There was a new name atop the standings on cut day at the Bassmaster Memorial Major at New York's Lake Oneida, but that angler got there the same way the previous leader had – with a bag full of green fish.

Dean Rojas pulled a 17-09 stringer of largemouths from the renowned smallmouth factory today, and it gave him a 2-day total of 33-01. He moved up four spots and led the cut by 10 ounces over day 1 leader Steve Kennedy of Alabama, who weighed a mixed 14-11 sack (after catching all largemouths on day 1) for a 32-07 total.



A pair of Californians occupied the next two positions. Jared Lintner caught 15-09 today for a 30-09 total that was good for 3rd, and Angler of the Year (AOY) leader Skeet Reese slammed 17-07 to climb 28 spots to 4th with 30-03.

Arizona's John Murray completed the Top 5 with 15-09 today and a 30-00 total. He moved up seven slots.

Here's the rest of the Top 12 who'll fish the six-hole course at Lake Onondaga in metropolitan Syracuse tomorrow:

6. (tie) Peter Thliveros: 29-07
6. (tie) Jason Quinn: 29-07
8. Mike Iaconelli: 28-15
9. John Crews: 28-14
10. Randy Howell: 28-08
11. Dave Wolak: 28-02
12. Jeff Kriet: 27-14

This event and last year's Oneida Bassmaster Elite Series have made one concept virtually indisputable: There are still a lot more smallmouths than largemouths in the lake, but the largemouths are considerably bigger on average. If you can figure out a way to catch five green ones, that's the way to go, and a higher percentage of the field will likely key on them when the Elite Series returns next year.

Another bright morning was followed by a strong thunderstorm this afternoon, and that boosted the bite for some. Rojas got his two biggest fish after the shower had come and gone.

In addition to Reese, four others moved into the Top 12 today. They were defending Memorial champion Peter Thliveros of Florida (from 19th to tied for 6th with 15-10 today), South Carolina's Jason Quinn (13th to tied for 6th, 14-15), New Jersey's Mike Iaconelli (18th to 8th, 14-15) and Oklahoma's Jeff Kriet (27th to 12th, 14-11).

They supplanted Texas' Kelly Jordon (2nd to 13th, 11-14), Florida's Chris Lane (3rd to 16th, 11-11), Oklahoma's Mike McClelland (4th to 19th, 11-11), Missouri's Denny Brauer (9th to 49th, 7-10) and Texas' Takahiro Omori (11th to 18th, 12-12).

Weights will be zeroed for weekend action at Onondaga, a highly polluted impoundment that nonetheless supports a thriving black bass population. The winner will be determined by highest combined weight over the final 2 days.

Bigger Bites for Rojas

Rojas caught a about a dozen keepers – a few less than on day 1. But he found better quality today.

"I think a lot of it had to do with the weather," he said. "After the thunderstorm it was cloudy and breezy, and I got two of my biggest bites after that."

All 10 of his weigh-in fish during the Oneida portion of the event were largemouths. He caught them on his signature series Spro Bronzeye Frog and by flipping a Northland Tackle creature bait.

"It's so nice to fish a lake like this with only 51 boats – you can put a pattern together and run with it. This is an awesome fishery for both smallmouth and largemouth, and it was a lot of fun catching those big fish."

He got a look at Onondaga after the weigh-in and was intrigued by what he saw.

"It looks like a big bowl almost," he said. "It doesn't have a whole lot of cuts – it's just straight banks all around.

"But it has a lot of potential. There's some shoreline grass, some rock and some laydowns, and there's a couple of canals that feed it."

2nd: Kennedy Converts

After catching the biggest bag of the tournament on day 1, Kennedy didn't need much weight today to make the weekend. His bag of four largemouths and a smallmouth was plenty.

He went through 15 keepers, but caught nothing bigger than 3 1/2 pounds.

"The first day I caught them all on a Kinami Flash, but today I had to mix it up," he said. "I caught a bunch on the Flash and one on a frog. Then I caught a nice smallmouth on a spinnerbait, and I even got one on a (Kinami) Norie's Bug.

"It started out kind of slow and I was a little bit concerned for awhile, but I stuck with what I was doing. I knew I'd eventually get bit."

He had his best action of the day after the rain.

"I was catching the largemouth real good on the Flash, and then I got a couple of smallmouth way out behind me."



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Jared Lintner's day ended nicely, but it got off to an inauspicious start.

3rd: Lintner Recovers

Jared Lintner bounced back from a terrible morning to catch a 15 1/2-pound bag.

"Of my first six bites, I broke two and lost four," he said. "I was just getting frustrated, and then finally I pulled up on a shell bed and caught a small limit. Then I went to another spot and caught a 2 3/4-pounder.

"After that I knew I was going to have to go catch some largemouths to make the cut, so I started flipping and throwing a frog."

He ended up culling four of his smallmouths in favor of green fish that bit the frog. His bag was topped by a 4-05.

Tomorrow will be his first experience with a hole-course format.

"I'm a little freaked out about it just because I've never done it. It's going to be interesting.

"I'll just put way too many rods on the deck and go for it and have fun."

5th: Murray's Average Goes Up

Murray caught four run-of-the-mill fish and a 4 1/2-pounder to end up 12th after day 1. He boated five solid specimens today and moved up seven slots.

"They were all the same – five 3-pound largemouths," he said. "I caught two good ones early on a Yamamoto jig from openings in the grass, and then I went and filled out my limit with smallmouths.

"Then at about 2:00 I went back to the holes in the grass and culled everything except those first two."

