Cifuentes Has 2-Ounce Lead At Halfway Point

By MLF Communications Staff

Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., took over the lead on day 2 of the MLF Pro Circuit event at the St. Lawrence River in Massena, N.Y., bringing a five-bass limit to the scale weighing 18-14. Cifuentes’ two-day total of 10 bass weighing 43-03 gives him a 2-ounce advantage heading into day 3 of the four-day competition.

Ron Nelson of Berrien Springs, Mich., the 2020 Pro Circuit Angler of the Year, moved from 3rd place into 2nd with a five-bass limit weighing 19-10, while Kurt Mitchell of Milford, Del. brought a 20-09 bag to the scale, moving him from 25th place into 7th. Jon Canada of Helena, Ala., made the biggest leap toward the top of the leaderboard, weighing a limit of 21-15 to catapult him from 62nd place into the top 10.

Day-1 leader John Cox dropped to 15th place with a three-fish, 11-08 haul on day 2.

Anglers battled strong cold-front winds and a significant chop throughout the entire second day of competition. Add finicky smallmouth to that and it made for a difficult day on the water.

“Today was tough with the wind and the fish were not biting very well,” said Cifuentes. “The wind was so bad and blowing against the current that it was almost impossible to let your bait move naturally with the current. In spite of the challenging conditions, I’m on top of the leaderboard and am fishing on day 3, so I’m pumped.”

Cifuentes said he got off to a strong start fishing deep humps in the Clayton area, landing a solid pair of 4-pounders to bring him to around 17 pounds early. From there, he bounced around trying different things and was able to cull up a few ounces at a time.

“I’m kind of zoned in on the deep deal during this event,” said Cifuentes. “I just don’t really know if my area is going to replenish. So, I’m going to start there [on day 3], but I will definitely need to expand from there. My gut is telling me I’m going to have to find some new stuff tomorrow.”

With plenty of areas and patterns that he picked up in practice, Cifuentes said he isn’t too worried, but the potential of his main area is certainly on his mind – the trick is to see if it will hold.

“I’m excited going into day 3 because I think I can stop on some other places I found in practice and catch fish,” continued Cifuentes. “I really think I can catch a solid bag tomorrow doing a number of things, but I just don’t know for sure.

“It’s smallmouth, so I may only catch 12 pounds. Meanwhile, I know with my main area, I have the potential to catch another big bag. I just plan to follow my gut and see what happens.”

Here are the totals for the Top 10 at the midway point:

1. Joey Cifuentes: 43-03
2. Ron Nelson: 43-01
3. Scott Dobson: 42-07
4. Matthew Stefan: 41-09
5. Cody Pike: 41-09
6. Miles Howe: 39-15
7. Kurt Mitchell: 39-04
8. Justin Lucas: 38-12
9. Erik Luzak: 37-11
10. Jon Canada: 37-11

Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, won the day's $500 Berkley Big Bass award with a 6-04 specimen.

The Top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight now advance to Saturday. Only the Top 10 will continue competition on Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest cumulative weight from the four days of competition.

Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. ET Saturday and Sunday from the Massena Intake Boat Launch, located at 1415 State Highway 13. Weigh-ins will also be held at the boat launch daily at 3 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the action online through the MLF NOW! livestream and coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Weigh-ins will be streamed daily, and fans can catch live on-the-water action all day Saturday and Sunday on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. ET at MajorLeagueFishing.com.

