VanDam Still Leads After Stressful Day 3

By BassFan Staff

Toledo Bend surrendered just four limits over 20 pounds to the Bassmaster Elite Series Top 50 on Saturday, down significantly from the 14 it gave up a day earlier. Whether it was the lack of wind, increased weekend crowds, fishing pressure, some clouds or something else entirely, the giant impoundment was less generous on day 3.

Michigan ace Kevin VanDam weighed the best bag of the day for the second time in this event, lugging 24-12 to the scales, despite a dead fish penalty. His total is 74-12

His closest pursuer, Chris Lane lost some ground to the leader after weighing 21-03 – his lightest bag of the event.

VanDam has held the No. 1 spot all 3 days, and on day 3 he increased his lead to 5-12 – the biggest it's been so far. He is almost 9 pounds ahead of 3rd-place Ish Monroe,and there is more than a 20-pound gap across the Top 12.

Yesterday’s 3rd- and 4th-place competitors switched positions on day 3. Ish Monroe (22-04 sack) moved up a spot to 3rd, dropping Hank Cherry (18-12) down one slot. Paul Mueller is a newcomer to the Top 5, having weighed 19-01 today. With the weights fairly tight from 5th to 11th place, expect some movement tomorrow.

Here are the totals for the 12 anglers who'll compete on the final day (deficit margins from the leader are denoted by red numbers in parentheses):

1. Kevin VanDam: 74-12
2. Chris Lane: 69-00 (5-12)
3. Ish Monroe: 65-13 (8-15)
4. Hank Cherry: 63-02 (11-10)
5. Paul Mueller: 59-10 (15-02)
6. Keith Combs: 57-14 (16-14)
7. Tommy Biffle: 57-10 (17-02)
8. Andy Montgomery: 57-08 (17-04)
9. Stephen Browning: 57-01 (17-11)
10. Edwin Evers: 56-12 (18-00)
11. Morizo Shimizu: 55-13 (18-15)
12. Brett Hite: 54-07 (20-05)

Aaron Martens (8th to 16th) and Fred Roumbanis (12th to 13th) dropped out of the cut and won’t fish on Sunday. Instead, Keith Combs (14th to 6th) and Brett Hite (15th to 12th) will contend.

While KVD is pulling most of his fish from offshore structure, in contrast, Lane, Monroe, and Cherry are fishing mostly shallow all day. The draw of high water, the shad spawn, and bedding bream have combined to hold good fish in skinny water longer this year than most and keep them active throughout the day. VanDam is getting better-quality bites, but far fewer than the bank-beaters are reporting.

Angler of the Year (AOY) leader Greg Hackney suffered a slow day and finished 43rd, but will likely retain his AOY lead, as his closest pursuers finished below the 50-cut on Friday.

The forecast for the final day according to WeatherChannel.com predicts a high of 82 degrees, mostly cloudy skies with a 20 percent chance of rain and an east-northeast wind around 8 mph.

Stressful Day for VanDam

> Day 3: 5, 24-12 (15, 74-12)

By mid-morning VanDam had only two fish in the well, though one was pushing 9 pounds. He began to move frequently after that, searching for the fish to fill out his limit. He eventually did so, catching a 5-pounder just minutes before he had to return for the weigh-in.

“(It was an) extremely stressful day today,” he said while pulling his fish from the livewell. “I only caught five all day. But that’s a pretty good one right there.”

That good one weighed 8-11 and held up as the biggest of the day. It was his second fish, caught on a crankbait out deep at mid-morning. He had one fish die that he had hooked in the tongue, which cost him a 4-ounce penalty and the chance to break 25 pounds on the day.

“It was brutal out there,” he said. “It’s been 180 degrees different for me every day so far. I really struggled to get bit today. There’s a ton of pressure, and the water was slick-calm today and that didn’t help. I’ve had to run a lot of new water every day to keep finding them.

“I’ve been fortunate to get a big bite every day, but it’s hard to count on that. We’re going to have some storms tonight, and that may change things, hopefully for the better. The fish are moving a lot, the bait is moving, the wind keeps changing, and it’s been really tough.”

2nd: Lane Chugging, Buzzing and Popping

> Day 3: 5, 21-03 (15, 69-00)

Lane's deficit to VanDam doubled on day 3, but he still likes his position heading into the final round.

"This is kind of a funny situation – with VanDam, I don't want him chasing me, I'd rather be chasing him. He stepped his lead up today and he did a fantastic job, and now it's my turn. I'm actually glad I don't have the pressure of leading and trying to hold VanDam off."

