VanDam Still On 'Em, But Weights Zeroed Tomorrow

After yesterday's sight-fish slugfest at the Smith Lake Bassmaster E50, the fishing spiraled downward today. Although the temperatures remained above normal, the winds kicked up and the fish decided not to bite. Day 1 leader Kevin VanDam got on them again though, and was able to maintain his 1st-round lead with 31-02 total (11-00 today). His 2-day total was almost 10 pounds better than the 12th-place cut weight.

Mark Davis moved up one spot to 2nd today with a total weight of 28-13 (12-01 today), while Chad Morgenthaler rose two spots and to 3rd with 25-01 (9-15 today). Jeff Kriet moved up one spot to 4th with 24-08 (9-06 today), and Kelly Jordan rounds out the Top 5 with 23-15 (8-12 today).

Here's the rest of the Top 12 that will fish tomorrow:

6. Jay Yelas: 9, 23-13
7. Kevin Wirth: 10, 23-09
8. Zell Rowland: 10, 23-08
9. Mike Iaconelli: 10, 22-13
10. Skeet Reese: 10, 22-11
11. Larry Nixon: 8, 21-14
12. Davy Hite: 9, 21-12

Overall, the weights lightened significantly today. Some anglers feel it was the boat pressure yesterday that shut the fish off, while others feel it was the weather. Regardless, only the Top 12 fish tomorrow and all their weights are zeroed. They'll rotate through a series of "holes" that were off-limits during days 1 and 2. With all new water and zero weights, it's still anyone's event to win – or lose.

VanDam Fishing Well

"Things have been going my way lately as far as execution goes," VanDam said. "I had a real good tournament at Table Rock until the end, and I’m doing well here. I just feel like I'm fishing well."

As the leader, tomorrow's zero weights affect him the most. "When you're in the lead position, you certainly don't like the zeroing," he said. "But I'm looking forward to the six-hole course tomorrow because I feel like it suits my style.

"The fish aren't chasing much out here," he noted. "You just have to take what the lake gives you."

Davis Lost Weight

"Today was a lot harder than yesterday," 2nd-place Davis said. "We had a lot of bad storms today that affected the bite.

"It's hard to say what tomorrow will be like. Normally, adverse weather makes the bite better. Today it wasn't that way. In fact, (Dean) Rojas said the weather today shut his bite completely off."

Davis said he threw a weightless worm in pockets today. "I have a pretty good pattern right now. The fish are in the buckbrush and the little Strike King Finesse Worm is working pretty well for me."

He's a little worried about the course the next 2 days though. "I've never fished this part of the lake before," he said of the course water. "Last year when I fished the lake, I didn't even go into that arm.

"There's not much any of us can do except go out and take what the course gives us. The locals here say this is the worse part of the lake. It may only take 8 to 10 pounds per day to win this thing."

He begins tomorrow in hole 2.

Morgenthaler Changed Up

Chad Morgenthaler had to change tactics today and target spotted bass in order make the cut.

"I knew I would have to fish spots today," he said. "I sight-fished all day yesterday and burned my largemouths up pretty bad.

"In practice, I spent quite a bit of time on areas I knew would produce some good spots if I needed them. They paid off for me today.

"I went to my first area this morning and caught one in the first hour. I hit my second area with no luck and then hit my third area and they were there."

He didn't land every fish he hooked, though. "I lost four fish today that would have really helped me," he said. "I lost two of them at the boat which really hurt.

"I'm throwing light line and a jigworm and these spots are tearing me up. I have to fight the fish for a long time and it's really hard on the nerves."

He starts in hole 4 tomorrow. "I'm excited about the course," he said. "I have no history on that part of the lake, but I feel good about what it has to offer. I'll just continue to cover water and prefish as the day goes on. That's what got me here."

Kriet's Bite Slowed

Jeff Kriet's in 4th place. "It really slowed down for me today," he said. "I caught 15 keepers yesterday, and today I struggled to get four. I don't know if it was the weather or the water. It seems the water is changing a bit.

"I haven’t been sight-fishing at all. I have a pretty good bite on jigworms and I'll stick to it the next 2 days."