Day 2 Standings

1. Joey Cifuentes -- 24-05 (5) -- 18-14 (5) -- 43-03 (10)

2. Ron Nelson -- 23-07 (5) -- 19-10 (5) -- 43-01 (10)

3. Scott Dobson -- 20-11 (5) -- 21-12 (5) -- 42-07 (10)

4. Matthew Stefan -- 22-07 (5) -- 19-02 (5) -- 41-09 (10)

5. Cody Pike -- 19-07 (5) -- 22-02 (5) -- 41-09 (10)

6. Miles Howe -- 22-10 (5) -- 17-05 (5) -- 39-15 (10)

7. Kurt Mitchell -- 18-11 (5) -- 20-09 (5) -- 39-04 (10)

8. Justin Lucas -- 21-00 (5) -- 17-12 (5) -- 38-12 (10)

9. Erik Luzak -- 22-00 (5) -- 15-11 (5) -- 37-11 (10)

10. Jon Canada -- 15-12 (5) -- 21-15 (5) -- 37-11 (10)

11. Justin Cooper -- 19-08 (5) -- 18-03 (5) -- 37-11 (10)

12. Jason Lambert -- 19-13 (5) -- 17-07 (5) -- 37-04 (10)

13. Aaron Britt -- 20-00 (5) -- 17-02 (5) -- 37-02 (10)

14. Michael Neal -- 21-08 (5) -- 15-03 (5) -- 36-11 (10)

15. John Cox -- 24-12 (5) -- 11-08 (3) -- 36-04 (8)

16. Evan Barnes -- 18-14 (5) -- 17-05 (5) -- 36-03 (10)

17. Randy Ramsey -- 20-07 (5) -- 15-11 (5) -- 36-02 (10)

18. Dakota Ebare -- 15-02 (5) -- 20-12 (5) -- 35-14 (10)

19. Tom Monsoor -- 21-02 (5) -- 14-10 (5) -- 35-12 (10)

20. Zack Birge -- 16-15 (5) -- 18-13 (5) -- 35-12 (10)

21. Cody Meyer -- 17-11 (5) -- 17-09 (5) -- 35-04 (10)

22. Alex Davis -- 22-00 (5) -- 13-03 (5) -- 35-03 (10)

23. Grae Buck -- 15-05 (5) -- 19-13 (5) -- 35-02 (10)

24. Todd Walters -- 18-00 (5) -- 17-02 (5) -- 35-02 (10)

25. Scott Wiley -- 17-14 (5) -- 17-03 (5) -- 35-01 (10)

26. Jacopo Gallelli -- 17-12 (5) -- 17-01 (5) -- 34-13 (10)

27. Brad Knight -- 17-11 (5) -- 17-01 (5) -- 34-12 (10)

28. Lawson Hibdon -- 14-06 (5) -- 20-04 (5) -- 34-10 (10)

29. Billy Hines -- 17-05 (5) -- 17-05 (5) -- 34-10 (10)

30. Skeet Reese -- 17-10 (5) -- 16-14 (5) -- 34-08 (10)

31. Corey Neece -- 18-06 (5) -- 15-14 (5) -- 34-04 (10)

32. Darrel Robertson -- 16-11 (5) -- 17-09 (5) -- 34-04 (10)

33. Mitch Crane -- 15-02 (5) -- 18-15 (5) -- 34-01 (10)

34. Kerry Milner -- 17-15 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 33-14 (10)

35. Kyle Hall -- 15-10 (5) -- 18-00 (5) -- 33-10 (10)

36. Ryan Salzman -- 19-04 (5) -- 14-03 (5) -- 33-07 (10)

37. Clabion Johns -- 17-05 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 33-05 (10)

38. Jimmy Reese -- 16-04 (5) -- 16-15 (5) -- 33-03 (10)

39. Troy Stokes -- 19-07 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 33-02 (10)

40. Joe Wieberg -- 13-11 (5) -- 19-03 (5) -- 32-14 (10)

41. Braxton Setzer -- 13-11 (5) -- 19-03 (5) -- 32-14 (10)

42. Wesley Strader -- 19-02 (5) -- 13-03 (5) -- 32-05 (10)

43. Troy Morrow -- 14-11 (5) -- 17-10 (5) -- 32-05 (10)

44. Jamie Horton -- 14-04 (5) -- 18-00 (5) -- 32-04 (10)

45. Mike Surman -- 16-10 (5) -- 15-09 (5) -- 32-03 (10)

46. Greg Bohannan -- 17-02 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 32-01 (10)

47. Laramy Strickland -- 15-03 (5) -- 16-13 (5) -- 32-00 (10)

48. Joshua Weaver -- 16-15 (5) -- 15-00 (5) -- 31-15 (10)

49. David Williams -- 18-08 (5) -- 13-05 (5) -- 31-13 (10)

50. Jesse Wiggins -- 17-07 (5) -- 14-05 (5) -- 31-12 (10)

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

51. Pete Ponds -- 18-05 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 31-06 (10)

52. Chris Lane -- 11-10 (5) -- 19-05 (5) -- 30-15 (10)

53. Jared McMillan -- 15-13 (5) -- 15-01 (5) -- 30-14 (10)

54. Keith Poche -- 18-02 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 30-13 (10)

