Kentucky Lake Northern Tour
Lashlee Still In Top Slot

Photo: Bassmaster.com Sam Lashlee caught a much smaller limit today, but he still leads the Kentucky Lake Northern Tour.

Fellow Tennessean Jason Sain moved up two spots to 2nd with 36-08, just 6 ounces behind. That's a mere fraction of a 15-inch keeper bass here. Sain's limit of 18-02 was nearly a copy of yesterday's 18-06.

Kentucky's Rodney Brown moved up two spots to 3rd with 34-02 (15-15 today), while Tennessee's Donald Cordle dropped two places to 4th with 33-15 (13-11 today). Kentuckian Harold Knight climbed one place to 5th with 33-06 (15-10 today).

Rounding out the Top 10 are:

6. Shawn Penn: 32-05
6. Curt McGuire: 32-05
8. Scott Campbell: 32-03
9. Michael Gary Stinson: 28-00
10. J. Todd Tucker: 27-05

Butch Tucker (14-12) finished 51st, just 2 ounces out of the Top 50 cut.

Weights for the Top 50 will carry over to tomorrow, and the winner will be determined by the highest combined total for 3 days.

Lashlee Went Home

When Lashlee tried to fish the same areas today that produced for him yesterday, he found them empty.

"I didn't know if I was going to even catch a limit today for awhile there," he said. "I finally had to run to my house, 75 miles from the ramp."

When he got to his usual go-to spot they weren't on it, either.

"So I ran to another place and they were there. A bunch of 3- to 5-pounders were schooled on it, and we hammered them. Four of my five weigh-fish came from there and I culled a few times. We caught 15 keepers as quick as we could cast, but after we culled a few times they quit. We just caught a few more short fish and left.

"I'm surprised I'm still leading," he added. "I feel good about that, though. It was a struggle. There were so many boats out there. There's a BFL tournament tomorrow, and boats would get on my spots after I left, and there'd be boats where I wanted to go. I think maybe there are three big tournaments tomorrow. But I'm used to that kind of pressure here, so I just need to keep focused.

"The weights are real tight, and I think there are 15 guys who could win this," he added. "It'll be a real dogfight tomorrow. But I'll take that chance any day, to fish a 1-day tournament against 15 other guys. That's the way I'm looking at it.

"I know these guys, and they're all capable and confident and eager. So I've got my work cut out for me. I'll have to adjust well, read the water and what the other boats are doing, and focus on what I need to do."

He fished from his second borrowed boat today, provided by his friend James "Rusty" Rust, after he blew his engine yesterday morning. Fortunately Rust's Ranger is also equipped with Garmin electronics, so Lashlee was able to transfer his own Garmin to the boat with all his GPS waypoints.

2nd: Sain Scraped By

Sain moved up two spots with his limit of 18-02, which for the biggest of the day, but it was a complicated way that he put it together. "I had a pretty good day," he said. "I don't know if it was a better day than yesterday, but the end result was good."

He didn't catch his final keeper until the last 30 minutes of fishing time. "The no-culling of dead fish rule kind of changes the tournament some," he noted. "Today I caught a 2 1/2-pounder that culled a 2-pounder, but it was bleeding a little. Not long after that it was laying over on its side, and I was sure it would die.

"I guess my confidence was too high or something, but I decided I would let it go while it was still alive and just catch another to replace it. So we turned it loose and it swam off, but then I went five more hours without a keeper bite.

"I lost one and caught several short fish and missed a few, and finally hung a good one. I could tell it was hooked funny on the crankbait, and it didn't jump. When it got to the boat I saw it was hooked in the face, and must have just slapped at the lure. It was about to jump at the boat and I just threw her in over the side.

"I guess the Good Lord was looking after me when I needed it," he added.

That limit-fish weighed 5-02. He caught it on a Strike King Series 5 crankbait.

"Tomorrow it will be tough on all of us," he said. "I think there's a tournament out of every ramp you can launch a boat from. You'd better have a place where you can catch a limit, or a whole bunch of places to go."

