By BassFan Staff

For a couple years now, Jordan Lee has impressed his Elite Series competitors with his natural fishing ability and his cool-customer demeanor.

After winning the Bassmaster College Classic in 2013, it took him just one year of competing in the Bassmaster Opens (2014) to qualify for the Elites. He’s already competed in two Bassmaster Classics.

More than one angler has mentioned Lee’s name as a potential rising star in the sport. On Sunday, he’ll get the chance to take another step in his progression.

Lee, who will turn 25 on June 30, will carry the lead into the final day at the Cayuga Lake Elite Series after catching 17-10 today to run his total to 58-02. In order to close out his first Elite Series win, he’ll have to fend off four established stars who make up the rest of the Top 5, including the sport’s biggest name.

While Lee has 58-02 at the top, Brett Hite caught his second straight 20-pound bag – he was the lone competitor to hit that mark Saturday – and roared into 2nd (from 12th) with 57-03.

Kevin VanDam, who won at Toledo Bend earlier this year, caught 17-07, his smallest bag of the event, but moved up three spots to 3rd with 56-06.

Jacob Powroznik slipped two spots to 4th with 56-02 after bagging 15-15. Dean Rojas maintained his spot in 5th with 55-14 after weighing 16-07, his smallest stringer of the week.

Here's a look at the Top 12 after the third day of competition, with deficit margin from Lee indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Jordan Lee: 58-02
2. Brett Hite: 57-03 (0-15)
3. Kevin VanDam: 56-06 (1-12)
4. Jacob Powroznik: 56-02 (2-00)
5. Dean Rojas: 55-14 (2-04)
6. Drew Benton: 55-07 (2-11)
7. Morizo Shimizu: 54-07 (3-11)
8. Mike Iaconelli: 54-06 (3-12)
9. Gerald Swindle: 54-06 (3-12)
10. Koby Kreiger: 54-05 (3-13)
11. Keith Combs: 53-10 (4-08)
12. Matt Herren: 53-09 (4-09)

Sunday will feature a star-studded group of finalists that includes six of the current Top 10 contenders in the Angler of the Year race. Points leader Gerald Swindle continued his strong week with a 17-12 effort that moved him into 9th with 54-06.

Saturday’s conditions were hot, slick and sunny and that made the fishing somewhat tougher, especially in Cayuga’s ultra-clear water. Some of the finalists are hoping Sunday’s forecast is accurate as the wind is supposed to pick up much like it did on Thursday when the lake produced dozens of impressive stringers.

Several of the leaders are confident their areas are replenishing with new fish, whether they’re sight-fishing for bedding fish or casting to cover with reaction and finesse baits.

The Top 8 finishers Sunday will secure a spot in the Classic Bracket tournament, slated for July 18-22 at the Niagara River in Buffalo, N.Y.



B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito
Photo: B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito

Jordan Lee has done his damage over the past two days with a spinning rod and dropshot presentation.

Lee Optimistic For Sunday

> Day 3: 5, 17-10 (15, 58-02)

Lee said he wasn’t fully satisfied with his weight today, but he remains confident he’s around the fish to close out the victory Sunday.

“I’m honestly just a little bit disappointed,” he said. “I would’ve liked to have caught a little bit bigger ones. I fished clean, but I didn’t have any big ones. I had a couple big ones yesterday, so I’m optimistic for tomorrow. That’s all it takes is to just get one of those 5-pounders.”

After catching mostly smallmouth on day 1, he’s spent the last two days pitching a worm rigged on a dropshot to holes in grass that’s in 9 to 10 feet deep. He caught roughly 25 bass today.

“I feel like that’s a lot of fish right now,” he said. “It’s hard to shy away from it after you catch some 5-pounders on it.”

He has a comfort level with the tactic because it’s similar to how he fishes for spawning fish in Alabama.

