Georgia's Lake Lanier may not be at its best right now as it hosts the first PAA Tournament Series event of 2011, but it's almost assuredly going to offer up some high drama on the final day of the tournament.
The Top 5 is separated by less than 2 1/2 pounds. Three of those anglers are true locals, but considering the current conditions and the forecast for tomorrow, at least a couple of them may be fishing for the wrong species.
Paul Marks, a Cumming, Ga. resident who lives 2 miles from the lake, climbed 6 places and into the lead today with a 15.91-pound bag that gave him a 2-day total of 30.52. A couple of his neighbors, however, are in hot pursuit.
Troy Morrow of nearby Toccoa has come in one fish shy of a limit on both days, but roped an 8-pound largemouth as part of a 20.13 bag today and gained 24 spots up to 4th with 28.18. Right behind him is Lanier fixture Tom Mann Jr., who's relying on all of his four decades' worth of experience at the venue to remain in the hunt. He caught 14.67 today to push his total to 28.03.
Between Marks and his fellow Lanier regulars sit North Carolinian David Hendrick, who moved up one slot today with a four-fish, 13.20 bag for a 2nd-place, 28.38 aggregate; and Arizona Bassmaster Elite Series pro John Murray, who came in a hundredth of an ounce shy of 16 pounds today and is 3rd with 28.22.
Here's a look at the totals for the 20 anglers who'll fish tomorrow:
1. Paul Marks: 30.52
2. David Hendrick: 28.38
3. John Murray: 28.22
4. Troy Morrow: 28.18
5. Tom Mann Jr.: 28.03
6. Todd Auten: 27.30
7. Aaron Martens: 26.27
8. Doc Seger: 26.11
9. Lance Vick: 25.45
10. Tommy Biffle: 25.08
11. Derek Remitz: 23.60
12. Shinichi Fukae: 23.35
13. Cody Bird: 22.94
14. Douglas Jones: 22.28
15. Nick Larson: 21.10
16. Chris Brasher: 20.48
17. Takahiro Omori: 20.40
18. Brett Hite: 20.21
19. Kevin Hawk: 19.46
20. Mike McClelland: 19.42
Marks and Mann are both fishing for spotted bass on the southern end of the lake. Morrow is working the main body as well, but is catching largemouths.
The two non-locals in the Top 5, along with many others who'll be back on the water tomorrow, are going up the Chattahoochee River. Interestingly, Murray is catching primarily spots up there.
With tonight's low temperature projected to drop to only 44 (about 5 degrees above the previous night's mark) and a sunny, relatively warm day forecast for tomorrow, the expectation is that there will be largemouths moving either into or toward the shallows. That could bode well for the river-runners.
David Hendrick's bag was smaller than the one he caught on day 1 and contained only four fish, but he moved up one place in the standings.
Today was a major struggle for the two anglers who topped the standings after day 1. Cody Bird, the first-round leader, weighed only three fish for 6 1/2 pounds and fell to 13th. Takahiro Omori, who started the day in 2nd, fared even worse with two fish for 4.72, and he plummeted to 17th.
Mike McClelland, who's managed only three keepers each day, was the last angler into the Top 20 cut with 19.42. Phoenix Boats owner Gary Clouse was first out with 19.33.
The winner will be determined tomorrow on the basis of highest cumulative weight.
Marks Jerking 'em Up
> Day 2: 4, 15.91 (9, 30.52)
The 44-year-old Marks, a local landscaper, said he used to fish Lanier a lot more than he does now – before his children became involved with sports. Nonetheless, he has 20 years of experience on the lake.
He's throwing a jerkbait and said most of his action occurs in the afternoon. He's weighed all spots thus far.
"It's kind of tough," he said. "I'm leading and that sounds good, but it was a tough day out there. I only had one fish at 11:00.
"The bigger fish are moving up and staging, and I'm running around to a lot of places and catching a few bigger ones."
He weighed one fish today that was over 5 pounds and lost one on his last cast that he estimated at 2 1/2.
"I'll go out with the same plan tomorrow and see what happens. I think I'm going to need at least 15 pounds (to win). Those guys catching the largemouths are going to have some fish move up – there's going to be some fish caught tomorrow."