55. Bradford Beavers -- 16-07 (5) -- 14-06 (5) -- 30-13 (10)

56. Josh Butler -- 17-11 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 30-12 (10)

57. Colby Miller -- 14-01 (5) -- 16-09 (5) -- 30-10 (10)

58. Jim Neece Jr -- 15-09 (5) -- 15-00 (5) -- 30-09 (10)

59. Mike McClelland -- 19-06 (5) -- 11-02 (5) -- 30-08 (10)

60. Jim Moynagh -- 15-03 (5) -- 15-05 (5) -- 30-08 (10)

61. Casey Scanlon -- 16-07 (5) -- 13-13 (5) -- 30-04 (10)

62. Jon Englund -- 14-05 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 30-04 (10)

63. Miles Burghoff -- 16-08 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 30-02 (10)

64. Jeremy Lawyer -- 15-01 (5) -- 14-12 (5) -- 29-13 (10)

65. Jordan Osborne -- 7-07 (2) -- 22-03 (5) -- 29-10 (7)

66. Tommy Dickerson -- 12-12 (4) -- 16-13 (5) -- 29-09 (9)

67. Rusty Salewske -- 14-15 (5) -- 14-10 (5) -- 29-09 (10)

68. Darrell Davis -- 14-09 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 29-08 (10)

69. J Todd Tucker -- 15-10 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 29-05 (10)

70. Tyler Woolcott -- 15-11 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 29-04 (10)

71. Steve York -- 14-01 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 29-03 (10)

72. Brett Hite -- 19-09 (5) -- 9-09 (4) -- 29-02 (9)

73. Brandon Mosley -- 13-10 (5) -- 15-08 (5) -- 29-02 (10)

74. Richard Lowitzki -- 13-10 (4) -- 15-08 (5) -- 29-02 (9)

75. Kyle Cortiana -- 14-04 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 29-02 (10)

76. Chad Grigsby -- 17-03 (5) -- 11-14 (5) -- 29-01 (10)

77. Ryan Davidson -- 13-09 (5) -- 15-08 (5) -- 29-01 (10)

78. Cody Huff -- 12-13 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 28-13 (10)

79. Jason Abram -- 20-09 (5) -- 8-02 (3) -- 28-11 (8)

80. Bill McDonald -- 13-12 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 28-11 (10)

81. Jason Vance -- 15-11 (5) -- 12-15 (3) -- 28-10 (8)

82. Tom Redington -- 13-12 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 28-10 (10)

83. Joseph Webster -- 15-13 (5) -- 12-12 (5) -- 28-09 (10)

84. Bobby Lane -- 12-06 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 28-05 (10)

85. Tai Au -- 15-07 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 28-05 (10)

86. Dylan Hays -- 13-04 (5) -- 15-01 (5) -- 28-05 (10)

87. John Voyles -- 12-07 (5) -- 15-13 (5) -- 28-04 (10)

88. Ramie Colson Jr -- 15-07 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 28-04 (10)

89. Josh Douglas -- 13-09 (5) -- 14-10 (5) -- 28-03 (10)

90. Lance Crawford -- 16-13 (5) -- 11-03 (5) -- 28-00 (10)

91. James Niggemeyer -- 16-10 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 27-15 (10)

92. Adrian Avena -- 14-08 (5) -- 13-02 (5) -- 27-10 (10)

93. Chase Serafin -- 16-02 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 27-06 (10)

94. Chad Warren -- 16-03 (5) -- 11-02 (5) -- 27-05 (10)

95. Lane Olson -- 14-10 (5) -- 12-10 (5) -- 27-04 (10)

96. Casey Ashley -- 15-11 (5) -- 11-08 (5) -- 27-03 (10)

97. Jason Wilson -- 15-12 (5) -- 10-14 (5) -- 26-10 (10)

98. Jason Reyes -- 15-02 (5) -- 11-07 (5) -- 26-09 (10)

99. Trevor Fitzgerald -- 11-15 (5) -- 14-10 (5) -- 26-09 (10)

100. Takayuki Koike -- 14-08 (5) -- 11-15 (4) -- 26-07 (9)

101. Spencer Shuffield -- 19-00 (5) -- 7-05 (2) -- 26-05 (7)

