BUFFALO - Thinking small paid big dividends for Elite Series pro Kotaro Kiriyama of Moody, Ala., as he kept with a plan to key in on bait fish and surged to the lead Saturday to take the lead on Day 3 in the Empire Chase. Kiriyama's 25 pounds is the heaviest five-fish limit of the four-day bass fishing tournament so far on Lake Erie and the Niagara River.
Should Kiriyama hang on and claim his first career BASS victory, would earn $100,000, adding to his honors and Big Bass honors for a 5-pound, 15-ounce lunker smallmouth and the $1,000 premiums that go with those awards. His closest competitors, 2005 Angler of the Year Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., and 2007 Empire Chase winner Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., respectively, trail him by more than 3 pounds.
Martens is second with 64-5 overall, while Evers is third with 64-4. Day 2 leader Mike Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., the 2006 Angler of the Year and 2003 Classic winner, slipped to fourth Saturday with 17-12 for 62-1 overall. Rounding out the top five is John Murray of Phoenix, with 60-11.
More than the trophy is at stake at the Empire Chase, as the drama of the Angler of the Year race continues to build. Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, in second place in the AOY race, will take over the lead after the Empire Chase after qualifying for the final cut to 12 for Day 4. With a three-day total of 55-13 he is tied for seventh place in the tournament with Shaw Grigsby of Gainesville, Fla., who has eight career BASS victories to his credit.
Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., who led the AOY race coming into the Empire Chase, finished the tournament in 18th with 53-0 overall. He will fall to second in the AOY race, while Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., remains in third (47th at Empire Chase, 46-0) and reigning Angler of the Year Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., remains fourth (59th, 28-9).
The winner of the AOY race will receive $250,000 and the points will also determine the brunt of the 2009 Classic qualifiers. The top 36 Elite pros will qualify for the Classic, set for Feb. 20-22 out of Shreveport-Bossier City, La. Also derived from the AOY points will be the first 84 qualifiers for the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series roster.
Local favorite Matthew Sphar of Pavilion, N.Y., finished 43rd with a three-day total of 47-3.
Using the same 4-inch bait he used in 2007, Kiriyama is fishing some of the deepest water of the tournament at more than 70 feet, but the fish he is targeting are suspended. One of the keys of his success through the tournament has been imitating bait fish the smallmouth are feeding on.
"As long as I can get there, I have a chance to catch more fish," said Kiriyama, 37, a native of Japan. He added that he lost a 6-pounder Saturday. "I can see every fish going down, I catch it, stop it -it's like a game. They can see anything in a certain size range, but if I use a bigger bait, I lose the fish because the bait gets stuck in their mouths."
Martens continued his solid run with another 20-plus bag, this time one that he wasn't expecting.
"I thought I had 19 pounds. That's why I'm so smiley right now," Martens said. "I had a terrible start. My biggest one came pretty quick, set it in the rocks, tried to jerk it loose, and I hooked it from the outside in. That was a 5-pounder."
Martens, who is sharing water with Evers, didn't catch much more than 2- or 3-pounders for much of the day. But he came back around to a previous spot Saturday and found a large school.
"It started getting rough, but within 45 minutes I culled three fish. They were nice 4-pounders," Martens said. "The hardest part is, you have these awesome spots but if the fish aren't there they're not good. You've got to kick yourself and make yourself move."
Among those making the cut in the top 12: three-time BASS tournament winner Greg Hackney (12th, 55-0); Day 1 leader Matt Reed (11th, 55-1).
In the co-angler division, Tim Creighton of Buffalo held on to the lead and finished Day 3 with the victory and a $25,000 top prize with an overall weight of 38-14. South Carolina's Marcos Malucelli finished second with 35-5. Saturday's competition among the top 50 co-anglers will conclude the amateur event.
