Every day of the previous year, Cody Meyer thought about the Pittsburgh Forrest Wood Cup that he very nearly won. It was on his mind yesterday when he weighed 14-03 at Lake Lanier, and it was on his mind today when he weighed 13-03.

Together, those two bags give him a combined 27-06, 2-day total, and he moved into the lead at the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup.



He's using the same bait he used the first 2 days at Pittsburgh – a Jackall Crosstail Shad – but he had to change up his strategy today. The wind shifted as a mini-front moved into the area and his fish weren't suspended anymore. He fished the bottom all day.

Just 1-04 behind Meyer is savvy veteran Larry "The General" Nixon, who like Meyer also had a chance to win last year's Pittsburgh Cup. In Nixon's case, he was on the fish to win at Pittsburgh, but rainwater ruined the Ohio after he made the Top 10 cut.

The two are interesting foils. There's Meyer, the young gun from the West, then Nixon, the grizzled Arkansas great. But there are similarities, too – both are worm specialists, and both seem unflappable. As well, both made significant upward movements today – Meyer from 4th to 1st, Nixon from 8th to 2nd.

Nixon's limit (13-08) was the heaviest weighed today.

But with weights as close as they are, it's too early to be talking about a 1-2 battle. That won't happen until tomorrow's cut to the Top 6. For now, today's Top 30 advance to fish another day.

Jason Christie, who began the day in 2nd, weighed 10-09. That was 4 pounds less then he weighed yesterday, and he slipped a spot to 3rd.

Local ace Jason Meninger has yet to bust a big bag, but his 12 1/2-pound average (13 yesterday, 12 today) bumped him up two spots to 4th. He's actually tied for total weight with Christie, but occupies the 4th-place spot due to tiebreaker (heaviest 1-day bag).

Day-1 leader Kevin Hawk, who moved from California to nearby Buford last fall solely to prepare for this event, came in 4 1/2 pounds lighter than he did yesterday and fell to 5th.

The winner is determined by 4-day cumulative weight. Here's a look at the current Top 10, with total weight followed by distance from leader in red:

1. Cody Meyer -- Grass Valley, CA -- 10, 27-06
2. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, AR -- 10, 26-02 (1-04)
3. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 10, 25-01 (2-05)
4. Jason Meninger -- Gainesville, GA -- 10, 25-01 (2-05)
5. Kevin Hawk -- Ramona, CA -- 10, 24-15 (2-07)
6. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, CA -- 10, 24-05 (3-01)
7. Ron Hobbs, Jr. -- Orting, WA -- 10, 24-03 (3-03)
8. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, VA -- 10, 22-09 (4-11)
9. Brian Travis -- Conover, NC -- 10, 22-06 (4-14)
10. Troy Morrow -- Toccoa, GA -- 10, 22-06 (4-14)

Today was like the second round of betting in a poker game: Those who had good hands (patterns) followed up with a strong second bet. Others folded.

Some of the pros who folded today included:

> JT Kenney -- 3rd to 19th
> Ott DeFoe -- 5th to 37th
> Rusty Salewske -- 11th to 21st
> Jacob Powroznik -- 16th to 25th
> Dave Lefebre -- 15th to 32nd

Those who made marked improvements, in addition to the aforementioned, included:

> Ron Hobbs, Jr. -- 12th to 7th
> Bryan Thrift -- 18th to 11th
> Tom Mann, Jr. -- 21st to 12th
> Ron Shuffield -- 23rd to 13th
> Brett Hite -- 53rd to 27th
> Kyle Mabrey -- 68th to 35th

Kenney said he just didn't catch them.

DeFoe ran up the river in his aluminum boat again, but overnight rains killed his bite.

Shuffield made his climb on the strength of a 5 1/2- to 6-pound largemouth – the biggest fish seen in the event so far. He's running banks with a topwater all day.

The brushpile bite's getting tough, and that's what most of the Top 10 pros are working. As noted yesterday, the main plan is to run an unconscionable amount of brushpiles and every once in a while an angler hooks up.

Overwhelming boat traffic is expected on the lake tomorrow and Sunday, but Larry Nixon said boat traffic helped his bite in practice. The wakes and waves break up the surface and sometimes have a positive effect on the deep spots.

Tomorrow's Top-6 cut will likely be decided by ounces.

Yesterday's winning pace of about 15 pounds dipped significantly today and is now at a little more than 13 1/2 pounds. There's every expectation that will dip again tomorrow, to perhaps as low as 12 1/2 pounds or less.

