Reese's Redemption: Leads Day 1 With 20-05

The winning margin at the Potomac Elite Series last year was 7 ounces. Kelly Jordon won, and it was Skeet Reese who finished 2nd.

Reese could find redemption this week – he leads after day 1 of the 2007 Potomac Elite Series. Just as important, he entered the event with a slim 20-point lead over Kevin VanDam in the

BASS Angler of the Year (AOY) race, and picked up 5 bonus AOY points for leading a tournament day.

VanDam ended day 1 in 33rd. So based on today, Reese now leads the AOY race by 115 points. That of course could (and likely will) change tomorrow based on day-2 performance.

"The AOY title has been the ultimate goal this season," Reese said. "In my mind, this is the most prestigious award in the sport and it would be a dream come true to finally win one.

"I feel comfortable on the Potomac," he added. "I just missed last year and I feel very good about my chances here."

Gary Klein stuck an 8-02 Potomac pig today and he's 2nd with 20-02. He trails Reese by 3 ounces.

Local Grant Goldbeck, who missed the Top 12 cut here last year by less than a pound, boxed 18-05 today and is currently 3rd.

Jordon's staring down the throat of a potential repeat. He sacked 18-00 and ended the day tied for 4th. Right with him is rookie Casey Ashley.

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

1. Skeet Reese: 20-05
2. Gary Klein: 20-02 0-03
3. Grant Goldbeck: 18-05 2-00
4. Kelly Jordon: 18-00 2-05
4. Casey Ashley: 18-00 2-05
6. Derek Remitz: 17-10 2-11
7. Britt Myers: 16-11 3-10
8. John Crews: 16-02 4-03
9. Matt Amedeo: 15-14 4-07
10. Randy Howell: 15-06 4-15
11. Chris Lane: 15-01 5-04
12. Kevin Wirth: 14-11 5-10

Predictions largely proved true. The bite's tough overall. Yes, 12th place is almost 15 pounds, but the 50th-palce check weight is about 11 pounds.

Nearly everyone caught at least a small limit, and the glut of bags between 10 and 14 pounds shows just how far a 3-pound kicker can take you.

Last year's experience seems to matter for Reese and Jordon, but note that none of the rest of the Top 12 made the final cut here last year.

2nd: Klein Happy

Klein noted the 8-02 he stuck today was the biggest northern-strain he's ever caught.

"I was really impressed," he said. "To me, a big northern's a 6-pounder. She was a real healthy, clean-looking fish. She wasn't really fat – just big and long. But she had a big head on her. When I caught her, I kind of figured she was 7 pounds. I didn't think she was 8."

He was also surprised about what his spot gave up. In addition to the 8, he also caught a 5.

"I didn't hit it in practice," he said of the area. "I went along the outer edge, got a couple bites, and saw what I needed to see. The fishing's tough, and I liked it best out of all the places I fished. I thought it had the best potential. It just happened to work out and I'm really happy.

"I got lucky and caught a 5 and 8 to get me a big bag. If not, I'd have likely been like everybody else at 11 or 12 pounds."

He added that the area's all he's got. His partner today caught 13-06 out of there and leads the co-angler side. And he can't really leave, because there are other boats just down the bank. So he plans to live or die there tomorrow.

"Tomorrow's going to be just kind of an unknown for me. I think I can stay in there and grind out a few bites. What they'll weigh, I have no idea."

3rd: Goldbeck Says 'Awesome'

Goldbeck of nearby Gaithersburg, Md. needed a breakout event this season, and made a big step toward that today.

"It's awesome – it feels real good," the third-year pro said.

The Potomac's his home water, and although he's done well in local events, he's had trouble at the triple-A and tour level. He's just never been able to close. So that's one more reason to be excited about today.

"It was definitely a good day – a good day on the Potomac," he said. "That gives you confidence, and I'll be thinking good thoughts for tomorrow."

He noted he's fishing areas he's relied on through the years, but important is that he hasn't touched his grass fish yet. He checked them in practice, but stayed off them today.

"I'm just fishing more offshore, isolated stuff. I'm hoping to save those grass fish for the day I need them. I may need them tomorrow."

