Alabama's Steve Kennedy stormed into the lead at Lake Champlain today with a 21-06 limit of green fish top open the ninth event of 12 in the Bassmaster Elite Series. He and fellow Alabamian Tim Horton (21-02, in 2nd) were the only anglers to surpass the 20-pound mark. Both took advantage of calm winds to make the long run south to the Ticonderoga grass beds.

Practice reports had said the grass wasn't up to par this year, but it's still the best thing going, as close to half the field made the run. Arkansan Scott Rook did, and he's in 3rd place with 19-06. So did South Carolina's Davy Hite, who's 4th with 18-02, a spot he shares in a tie with Florida rookie Bryan Hudgins.



Here's the rest of the current Top 12:

6. Denny Brauer: 17-14
7. Kevin Wirth: 17-11
8. Edwin Evers: 17-10
9. Takahiro Omori: 17-09
10. Peter Thliveros: 17-04
11. Fred Roumbanis 17-01
12. Steve Daniel: 16-15

It's a tight race from 4th on down, with just an ounce or two separating most anglers from their closest competitors. Culling is crucial, and the pros had scales and balance beams in hand many times during the day. There are 19 ties, with three of those being 3-way ties.

The last spot in the Top 50 cut is one of those three-way ties. Brent Chapman, Todd Faircloth, and Paul Hirosky share 48th place with 14-14.

The full field fishes tomorrow, then the Top 50 on Saturday, and finally the Top 12 on Sunday. Weights are carried over each day for a 4-day combined total for the win.

Kennedy Caught a Big One

"I was kind of surprised with what I caught today," Kennedy said. "I had a good practice, and saw the potential for a 20-pound sack, but I really didn't expect it today. I figured 14 or 15 pounds realistically.

"But I got five good bites in the boat. The smallest was about 3 1/2 pounds, and I had big fish until Davy Hite got up there. Mine was 5-05.

"Davy and I are fishing the same place," he added. "It's pretty amazing to run that far and then both of us set down in the same place."

That "same place" was somewhere in the Ticonderoga area. He's fishing grass, but he didn't want to say any more than that.

"I caught 13 or 14 pounds at my first stop, and everywhere I'd go I'd catch five to 10 fish. I was culling an ounce at a time. I got a 4 1/2-pounder on my first place, then a 4-pounder at the next place, then the 5-05. And I caught two that culled on the way back (to the launch area)."

Like many pros, he didn't set the hook much in practice, but just shook off the bites he assumed were bass.

"One of the things that caught me off guard (today) was that I got into the pike, and went through all my good baits. I had to use some other stuff to fish with toward the end of the day. I had to go to the store and spend $50 to be ready for tomorrow."

"I'm pretty confident I can catch plenty of fish tomorrow, but they may not weigh 20 pounds. The run wasn't bad at all today, running 55 mph. Tomorrow might be different, though. They're forecasting 10 to 20 mph southwest winds. But I'm going anyway."



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Photo: ESPN Outdoors

Tim Horton is catching fish on three different patterns.

2nd: Horton Happy

Horton is just a quarter-pound behind Kennedy, and didn't even want to reveal whether he's fishing north, south, or in between. He did say that he has several things going.

"I have three patterns working," he said. "I'm catching fish on a (Zara) Spook, and flipping a Vibra-King tube and a Booyah jig. Everybody is getting bites, but I was fortunate to get three bites over 4 pounds, and that was the difference.

"I had a 4-07, a 4-06, and the others were around 4 pounds. I fished maybe 20 places today. Some of the fish would bite good, but some were just nipping at it.

"This is such a great lake with so many fish, but you have to try to (cull) those 2-12 to 3-02 fish, and by the end of the day hopefully you'll have a pretty good limit.

He plans to do the same thing tomorrow.

"I'll make the same run, and there are a couple of places I left alone today that I can go to tomorrow. I think if the wind doesn't blow too awful bad I can catch a decent bag. It may not be 21 pounds, though."