“They do the same thing at Guntersville,” he said. “They spawn in the holes and I catch them on the same baits. Finding the right area is key. Matt (his brother) helped me dial it in in practice. He got a few bites on a dropshot in practice so that’s what clued me in.”

His demeanor on the water was calm and cool and he doesn’t anticipate that changing on the final day.

“It’s a long way from being over,” he said. “There are guys who are catching them good. I’m really happy with what I’ve done so far in that area, especially this area where I didn’t know it had that kind of weight in there.

“I’m confident because I know where I’m going to fish. Win, lose or draw, I know I’m going to be around there. I’m not going to make any adjustments. I’m super excited.”

2nd: Hite Likes His Chances

> Day 3: 5, 20-06 (15, 57-03)

Hite continued to hammer away on the spot where he caught 21-03 on Friday and continued to see indications that there are still plenty of fish in the neighborhood.

He believes the rocky area in amongst some grass in 9 to 10 1/2 feet can produce the winning stringer Sunday. It would be his sixth career tour-level win if he's able to overtake Lee.

He had one group of fish numbering to 20 follow his bait out today, an occurrence he’s experienced several times this week.

“I probably saw it six or seven times today,” he said. “The whole schools comes with it. When I’m reeling in a pike, there are five or six of them with it. There is a lot of activity down there.

“It’s a stereotypical spot on a northern fishery where schools of them come after they spawn,” he continued. “I’d like to think I can get it done. It’s the spot to get it done just because of what I’ve seen that’s down there is pretty remarkable. Some guys are sight-fishing. They’re not having waves of fish coming like I have.”

B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito
Photo: B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito

Brett Hite made another big move up the leaderboard today with the only 20-pound stringer on Saturday.

3rd: VanDam Narrowing His Focus

> Day 3: 5, 17-07 (15, 56-06)

For the past two days, VanDam has cycled amongst three different patterns in two general areas. None of them bubbled to the top as any better than the others under the calm conditions with stagnant wind.

“I couldn’t make one of them work to catch any quality,” he said. “I spent about 2 1/2 hours doing that and only upgraded one time for a few ounces.”

He plans to eliminate one option and stick with two programs, one of which may be sight-fishing. Today’s stringer was made up of four largemouth and one smallmouth, which has been the norm for him this week.

“I have two general areas, but it depends on the conditions,” he said. “I did see some sight fish that are good, quality fish that weren’t locked down yet. They’re just coming in and I couldn’t do anything with them. They might be worth taking another look at, especially if we have similar conditions. It’s just so hard to get bit fishing fast with no wind.”

4th: Powroznik Still Upbeat

> Day 3: 5, 15-15 (15, 56-02)

Even if he’s unable to leapfrog the three competitors in front of him, Powroznik will be pleased with his finish Sunday. He’ll leave upstate New York in 3rd place in the AOY chase with three events to go.

“I think good things are coming,” he said. “I found an absolute giant right before I came in. She didn’t move. She was sitting there spinning around. With 5 minutes to go, I turned to my cameraman and told him it was going to happen. You know how you just get a feeling?”

He thinks tomorrow’s conditions could bring the return of multiple 20-pound bags, which is what he thinks it’ll take to win.

“It’s going to be really close,” he said. “We’ll have to see what happens. I’m not going to change anything up. I was one bite away from having 17 or 18 pounds (today).”

He and Morizo Shimizu fished the same point for a time this morning before he moved on and started hunting spawning fish. He’ll follow the same plan in the morning.

“I’m going to fish for a couple hours in the morning like I have and just keep going,” he said. “I still think fish are coming. I saw a lot of pairs out there today. I saw a lot of pairs swimming around. You hear guys talking about fish just laying up there on top and the reason for that is they’re just getting ready to warm up so they can go up there to spawn.”

And with some wind in Sunday’s forecast, the seven-time Angler of the Year thinks that could trigger a feeding cycle.