5th: Knight Enjoying Himself

Knight is having fun. He works in the television business, producing hunting shows, and his schedule doesn't allow for many tournaments. He's making the most of this one, moving up one spot today.

"I've enjoyed this tournament," he said. "I like the tournament atmosphere and the camaraderie. I came in with two goals: to catch a limit every day and have my partner catch a limit every day.

"So far it's working. I caught around three limits (of keepers) today, and about 35 or 40 fish total. Yesterday I caught four limits and maybe 60 fish. There are a lot of short fish, 13 1/2-inch fish.

"I've been running 50 miles to Lake Barkley where I found an early topwater bite in practice. I get three or four good fish early that way. Then I'm fishing ledges and drops in 5 to 9 feet, with the boat sitting in 20 feet. I'm using a variety of worms and jigs. I use a jig 90% of the time."

He noted that the current seemed to be slack today, though it was hard to tell with a north wind rippling the water. (Lashlee had also said he thought they were backing up the water in Kentucky Lake.) "Current helps the fishing, both in the river and in the bays," Knight said.

"Tomorrow I don't think I'll catch three limits, but I think I can catch one. I found a school of fish at the end of the day today and caught a 4-pounder on my last cast of the day, and my partner hung (and lost) his biggest of the day there. That helps my confidence.

"But Saturday is very different with all the boats on the water, so we'll see."

Notable

> Day 2 stats – 110 anglers, 37 limits, 12 fours, 18 threes, 12 twos, 17 ones, 14 zeroes.

> Tomorrow's forecast is for a little cooler weather (88 degrees) and mostly sunny with a light north/northeast breeze.

> Lashlee noted that he thinks 7 of the Top 10 anglers are fishing Lake Barkley. "That seems to be the hot lake now," he said.

> Seven of the Top 10 are from Tennessee or Kentucky – states that the tournament waters run through.

Day 2 Standings

1. Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tenn. -- 10, 36-14 -- 310
Day 1: 5, 23-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01

2. Jason Sain -- Beechgrove, Tenn. -- 10, 36-08 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02

3. Rodney Brown -- Eddyville, Ky. -- 10, 34-02 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15

4. Donald Cordle -- Brentwood, Tenn. -- 10, 33-15 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 20-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11

5. Harold Knight -- Cadiz, Ky. -- 10, 33-06 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 17-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10

6. Shawn Penn -- Eddyville, Ky. -- 10, 32-05 -- 274
Day 1: 5, 19-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06

6. Curt Mcguire -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn. -- 10, 32-05 -- 274
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15

8. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, Mo. -- 10, 32-03 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02

9. Michael -- Gary Stinson -- Scottsville, Ky. -- 9, 28-00 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 4, 12-05

10. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga. -- 10, 27-05 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00

11. Randy Mccarty -- Hagerhill, Ky. -- 10, 27-00 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04

12. Rogne Brown -- Kimball, Tenn. -- 9, 26-11 -- 254
Day 1: 4, 9-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-14

13. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, Fla. -- 10, 26-08 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01

14. Clark Reehm -- Leesville, La. -- 10, 25-12 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13

15. Monty Fralick -- Martin, S.D. -- 9, 25-10 -- 245
Day 1: 4, 10-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-12

16. John Cox -- Debary, Fla. -- 10, 25-07 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06

17. Pat Golden -- High Point, N.C. -- 10, 24-15 -- 241
Day 1: 5, 15-12 -- Day 2: 5, 9-03

18. Todd Ary -- Moody, Ala. -- 8, 24-05 -- 239
Day 1: 4, 13-06 -- Day 2: 4, 10-15

19. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, N.Y. -- 10, 23-10 -- 236
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-03

19. Billy Hurt -- Spring Creek, Tenn. -- 7, 23-10 -- 236
Day 1: 2, 5-14 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12

21. Gregory Dipalma -- Millville, N.J. -- 10, 23-08 -- 232
Day 1: 5, 10-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-09

21. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 8, 23-08 -- 232
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 3, 9-12

