Just about the time when Skeet Reese was sharpening his skills on California fisheries as a youngster, the Talking Heads penned the memorable phrase, "same as it ever was." The iconic band's lyric has become the theme song for Reese's 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series season. As he has essentially all year, Reese was looking down at the rest of the competition Friday after extending his lead at the Synergy Southern Challenge bass fishing tournament. The five-time BASS winner is threatening to score his fifth consecutive top-5 finish -- unprecedented territory -- and second Elite win of the season through five events.
In building his lead - his 53 pounds, 4 ounces, was enough for a 1-plus pound advantage over Davy Hite of Ninety Six, S.C. -the 2007 Bassmaster Angler of the Year has been working exceedingly hard this week. In fact, Reese said that Thursday was the most taxing day on the water he has ever had in his professional career.
Reese is rotating between multiple schools of bass -most of which he located in practice -- and has back-up areas in case those dwindle. The only hiccup Friday was later in the day when the wind picked up and his bite died.
"Once you trigger that first fish in these schools, things turn on real quickly," said Reese, who fished his first BASS event in 1997. "And you can catch them pretty much every cast. But when those schools turn off, you can't buy a bite."
It's been well covered that Kevin VanDam (19th here) dominates Tennessee River impoundments but Reese's TVA affinity has been less publicized. Case in point: Reese scored a second on Guntersville last year, followed by a fourth on Kentucky Lake. Last week on Pickwick, Reese held the lead heading into the final day, eventually settling for fifth. With a top finish here and Kentucky Lake looming large on the Elite schedule in June, Reese is looking primed to take his second AOY trophy.
And while the excitement of last year's AOY race was great for the fans - VanDam surged ahead of Reese on the final day of the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason - Reese is doing his best to make the Postseason irrelevant.
Heading into this week, the 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion had a sizable lead in the AOY standings and with most of his closest competition struggling, Reese is looking to leave nothing to chance this year. Saturday, Reese said he will make the decision of which school to start on right before launch. As a result of the lead and first boat position, he will have his pick of the litter.
"Even if things get tough, I believe I have figured out to make them bite and turn those schools on," said Reese, 40.
Hite moved into second on account of the second-best limit of the day, a 27-pound total. The two-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year said he is moving with the fish and has several baits that he is confident can entice the right-sized bass.
One spot in particular yielded the majority of Hite's weight. He caught 60 fish off the area tricking a bass on every cast. While the wind hurt Reese, it was blowing directly into Hite's honey hole, which resulted in a magical late run.
"It's great to be in contention again,"said Hite, who has had a disappointing 2010 Elite Series campaign thus far. "I left my fish biting and that is really tough to do, but I figured I might be begging for 4-pounders over the weekend."
Just 1 ounce behind Hite was three-time AOY Mark Davis of Mt. Ida, Ark., with 51-6. Davis, a post-spawn specialist, is eyeing his first Elite Series victory.
In fourth was 2009 Rookie of the Year Billy McCaghren of Mayflower, Ark., with 49-13. McCaghren shot up 27 places with his 28-1 Friday, the biggest limit of the day. Rounding out the top five was Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., with 47-10.
While weights were down from Thursday, Guntersville didn't disappoint. It churned out 88 limits and 29 20-plus pound performances on Friday.
Only the top 47 anglers qualified for Saturday. Chris Lane, who recently relocated to Guntersville, squeaked into 47th with 23 pounds, 4 ounces, Friday. Other notables in the cutline were Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala. (16th), 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett (23rd) and Timmy Horton of Muscle Shoals, Ala. (27th).
Defending champion Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., limped in below the cutline in 57th. Guntersville has been the site of 20 top-level BASS events, including the 1976 Bassmaster Classic, won by Elite Series pro Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo. Clunn finished 67th this week.
In 2009, the top four overall weights for the four-day tournament crashed the scales at more than 100 pounds. Reese, Hite and Davis are all on track to join the century club this week.