2nd: Hendrick Dropped a 4
> Day 2: 4, 13.20 (9, 28.38)
Like the lone angler in front of him, Hendrick lost a fish that would've given him a limit. He'd be leading if he'd caught it.
"I let a 4-pounder get off and I think that's really going to cost me," he said. "I caught some short fish and I missed quite a few others. I tried changing (bait) colors and I did everything else I could think of."
He said the water temperature dropped 5 degrees – to 55 – in his upriver area. He weighed three largemouths, including a 6-pounder, and a 14-inch spot.
"That cold really knocked them in the head, so I dropped back and punted. I had to redo the whole way I was fishing. If it gets warmer tomorrow, I should be able to catch them."
3rd: Murray Mixing it Up
> Day 2: 5, 15.99 (10, 28.22)
Murray, who's making his maiden visit to Lanier, went up the Chattahoochee for the second straight day and came back with a couple of nice spots – a 6-pounder and a 4.
"Yesterday I caught a couple of largemouths, but today it was just spots," he said. "I've got a few different patterns going – a swimbait, a shallow ChatterBait and a jerkbait. I'm not catching a lot on any one thing."
John Murray has proven to be a quick learner on his initial visit to Lanier.
He managed just five keepers today, compared to 10 under the cloudier conditions of day 1.
"I've pretty much caught all of mine when it's been cloudy, so that's a factor for me. I like it the way it's been and I hope it stays tough. These other guys know where to go, but I'm just out there fishing."
4th: A Monster for Morrow
> Day 2: 4, 20.13 (8, 28.18)
Morrow got some big bites from very close to the launch. His 8.14 brute is easily the biggest fish that's been caught in the event and he also had a near-6-pounder and another one close to 5 today.
"I didn't burn an eighth of a tank of gas today," he said. "Unfortunately, I had everything I caught by about 10:30. I jumped my fifth fish off and that would've really helped.
"I had one more good bite at the end of the day – I saw it come out and try to get the bait – but I just couldn't hook up."
He thinks he'll need a similar bag tomorrow in order to win.
"It's not going to be as cold tonight and there's more sun coming tomorrow, so things will change. It might get better for those guys upriver, so I can only hope that they've beaten everything up.
"Of course, I'm going to start where I left off today, but after that I'll be making it up as I go."
5th: Mann Looks to Go Bigger
> Day 2: 5, 14.67 (10, 28.03)
Mann is averaging just a shade over 14 pounds a day, but is quite certain he'll need more than that tomorrow to have a shot at the top prize.
"It's still tough as heck, but I expect four or five of those guys to catch them pretty good tomorrow," he said. "I had a 5-pound spot today and a 4-pounder, and that's what it's taking.
Troy Morrow's 20-pound bag was topped by an 8-pounder.
"The weather's going to change quite a bit tomorrow and the wind probably won't blow much, and that should really help the largemouth guys. If the sun shines all day I don't know what it'll do to the guys in the dingier water, but I think it'll help me."
He said he had about 10 keeper bites today and caught eight of them. He's using a shakey-head as a numbers bait and catching his bigger fish on a jerkbait.
"Today I had a limit by 11:00 and I had one of those good ones. I managed to get the other good one later on.
"I'm struggling, but I've been fortunate to catch three big fish so far. If it works out where I could get three big ones in one day, I'd be right there. It's certainly doable, but I need to have a good day and hope some other guys have not such a good day."
13th: Different Day for Bird
> Day 2: 3, 6.98 (8, 22.94)
The channel swing in the back of a creek that Bird had exploited en route to the lead on day 1 wasn't nearly as productive today.
"I was shallow-cranking them, and I got out there this morning and it was kind of flat and the wind wasn't blowing much," he said. "I caught a 3-pounder there pretty quick, but I could tell it was deteriorating the whole time and I didn't have a lot of backup stuff. I did figure out a way to catch a few right at the end of the day.
"It was a different day and I was just fortunate to catch the ones I did there the first day. Maybe they'll show back up there tomorrow."
If not, he may opt to go way up the river.
"I might try for largemouths up in the stained water. I think that might be the best way to come back with a big bag."
Notable
> For complete standings, click here.