23. Sammy Burks -- Joplin, Mo. -- 10, 23-07 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-09

24. Ed Dunnaway -- Flowood, Miss. -- 8, 22-14 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 3, 7-00

25. Brian Wilhoit -- Oxon Hill, Md. -- 10, 22-12 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11

26. Ray Brazier -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn. -- 9, 22-02 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 4, 7-14

27. Mark Hicks -- Millfield, Ohio -- 8, 21-14 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 3, 6-11

28. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, Texas -- 8, 21-09 -- 219
Day 1: 3, 7-00 -- Day 2: 5, 14-09

29. Jason Welch -- Royse City, Texas -- 9, 21-03 -- 217
Day 1: 4, 9-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11

30. Charlie Weyer -- West Hills, Calif. -- 10, 21-02 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 10-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-05

31. Travis Rulle -- Loveland, Colo. -- 8, 20-07 -- 213
Day 1: 3, 5-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01

32. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 10, 20-06 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 8-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07

33. Craig Dowling -- Many, La. -- 8, 19-07 -- 209
Day 1: 4, 11-07 -- Day 2: 4, 8-00

34. Chris Daves -- Hopewell, Va. -- 10, 19-06 -- 206
Day 1: 5, 9-07 -- Day 2: 5, 9-15

34. Matt Hupp -- Gainesville4, Texas -- 8, 19-06 -- 206
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 3, 9-01

36. John Kolinski -- Greenville, Wisc. -- 8, 19-04 -- 203
Day 1: 3, 7-05 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15

37. David Barnes -- Weeks Mills, Maine -- 6, 19-01 -- 201
Day 1: 3, 6-12 -- Day 2: 3, 12-05

38. David Hovanec -- Unionville, N.Y. -- 9, 18-14 -- 199
Day 1: 4, 7-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08

39. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Silver Spring, Md. -- 7, 18-13 -- 197
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 2, 5-15

40. Ron Wheaton -- Columbia, Tenn. -- 7, 18-12 -- 195
Day 1: 3, 5-06 -- Day 2: 4, 13-06

41. Anre' De Villiers -- Goodwood, South Africa -- 7, 18-05 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 2, 3-08

42. Ron Brown -- Mount Pleasant, S.C. -- 9, 18-03 -- 191
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 4, 6-08

43. Doug Story -- Stewart, Tenn. -- 8, 17-14 -- 189
Day 1: 3, 5-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00

44. Dave Parsons -- Yantis, Texas -- 6, 17-05 -- 187
Day 1: 1, 1-08 -- Day 2: 5, 15-13

45. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, Ga. -- 8, 17-03 -- 185
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 3, 5-05

46. Larry Mazur -- Lancaster, N.Y. -- 6, 16-14 -- 183
Day 1: 2, 6-06 -- Day 2: 4, 10-08

47. Danny Davis -- Franklin, Tenn. -- 9, 16-05 -- 181
Day 1: 4, 6-07 -- Day 2: 5, 9-14

48. Paul Mazzitelli -- Pittston, Pa. -- 6, 15-15 -- 179
Day 1: 3, 7-05 -- Day 2: 3, 8-10

49. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, Ohio -- 7, 15-10 -- 177
Day 1: 4, 8-11 -- Day 2: 3, 6-15

50. Steven Bunt -- Wallkill, N.Y. -- 6, 14-14 -- 175
Day 1: 3, 6-04 -- Day 2: 3, 8-10

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not be fishing tomorrow.