“The fish bite a lot better,” he said. “They’re more aggressive and active. They know it’s not time to feed right now when it’s like this. They’re waiting for better conditions when they can be a better predator. Wind cuts down light penetration and gets the grass moving and gives them an advantage over all of the (baitfish). (The largemouths) are eating a lot of bluegills and perch right now so they know that’s when they should be on the hunt. It’s definitely a better bite when there’s some wind.

“I know I’m going to have to have a 20-pound bag and that’s if the guys at the top stumble. That’s possible because it’s not easy right now. The quality is there on this lake.”

True Image Promotions
Photo: True Image Promotions

Kevin VanDam is in contention to pick up his second win in the last three events.

5th: Rojas Still Looking

> Day 3: 5, 16-07 (15, 55-14)

It was not the fast and furious morning like he’s been having, but Rojas managed to put together a solid bag to stay in contention.

“I had no fish until 9:30 and I needed to go catch a bass,” he said. “I finally did that and then it started rolling, but they were small ones.”

He slowly upgraded through the day and with 15 minutes left caught a largemouth that he weighed in along with four smallmouth.

“It just got better as the day went on,” he added. “I moved around and changed areas and caught one or two here and there.”

As for Sunday’s game plan, he needed some time to ponder his options as he faces a deficit of 2 1/4 pounds.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said.

Field Notes

> Following are additional notes from other anglers who qualified for the final day.

> Drew Benton (6th, 55-07): “I caught everything I saw. I just didn’t see any big ones. I guess I’ll do more of the same tomorrow and see what happens. I caught a bunch today. Everything that I saw that I felt would cull up an ounce, I caught it. I have no regrets. That’s the way it goes.”

> Morizo Shimizu (7th, 54-07): “Tomorrow, we have wind and for my fishing style, I need wind. No wind is scary; no bites. It was toughest day of the three. I had maybe 12 bites, but no big ones. I tried to find new spots, but no confidence.”

> Mike Iaconelli (8th, 54-06): “The first day when I caught them, we had some wind and the big ones bit and they bit and bit. The last 2 days, when it slicked off, I had to go to a spinning rod and the big ones didn’t bite for me. It’s supposed to blow 10 to 15 tomorrow so I’m excited. Any movement is good.”

Notable

> Day 3 stats – 50 anglers, 50 limits

Weather Forecast

> Sun., June 26 – Clear – 93°/69°
- Wind: From the SSW at 10 to 15 mph

Day 3 Standings

1. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 15, 58-02 -- 110 -- $500
Day 1: 5, 19-01 -- Day 2: 5, 21-07 -- Day 3: 5, 17-10

2. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 15, 57-03 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 21-03 -- Day 3: 5, 20-06

3. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 56-06 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-15 -- Day 3: 5, 17-07

4. Jacob Powroznik -- Port Haywood, VA -- 15, 56-02 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 21-14 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05 -- Day 3: 5, 15-15

5. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 15, 55-14 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 18-14 -- Day 3: 5, 16-07

6. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 15, 55-07 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 20-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-03 -- Day 3: 5, 15-15

7. Morizo Shimizu -- Suita, Osaka JAPAN -- 15, 54-07 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 23-06 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10 -- Day 3: 5, 14-07

8. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 15, 54-06 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 21-15 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00 -- Day 3: 5, 16-07

9. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 54-06 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 19-10 -- Day 3: 5, 17-12

10. Koby Kreiger -- Bokeelia, FL -- 15, 54-05 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 16-06 -- Day 3: 5, 19-01

11. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 15, 53-10 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 16-15 -- Day 2: 5, 19-01 -- Day 3: 5, 17-10

12. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 15, 53-09 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 16-15 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13 -- Day 3: 5, 18-13

The following anglers missed the cut and will not compete on day 4.

