Jones Gains Some Separation With 22-13 Bag

Alton Jones backed up his day-1 performance at the St. Johns River Bassmaster Elite Series with a second-day bag that wasn't quite as big, but was at least equally impressive. Returning to crowded, picked-over Lake George, he boated nearly 23 pounds worth of spawners to extend his lead to 7 1/2 pounds.

The Texan's 22-13 stringer gave him a 2-day total of 49-06 and left him as the only angler even remotely on pace for the 100-pound total that many predicted would be needed to win this event.

His three closest pursuers all made major moves today with bags that also topped 20 pounds. J. Todd Tucker climbed from 11th to 2nd with a 21-05 sack that gave him a 41-13 total, local favorite Terry Scroggins equaled Jones for top bag of the day and catapulted from a tie for 17th to 3rd with a 40-00 aggregate and Edwin Evers caught 22-05 to go from 20th to 4th with a 38-13 total.

Billy McCaghren parlayed one huge fish into a 15-11 bag and he rounded out the Top 5 with a 36-06 total.

Here's a look at the Top 12 at the midway point, with distance from leader shown by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Alton Jones: 49-06
2. J. Todd Tucker: 41-13 (7-09)
3. Terry Scroggins: 40-00 (9-06)
4. Edwin Evers: 38-13 (10-09)
5. Billy McCaghren: 36-06 (13-00)
6. Kevin VanDam: 35-00 (13-06)
7. Keith Combs: 34-01 (15-05)
8. Todd Faircloth: 33-15 (15-07)
9. Casey Ashley: 32-12 (16-10)
10. Jared Lintner: 32-02 (17-04)
11. Brent Chapman: 32-02 (17-04)
12. Fred Roumbanis: 31-13 (17-09)

The sight-bite at Lake George deteriorated for many today, but obviously not for everyone. It still surrendered three 20-plus bags, but one of the three areas at which the anglers are congregating was distinctly better than the others, almost certainly because of its clearer water.

Scroggins became frustrated with the scene at George and relied on his vast St. Johns experience to come up with an out-of-the-way place to catch his stringer. He reported that he missed two big bites and worked on a 9-pound bed-fish without success, and he's itching to get back on the water for day 3. His local knowledge could pay huge dividends over the weekend, particularly if a new wave of big females fails to show up at George.

Joining Scroggins and Evers as new arrivals to the Top 12 were VanDam (17-13 today) and Roumbanis (16-03). Moving out were Jason Williamson (4th to 36th with a one-fish, 1-02 bag today), Tim Horton (5th to 16th, 6-11), John Crews (6th to 14th, 10-03) and Clark Reehm (8th to 24th, three fish for 5-08).

The field was reduced to 50 after today's weigh-in, so there'll be less tournament pressure on the big eelgrass flats at George tomorrow. However, it'll be a sunny weekend in Florida, so it remains to be seen what will occur in regard to recreationists and spectators.

Only the Top 12 will advance to Sunday, and the winner will be determined by highest 4-day weight.

Jones Worked Hard

> Day 2: 5, 22-13 (10, 49-06)

Jones said he went about his business pretty much the same way he had on day 1.

"There's fewer fish every day, and when someone catches 22-13 it makes you think they just blistered them," he said. "That wasn't the case – I'm having to work for every fish.

"The late part of the spawn can be frustrating, but there's usually some fish around that some people will give up on. The key is to work hard and spend your time wisely."

His bag included an 8 1/2-pounder that took him 40 minutes to catch and a 5 1/2 that he worked on for 10 minutes. "When I find fish like that and they tell me they're eventually going to play, I'll spend however long it takes."

He said his substantial lead won't affect the way he fishes tomorrow.

"It just gives me a little bit of a cushion. It's going to be a struggle for everybody – it's not like there's going to be a bunch of new fish moving in for other people and not for me. I'll just try to keep it up and I'll take whatever Lake George will give me."

3rd: Good Move by Scroggins

> Day 2: 5, 22-13 (10, 40-00)

Scroggins' move to a new locale was about as productive as he could've hoped.

"I just went to another area and did some sight-fishing, and it paid off," he said. "I lost a 7-(pounder) and a 4 and I fished for one about 9, but I couldn't get it to bite. Hopefully I can catch them tomorrow.