A late thunderstorm blew through and improved the catch toward the very end of the day. And another wind change could occur tomorrow with the mini-front, which could reposition the nomadic spotted bass once again.

Meyer Relaxed but Excited

> Day 2: 5, 13-03 (10, 27-06)

Even though last year's Cup weighs heavily on Meyer's mind, it's not a bitter feeling, or an agitated feeling, he said. He's relaxed out there. He's having fun. Thoughts of last year's Cup just make him want it all that much more.

And he didn't tweak when his fish changed overnight. He simply adjusted.

"I didn't catch any suspended fish today – none," he said. "It was all brushpiles. I didn't even really see them suspended. It's weird, but I didn't catch a single fish that same way. I was fishing the same types of areas, but I was fishing the brush. It was one here and one there. It was extremely hard."

He never got a big bite – his best fish was 3 pounds – and he weighed all spots. Two he caught on stops he fished yesterday, while the other three were from new water.

"I really don't know why I'm catching better size (than others)," he noted. "Doing my research, I saw that bigger spotted bass are in the lower part of the lake. I don't know why I'm catching bigger ones. I didn't even catch a short today.

"I'm excited big-time," he added. "I'm still thinking about last year and I'd love to get back there. If I put myself in position and make the final day, I'd have another chance. Obviously, you don't get too many chances at something like this, so my goal is to make the Top 6 and go from there."

2nd: Nixon Wants it

> Day 2: 5, 13-08 (10, 26-02)

"I want to win that Cup really bad," said Nixon, now in his 33rd season. "I had two in my back pocket and both were taken away – when Dion (Hibdon) won at Shreveport, I led every day. And last year, a northwest front blew silt into the area and killed me dead."



BassFan
Photo: BassFan

According to Larry Nixon, if his fish move back into position like they were in practice, 'it could get ugly.'

Nixon said his goal after practice was 12 pounds a day, and he's at 13 right now, so it's a little above his expectations. And he noted that 13 could be the winning mark, but he feels the event will be won by someone who gets two 4-pound bites. He didn't have one of those today.

"I had a largemouth today – a 2-pound largemouth," he noted. "I didn't weigh it. I actually caught a 4-pound largemouth in practice on one of my spots, but I haven't got a bite there yet. I'm fishing different from everybody else, but I'm not ready to talk about it yet."

However, some of his comments seem to hint that he's fishing perhaps a mid-depth zone. And he's got his spots to himself.

"It was perfect conditions this morning – we had low light until 11:00," he said. "That made a big difference. They stayed shallower and were eating this morning. I had four by 10:00.

"Weather conditions could dictate who wins," he added. "It hasn't happened yet, but if they move back up to where they were Saturday and Sunday in practice, it could be ugly. In practice, I was catching them at will. I don't know if I can catch them every day. Only the bass know that. Spotted bass move a lot and as long as I keep doing what I'm doing now, I feel good."

BassFan
Photo: BassFan

Jason Christie only got five keeper bites today.

3rd: Christie Feeling Lucky

> Day 2: 5, 10-09 (10, 25-01)

Oklahoma pro Christie thinks you need a luck to win a championship. He's feeling it – he got lucky yesterday and today, he said, and he thinks he might go buy a lottery ticket tonight.

"Maybe this is my week," he said.

He didn't get many keeper bites today – only five – and he boated each one. But like Meyer, he confronted changed conditions.

"The fish just didn't set up like they'd been setting up," Christie said. "I didn't have a fish until 10:00. Then I caught my limit in an hour and a half, and went dry the rest of the day."

Yesterday, he told BassFans that he was fishing fewer waypoints than most others. He'd drop the trolling motor and thoroughly pick through an area. He said he hit 25 waypoints today. He fished about 15 of them real hard, and the other 10 he bailed on right away.

"I got lucky and pulled up to one of my spots and got three real quick. If I hadn't done that, I wouldn't be standing here doing an interview."

His plan for tomorrow is to start in the same area where he caught a good sack on day 1, and his best fish today. Then he'll work through his four or five best spots. By then, he should have a handle on what's happening. He also might make a run down toward the dam.

He's still fishing a Yum Dinger.

4th: Meninger Stuck with Dink

> Day 2: 5, 11-14 (10, 25-01)

Meninger's 12 pounds was a solid bag, but he obviously wanted more. The problem was a little "squeaker" that he couldn't cull.

