Velvick Bags 'Frustrating' 8-03, But Still Leads

Florida did rear its ugly second head today at Lake Okeechobee, at least for a few anglers. One of those was day-1 leader Byron Velvick, who caught 13 fewer pounds today than he did yesterday. His 8-03 limit was enough to retain the lead, though, and his 29-08 total puts him 11 ounces better than 2nd.

Keith Phillips – an Elite Series pro like Velvick – racked a 16-04 limit today and moved up six spots to 2nd.

Steve Daniel, another Elite pro, had a big day. He launched this morning in 22nd place, but his 17-03 limit – the day's best bag – rocketed him up from 22nd to 3rd.

Elite pro Rick Ash caught 10-07 today and fell two spots to 4th.

Corey Waldrop, an Open pro, began the day in 4th, but his 10-15 limit dropped him a spot to 5th.

The most important mark in this no-entry-fee, no-payout tournament is the Top 10. Those are the anglers who'll qualify (or requalify) for the 2008 Elite Series.

Below is a look at the Top 20 after day 2. For the 11th- through 20th-place anglers, distance from 10th appears in red.

1. Byron Velvick: 10, 29-08
2. Keith Phillips: 10, 28-13
3. Steve Daniel: 10, 26-13
4. Rick Ash: 10, 26-09
5. Corey Waldrop: 10, 25-07
6. David Sherrer: 10, 25-04
7. Randy Allen: 10, 24-09
8. Wade Grooms: 10, 23-06
9. Bobby Stanfill: 10, 23-05
10. Billy Brewer: 10, 23-01
11. J Todd Tucker: 10, 22-14 (0-02)
12. Bobby Myers: 10, 20-11 (2-06)
13. Terry Segraves: 10, 20-00 (3-01)
14. Eric Nethery: 10, 19-15 (3-02)
15. Doc Merkin: 10, 19-13 (3-04)
15. Jimmy Mason: 10, 19-13 (3-04)
15. Frank Scalish: 10, 19-13 (3-04)
18. Elton Luce, Jr.: 10, 19-05 (3-12)
19. Trevor Rogge: 10, 18-15 (4-02)
20. Brett Mitchell: 10, 18-09 (4-08)

Those who moved into the Top 10 include: Daniel, David Sherrer (18th to 6th), and Wade Grooms (28th to 8th).

They replaced J Todd Tucker (7th to 11th), Bobby Myers (9th to 12th), and Doc Merkin (10th to 15th).

Conditions were once again glass-calm today, and weights on average were lower – the typical trend in Florida events. Weights will likely be even lower tomorrow as weekend traffic hits the drought-shrunken lake.

As Daniel and Grooms showed today, massive movements are possible. While those inside the Top 10 obviously have the advantage, the tight groupings should result in sizable flip-flops tomorrow – the final day.

Velvick Frustrated

What a difference a day can make. Yesterday, Velvick said he had an awesome day on the water – he fished in a trance, and remembered again why he loved fishing.

Today though, it was all different.

"I'm frustrated," he said. "I let some crappie fishermen get to me today. They were sitting there on the spot where I was catching the big fish. They got there at 3:00 in the morning.

"They said, 'Oh, there are some big largemouths under the boat.' I'm like, 'Yeah, I know that.'"

"I fell apart," he added. "I didn't have a fish at 11:00. I abandoned ship, and had to get it in my head that I had to go out and catch those five."

2nd: Phillips Fishing To Win

Surprisingly, Phillips isn't even sure if he'll fish the Elite Series next year, but he's here to make sure he's got the option. Therefore, he's fishing all-out to win.

He thinks he will win, too. He's fishing the same area as Velvick – a series of treetops. He said today, the crappie boats on Velvick's tree pushed the fish to his trees, and he expects the same thing to happen tomorrow.

"I'll win it tomorrow," he said. "They're going to be on my trees. I'm looking for that to happen again tomorrow, being it's Saturday. Byron caught 21 pounds there (on day 1), and I caught 17 (today).

"But the fish are just starting to nip at the baits, instead of eating. I had to downsize today to catch the fish I caught."

About fishing next year, he said: "There' a good shot I may not be fishing next year. BASS is aware of it. It's nothing dealing with sponsors or anything – I have a full ride for next year. It just takes a tremendous toll on your family when you're gone for so long.

"But like I told BASS, I'll go out, do the best I can here, try to win the thing, and go from there."

3rd: Daniel's New Technique

Daniel, an Okeechobee expert, stuck a 7 1/2-pounder today and his 17-03 total moved him up all the way from 22nd to 3rd.

"I'll tell you, the fishing in the lake's really, really good," he said. "My partner today said he never weighed a limit in 'any of these tournaments,' and he'd fished a bunch of them. He caught a bunch of fish today."

Daniel noted that he's not fishing numbers, though. After he arrived back home in Clewiston from the season finale at Toho, he began working with a new technique.

"I've been using it on Okeechobee ever since I've been home," he added. "There were very few days I fished without catching one over 6 or 7 pounds. And I caught many from 8 to 10.

