Butcher Blasts 26-03, Leads Shortened G-Ville By 3-09

A look at the standings after day 2 of the Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series can be a little misleading. Oklahoma's Terry Butcher leads Jason Quinn by 3-09, and he's a full 8-03 in front of the Top 12 cut spot.

His 26-03 sack included a 6-pounder, three 5s and a 4, which is a lot stronger

than the scads of 3- to 3 1/2-pounders that nearly everyone's catching at least a few of.

That could change tomorrow though, since history proves that April weights on this Alabama fishery are difficult to repeat, especially with the heavy boat traffic and post-spawn conditions the lake is experiencing right now.

Example: Last year's winner, Mike Iaconelli, opened with 16-12, caught 22-01 the next day, then 17-13 and 15-03. Alton Jones, who finished 2nd, opened with 20-11, then caught 20-12, but finished out with 13-03 and 17-01.

Butcher's got one major advantage, though, and it concerns yesterday's weather cancellation. Due to weather concerns, BASS pulled the plug on day 1 and turned the event into a 3-day affair. That makes Butcher's bag that much stronger, because anyone in a deficit position has less time to make it up.

And the rumor is that Butcher caught his fish deep. That's important because the sight-fishing bite seems to be fading. It's mostly down to bucks now, and the spawning coves are overcrowded. There'll be even more boats on them tomorrow, when the local Saturday traffic launches.

Quinn's 22-10 puts him 2nd, and sets the stage for another strong event after his 15th last week at Clarks Hill. He's staring at a potentially quick rebound after the beating he took in California.

Kevin VanDam, who finished 4th here last year, caught 21-04. He's currently in 3rd.

Terry "Big Show" Scroggins was one of the last to weigh in. He dropped 21-02 on the scales, which landed him in 4th.

The 5th-place spot belongs to smokin' hot Pete Ponds, who arrived at Guntersville with the momentum of two consecutive Top 12s to draw from.

Here's a look at the current Top 12. Total weight is followed by distance from leader in red:

1. Terry Butcher: 26-03
2. Jason Quinn: 22-10 (3-09)
3. Kevin VanDam: 21-04 (4-15)
4. Terry Scroggins: 21-02 (5-01)
5. Pete Ponds: 20-07 (5-12)
6. Mark Tucker: 19-12 (6-07)
7. Kotaro Kiriyama: 19-08 (6-11)
8. Boyd Duckett: 19-03 (7-00)
9. Ish Monroe: 18-07 (7-12)
10. Yusuke Miyazaki: 18-06 (7-13)

Recent Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett caught the day's biggest bass (7-15), but the G-Ville pigs, for the most part, pulled a vanishing act. The recent cold front, which was responsible for the day-1 cancellation, could be the culprit. Or it could simply be timing.

The second big wave of spawning fish is largely done and gone, as noted, and many feel those females have yet to get on the feed.

The front also muddied the water in several areas, which seemed to hurt the sight-bite. While it may not have led to lower weights overall, it did pack the sight-fishermen more tightly into those areas where clear water remained.

The morning bite's an important factor right now. The shad spawn is happening, and a lot of the big fish caught today came first thing in the morning with moving baits in shad-spawning areas.

Yesterday's rains and wind gave way to sun and light winds today with cooler temperatures. Tomorrow's forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with 13mph winds from the west – a scenario that should favor the deep bite.

Butcher 'Feels Great'

If there was ever an angler who needed a good event this week, it's Butcher. He entered competition in last place in the Elite Series points, and hasn't drawn a check since July of last year.

"I feel great," he said. "It was a wonderful day on the water. I caught fish all day long, and just had a real good day.

"I caught them several different ways, and everything went like it was supposed to today."

He said that his weight exceed his expectations, based on his practice. But he added that he wasn't really sure what he had, because he shook most of his practice fish off.

About the shortened format, and whether or not it favors him, he said: "It does (favor) me. That's a huge deal. I just have to catch fish for 2 more days, instead of 3."

About what he's got, he said: "I was just kind of running a pattern this morning. I went with that for a while, then started running a different type of pattern I got onto.