102. Jason Blair -- 13-09 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 26-00 (10)

103. Matt Becker -- 12-06 (5) -- 13-05 (5) -- 25-11 (10)

104. Dion Hibdon -- 12-02 (4) -- 13-06 (5) -- 25-08 (9)

105. Tyler Stewart -- 12-15 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 25-07 (10)

106. Larry Nixon -- 11-13 (5) -- 13-07 (5) -- 25-04 (10)

107. Daryl Biron -- 17-06 (5) -- 7-12 (3) -- 25-02 (8)

108. Grant Galloway -- 10-09 (4) -- 14-07 (5) -- 25-00 (9)

109. Jim Tutt -- 16-01 (5) -- 8-14 (3) -- 24-15 (8)

110. Cal Lane -- 10-10 (5) -- 14-03 (5) -- 24-13 (10)

111. Matt Reed -- 14-08 (5) -- 9-09 (3) -- 24-01 (8)

112. Scott Ashmore -- 16-08 (5) -- 7-02 (3) -- 23-10 (8)

113. Colby Schrumpf -- 13-06 (5) -- 10-03 (5) -- 23-09 (10)

114. Brian Latimer -- 15-08 (5) -- 7-11 (3) -- 23-03 (8)

115. John Hunter -- 10-08 (3) -- 12-11 (5) -- 23-03 (8)

116. Kevin Martin -- 15-05 (5) -- 7-11 (3) -- 23-00 (8)

117. Jimmy Washam -- 10-05 (4) -- 12-09 (5) -- 22-14 (9)

118. Terry Bolton -- 9-14 (4) -- 12-14 (5) -- 22-12 (9)

119. Shin Fukae -- 7-01 (2) -- 15-09 (4) -- 22-10 (6)

120. Cole Floyd -- 9-02 (5) -- 13-07 (5) -- 22-09 (10)

121. Dicky Newberry -- 12-04 (4) -- 10-01 (5) -- 22-05 (9)

122. Mark Blevins -- 6-06 (2) -- 15-12 (5) -- 22-02 (7)

123. Zell Rowland -- 12-12 (5) -- 9-05 (4) -- 22-01 (9)

124. Josh Bragg -- 14-10 (5) -- 7-04 (3) -- 21-14 (8)

125. Kyle Gelles -- 13-05 (5) -- 8-03 (3) -- 21-08 (8)

126. Charlie Evans -- 12-07 (4) -- 9-00 (3) -- 21-07 (7)

127. Mark Fisher -- 14-07 (4) -- 6-06 (2) -- 20-13 (6)

128. Robert Nakatomi -- 5-09 (2) -- 14-12 (5) -- 20-05 (7)

129. Jacob Wall -- 12-15 (5) -- 7-05 (3) -- 20-04 (8)

130. David Walker -- 5-07 (3) -- 14-09 (5) -- 20-00 (8)

131. Kurt Dove -- 13-04 (5) -- 6-12 (3) -- 20-00 (8)

132. Derrick Snavely -- 12-06 (5) -- 6-02 (3) -- 18-08 (8)

133. Rusty Trancygier -- 7-05 (2) -- 11-01 (5) -- 18-06 (7)

134. Ricky Robinson -- 9-08 (3) -- 8-12 (3) -- 18-04 (6)

135. Chris Neau -- 2-00 (1) -- 15-08 (5) -- 17-08 (6)

136. Blake Smith -- 12-03 (4) -- 5-05 (2) -- 17-08 (6)

137. Cody Nichols -- 10-07 (5) -- 7-01 (3) -- 17-08 (8)

138. Kyle Weisenburger -- 17-07 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 17-07 (5)

139. Clayton Batts -- 11-07 (4) -- 5-15 (3) -- 17-06 (7)

140. Dave Parsons -- 16-10 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-10 (5)

141. Nick Lebrun -- 12-02 (5) -- 4-02 (2) -- 16-04 (7)

142. Tim Frederick -- 8-15 (4) -- 7-02 (3) -- 16-01 (7)

143. Gary Yamamoto -- 15-05 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 15-05 (5)

144. Jake Ormond -- 6-05 (3) -- 8-15 (3) -- 15-04 (6)

145. Randy Despino -- 7-04 (3) -- 6-13 (3) -- 14-01 (6)

146. Jason Lieblong -- 12-15 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 12-15 (5)

147. Lendell Martin Jr -- 1-13 (1) -- 10-15 (4) -- 12-12 (5)

148. Clark Reehm -- 12-01 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 12-01 (5)

149. Terry Luedtke -- 10-10 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-10 (4)

150. Ron Farrow -- 10-02 (4) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-02 (4)

151. Shannon Abbott -- 7-13 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 7-13 (2)

152. Danny Kirk -- 6-11 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-11 (3)

153. Scott Towry -- 6-02 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-02 (3)