He added that he doesn't think those at the top will be able to sustain the weights they caught today. That's often typical – day 1 weights tend to be the heaviest of the event, then the bags slowly scale downward as the fish get used up. So he's thinking about the average right now. But the other big factor's the salinity.

"Honestly, I think it'll average out to 16 1/2 to 17 pounds a day winning just because the salinity's real high. We didn't have a good rain for a month and a half. Sunday and Monday (this week) was the first time it rained. The river's so salty, I think the fish are scattered a little more.

"In June and July, they were catching them all in one grassbed," he added, "They were loaded in there. The bigger fish seem to have spread out. When August 1 hits at the Potomac, it's almost like a light switch. It gets tougher and tougher to catch numbers of big fish. So the guy with a lot of spots is the guy I think who wins this week."

4th: Jordon's 'Plan'

Jordon was straight-up about his position, and his goal. "To repeat – that's the plan," he said. "That's why I'm here. If you don't think you can win, you need to quit. We're all out here doing our best and trying to win. I just hope I can catch them again tomorrow."

He added that things weren't easy for him today. "You have to grind it out to catch the good ones. But I've always wanted to do a repeat, like Peter T. did 2 weeks ago (at the Bassmaster Memorial Major)."

He's fishing the grass again – which has seemingly exploded along the river – and he's got three patterns working. One he only fished for an hour today. He did catch a 3-pounder with it, but it didn't cull, so it didn't help him.

Still, that's good news for him when half the field would trade their depthfinder for a 3-pounder.

About his day, he noted: "I'm just kind of running through and trying to make the right moves at the right time. The whole deal here is to get some good bites – some good ones to fill out a limit. Those 3s and 4s are the deal.

"I didn't have any real big ones today. I had two 4 3/4s, a 4 1/2, and the rest were 3 to 3 1/2."

Notable for him is the tide, which he doesn't think he has a good handle on.

"The tide's a little bit of an issue right now. I'm not really liking it. It's really been a struggle. For what I've found to be the case this week, it's not really good. That makes it a little more challenging.

"It's tidal, and there's wind and weather. You just bob and weave and hope you have some good stuff and make some good choices. I got some good bites today, and I was very fortunate."

7th: Myers Excited

Sophomore Britt Myers has only made one tour-level Top 12 cut. That was 4 weeks ago at Champlain. He took a step toward making his second today with a 16-11 limit.

"Wow, I'm really excited," he said. "I really didn't have much of a practice. In fact, I had a horrible practice. It was probably the worst practice of my professional career.

"Where I went today, I'd gone there in practice, but it was one of those places where I pulled up, caught two quick, then pulled up the trolling motor and left. I wasn't really planning on going there today, but when I pulled in, I caught the fish I had in 20 minutes."

He stuck around to guard the area the rest of the day, and fished it lightly. Like Klein, he thinks it's the best he's got, although he does have a few other areas where he caught fish in practice. But with a full field out there tomorrow, he doesn't want to leave it.

About tomorrow, he said: "I'm real excited. I went through (my area) area today kind of late. I haven't been there early yet.

"My first goal is to get 5 pounds or so to lock in a Top 50. Then I'll start shooting for that Top 12 cut."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 107 anglers, 88 limits, 3 fours, 8 threes, 3 twos, 4 ones, 1 zero.

> Reese finished 4th at the Potomac (Maryland) Top 150 in 1999.

> Brent Chapman (14-01, 19th) said of his biggest fish today: "I was fishing along and saw a duck and some babies. All of a sudden, this fish blows up and tries to eat one of the baby ducks. I pitched over and caught this bass."

> VanDam on his day and the AOY race: " (Reese) had a good day, and I didn't. That's the problem. The Potomac's always been good to me, but last year and this year, I'm not having a lot of success getting them in the boat. I have to do a better job of mat flipping and frog fishing. This place is awesome for it. I'm going to go out and swing for it tomorrow."

