VanDam Strong Again, Now Leads By 6

There was a considerable amount of reshuffling at the upper end of the leaderboard on day 2 of the Kentucky Lake Bassmaster Elite Series, but not at the very top. Kevin VanDam solidified his grip on the lead as he pursues his second victory here in his last three visits.

A 24-02 sack that was third-best of the day gave him a 2-day total of 49-02 and a 6-pound lead over the field. The tournament is only half-complete, but the five-time Angler of the Year (AOY) appears determined to leave everyone else in his wake.

Texan Kelly Jordon, who also has a long track record of success here, moved up 30 places to 2nd with a day-best 26-12 sack that was topped by a 10-01 monster. He's fishing the southern end of the lake for the first time and it's paying off nicely.

Jason Quinn, mired at No. 60 in the points and trying to make a late surge to get back into Bassmaster Classic contention, caught 21-01 and moved up five spots to 3rd with 41-14. Edwin Evers, who'll take another big chunk out of Skeet Reese's once-massive AOY lead this week, sacked 21-12 and moved up nine spots to 4th with 41-10.

Rookie Keith Poche rounded out the Top 5 with a 21-07 stringer that moved him up five places and gave him a 41-08 total.

Here's a look at the Top 12 at the midway point (deficit margin from leader is indicated by red numbers in parentheses):

1. Kevin VanDam: 49-02
2. Kelly Jordon: 43-02 (6-00)
3. Jason Quinn: 41-14 (7-04)
4. Edwin Evers: 41-10 (7-08)
5. Keith Poche: 41-08 (7-10)
6. Kota Kiriyama: 41-03 (7-15)
7. Russ Lane: 41-02 (8-00)
8. Tim Horton: 41-00 (8-02)
9. Brent Chapman: 40-15 (8-03)
10. Rick Morris: 39-15 (9-03)
11. Takahiro Omori: 39-10 (9-08)
12. Morizo Shimizu: 38-15 (10-03)

Fishing the ledges at Kentucky Lake is all about timing, and the field was a little more in sync today than on day 1. The Top-47 cutline settled at 30-01 (it was 14-08 yesterday) and for the second straight day, 11 bags that topped 20 pounds came to the scale.

Russ Lane made the day's biggest upward move, catapulting from 43rd to 7th with a 26-03 bag. In addition to him, Jordon and Evers, others who debuted in the Top 12 were Brent Chapman (21st to 9th with 22-03 today), Takahiro Omori (14th to 11th, 20-01) and 2006 Kentucky Lake winner Morizo Shimizu (18th to 12th, 19-11).

Going the other way were Chad Griffin (5th to 42nd, 8-11), Jeremy Starks (6th to 34th, 11-03), Bradley Hallman (7th to 21st, 15-13), Bill Lowen (9th to 25th, 14-14), Matt Greenblatt (11th to 13th, 18-09) and Britt Myers (12th to 19th, 17-05).

The weather forecast for the Paris, Tenn. area tomorrow predicts scattered thunderstorms with a high temperature of 84 degrees and wind out of the south to 12 mph. The field will be cut to the Top 12 after the weigh-in and the winner will be determined Saturday by highest cumulative weight.

VanDam Stays Solid

It was another banner day for VanDam, who's finished no lower than 3rd here in his three previous Elite Series visits. He caught the majority of his weight early and had plenty of time to seek out new locales for tomorrow.

"You have to catch them all 4 days here to have a chance," he said. “Each day, guys are figuring out how to catch them and I just have to keep at it."

He's divulged no pattern details to this point and his biggest concern for the second half of the tournament is other boats – fellow competitors as well as recreationists.

"With the boat traffic, I've had to be very selective about what areas I can fish, and that's hurting me a little bit. But it is what it is.”

After a sluggish start to the season that included two missed cuts in the first four events, he's back on track to qualify for the two-event postseason series that will determine the AOY (only the Top 12 on the final regular-season points list will get in).

