Kevin Short was sick of hearing about swimbaits and Thursday, he did his best to change the conversation. Kicking it "old school", Short of Mayflower, Ark., tied on two comfort choices - a jig and a crankbait - and toted 20 pounds, 3 ounces, of Pickwick Lake bass to the scales at the Alabama Charge bass fishing tournament, enough to hold off Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., by 10 ounces.
Short was mired in 74th place in the Bassmaster Angler of the year standings heading into this week - indicative of his lack of affinity for the swimbait -and needed a shot in the arm here. The first leg of the Elite Series has been dominated by swimbaits as Skeet Reese and Byron Velvick won with the frustrating technique in the previous two events.
But Short knew he was getting back to his strengths with the schedule focusing on Tennessee River impoundments that fish more traditionally. And Short cashed in, reversing his sliding trend after a rough stretch to begin the season.
"I've been so discombobulated lately and I knew I just needed to get my brain in the right place to start catching fish," said Short, who scored his first Elite Series victory last year on the Mississippi River. "I needed to get back on track and I needed to stick to what I know best. So far, it's working"
Short started attacking shallow early, keying in on strictly largemouths. As the day progressed, Short moved to deeper water, following where he felt the fish were going. By 10 a.m., he boated three decent bass, which gave him the opportunity to relax and expand on his areas.
With a bevy of 2- and 3-pounders saturated in his area, Short figured out a way to only target the bigger bass. While he has limited boat traffic in his area, he said none of the other competitors have figured out how to catch the largemouth like he has.
"I just feel comfortable fishing like this," said Short. "I'm just happy to get away from that darn swimbait."
There are two polarizing decisions that anglers have to make this week. One, they risk losing valuable time by locking through to Lake Wilson -- the move can pay off in spades - or play it safe in Pickwick. Secondly, once a location is established, anglers have to quickly decide to target largemouth or smallmouth as both species are in play this week. While Short is married to the largemouth bite, Pace is working the smallies.
Plying through a ton of bites, Pace found the right five smallmouths to total 19-9. He was working tight, small areas that were home to roaming smallmouth. He stayed on Pickwick, like Short, and targeted shallow water.
He will duplicate his pattern Friday but with weather approaching - rain is in store for later in the day - Pace wouldn't rule out entirely switching things up.
"Smallmouth generally like to roam and cruise around within their areas," said Pace, who qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason in 2009. "So I was playing to their habits in those pockets. I wasn't sure I would stick to this pattern all day when I first got on the water but I got a couple of good ones early and that really helped."
Behind Pace in third was blazing hot Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., with 18-15. In his first ever visit to Pickwick, Reese stumbled in practice and was simply looking at not bombing this week in order to keep momentum in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year.
Instead, he finds himself in contention and is threatening to run away with the Bassmaster Angler of the Year trophy.
"I had zero confidence this week," said Reese, the 2007 Angler of the Year and 2009 Bassmaster Classic champion. "That weight is certainly not where I expected to be. Coming in this week, I would have been happy with a top 20."
Edwin Evers, who was tied for fourth in the AOY race heading into this week, was also tied for fourth in the event. Greg Hackney, of Gonzales, La., matched Evers' with 18-9. Hackney, in second to Reese in the AOY, continues to pile up solid tournaments and has prevented Reese from taking a near-insurmountable lead.
In sixth was Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., with 18-3. Five-time AOY Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., was 24th with 15-2.
BASS has visited Pickwick Lake, a 47,000-acre Tennessee River fishery, for six events, including a 2002 Southern Open won by Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala., with 33 pounds, 8 ounces, through three days. Duckett was ninth.
The Alabama Charge has a top prize of $100,000 and awards valuable points in the 2010 Bassmaster Angler of the Year title race. The full Elite field will compete Thursday and Friday, with the top 47 advancing to Saturday's competition. From there, the top 12 will advance to Sunday for a shot at the trophy and the top prize.
The public is invited to attend the daily launches at 6:10 a.m. CT at McFarland Park, 200 James M. Spain Dr., Florence, Ala., 35630. Also free and open to the public, the daily weigh-ins are set for 3:30 p.m. CT at McFarland Park.
The top 12 pros in the AOY standings at the end of the regular season will advance to the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series postseason, in which the Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be determined.