13. Ott DeFoe -- Knoxville, TN -- 15, 53-01 -- 98 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-00 -- Day 2: 5, 19-05 -- Day 3: 5, 15-12

14. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 15, 52-10 -- 97 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15 -- Day 3: 5, 17-14

15. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 15, 52-08 -- 96 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-03 -- Day 3: 5, 17-12

16. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 15, 52-08 -- 95 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03 -- Day 3: 5, 16-14

17. Seth Feider -- Bloomington, MN -- 15, 52-06 -- 94 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09 -- Day 3: 5, 14-07

18. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 15, 52-03 -- 93 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-10 -- Day 2: 5, 19-01 -- Day 3: 5, 15-08

19. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 15, 51-15 -- 92 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06 -- Day 3: 5, 17-09

20. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 15, 51-14 -- 91 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12 -- Day 3: 5, 18-04

21. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL -- 15, 51-09 -- 90 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-10 -- Day 3: 5, 15-07

22. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 15, 50-13 -- 89 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-13 -- Day 3: 5, 13-14

23. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 15, 50-10 -- 88 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-13 -- Day 3: 5, 15-02

24. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 15, 50-06 -- 87 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-09 -- Day 2: 5, 17-11 -- Day 3: 5, 12-02

25. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 15, 50-03 -- 86 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-03 -- Day 2: 5, 18-09 -- Day 3: 5, 14-07

26. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 15, 50-02 -- 85 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-13 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09 -- Day 3: 5, 14-12

27. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 50-02 -- 84 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08 -- Day 3: 5, 15-10

28. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 15, 49-06 -- 83 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13 -- Day 3: 5, 15-12

29. Josh Bertrand -- Gilbert, AZ -- 15, 49-06 -- 82 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00 -- Day 3: 5, 15-09

30. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 15, 49-04 -- 81 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 18-14 -- Day 3: 5, 13-01

31. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 15, 49-02 -- 80 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-12 -- Day 3: 5, 15-06

32. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 15, 49-01 -- 79 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 16-13 -- Day 3: 5, 14-03

33. Randall Tharp -- Port St. Joe, FL -- 15, 49-01 -- 78 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12 -- Day 3: 5, 15-09

34. Hank Cherry Jr -- Maiden, NC -- 15, 49-01 -- 77 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-15 -- Day 2: 5, 17-04 -- Day 3: 5, 14-14

35. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 15, 48-12 -- 76 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00 -- Day 3: 5, 15-01

36. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 15, 48-12 -- 75 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-09 -- Day 3: 5, 13-10

37. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 15, 48-11 -- 74 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 21-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07 -- Day 3: 5, 15-01

38. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 15, 48-10 -- 73 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07 -- Day 3: 5, 12-00

39. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 15, 48-10 -- 72 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01 -- Day 3: 5, 12-15

40. Fletcher Shryock -- New Philadelphia, OH -- 15, 48-06 -- 71 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-14 -- Day 3: 5, 13-08

41. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 15, 48-03 -- 70 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 19-05 -- Day 3: 5, 13-02

42. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 15, 47-12 -- 69 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-00 -- Day 3: 5, 13-07

43. Matt Lee -- Guntersville, AL -- 15, 47-08 -- 68 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11 -- Day 3: 5, 13-11

44. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 15, 47-06 -- 67 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 20-00 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-09

45. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL -- 15, 47-06 -- 66 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 19-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10 -- Day 3: 5, 12-15

46. Billy McCaghren Jr -- Mayflower, AR -- 15, 47-04 -- 65 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00 -- Day 3: 5, 12-10

47. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 15, 45-10 -- 64 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-13 -- Day 3: 5, 11-08

48. Ken Iyobe -- Tokoname -- Aichi JAPAN -- 15, 45-04 -- 63 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-11 -- Day 3: 5, 11-14

49. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 15, 44-15 -- 62 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02 -- Day 3: 5, 11-12

50. Brandon Card -- Caryville, TN -- 15, 43-03 -- 61 -- $10,000
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-14 -- Day 3: 5, 09-15