If this is how Tommy Biffle performs when the Wagoner, Okla., veteran is just "goofing around", the other 46 Bassmaster Elite Series anglers that qualified for the weekend at the bass fishing tournament should beware. Biffle smoked 18 pounds, 9 ounces, on Fort Gibson Lake to build his two-day total to 38 pounds, 4 ounces, enough for a healthy 2-plus pound advantage.
With so much on the line - a Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason berth and a $100,000 top prize here - Biffle is hardly being cavalier about his performance. Instead, the four-time Bassmaster winner has executed a risky strategy, eschewing some of his best honey holes in hopes of saving them for the weekend when the competition heats up.
It's risky in the sense that other anglers might have found some of these areas, but Biffle's expansive knowledge of the lake allows him some leeway - he says he couldn't touch his spots if he was given a whole week to play with.
Friday, Biffle cashed in on a fast-and-furious early bite, boating 15 pounds by 7:15 a.m., 45 minutes into his competition day.
"When I say I'm messing around I mean that I'm fishing a couple of different spots," said Biffle. "When I know I need to go catch one, I know where I can go to quickly get one. But I don't want to give too much away. I just might have to turn it on tomorrow (Saturday)."
Regarded as a shallow-water specialist, Biffle said he is mixing up his execution this week and concentrating at times on deeper water. He didn't execute flawlessly - he lost two big ones - and missed his target of 20 pounds by a small measure. But after leading by just 1 ounce Thursday, he was satisfied to put some distance between himself and the field.
With homefield advantage - Biffle mowed his lawn Wednesday and has been crashing in his own bed all week - it would appear that the 52-year-old is impossible to catch. But Biffle, as straightforward as they come, isn't convinced.
"It's still wide open," said Biffle. "This lake is awfully good and guys can easily sneak up from behind. There is just so many ways to catch them. I won't let up until the last day."
With a solid performance thus far and little evidence that things will change, Biffle looks to be a virtual lock for the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason - only the top 12 from the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings qualify. He was 17th in the AOY standings heading into this week.
Directly behind Biffle was Pat Golden of High Point, N.C., with 35-15. Golden, who has fished on the Elites since 2008, is in position to upgrade his best career Elite finish of 15th. The 41-year-old primarily worked a crankbait on Thursday but after an ineffective spell Friday, Golden switched to a spinnerbait and promptly caught a 4-pounder.
He is working two patterns, one shallow and one deep but is sharing his water with other Elite competitors. His plan for Saturday was to tie on a crankbait and not look back.
"It's kind of a mixed deal out there,"said Golden. "One day, they can be biting one thing and then the next day, you cant buy a bite on that lure."
Riding a wave of momentum, Kevin VanDam moved up to third with 34-9. VanDam is getting warm at the right time and the surge has him climbing up the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings. Just two weeks ago, pundits were wondering if there was something amiss with VanDam but the Kalamazoo, Mich., pro lurks as an intimidating threat for his third consecutive AOY.
VanDam isn't sure he can catch Biffle - heck, no one was - but he was satisfied with his tournament thus far.
"I'm not in an area that has a ton of big fish but I know what I can catch there," said VanDam, a five-time Angler of the Year. "The key for me is that you want to be fishing your best heading into the Postseason. And I feel like I am right now."
Moving up to fourth and thus virtually sealing a Postseason birth was Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., with 34-3. Dropping from second to fifth was Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., with 34-0.
Only the top 47 anglers move on to Saturday, the penultimate day of competition. Included in the qualifiers were AOY leader Skeet Reese and his closest competition, Edwin Evers. Reese has reversed a mini-slump this week and sits in ninth here. That performance and a mediocre 38th-place showing by Evers has Reese ahead in the AOY rankings by a comfortable margin.
The public is invited to attend the all festivities surrounding the event. Launches will begin at 6:30 a.m. CT at Sequoyah Bay and weigh-ins will take place at 3:30 p.m. CT. Weekend festivities will occur at Three Forks Harbor, 5201 Three Forks Rd., Fort Gibson, Okla., beginning at 12 p.m. CT. All events are free and open to the public. Included in the Three Forks Harbor festivities will be a Kid's area with face painting, arts and crafts and games.
