Bassmaster Elite Series Pros Search for Big Bass on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville
What’s at stake: $673,150 in cash to the top 50 Elite pros and valuable points towards qualifying in the Bassmaster Majors and the race for the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. The top 50 co-anglers compete for $122,250 in cash and merchandise.
Telecast: The Southern Challenge presented by Purolator will be aired on The Bassmasters on May 5 at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Pros Said It
“It’s really frustrating for me at this point. I’ve caught some fish but I’m having trouble putting a pattern together. I caught about eight fish but all of them were on different baits and in different areas. I’m just having a hard time figuring out what’s going on. A guy who can figure out where the fish are can catch them. There are so many quality fish here you can do it.” Bassmaster Elite Series pro and currently third in the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index, Jared Lintner, 33, Arroyo Grande, Calif.
“I’m not catching any big fish. The quantity is there but I’m not on the big ones. I’m sure it will take about the same weight as it did last year to win, about 20 pounds a day. There are two or three different patterns that will work and it will depend on what area of the lake you’re in.” Currently 44th in the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index, third place finisher in most recent Bassmaster Elite Series tournament, Pete Ponds, 47, Madison, Miss.
“I’m catching a few pretty good fish out on the main river. It’s hard to get bites, but if you get a bite it’s usually a pretty good one. It’s always funky during and around the spawn times and I don’t know why, except that they don’t seem to bite when they’re spawning. Even the fish out on the river don’t seem to bite when it’s spawning time. The weather’s good but it’s still a tough bite.” 2007 Bassmaster Classic winner Boyd Duckett, 46, Demopolis, Ala.
The Strategy
Lintner: Lintner said he is trying many techniques, including flipping and throwing reaction baits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures. He also said he was forcing himself to slow down. He said he has caught one fish with every technique but it has been hard to catch more than one. He predicts it will take 20 pounds a day to win the tournament.
Ponds: Ponds said he expects the Bassmaster Elite Series pros to be catching bass on spinnerbaits and topwater lures. He also said that some anglers will be targeting spawning fish.
Duckett: Duckett said he doesn’t know Lake Guntersville as well as he knew Lay Lake when earlier this year he became the first angler ever to win the Bassmaster Classic in his home state. He has been throwing spinnerbaits and a Rat-L-Trap to grass in the main river and said he hopes to find some giant bass at the end of each day when he targets spawning bass.
Location and Field
Southern Challenge – Bassmaster Elite Series
Lake Guntersville
Guntersville, Ala.
April 26-29
Field
108 pros, 108 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3
Launch
Top of the River Restaurant
7004 Val Monte Drive
Guntersville, Ala.
5:50 a.m. CT
Weigh-in
Guntersville High School
14227 Hwy 431
Guntersville, Ala.
3 p.m. CT
Background
Previous BASS events
2006, Bassmaster Elite Series
2006, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2006, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2005, Bassmaster Open
2005, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2005, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2005, Bassmaster Tour
2004, Bassmaster Tour
2002, Bassmaster Tour
1997, BASS Invitational
1992, Bassmaster Megabucks
1992, BASS Invitational
1991, BASS Invitational
1990, BASS Megabucks
1990, BASS Invitational
1989, BASS Invitational
1988, BASS Invitational
1987, BASS Invitational
1980, BASS Champs Invitational
1976, Bassmaster Classic
Previous winners on lake
71-13, Michael Iaconelli, 2006
16-13, Michael Robinson, 2006
24-9, Matt McLaughlin, 2006
56-6, Andy Morgan, 2005
27-23, Scott Keeling, 2005
22-11, Douglas True, 2005
87-0, Zell Rowland, 2005
99-10, George Cochran, 2004
83-11, Kelly Jordon, 2002
52-6, Chris Baumgardner, 1997
79-11, Denny Brauer, 1992
55-1, George Cochran, 1992
55-10, Zell Rowland, 1991
30-6, Larry Nixon, 1990
71-0, Edward Gettys, 1990
60-7, Robert Byrd, 1989
47-5, Don Snider, 1988
42-6, Rick Clunn, 1987
53-10, Basil Bacon, 1980
59-15, Rick Clunn, 1976
Heaviest winning weight
99-10, George Cochran, 2004
Lowest winning weight
16-13, Michael Robinson, 2006
Weather
Temperature
77 degrees
Lake
level
594.55 above mean sea level
Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule
The Western Run
#1 March 8-11 Battle on the Border - Lake Amistad, Del Rio, Texas
#2 March 22-25 Duel in the Delta - California Delta, Stockton, Calif.
#3 March 29 – April 1 Golden State Shootout – Clear Lake, Lakeport, Calif.
The Southern Swing
#4 April 19-22 Pride of Georgia – Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, Ga.