2008 Empire Chase 7/31-8/3
Lake Erie/Niagara River Tributaries, Buffalo NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 67-13 305 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 21-14 Day 3: 5 25-00
2. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 15 64-05 295
Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 5 20-11 Day 3: 5 21-10
3. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 64-04 290
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 21-11 Day 3: 5 21-06
4. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 15 62-01 290 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-06 Day 2: 5 22-15 Day 3: 5 17-12
5. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 15 60-11 280
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 21-03 Day 3: 5 19-03
6. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 15 59-06 276
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 21-04
7. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 15 55-13 270
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 20-01 Day 3: 5 17-01
7. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 55-13 270
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 20-07 Day 3: 5 15-05
9. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 15 55-06 264
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 19-09 Day 3: 5 18-14
10. Glenn Delong Bellville, OH 15 55-05 260
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 16-11 Day 3: 5 19-02
11. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 15 55-01 262 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 23-03 Day 2: 5 20-03 Day 3: 5 11-11
12. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 55-00 254
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 16-13 Day 3: 5 19-10
13. Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 15 54-15 251 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 20-01
14. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 15 54-07 248 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 19-03 Day 3: 5 16-10
15. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 15 54-04 245 $10,600.00
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 21-02 Day 3: 5 13-09
16. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 15 53-11 243 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 20-08
17. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 15 53-01 241 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 18-13
18. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 53-00 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 19-15 Day 3: 5 16-06
19. Preston Clark Palatka, FL 15 52-15 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 18-07 Day 3: 5 17-15
20. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 52-13 235 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 18-10 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 19-15
21. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 15 52-12 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 19-13 Day 3: 5 14-00
22. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 15 52-07 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 17-06 Day 3: 5 18-14
23. Randy Howell Springville, AL 15 51-06 229 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 17-13 Day 3: 5 15-11
24. Elton Luce Jr. Brookeland, TX 15 51-03 227 $11,250.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 17-09 Day 3: 5 14-09
25. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 15 50-11 225 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 16-15
26. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 15 50-00 223 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 18-08 Day 3: 5 17-14
27. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 15 49-15 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 17-04 Day 3: 5 16-14
28. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 15 49-11 218 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 5 15-11
28. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 15 49-11 218 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 15-07 Day 3: 5 15-11
30. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 15 49-09 215 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 17-12 Day 3: 5 16-15
31. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 15 49-08 213 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 5 13-00
32. John Crews Salem, VA 15 49-02 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 16-09 Day 3: 5 17-03
33. Rick Ash Pottstown, PA 15 48-11 208 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 14-06
33. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 15 48-11 208 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 17-00 Day 3: 5 16-08
35. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 48-10 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 16-09
36. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 15 48-08 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 09-13
37. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 15 48-05 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 17-08
38. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 15 48-02 198 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 16-01 Day 3: 5 13-09
38. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 15 48-02 198 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 16-05
40. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 15 47-14 195 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 15-08
41. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 15 47-12 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 14-14
42. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 15 47-07 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 16-04
43. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 15 47-03 189 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-10 Day 3: 5 14-06
44. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 46-07 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 15-02
45. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 15 46-05 184 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 18-00 Day 3: 5 14-09
45. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 15 46-05 184 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 15-14
47. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15 46-00 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 18-03 Day 3: 5 12-12
48. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 15 43-10 179 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-14 Day 3: 5 13-04
49. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 43-07 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 12-09
50. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 42-13 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 5 11-12
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS
Day
1 Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 05-10 $1,000.00
2 Elton Luce Jr. Brookeland, TX 05-13 $1,000.00