"I'm going to pretty much run the same thing tomorrow. I'll start in the same area in the morning, then probably go fish a couple of different areas after that that I didn't fish today."

2nd: Quinn Rebounding

"I feel good about it," Quinn said of his 22-10 limit. "Those two California events kind of threw me for a loop, and I'm trying to play catch-up and get the season turned around. I'm fishing more wide-open. I'm not holding anything back."

Asked why California had his number, he said: "You have to actually put some thought process into catching these fish out on this coast. I'm more comfortable out here – the fish get on points and ditches and things like that. At Clear Lake, you just put the trolling motor down and see how many casts you can make."

He's fishing a couple of different things here. He's got some sight-fish, and he's catching them on structure. He caught a limit in five casts from his best structure spot this morning, then left it alone.

He did note, like several others, that the lake's fishing small right now. But at the same time, he doesn't feel the need to lock into one technique, because the fish will bite a lot of different baits.

About his rebound, he said: "It feels real good. At this point of the season, if you couldn't catch them here, you're really going to have to play catch-up. And after this, we're not going to go to anyplace where you can just catch them – largemouths, that is. The whack-fests are over with for the season as soon as we leave here."

3rd: VanDam Caught 'Carbons'

VanDam's 21-04 was enough for 3rd place today, but he noted that all his fish were pretty much the same size – "carbon copies" – and he never got that one good bite to put him over the top. He's okay with where he is though.

"Anytime you have a good first day, it's a good thing, and this is a hard place to do it on," he said. "There's so much pressure on this lake, it's hard to be consistent out there. That's always been my trouble here.

"I don't know about tomorrow or the next day, but Guntersville's one of those lakes that I've always liked," he added. "It's been good to me over the years. I feel comfortable here, and it's a lot like fishing at home (in Michigan) because it had milfoil. It's just been one of my favorite places to fish since early in my career."

He said he didn't fish his water from last year, because "there's too many people on it. These guys are good. They don't miss much anymore. It's so hard to find new places out here. The bottom doesn't change. Only the grass changes from year to year." Instead, he just covered "a ton of water."

About tomorrow, he said: "Hopefully I can catch more. I didn't get any big bites today. In practice I did, and I was kind of looking forward to getting some big bites. That's the only way I can really improve. A 7- or 8-pounder goes a long way out here."

5th: Ponds Fishing With Confidence

If Ponds repeats with another strong bag tomorrow and makes the Top 12, that'll be his third in as many events. That's how hot he is right now.

He said the difference now is that he's fishing with more confidence.

"I think fishing's always about decisions," he said. "When you do well in one event, that leads you into the next one, and makes you think you made the right decisions. And it makes you make the next decision with confidence. If a guy thinks he's going to catch them, he's going to catch them.

"It's hard to get yourself back in that position," he added. "I don't think my abilities have changed. I've just gotten my confidence back."

About his 20-07 catch today, he said. "I really wasn't expecting that. I just had a good day. I caught some fish on the beds, and caught a couple of topwater fish. But I caught two fish doing one specific thing, and I'm hoping that turns into something.

"If it does, then I'll come in with a sack tomorrow."

He added that he hasn't had a problem with the crowds. He's sharing water with another angler, but it's been smooth sailing. "He's one of the better guys on the tour about not coming in. We're sharing a little bit of an area, and I'm not concerned about it at all."

7th: Tucker Has Crowd Problem

Mark Tucker said he caught three or four limits of fish today, so he's "sure" he can catch at least 15 or 16 pounds tomorrow. His problem, he said, was on-the-water traffic.

"With locals, and the whole field fishing, it makes it hard to do something. Everywhere you want to fish, you have to weed your way in there.

"The good thing is I'm the first boat out tomorrow. I'll be able to get to my spot first thing in the morning, and kind of go from there. I had a limit in the first 30 minutes this morning."

He added that at one point, he was culling and "some local people got right on the spot where (he) was catching them, which makes it difficult to do anything. You're in the boat trying to cull and here they come. I know that's a problem for everybody, but boy it's aggravating."

