Hack Whacks 20-03 Sack To Build 2-11 Advantage

Back and forth they go. First it was Hack on top, then KVD, and now The Hack Attack again. And this time Greg Hackney has some substantial weight – as well as another angler – between him and the red-hot, top-ranked Kevin VanDam.

Despite powerful winds that created 3- to 4-foot rollers, Hackney caught 20-03 today for a 59-02 total at the Rayburn Bassmaster Elite Series. That gave him a 2-11 lead over 2nd-place Dean Rojas (17-04 today, 56-07 total) and a 6-04 bulge over VanDam, who slipped from 1st to 3rd with 13-08 (52-14 total).

Stephen Browning caught 17-10 to move into 4th, but he's more than 7 pounds back with 51-13. John Crews dropped one spot to 5th (51-01) with a bag identical to VanDam's.

Here are the rest of the Top 12 who'll fish tomorrow:

6. Takahiro Omori: 51-00
7. Denny Brauer: 50-11
8. Tim Horton: 50-07
9. Mark Tyler: 50-05
10. Bill Lowen: 48-11
11. Kelly Jordon: 48-07
12. John Murray: 48-02

The wind and intermittent rain blew away some contenders' hopes – particularly those who relied on a sight-fish bite. But Hackney was unfazed. He continued to run his pattern and whacked the third-biggest bag of the day, and he's confident he can do it again tomorrow.

Rojas has been phenomenally steady though, and is basically just one big bite back. VanDam will need a huge sack and a mediocre output from the leader, or else his advantage over No. 2 Hackney in the BassFan World Rankings will shrink.

Nobody else seems to be within realistic striking distance, but this is still Texas – big fish are out there, and the unpredictable weather can throw a monkey wrench into the best-laid plan. Tomorrow's forecast calls for more commotion from the skies, so who knows?

Many of the anglers who'll compete in the Rayburn Central Stren next week took to the water for practice today, and a significant number of locals were out and about as well. Still, none of the contenders reported problems with crowds, and Hackney went so far as to compliment the Stren guys for their courtesy.

Hackney Keeps Rolling

Hackney has averaged just under 20 pounds a day on a lake that was supposed to be too beaten up from a parade of tournaments to give up weights like that. Can he do it one more day?

"I don't see why not," he said. "I'll be the biggest factor in whether I do or not. I've gotten the same bites for 3 days in a row, and today I caught all of them."

He said he caught "25 to 30" keepers. His best was 5-07 and he also had a couple of 4s. "I have to get a lot of bites because I'm wading through a lot of 2-pounders to get to the better fish."

He's catching his weigh-in fish in spurts. He put two in the well early this morning, but didn't get another for several hours. The big one bit this afternoon.

"I'll catch three of four real quick, then go for awhile with nothing, then catch three or four more. I just have to wait to hit that next little wad of them."

His pattern isn't dependent upon specific locations. He knows where he'll start tomorrow, but plans to visit several areas.

"I've got the whole lake," he said. "I haven't fished the same place twice. I went to places today where I hadn't wet a hook yet.

"The area where I'm going to start has a lot of potential. I caught a couple good ones there today and my partner caught a couple, and we didn't fish it too hard."

He said one Stren hopeful followed him throughout the day and he encountered several others, but everybody gave him his space. "A lot of guys realized what was going on and just quit fishing. They had as much right to those fish as I did, but everybody was really courteous."

He's not the least bit concerned about the prospect for more inclement weather tomorrow. "I hope it's bad, because I don't need any more help out there. I just want a little bit of running room."

Rojas Feels Good

Rojas was ahead of Hackney when today began and thinks he stands a decent shot of regaining that position tomorrow.

"Yeah, I think I've got a good chance," he said. "It's been a great week and I'm looking forward to trying to finish it up tomorrow with a win."

He figures he'll need at least 20 pounds. "I've got two different things working and it's just a matter of the areas, whether they produce. I feel real good about what I'm doing and I'll focus on my big-fish areas. I'm excited about it."

Just what is he doing? He's still understandably coy on that subject. "Everything's been working so far and I see no sense in spilling the beans just yet. I've been real consistent, and I'm just going to have to get the right bites.

He said the rollers made for an adventurous day. "The big waves were interesting. It took some time getting to certain areas without beating the heck out of yourself."

VanDam Baffled

VanDam didn't have an explanation for his light sack. "I should have done a little better, but I just didn't get any big bites," he said. "I don't know why. I know I'll have to make some adjustments tomorrow.