2010 Florence, AL 4/29-5/2 Pickwick Lake, Florence AL. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 20-03 305 Day 1: 5 20-03 2. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 19-09 295 Day 1: 5 19-09 3. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 18-15 290 Day 1: 5 18-15 4. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 18-09 285 Day 1: 5 18-09 4. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 18-09 285 Day 1: 5 18-09 6. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 18-03 276 Day 1: 5 18-03 7. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 18-01 272 Day 1: 5 18-01 8. Zell Rowland Austin, TX 5 18-00 268 Day 1: 5 18-00 9. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 17-11 264 Day 1: 5 17-11 10. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 5 17-07 260 Day 1: 5 17-07 11. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 5 17-03 257 Day 1: 5 17-03 12. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 5 17-02 254 Day 1: 5 17-02 13. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 17-01 251 Day 1: 5 17-01 13. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 17-01 251 Day 1: 5 17-01 15. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 16-03 245 Day 1: 5 16-03 16. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 16-01 243 Day 1: 5 16-01 17. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 5 16-00 241 Day 1: 5 16-00 18. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 5 15-15 239 Day 1: 5 15-15 19. Keith Poche Troy, AL 5 15-12 237 Day 1: 5 15-12 20. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 15-10 235 Day 1: 5 15-10 21. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 15-08 233 Day 1: 5 15-08 21. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 15-08 233 Day 1: 5 15-08 23. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 15-04 229 Day 1: 5 15-04 24. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 15-02 227 Day 1: 5 15-02 25. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 15-01 225 Day 1: 5 15-01 26. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 15-01 223 Day 1: 5 15-01 27. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 14-15 221 Day 1: 5 14-15 28. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 14-14 219 Day 1: 5 14-14 29. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 14-12 217 Day 1: 5 14-12 30. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 14-10 215 Day 1: 5 14-10 31. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 14-08 213 Day 1: 5 14-08 32. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 5 14-07 211 Day 1: 5 14-07 32. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 14-07 211 Day 1: 5 14-07 32. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 14-07 211 Day 1: 5 14-07 35. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 5 14-06 205 Day 1: 5 14-06 35. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 14-06 205 Day 1: 5 14-06 35. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 14-06 205 Day 1: 5 14-06 38. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 5 14-04 199 Day 1: 5 14-04 38. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 5 14-04 199 Day 1: 5 14-04 40. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 14-02 195 Day 1: 5 14-02 41. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 5 14-00 193 Day 1: 5 14-00 41. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 14-00 193 Day 1: 5 14-00 43. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 13-14 189 Day 1: 5 13-14 44. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 13-08 187 Day 1: 5 13-08 44. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 13-08 187 Day 1: 5 13-08 46. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 5 13-06 183 Day 1: 5 13-06 47. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 5 13-06 181 Day 1: 5 13-06 48. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 13-05 179 Day 1: 5 13-05 49. John Crews Salem, VA 5 13-04 177 Day 1: 5 13-04 50. Alton Jones Waco, TX 5 13-03 175 Day 1: 5 13-03 51. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 13-01 173 Day 1: 5 13-01 52. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 13-00 171 Day 1: 5 13-00 53. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 12-15 169 Day 1: 5 12-15 54. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 12-14 167 Day 1: 5 12-14 54. Pat Golden High Point, NC 5 12-14 167 Day 1: 5 12-14 54. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 12-14 167 Day 1: 5 12-14 57. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 5 12-13 161 Day 1: 5 12-13 57. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 5 12-13 161 Day 1: 5 12-13 59. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 12-11 157 Day 1: 5 12-11 60. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 12-10 155 Day 1: 5 12-10 61. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 12-09 153 Day 1: 5 12-09 62. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 12-05 151 Day 1: 5 12-05 63. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 12-04 149 Day 1: 5 12-04 63. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 12-04 149 Day 1: 5 12-04 63. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 12-04 149 Day 1: 5 12-04 66. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 5 12-01 143 Day 1: 5 12-01 66. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 12-01 143 Day 1: 5 12-01 66. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 12-01 143 Day 1: 5 12-01 69. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 11-14 137 Day 1: 5 11-14 70. Byron Haseotes Centerville, MA 5 11-08 135 Day 1: 5 11-08 71. Matt Greenblatt Palm Beach Gardens, FL 5 11-04 133 Day 1: 5 11-04 71. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 11-04 133 Day 1: 5 11-04 73. David Smith Del City, OK 5 11-03 129 Day 1: 5 11-03 74. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 5 11-02 127 Day 1: 5 11-02 75. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 5 11-01 125 Day 1: 5 11-01 75. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 11-01 125 Day 1: 5 11-01 77. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 5 10-13 121 Day 1: 5 10-13 78. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 10-09 119 Day 1: 5 10-09 79. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 10-08 117 Day 1: 5 10-08 79. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 10-08 117 Day 1: 5 10-08 81. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 10-04 113 Day 1: 5 10-04 82. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 10-03 111 Day 1: 5 10-03 83. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 10-02 109 Day 1: 5 10-02 83. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 10-02 109 Day 1: 5 10-02 83. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 10-02 109 Day 1: 5 10-02 86. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 5 09-12 103 Day 1: 5 09-12 87. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 5 09-01 101 Day 1: 5 09-01 88. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 5 08-14 99 Day 1: 5 08-14 89. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 08-11 97 Day 1: 5 08-11 90. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 08-08 95 Day 1: 5 08-08 91. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 08-04 93 Day 1: 5 08-04 92. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 5 08-00 91 Day 1: 5 08-00 93. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 07-09 89 Day 1: 5 07-09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 93 465 1257-06 ---------------------------------- 93 465 1257-06