Davis Moves To Top With 19-04 Stringer

By BassFan Staff

Lake Dardanelle is only about a 90-minute drive from Mark Davis' home in Mt. Ida, Ark., but it's a body of water that he visits sparingly and never for fun. It hasn't treated him too kindly over the course of his long career.

"It's been a nemesis for me for a long time," the three-time Angler of the Year (AOY) said. "I've had a lot of poor finishes here."

He has a chance to get some revenge on the lake over the next 2 days, as on Saturday he catapulted up from 25th place to take over the lead at the midway point of the sixth Bassmaster Elite Series event of the season. His tournament-best 19-04 sack (one ounce heavier than Kevin VanDam's day-1 haul) gave him a 33-09 aggregate and a margin of a little less than 2 pounds over the rest of the field.

Davis knows there's nothing close to a guarantee that he'll remain at – or even near – the top of the leaderboard.

"It's a fickle lake," he said. "It seems like every time I have a great practice here, and then not so great of a tournament. The fish change every day and you see that with the weights – guys who catch them one day don't catch them the next day.

"Most tournaments here are only one day and you see good weights. When you go to a multi-day tournament, it's a different story."

VanDam dropped one place to 2nd with a 12 1/2-pound bag that gave him a 31-11 aggregate. Rookie Jamie Hartman gained two places to 3rd with a 14-04 bag that pushed his total to 31-09.

Veteran Dean Rojas and Steve Kennedy shared the No. 4 slot with 30-13 – Rojas boxed 14-01 on day 2 and Kennedy weighed 14-03.

Here's a look at the current Top 12 (deficit margins from the leader are denoted by red numbers in parentheses):

1. Mark Davis: 33-09
2. Kevin VanDam: 31-11 (1-14)
3. Jamie Hartman: 31-09 (2-00)
4. (tie) Dean Rojas: 30-13 (2-12)
4. (tie) Steve Kennedy: 30-13 (2-12)
6. (tie) Matt Lee: 30-01 (3-08)
6. (tie) Rick Clunn: 30-01 (3-08)
8. Stetson Blaylock: 29-13 (3-12)
9. Cliff Prince: 29-09 (4-00)
10. David Mullins: 29-01 (4-08)
11. (tie) Ott DeFoe: 28-15 (4-10)
11. (tie) Brandon Palaniuk: 28-15 (4-10)

Lee made the biggest jump among the newcomers to the Top 12 as his 16-08 bag bumped him up 25 places. Other fresh faces in that group were Clunn (up 13 positions with a 14-09 haul), Prince (up 12, 14-07) and Brandon Palaniuk (up 15, 15-01). Palaniuk, the winner last month at Sam Rayburn Reservoir, is in pursuit of his second straight victory.

Skeet Reese, who was 7th after day 1, fell to 35th after weighing four fish for 8-07. Others who exited the Top 12 were Shane Lineberger (4th to 14th, 11-02), Tommy Biffle (10th to 30th, 9-10) and reigning AOY Gerald Swindle (11th to 17th, 11-00).

Jason Christie, who won the last time the circuit visited Dardanelle in 2014 and whom came in atop the points race, finished 72nd. If the tournament had ended to day, he'd be behind DeFoe, Palaniuk, Jacob Wheeler, Davis and Casey Ashley on that list.

The day-3 weather forecast predicts scattered thunderstorms with a high temperature of 82 degrees and a light breeze out of the east. The field will be reduced to 12 following the weigh-in, with the winner determined Sunday via highest 4-day weight.

Davis Fortunate

> Day 2: 5, 19-04 (10, 33-09)

Davis is fishing a shallow-deep combo pattern and he said luck was the primary reason his day-2 bag was 5 pounds heavier than the one he caught the previous day.

"I didn't catch any more fish than I did yesterday, I just caught bigger ones," he said. "I've got one area that's shallow that I start on early and fish until about 10 o'clock, and then I go out deep."

He reeled in approximately 25 keepers, the biggest of which weighed 4 1/2 pounds. Thus far he's employed a topwater plug, a crankbait, a Carolina rig and a jig.