He started the tournament flipping shallow cover, but has changed his program to various walkers, chuggers, and buzzers. His day-3 bag was topped by a 6-pounder, and he also lost one in that same class.

"That fish ate it right at the boat – I saw it coming and I anticipated the bite and it was my own fault. I knew he was going to hit it and I just pulled too quick.

"The anticipation of that is so crazy when you see it happening right in front of you. I couldn't hold myself back."

He's looking forward to more such opportunities on the final day.

"The conditions might be in my favor if we get the cloud cover and a little wind. If that happens, I think I can put a big bag together."

3rd: Monroe Confident

> Day 3: 5, 22-04 (15, 65-13)

Monroe discovered today that he and Hank Cherry are fishing near each other, but probably haven’t both hit the same spot in more than one place in the large area they’re sharing.

“Today we kind of saw each other, but didn’t,” he said. “I saw a bunch of spectator boats at one point and found out they were following Hank. Other than that, I’ve only seen one other Elite boat for maybe 5 minutes any day I’ve been here.”

With no other anglers putting pressure on his area, Monroe has been able to cover water as he likes, and has hardly fished the same place twice over 3 days.

“I’m throwing a frog and flipping a River2Sea Tommy Biffle Jig with a Missile Baits D-Stroyer in about 2 feet of water,” he noted. “I just put the trolling motor down and fish everything in front of me – grass, bushes, cypress trees – until it’s time to come in. The frog has been the limit bait and flipping has produced the bigger fish.”

Today all his fish were 4 to 5 pounds, though the last 2 days he’s had a 6- and 7-pounder – one each day. He’s catching 20 to 25 keepers per day, but says he has no worries about running out of fish.

“It’s been very consistent,” he said. “I’m sure I can do just as well tomorrow.”

4th: Cherry Picking Apart Large Area

> Day 3: 5, 18-12 (15, 63-02)

The large creek that both Cherry and Monroe are in is fishing about the same for both. While Monroe hasn’t really fished the same stuff twice, Cherry has repeated his best stretch every day.

“There are a couple docks that keep producing for me,” he said. “I’m catching most of my fish on a jig or flipping. In practice the ChatterBait was working, but that kind of died when the wind laid down.

“I’m just fishing what’s in front of me, whether it’s docks or bushes or grass. I’m catching 14 or 15 keepers every day, so I think they will be there tomorrow, too. It’s a big area that they can roam around in, but you have to find them every day.”

He plans to run the same program tomorrow and hopes to have several of the larger ones bite.

“I’m excited to be going fishing again tomorrow. I’ve never been to Toledo Bend before this. It’s a great fishery.”

His biggest fish today was between 6 and 7 pounds.

5th: Mueller Believes in Miracles

> Day 3: 5, 19-01 (15, 59-10)

Mueller holds the record for the heaviest single-day weight (32-03) in the Bassmaster Classic, set in 2014, and that was due to several big fish cooperating with him in one day. So far he hasn’t managed a livewell full of Toledo Bend lunkers, but he did capture one today.

“I had a really fortunate day today,” he said. “I caught an 8-pounder on a Strike King 10XD crankbait on my morning big-fish spot, but then it dried up. After a while I had to go into scramble mode to try to fill my limit.

"I had been cranking for most of my fish up until today, but I had to break out the spinning rod and a Reins 7-inch Bubbling Shaker on a dropshot.”

He caught three 2-pounders and a 4-12 on the dropshot.

“That 4-pounder got me into the Top 12,” he noted. “But now that I'm there, I need to fish to win. I’m not going to scramble tomorrow. I’m going to focus on doing my best and fish for big ones.

"I may need 30 pounds or more to win and (the leaders) would have to stumble a little, but I believe in miracles and it’s possible here.”

His weights have gone up and down, but he's averaging almost 20 pounds per day.

“I’m catching them 15 to 22 feet deep on flats next to ditches and channel swings with a sharp drop. It’s where they’re working their way out to their summer places, so they may move in for me.

"I have to have a positive frame of mind to fish against these guys. Anything is possible with the Lord.”

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 45 limits, 2 fours, 1 three, 1 two, 1 zero.

