By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor
On Thursday, Chad Pipkens caught the heaviest limit of bass in his life. Today, he caught the biggest bass he’s ever caught. It’s been quite a couple days at Lake Fork for the easy-going 35-year-old Michigander best known to BassFans as a smallmouth specialist whose sponsorship deal with a hair products company stipulates he not wear a ball cap on stage.
Pipkens eclipsed the 30-pound mark for the second straight day, racking up 30-15 (one pound shy of his day-1 total) to build a lead of more than 11 pounds at the halfway point of the Texas Fest Elite Series at the renowned big bass fishery east of Dallas. According to BassFan research, it’s the fifth time in the history of the Elite Series that the day-2 leader has racked up more than 60 pounds.
When informed by another competitor that his cushion over the field was going to be more than 10 pounds, Pipkens almost didn’t believe it.
“It’s been a blast,” he said. “Having more than a 10-pound lead is awesome. When they told me that, it sent a tingle down my spine. Everybody is so good and for that to happen, a lot of the right things need to happen.”
Pipkens’ 62-14 total is the highest two-day weight in an Elite Series tournament since Keith Combs amassed the same amount at the halfway point of the Falcon Lake Elite Series in 2013 with the notable exception being that this week’s tournament is being operated under a catch-weigh-release format.
While most in Pipkens’ position would want to rush back out tomorrow to see if he can maintain his blistering pace, he admitted the scheduled day off Saturday will be a welcome respite. He’s still recovering from surgery to repair a broken left collarbone suffered in March and two days’ worth of hook sets and drawn-out fights with 5-pounders (and bigger) has started to catch up with him. Competition for the top 35 will resume Sunday and the top 10 after day 3 will advance to Monday’s final round.
“Those fish wear you out,” Pipkens said. “I’m okay taking a break. I’m worn out. My arm hurts, plus they’re coming and going, and I’ve leaned on them a little bit.”
Pipkens, whose previous best finish in an Elite Series tournament is third (Chesapeake Bay, 2015), had all of his weight today by 10:15 a.m. and a 20-minute flurry in the 8 o’clock hour produced four of his keepers, including a personal-best 8-11.
After thinking he was going to catch the bulk of his fish shallow coming out of practice, Pipkens has done his damage with a medium-depth crankbait in areas where striped bass and white bass are also present.
“The place where I caught ‘em all today, I had a specific cast there yesterday, but they repositioned and were around the corner,” he said. “Once I figured that out, it was on.”
Pipkens’ two closest challengers at this point are Elite Series rookies, Floridian Drew Cook and fellow Michigan native Garrett Paquette. Cook surpassed the 25-pound mark for the second straight day (25-14) and sits in second with 51-10 while Paquette caught 19-01 to push his total to 47-13.
Brandon Card had his second straight 20-pound day – he’s one of six pros to achieve that – and moved up to fourth with 46-15. Drew Benton had two 6-pounders in his 24-13 haul today and he jumped up to fifth with 46-05.
Three anglers who failed to catch a limit on day 1 bounced back with strong showings today to make the top-35 cut. Jeff Gustafson was one shy of a limit Thursday but blasted 26-05 today to move up to seventh with 44-13. Mike Huff had three for 13-14 on day 1 and rebounded with 21-14 to make the cut in 23rd. Hunter Shryock caught 18-14 today after a three-fish showing yesterday to move into 30th.
Kyle Monti was the only angler to bring a 24-inch plus bass on stage today and his 8-06 kicker catapulted him inside the cut (31st) for first time this season. John Crews caught a 4-06 in the closing minutes today to slide into 35th with 31-09.
Most anyone who catches 25-pound bags two days in a row would be ecstatic but Cook thinks he’d be in a dead heat with Pipkens had the breaks gone his way. He said he’s been snakebit by fish coming off upon him setting the hook.
“I’ve lost some giants this week,” he said. “I lost five today and one yesterday. I should’ve had over 30 both days. I’m not saying I’d be leading, but I wouldn’t have an 11-pound deficit to make up. Here, that’s one bite, but anywhere else that’s hard to overcome.”
Cook believes his decreased hook-to-landing ratio is a result of the fish “eating the bait too good.”