51. Butch Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga. -- 6, 14-12 -- 173 -- $770
Day 1: 4, 8-07 -- Day 2: 2, 6-05
52. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, Pa. -- 8, 14-09 -- 171 -- $770
Day 1: 3, 6-01 -- Day 2: 5, 8-08
53. James Opalecky -- Elk Grove, Calif. -- 8, 14-02 -- 169 -- $770
Day 1: 5, 9-06 -- Day 2: 3, 4-12
54. Charles Hill -- Franklin, Ky. -- 6, 13-13 -- 167 -- $770
Day 1: 5, 11-04 -- Day 2: 1, 2-09
55. Paul Noechel -- Lost Creek, W.Va. -- 6, 13-08 -- 165 -- $770
Day 1: 1, 1-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-13
56. Kirk Mcfadden -- Paloa, Kan. -- 8, 13-07 -- 162 -- $385
Day 1: 4, 6-10 -- Day 2: 4, 6-13
56. John Morris -- Robinson, Ill. -- 6, 13-07 -- 162 -- $385
Day 1: 2, 5-02 -- Day 2: 4, 8-05
58. Craig Nels -- Baldwinsville, N.Y. -- 7, 13-05 -- 159 -- $385
Day 1: 5, 9-15 -- Day 2: 2, 3-06
59. Brannon Jones -- Montgomery, Ala. -- 6, 13-03 -- 156 -- $385
Day 1: 1, 1-12 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07
59. Woo Daves -- Spring Grove, Va. -- 6, 13-03 -- 156 -- $385
Day 1: 4, 8-15 -- Day 2: 2, 4-04
61. Aaron Lee Jakub -- Lincoln, Neb. -- 7, 13-01 -- 152
Day 1: 5, 9-13 -- Day 2: 2, 3-04
61. Terry Sternard -- Clarksville, Tenn. -- 6, 13-01 -- 152
Day 1: 3, 6-11 -- Day 2: 3, 6-06
63. Maurice Parent -- Taylorsville, N.C. -- 6, 12-15 -- 148
Day 1: 3, 6-08 -- Day 2: 3, 6-07
63. Mike Pickett -- Brandenburg, Ky. -- 5, 12-15 -- 148
Day 1: 4, 10-14 -- Day 2: 1, 2-01
65. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala. -- 6, 12-14 -- 145
Day 1: 2, 3-09 -- Day 2: 4, 9-05
66. Travis Loyd -- Vienna, Ill. -- 7, 12-09 -- 141
Day 1: 4, 6-12 -- Day 2: 3, 5-13
66. Kevin Marrs -- Melbourne, Fla. -- 6, 12-09 -- 141
Day 1: 1, 3-02 -- Day 2: 5, 9-07
66. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, S.C. -- 4, 12-09 -- 141
Day 1: 3, 10-15 -- Day 2: 1, 1-10
69. Raul Morineau -- Mexico City , Mexico -- 6, 12-06 -- 137
Day 1: 1, 2-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03
70. John Chaffo -- Pittsburgh, Pa. -- 6, 12-02 -- 135
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 1, 1-13
71. Justin Riley -- Woodbine, Md. -- 4, 11-11 -- 133
Day 1: 3, 9-08 -- Day 2: 1, 2-03
72. Jess Salmon -- Milford, N.J. -- 5, 11-08 -- 131
Day 1: 3, 7-07 -- Day 2: 2, 4-01
73. Raymond Hagan Jr. -- Brownsville, Ky. -- 6, 11-01 -- 129
Day 1: 5, 9-06 -- Day 2: 1, 1-11
74. Tom Frink -- Simi Valley, Calif. -- 5, 10-09 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
75. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, Va. -- 4, 10-04 -- 125
Day 1: 2, 5-10 -- Day 2: 2, 4-10
76. Lawren Wetzel -- Sharon, Canada -- 4, 10-02 -- 123
Day 1: 3, 8-10 -- Day 2: 1, 1-08
77. Terry Bloom -- Groveland, Fla. -- 4, 9-13 -- 121
Day 1: 1, 3-00 -- Day 2: 3, 6-13
78. Jack Smith -- Pewee Valley, Ky. -- 4, 9-07 -- 119
Day 1: 2, 3-14 -- Day 2: 2, 5-09
79. Tim Dungan -- Cinncinati, Ohio -- 5, 9-06 -- 116
Day 1: 4, 7-10 -- Day 2: 1, 1-12
79. Jeremy Montoia -- Fort Collins, Colo. -- 5, 9-06 -- 116
Day 1: 2, 3-12 -- Day 2: 3, 5-10
81. Jeff Stoner -- Wellsville, Pa. -- 5, 9-05 -- 113
Day 1: 3, 5-14 -- Day 2: 2, 3-07
82. Kenneth Acornley -- Larksville, Pa. -- 4, 8-15 -- 111
Day 1: 2, 5-07 -- Day 2: 2, 3-08