His local knowledge is significant, but it deals more with understanding how fish position in different conditions, rather than which specific areas to fish, he noted.

"I have enough piles and trees to run in any wind direction. My problem is I'm not finding the 4- to 4 1/2-pound fish. You need one or two of those, and I think somebody in this tournament is going to bust 15 or 16 pounds the next 2 days. But you need a 4 1/2-pound bite to do that.

"My deal is still to hit as many spots as I can," he added. "I probably hit 45 spots today from the mouth of the Chestatee down to the dam."

BassFan
Photo: BassFan

Jason Meninger hasn't yet found the class of fish he thinks he needs to win.

He said he's looking for a key water depth, but again, that changes each day based on conditions. "That's the thing about Lanier. All this bait's swimming around and the fish are like pelagic fish. When the wind blows one way or another way, it repositions the fish. So you have to understand how fish position with wind direction, light penetration – everything makes a difference."

And the pressure's still getting to him. He slept 5 hours last night – an hour longer than the night before – but he's still waking up a little too early, he said.

5th: Hawk Comfortable

> Day 2: 5, 10-03 (10, 24-15)

It'd be hard for a BassFan not to get behind Hawk. The minute he qualified for the Cup last year through the Western FLW Series – in the final qualification spot no less – he packed up and moved to Buford next to Lake Lanier.

He pretty much froze through the winter, but it was a dues-paying journey, and he got the experience on the lake he sought.

Unless he cashes a big check on Sunday, though, he'll temporarily give up his dream of turning pro.

"I knew this was a unique fishery in the fact that guys fish so much brush," he said. "I felt I'd be outclassed because I didn't have the experience, so I had to work harder than anybody else just to be able to compete. For that reason I moved out here. I rented a little pool house and froze my tail off in there. It was rough for a while, but I made it through and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything."

It all paid off yesterday when he was the day-1 leader, but he slipped to 5th today and will need to hold fast in order to make tomorrow's Top-6 cut.

"I caught seven keepers all day – it was tougher," he noted. "I wasn't seeing fish on the graph like I was. It was a strange day.

"But I'm happy. I'm fishing tomorrow and that's a good thing. Hopefully I'll figure a little something out and make up some ground."

He's running and gunning and dropshotting brush, with the theory that more stops equals a better chance to connect. He hit 40 to 50 spots today, which was more than yesterday, but now he's second-guessing that and thinking he should have slowed down more at each stop, he said.

"You'd think I'd be super-nervous but I'm super-relaxed," he added. "I've been here so long and I'm so comfortable with this style that I know I'll catch a ton of fish."

Additional Notes

Following are portions of interviews with pros outside the Top 5, gathered at tonight's weigh-in.

6th: Brent Ehrler (10, 24-05)
"It seemed to me like it was a little tougher today. Something changed. I don't know what, but the fish just weren't reacting the same as yesterday. I really struggled. I only caught five all day. I was fortunate to have a limit. It really was tough."

7th: Ron Hobbs, Jr. (10, 24-03)
"I had a pretty good day today. I was fishing largemouths yesterday, and got one today, but I figured out a few more things about those spotted bass. I hope to catch five largemouths tomorrow. They all seem to be around 3 1/2 pounds or so. I haven't seen that many people running the largemouth spots, so I pretty much have them to myself. I know they're there – I just have to get them to bite."

11th: Bryan Thrift (9, 22-04)
"Today started out a lot better than yesterday. Yesterday I didn't have a keeper at 12:00. Today I had a limit by 11:00 with two big ones. I've got one tree out in the middle of nowhere and I've caught a big one off it each day. I'm hoping I can continue to do that.

"I lost a 3-pounder today, so I could have had a really good bag. But I'm tickled to death with what I've got – I had two spots today that weighed 9 pounds. That's pretty good."

12th: Tom Mann, Jr. (10, 22-03)
"A lot of things went right today. It's still not indicative of what's in this lake. It's such a great bass fishery. It's just so hot this time of year.

"These are the best bass fishermen in the world here. These guys are good. They came here and did their homework. The Lord blessed me today and I caught one really nice fish. There are a lot of 3- and 4-pounders swimming here – you just have to be fortunate enough to get one to bite that little Yamamoto Kut-Tail worm.

"I feel better now. At least I think I have a shot at it. I could possibly go out and catch 13 or 14 or 15 pounds tomorrow and get into the Top 6."