3rd: Rook Roped a Lunker

Rook is in 3rd place with 19-06, exactly 2 pounds behind the leader. Two pounds is a lot to make up on Champlain.

"I'm fishing south," he said. "It took about 50 minutes to get there. I arrived at my starting place at 6:45 a.m., and by 7 a.m. I had a limit. I caught about 15 pounds there and had culled several times. I caught my biggest fish, a 5-pounder, around noon.

"I have a pattern working, and I can catch fish in several areas. If you find one fish there are usually several there. I fished around several people today, and I could go in behind them and still catch fish.

"Everything went according to plan today," he noted. "They're not all like that."

He's also a bit concerned about tomorrow's wind forecast.

"Last year the wind blew like 10 mph from the north, and it took over 2 hours to make the run south, and to get back. Tomorrow it's supposed to be southwest, but that will be right on my best area.

"I can still fish the bait I'm using in the wind, but I don't know what it will do to the fish. It might muddy up the water. But I'll go regardless of the wind. I feel like I can catch some fish but I don't know if I'll get the big bites. I got them Tuesday in practice, and today, but it's fishing. You never can tell."

4th: Hite Hammered a Hawg

Hite is tied for 4th with 18-02, and anchored his limit with the big bass of the day, a 5-08 brute.

"A 5-pounder means everything here," he said. "I caught an awful lot of fish. You have to weed through a lot of little fish. I got the big one around 9:30 a.m. and I'd already culled 10 to 15 times."

It was his only big bite. "You have to put those in the boat. All the rest were cookie cutters."

He caught some fish on a frog, and some in deeper grass too, but he didn't want to reveal more details.

"Tomorrow I expect to catch some fish, but I hope the wind doesn't blow 20 mph. I'll go anyway, it will just take longer."

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Photo: ESPN Outdoors

Davy Hite's 18-02 limit was anchored by the big bass of the day.

When asked if he fished in a crowd, he replied: "I saw Steve Kennedy a lot today. He started in the same place I started," despite the spot being 50 miles or more from the launch.

"The simple reason for that is you have the best fishermen in the world, and if the fish are concentrated somewhere these guys will find them. It doesn't matter how far you run or how close you fish."

7th: Wirth Caught All Smallies

Wirth whacked a strong 17-11 limit of smallmouths to put himself in 7th place.

"I got lucky," he said. "I happened to find four or five places that have some big ones on them, and there are a bunch there too. It really wasn't that good a day. I could have had over 20 pounds, but I lost several. I struggled to catch what I caught. I didn't have many bites this afternoon."

He managed to put "around 8 to 10 keepers" in the boat, but didn't want to say what he was using or how deep the fish were.

"I'm not making a long run, and I never saw another competitor," he noted. "I ran a lot of stuff but I've got eight or nine places they're on. Some are places I've fished before, and one was a spot I found back when the hurricane cancelled us, the time Iaconelli won." (He was referring to the 1999 Vermont Bassmaster Top 150, when day 3 was cancelled due to wind – Ed.).

"There were giants there then too," he added. "Normally this time of year, when the smallmouth are just post-spawn, you can hardly win on just smallmouth. They lose a lot of weight then. In August and September, once they rebuild, you can win with them.

"These (I caught today) are rebuilt," he said. "They're well beyond spawn, and are starting to get into their summer pattern. There's a lot of bait on these places.

"But (the smallmouth) are not just everywhere. They're very difficult to catch except in a few places. I'm puzzled, because they weren't aggressive today like they should have been. More were aggressive in practice. It might be the front that came through.

"I hope tomorrow isn't too overcast. If it's cloudy I'll have a difficult time. The smallmouth are sight-oriented fish. Clouds and wind is like mud water to them, so they don't see your bait from as far off. Sun and wind is the best combination."

But not too much wind.

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 108 anglers, 103 limits, 2 fours, 2 threes, 1 one.