> Dave Wolak's in the middle of the pack. He caught 10-01 and is in a three-way tie for 61st. "I never caught a kicker fish," he said. "It's about making the right decisions about where to go based on the tide. I made a decision to go someplace first – a tide-related area – and a couple boats got there first. It took me a while to backtrack, get out, and get back to where I knew how to catch a minimum of a 2-pound average. I didn't have a fish for the first couple of hours. Poor decisions and good decisions make a big difference here."

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days. For more weather information, including satellite and radar imagery, visit OutdoorsFanWeather.com.

> Fri., August 10 - Scattered T-Storms/Wind - 94°/70°
- Wind: From the W at 17 mph

> Sat., August 11 - Mostly Sunny - 89°/68°
- Wind: From the N at 10 mph

> Sun., August 12 - Mostly Sunny - 94°/72°
- Wind: From the W at 5 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 20-05 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 20-05

2. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 5, 20-02 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 20-02

3. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, MD -- 5, 18-05 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 18-05

4. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 18-00282.5
Day 1: 5, 18-00

4. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 18-00282.5
Day 1: 5, 18-00

6. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, TX -- 5, 17-10 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 17-10

7. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, NC -- 5, 16-11 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 16-11

8. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 5, 16-02 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 16-02

9. Matt Amedeo -- Clinton, OH -- 5, 15-14 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 15-14

10. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 5, 15-06 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 15-06

11. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, FL -- 5, 15-01 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 15-01

12. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 5, 14-11 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 14-11

13. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, VA -- 5, 14-09 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 14-09

14. Preston Clark -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 14-08 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 14-08

15. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 14-07 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 14-07

16. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 14-04 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 14-04

17. Dave Smith -- Del City, OK -- 5, 14-03 -- 241
Day 1: 5, 14-03

18. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 14-02 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 14-02

19. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 14-01 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 14-01

20. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, LA -- 5, 13-15 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 13-15

21. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 13-10 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 13-10

22. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 13-08 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 13-08

23. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 13-07 -- 228
Day 1: 5, 13-07

23. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, MO -- 5, 13-07 -- 228
Day 1: 5, 13-07

25. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, NY -- 5, 13-06 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 13-06

26. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 13-04 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 13-04

27. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 12-14 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 12-14

28. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 12-13 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 12-13

29. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 5, 12-10 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 12-10

30. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 5, 12-05 -- 214
Day 1: 5, 12-05

30. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, NJ -- 5, 12-05 -- 214
Day 1: 5, 12-05

32. Mark Rogers -- Naples, FL -- 5, 12-03 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 12-03

33. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 12-02 -- 209
Day 1: 5, 12-02

34. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 5, 12-01 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 12-01

34. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 12-01 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 12-01

34. Ben Matsubu -- Hemphill, TX -- 5, 12-01 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 12-01

37. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 5, 11-14 -- 200
Day 1: 5, 11-14

37. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 5, 11-14 -- 200
Day 1: 5, 11-14

39. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 11-13 -- 197
Day 1: 5, 11-13

40. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 5, 11-11 -- 195
Day 1: 5, 11-11

41. Ken Brodeur -- Niantic, CT -- 5, 11-10 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 11-10

42. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 5, 11-08 -- 191
Day 1: 5, 11-08

43. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 11-06 -- 189
Day 1: 5, 11-06

44. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, AR -- 5, 11-05 -- 187
Day 1: 5, 11-05

45. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, WV -- 5, 11-03 -- 185
Day 1: 5, 11-03

46. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 5, 11-02 -- 183
Day 1: 5, 11-02

47. Marty Robinson -- Landrum, SC -- 5, 11-01 -- 181
Day 1: 5, 11-01

48. Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, IL -- 5, 11-00 -- 179
Day 1: 5, 11-00

49. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 10-15 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 10-15

50. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 5, 10-14 -- 175
Day 1: 5, 10-14