Unlike some others in the cut, Kriet has some experience on the course water. "I'm excited about the cut," he said. "I caught some nice fish out of that arm last year and I feel confident I can do it again this year. My pattern should work well all over the lake, so I'm not too worried. I'm just going to fish hard."

He lost a fish today that would have helped him. "I saw a 2 3/4-pound spot behind a dock today and had to make a cast over the cable to get to it. I set the hook as soon as he ate the bait and started over to the cable. I reached down to lip the fish but I grazed its head and the fish went wild on the cable and came off. That fish would have helped me today."

He starts in hole 4 tomorrow.

Yelas Got Lucky

Jay Yelas, in 6th, got a break today that doesn't happen too often.

"I found a fish that looked to be about 3 pounds way back in some buckbrush," he said. "There was no way for me to get to it, so I had to cast over the bush it was in. The fish ate the tube and I set the hook and lifted the fish 5 feet out of the water into the brush. By the time it got through the cover, the fish came off. It was a bummer and it made me lose some momentum.

"Ten minute before weigh-in, I decided to go back and try for it again. The same thing happened, but this time, I got him. That fish really saved me today."

So far, he's sight-fished for largemouths exclusively. "I've been sight-fishing largemouths all tournament," he said. "Most of the others went for spotted bass today, but my largemouth bite seems to be good still.

"With the course tomorrow, there could be some good fish that haven't been bothered, which could play well into my hands."

He starts tomorrow in Hole 6.

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 50 anglers, 16 limits, no zeroes.

> Morgenthaler thinks the course could be good. "No one has been in there all week. There could be some good bed-fish in there. If the weather doesn't get too bad, there could be some big bags at weigh-in tomorrow."

> Gerald Swindle, a heaver pre-tournament favorite, missed the cut today by 3 ounces. He finished 13th with eight fish for 21-09.

> Aaron Martens, 2005 BASS Angler of the Year, finished 30th with seven fish for 17-09.

> Tim Horton, who had his day 1 weight DQd, caught two fish today for 4-08 and finished 50th. BassFan spoke with BASS tournament director Trip Weldon about yesterday's DQ, and he reiterated BASS's previous statement: Horton's observer said he was asked by Horton to help hold the boat in position. That conflicts with the statement Horton made to BassFan last night. Horton could not be reached for comment before this story was posted.

> The weather is expected to worsen tomorrow. Heavy thunderstorms and wind, coupled with a 20-degree drop in temperature, could make an already tough bite even tougher. Saturday's forecast isn't any better, with a high-pressure system due to deliver highs in the low 60s.

Weather Forecast

Fri., April 22 – Scattered Strong Storms – 77°/49°
> Wind: From the SW at 13 mph

Sat., April 23 – Partly Cloudy/Wind – 60°/32°
> Wind: From the SW at 13 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 10, 31-02 -- 310
Day 1: 5, 20-02 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00
2. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, Ark. -- 10, 28-13 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 16-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01
3. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Ill. -- 9, 25-01 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 4, 9-15
4. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla. -- 9, 24-08 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 4, 9-06
5. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 8, 23-15 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 3, 8-12
6. Jay Yelas -- Tyler, Texas -- 9, 23-13 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 4, 9-12
7. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 10, 23-09 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11
8. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Texas -- 10, 23-08 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 10-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14
9. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, N.J. -- 10, 22-13 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-06
10. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 10, 22-11 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02
11. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ark. -- 8, 21-14 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 3, 6-14
12. Davy Hite -- Prosperity, S.C. -- 9, 21-12 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 4, 8-00

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not be fishing tomorrow:

13. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, Ala. -- 8, 21-09 -- 251 -- $5,700
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 3, 9-10
14. Edwin Evers -- Mannsville, Okla. -- 10, 21-07 -- 248 -- $5,600
Day 1: 5, 12-04 -- Day 2: 5, 9-03
15. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 9, 20-15 -- 245 -- $5,500
Day 1: 4, 8-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13
16. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, Fla. -- 8, 20-14 -- 243 -- $5,500
Day 1: 3, 8-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13
16. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, Texas -- 7, 20-14 -- 243 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 2, 3-11
18. David Fritts -- Lexington, N.C. -- 9, 20-12 -- 239 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 4, 9-10
19. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 10, 19-15 -- 237 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 9-12
20. Jeff Reynolds -- Platter, Okla. -- 9, 19-10 -- 235 -- $5,300
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 4, 8-02
20. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Kan. -- 7, 19-10 -- 235 -- $5,300
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 2, 5-05
22. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, Mo. -- 9, 19-07 -- 231 -- $5,200
Day 1: 4, 8-12 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11
22. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas -- 8, 19-07 -- 231 -- $5,200
Day 1: 3, 7-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11
24. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, N.C. -- 9, 19-00 -- 227 -- $5,200
Day 1: 4, 7-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09
25. Stacey D King -- Reeds Spring, Mo. -- 8, 18-06 -- 225 -- $5,200
Day 1: 4, 8-07 -- Day 2: 4, 9-15
26. Luke Clausen -- Spokane Valley, Wash. -- 8, 18-04 -- 223 -- $5,200
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 3, 7-03
27. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 9, 18-03 -- 221 -- $5,200
Day 1: 5, 10-10 -- Day 2: 4, 7-09
28. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 6, 18-00 -- 219 -- $5,200
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 1, 4-05
29. Mike Reynolds -- Modesto, Calif. -- 7, 17-14 -- 217 -- $5,200
Day 1: 2, 5-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15
30. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala. -- 7, 17-09 -- 215 -- $5,200
Day 1: 4, 9-11 -- Day 2: 3, 7-14
31. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo. -- 7, 17-03 -- 213 -- $5,200
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 2, 6-01
32. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 4, 17-01 -- 211 -- $7,200
Day 1: 1, 3-10 -- Day 2: 3, 13-07
33. Jim Bitter -- Fruitland Park, Fla. -- 6, 15-00 -- 209 -- $5,200
Day 1: 1, 4-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02
34. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 7, 14-14 -- 207 -- $5,200
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 2, 3-12
34. Dave Wolak -- Warrior Run, Pa. -- 7, 14-14 -- 207 -- $5,200
Day 1: 4, 9-05 -- Day 2: 3, 5-09
36. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, N.C. -- 6, 14-13 -- 203 -- $5,100
Day 1: 2, 4-13 -- Day 2: 4, 10-00
36. Mark Tyler -- Scottsdale, Ariz. -- 6, 14-13 -- 203 -- $5,100
Day 1: 3, 5-11 -- Day 2: 3, 9-02
38. Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas -- 5, 14-09 -- 199 -- $5,100
Day 1: 4, 11-12 -- Day 2: 1, 2-13
39. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 6, 13-14 -- 197 -- $5,100
Day 1: 2, 5-10 -- Day 2: 4, 8-04
40. Bud Pruitt -- Spring, Texas -- 6, 13-10 -- 195 -- $5,100
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 1, 2-00
41. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, Mo. -- 6, 13-07 -- 193 -- $5,000
Day 1: 1, 2-08 -- Day 2: 5, 10-15
42. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ark. -- 6, 12-04 -- 191 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 8-13 -- Day 2: 2, 3-07
43. Roland Martin -- Naples, Fla. -- 5, 12-00 -- 189 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 9-08 -- Day 2: 1, 2-08
44. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 5, 11-08 -- 187 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 9-10 -- Day 2: 1, 1-14
45. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 6, 11-05 -- 185 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 9-06 -- Day 2: 1, 1-15
46. David Wharton -- Sam Rayburn, Texas -- 5, 9-02 -- 183 -- $5,000
Day 1: 3, 5-08 -- Day 2: 2, 3-10
47. Marty Stone -- Linden, N.C. -- 5, 8-08 -- 181 -- $5,000
Day 1: 3, 4-15 -- Day 2: 2, 3-09
48. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 4, 8-04 -- 179 -- $5,000
Day 1: 3, 5-09 -- Day 2: 1, 2-11
49. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, Okla. -- 3, 5-10 -- 177 -- $5,000
Day 1: 1, 1-05 -- Day 2: 2, 4-05
50. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 2, 4-08 -- 175 -- $5,000
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 2, 4-08

Big Bass

> Day 2 -- Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 5-13 -- $1,000
> Day 1 -- Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, Ark. -- 5-08 -- $1,000