> Kevin VanDam, who leads the Angler of the Year (AOY) race, is 22nd with 16-03. Skeet Reese (2nd in the AOY race) is 21st with 16-04.

> Derek Remitz, who leads the BassFan Rookie of the Year (ROY), is 93rd with 11-02. Casey Ashley, 2nd on that list, was one fish shy of a limit and weighed 9-09. He's in 102nd.

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days.

Fri., July 13 – T-Showers – 72°/55°
> Wind: From the SW at 13 mph

Sat., July 14 – Mostly Sunny – 77°/64°
> Wind: From the S at 11 mph

Sun., July 15 – Few Showers – 75°/59°
> Wind: From the WSW at 12 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 21-06 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 21-06
2. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 5, 21-02 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 21-02
3. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 19-06 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 19-06
4. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 5, 18-02 -- 282.5
Day 1: 5, 18-02
4. Bryan Hudgins -- Orange Park, FL -- 5, 18-02 -- 282.5
Day 1: 5, 18-02
6. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 5, 17-14 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 17-14
7. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 5, 17-11 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 17-11
8. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 17-10 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 17-10
9. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 17-09 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 17-09
10. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, FL -- 5, 17-04 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 17-04
11. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 17-01 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 17-01
12. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 16-15 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 16-15
13. Kurt Dove -- Fairfax, VA -- 5, 16-12 -- 249.5
Day 1: 5, 16-12
13. Keith Phillips -- Calera, AL -- 5, 16-12 -- 249.5
Day 1: 5, 16-12
15. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 16-11 -- 244
Day 1: 5, 16-11
15. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- 5, 16-11 -- 244
Day 1: 5, 16-11
17. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, WV -- 5, 16-10 -- 240
Day 1: 5, 16-10
17. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 5, 16-10 -- 240
Day 1: 5, 16-10
19. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Varysburg, MD -- 5, 16-09 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 16-09
20. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, NY -- 5, 16-05 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 16-05
21. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 16-04 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 16-04
22. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 16-03 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 16-03
23. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 16-02 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 16-02
23. Jim Murray -- Arabi, GA -- 5, 16-02 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 16-02
23. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, VA -- 5, 16-02 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 16-02
26. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 16-01 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 16-01
27. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 16-00 -- 220
Day 1: 5, 16-00
27. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, MO -- 5, 16-00 -- 220
Day 1: 5, 16-00
29. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 15-14 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 15-14
29. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 15-14 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 15-14
29. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, OK -- 5, 15-14 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 15-14
32. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 15-11 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 15-11
33. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 15-10 -- 208
Day 1: 5, 15-10
33. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 15-10 -- 208
Day 1: 5, 15-10
35. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, SC -- 5, 15-09 -- 204
Day 1: 5, 15-09
35. Mark Rogers -- Naples, FL -- 5, 15-09 -- 204
Day 1: 5, 15-09
37. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 5, 15-08 -- 201
Day 1: 5, 15-08
38. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 5, 15-07 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 15-07
39. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, NC -- 5, 15-05 -- 196
Day 1: 5, 15-05
39. Bradley Stringer -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 15-05 -- 196
Day 1: 5, 15-05
41. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 15-03 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 15-03
42. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, NJ -- 5, 15-02 -- 190
Day 1: 5, 15-02
42. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 15-02 -- 190
Day 1: 5, 15-02
44. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 5, 15-01 -- 187
Day 1: 5, 15-01
45. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 15-00 -- 185
Day 1: 5, 15-00
46. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 5, 14-15 -- 182
Day 1: 5, 14-15
46. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 14-15 -- 182
Day 1: 5, 14-15
48. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 14-14 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 14-14
48. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 14-14 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 14-14
48. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, PA -- 5, 14-14 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 14-14
51. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 5, 14-12 -- 173