He's throwing a 1/2-ounce Picasso spinnerbait – slow-rolling it through grass where the shad are spawning. So his morning bite is important, but not critical.

"The morning bite is key, but I caught fish all throughout the day. You get kind of dialed in on what they're doing, and you stay at the depth of the water (where) they're biting. I'm getting numbers of bites."

8th: Duckett's Best Stuff in the River

Alabama's Boyd Duckett has only made one check so far this season, but with 19-03 today, he's in a strong position to make his first Top 12 cut.

About his bag, which included an 8-pounder, he said: "I was pretty happy with it. I've got a combination of stuff going, and I hope to do more of it tomorrow. There's a certain number of them on the beds, but I think the biggest problem is a lot of the females are gone."

He caught some bed-fish, but his best two bites came out on the river. "I'm only getting one or two good bites a day (out there), but when you tie it together with other stuff, it works out pretty well. I only need one or two good bites a day."

He does plan to switch up a little tomorrow, though. He fished the beds this morning, then the river later in the day, which he thinks was a mistake. Tomorrow, he'll start in the river, then fill out on the beds.

24th: Horton Lost Time

Tim Horton, who knows Guntersville as well or better than anyone in the field, is one of those anglers who's a big bite away from the cut. He caught 16-05 today, which puts him in 24th, but he trails 12th place by only 2-11.

One problem was a wrong start to the day when his lower unit went.

"The morning is the main deal, and I missed a couple of hours this morning," he said. "That slowed me down a little, but the lake is fishing really good.

"I think the wind really messed up some of the places today, but I think they'll start to clear up tonight and be okay tomorrow. I think the weights will actually go up."

Notable is that he said he had a 35-pound practice day. That day was overcast, and tomorrow's forecast calls for clouds, which he sees as a positive for his bite.

"I think a 30-pound bag is still possible," he said. "I need 22 tomorrow, then really go forward the next day (to have a shot to win). Hopefully that'll pan out. If I catch 19 or 20 tomorrow, I might make it."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 108 anglers, 81 limits, 5 fours, 8 threes, 10 twos, 1 one, 3 zeroes.

> About his last-place position in the points, Butcher said: "I've had a terrible, terrible year. Everything that could go wrong has went wrong. It feels good to finally catch them for a change."

> Kevin VanDam is currently ranked No. 1 in the BassFan World Rankings presented by Tru-Tungsten. He's closely trailed by Steve Kennedy and then Skeet Reese. Kennedy's currently 49th here, while Reese is 18th. Reese also leads the Elite Series points.

> Mike Iaconelli, last year's Guntersville champ and the reigning BASS Angler of the Year, caught four fish for 10-13 today. "I expected a good day," he said onstage. "I'm just not getting it done this year. This is my third bad tournament in a row. Honestly, I'm getting pissed off."

> Frank Scalish would have weighed 15-09 today, but he was 10 minutes late to check-in and was assessed a 10-pound penalty. He's currently 97th.

Weather Forecast

> Sat., April 28 – Mostly Cloudy – 73°/50°
- Wind: From the W at 13 mph

> Sun., April 29 – Sunny – 81°/51°
- Wind: From the NW at 12 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Terry Butcher -- Talala, Okla. -- 5, 26-03
Day 1: 5, 26-03

2. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 5, 22-10
Day 1: 5, 22-10

3. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 5, 21-04
Day 1: 5, 21-04

4. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fla. -- 5, 21-02
Day 1: 5, 21-02

5. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Miss. -- 5, 20-07
Day 1: 5, 20-07

6. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, Mo. -- 5, 19-12
Day 1: 5, 19-12

7. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala. -- 5, 19-08
Day 1: 5, 19-08

8. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 5, 19-03
Day 1: 5, 19-03

9. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 5, 18-07
Day 1: 5, 18-07

10. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, Texas -- 5, 18-06
Day 1: 5, 18-06