"I feel real good about tomorrow because now I know I have to change."

His only gripe with the weather was that the big waves made him avoid an area he'd wanted to visit. "It was a long ways away, and it was so rough that I didn't do it. I'll have to go there tomorrow though, no matter what."

He said he caught about 20 keepers and lost a couple that might've been in the 3- or 3 1/2-pound class. "About 15 or 16 pounds was the best I had a shot for today."

He said whether or not he can still win depends primarily on Hackney.

"I'll need more than 20 (pounds)," he said. "Greg hasn't slipped yet and Dean's been consistent too. If (Hackney) goes out and catches 20 again, then I've got no shot. But it's real easy to slip up out here."

Brauer Got Right Bites

Brauer vaulted to 7th with a 20-15 bag that was second-biggest of the day to Tyler's 21-13. It was his heaviest sack of the tournament by more than 5 pounds.

"You know how it is – that's fishing," he said. "I was in an area that had some potential and I just got the right bites. Maybe the fish bit a little bit better, I don't know. I didn't do a lot different than I did the first 2 days, I just got the right bites."

He caught "about a dozen" keepers and his biggest was about 5 1/4. Can he do it again tomorrow? "I have no idea. I may not do any good, or I may catch another big sack. Some of it is going to depend on how much boat traffic's in the area."

He's fishing a specific pattern, so he has numerous spots to try. He hasn't written off a win, but he knows he'll need a lot of help.

"You hate to see anybody stumble, but I'd have to have that happen and then catch another 20-plus," he said. "I'm (8 1/2) pounds behind, so it'd be pretty hard to win this thing. I'll just do the best I can and wherever it lies, it lies."

Late Rally by Murray

BassFan Big Stick Murray appeared to be on his way out of town with only two fish in his well and just 30 minutes of fishing time left. But he caught three in that final half-hour, including his limit-fish on the final cast of the day.

He caught a 6-11 early this morning (the biggest of the day), then endured several hours of futility before the late flurry.

"I was lucky to catch that big one first thing, but after that I just scraped," he said. "Most of my areas were either too rough or blown out, so I stayed in my first area all day."

The Texas-rigged Yamamoto Senko pattern he'd used all week was unproductive. "It just wasn't a good way to fish today."

He caught the big one on a Chatterbait and the late trio on a topwater plug.

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 38 limits, no zeroes.

> Crews is in the Top 5, but he's too far behind Hackney to entertain thoughts of victory. "Hackney's catching 20 (pounds) a day, and he'll probably do that again," he said. "That means I'd need 28, and nobody's caught anything close to that. I'm not going to sacrifice five or six places (in the standings) to try to go for a miracle win. I'll catch everything I can and go for some bigger bites and hopefully move up one or two spots."

> Tyler, who's 9th, was one of the last anglers to weigh in, and his 21-13 bag (best of the day) bumped Mike Iaconelli out of the Top 12.

> Edwin Evers caught just two fish for 3-15 today and dropped from 6th to 32nd. "The wind eliminated about half the things I was doing, and I just didn't execute. I was flipping wood and I had the bites, but I just didn't get them out of there. I'd been sight-fishing and I had 18 pounds pegged down in one pocket from late yesterday, but the wind took that out of the equation."

> BassFan Big Stick Jarrett Edwards caught just two fish for 3-07 today and fell from 14th to 47th. To read the report from his 3 days of competition, click here.

> BassFan News is brought to you by Rapala.

Weather Forecast

Here's the Weather Channel's forecast for the final tournament day:

> Sun., March 19 – Thunderstorms – 74°/66°
- Wind: From the SE at 9 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La. -- 15, 59-02 -- 310
Day 1: 5, 22-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-13 -- Day 3: 5, 20-03

2. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu, Ariz. -- 15, 56-07 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 21-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-03 -- Day 3: 5, 17-04

3. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 15, 52-14 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 22-01 -- Day 2: 5, 17-05 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08

4. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 15, 51-13 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15 -- Day 3: 5, 17-10

5. John Crews -- Salem, Va. -- 15, 51-01 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 20-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-03 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08

6. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 15, 51-00 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-06 -- Day 3: 5, 14-10

7. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, Mo. -- 15, 50-11 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08 -- Day 3: 5, 20-15

8. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 15, 50-07 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 19-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-14

9. Mark Tyler -- Scottsdale, Ariz. -- 15, 50-05 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02 -- Day 3: 5, 21-13

10. Bill Lowen -- Cincinnati, Ohio -- 15, 48-11 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 20-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 15-08

11. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 15, 48-07 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 5, 16-11

12. John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 15, 48-02 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 20-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 5, 13-04

The following anglers didn't make the cut and won't be fishing tomorrow.

13. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, N.J. -- 15, 47-03 -- 251 -- $10,800
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 13-03
14. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 15, 47-02 -- 248 -- $10,700
Day 1: 5, 19-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06 -- Day 3: 5, 12-09
15. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 15, 46-14 -- 245 -- $10,600
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15 -- Day 3: 5, 16-11
16. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas -- 14, 46-11 -- 243 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11 -- Day 3: 4, 10-12
17. Terry Butcher -- Talala, Okla. -- 15, 45-14 -- 241 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04 -- Day 3: 5, 17-07
18. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala. -- 15, 45-07 -- 239 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09 -- Day 3: 5, 15-14
19. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 15, 45-05 -- 237 -- $10,500
Day 1: 5, 18-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 14-09
20. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 15, 44-04 -- 235 -- $11,500
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-02 -- Day 3: 5, 10-04
21. Marty Stone -- Linden, N.C. -- 15, 44-01 -- 233 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06 -- Day 3: 5, 16-02
22. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 15, 43-11 -- 231 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-06
23. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, S.C. -- 15, 43-08 -- 229 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-03 -- Day 3: 5, 11-14
24. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, Pa. -- 15, 43-04 -- 227 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14 -- Day 3: 5, 14-08
25. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, Okla. -- 15, 43-03 -- 225 -- $10,250
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08 -- Day 3: 5, 11-06
26. Gerald Swindle -- Hayden, Ala. -- 15, 42-09 -- 223 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-11
27. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 15, 42-03 -- 221 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05 -- Day 3: 5, 11-07
28. Brooks Rogers -- Quitman, Texas -- 15, 41-15 -- 219 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10 -- Day 3: 5, 10-12
29. Dave Smith -- Del City, Okla. -- 15, 41-09 -- 216 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 5, 9-03 -- Day 3: 5, 13-15
29. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, Fla. -- 15, 41-09 -- 216 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02 -- Day 3: 5, 10-04
31. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Okla. -- 15, 41-03 -- 213 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00 -- Day 3: 5, 8-01
32. Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla. -- 12, 41-02 -- 211 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-12 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 2, 3-15
33. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, Fla. -- 15, 41-00 -- 209 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10 -- Day 3: 5, 11-00
34. Keith Phillips -- Calera, Ala. -- 14, 40-15 -- 207 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15 -- Day 3: 4, 11-02
35. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 15, 40-11 -- 205 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04 -- Day 3: 5, 12-09
36. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 15, 40-02 -- 203 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 9-05
37. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 15, 39-14 -- 201 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05 -- Day 3: 5, 10-04
38. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, Md. -- 14, 39-09 -- 199 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13 -- Day 3: 4, 9-05
39. Preston Clark -- Palatka, Fla. -- 14, 39-07 -- 197 -- $10,000
Day 1: 4, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04 -- Day 3: 5, 9-15
40. Jon Bondy -- Windsor, Canada -- 14, 38-15 -- 195 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09 -- Day 3: 4, 10-08
41. Jason Quinn -- York, S.C. -- 15, 38-11 -- 193 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 10-10 -- Day 3: 5, 9-05
42. Lee Bailey -- Boaz, Ala. -- 15, 38-05 -- 191 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04 -- Day 3: 5, 8-15
43. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo. -- 15, 38-04 -- 189 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06 -- Day 3: 5, 10-09
44. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, La. -- 14, 38-02 -- 187 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 4, 6-02
45. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, Pa. -- 13, 37-12 -- 185 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 3, 4-15
46. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, Okla. -- 13, 37-08 -- 183 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 20-01 -- Day 3: 3, 5-10
47. Jarrett Edwards -- Page, Ariz. -- 12, 37-01 -- 181 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10 -- Day 3: 2, 3-12
48. Britt Myers -- Mt. Holly, N.C. -- 13, 33-10 -- 179 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14 -- Day 3: 3, 4-12
49. William Smith, Jr -- Somerset, Ky. -- 13, 33-00 -- 177 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06 -- Day 3: 3, 4-07
50. Byron Velvick -- Boulder City, Nev. -- 12, 32-14 -- 175 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03 -- Day 3: 2, 3-09

Big Bass

Day 3: John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 6-11 -- $1,000
Day 2: Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 7-07 -- $1,000
Day 1: Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 6-07 -- $1,000