"My focus is on trying to get in that postseason. Anything can happen there."

2nd: Jordon's Gamble Working

Some might wonder why Jordon would opt to focus on a part of the lake he's never fished in the past when his record here is so strong, but his gambit to ply the New Johnsonville area is paying dividends.

"I've always fished from mid-lake to the dam and I've done really well, but I've never won," he said. "This time I'm fishing an area that I know has big ones.

"I've got about 15 spots, but you never know where (the fish) are going to be and where they're not going to be. They weren't on some places where they were yesterday and they were on some places where they weren't."

He caught the 10-pounder (the largest bass of his tour-level career) at about 8:00 on a 10-inch Lake Fork Tackle worm. He'd felt the worm go over a stump and then felt the bite, but then the action came to a halt as his line apparently got hung up in a notch on the stump.

"After probably about 5 or 6 seconds, but what seemed like forever, this 10-pounder comes flying 2 or 3 feet out of the water and it had pulled the line out of the jam. It was a rodeo – that fish jumped two more times – and I have to give kudos to the Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon."

He doesn't plan any changes for tomorrow.

"Catching another 10-pounder will be a tall order, but I think I can catch some pretty nice ones."

5th: Poche Staying Close

Poche is fishing just a little ways south of the launch and he's popped a pair of 20-pound sacks.

"I had a pretty good practice and I probably whacked them too good," he said. "I'm kind of fishing what's still left there.

"I've got two areas that are holding a few fish, and thankfully they're good fish. I'm pretty much banking on those two spots."

His best action is in the afternoon – he got there at 1:00 today and was done by 1:30. His biggest fish went about 5 1/2 pounds.

"I can't really put anything together earlier. I think they're roaming in the morning, and then they stack up on those spots once the sun starts to shine."

He has no company whatsoever.

"If I can catch them tomorrow, then I think I have a chance. I'll fish it all day and see what I can get.

"I've got another thing toward the dam, but I don't feel like making that run would be worth it. I'm going to hang tight with what I've got right now."

7th: Lane has a Hot Spot

Lane does a lot of running around in most tournaments in which he fares well, but that's not the case this time.

"I went around and hit several areas, but the bulk of my weight came off of one place," he said. "It's a 10-foot ledge that runs down the middle of a flat.

"I haven't seen another tournament boat in that area yet, but there are quite a few locals hanging around and watching. I'm a little nervous about that, but whatever happens is going to happen."

He caught about 20 keepers today, including a 6-pounder.

"I figured the places I was fishing were going to get better because the water's clearing up. Last year I was shocked when the two places I had kept reloading. I've got something going and I could see it lasting.

"If I have to run other stuff, I don't really know how it'll come out."

9th: Chapman's Move Profitable

Brent Chapman put together his 22-pound bag from a place where he'd merely hoped to fill out his limit. It would've been a pound bigger had he not weighed in two dead fish.

"I found a spot way up the lake on Sunday and I didn't go there yesterday," he said. "This morning at 9:00 I only had three little keepers, so I figured I'd run up there and at least get a limit to make it to tomorrow.

"I found a school with my football jig, and then I switched baits and that was the whole key to catching the big ones. Within an hour I had four of the five fish that I weighed in."

He wouldn't reveal his big-fish bait, but said it was one he doesn't usually throw.

"It's a new bait for me and it's pretty exciting to catch them that way. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow because I've figured something out. With what I know now, I think I can go other places and catch another good bag, but they're moving like crazy and you have to be on the right spot at the right time."

He did everything he could to keep all of his fish alive, including coming back to the launch an hour early. Several other anglers also returned ahead of their deadlines.

"They're taking the hooks deep and they're bleeding, and it's frustrating because it's really hard to keep them alive. I'm putting ice in there, but they're just real fragile."

52nd: Lane sent Packing

Bobby Lane, the defending champion here, had a solid day 1 (18-10) and began today in 23rd place. He brought in just 9-11, though, and missed the cut by a little less than 2 pounds.