11. Morizo Shimizu -- Murrieta, Calif. -- 5, 18-05
Day 1: 5, 18-05

12. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 5, 18-00
Day 1: 5, 18-00

13. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, Mo. -- 5, 17-14
Day 1: 5, 17-14

14. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala. -- 5, 17-13
Day 1: 5, 17-13

15. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, Okla. -- 5, 17-07
Day 1: 5, 17-07

16. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla. -- 5, 17-03
Day 1: 5, 17-03

17. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, Texas -- 5, 17-01
Day 1: 5, 17-01

18. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, Mo. -- 5, 16-12
Day 1: 5, 16-12

18. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 5, 16-12
Day 1: 5, 16-12

20. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, Ark. -- 5, 16-10
Day 1: 5, 16-10

21. Cliff Pace -- Petal, Miss. -- 5, 16-09
Day 1: 5, 16-09

22. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas -- 5, 16-08
Day 1: 5, 16-08

23. Jami Fralick -- Martin, S.D. -- 5, 16-07
Day 1: 5, 16-07

24. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, S.C. -- 5, 16-05
Day 1: 5, 16-05

24. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 5, 16-05
Day 1: 5, 16-05

24. Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas -- 5, 16-05
Day 1: 5, 16-05

27. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 5, 16-04
Day 1: 5, 16-04

28. Ken Brodeur -- Niantic, Conn. -- 5, 16-02
Day 1: 5, 16-02

28. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, Pa. -- 5, 16-02
Day 1: 5, 16-02

28. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, Ark. -- 5, 16-02
Day 1: 5, 16-02

31. Ben Matsubu -- Hemphill, Texas -- 5, 15-11
Day 1: 5, 15-11

32. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala. -- 5, 15-10
Day 1: 5, 15-10

33. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 5, 15-08
Day 1: 5, 15-08

34. Mark Rogers -- Naples, Fla. -- 5, 15-05
Day 1: 5, 15-05

35. James Kennedy -- Lacombe, La. -- 5, 15-03
Day 1: 5, 15-03

36. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 5, 15-01
Day 1: 5, 15-01

36. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo. -- 5, 15-01
Day 1: 5, 15-01

38. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Miss. -- 5, 14-12
Day 1: 5, 14-12

38. Jim Murray -- Arabi, Ga. -- 5, 14-12
Day 1: 5, 14-12

40. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 5, 14-11
Day 1: 5, 14-11

41. Lee Bailey -- Boaz, Ala. -- 5, 14-10
Day 1: 5, 14-10

42. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Texas -- 5, 14-08
Day 1: 5, 14-08

43. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, Texas -- 5, 14-05
Day 1: 5, 14-05

43. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, S.C. -- 5, 14-05
Day 1: 5, 14-05

45. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, Fla. -- 5, 14-02
Day 1: 5, 14-02

46. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 5, 14-01
Day 1: 5, 14-01

47. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 5, 14-00
Day 1: 5, 14-00

48. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Texas -- 5, 13-15
Day 1: 5, 13-15

49. Preston Clark -- Palatka, Fla. -- 5, 13-14
Day 1: 5, 13-14

49. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 5, 13-14
Day 1: 5, 13-14

51. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, Ohio -- 5, 13-09
Day 1: 5, 13-09
52. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 5, 13-08
Day 1: 5, 13-08
52. John Crews -- Salem, Va. -- 5, 13-08
Day 1: 5, 13-08
52. Bryan Hudgins -- Orange Park, Fla. -- 5, 13-08
Day 1: 5, 13-08
52. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 5, 13-08
Day 1: 5, 13-08
56. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, Va. -- 5, 13-07
Day 1: 5, 13-07
57. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 5, 13-06
Day 1: 5, 13-06
58. Matt Amedeo -- Clinton, Ohio -- 5, 13-05
Day 1: 5, 13-05
58. Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla. -- 5, 13-05
Day 1: 5, 13-05
60. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, Md. -- 5, 13-04
Day 1: 5, 13-04
61. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville , Fla. -- 5, 13-03
Day 1: 5, 13-03
62. Ken D Cook -- Lawton, Okla. -- 5, 13-02
Day 1: 5, 13-02
63. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Ohio -- 5, 12-10
Day 1: 5, 12-10
63. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, Texas -- 5, 12-10
Day 1: 5, 12-10
65. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 5, 12-08
Day 1: 5, 12-08
66. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, W.Va. -- 5, 12-07
Day 1: 5, 12-07
67. Mark Tyler -- Vian, Okla. -- 5, 12-03
Day 1: 5, 12-03
68. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas -- 5, 12-02
Day 1: 5, 12-02
69. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, Fla. -- 5, 12-01
Day 1: 5, 12-01
70. John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 5, 12-00
Day 1: 5, 12-00
70. Keith Phillips -- Calera, Ala. -- 5, 12-00
Day 1: 5, 12-00
70. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark. -- 5, 12-00
Day 1: 5, 12-00
70. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, Calif. -- 5, 12-00
Day 1: 5, 12-00
74. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, S.C. -- 5, 11-15
Day 1: 5, 11-15
74. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 5, 11-15
Day 1: 5, 11-15
76. Russ Lane -- Prattville, Ala. -- 5, 11-12
Day 1: 5, 11-12
77. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La. -- 5, 11-11
Day 1: 5, 11-11
78. Marty Robinson -- Landrum, S.C. -- 5, 11-04
Day 1: 5, 11-04
78. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, Ga. -- 4, 11-04
Day 1: 4, 11-04
80. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, Mo. -- 3, 11-03
Day 1: 3, 11-03
81. Jon Bondy -- Windsor, Canada -- 5, 11-01
Day 1: 5, 11-01
82. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, N.J. -- 4, 10-13
Day 1: 4, 10-13
83. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, La. -- 5, 10-12
Day 1: 5, 10-12
84. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, Fla. -- 4, 9-03
Day 1: 4, 9-03
84. James Niggemeyer -- Van, Texas -- 4, 9-03
Day 1: 4, 9-03
86. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Okla. -- 3, 9-02
Day 1: 3, 9-02
86. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, Ala. -- 2, 9-02
Day 1: 2, 9-02
88. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, N.C. -- 3, 8-10
Day 1: 3, 8-10
89. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 4, 8-07
Day 1: 4, 8-07
90. Bradley Stringer -- Huntington, Texas -- 3, 8-05
Day 1: 3, 8-05
91. Kurt Dove -- Fairfax, Va. -- 3, 8-03
Day 1: 3, 8-03
92. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Silver Spring, Md. -- 3, 7-06
Day 1: 3, 7-06
92. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, N.C. -- 3, 7-06
Day 1: 3, 7-06
94. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, S.C. -- 2, 7-02
Day 1: 2, 7-02
95. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, Okla. -- 3, 6-10
Day 1: 3, 6-10
96. William Smith -- Somerset, Ky. -- 2, 5-10
Day 1: 2, 5-10
97. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, Ohi -- 5, 5-09
Day 1: 5, 5-09
97. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, N.C. -- 2, 5-09
Day 1: 2, 5-09
99. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, Texas -- 1, 5-06
Day 1: 1, 5-06
100.Glenn Delong -- Bellville, Ohio -- 2, 5-01
Day 1: 2, 5-01
101.Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, N.C. -- 2, 4-12
Day 1: 2, 4-12
102.Rick Ash -- Pottstown, Pa. -- 2, 4-04
Day 1: 2, 4-04
103.Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 2, 3-15
Day 1: 2, 3-15
104.Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, N.Y. -- 2, 3-14
Day 1: 2, 3-14
105.Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Kan. -- 2, 3-13
Day 1: 2, 3-13
106.Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, Ill. -- 0, 0-00
Day 1: 0, 0-00
106.Dave Smith -- Del City, Okla. -- 0, 0-00
Day 1: 0, 0-00
106.Charlie Youngers -- Geneva, Fla. -- 0, 0-00
Day 1: 0, 0-00

Big Bass

> Day 1 -- Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 7-15 -- $1,000