Cold Front Creating Tough Bite for Elite Series Pros on Clarks Hill Lake
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 “Pride of Georgia presented by Evan Williams Bourbon” will be aired on The Bassmasters on April 28 at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Pros Said It
“In my opinion these fish are almost in shock from the weather. Thankfully it stabilized today but fishing is much different than I’ve ever seen it here and I’ve been fishing this lake the last 20 to 25 years. We had record cold the last few days and the wind’s been blowing a lot. Last year, winning the tournament was so special and I’ve thought about my family being here with me this time and so I’ll swing for the fences more than any other event all year long. I feel like if I execute I have a real chance to win again.” 2006 Bassmaster Elite Series winner on Clarks Hill Lake, ranked 30th on the Bassmaster Power Index Davy Hite, 41 , Ninety Six, SC
“So far I am really struggling to figure this lake out. The lake is fishing a lot different this year because of the cold weather. I’ve tried experimenting with new water and after two days I’m still scratching my head. I’m not feeling real optimistic right now, but I will keep looking and try to put more pieces of the puzzle together here. The conditions are changing every day and the fish should start reacting to the warming water.” Current 2007 Bassmaster Angler of the Year points leader Skeet Reese, 37, Auburn, Calif.
“It’s not going wonderful but it’s not horrible either. I’m getting quite a few bites, and catching a limit, but size is a factor. I’m trying to slow down and figure out how to get a bigger bite. I haven’t done well deep, but the water is warming up again to where there’s a few fish cruising in the shallows and so what will happen in the next three or four days, I’m not sure. I’m sure somebody will have a deeper bite on humps and ridges, but the fish are still in three different phases – pre, spawn and post-spawn bass – and could be making a move.” – 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series pro ranked 83rd on the Bassmaster Power Index Bradley Stringer, 33, Huntington, Texas
The Strategy
Hite: Hite is targeting prespawn, bedding and post-spawn bass, but hasn’t figured out which pattern to target specifically yet. He has averaged 20 different rod, reel and lure combinations, but says he hasn’t locked up anything for the tournament. With the warming weather in time for the tournament, Hite predicts it will take 60 to 70 pounds to win.
Reese: Reese is covering a mixture of muddy and clear water trying to identify a distinct pattern on Clarks Hill Lake. He has fished shallow water the last two days, but plans to move to deeper territory in search of bigger bass. He is using a variety of rod, reel and lure combinations including fishing slow, fast, reaction bites and topwater lures.
Stringer: Stringer is fishing one to three feet of water for post-spawn fish. If the bass start to spawn a little more he may move to slightly deeper water. Stringer’s pattern consists of Texas-rigged soft plastics, Carolina rigs and spinnerbaits. He predicts 43 to 46 pounds will make the cut to the Elite 12 and 55 to 60 pounds will take the win.
Location and Field
Pride of Georgia presented by Evan Williams Bourbon– Bassmaster Elite Series
Clarks Hill Lake
Evans, Ga.
April 19-22
Field
108 pros, 108 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3
Launch
Wildwood Park
6212 Holloway Rd.
Appling, Ga.
6:50 a.m. ET
Weigh-in
Wildwood Park
6212 Holloway Rd.
Appling, Ga.
