2014 WON US OPEN Day 2: Clifford Pirch Remains on Top!

Won US OPEN Press Release 

Sometimes a little stumble is not as disastrous as one might think. Clifford Pirch, who presented a 15.49-pound limit to the scales on Monday's first day was not able to keep the torrid pace that he came out of the gates with on day two. However, his daily weight that came in at around half of his first day's weight was enough to keep him in the lead headed into the final day of the 2014 The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open.

Pirch managed to produce only 7.48 pounds from Lake Mead today, but his lead; which had been nearly four pounds, still remains a steady two pounds over second place pro Zack Holwerda of Phoenix, Ariz.

Clifford explains his day to the crowd. He has
to work hard not to allow a massive lead slip away.
(Photo: Dan O'Sullivan)

Pirch said that he had planned to run new water, and made a decision to switch up altogether again in the morning. "I had an area in mind when I set out this morning, but then changed and decided to stay closer and I didn't quite get the bites I thought I would," he said. "The weather slicked off and we didn't get the amount of breeze that we expected and it made the bite a little tougher for me."

That doesn't mean that the two-time U.S. Open champion is completely panicked. "I've got an area that was a key piece in my strategy for this tournament," he said. "I haven't gone to it yet and I'm pretty sure nobody else has found it. I'm going to go there tomorrow, and hopefully I didn't leave too much room on the table today for someone else to sneak in."

Standing Below

2014 BASS Northern Open Lake St. Clair Day 1: Balog Sacks Lead with 22-8!

Balog leads over a strong local showing.

By Louis Stout

bass press release

DETROIT — The home-field advantage played a big role in the first round of the Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open presented by Allstate on Lake St. Clair Thursday.

Joe was one of 11 who cracked 20 pounds.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Two local anglers jumped to the head of the pack, with formidable pro Joe Balog of Harrison Township, Mich., sacking 22 pounds, 8 ounces, good for a 4-ounce lead over fellow Harrison Township angler Andrew Smith.

Canadian Chris Johnston is third with 21-12, while Bassmaster Elite Series pros Fletcher Shryock of Ohio and Michigander Chad Pipkens are tied for fifth with 21-6.

In addition to valuable prizes going to the winner of this final leg of the Northern Open is a berth in next February’s Bassmaster Classic to be held on Lake Hartwell of out Greenville, S.C., providing the winner has competed in two previous 2014 Northern Opens.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Cayuga Lake Day 2: Greg Hackney in Lead of AOY and Tournament!

Angler of the Year is Super Hot with Hackney and Faircloth 1-2. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — Give the man some grass, and he feels right at home.

That’s grass, as in aquatic vegetation, and crystal-clear Cayuga Lake is loaded with it.

“Deep, clear water with grass is by far my favorite way to fish,” said Greg Hackney, the pro angler from Gonzales, La., who took the lead Friday in the second round of the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake out of Union Springs, N.Y.

Greg is a master with the big rod. New York is playing to
the strengths of many Elite anglers.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Hackney weighed the day’s heaviest bag of bass — 23 pounds, 1 ounce — to rise into the lead from fourth place. His two-day total was 43-6.

“Grassmaster” No. 2 on Friday was Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas.

“Anytime we go to a lake that has grass in it, my confidence soars,” said Faircloth, who climbed from seventh place into second place with twin weights of 20-2 for a running total of 40-4. He trailed Hackney by 3-2.

Coincidentally, Hackney and Faircloth currently occupy first and second place, respectively, in the season’s Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. After Friday’s round, they were 17 points apart.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Cayuga Lake Day 1: Palaniuk Edges into Lead in Tight Field.

"Community Holes" are holding them big time. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

UNION SPRINGS, N.Y. — August is Brandon Palaniuk’s charmed time of year. New York is his state of magic.

Last August, the pro angler from Rathdrum, Idaho, won a Bassmaster Elite Series event on the St. Lawrence River in upstate New York. At age 25, he pocketed the $100,000 prize and achieved his goal of qualifying for the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.