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John Murray caught both species today, but he weighed all largemouths.

There was a noticeable difference in his action after the thunderstorm.

"The largemouth seemed to really like it, but it just shut the smallmouth down."

6th: Thliveros Pumped

Thliveros won this event last year at Eagle Mountain Lake in Texas, and he's thrilled that he's made it this far in defense of his title.

"It feels pretty good," he said. "I'm really excited about the whole thing."

He caught all smallmouths today (he weighed one largemouth on day 1) and was surprised by the weight of his bag.

"I figured it at about 14 pounds. More than 15 1/2 was a real shock, but it was a pleasant one."

He said all of his fish were about the same size, so they all must've been right around 3 pounds.

"I'm just glad we get to start over again at zero. It'll be a tough tournament from here on out – it'll be hard for anybody to pull away."

6th: Quinn Stayed Small

Quinn weighed a bag of four smallmouths and a largemouth, but caught the green one by accident.

"I targeted smallmouth both days, the reason being that every since (Tommy) Biffle won here last year, the cat's been out of the bag about the largemouth fishery," he said. "Every largemouth you catch now has hookmarks galore or hooks hanging out of their mouths.

"I actually felt a little bit sorry for them."

He worked flats that featured scattered rocks and grass, and had his best action when conditions were sunny and still.

"When it was real bright and slick calm, that's when they'd move up on those crayfish. I threw a green-pumpkin Gambloer Crawdaddy with a 1/8-ounce Tru-Tungsten sinker on 8-pound Vicious fluorocarbon."

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Peter Thliveros' bag was considerably heavier than he'd estimated.

He died the pinchers orange on all of his baits.

"I caught some on a spinnerbait and other things in practice, and they kept spitting up green-pumpkin crayfish with orange pinchers."

49th: Brauer Plummets

Brauer started the day in 9th place, but was wary because he knew he'd thrashed his best water and would have to go back to practicing. He didn't find anything productive.

"I had one decent bass, and it came unbuttoned," he said. "That was the only good bite I had.

"Once I got into the day and got behind, I was forced to go for big bites. I never found an area that yielded any good fish."

The only keepers he caught were the five he weighed, and the biggest was a 2-pounder.

"It was just a horrible day. Things just didn't work out."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 51 anglers, 51 limits (same as yesterday).

> Rojas said he visited about a dozen spots and got at least one bite from each.

> Quinn has enjoyed the 8 a.m. launch times, which were instituted in an attempt get draw bigger weigh-in crowds. "It's been really nice, but when I wake up I feel kind of guilty because it's already light out."

> Jordon was first out of the cut with 27-13 – an ounce less than Kriet. Todd Faircloth (26th) came up an ounce shy of making a check.

Weather Forecast

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

> Sat., July 28 – Scattered T-Storms – 82°/64°
- Wind: From the W/SW at 6 mph

> Sun., July 29 – A.M. Showers – 83°/64°
- Wind: From the NW at 7 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- 10, 33-01
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09

2. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 32-07
Day 1: 5, 17-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11

3. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 10, 30-09
Day 1: 5, 15-0Day 2: 5, 15-09

4. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 10, 30-03
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 17-07

5. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 10, 30-00
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-09

6. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, FL -- 10, 29-07
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10

6. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 29-07
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01

8. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, NJ -- 10, 28-15
Day 1: 5, 14-0Day 2: 5, 14-15

9. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 10, 28-14
Day 1: 5, 15-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13

10. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 10, 28-08
Day 1: 5, 14-1Day 2: 5, 13-14

11. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 10, 28-02
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14

12. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 10, 27-14
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11

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

13. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 10, 27-13 -- $11,700
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14
14. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 10, 27-10 -- $11,600
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04
15. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 10, 27-07 -- $11,500
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00
16. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, FL -- 10, 27-06 -- $11,350
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11
16. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 10, 27-06 -- $11,350
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-02
18. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 10, 27-05 -- $11,200
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12
19. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 10, 27-04 -- $12,050
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 5, 15-12
19. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 10, 27-04 -- $11,050
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11
21. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, AR -- 10, 27-02 -- $10,900
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01
22. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, TX -- 10, 26-10 -- $10,750
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14
22. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 10, 26-10 -- $10,750
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02
24. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 10, 26-09 -- $10,550
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13
24. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 26-09 -- $10,550
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00
26. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 10, 26-08
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12
27. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 10, 26-05
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00
28. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 10, 26-02
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14
29. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 10, 25-15
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13
30. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 10, 25-13
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08
31. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 10, 25-12
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10
32. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 10, 25-08
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05
33. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 10, 25-07
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15
33. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, CA -- 10, 25-07
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15
35. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 10, 25-06
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11
36. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 10, 25-05
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07
37. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 10, 25-04
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07
38. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 10, 25-03
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04
39. Derek Remitz -- Madison, TX -- 10, 25-02
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07
40. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 10, 24-04
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09
40. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 10, 24-04
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03
42. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 24-02
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10
43. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, SC -- 10, 23-15
Day 1: 5, 12-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11
44. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 23-13
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08
45. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 10, 23-10
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02
46. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 10, 23-06
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09
47. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 10, 23-00
Day 1: 5, 09-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15
48. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, OK -- 10, 22-15
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03
49. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 10, 22-07
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 07-10
49. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 10, 22-07
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02
51. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 10, 21-06
Day 1: 5, 09-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10

Big Bass

Day 2: Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 5-00 -- $1,000
Day 1: Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 5-01 -- $1,000