#5 April 26-29 Southern Challenge – Lake Guntersville, Guntersville , Ala.
#6 June 7-10 Blue Ridge Brawl – Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Va.
The Turn
#7 June 21-24 Sooner Run - Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.
The Northern Run
#8 July 12-15 Champion’s Choice - Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.
#9 July 19-22 Empire Chase – Lake Erie/Niagara River, Buffalo, N.Y.
The Final Charge
#10 Aug. 9-12 Capitol Clash - Potomac River, Charles County, Md.
#11 Sept. 13-16 Sunshine Showdown – Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee, Fla.
Local sponsors: Local sponsors include Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce and Marshall County.
Bassmaster Elite Series sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide and Costa Del Mar.
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Standings:
After Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, Ga. Ending 04-22-2007
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Skeet Reese Calif. 1120
2 Jared Lintner Calif. 1029
3 Derek Remitz Texas 1015
4 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 965
5 Kevin VanDam Mich. 958
6 Ishama Monroe Calif. 930
7 Aaron Martens Ala. 927
8 Brent Chapman Kan. 921
9 Jeff Kriet Okla. 891
10 Mike McClelland Ark. 876
11 Steve Kennedy Ala. 867
12 Tommy Biffle Okla. 866
13 John Crews Va. 852
14 Chris Lane Fla. 851
15 Casey Ashley S.C. 847
16 Scott Rook Ark. 836
17 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 813
18 Gerald Swindle Ala. 812
19 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 811
20 John Murray Ariz. 800
21 Pete Ponds Miss. 796
22 Stephen Browning Ark. 791
23 Mark Tyler Okla. 789
23 Gary Klein Texas 789
25 Kevin Wirth Ky. 788
26 Cliff Pace Miss. 782
27 Greg Hackney La. 775
28 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 772
29 Todd Faircloth Texas 764
30 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 756
31 Scott Campbell Mo. 754
32 Alton Jones Texas 753
33 Paul Elias Miss. 751
33 Kelly Jordon Texas 751
35 Randy Howell Ala. 749
36 Mark Menendez Ky. 748
36 Russ Lane Ala. 748
38 Terry Scroggins Fla. 747
39 Dean Rojas Texas 745
40 Ken Brodeur Conn. 739
41 Takahiro Omori Texas 738
42 Dave Wolak N.C. 736
43 Rick Morris Va. 734
44 Edwin Evers Okla. 732
45 Davy Hite S.C. 726
46 Peter Thliveros Fla. 724
47 Timmy Horton Ala. 720
48 Brian Snowden Mo. 719
49 Jason Williamson S.C. 718
50 Britt Myers S.C. 712
51 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 705
52 Kevin Short Ark. 682
53 Lee Bailey Ala. 679
54 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 677
55 Jason Quinn S.C. 660
56 Bernie Schultz Fla. 654
57 Bill Smith Ky. 649
58 Marty Robinson S.C. 648
59 Bill Lowen Ohio 644
60 Paul Hirosky Pa. 643
61 James Charlesworth Fla. 639
61 Kenyon Hill Okla. 639
63 Guy Eaker N.C. 636
64 James Niggemeyer Texas 635
65 Matt Reed Texas 629
66 Zell Rowland Texas 628
67 Jimmy Mize Ark. 620
68 Jeff Connella La. 613
69 Glenn Delong Ohio 611
70 Ken Cook Okla. 610
71 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 593
72 Boyd Duckett Ala. 589
73 Ben Matsubu Texas 583
73 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 583
73 Kurt Dove Va. 583
76 Denny Brauer Mo. 580
77 Kevin Langill N.C. 577
78 Jim Murray Ga. 567
79 Matt Amedeo Ohio 557
80 Bradley Hallman Okla. 556
81 Mark Tucker Mo. 552
82 Mark Rogers Fla. 551
83 Steve Daniel Fla. 550
83 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 550
85 Charlie Hartley Ohio 546
86 Marty Stone N.C. 544
87 James Kennedy La. 516
88 Rick Clunn Mo. 515
89 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 512
90 Jami Fralick S.D. 511
91 Mike Wurm Ark. 510
92 Jon Bondy Canada 509
92 Eric Nethery Ga. 509
94 Grant Goldbeck Md. 503
94 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 503
96 Dave Smith Okla. 494
97 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 487
98 Preston Clark Fla. 486
99 Jimmy Mason Ala. 479
100 Doc Merkin Ill. 458
101 Keith Phillips Ala. 439
102 Charlie Youngers Fla. 424
103 Rick Ash Pa. 416
104 Byron Velvick Texas 410
105 Frank Scalish Ohio 398
106 Bradley Stringer Texas 352
107 Elton Luce Jr Texas 323
108 Terry Butcher Okla. 295