Brandon was one of seven to weigh
20lbs today.
(Photo: Seigo Saito BASS)

Thursday, just as focused on ensuring he’ll get into the 2015 Classic, Palaniuk led the 106-angler Elite field in the A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite at Cayuga Lake out of Union Springs, N.Y., where, once again, the first prize is $100,000 and an automatic qualification for the Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.

Palaniuk brought in 20 pounds, 10 ounces, enough to stay 3 ounces ahead of the pack in the first of four rounds.

“It was a magical day,” Palaniuk said. “I caught fish pretty early. I think I had a limit within the first 45 minutes, and slowly culled up from there. Every move I made, I seemed to catch a good one.”

The 26-year-old does not have one challenger behind him in second place, but two. In a tournament peppered with ties throughout the leaderboard, Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., and Mike Kernan of Wylie, Texas, were neck-and-neck at 20-7 for second place.

Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., claimed fourth place by himself at 20-5. It was more than good enough to help him in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race, and an important move in keeping the lead he took over from Davis about two weeks ago.

2014 Walmart FLW Cup Lake Murray Day 2: Jarabeck, Captures Lead with 17-00lbs!

Dudley's nephew Takes Over Command from Uncle. 

by David A. Brown

    FLW PRESS RELEASE

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Suffice it to say that Philip Jarabeck has admired the accomplishments of his uncle, Castrol pro David Dudley, but today he showed there’s plenty of talent in the family by taking over the lead Dudley set on day one of the Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart and hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country.

Philip matches David Dudley's 17lb bag
to take over the lead for Day 2. No real pattern is strong as deep and shallow fishing are working.
(Photo: Brian Lindberg FLW)

Dudley, a past Forrest Wood Cup champion, posted the event’s heaviest sack with his first-round weight of 17 pounds, 14 ounces. Today, Jarabeck hauled in 17 pounds and raced up the standings from his 19th-place finish on day one.

“I was just super-blessed today,” Jarabeck says. “I had a great day today. I culled three or four times. I had multiple keepers that I threw back.”

Hailing from Lynchburg, Va., Jarabeck caught bass shallow and deep, with his weigh-in fish split two and three, respectively. Day one yielded just three fish, but today he painted on a different palate – same basic colors, but better brush strokes.

“Yesterday, it was all deep because I had such a bad morning,” Jarabeck says. “The first couple of hours are crucial to my weight, getting those first couple of good bites, and then I can grind it out deep and get my limit.”

Jarabeck Jumps into Lead of 2014 Walmart FLW CUP

By Luigi De Rose

Philip Jarabeck's 17lb limit sky rockets him into the lead!
(Photo: Brian Lindberg FLW) 

Philip Jarabeck take lead on Day 2 on the back of a 17lb limit. Ehrler is 2nd and Thrift is 3rd. David Dudley, yesterday's leader fell to 6th.

More info to follow!

2014 Walmart FLW Cup Lake Murray Day 1: David Dudley Captures Lead with 17-14lbs!

Dudley Take 3lb Lead!

by David A. Brown
FLW PRESS RELEASE

COLUMBIA, S.C. – In the field of 45 pros hoping to raise the trophy at the Forrest Wood Cup presented by Walmart and hosted by Capital City/Lake Murray Country, five have enjoyed that magical moment before. After a strong day-one performance, Castrol pro David Dudley is looking a lot like a man on a mission for No. 2.

Weighing in a first-round limit of 17 pounds, 14 ounces, Dudley took an early lead and held off all challengers to finish atop the field by a margin of 3-5.

David Dudley might be the first angler to win 2 FLW Cups! It is only the first day
but the last few FLW Cup winner all had big first days.
(Photo: Brian Lindberg FLW)

                       
As expected, definitive patterns remained elusive. Very few anglers stuck exclusively with shallow or 
deep patterns, and Dudley was not among them.

“I went deep and shallow. I think everybody is doing that. I’m mixing it up,” he says. “I have no idea where the next bite is coming from. I’m just flying by the seat of my pants and trying to stay focused.”