Day 1: 5, 14-12
52. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, NC -- 5, 14-10 -- 170
Day 1: 5, 14-10
52. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 5, 14-10 -- 170
Day 1: 5, 14-10
54. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, NC -- 5, 14-09 -- 167
Day 1: 5, 14-09
55. Matt Amedeo -- Clinton, OH -- 5, 14-07 -- 165
Day 1: 5, 14-07
56. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, LA -- 5, 14-06 -- 163
Day 1: 5, 14-06
57. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 5, 14-05 -- 161
Day 1: 5, 14-05
58. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 5, 14-03 -- 159
Day 1: 5, 14-03
59. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 14-02 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 14-02
60. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, MD -- 5, 14-00 -- 155
Day 1: 5, 14-00
61. Lee Bailey -- Boaz, AL -- 5, 13-15 -- 153
Day 1: 5, 13-15
62. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 13-14 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 13-14
63. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, FL -- 5, 13-11 -- 149
Day 1: 5, 13-11
64. Ken D Cook -- Lawton, OK -- 5, 13-10 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 13-10
65. James Kennedy -- Lacombe, LA -- 5, 13-08 -- 145
Day 1: 5, 13-08
66. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 5, 13-05 -- 142
Day 1: 5, 13-05
66. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 5, 13-05 -- 142
Day 1: 5, 13-05
68. Preston Clark -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 13-03 -- 139
Day 1: 5, 13-03
69. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 13-00 -- 137
Day 1: 5, 13-00
70. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 12-15 -- 134
Day 1: 5, 12-15
70. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, GA -- 5, 12-15 -- 134
Day 1: 5, 12-15
72. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, PA -- 5, 12-14 -- 131
Day 1: 5, 12-14
73. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, OH -- 5, 12-13 -- 129
Day 1: 5, 12-13
74. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 5, 12-12 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 12-12
75. Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, IL -- 5, 12-10 -- 125
Day 1: 5, 12-10
76. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, OH -- 5, 12-08 -- 123
Day 1: 5, 12-08
77. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, FL -- 5, 12-07 -- 120
Day 1: 5, 12-07
77. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, CA -- 5, 12-07 -- 120
Day 1: 5, 12-07
79. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, OK -- 5, 12-05 -- 116
Day 1: 5, 12-05
79. Morizo Shimizu -- Murrieta, CA -- 5, 12-05 -- 116
Day 1: 5, 12-05
81. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 5, 12-04 -- 113
Day 1: 5, 12-04
82. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 5, 12-03 -- 111
Day 1: 5, 12-03
83. Jon Bondy -- Windsor CANADA -- 5, 12-01 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 12-01
84. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 12-00 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 12-00
84. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 5, 12-00 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 12-00
86. Ken Brodeur -- Niantic, CT -- 5, 11-15 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 11-15
86. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 11-15 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 11-15
88. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 11-13 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 11-13
89. Marty Robinson -- Landrum, SC -- 5, 11-12 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 11-12
90. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 5, 11-10 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 11-10
91. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 11-04 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 11-04
92. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, TX -- 5, 11-03 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 11-03
93. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, TX -- 5, 11-02 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 11-02
94. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 5, 11-01 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 11-01
95. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 5, 11-00 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 11-00
95. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, AR -- 5, 11-00 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 11-00
97. William Smith Jr. -- Somerset, KY -- 5, 10-15 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 10-15
98. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 5, 10-09 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 10-09
99. Ben Matsubu -- Hemphill, TX -- 5, 10-07 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 10-07
100. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 10-00 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 10-00
101. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, TX -- 5, 09-13 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 09-13
102. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 4, 09-09 -- 74
Day 1: 4, 09-09
103. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 08-13 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 08-13
104. Dave Smith -- Del City, OK -- 5, 08-03 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 08-03
105. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 4, 07-15 -- 71
Day 1: 4, 07-15
106. Charlie Youngers -- Geneva, FL -- 3, 06-04 -- 70
Day 1: 3, 06-04
107. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 1, 04-02 -- 69
Day 1: 1, 04-02
108. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, AL -- 3, 03-07 -- 68
Day 1: 3, 03-07

Big Bass

Day 1: Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 5-08 -- $1,000