83. John Gray -- Noblesville, Ind. -- 5, 8-14 -- 109
Day 1: 2, 3-04 -- Day 2: 3, 5-10
84. Rodney Hardwick -- Connersville, Ind. -- 4, 8-12 -- 107
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 4, 8-12
85. Ronald Pierce -- Mountain Home, Ark. -- 4, 8-10 -- 104
Day 1: 4, 8-10 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
85. Edward Gettys -- Stevenson, Ala. -- 4, 8-10 -- 104
Day 1: 3, 6-12 -- Day 2: 1, 1-14
87. Rocky Cummings -- Emmet, Ark. -- 4, 7-15 -- 101
Day 1: 1, 1-08 -- Day 2: 3, 6-07
88. Trent Masterson -- Ortonville, Mich. -- 4, 7-06 -- 99
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 4, 7-06
89. Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Conn. -- 4, 7-04 -- 97
Day 1: 3, 5-12 -- Day 2: 1, 1-08
90. William Beekman -- East Quogue, N.Y. -- 3, 7-00 -- 95
Day 1: 2, 4-06 -- Day 2: 1, 2-10
91. Mark Tyler -- Scottsdale, Ariz. -- 3, 6-00 -- 93
Day 1: 1, 1-13 -- Day 2: 2, 4-03
92. Brian Brooks -- Mount Ephraim, N.J. -- 3, 5-15 -- 91
Day 1: 2, 3-15 -- Day 2: 1, 2-00
93. David Marion -- Cold Spring, N.Y. -- 2, 5-09 -- 89
Day 1: 1, 2-02 -- Day 2: 1, 3-07
94. Kip Bodkin -- Rhome, Texas -- 3, 5-01 -- 86
Day 1: 3, 6-01 -- Day 2: 0, -1-00
94. Brent Broderick -- Oregonia, Ohio -- 3, 5-01 -- 86
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 3, 5-01
96. Nathan Sulham -- Orange, Mass. -- 2, 5-00 -- 83
Day 1: 2, 5-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
97. Matthew Lazaroff -- Mercer, Pa. -- 2, 4-06 -- 80
Day 1: 2, 4-06 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
97. David Longrie -- Stoughton, Wisc. -- 2, 4-06 -- 80
Day 1: 2, 4-06 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
99. Jimmy Watson -- Springfield, Tenn. -- 2, 4-03 -- 77
Day 1: 1, 1-14 -- Day 2: 1, 2-05
100. H D Dotson -- Paintsville, Ky. -- 2, 4-00 -- 76
Day 1: 2, 4-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
101. Nate Noble -- Morgantown, Ky. -- 2, 3-15 -- 75
Day 1: 1, 2-00 -- Day 2: 1, 1-15
102. Tony Dadante -- Franklin, Tenn. -- 1, 3-09 -- 74
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 1, 3-09
103. Lucy Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 2, 3-03 -- 73
Day 1: 2, 3-03 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
104. Paul Kimball -- Glastonbury, Conn. -- 1, 2-04 -- 72
Day 1: 1, 2-04 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
105. Frank Boothe -- Albuquerque, N.M. -- 1, 1-14 -- 71
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 1, 1-14
106. John Wilder -- Wellington, Colo. -- 1, 1-12 -- 70
Day 1: 1, 1-12 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
107. Joe Conway -- Colorado Springs, Colo -- 1, 1-11 -- 69
Day 1: 1, 1-11 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
108. Greg Roth -- Cambridge, Canada -- 1, 1-07 -- 68
Day 1: 1, 1-07 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
109. Mike Weiss -- Union Grove, Wisc. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
109. Don Yeager -- Jackson, Ohio -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00

Big Bass

Day 1: Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tenn. -- 7-00 -- $1,000
Day 2: Paul Mazzitelli -- Pittston, Pa. -- 5-03 -- $500
Day 2: Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, Texas -- 5-03 -- $500