2014 Bassmaster Elite at Delaware River Day 2: Ike Take Lead in Hometown!

Difficult fishing makes for tight tournament. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — The crowd began to cheer and chant “Ike, Ike, Ike” even before Philadelphia-born Michael Iaconelli, now also a New Jersey fishing hero, took the stage Friday for the second weigh-in of the Bassmaster Elite on the Delaware River.

Iaconelli wows the hometown crowd with
slim lead on Day 2.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

It was as if the boisterous Ike fans felt their voices could pull their hometown guy up from 21st place, almost 8 pounds behind first-day leader Boyd Duckett after the initial round Thursday.

But “Ike,” as it turned out, was able to get up all by himself. He turned in 15-1, the biggest sack of bass to meet the scales Friday, and deftly slipped the lead away from Duckett, albeit by only 14 ounces.

Duckett gave Iaconelli’s rocket ride from 21st place a boost by posting 6-7, relegating Duckett to second place. Iaconelli had 24-3 on the board to Duckett’s 23-5.

But Duckett, who’s from Guntersville, Ala., and Iaconelli, now living in Pittsgrove, N.J., have plenty of competition left before either can claim the Elite event’s first prize of $100,000 and an instant 2015 Bassmaster Classic qualification.

Morizo Shimizu of Osaka, Japan, is one prime threat. He produced 10-4 for a two-day total of 22-6. That put him in third place and 1 pound, 13 ounces behind Iaconelli.

2014 BASSFest Day 3: Lead is Jacob Wheeler's Again!

Wheeler's lead reduced to ounces. 

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

DAYTON, Tenn. — Last June in a major tournament on Chickamauga, Jacob Wheeler finished in 92nd place.

He’s a fast learner. Thursday he led the June 11-15 Bassmaster BASSfest competition on the same fishery. Saturday, he did it again.

Jacob explains that the heat, fishing pressure
 and party boats are making fishing difficult.
(Photo: BASS)

“When it’s your time, it’s your time. I put that out there on the line here. If you’re meant to win, it’s going to happen,” he said near the start of the event.

So far, so good. Wheeler, who’s won one Forrest Wood Cup and placed second in another, started BASSfest strong in seventh place. By the second day, he had a 6-pound, 12-ounce lead after weighing an eye-popping 29-13.

In Saturday’s third go at Chickamauga Lake’s bass, apparently it was still the 23-year-old’s time. With a catch of 16-2 and total of 68-5, he was able to hold the lead— but not by much.

Enter Matt Herren. The Ashville, Ala., Bassmaster Elite Series pro helped whittle Wheeler’s lead to 1 pound, 1 ounce by posting 23-6. Herren bumped up from fourth into second place at 67-4.

Elite pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., was in third place with 61-4, more than 7 pounds behind the leader. Two other Elite anglers rounded out the Top 5: Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., fourth place at 58-7; and Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Fla., in fifth place at 56-4.

Those five led the 12 finalists who made it to Championship Sunday.

2014 BASSFest Lake Chickamauga Day 2: Wheeler Whack 30lb Limit and Lead!

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

DAYTON, Tenn. — At age 23 and from Indianapolis, Ind., Jacob Wheeler would not be most people’s odds-on favorite to take over in the June 11-15 Bassmaster BASSfest competition on Tennessee’s Chickamauga Lake.

Two impressive bass from Wheeler's massive limit. While many Day 1 leaders fall
Jacob and Van Dam move up dramatically.
(Photo: BASS)

Until you know that he’s been fishing Chickamauga for years because one of his often-visited friends lives near the lake. And that he competed on the lake just last year in a major event. And that at age 21, he was the 2012 Forrest Wood Cup champion.

Wheeler put all his experience to work Thursday, BASSfest’s second day. He weighed in 29 pounds, 13 ounces for a two-day total of 52-3, banking a lead of 6 pounds, 12 ounces against Bassmaster Elite Series pro Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Lake Dardanelle Day 2: Greg Hackney Leaps into Lead.

by Deb Johnson

bass press release 

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Patience certainly does have its virtues. Just ask Greg Hackney, the new leader in the Bassmaster Elite Series at Lake Dardanelle.