14th: Wesley Strader (10, 21-03)
"I'm doing something I don't normally do. I'm dropshotting and I'm seeing almost every one of those fish bite me. But only one out of every 30 or 40 bite. You have to coax them. I'm missing a lot too – I'm kind of quick on the gun to set the hook."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 78 anglers, 25 limits (2 fewer than yesterday), 8 fours, 16 threes, 11 twos, 12 ones, 6 zeroes (1 more than yesterday).

> Shuffield noted of his largemouth pattern: "I've always been a shallow-water power-fisherman. Over 7 or 8 days here, I never could figure out how to catch them on a dropshot or shakey-head. So I just decided to put my head down, put the trolling motor on 50 and fly down the bank with a topwater."

> Steve Kennedy (30th) said he saved four kids on the lake today. A late thunderstorm blew in and he saw the four kids in a paddleboat. "They paddled out from the campground and when that storm came in, there were 3-foot whitecaps. They were swamped – the hull was filling up with water – and between the four of them they only had two lifejackets. I tried to tow their paddleboat in, but there was lightning everywhere and I said, 'Let's just get you all back to the bank.' I think they were more worried about their parents than the lightning."

> Luke Clausen (66th) was 1 minute late and was assessed a 1-pound penalty.

> The only pro who double-zeroed was California veteran Mike Folkestad. Both Scott Martin and Scott Suggs caught a single fish across both days.

Day 2 Standings

1. Cody Meyer -- Grass Valley, Ca -- 5, 14-03 -- 5, 13-03 -- 10, 27-06

2. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 12-10 -- 5, 13-08 -- 10, 26-02

3. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 5, 14-08 -- 5, 10-09 -- 10, 25-01

4. Jason Meninger -- Gainesville, Ga -- 5, 13-03 -- 5, 11-14 -- 10, 25-01

5. Kevin Hawk -- Ramona, Ca -- 5, 14-12 -- 5, 10-03 -- 10, 24-15

6. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 12-09 -- 5, 11-12 -- 10, 24-05

7. Ronald Hobbs, Jr. -- Orting, Wa -- 5, 10-14 -- 5, 13-05 -- 10, 24-03

8. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 11-14 -- 5, 10-11 -- 10, 22-09

9. Brian Travis -- Conover, Nc -- 5, 13-02 -- 5, 9-04 -- 10, 22-06

10. Troy Morrow -- Toccoa, Ga -- 5, 10-14 -- 5, 11-08 -- 10, 22-06

11. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 5, 9-11 -- 5, 12-09 -- 10, 22-04

12. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 5, 9-06 -- 5, 12-13 -- 10, 22-03

13. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 5, 9-01 -- 5, 13-00 -- 10, 22-01

14. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 5, 9-07 -- 5, 11-12 -- 10, 21-03

15. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, Al -- 3, 8-08 -- 5, 11-12 -- 8, 20-04

16. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 5, 10-03 -- 3, 9-07 -- 8, 19-10

17. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 5, 10-11 -- 4, 7-09 -- 9, 18-04

18. Keith Monson -- Burgin, Ky -- 5, 8-10 -- 5, 9-07 -- 10, 18-01

19. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 5, 14-06 -- 1, 2-15 -- 6, 17-05

20. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 5, 8-11 -- 4, 8-00 -- 9, 16-11

21. Rusty Salewske -- Alpine, Ca -- 5, 11-08 -- 3, 4-13 -- 8, 16-05

22. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 4, 7-03 -- 4, 8-09 -- 8, 15-12

23. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 4, 7-13 -- 4, 7-13 -- 8, 15-10

24. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, Sc -- 3, 7-13 -- 5, 7-13 -- 8, 15-10

25. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5, 10-06 -- 4, 4-11 -- 9, 15-01

26. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 4, 5-15 -- 5, 9-02 -- 9, 15-01

27. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 3, 4-09 -- 5, 10-07 -- 8, 15-00

28. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 4, 8-14 -- 3, 6-01 -- 7, 14-15

29. Justin Lucas -- Montevallo, Al -- 3, 5-15 -- 5, 8-15 -- 8, 14-14

30. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Al -- 4, 6-06 -- 5, 8-05 -- 9, 14-11

The following anglers didn't make the cut and won't be fishing tomorrow:

31. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 5, 8-12 -- 3, 5-11 -- $10,000

32. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 5, 10-10 -- 3, 3-12 -- $10,000

33. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, Nc -- 3, 5-06 -- 5, 9-00 -- $10,000

34. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 3, 5-00 -- 4, 9-01 -- $10,000

35. Kyle Mabrey -- Mccalla, Al -- 2, 3-02 -- 4, 10-13 -- $10,000

36. David Fritts -- Lexington, Nc -- 4, 8-15 -- 3, 4-13 -- $10,000

37. Ott Defoe -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 13-10 -- 0, 0-00 -- $10,000

38. Jon Strelic -- El Cajon, Ca -- 2, 5-00 -- 4, 8-07 -- $10,000

39. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 3, 5-01 -- 3, 8-04 -- $10,000

40. Mike Reynolds -- Modesto, Ca -- 3, 5-15 -- 3, 7-05 -- $10,000

41. Jay Keith -- Camden, Sc -- 5, 8-13 -- 3, 4-06 -- $10,000

42. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 2, 4-02 -- 5, 8-15 -- $10,000

43. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 5, 9-06 -- 2, 3-10 -- $10,000

44. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 4, 8-11 -- 2, 4-02 -- $10,000

45. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 1, 3-13 -- 3, 8-10 -- $10,000

46. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 2, 3-04 -- 5, 8-00 -- $10,000

47. Dick Shaffer -- Rockford, Oh -- 4, 7-07 -- 1, 3-12 -- $10,000

48. Randy Mcabee Jr -- Bakersfield, Ca -- 2, 5-09 -- 3, 5-07 -- $10,000

49. Shinichi Fukae -- Palestine, Tx -- 5, 9-07 -- 1, 1-06 -- $10,000

50. Jake Gipson -- Niceville, Fl -- 2, 4-06 -- 2, 4-12 -- $10,000

51. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, Tn -- 1, 3-13 -- 2, 5-04 -- $7,000

52. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, Ca -- 2, 5-13 -- 1, 3-03 -- $7,000

53. Tim Klinger -- Boulder City, Nv -- 0, 0-00 -- 5, 8-15 -- $7,000

54. Keith Pace -- Monticello, Ar -- 4, 8-15 -- 0, 0-00 -- $7,000

55. Rick Correa -- Sherwood, Or -- 3, 5-13 -- 2, 3-02 -- $7,000

56. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 3, 5-14 -- 1, 3-00 -- $7,000

57. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 3, 5-03 -- 2, 3-09 -- $7,000

58. Robert Lee -- Angels Camp, Ca -- 2, 4-15 -- 2, 3-11 -- $7,000

59. Ray Scheide -- Dover, Ar -- 3, 5-00 -- 1, 3-06 -- $7,000

60. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 2, 3-14 -- 2, 4-08 -- $7,000

61. Cameron Smith -- Dana Point, Ca -- 2, 3-15 -- 3, 4-06 -- $7,000

62. Keith Combs -- Del Rio, Tx -- 2, 3-15 -- 3, 4-06 -- $7,000

63. Terry Bolton -- Jonesboro, Ar -- 2, 4-01 -- 2, 3-15 -- $7,000

64. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wa -- 2, 3-11 -- 2, 4-01 -- $7,000

65. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 7-07 -- $7,000

66. Luke Clausen -- Gainesville, Ga -- 4, 7-05 -- 0, 0-00 -- $7,000

67. Greg Bohannan -- Rogers, Ar -- 0, 0-00 -- 3, 7-01 -- $7,000

68. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Al -- 1, 3-11 -- 1, 3-06 -- $7,000

69. Zack Thompson -- Orinda, Ca -- 3, 3-15 -- 2, 1-14 -- $7,000

70. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 1, 1-07 -- 3, 4-02 -- $7,000

71. Justin Kerr -- Simi Valley, Ca -- 3, 4-00 -- 1, 1-09 -- $7,000

72. Robert Robinson -- Mobile, Al -- 2, 3-13 -- 1, 1-10 -- $7,000

73. Jason Reyes -- Huffman, Tx -- 1, 1-14 -- 1, 2-03 -- $7,000

74. Chad Hulbert -- Gilroy, Ca -- 1, 2-10 -- 1, 1-05 -- $7,000

75. Jason Cordiale -- Orinda, Ca -- 1, 2-09 -- 0, 0-00 -- $7,000

76. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 0, 0-00 -- 1, 2-07 -- $7,000

77. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 1, 1-07 -- 0, 0-00 -- $7,000

78. Mike Folkestad -- Orange, Ca -- 0, 0-00 -- 0, 0-00 -- $7,000