3 Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 05-15 $1,000.00
Day
1 Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 23-03 $1,000.00
2 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 22-15 $1,000.00
3 Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 25-00 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 95 497 1500-05
2 101 521 1589-02
3 50 250 826-08
----------------------------------
246 1268 3915-15
2008 Empire Chase 7/31-8/3
Lake Erie/Niagara River Tributaries, Buffalo NY.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Tim Creighton Buffalo, NY 9 38-14 0 $25,500.00
Day 1: 3 13-00 Day 2: 3 14-09 Day 3: 3 11-05
2. Marcos Malucelli Fort Mill, SC 9 35-05 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 3 12-11 Day 2: 3 11-06 Day 3: 3 11-04
3. Dave Elder Tuscaloosa, AL 9 34-12 0 $5,500.00
Day 1: 3 10-12 Day 2: 3 10-06 Day 3: 3 13-10
4. Craig Daino Central Square, NY 9 34-00 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 3 11-00 Day 2: 3 11-01 Day 3: 3 11-15
5. Marlon Whoolery Fairchance, PA 9 33-00 0 $3,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-00 Day 2: 3 13-09 Day 3: 3 09-07
6. Mike McGrath Niagara Falls, NY 9 32-14 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 3 11-05 Day 2: 3 10-09 Day 3: 3 11-00
7. Scott Kahabka Batavia, NY 9 32-07 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 09-15 Day 3: 3 12-00
8. David Ottman Oswego, NY 9 32-06 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-02 Day 2: 3 10-00 Day 3: 3 12-04
9. George Acord Lancaster, PA 9 32-01 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 3 12-05 Day 2: 3 08-14 Day 3: 3 10-14
10. Larry C Butler New Haven, VT 9 32-00 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 3 09-13 Day 2: 3 12-10 Day 3: 3 09-09
11. Larry Triplett Parker, CO 9 31-13 0 $1,250.00
Day 1: 3 08-10 Day 2: 3 11-06 Day 3: 3 11-13
12. Joe Lucarelli New Hampton, NH 9 31-09 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 11-15 Day 2: 3 10-06 Day 3: 3 09-04
13. Sean Ritchie Winston, GA 9 31-01 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 10-01 Day 2: 3 11-00 Day 3: 3 10-00
14. Dane Odom Irmo, SC 9 30-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 11-00 Day 2: 3 12-11 Day 3: 3 07-03
15. Shawn Maynor Talala, OK 9 30-09 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 12-08 Day 2: 3 12-02 Day 3: 3 05-15
15. Keith Kavajecz Kaukauna, WI 9 30-09 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 3 12-06 Day 3: 3 10-09
17. Mike Frazier Clermont, FL 9 30-06 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 3 12-06 Day 3: 3 08-15
18. Mark Heatwole Harrisonburg, VA 9 30-03 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 08-13 Day 2: 3 10-15 Day 3: 3 10-07
19. Joel Etheredge Springville, AL 9 30-02 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 3 09-12 Day 3: 3 09-12
20. Jason Seaton Martinsville, IN 9 29-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 11-08 Day 2: 3 11-15 Day 3: 3 06-07
21. Brendan Walsh Niagara Falls, NY 9 29-13 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 11-02 Day 2: 3 07-11 Day 3: 3 11-00
21. Al Odom Irmo, SC 9 29-13 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 10-08 Day 3: 3 10-13
23. Matt Burch Oakdale, MN 9 29-08 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 09-04 Day 2: 3 11-00 Day 3: 3 09-04
24. Randy Bell Hamburg, NY 9 29-07 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 08-06 Day 2: 3 09-10 Day 3: 3 11-07
25. Alton Jones Jr. Woodway, TX 9 29-06 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 11-10 Day 2: 3 10-02 Day 3: 3 07-10
26. Greg Hackman Sturgis, MI 9 29-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 10-08 Day 2: 3 09-06 Day 3: 3 09-06
26. Brad Brodnicki Buffalo, NY 9 29-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 13-02 Day 2: 3 05-15 Day 3: 3 10-03
28. John Hayes Sherwood Park ALBERTA C 9 28-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 09-09 Day 2: 3 09-13 Day 3: 3 09-07
29. Jason Putman Cicero, NY 9 28-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 10-00 Day 2: 3 10-08 Day 3: 3 08-02
30. Charles Love Franklinville, NY 9 28-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 3 09-00 Day 3: 3 08-14
31. Frank Campbell Niagara Falls, NY 9 28-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 10-15 Day 2: 3 08-14 Day 3: 3 08-06
32. Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, AL 9 28-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 11-08 Day 3: 3 10-06
32. Marvin Stith Piscataway, NJ 9 28-02 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 3 08-15 Day 3: 3 08-09
34. Ron Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 9 27-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 08-00 Day 2: 3 09-15 Day 3: 3 09-14
35. Ed Labuda Niagara Falls, NY 9 27-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 08-14 Day 2: 3 08-11 Day 3: 3 10-00
36. Darin Doll York, PA 9 27-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 08-01 Day 2: 3 09-15 Day 3: 3 09-04
37. George Fiorille Moravia, NY 9 27-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 08-08 Day 2: 3 09-02 Day 3: 3 09-07
38. Frank Miller Nanticoke, PA 9 27-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 09-03 Day 2: 3 09-03 Day 3: 3 08-10
39. Lance Peck Tulsa, OK 9 26-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 09-06 Day 2: 3 08-11 Day 3: 3 08-14
40. Jeff Hippert Hamburg, NY 9 26-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 09-01 Day 2: 3 08-05 Day 3: 3 09-03
41. Larry Baer Elizabethtown, PA 9 26-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 06-02 Day 2: 3 12-04 Day 3: 3 08-00
42. Vance E Manchester Wakefield, MA 9 26-04 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 12-01 Day 2: 3 05-08 Day 3: 3 08-11
43. Josh Giran Elizabeth, PA 9 25-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 3 10-00 Day 3: 3 08-00
44. Timothy Braun Buffalo, NY 9 25-05 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 09-11 Day 2: 3 10-11 Day 3: 3 04-15
45. Russ Licata Lancaster, NY 7 24-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 12-10 Day 2: 3 08-01 Day 3: 1 04-01
46. Tim Miles Frederick, MD 9 24-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 3 12-00 Day 3: 3 05-07
47. Frank Tully Saint Albans, VT 8 24-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 12-08 Day 2: 3 09-00 Day 3: 2 03-00
48. Jason Root Fostoria, OH 9 23-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 10-05 Day 2: 3 08-06 Day 3: 3 05-03
49. Barry Schultz Lockport, NY 7 21-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 10-04 Day 2: 3 10-04 Day 3: 1 01-04
49. Mike Kavajecz Kaukauna, WI 6 21-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 2 07-13 Day 2: 3 11-13 Day 3: 1 02-02
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BIG BASS
Day
1 Marvin Stith Piscataway, NJ 05-07 $500.00
2 Tim Creighton Buffalo, NY 05-11 $500.00
3 Dave Elder Tuscaloosa, AL 05-01 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 287 841-02
2 92 290 844-15
3 46 143 442-15
----------------------------------
231 720 2129-00