After landing a 4-pound largemouth soon after competition began Friday, Hackney stuck it out in the same area the rest of the day, working through a series of dry spells without a bite. By day’s end, he was rewarded with five largemouth that weighed in at 18 pounds and 1 ounce.

Hackney enjoys lead after many poor tournaments. This could be his turn around tournament.
(Photos: BASS)

“There were flurries when it was better, but overall it was pretty slow fishing,” Hackney said. “I wasn’t necessarily fishing dead slow, but I was thorough. This lake is full of fish, but you can go a while between bites.”

Hackney, in second place after Thursday’s first round, changed places with John Crews, the first-day leader. Hackney’s two-day total was 39-14 to Crews’ 39-5, for a spread of 9 ounces between them. On Thursday, Crews had 12 ounces on Hackney.

Zell Rowland of Montgomery, Texas, was Friday’s biggest mover. In 87th place after Thursday, Rowland produced 25-5 Friday to rocket into third place with a total of 37-1.

2014 Bassmaster Elite Table Rock Lake Day 1: Aaron Martens Lead on Stormy Day

Aaron naps 8 pounder to grab early lead

By Deb Johnson

bass press release

BRANSON, Mo. — Aaron Martens called it a “picture-perfect day.” Mark Davis said he was “singing hymns all day.” Chris Lane landed inside his “comfort zone.”

Aaron has done well on Table Rock. He won his
first Angler of the Year on this lake.
(Photo BASS)

And that’s how it was for three of the hottest pros in bass fishing on Thursday, the first day of the April 3-6 A.R.E. Truck Caps Bassmaster Elite on Table Rock Lake.

Martens, the 2013 Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year, took the Day 1 lead at Table Rock with 18 pounds, 11 ounces of largemouth bass. Davis, currently in the lead for the 2014 AOY prize, was second with 18 pounds, 8 ounces. Right behind them with 18-5 was Lane, who won the most recent Elite Series event less than two weeks ago.

The three leaders have lots of company. Weighing 17-4 to tie at fourth place were Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., and Jamie Horton of Centreville, Ala. They were 1 pound, 7 ounces, behind Martens.

2013 Forrest L. Wood Cup Day 2: Tharp Leads but Thrift only 2 ounces behind!

Randall Tharp holds a 2 ounce lead over Bryan Thrift.
Larry Nixon is closing in with two steady catches. 