"I think the fish will replenish, but you never know on this lake because it changes on a dime. I'm cautiously optimistic. I've fished pretty clean – I lost one good one yesterday that would've given me another pound or 2, but today everything was good."

When asked if it would be special to win on lake that's been a thorn in his side on so many occasions, he said, "Oh, without a doubt."

3rd: Hartman had Late Flurry

> Day 2: 5, 14-04 (10, 31-09)

Hartman would've taken a tumble in the standings if he hadn't caught two solid fish during a half-hour spurt in the afternoon. As a result, he ended up climbing two slots.

"It's a tough deal out there," he said. "I grinded hard today. I went through a period where I got really frustrated and it was getting to me a little bit, and I knew I had to chill out."

He's caught everything he's weighed from a single offshore locale. He had only four fish at 1 o'clock and one was a specimen that he wasn't sure would meet the minimum-length requirement. Fortunately, he was able to get rid of that one and add another hefty largemouth to his box.

"That flurry between 1 and 1:30 saved me for sure. The first fish was a 3-pounder that I got all the way to the boat, then it came off. I was disgusted; it was the only fish I lost.

"Five or six casts later I caught a 3 1/4, and then five or six more after that I got a 3 3/4, and that ended up being my bag.

He'll likely have to live or die on that one spot, so he hopes it'll replenish.

"My backup pattern did not work – it was gone. I was really counting on it to give me some solid fish, but it's a shallower deal and it's very specific; I literally pull up and fish for a minute, and then move to the next spot. I fished four spots yesterday and caught two good ones, but it wasn't happening today."

4th: Rojas Fished Clean

> Day 2: 5, 14-01 (10, 30-13)

Rojas got 12 keeper bites and put all of them in the boat. His weight was off by more than 2 1/2 pounds from day 1, but his execution was better.

"I basically expanded on what I did on day 1 and I'm just covering a lot of water," he said. "I'm just trying to catch a good limit every day to put myself in position to have a chance.

"Today I never had a big bite – I had two of those yesterday, and I'm only talking 3 1/2- to 4-pounders. That's really what I'm going to need tomorrow to continue doing what I'm doing."

He's spending some time in clear water, some in stained water and some in muddy water and varying his baits and presentations to suit the conditions.

"Today was awesome – I really feel good about it. I fished very clean today, and that's nice because it hasn't been that way for me all year.

"I've been pretty consistent (at this event), even through the practice days. So far, so good. Tomorrow's a new day and I'll go back out and see what I can do."

4th: Big Ones Carrying Kennedy

> Day 2: 5, 14-03 (10, 30-13)

Kennedy had a pair of 4-pounders in his day-1 stringer and his day-2 haul was topped by a 4-10.

"I caught that one early in the day," he said. "It was right in a key spot where I'd missed a big one yesterday; it was right in a key spot. Then I went another 3 hours without a big bite that I know of, although I did have one swim off that I didn't see."

He's relying on one primary area where he doesn't have any company, and he also has a secondary place that no one else is apparently utilizing. He's fishing shallow, but there's deeper water nearby.

He boated about 10 keepers on the day and had his initial limit by 8 o'clock.

"At that point I didn't want to burn any more 2-pounders, so I put on a big jig and caught three or four more. I was still burning them.

"I feel pretty confident I can get back in my area and catch a limit. It might weigh 10 or 11 pounds, or it might be another good one. I'll hit it a lot harder than I did today."

63rd: Bertrand Didn't Get the Bites

> Day 2: 1, 5-00 (6, 19-10)

Josh Bertrand fell almost 40 places in the standings after catching just one fish (albeit a good one) on day 2. He'd sacked a sturdy 14-10 on day 1.

"I had a tough practice and I thought it was going to be a tough tournament for me, but things just worked out really well on the first day," he said. "I got in a couple areas and got nine or 10 bites and I thought I was onto something.

"Today I locked down on those areas where I caught them yesterday, but there was nothing happening."

He caught his day-1 stringer primarily with a flipping stick. A shaky head produced the long big one on day 2.