Weather Forecast

> Sun., May 15 – Partly Cloudy - 81°/62°
- Wind: From the ENE at 7 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 74-12 -- 110 -- $500
Day 1: 5, 29-05 -- Day 2: 5, 20-11 -- Day 3: 5, 24-12

2. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 69-00 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 23-14 -- Day 2: 5, 23-15 -- Day 3: 5, 21-03

3. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 15, 65-13 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 18-15 -- Day 2: 5, 24-10 -- Day 3: 5, 22-04

4. Hank Cherry Jr -- Maiden, NC -- 15, 63-02 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 24-07 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15 -- Day 3: 5, 18-12

5. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 15, 59-10 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 17-13 -- Day 2: 5, 22-12 -- Day 3: 5, 19-01

6. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 57-14 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 21-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04 -- Day 3: 5, 20-07

7. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 15, 57-10 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 5, 21-01 -- Day 3: 5, 18-02

8. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 15, 57-08 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 17-11 -- Day 2: 5, 23-04 -- Day 3: 5, 16-09

9. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 15, 57-01 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 20-10 -- Day 2: 5, 22-06 -- Day 3: 5, 14-01

10. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 15, 56-12 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 22-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-05 -- Day 3: 5, 17-12

11. Morizo Shimizu -- Suita, Osaka JAPAN -- 15, 55-13 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07 -- Day 3: 5, 16-13

12. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 15, 54-07 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-03 -- Day 3: 5, 17-04

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not compete on day 4

13. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 15, 53-10 -- 98 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-11 -- Day 2: 5, 18-03 -- Day 3: 5, 15-12

14. Ott DeFoe -- Knoxville, TN -- 15, 52-11 -- 97 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15 -- Day 3: 5, 18-02

15. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, LA -- 15, 51-12 -- 96 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 23-00 -- Day 3: 5, 14-14

16. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 51-06 -- 95 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-02 -- Day 2: 5, 22-02 -- Day 3: 5, 11-02

17. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 15, 51-03 -- 94 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-12 -- Day 3: 5, 17-07

18. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 15, 50-09 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 21-15 -- Day 3: 5, 13-13

19. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 15, 50-05 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15 -- Day 3: 5, 14-09

20. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 15, 50-03 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01 -- Day 3: 5, 18-02

21. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 15, 50-00 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-00 -- Day 2: 5, 21-08 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08

22. Jacob Powroznik -- Port Haywood, VA -- 15, 49-13 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 22-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14 -- Day 3: 5, 12-06

23. John Murray -- Spring City, TN -- 15, 49-04 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-04 -- Day 3: 5, 15-10

24. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 15, 49-03 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-07 -- Day 3: 5, 12-12

25. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 49-02 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 12-08 -- Day 2: 5, 21-07 -- Day 3: 5, 15-03

26. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 15, 48-12 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05 -- Day 3: 5, 16-10

27. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 15, 46-14 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08 -- Day 3: 5, 15-12

28. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 15, 46-11 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08 -- Day 3: 5, 15-11

29. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 15, 46-11 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11

30. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 15, 46-09 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09 -- Day 3: 5, 17-06

31. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 15, 46-01 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-12 -- Day 3: 5, 15-10

32. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 15, 45-15 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-14 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01 -- Day 3: 5, 11-00

33. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 15, 45-13 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-12 -- Day 3: 5, 17-03

34. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 15, 45-12 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00 -- Day 3: 5, 16-05

35. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 15, 45-09 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 5, 21-02 -- Day 3: 5, 13-15

36. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 15, 45-01 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-14 -- Day 3: 5, 11-10

37. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL -- 15, 44-15 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 5, 13-07

38. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 15, 44-10 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05 -- Day 3: 5, 12-03

39. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 14, 44-06 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 4, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07 -- Day 3: 5, 15-13

40. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 15, 43-12 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-03 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04 -- Day 3: 5, 11-05

41. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 15, 43-07 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 5, 12-14

42. Brent Ehrler -- Newport Beach, CA -- 15, 43-03 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01 -- Day 3: 5, 11-00

43. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 15, 42-12 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06 -- Day 3: 5, 10-11

44. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 15, 42-08 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08

45. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 14, 42-01 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10 -- Day 3: 4, 10-02

46. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 15, 42-00 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14 -- Day 3: 5, 12-00

47. Josh Bertrand -- Gilbert, AZ -- 13, 39-13 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04 -- Day 3: 3, 10-07

48. Matt Lee -- Guntersville, AL -- 14, 38-11 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02 -- Day 3: 4, 09-02

49. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 12, 33-11 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00 -- Day 3: 2, 04-04

50. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 6, 29-07 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 24-10 -- Day 2: 1, 04-13 -- Day 3: 0, 00-00