Despite changing water levels, the threat of nasty weather and moderate boat traffic in his primary area, Kevin Short of Mayflower, Ark., made zero adjustments Friday, opting instead to keep things simple and duplicate his Thursday strategy en route to posting a two-day total of 38 pounds, 13 ounces at the Alabama Charge bass fishing tournament on Pickwick Lake, the fourth Bassmaster Elite Series of the season. As they did after Thursday, Short and Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., occupied the top two spots but Short was able to increase his lead to 3-plus pounds with his Friday limit of 18-10.
While some anglers are keying in on the shallows, Short has taken a different approach to his day. Each morning, he has started shallow and rounded out a decent limit. As the day progresses, Short moves deeper, settling in at a moderate depth level and working the area for all it's worth.
He is picking his areas apart slowly and thoroughly, keeping his lures - a crankbait and a jig - wet as often as possible on the Tennessee River impoundment. With the weather threatening to let loose Saturday, Short again planned to stick to his guns Saturday.
"I honestly don't know why they are biting," said Short, who won his first Elite Series tournament last June on the Mississippi River. "It could be my bait but whatever it is, I have something figured out that most other guys don't. I'm thrilled that I have been able to pile up this much weight."
For Short, the Pickwick success is no surprise - the season is shifting towards the more traditional fishing that Short excels at - and timely - he entered the tournament 74th in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings - as he was in danger of letting the season slip away from his with another subpar finish.
But Short dug in this week and has handled the changing parameters better than most, exhibiting consistency in a tournament that requires it. His bites have come in decidedly different manners as sometimes he entices the bass on his first cast while others take a significant amount of effort.
"No matter what happens with the weather, I know that there is enough fish moving out," said Short, who has strictly keyed on post-spawn largemouths this week. "I just have to figure out how to catch them if the conditions change."
There are two polarizing decisions that anglers have to make this week. Anglers have the choice of sticking to Pickwick or locking through to Lake Wilson. It is evident after two days that most anglers are sticking to Pickwick. Additionally, anglers have the luxury of either fishing for smallmouth, largemouth or both. And while Pace stuck to only smallmouths Thursday, he brought in a mixed bag Friday.
He is working a community hole that was so riddled with traffic, it tested Pace's patience all day. But the 29-year-old kept his cool and stayed in contention with 16 pounds, 0 ounces Friday. He spent the first two hours of the day working smallmouth in the shallows but only was able to land three. He slide out to the outside areas later in the day and located the largemouth.
Pace, 28th in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings heading into this event, said his area is holding post-spawn fish that are gradually moving deeper. While he feels the area holds the quality to win the tournament, it has had little time to rest due to the saturation of competitors.
"When you fish a community area, it's hard to duplicate success two days in a row," said Pace, who qualified for the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason last season. "I think I can have another good day Saturday though, if they pull the current and the clouds come out."
Moving up to third from sixth was Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., with 35-5. Martens is someone to watch as he feels right at home on Tennessee River impoundments -- last year he won an Elite event on Lake Guntersville. Moving up to fourth from a tie for 13th was Mike Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J., with 34-10. Rounding out the top five was Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., with 34-6.
Both Iaconelli and Martens were in good shape in the AOY standings heading into this event and are in serious contention for the Postseason - only the top 12 in the AOY standings at the end of the regular season qualify. Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., has a sizable lead in those standings but dropped to 14th in the event, which would be his worst finish of the season.
Again, the entire Elite Series field landed limits and some anglers took advantage of the minimal separation in the standings, making serious moves. Gary Klein of Weatherford, Texas, posted a 20-4 limit, the biggest of the tournament, and moved up 56 places. Dean Rojas of Lake Havasu, Ariz., moved up 53 places to 30th.
Other notables in the cutline were Ish Monroe of Hughson, Calif. (22nd), Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kan. (37th) and Greg Vinson of Wetumpka, Ala. (43rd).
Reigning Bassmaster Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam continues to struggle this season and limped to a 57th place finish. He will look for redemption next week on Guntersville, a KVD favorite.
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.
