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Still on Top: California ’s Reese Maintains Lead at Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Lake Guntersville
May 7, 2010 - Just about the time when Skeet Reese was sharpening his skills on California fisheries as a youngster, the Talking Heads penned the memorable phrase, “same as it ever was.” The iconic band’s lyric has become the theme song for Reese’s 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season. As he has essentially all year, Reese was looking down at the rest of the competition Friday after extending his lead at the Synergy Southern Challenge. The five-time BASS winner is threatening to score his fifth consecutive top-5 finish -- unprecedented territory -- and second Elite win of the season through five events.
In building his lead – his 53 pounds, 4 ounces, was enough for a 1-plus pound advantage over Davy Hite of Ninety Six, S.C. – the 2007 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year has been working exceedingly hard this week. In fact, Reese said that Thursday was the most taxing day on the water he has ever had in his professional career.
Reese is rotating between multiple schools of bass – most of which he located in practice -- and has back-up areas in case those dwindle. The only hiccup Friday was later in the day when the wind picked up and his bite died.
“Once you trigger that first fish in these schools, things turn on real quickly,” said Reese, who fished his first BASS event in 1997. “And you can catch them pretty much every cast. But when those schools turn off, you can’t buy a bite.”
It’s been well covered that Kevin VanDam (19th here) dominates Tennessee River impoundments but Reese’s TVA affinity has been less publicized. Case in point: Reese scored a second on Guntersville last year, followed by a fourth on Kentucky Lake . Last week on Pickwick, Reese held the lead heading into the final day, eventually settling for fifth. With a top finish here and Kentucky Lake looming large on the Elite schedule in June, Reese is looking primed to take his second AOY trophy.
And while the excitement of last year’s AOY race was great for the fans – VanDam surged ahead of Reese on the final day of the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason – Reese is doing his best to make the Postseason irrelevant.
Heading into this week, the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion had a sizable lead in the AOY standings and with most of his closest competition struggling, Reese is looking to leave nothing to chance this year. Saturday, Reese said he will make the decision of which school to start on right before launch. As a result of the lead and first boat position, he will have his pick of the litter.
“Even if things get tough, I believe I have figured out to make them bite and turn those schools on,” said Reese, 40.
Hite moved into second on account of the second-best limit of the day, a 27-pound total. The two-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year said he is moving with the fish and has several baits that he is confident can entice the right-sized bass.
One spot in particular yielded the majority of Hite’s weight. He caught 60 fish off the area tricking a bass on every cast. While the wind hurt Reese, it was blowing directly into Hite’s honey hole, which resulted in a magical late run.
“It’s great to be in contention again,” said Hite, who has had a disappointing 2010 Elite Series campaign thus far. “I left my fish biting and that is really tough to do, but I figured I might be begging for 4-pounders over the weekend.”
Just 1 ounce behind Hite was three-time AOY Mark Davis of Mt. Ida , Ark. , with 51-6. Davis, a post-spawn specialist, is eyeing his first Elite Series victory.
In fourth was 2009 Rookie of the Year Billy McCaghren of Mayflower, Ark. , with 49-13. McCaghren shot up 27 places with his 28-1 Friday, the biggest limit of the day. Rounding out the top five was Russ Lane of Prattville , Ala. , with 47-10.
While weights were down from Thursday, Guntersville didn’t disappoint. It churned out 88 limits and 29 20-plus pound performances on Friday.
Only the top 47 anglers qualified for Saturday. Chris Lane, who recently relocated to Guntersville, squeaked into 47th with 23 pounds, 4 ounces, Friday. Other notables in the cutline were Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala. (16th), 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett (23rd) and Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala. (27th).
Defending champion Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., limped in below the cutline in 57th. Guntersville has been the site of 20 top-level BASS events, including the 1976 Bassmaster Classic, won by Elite Series pro Rick Clunn of Ava , Mo. Clunn finished 67th this week.
In 2009, the top four overall weights for the four-day tournament crashed the scales at more than 100 pounds. Reese, Hite and Davis are all on track to join the century club this week.
Along with the top prize of $100,000, the Southern Challenge awards valuable points in the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title race.
