. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 4, 09-03 -- 33 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 09-03 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

69. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 09-02 -- 32 -- $2,500
Day 1: 4, 07-01 -- Day 2: 1, 02-01

70. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 09-00 -- 31 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 05-00 -- Day 2: 2, 04-00

71. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 08-11 -- 30 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 04-00 -- Day 2: 3, 04-11

72. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 5, 08-09 -- 29 -- $2,500
Day 1: 2, 04-00 -- Day 2: 3, 04-09

73. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 4, 08-00 -- 28 -- $2,500
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 4, 08-00

74. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 4, 07-15 -- 27 -- $2,500
Day 1: 1, 01-12 -- Day 2: 3, 06-03

75. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 3, 07-11 -- 26 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 07-11 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

76. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 3, 07-09 -- 25
Day 1: 2, 05-10 -- Day 2: 1, 01-15

77. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 3, 07-04 -- 24
Day 1: 1, 03-10 -- Day 2: 2, 03-10

78. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 4, 07-02 -- 23
Day 1: 3, 05-10 -- Day 2: 1, 01-08

79. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 3, 07-01 -- 22
Day 1: 1, 02-13 -- Day 2: 2, 04-04

80. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 4, 06-13 -- 21
Day 1: 1, 01-09 -- Day 2: 3, 05-04

81. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 4, 06-11 -- 20
Day 1: 1, 01-12 -- Day 2: 3, 04-15

82. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 4, 06-10 -- 19
Day 1: 1, 01-09 -- Day 2: 3, 05-01

83. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 3, 06-09 -- 18
Day 1: 2, 04-06 -- Day 2: 1, 02-03

84. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 4, 06-08 -- 17
Day 1: 2, 02-15 -- Day 2: 2, 03-09

85. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 3, 06-08 -- 16
Day 1: 1, 03-03 -- Day 2: 2, 03-05

86. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 4, 06-07 -- 15
Day 1: 3, 04-05 -- Day 2: 1, 02-02

87. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 2, 06-06 -- 14
Day 1: 1, 02-11 -- Day 2: 1, 03-11

88. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 4, 06-04 -- 13
Day 1: 2, 03-03 -- Day 2: 2, 03-01

89. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 2, 06-02 -- 12
Day 1: 1, 02-02 -- Day 2: 1, 04-00

90. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 3, 05-07 -- 11
Day 1: 1, 01-13 -- Day 2: 2, 03-10

91. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 3, 05-05 -- 10
Day 1: 2, 03-12 -- Day 2: 1, 01-09

92. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 2, 05-01 -- 9
Day 1: 1, 01-13 -- Day 2: 1, 03-04

93. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 1, 04-11 -- 8
Day 1: 1, 04-11 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

94. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 2, 04-06 -- 7
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 2, 04-06

95. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 2, 04-01 -- 6
Day 1: 1, 03-00 -- Day 2: 1, 01-01

96. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 2, 04-00 -- 5
Day 1: 2, 04-00 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

97. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 2, 03-13 -- 4
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 2, 03-13

98. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 2, 03-13 -- 3
Day 1: 1, 01-12 -- Day 2: 1, 02-01

99. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 1, 02-08 -- 2
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 1, 02-08

100. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 1, 00-09 -- 1
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 1, 00-09