2010 Elite Series - Muskogee, OK 06/17-06/20 Arkansas River, Muskogee Okla.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 10 38-04
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 18-09
2. Pat Golden High Point, N.C. 10 35-15
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 17-00
3. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 34-09
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 16-15
4. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 10 34-03
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 19-15
5. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 10 34-00
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 14-06
6. Chad Griffin Cresson, Texas 10 33-10
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 18-15
7. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 10 33-10
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 17-10
8. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 10 33-06
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 18-06
9. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 10 33-00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 17-05
10. Matt Herren Trussville, Ala. 10 33-00
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 14-13
11. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 10 32-13
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 13-05
12. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 10 32-12
Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 16-07
13. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 10 30-13
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 14-04
14. Keith Poche Troy, Ala. 10 30-11
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 16-02
15. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 10 30-10
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 15-01
16. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 10 30-04
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 15-04
17. Marty Stone Fayetteville, N.C. 10 30-02
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 15-01
18. Derek Remitz Grant, Ala. 10 29-15
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 17-02
19. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 10 29-15
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 13-14
20. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 10 29-11
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 16-14
21. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 10 29-09
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 11-05
22. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 10 29-08
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 13-06
23. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 10 29-07
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 15-02
24. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 10 28-15
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-11
25. Vince Fulks Purcell, Okla. 10 28-09
Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 11-11
26. Chris Lane Guntersville, Ala. 10 28-08
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 17-08
27. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 10 28-06
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 12-14
28. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 10 28-05
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 14-09
29. Bradley Roy Lancaster, Ky. 10 27-13
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 15-01
30. Morizo Shimizu Osaka, Japan 10 27-06
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 13-06
31. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 10 27-06
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 13-08
32. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 10 27-05
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 13-07
33. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 10 27-02
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 10-02
34. Peter Thliveros St Augustine, Fla. 10 27-02
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 12-01
35. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, Md. 10 27-01
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 11-03
36. John Crews Salem, Va. 9 26-15
Day 1: 4 6-14 Day 2: 5 20-01
37. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 10 26-14
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 15-04
38. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 10 26-14
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 13-11
39. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 9 26-11
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 4 13-01
40. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 10 26-07
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 12-12
41. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 10 26-06
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-12
42. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 10 26-01
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 14-11
43. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 10 25-15
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 15-09
44. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 10 25-14
Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 8-11
45. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 9 25-13
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 4 7-08
46. Mark Tyler Vian, Okla. 10 25-12
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-04
47. Marty Robinson Lyman, S.C. 10 25-11
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 15-08
48. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 10 25-10 179
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 13-05
49. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 10 25-04 177
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 14-00
50. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 10 25-03 175
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 12-08
51. Bobby Lane Lakeland, Fla. 9 24-12 173
Day 1: 4 8-12 Day 2: 5 16-00
52. Shaw Grigsby Gainesville, Fla. 10 24-11 171
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 5 13-11
53. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 10 24-02 169
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 10-07
54. Bradley Hallman Norman, Okla. 9 24-02 167
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 4 9-00
55. Zell Rowland Austin, Texas 10 24-01 165
Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 14-02
56. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, N.J. 10 23-14 163
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 9-14
57. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 23-14 161
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 10-14
58. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 8 23-09 159
Day 1: 3 7-14 Day 2: 5 15-11
59. Bill Lowen North Bend, Ohio 10 23-08 157
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 9-04
60. Wade Grooms Bonneau, S.C. 10 23-08 155
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 10-12
61. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 9 23-04 153
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 4 8-14
62. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, Okla. 9 23-01 151
Day 1: 4 10-15 Day 2: 5 12-02
63. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 10 22-14 149
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 12-13
64. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Ala. 10 22-12 147
Day 1: 5 8-12 Day 2: 5 14-00
65. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 10 22-12 145
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 11-07
66. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 10 22-10 143
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 11-09
67. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, Ark. 10 22-09 141
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 10-07
68. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 10 22-08 139
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 12-07
69. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, Texas 10 21-15 137
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-10
70. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, N.C. 9 21-13 135
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 4 10-13
71. Mark Burgess Norton, Mass. 9 21-12 133
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 4 9-14
72. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 10 21-04 131
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 8-12
73. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 10 20-14 129
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 9-04
74. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 9 20-14 127
Day 1: 4 8-11 Day 2: 5 12-03
75. Ish Monroe Hughson, Calif. 10 20-12 125
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 5 9-02
76. Jeremy Starks Charleston, W.Va. 8 20-06 123
Day 1: 3 6-00 Day 2: 5 14-06
77. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 10 20-04 121
Day 1: 5 8-05 Day 2: 5 11-15
78. Byron Velvick Del Rio, Texas 9 20-02 119
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 4 8-12
79. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 20-01 117
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 8-15
80. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 8 20-00 115
Day 1: 3 7-02 Day 2: 5 12-14
81. David Smith Del City, Okla. 7 19-04 113
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 2 3-03
82. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 10 19-02 111
Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 5 9-07
83. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 8 19-00 109
Day 1: 3 9-13 Day 2: 5 9-03
84. Byron Haseotes Centerville, Mass. 9 18-02 107
Day 1: 4 8-01 Day 2: 5 10-01
85. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz 8 17-12 105
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 3 6-08
86. Jeff Connella Bentley, La. 7 16-14 103
Day 1: 2 3-08 Day 2: 5 13-06
87. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, Okla. 7 16-10 101
Day 1: 2 5-05 Day 2: 5 11-05
88. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 8 16-01 99
Day 1: 4 9-01 Day 2: 4 7-00
89. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 8 15-04 97
Day 1: 5 9-14 Day 2: 3 5-06
90. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, La. 7 15-02 95
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 2 4-00
91. Matt Greenblatt Palm Beach Gardens, Fl 6 12-07 93
Day 1: 4 8-01 Day 2: 2 4-06
92. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, La. 4 10-14 91
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 10-14
93. Clark Reehm Russellville, Ark. 3 5-14 89
Day 1: 2 4-03 Day 2: 1 1-11
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 78 436 1172-14
2 78 439 1166-15
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156 875 2339-13