"I also found a lot of fish that I didn't catch today, so I think tomorrow's going to be a good day."

He went through about 15 keepers, and the best of those was a 7-pounder. He didn't see another angler after he relocated.

When asked what he thinks he needs to catch over the next 2 days to win, he said, "I'm thinking it'll take maybe 45 pounds."

4th: Evers Found Solitude

> Day 2: 5, 22-05 (10, 38-13)

Evers remained at George, but he also made a key move that resulted in a big day.

"I found a little stretch with nobody on it and that I could have all to myself," he said. "I caught them pretty quick, but I think the ones that are left are going to be a lot harder."

His bag would've been even bigger had he not lost a pair of 5-pounders at the very end of the day. It was topped by a 7-10.

"I think there will still be some there tomorrow – at least I saw a bunch more. They do have tails and they could swim off, but I feel pretty good about it."

5th: Big One Saves McCaghren

> Day 2: 5, 15-11 (10, 36-06)

McCaghren had only one 12-inch fish in his well at 12:30 when he caught a 9-pounder. That single fish weighed far more than the other four he brought to the scale combined.

He doesn't have much sight-fishing experience, so he's overjoyed with his place in the standings.

"I enjoy it and it's intriguing to me, but I'm not overly confident in my ability to do it," he said. "I'm trying to teach myself as I go, but I'm always wondering if there was a way I could catch certain fish if I really knew what I was doing."

He said he saw two other big ones today that he couldn't catch and also lost a 4-pounder. "That one really would've helped because it could've culled one of the 1 1/4-pounders."

He has no idea what to expect tomorrow.

"That's a huge mystery to me. I'm hoping those fish I couldn't catch will still be there and I can get them to go."

11th: Chapman's Average Plummets

> Day 2: 5, 6-14 (10, 32-02)

BassFan Big Stick Chapman weighed a limit for the second straight day, but the average size of his fish went from 5 pounds on day 1 to just over a pound and a half today.

"I know I'm around fish, but the area's gotten dirtier and I can't really see them in there now," he said. "I'm really hoping that with the lighter traffic tomorrow, it'll clear up and I can really sack 'em up again."

He's fishing one of the more popular areas on George.

"They're definitely not in there like they were, but there's still potential there," he said. "Late today I went over to the other side of the lake where it's clearer and I caught a couple there, and I wish I'd have done it sooner because I'd have had a better bag. If it's not happening for me in the morning, I'll bail out and go over there again.

"It's a typical Florida event – you need a couple of big bites, and today that didn't happen. It very well could tomorrow and I could be right up toward the top again."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 99 anglers, 80 limits (2 fewer than day 1), 5 fours, 7 threes, 3 twos, 3 ones, 1 zero (same as day 1).

> Skeet Reese's 81st-place finish was by far his worst since the inception of the Elite Series in 2006. His previous low was a 70th at Oklahoma's Grand Lake that same year.

> The money cut fell almost exactly where it did last week at the Harris Chain. Rookie Dean Alexander was 50th after 2 days at Harris with 20-05, and Takahiro Omori is in the same position here with 20-06.

> Harris Chain winner Shaw Grigsby ended up 52nd – 9 ounces shy of the cut.

Weather Forecast

> Sat., March 19 - Sunny - 87°/57°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 5 mph

> Sun., March 20 - Mostly Sunny - 83°/60°
- Wind: From the E/NE at 16 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas -- 10, 49-06
Day 1: 5, 26-09 -- Day 2: 5, 22-13

2. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga. -- 10, 41-13
Day 1: 5, 20-08 -- Day 2: 5, 21-05

3. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fla. -- 10, 40-00
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 22-13

4. Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla. -- 10, 38-13
Day 1: 5, 16-08 -- Day 2: 5, 22-05

5. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, Ark. -- 10, 36-06
Day 1: 5, 20-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-11

6. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 10, 35-00
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13

7. Keith Combs -- Huntington, Texas -- 10, 34-01
Day 1: 5, 19-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09

8. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Texas -- 10, 33-15
Day 1: 5, 23-10 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05

9. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, S.C. -- 10, 32-12
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03

10. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 10, 32-02
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09

11. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Kan. -- 10, 32-02
Day 1: 5, 25-04 -- Day 2: 5, 6-14

12. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, Okla. -- 10, 31-13
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03

13. Kelly Jordon -- Palestine, Texas -- 10, 31-11
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01

14. John Crews -- Salem, Va. -- 10, 31-06
Day 1: 5, 21-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03

15. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, La. -- 10, 29-13
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-02

16. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 10, 28-15
Day 1: 5, 22-04 -- Day 2: 5, 6-11

17. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fla. -- 10, 28-13
Day 1: 5, 18-04 -- Day 2: 5, 10-09

18. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, Ala. -- 10, 28-10
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06

19. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, N.C. -- 10, 27-12
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 5, 9-05

20. Russell Parrish -- Riesel, Texas -- 10, 27-07
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00

21. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tenn. -- 10, 27-07
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-09

22. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas -- 10, 26-15
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-01

23. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, Ariz 10 -- 26-07
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-00

24. Clark Reehm -- Lufkin, Texas -- 8, 26-02
Day 1: 5, 20-10 -- Day 2: 3, 5-08

25. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Miss. -- 10, 26-01
Day 1: 5, 18-04 -- Day 2: 5, 7-13

26. Ott Defoe -- Knoxville, Tenn. -- 10, 26-01
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15

27. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La. -- 10, 25-01
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10

28. James Niggemeyer -- Van, Texas -- 10, 25-01
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01

29. Pat Golden -- High Point, N.C. -- 10, 24-14
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00

30. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla. -- 10, 24-12
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14

31. Craig Schuff -- Watauga, Texas -- 10, 24-08
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 9-00

32. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala. -- 10, 24-06
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 8-07

33. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Ala. -- 10, 24-04
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-13

34. John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 10, 24-00
Day 1: 5, 9-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08

35. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, Ind. -- 10, 23-08
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03

36. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, S.C. -- 6, 23-07
Day 1: 5, 22-05 -- Day 2: 1, 1-02

37. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 10, 22-09
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02

38. Peter Thliveros -- St Augustine, Fla. -- 10, 22-05
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 7-06

39. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 10, 22-05
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 8-13

40. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, Ark. -- 10, 22-05
Day 1: 5, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

41. Ryan Said -- Wixom, Mich. -- 8, 22-03
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 3, 3-12

42. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, N.C. -- 8, 22-03
Day 1: 3, 9-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07

43. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, Ala. -- 10, 21-13
Day 1: 5, 9-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07

44. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 10, 21-06
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 9-03

45. Zell Rowland -- Austin, Texas -- 10, 21-03
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02

46. Keith Poche -- Troy, Ala. -- 6, 21-00
Day 1: 1, 5-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04

47. Cliff Pace -- Petal, Miss. -- 9, 20-15
Day 1: 4, 8-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00

48. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala. -- 10, 20-11
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 9-09

49. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 10, 20-09
Day 1: 5, 6-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12

50. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 10, 20-06
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 8-06

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

51. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, Ark. -- 10, 19-14 -- 173
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 5, 9-13

52. Shaw Grigsby -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 10, 19-13 -- 171
Day 1: 5, 8-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

53. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, S.C. -- 10, 19-09 -- 169
Day 1: 5, 8-11 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14

54. Dean Alexander -- Georgetown, Texas -- 9, 19-07 -- 167
Day 1: 4, 5-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09

55. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo. -- 10, 18-13 -- 165
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 7-06

56. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, Ark. -- 9, 18-04 -- 163
Day 1: 4, 6-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15

57. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Miss. -- 10, 18-02 -- 161
Day 1: 5, 8-13 -- Day 2: 5, 9-05

58. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, N.J. -- 10, 18-00 -- 159
Day 1: 5, 10-10 -- Day 2: 5, 7-06

59. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Ohio -- 10, 17-14 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 9-15 -- Day 2: 5, 7-15

60. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 8, 17-09 -- 155
Day 1: 5, 7-03 -- Day 2: 3, 10-06

61. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark. -- 10, 17-06 -- 153
Day 1: 5, 11-02 -- Day 2: 5, 6-04

62. Derek Remitz -- Grant, Ala. -- 10, 17-06 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 8-08 -- Day 2: 5, 8-14

63. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 10, 16-12 -- 149
Day 1: 5, 7-03 -- Day 2: 5, 9-09

64. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 10, 16-12 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 8-13 -- Day 2: 5, 7-15

65. Matt Greenblatt -- Port St Lucie, Fla. -- 10, 16-09 -- 145
Day 1: 5, 8-00 -- Day 2: 5, 8-09

66. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Okla. -- 10, 16-08 -- 143
Day 1: 5, 8-09 -- Day 2: 5, 7-15

67. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 10, 16-03 -- 141
Day 1: 5, 9-15 -- Day 2: 5, 6-04

68. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, S.C. -- 10, 16-03 -- 139
Day 1: 5, 7-02 -- Day 2: 5, 9-01

69. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 10, 16-03 -- 137
Day 1: 5, 7-08 -- Day 2: 5, 8-11

70. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, Okla. -- 10, 16-01 -- 135
Day 1: 5, 9-14 -- Day 2: 5, 6-03

71. Morizo Shimizu -- Matsugaoka, Japan -- 10, 16-00 -- 133
Day 1: 5, 8-15 -- Day 2: 5, 7-01

72. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, Okla. -- 10, 16-00 -- 131
Day 1: 5, 5-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07

73. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 9, 15-15 -- 129
Day 1: 5, 8-14 -- Day 2: 4, 7-01

74. Lee Sisson -- Winter Haven, Fla. -- 10, 15-14 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 7-13 -- Day 2: 5, 8-01

75. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas -- 8, 15-13 -- 125
Day 1: 4, 6-00 -- Day 2: 4, 9-13

76. Russ Lane -- Prattville, Ala. -- 10, 15-11 -- 123
Day 1: 5, 6-15 -- Day 2: 5, 8-12

77. Travis Manson -- De Pere, Wisc. -- 10, 15-06 -- 121
Day 1: 5, 9-03 -- Day 2: 5, 6-03

78. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 8, 15-05 -- 119
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 3, 5-04

79. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, Texas -- 10, 15-00 -- 117
Day 1: 5, 7-04 -- Day 2: 5, 7-12

80. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, Idaho -- 10, 14-06 -- 115
Day 1: 5, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 3-08

81. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 8, 14-00 -- 113
Day 1: 3, 5-03 -- Day 2: 5, 8-13

82. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, Ky. -- 5, 13-14 -- 111
Day 1: 1, 2-06 -- Day 2: 4, 11-08

83. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, S.C. -- 9, 13-06 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 7-13 -- Day 2: 4, 5-09

84. James Stricklin -- Texarkania, Texas -- 7, 13-04 -- 107
Day 1: 2, 2-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

85. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 7, 12-14 -- 105
Day 1: 2, 2-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11

86. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, Texas -- 10, 12-11 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 1-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14

87. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, Md. -- 8, 12-09 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 9-11 -- Day 2: 3, 2-14

88. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, La. -- 7, 12-00 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 8-15 -- Day 2: 2, 3-01

89. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, La. -- 8, 10-10 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 7-02 -- Day 2: 3, 3-08

90. David Smith -- Del City, Okla. -- 6, 10-03 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 8-13 -- Day 2: 1, 1-06

91. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, Va. -- 6, 10-02 -- 93
Day 1: 3, 5-05 -- Day 2: 3, 4-13

92. Terry Butcher -- Talala, Okla. -- 7, 9-02 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 6-13 -- Day 2: 2, 2-05

93. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala. -- 7, 8-03 -- 89
Day 1: 2, 2-12 -- Day 2: 5, 5-07

94. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, Mo. -- 6, 7-12 -- 87
Day 1: 1, 2-01 -- Day 2: 5, 5-11

95. Ben Parker -- Union City, Tenn. -- 6, 7-08 -- 85
Day 1: 2, 2-07 -- Day 2: 4, 5-01

96. Nate Wellman -- Newaygo, Mich. -- 5, 6-12 -- 83
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 5, 6-12

97. Brent Broderick -- Oregonia, Ohio -- 4, 6-12 -- 81
Day 1: 3, 5-12 -- Day 2: 1, 1-00

98. Jami Fralick -- Martin, S.D. -- 5, 6-08 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 6-08 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00

99. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, Mo. -- 4, 5-05 -- 77
Day 1: 2, 3-02 -- Day 2: 2, 2-03