Day 2 Rankings
(rank/angler/hometown/day 1(#bass)/day 2 (#bass)/ total/winnings

1	RANDALL THARP	PORT SAINT JOE FL	18-8 (5)	11-3 (5)	29-11 (10)
2	BRYAN THRIFT	SHELBY NC	18-7 (5)	11-0 (5)	29-7 (10)
3	LARRY NIXON	BEE BRANCH AR	13-4 (5)	14-5 (5)	27-9 (10)
4	RAY SCHEIDE	DOVER AR	12-7 (5)	12-12 (5)	25-3 (10)
5	MARK ROSE	WEST MEMPHIS AR	12-15 (5)	11-14 (5)	24-13 (10)
6	TOM MONSOOR	LA CROSSE WI	11-8 (5)	13-3 (5)	24-11 (10)
7	JOHN COX	DEBARY FL	10-10 (5)	13-5 (5)	23-15 (10)
8	ROBBIE DODSON	HARRISON AR	10-15 (5)	12-8 (5)	23-7 (10)
9	MARK DANIELS JR	FAIRFIELD CA	11-12 (5)	11-6 (5)	23-2 (10)
10	JUSTIN LUCAS	GUNTERSVILLE AL	10-3 (5)	12-13 (5)	23-0 (10)
11	JT KENNEY	PALM BAY FL	11-2 (5)	11-0 (5)	22-2 (10)
12	ADRIAN AVENA	VINELAND NJ	13-2 (5)	8-14 (5)	22-0 (10)
13	MICHAEL NEAL	DAYTON TN	11-5 (5)	10-11 (5)	22-0 (10)
14	TROY MORROW	EASTANOLLEE GA	10-15 (5)	10-10 (5)	21-9 (10)
15	KERRY MILNER	BONO AR	8-15 (5)	12-4 (5)	21-3 (10)
16	MATT AREY	SHELBY NC	11-6 (5)	9-10 (5)	21-0 (10)
17	BRENT EHRLER	REDLANDS CA	8-12 (5)	12-0 (5)	20-12 (10)
18	JACOB WHEELER	INDIANAPOLIS IN	7-4 (5)	13-7 (5)	20-11 (10)
19	WESLEY STRADER	SPRING CITY TN	9-7 (5)	10-13 (5)	20-4 (10)
20	ANDY MORGAN	DAYTON TN	11-2 (5)	8-11 (5)	19-13 (10)
21	SPENCER SHUFFIELD	BISMARCK AR	12-8 (5)	7-3 (5)	19-11 (10)
22	DAVE LEFEBRE	ERIE PA	10-13 (5)	8-13 (5)	19-10 (10)
23	DAVID FRITTS	LEXINGTON NC	11-6 (5)	7-12 (5)	19-2 (10)
24	JACOB POWROZNIK	PRINCE GEORGE VA	6-12 (5)	11-13 (5)	18-9 (10)
25	JAY YELAS	CORVALLIS OR	10-11 (5)	7-10 (5)	18-5 (10)
26	JIM MOYNAGH	CARVER MN	10-1 (5)	8-3 (5)	18-4 (10)
27	CHRISTOPHER BRASHER	HALLSVILLE TX	5-14 (5)	12-3 (5)	18-1 (10)
28	BARRY WILSON	BIRMINGHAM AL	9-7 (5)	8-9 (5)	18-0 (10)
29	JASON CHRISTIE	PARK HILL OK	9-3 (5)	8-6 (5)	17-9 (10)
30	STETSON BLAYLOCK	BENTON AR	6-14 (5)	10-6 (5)	17-4 (10)
31	ISHAMA MONROE	HUGHSON CA	7-7 (5)	9-11 (5)	17-2 (10)
32	DAN MOREHEAD	PADUCAH KY	8-4 (5)	8-9 (5)	16-13 (10)
33	JAMES WATSON	WAYNESVILLE MO	9-11 (5)	7-0 (5)	16-11 (10)
34	ZELL ROWLAND	MONTGOMERY TX	8-13 (5)	7-14 (5)	16-11 (10)
35	DAVID DUDLEY	LYNCHBURG VA	9-5 (5)	7-5 (5)	16-10 (10)
36	CODY MEYER	AUBURN CA	8-8 (5)	8-2 (5)	16-10 (10)
37	LUKE CLAUSEN	SPOKANE WA	8-11 (5)	7-14 (5)	16-9 (10)
38	SCOTT MARTIN	CLEWISTON FL	6-9 (5)	8-12 (5)	15-5 (10)
39	DREW BENTON	PANAMA CITY FL	7-5 (5)	8-0 (5)	15-5 (10)
40	STACEY KING	REEDS SPRING MO	8-12 (5)	6-6 (5)	15-2 (10)
41	KOBY KREIGER	OKEECHOBEE FL	7-13 (5)	7-2 (5)	14-15 (10)
42	SCOTT CANTERBURY	SPRINGVILLE AL	8-3 (5)	6-4 (5)	14-7 (10)
43	CASEY MARTIN	NEW HOPE AL	9-15 (5)	4-7 (4)	14-6 (9)
44	PAUL CLARK	MONROE LA	3-8 (3)	9-4 (5)	12-12 (8)
45	BILL MCDONALD	GREENWOOD IN	9-12 (5)	2-2 (2)	11-14 (7)
46	JIMMY HOUSTON	COOKSON OK	2-2 (2)	3-1 (2)	5-3 (4)