2010 Florence, AL 4/29-5/2 Pickwick Lake, Florence AL. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 38-13 310 Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 18-10 2. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 35-09 295 Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 16-00 3. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 35-05 290 Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 17-02 4. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 34-10 285 Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 17-09 5. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 34-06 280 Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 18-14 6. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 33-01 276 Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 14-08 7. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 32-12 272 Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 14-03 8. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 32-10 268 Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 17-00 9. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 32-07 264 Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 16-15 10. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 10 32-07 260 Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 15-05 11. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 10 32-06 257 Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 16-07 12. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 10 32-03 254 Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 14-12 13. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 32-02 251 Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 20-04 14. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 31-15 248 Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 13-00 15. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 10 31-14 245 Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 14-11 16. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 10 31-11 243 Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 18-05 17. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 10 31-05 241 Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 15-05 18. Zell Rowland Austin, TX 10 31-01 239 Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 13-01 19. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 31-00 237 Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 12-15 20. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 10 30-11 235 Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 18-02 21. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 10 30-09 233 Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 12-14 22. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 30-09 231 Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 16-01 23. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 30-01 229 Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 15-15 24. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 10 29-14 227 Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 15-07 25. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 29-11 225 Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 17-01 26. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 10 29-06 223 Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-02 27. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 10 29-06 221 Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 14-15 28. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 29-05 219 Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 16-05 29. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 10 29-01 217 Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 15-01 30. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 29-00 215 Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 18-14 31. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 29-00 213 Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 14-01 32. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 28-14 211 Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 15-13 33. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 28-14 209 Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 14-00 34. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 28-10 207 Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 14-04 35. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 10 28-08 205 Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 14-08 36. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 28-07 203 Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 13-13 37. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 28-06 201 Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-02 38. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 10 28-05 199 Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 15-08 39. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 28-02 197 Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 13-01 40. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 10 27-15 195 Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 11-12 41. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 10 27-14 193 Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 17-06 42. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 27-14 191 Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 5 10-13 43. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 27-10 189 Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 16-09 44. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 27-09 187 Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 14-14 45. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 27-09 185 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-11 46. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 27-07 183 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 15-06 47. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 10 27-07 181 Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-11 48. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 27-05 179 Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 12-04 49. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 27-04 177 Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 15-00 50. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 27-01 175 Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 12-11 51. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 27-00 173 Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 15-12 52. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 26-12 171 Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 16-10 53. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 26-08 169 Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 13-09 54. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 10 26-04 167 Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 11-14 55. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 10 26-04 165 Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 12-00 56. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 26-04 163 Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 12-06 57. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 26-02 161 Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 11-00 58. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 10 26-02 159 Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 13-14 59. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 26-02 157 Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-10 60. John Crews Salem, VA 10 26-02 155 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 5 12-14 61. Keith Poche Troy, AL 10 26-01 153 Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 10-05 62. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 25-15 151 Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 11-08 63. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 10 25-14 149 Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 12-09 64. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 10 25-10 147 Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 12-04 65. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 10 25-09 145 Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 14-12 66. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 10 25-09 143 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-11 67. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 10 25-08 141 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 13-07 68. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 25-06 139 Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 13-05 69. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 25-05 137 Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 11-13 70. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 10 25-03 135 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 14-01 71. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 25-01 133 Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 12-13 72. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 10 24-12 131 Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 11-15 73. Matt Greenblatt Palm Beach Gardens, FL 10 24-10 129 Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 13-06 74. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 24-04 127 Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 08-03 75. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 24-03 125 Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 13-02 76. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 23-15 123 Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 11-10 77. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 10 23-13 121 Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 14-12 78. Alton Jones Waco, TX 10 23-13 119 Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 10-10 79. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 23-00 117 Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 14-08 80. David Smith Del City, OK 10 22-03 115 Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 11-00 81. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 10 22-00 113 Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 11-12 82. Pat Golden High Point, NC 10 21-15 111 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 09-01 83. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 10 21-14 109 Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-05 84. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 21-12 107 Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 11-04 85. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 10 21-08 105 Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 13-08 86. Byron Haseotes Centerville, MA 10 21-05 103 Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 09-13 87. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 20-11 101 Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 12-07 88. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 20-07 99 Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 12-14 89. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 20-07 97 Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 10-05 90. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 10 20-03 95 Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 10-00 91. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 18-13 93 Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 5 10-02 92. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 10 18-09 91 Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 09-11 93. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 10 17-09 89 Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 5 07-13 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 93 465 1257-06 2 93 465 1284-00 ---------------------------------- 186 930 2541-06