51. Morizo Shimizu -- Murrieta, CA -- 5, 10-13 -- 172
Day 1: 5, 10-13
51. Charlie Youngers -- Geneva, FL -- 5, 10-13 -- 172
Day 1: 5, 10-13
53. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, OK -- 5, 10-11 -- 167
Day 1: 5, 10-11
53. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 5, 10-11 -- 167
Day 1: 5, 10-11
53. Keith Phillips -- Calera, AL -- 5, 10-11 -- 167
Day 1: 5, 10-11
56. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 10-09 -- 163
Day 1: 5, 10-09
57. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 10-06 -- 161
Day 1: 5, 10-06
58. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 10-05 -- 159
Day 1: 5, 10-05
59. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 10-02 -- 156
Day 1: 5, 10-02
59. James Kennedy -- Lacombe, LA -- 4, 10-02 -- 156
Day 1: 4, 10-02
61. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 5, 10-01 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 10-01
61. Kurt Dove -- Fairfax, VA -- 5, 10-01 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 10-01
61. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, OH -- 5, 10-01 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 10-01
64. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 09-15 -- 146
Day 1: 5, 09-15
64. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 5, 09-15 -- 146
Day 1: 5, 09-15
66. Ken D Cook -- Lawton, OK -- 5, 09-12 -- 143
Day 1: 5, 09-12
67. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 09-11 -- 141
Day 1: 5, 09-11
68. William Smith Jr. -- Somerset, KY -- 5, 09-07 -- 139
Day 1: 5, 09-07
69. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, SC -- 5, 09-05 -- 137
Day 1: 5, 09-05
70. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 5, 09-04 -- 135
Day 1: 5, 09-04
71. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 5, 09-03 -- 133
Day 1: 5, 09-03
72. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, CA -- 5, 09-02 -- 131
Day 1: 5, 09-02
73. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 5, 09-00 -- 128
Day 1: 5, 09-00
73. Jon Bondy -- Windsor CANADA -- 5, 09-00 -- 128
Day 1: 5, 09-00
75. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 08-15 -- 125
Day 1: 5, 08-15
76. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, OK -- 5, 08-11 -- 123
Day 1: 5, 08-11
77. Jim Murray -- Arabi, GA -- 5, 08-07 -- 121
Day 1: 5, 08-07
78. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Varysburg, MD -- 5, 08-05 -- 119
Day 1: 5, 08-05
79. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 08-04 -- 117
Day 1: 5, 08-04
80. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 5, 07-14 -- 115
Day 1: 5, 07-14
81. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 3, 07-12 -- 113
Day 1: 3, 07-12
82. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 07-11 -- 111
Day 1: 5, 07-11
83. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 5, 07-05 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 07-05
83. Lee Bailey -- Boaz, AL -- 4, 07-05 -- 108
Day 1: 4, 07-05
85. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, OH -- 5, 07-03 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 07-03
85. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, TX -- 5, 07-03 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 07-03
87. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 07-01 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 07-01
88. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 07-00 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 07-00
89. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 5, 06-15 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 06-15
90. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 3, 06-11 -- 95
Day 1: 3, 06-11
91. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 5, 06-10 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 06-10
91. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, PA -- 3, 06-10 -- 92
Day 1: 3, 06-10
93. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, NC -- 4, 05-15 -- 89
Day 1: 4, 05-15
94. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 05-12 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 05-12
95. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, NC -- 3, 05-05 -- 85
Day 1: 3, 05-05
96. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, FL -- 2, 05-00 -- 83
Day 1: 2, 05-00
97. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 3, 04-15 -- 80
Day 1: 3, 04-15
97. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- 3, 04-15 -- 80
Day 1: 3, 04-15
99. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 2, 04-13 -- 77
Day 1: 2, 04-13
100. Bryan Hudgins -- Orange Park, FL -- 3, 04-11 -- 76
Day 1: 3, 04-11
101. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 3, 04-08 -- 75
Day 1: 3, 04-08
102. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, AL -- 1, 03-12 -- 74
Day 1: 1, 03-12
103. Peter E Thliveros -- St. -- Augustine, FL -- 2, 02-10 -- 73
Day 1: 2, 02-10
104. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, GA -- 1, 02-08 -- 72
Day 1: 1, 02-08
105. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 1, 02-01 -- 71
Day 1: 1, 02-01
106. Bradley Stringer -- Huntington, TX -- 1, 00-15 -- 70
Day 1: 1, 00-15
107. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, PA -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

Big Bass

> Day 1 -- Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 08-02 -- $1,000