DAY 2 SYNERGY SOUTHERN CHALLENGE STANDINGS
2010 Guntersville , AL 5/6-5/9
Lake Guntersville, Guntersville AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Skeet Reese Auburn , CA 10 53-04 310
Day 1: 5 29-03 Day 2: 5 24-01
2. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 51-07 295
Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 27-00
3. Mark Davis Mount Ida , AR 10 51-06 290
Day 1: 5 27-12 Day 2: 5 23-10
4. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 10 49-13 285
Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 28-01
5. Russ Lane Prattville , AL 10 47-10 280
Day 1: 5 23-15 Day 2: 5 23-11
6. Derek Remitz Grant , AL 10 46-10 276
Day 1: 5 24-05 Day 2: 5 22-05
7. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 10 46-06 272
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 23-06
8. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 46-03 268
Day 1: 5 23-06 Day 2: 5 22-13
9. Paul Elias Laurel , MS 10 45-06 264
Day 1: 5 26-12 Day 2: 5 18-10
10. Stephen Browning Hot Springs , AR 10 45-06 260
Day 1: 5 26-01 Day 2: 5 19-05
11. Mark Menendez Paducah , KY 10 45-04 257
Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 20-13
12. Gary Klein Weatherford , TX 10 44-13 254
Day 1: 5 28-04 Day 2: 5 16-09
13. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 10 44-13 251
Day 1: 5 24-03 Day 2: 5 20-10
14. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 44-12 248
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 23-02
15. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 44-10 245
Day 1: 5 27-11 Day 2: 5 16-15
16. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 44-04 243
Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 20-08
17. Bobby Lane Lakeland , FL 10 43-14 241
Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 19-14
18. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo , MI 10 43-06 239
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 20-06
19. Marty Stone Fayetteville , NC 10 43-03 237
Day 1: 5 23-04 Day 2: 5 19-15
20. John Crews Salem , VA 10 42-15 235
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 24-15
21. Mike McClelland Bella Vista , AR 10 42-14 233
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 22-15
22. Takahiro Omori Emory , TX 10 42-09 231
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 23-05
23. Boyd Duckett Demopolis , AL 10 42-04 229
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 20-09
24. John Murray Phoenix , AZ 10 42-03 227
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 23-00
25. Kevin Wirth Crestwood , KY 10 41-08 225
Day 1: 5 23-06 Day 2: 5 18-02
26. Bill Lowen North Bend , OH 10 41-04 223
Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 19-02
27. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 40-10 221
Day 1: 5 23-02 Day 2: 5 17-08
28. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 40-09 219
Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 5 18-09
29. Scott Rook Little Rock , AR 10 40-05 217
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 21-13
30. Clark Reehm Russellville , AR 10 40-04 215
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 19-13
31. Jason Williamson Aiken , SC 10 40-04 213
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 21-03
32. Dennis Tietje Roanoke , LA 10 40-03 211
Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 5 18-03
33. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 40-01 209
Day 1: 5 26-00 Day 2: 5 14-01
34. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira , KS 10 39-15 207
Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 20-02
35. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 39-14 205
Day 1: 5 24-06 Day 2: 5 15-08
36. Ish Monroe Hughson , CA 10 39-12 203
Day 1: 5 24-04 Day 2: 5 15-08
37. Charlie Hartley Grove City , OH 10 39-07 201
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 18-05
38. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande , CA 10 39-02 199
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 20-01
39. Dave Wolak Wake Forest , NC 10 38-14 197
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 22-01
40. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 38-13 195
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 19-14
41. Greg Vinson Wetumpka , AL 10 38-13 193
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 18-03
42. Bernie Schultz Gainesville , FL 10 38-12 191
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 18-09
43. Rick Morris Virginia Beach , VA 10 38-09 189
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 17-06
44. Britt Myers Lake Wylie , SC 10 38-02 187
Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 15-14
45. Kenyon Hill Norman , OK 10 37-15 185
Day 1: 5 22-12 Day 2: 5 15-03
46. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 37-13 183
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 22-00
47. Chris Lane Guntersville , AL 10 37-10 181
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 23-04
48. Denny Brauer Camdenton , MO 10 37-07 179
Day 1: 5 24-09 Day 2: 5 12-14
49. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 37-06 177
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 22-03
50. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville , FL 10 37-05 175
Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 15-09
51. Randy Howell Springville , AL 10 37-05 173
Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 17-15
52. Jeff Kriet Ardmore , OK 10 37-03 171
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 18-05
53. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 36-13 169
Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 11-09
54. Guy Eaker Cherryville , NC 10 36-09 167
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 17-12
55. Steve Kennedy Auburn , AL 10 36-05 165
Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 17-07
56. Bradley Roy Lancaster , KY 10 35-09 163
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 20-09
57. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 35-09 161
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 15-14
58. Kelly Jordon Mineola , TX 9 35-08 159
Day 1: 4 12-04 Day 2: 5 23-04
59. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 10 35-07 157
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 17-00
60. Jami Fralick Martin , SD 10 35-04 155
Day 1: 5 22-08 Day 2: 5 12-12
61. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount , NC 10 34-14 153
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 16-01
62. Alton Jones Waco , TX 10 34-10 151
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 12-15
63. Terry Scroggins San Mateo , FL 10 34-10 149
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 17-10
64. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City , AZ 10 34-09 147
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 16-06
65. Greg Hackney Gonzales , LA 10 34-01 145
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-06
66. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 33-12 143
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 16-03
67. Rick Clunn Ava , MO 10 33-08 141
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 18-04
68. Chad Griffin Cresson , TX 10 33-07 139
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 15-02
69. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 32-13 137
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 16-01
70. Keith Poche Troy , AL 10 32-00 135
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 15-04
71. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg , MD 10 31-13 133
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 20-08
72. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 31-12 131
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 12-08
73. Byron Velvick Del Rio , TX 10 31-12 129
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 15-07
74. Matt Greenblatt Palm Beach Gardens, FL 10 31-00 127
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 14-10
75. Bradley Hallman Norman , OK 10 30-13 125
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 12-00
76. Wade Grooms Bonneau , SC 10 30-13 123
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 14-13
77. Matt Reed Madisonville , TX 10 30-13 121
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 13-00
78. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 10 30-10 119
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 13-01
79. Zell Rowland Austin , TX 10 29-11 117
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 12-09
80. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 29-05 115
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 12-07
81. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 29-00 113
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-01
82. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie , SC 10 28-04 111
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 17-01
83. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney , TX 10 27-14 109
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-09
84. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 10 27-05 107
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 15-01
85. Pat Golden High Point , NC 10 27-04 105
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 12-04
86. Mark Burgess Norton , MA 9 25-08 103
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 4 11-03
87. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 10 25-03 101
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 13-00
88. Jeff Connella Bentley , LA 9 23-07 99
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 4 10-11
89. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 9 22-11 97
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 4 09-02
90. Byron Haseotes Centerville , MA 10 22-05 95
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 09-08
91. David Smith Del City , OK 9 20-03 93
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-03
92. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow , OK 7 14-01 91
Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 3 06-00
93. Jeremy Starks Charleston , WV 5 12-03 89
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 90 462 1805-09
2 88 455 1623-09
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178 917 3429-02
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