3 p.m. ET
Background
Previous BASS events
2006 Bassmaster Elite Series
2005 ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2005 Bassmaster Tour
Previous winners on lake
71-12, Davy Hite, 2006
37-12, Flint Fivecoait, 2005
52-11, Mike Reynolds, 2005
Heaviest winning weight
71-12, Davy Hite, 2006
Lowest winning weight
37-12, Flint Fivecoait, 2005
Weather
Temperature
75 degrees
Lake level
328.9 ft. 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 Columbia 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:
2007 Golden State Shootout - Golden State Shootout Pro Points After Clear Lake, Lakeport, Calif. Ending 04-01-2007, Day 4
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Skeet Reese Calif. 844
2 Kevin VanDam Mich. 793
3 Jared Lintner Calif. 786
4 Steve Kennedy Ala. 758
5 Derek Remitz Texas 735
6 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 705
7 Brent Chapman Kan. 704
8 Mark Tyler Okla. 702
9 Jeff Kriet Okla. 701
10 Stephen Browning Ark. 700
11 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 680
12 Ishama Monroe Calif. 676
13 Tommy Biffle Okla. 673
14 Aaron Martens Ala. 670
15 Scott Rook Ark. 666
16 Todd Faircloth Texas 641
17 John Murray Ariz. 627
18 Greg Hackney La. 626
19 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 625
20 Davy Hite S.C. 620
21 Takahiro Omori Texas 597
22 Gerald Swindle Ala. 591
23 Terry Scroggins Fla. 589
23 Brian Snowden Mo. 589
25 Cliff Pace Miss. 587
26 Alton Jones Texas 586
27 Britt Myers S.C. 575
28 Gary Klein Texas 574
28 CASEY ASHLEY S.C. 574
30 Mike McClelland Ark. 571
30 Scott Campbell Mo. 571
32 Kevin Wirth Ky. 569
33 John Crews Va. 567
34 Mark Menendez Ky. 558
35 Dean Rojas Texas 548
36 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 547
37 Kelly Jordon Texas 546
37 Chris Lane Fla. 546
37 James Charlesworth Fla. 546
40 Paul Elias Miss. 539
40 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 539
42 Russ Lane Ala. 536
43 Timmy Horton Ala. 533
44 Dave Wolak N.C. 529
45 Glenn DeLong Ohio 528
45 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 528
45 Matt Reed Texas 528
48 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 522
49 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 518
50 Ben Matsubu Texas 509
50 Bill Lowen Ohio 509
50 Kenyon Hill Okla. 509
53 Ken Brodeur Conn. 508
54 Pete Ponds Miss. 506
55 Zell Rowland Texas 505
56 Randy Howell Ala. 501
56 Kevin Langill N.C. 501
58 Edwin Evers Okla. 495
59 Kurt Dove Va. 494
60 Rick Morris Va. 493
60 Jason Williamson S.C. 493
62 Peter Thliveros Fla. 485
62 Denny Brauer Mo. 485
64 Bradley Hallman Okla. 483
65 Marty Robinson S.C. 478
66 Charlie Hartley Ohio 475
67 Paul Hirosky Pa. 468
68 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 465
69 Bill Smith Ky. 464
70 Ken Cook Okla. 457
71 Lee Bailey Ala. 451
72 Mark Rogers Fla. 448
73 James Kennedy La. 444
74 Jimmy Mize Ark. 441
75 Mark Tucker Mo. 439
76 Marty Stone N.C. 438
77 Steve Daniel Fla. 434
78 Guy Eaker N.C. 433
79 Jeff Connella La. 432
80 Boyd Duckett Ala. 431
81 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 427
82 Bernie Schultz Fla. 419
83 Kevin Short Ark. 418
83 Rick Clunn Mo. 418
85 Jason Quinn S.C. 415
86 James Niggemeyer Texas 412
87 Preston Clark Fla. 407
88 Jami Fralick S.D. 400
89 Mike Wurm Ark. 394
90 Grant Goldbeck Md. 376
91 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 369
92 MATT AMEDEO Ohio 357
93 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 355
94 Rick Ash Pa. 347
95 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 342
96 Doc Merkin Ill. 335
97 Jim Murray Ga. 334
98 Dave Smith Okla. 333
99 Jimmy Mason Ala. 328
100 Elton Luce Jr Texas 323
101 Eric Nethery Ga. 309
102 Frank Scalish Ohio 299
103 Byron Velvick Texas 291
104 Charlie Youngers Fla. 285
105 Keith Phillips Ala. 276
106 Bradley Stringer Texas 271
107 Jon Bondy Canada 258
108 Terry Butcher Okla. 225