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 109 anglers, 65 limits (15 fewer than day 1), 18 fours, 12 threes, 8 twos, 2 ones, 4 zeroes (2 more than day 1).

Weather Forecast

> Sun., June 4 – Scattered Thunderstorms – 82°/68°
- Wind: From the E at 4 mph

> Mon., June 5 – Thunderstorms – 84°/65°
- Wind: From the NE at 6 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 10, 33-09 -- 110 -- $500.00
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-04

2. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 10, 31-11 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 19-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08

3. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 10, 31-09 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 17-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04

4. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 10, 30-13 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 16-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-01

5. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 30-13 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03

6. Matt Lee -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 30-01 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08

7. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 10, 30-01 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09

8. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 9, 29-13 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 16-06 -- Day 2: 4, 13-07

9. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 10, 29-09 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07

10. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 29-01 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 17-02 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15

11. Ott DeFoe -- Knoxville, TN -- 10, 28-15 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03

12. Brandon Palaniuk -- Hayden, ID -- 10, 28-15 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01

13. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 10, 28-12 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09

14. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 9, 28-09 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 4, 11-02

15. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 10, 27-12 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07

16. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 10, 27-11 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-14

17. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 27-07 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 16-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

18. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 10, 27-07 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06

19. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 27-07 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 15-02

20. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 10, 27-06 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08

21. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 27-00 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-15

22. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 10, 26-15 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 5, 15-06

23. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 10, 26-15 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 12-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10

24. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 26-15 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00

25. Kelly Jordon -- Flint, TX -- 10, 26-14 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14

26. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 26-11 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13

27. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, IN -- 10, 26-10 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15

28. Chris Zaldain -- Laughlin, NV -- 10, 26-09 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 08-15 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10

29. Jesse Wiggins -- Cullman, AL -- 10, 26-05 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-13

30. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 10, 26-03 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 09-10

31. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 10, 26-02 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08

32. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 10, 25-14 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 13-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12

33. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 10 -- 25-13 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 15-09

34. Randy Howell -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 25-04 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 09-02

35. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 9, 25-03 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 16-12 -- Day 2: 4, 08-07

36. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 10, 25-03 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08

37. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 10, 25-00 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05

38. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 10, 24-15 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03

39. Gary Klein -- Mingus, TX -- 10, 24-12 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-15

40. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 10, 24-10 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-06

41. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 9, 23-10 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 16-04 -- Day 2: 4, 07-06

42. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 10, 23-07 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

43. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 7, 23-02 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 2, 04-11

44. Mark Daniels Jr. -- Tuskegee, AL -- 10, 23-01 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 09-01 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00

45. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan -- 10, 23-00 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-11

46. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 10, 22-15 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 13-09 -- Day 2: 5, 09-06

47. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 10, 22-14 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

48. Bobby Lane Jr. -- Lakeland, FL -- 10, 22-00 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 10-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15

49. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 10, 21-12 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 09-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05

50. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 10, 21-11 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-14

51. Fred Roumbanis -- London, AR -- 9, 21-10 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 4, 06-03

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

52. Jesse Tacoronte -- Orlando, FL -- 8, 21-10 -- 59
Day 1: 4, 08-08 -- Day 2: 4, 13-02

53. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 10, 21-04 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 08-07

54. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 10, 21-04 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 09-08

55. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 10, 20-08 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-09

56. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, TN -- 9, 20-03 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 4, 09-02

57. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 10, 20-01 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-12

58. Fletcher Shryock -- New Philadelphia, OH -- 9, 20-00 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 4, 07-15

59. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 19-13 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 08-15

60. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 19-13 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 09-10 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03

61. John Murray -- Spring City, TN -- 9, 19-12 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 4, 08-04

62. Randall Tharp -- Port St. Joe, FL -- 10, 19-12 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-07

63. Josh Bertrand -- San Tan Valley, AZ -- 6, 19-10 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 1, 05-00

64. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 9, 19-05 -- 47
Day 1: 4, 07-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01

65. Alton Jones Jr. -- Lorena, TX -- 9, 19-03 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 08-11 -- Day 2: 4, 10-08

66. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 9, 19-02 -- 45
Day 1: 4, 05-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-05

67. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, NJ -- 9, 19-01 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 4, 08-00

68. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 9, 19-01 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 08-09 -- Day 2: 4, 10-08

69. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 9, 18-10 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 10-11 -- Day 2: 4, 07-15

70. Koby Kreiger -- Bokeelia, FL -- 9, 18-09 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 4, 06-15

71. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 7, 18-06 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 2, 04-00

72. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 10, 18-05 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 10-06 -- Day 2: 5, 07-15

73. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 6, 18-03 -- 38
Day 1: 1, 05-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03

74. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 8, 18-02 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 09-14 -- Day 2: 3, 08-04

75. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 7, 17-14 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 2, 04-04

76. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 9, 17-11 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 4, 07-04

77. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 9, 17-07 -- 34
Day 1: 4, 07-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-06

78. Darrell Ocamica -- New Plymouth, ID -- 9, 17-03 -- 33
Day 1: 4, 08-03 -- Day 2: 5, 09-00

79. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 8, 17-02 -- 32
Day 1: 4, 06-02 -- Day 2: 4, 11-00

80. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 9, 17-02 -- 31
Day 1: 4, 08-04 -- Day 2: 5, 08-14

81. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 7, 17-01 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 2, 04-00

82. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 7, 17-01 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 2, 05-04

83. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 7, 17-00 -- 28
Day 1: 4, 10-00 -- Day 2: 3, 07-00

84. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 8, 16-15 -- 27
Day 1: 3, 06-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-01

85. Dustin Connell -- Clanton, AL -- 8, 16-13 -- 26
Day 1: 3, 06-02 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11

86. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 16-10 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 06-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-01

87. David Williams -- Newton, NC -- 8, 16-06 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 11-10 -- Day 2: 3, 04-12

88. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 8, 16-06 -- 23
Day 1: 4, 06-14 -- Day 2: 4, 09-08

89. Luke Clausen -- Otis Orchards, WA -- 7, 16-05 -- 22
Day 1: 2, 04-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05

90. Brandon Card -- Knoxville, TN -- 6, 15-15 -- 21
Day 1: 1, 01-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03

91. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 6, 15-12 -- 20
Day 1: 3, 05-08 -- Day 2: 3, 10-04

92. Gerald Spohrer -- Gonzales, LA -- 7, 15-06 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 2, 03-15

93. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 7, 15-03 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 11-15 -- Day 2: 2, 03-04

94. Seth Feider -- Isle, MN -- 6, 15-01 -- 17
Day 1: 2, 03-05 -- Day 2: 4, 11-12

95. Brent Ehrler -- Newport Beach, CA -- 7, 14-09 -- 16
Day 1: 2, 04-02 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07

96. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 8, 14-06 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 09-08 -- Day 2: 3, 04-14

97. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 7, 14-04 -- 14
Day 1: 4, 09-11 -- Day 2: 3, 04-09

98. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 6, 13-14 -- 13
Day 1: 4, 10-04 -- Day 2: 2, 03-10

99. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 7, 13-04 -- 12
Day 1: 4, 08-05 -- Day 2: 3, 04-15

100. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 7, 13-04 -- 11
Day 1: 4, 07-09 -- Day 2: 3, 05-11

101. Shaw Grigsby Jr. -- Gainesville, FL -- 7, 13-03 -- 10
Day 1: 4, 08-02 -- Day 2: 3, 05-01

102. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 12-00 -- 9
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

103. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 10-02 -- 8
Day 1: 2, 04-07 -- Day 2: 3, 05-11

104. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, MN -- 4, 09-10 -- 7
Day 1: 4, 09-10 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

105. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 08-11 -- 6
Day 1: 2, 03-01 -- Day 2: 3, 05-10

106. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 3, 07-00 -- 5
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 3, 07-00

107. John Hunter Jr -- Shelbyville, KY -- 4, 06-08 -- 4
Day 1: 3, 04-13 -- Day 2: 1, 01-11

108. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 3, 05-10 -- 3
Day 1: 3, 05-10 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00

109. Boyd Duckett -- Guntersville, AL -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00