"I'm only going to get seven or eight bites a day, but when they bite what I'm throwing, they're big ones.

He also had a surreal moment or two on the water today. "Coming across the lake, it's slick as glass, and you can't tell where the water meets the sky. You've never seen anything like it, and you just want to look around. It's an incredible sight – an incredible lake."

15th: Merkin Couldn't Get Bit

Elite Series pro Merkin caught a respectable 11-14 yesterday, and began the day in 10th, but a 7-15 limit today nudged him back to 15th.

"It was disappointing," he said. "I couldn't get any decent bites. I'm fishing an area where I had 19 keepers yesterday, but only six today. I don't know if it was the pressure, or the bluebird skies.

"I downsized, but it was very hard for me to get bit where I was fishing."

He's now 3-04 behind the cut. About his position, and his hopes for next year, he said: "Things happen for a reason. You can't see what they are until years later, but everything works out eventually.

"I'm here having a good time, and I hope to do well tomorrow, but it's not going to be the end of the world for me if I don't make the Elites. I have a day job, so I'm fine."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 34 anglers, 28 limits (3 fewer than yesterday).

> As reported in yesterday's story, Velvick's fiancé Mary Delgado was recently arrested in a domestic violence dispute in which she allegedly hit Velvick in the mouth. Delgado is fishing the event as a co-angler (she's currently 9th), and was with Velvick last night. Things, apparently, are on the mend.

Weather Forecast

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

> Sat., Dec. 1 - Partly Cloudy - 83°/62°
- Wind: From the NE at 11 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 29-08 -- 310
Day 1: 5, 21-05 -- Day 2: 5, 08-03

2. Keith Phillips -- Crosby, TX -- 10, 28-13 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04

3. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, FL -- 10, 26-13 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 09-10 -- Day 2: 5, 17-03

4. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, PA -- 10, 26-09 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07

5. Corey Waldrop -- Fort Worth, TX -- 10, 25-07 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 14-08 -- Day 2: 5, 10-15

6. David Sherrer -- Shreveport, LA -- 10, 25-04 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 10-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02

7. Randy Allen -- Shreveport, LA -- 10, 24-09 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-04

8. Wade Grooms -- Bonneau, SC -- 10, 23-06 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 08-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08

9. Bobby Stanfill -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 23-05 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 09-05

10. Billy Brewer -- Lorena, TX -- 10, 23-01 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 08-10

11. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 10, 22-14 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13

12. Bobby Myers -- Tulsa, OK -- 10, 20-11 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 5, 08-12

13. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, FL -- 10, 20-00 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 10-12 -- Day 2: 5, 09-04

14. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, GA -- 10, 19-15 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 08-02

15. Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, IL -- 10, 19-13 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 07-15

15. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, AL -- 10, 19-13 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02

15. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, OH -- 10, 19-13 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 09-05

18. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, TX -- 10, 19-05 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 10-06 -- Day 2: 5, 08-15

19. Trevor Rogge -- Champlin, MN -- 10, 18-15 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13

20. Brett Mitchell -- Timmonsville, SC -- 10, 18-09 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 09-11 -- Day 2: 5, 08-14

21. Scott Dean -- Terrell, TX -- 10, 18-06 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 09-08 -- Day 2: 5, 08-14

22. Kyle A. Fox -- Lakeland, FL -- 10, 18-05 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 08-06

23. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Varysburg, NY -- 9, 18-02 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 11-03 -- Day 2: 4, 06-15

24. Sean Dassau -- Helena, AL -- 10, 18-01 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 09-10 -- Day 2: 5, 08-07

25. Kenneth Chapman -- Woodlawn, TN -- 10, 16-12 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 06-05

26. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 10, 16-09 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 08-00 -- Day 2: 5, 08-09

27. Patrick Pierce -- Saint John, FL -- 10, 16-07 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 08-08 -- Day 2: 5, 07-15

28. Preston Henson -- Vacaville, CA -- 10, 16-02 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 09-01 -- Day 2: 5, 07-01

29. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 9, 14-01 -- 217
Day 1: 4, 06-07 -- Day 2: 5, 07-10

30. Dave Parsons -- Yantis, TX -- 6, 12-09 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 1, 01-04

31. Mike Pickett -- Brandenburg, KY -- 7, 11-01 -- 213
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 2, 01-15

32. Ron Klys -- Gainesville, FL -- 7, 11-00 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 08-09 -- Day 2: 2, 02-07

33. Robert Byrd -- Dallas, TX -- 5, 10-11 -- 209
Day 1: 4, 07-15 -- Day 2: 1, 02-12

34. Luke Estel -- Murphysboro, IL -- 6, 07-05 -- 207
Day 1: 3, 03-06 -- Day 2: 3, 03-15

Big Bass

> Day 2 -- Keith Phillips -- Crosby, TX -- 07-14
> Day 1 -- Randy Allen -- Shreveport, LA -- 06-14