"I went to two or three new places where I thought the worst I would do would be 12 to 15 pounds, and more like 15," he said. "That didn't work and I ended up going back where I caught them yesterday four or five times.

"You can catch 9 pounds here with a fork and a live worm off a dock. That's like going to Guntersville and not catching a limit."

He's averaging a good payday for his trips to Kentucky Lake, but that's only because he picked up a $100,000 check last year.

"I've never gotten paid here except that one time and it took a 'W' to do it. But if I ever win another tournament, I'd like to do it again here. The people here have treated me like a king this week and I really appreciate it."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 93 anglers, 81 limits (three fewer than day 1), 4 fours, 1 three, 6 twos, 1 zero (one more than day 1).

> Quinn is running north and fishing deeper structure than most of the field. "To be honest, I had the worst practice I've ever had for an Elite event," he said. "But I've found a couple of areas and I've just been beating on them."

> AOY leader Reese ended up 48th, missing the cut by 5 ounces. It's the first time he's left back-to-back events without a paycheck since the inception of the Elite Series in 2006.

> BassFan Big Stick John Murray didn't get a bite bigger than 3 pounds on either day and ended up 82nd with 21-14. To read his competition report, click here.

Weather Forecast

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

> Fri., June 11 - Scattered T-Storms - 84°/72°
- Wind: From the S at 12 mph

> Sat., June 12 – Isolated T-Storms - 91°/73°
- Wind: From the SW at 11 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 10, 49-02 -- 310
Day 1: 5, 25-00 -- Day 2: 5, 24-02

2. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 10, 43-02 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 16-06 -- Day 2: 5, 26-12

3. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 41-14 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 20-13 -- Day 2: 5, 21-01

4. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 10, 41-10 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 19-14 -- Day 2: 5, 21-12

5. Keith Poche -- Troy, AL -- 10, 41-08 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 20-01 -- Day 2: 5, 21-07

6. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 10, 41-03 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 22-10 -- Day 2: 5, 18-09

7. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 10, 41-02 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 26-03

8. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 10, 41-00 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 23-12 -- Day 2: 5, 17-04

9. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 10, 40-15 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 22-03

10. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, VA -- 10, 39-15 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 24-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00

11. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 10, 39-10 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 19-09 -- Day 2: 5, 20-01

12. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan -- 10, 38-15 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 19-04 -- Day 2: 5, 19-11

13. Matt Greenblatt -- Palm Beach Gardens, FL -- 10, 38-09 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-09

14. Matt Herren -- Trussville, AL -- 10, 38-01 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 18-13 -- Day 2: 5, 19-04

15. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 10, 37-14 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 16-04 -- Day 2: 5, 21-10

16. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 10, 37-09 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 21-10

17. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 10, 37-07 -- 241
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 22-05

18. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 10, 37-04 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13

19. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 37-04 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 19-15 -- Day 2: 5, 17-05

20. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 36-14 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09

21. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, OK -- 10, 36-12 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 20-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13

22. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 10, 36-08 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10

23. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 10, 35-14 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 19-06 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08

24. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 10, 35-06 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00

25. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 10, 35-00 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 20-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14

26. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 10, 34-12 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 18-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01

27. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 10, 34-11 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 15-01 -- Day 2: 5, 19-10

28. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 10, 34-08 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 18-12

29. Shaw E Grigsby -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 34-04 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 19-07

30. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 10, 33-14 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 19-11

31. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 33-13 -- 213
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 17-04

32. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 10, 32-10 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 18-08

33. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 10, 32-08 -- 209
Day 1: 5, 14-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00

34. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, WV -- 10, 32-06 -- 207
Day 1: 5, 21-03 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03

35. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 10, 31-13 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15

36. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, NC -- 10, 31-09 -- 203
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 18-10

37. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, LA -- 10, 31-06 -- 201
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05

38. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 10, 31-05 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07

39. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 10, 31-05 -- 197
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05

40. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 10, 31-03 -- 195
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10

41. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 10, 30-11 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15

42. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 9, 30-11 -- 191
Day 1: 5, 22-00 -- Day 2: 4, 08-11

43. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 10, 30-06 -- 189
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 16-14

44. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 9, 30-06 -- 187
Day 1: 4, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15

45. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 10, 30-04 -- 185
Day 1: 5, 17-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11

46. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 10, 30-04 -- 183
Day 1: 5, 17-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02

47. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 10, 30-01 -- 181
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-05

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 3.

48. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 10, 29-11 -- 179
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08

49. Peter E Thliveros -- St Augustine, FL -- 10, 29-07 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-02

50. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 10, 29-03 -- 175
Day 1: 5, 18-10 -- Day 2: 5, 10-09

51. Clark Reehm -- Russellville, AR -- 10, 28-10 -- 173
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08

52. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 10, 28-05 -- 171
Day 1: 5, 18-10 -- Day 2: 5, 09-11

53. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 9, 28-01 -- 169
Day 1: 4, 07-15 -- Day 2: 5, 20-02

54. Byron Haseotes -- Centerville, MA -- 10, 27-15 -- 167
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13

55. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 10, 27-15 -- 165
Day 1: 5, 13-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12

56. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 10, 27-05 -- 163
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13

57. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 10, 27-01 -- 161
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14

58. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 10, 26-13 -- 159
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15

59. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 10, 26-13 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13

60. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 26-10 -- 155
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06

61. David Smith -- Del City, OK -- 10, 26-10 -- 153
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06

62. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 9, 26-10 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 4, 14-05

63. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, NC -- 10, 26-07 -- 149
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06

64. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 10, 26-04 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08

65. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 10, 26-04 -- 145
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04

66. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 10, 26-00 -- 143
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06

67. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 10, 25-14 -- 141
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13

68. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 10, 25-10 -- 139
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01

69. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 10, 25-06 -- 137
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 11-12

70. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 10, 25-02 -- 135
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01

71. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 10, 24-08 -- 133
Day 1: 5, 09-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-03

72. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 10, 24-06 -- 131
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01

73. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 10, 23-15 -- 129
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05

74. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 9, 23-15 -- 127
Day 1: 4, 06-14 -- Day 2: 5, 17-01

75. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 10, 23-14 -- 125
Day 1: 5, 11-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10

76. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 7, 23-13 -- 123
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 2, 07-14

77. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 9, 23-12 -- 121
Day 1: 4, 07-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03

78. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, OK -- 10, 23-11 -- 119
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

79. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 7, 23-11 -- 117
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 2, 08-06

80. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 23-10 -- 115
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09

81. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 10, 22-11 -- 113
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11

82. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 10, 21-14 -- 111
Day 1: 5, 10-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08

83. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 7, 21-12 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 17-01 -- Day 2: 2, 04-11

84. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 9, 21-04 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 4, 09-07

85. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 10, 20-13 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05

86. Pat Golden -- High Point, NC -- 8, 19-15 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 3, 07-12

87. Vince Fulks -- Purcell, OK -- 8, 19-14 -- 101
Day 1: 3, 08-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13

88. Wade Grooms -- Bonneau, SC -- 7, 16-11 -- 99
Day 1: 3, 09-02 -- Day 2: 4, 07-09

89. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 6, 15-08 -- 97
Day 1: 1, 01-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13

90. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, LA -- 7, 13-02 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 09-01 -- Day 2: 2, 04-01

91. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, MD -- 5, 12-06 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

92. Mark Burgess -- Norton, MA -- 6, 10-06 -- 91
Day 1: 4, 07-04 -- Day 2: 2, 03-02

93. Zell Rowland -- Austin, TX -- 4, 07-10 -- 89
Day 1: 2, 04-04 -- Day 2: 2, 03-06