“I know that sounds weird, but I think they’re getting the bait into the soft spot in the back of their mouth and when they come up and shake head, they’re coming off,” he said. “Some of them, you set the hook and they don’t get it quite as far back and you hook them in the meaty part. Others come up and wallow around and then (they spit it out).”
Despite his missed opportunities, Cook thinks he can maintain his 100-pound pace.
“I think the deal I’m on is going to get better as it goes on,” he said. “If not, I have a shallow deal where I caught fish on Thursday that was pretty good, too.”
He said the bulk of fish have come off a shallow shell bed that he can’t figure out why they’re there.
“They’re there and I’m not asking any questions,” he said.
Gustafson thinks the violent storms Thursday morning scattered a lot of the shallow fish he intended to target. He scrambled to the catch the four he had to start the event in 24th, but today went much smoother.
“I had 20 in the first hour and that got the day going well,” he said. “It took the pressure off. Then I spent the afternoon bouncing around offshore because I feel like that’s where you have a better shot to catch those 6-pounders.”
Like others have experienced, Gustafson happened into a flurry of bites as he caught three of his keepers in a five-minute span just before 3 p.m., capped off by a 6-12 and 5-13, his two biggest fish of the day.
“It was a spot where I’d caught one Tuesday afternoon and had one other bite,” he said. “I fished it twice Thursday and once this morning. That’s how it is here now – if you run into a flurry on offshore places, you can get it together fast. There’s not a lot of them, but maybe in day or two more fish might be out there. I feel like they’re heading that way.”
It’s been a trying season for Monti, who was 56th after day 1. Before catching the 8-06, he’d yet to encounter anything bigger than the 4-pounder he caught on his third cast Thursday. He’s hoping the big one is a good omen for the remainder of the event.
“I’m excited because we have an off day,” he said. “I feel like I’m slowly putting it together. Basically, today felt like it was make-or-break for the season. I’m so far down (in points) that another bad finish I’d just be making it harder on myself. I needed this in the worst way.”
That big fish was more than twice as big as any of his other four keepers. His next biggest was a 3-01 he caught on his last cast that secured his spot in the top 35.
“I knew it was big as soon as I hooked it,” he said. “I took my time with it and got it to the boat. Then it made five or six runs and at one point I was thumbing the line for 30 seconds because you can’t reel when a fish is pulling that hard.
“It was a really, really good feeling to be the only one to bring one on stage. That was very cool. This sport is filled with pride and ego, but it’s more about confidence. I had such a bad start to a year I had high hopes for so that confidence goes a long way for me.”
He said it feels odd to know there are fish up shallow only to be off the bank since that’s where he believes his best chance to tangle with bigger fish on a consistent basis lies.
“Guys are catching them on a frog and I caught that (big one) in 25 feet of water,” he said. “Those deep schools are moving and I’m trying to fish where they’re going.”
Notable
> The Elite Series record for highest weight by a day-2 leader is 79-13, set by Aaron Martens at the historic Falcon Lake Elite Series in 2008.
Day 2 Standings
1. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 10, 62-14 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 31-15 -- Day 2: 5, 30-15
2. Drew Cook -- Midway, FL -- 10, 51-10 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 25-12 -- Day 2: 5, 25-14
3. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 10, 47-13 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 28-12 -- Day 2: 5, 19-01
4. Brandon Card -- Knoxville, TN -- 10, 46-15 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 25-11 -- Day 2: 5, 21-04
5. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 10, 46-05 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 24-13
6. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 46-02 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 31-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07
7. Jeff Gustafson – Keewatin, Ontario -- 9, 44-13 -- 94
Day 1: 4, 18-08 -- Day 2: 5, 26-05
8. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 9, 44-11 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 30-10 -- Day 2: 4, 14-01
9. Derek Hudnall -- Baton Rouge, LA -- 10, 43-10 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 21-02 -- Day 2: 5, 22-08
10. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 10, 43-04 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 17-14 -- Day 2: 5, 25-06
11. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 42-13 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 26-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15
12. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 42-12 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 22-13 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15
13. Cory Johnston – Cavan, Ontario -- 10, 41-06 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 21-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-06
14. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 10, 40-11 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 24-12
15. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 40-11 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 19-11 -- Day 2: 5, 21-00
16. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 10, 40-02 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 27-01 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01
17. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 10, 40-02 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 17-00 -- Day 2: 5, 23-02
18. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 38-07 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 20-10 -- Day 2: 5, 17-13
19. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 10, 37-13 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 22-11
20. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 10, 37-10 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 14-06 -- Day 2: 5, 23-04
21. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 10, 36-02 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 22-05 -- Day 2: 5, 13-13
22. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10, 35-12 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 22-08
23. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 8, 35-12 -- 78
Day 1: 3, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 21-14
24. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 35-08 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-04
25. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 10, 34-15 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13
26. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 34-07 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 20-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-10
27. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 10, 33-10 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-13
28. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 33-05 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 20-01
29. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 10, 32-15 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 17-07 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08
30. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 8, 32-14 -- 71
Day 1: 3, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11
31. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 10, 32-05 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 20-02
32. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 10, 32-03 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 20-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13
33. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 31-13 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08
34. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 10, 31-12 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 18-14
35. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 8, 31-09 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 19-08 -- Day 2: 3, 12-01
The following anglers missed the cut and will not compete on day 3.
36. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 9, 31-06 -- 65 -- $8,500
Day 1: 4, 12-03 -- Day 2: 5, 19-03
37. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 31-03 -- 64 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 20-01 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02
38. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 10, 31-03 -- 63 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 17-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06
39. Lee Livesay -- Gladewater, TX -- 9, 31-01 -- 62 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 22-10 -- Day 2: 4, 08-07
40. Chris Johnston – Peterborough, Ontario – 10, 30-11 -- 61 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-08
41. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 30-04 -- 60 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 18-14
42. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 10, 29-12 -- 59 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 09-04 -- Day 2: 5, 20-08
43. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 10, 29-05 -- 58 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 20-05 -- Day 2: 5, 09-00
44. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 10, 29-05 -- 57 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 15-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08
45. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 8, 29-01 -- 56 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 18-13 -- Day 2: 3, 10-04
46. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 28-13 -- 55 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 15-09 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04
47. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 10, 28-00 -- 54 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00
48. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 8, 27-14 -- 53 -- $8,500
Day 1: 4, 12-02 -- Day 2: 4, 15-12
49. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 10, 27-02 -- 52 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11
50. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 10, 26-15 -- 51 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08
51. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 26-09 -- 50 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07
52. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 26-07 -- 49 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 08-14 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09
53. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 10, 26-07 -- 48 -- $8,500
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09
54. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 9, 26-05 -- 47 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 14-14 -- Day 2: 4, 11-07
55. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 10, 25-11 -- 46 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 09-09
56. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 10, 25-10 -- 45 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00
57. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 10, 25-05 -- 44 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03
58. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 10, 25-05 -- 43 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04
59. Carl Jocumsen – Queensland, Australia -- 9, 25-04 -- 42 -- $5,500
Day 1: 4, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 09-02
60. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 25-03 -- 41 -- $5,500
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14
61. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 8, 25-00 -- 40 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 3, 11-03
62. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 8, 24-01 -- 39 -- $5,000
Day 1: 4, 15-07 -- Day 2: 4, 08-10
63. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 10, 23-04 -- 38 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05
64. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 10, 23-04 -- 37 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03
65. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 22-11 -- 36 -- $5,000
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05
66. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 8, 22-04 -- 35 -- $4,500
Day 1: 4, 11-03 -- Day 2: 4, 11-01
67. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 8, 22-00 -- 34 -- $4,500
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 3, 10-11
68. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 9, 21-07 -- 33 -- $4,500
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 4, 12-05
69. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 9, 20-12 -- 32 -- $4,500
Day 1: 5, 09-04 -- Day 2: 4, 11-08
70. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 8, 20-03 -- 31 -- $4,500
Day 1: 4, 06-07 -- Day 2: 4, 13-12
71. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 7, 18-06 -- 30 -- $3,500
Day 1: 3, 08-06 -- Day 2: 4, 10-00
72. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 7, 18-00 -- 29 -- $3,500
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 2, 07-03
73. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 6, 14-03 -- 28 -- $3,500
Day 1: 2, 05-08 -- Day 2: 4, 08-11
74. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 3, 09-00 -- 27 -- $3,500
Day 1: 1, 05-10 -- Day 2: 2, 03-06
75. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 4, 08-05 -- 26 -- $3,500
Day 1: 4, 08-05 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00