2010 Guntersville, AL 5/6-5/9 Lake Guntersville, Guntersville AL. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 53-04 310 Day 1: 5 29-03 Day 2: 5 24-01 2. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 51-07 295 Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 27-00 3. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 51-06 290 Day 1: 5 27-12 Day 2: 5 23-10 4. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 10 49-13 285 Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 28-01 5. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 47-10 280 Day 1: 5 23-15 Day 2: 5 23-11 6. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 46-10 276 Day 1: 5 24-05 Day 2: 5 22-05 7. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 10 46-06 272 Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 23-06 8. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 46-03 268 Day 1: 5 23-06 Day 2: 5 22-13 9. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 10 45-06 264 Day 1: 5 26-12 Day 2: 5 18-10 10. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 45-06 260 Day 1: 5 26-01 Day 2: 5 19-05 11. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 45-04 257 Day 1: 5 24-07 Day 2: 5 20-13 12. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 44-13 254 Day 1: 5 28-04 Day 2: 5 16-09 13. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 10 44-13 251 Day 1: 5 24-03 Day 2: 5 20-10 14. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 44-12 248 Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 23-02 15. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 44-10 245 Day 1: 5 27-11 Day 2: 5 16-15 16. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 44-04 243 Day 1: 5 23-12 Day 2: 5 20-08 17. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 10 43-14 241 Day 1: 5 24-00 Day 2: 5 19-14 18. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 43-06 239 Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 20-06 19. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 10 43-03 237 Day 1: 5 23-04 Day 2: 5 19-15 20. John Crews Salem, VA 10 42-15 235 Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 24-15 21. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 42-14 233 Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 5 22-15 22. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 42-09 231 Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 23-05 23. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 10 42-04 229 Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 20-09 24. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 42-03 227 Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 23-00 25. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 10 41-08 225 Day 1: 5 23-06 Day 2: 5 18-02 26. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 10 41-04 223 Day 1: 5 22-02 Day 2: 5 19-02 27. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 40-10 221 Day 1: 5 23-02 Day 2: 5 17-08 28. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 40-09 219 Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 5 18-09 29. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 40-05 217 Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 21-13 30. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 10 40-04 215 Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 19-13 31. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 40-04 213 Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 21-03 32. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 10 40-03 211 Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 5 18-03 33. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 40-01 209 Day 1: 5 26-00 Day 2: 5 14-01 34. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 39-15 207 Day 1: 5 19-13 Day 2: 5 20-02 35. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 39-14 205 Day 1: 5 24-06 Day 2: 5 15-08 36. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 39-12 203 Day 1: 5 24-04 Day 2: 5 15-08 37. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 39-07 201 Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 18-05 38. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 39-02 199 Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 20-01 39. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 10 38-14 197 Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 22-01 40. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 38-13 195 Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 19-14 41. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 38-13 193 Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 18-03 42. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 38-12 191 Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 18-09 43. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 10 38-09 189 Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 17-06 44. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 38-02 187 Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 15-14 45. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 10 37-15 185 Day 1: 5 22-12 Day 2: 5 15-03 46. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 37-13 183 Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 22-00 47. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 37-10 181 Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 23-04 48. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 10 37-07 179 Day 1: 5 24-09 Day 2: 5 12-14 49. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 37-06 177 Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 22-03 50. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 10 37-05 175 Day 1: 5 21-12 Day 2: 5 15-09 51. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 37-05 173 Day 1: 5 19-06 Day 2: 5 17-15 52. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 37-03 171 Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 18-05 53. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 36-13 169 Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 11-09 54. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 10 36-09 167 Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 17-12 55. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 36-05 165 Day 1: 5 18-14 Day 2: 5 17-07 56. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 35-09 163 Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 20-09 57. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 35-09 161 Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 15-14 58. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 9 35-08 159 Day 1: 4 12-04 Day 2: 5 23-04 59. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 10 35-07 157 Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 17-00 60. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 35-04 155 Day 1: 5 22-08 Day 2: 5 12-12 61. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 10 34-14 153 Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 16-01 62. Alton Jones Waco, TX 10 34-10 151 Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 12-15 63. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 34-10 149 Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 17-10 64. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 34-09 147 Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 16-06 65. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 34-01 145 Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-06 66. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 33-12 143 Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 16-03 67. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 33-08 141 Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 18-04 68. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 10 33-07 139 Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 15-02 69. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 32-13 137 Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 16-01 70. Keith Poche Troy, AL 10 32-00 135 Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 15-04 71. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 10 31-13 133 Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 20-08 72. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 31-12 131 Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 12-08 73. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 10 31-12 129 Day 1: 5 16-05 Day 2: 5 15-07 74. Matt Greenblatt Palm Beach Gardens, FL 10 31-00 127 Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 14-10 75. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 10 30-13 125 Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 12-00 76. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 10 30-13 123 Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 14-13 77. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 10 30-13 121 Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 13-00 78. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 10 30-10 119 Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 13-01 79. Zell Rowland Austin, TX 10 29-11 117 Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 12-09 80. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 29-05 115 Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 12-07 81. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 29-00 113 Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-01 82. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 10 28-04 111 Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 17-01 83. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 27-14 109 Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-09 84. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 10 27-05 107 Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 15-01 85. Pat Golden High Point, NC 10 27-04 105 Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 12-04 86. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 9 25-08 103 Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 4 11-03 87. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 10 25-03 101 Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 13-00 88. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 9 23-07 99 Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 4 10-11 89. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 9 22-11 97 Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 4 09-02 90. Byron Haseotes Centerville, MA 10 22-05 95 Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 09-08 91. David Smith Del City, OK 9 20-03 93 Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-03 92. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 7 14-01 91 Day 1: 4 08-01 Day 2: 3 06-00 93. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 5 12-03 89 Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 90 462 1805-09 2 88 455 1623-09 ---------------------------------- 178 917 3429-02