PALATKA, Fla. — Alton Jones has a plan, and he’s sticking to it. After all, it’s taken the bass fishing pro into the lead for two days running at the March 17-20 Citrus Slam on the St. Johns River.
Friday Jones brought in 22 pounds, 13 ounces, more than enough to repeat his Day One lead. His 49-6 total over two days put a distance of 7 pounds, 9 ounces, between him and J. Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., who had 41-13 for second place. In third place with 40-0 was Terry Scroggins of Palatka, Fla., the hometown pro who has a rich history to tap into, and a seemingly infinite number of spots to go to up and down the river.
Rounding out the top five were Edwin Evers of Oklahoma and Billy McCaghren of Arkansas. Evers moved up from 20th and McCaghren from seventh place.
Daily big bass honors went to the angler who claimed sixth place, 2010 and 2011 Bassmaster Classic champ Kevin VanDam. His 9-5 beat McCaghren’s 9-4. Jason Williamson’s 10-3 of Thursday, however, remained as the Big Bass of the tournament so far.
The field was cut to the top 50 for Saturday’s competition. Only the top 12 will fish Sunday for a $100,000 first prize. The winner’s take also includes a 2012 Bassmaster Classic qualification. Elite anglers are also after points that count toward qualifying for the 2011 Bassmaster Angler of the Year title and 2011 postseason, a winner-take-all, $100,000 contest.
Like most of the field, Jones is fishing for bedding bass, hitting a milk run of areas both days. He said he’ll go right back Saturday to the area that’s produced for him two days running.
“I left my first spot with a limit of only about 8 pounds, I went to my secondary area where I caught a 5-pounder yesterday, and got another 5-pounder today,” Jones said. “Then I went to a place I tried to go yesterday, but the way wind was blowing, you couldn’t see anything. It was basically empty today, but I did get my 8-7 there.”
He said he plans to go back to the spawning grounds he’s been working, a lake off the main St. Johns River, and he expects that the bounty of spawners will dwindle.
“It has been a sort of mass exodus, but they don’t all leave,” he said. “All it takes is one good female to pull up to give you a good day.”
Second-place holder Tucker pulled up from 11th place by remaining consistent; he had 21-5 Friday to build on his 20-8 of Thursday.
“I spent half of my day — until 12:30 with only three fish,” he said. “I stayed in my area, and let the fish show up and come to me. It’s more about having confidence in what you’re doing, and being patient. I’m banking on one or two big bites a day.”
His strategy is to quit trying for a fish that is showing signs she won’t bite. “I just leave her alone until she’s more comfortable,” he said.
Scroggins, who grew up fishing the St. Johns River, said he headed north Friday morning, hit a fog bank and turned around and went south. He simply tapped into another area he knew from past competitions would likely be productive.
His first stop was slow going — until he hooked and landed a 6-pounder.
“That kind of turned me on to something,” he said. “I really found something special.”
He said he lost a 7-pounder and a 4, and found a 10-pounder and 6-pounder that he could not get to hit his lure.
“They’re still sitting there, I know where they are,” he said. “I could have a really big bag tomorrow.”
DAY 2 STANDINGS Palatka, FL 03/17-03/20 St. Johns River, Palatka Fla. (PRO Division) Standings Day 2 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 10 49-06 Day 1: 5 26-09 Day 2: 5 22-13 2. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 10 41-13 Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 21-05 3. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 10 40-00 Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 22-13 4. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 10 38-13 Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 22-05 5. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, Ark. 10 36-06 Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-11 6. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 35-00 Day 1: 5 17-03 Day 2: 5 17-13 7. Keith Combs Huntington, Texas 10 34-01 Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 14-09 8. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 10 33-15 Day 1: 5 23-10 Day 2: 5 10-05 9. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 10 32-12 Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 12-03 10. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 10 32-02 Day 1: 5 20-09 Day 2: 5 11-09 11. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 10 32-02 Day 1: 5 25-04 Day 2: 5 6-14 12. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, Okla. 10 31-13 Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 16-03 13. Kelly Jordon Palestine, Texas 10 31-11 Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 16-01 14. John Crews Salem, Va. 10 31-06 Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 10-03 15. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, La. 10 29-13 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 16-02 16. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 10 28-15 Day 1: 5 22-04 Day 2: 5 6-11 17. Bobby Lane Lakeland, Fla. 10 28-13 Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 10-09 18. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Ala. 10 28-10 Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 14-06 19. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 10 27-12 Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 9-05 20. Russell Parrish Riesel, Texas 10 27-07 Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 15-00 21. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. 10 27-07 Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 15-09 22. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 10 26-15 Day 1: 5 16-14 Day 2: 5 10-01 23. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz 10 26-07 Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 10-00 24. Clark Reehm Lufkin, Texas 8 26-02 Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 3 5-08 25. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 10 26-01 Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 7-13 26. Ott Defoe Knoxville, Tenn. 10 26-01 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 14-15 27. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 10 25-01 Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-10 28. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 10 25-01 Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 13-01 29. Pat Golden High Point, N.C. 10 24-14 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 12-00 30. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 10 24-12 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 11-14 31. Craig Schuff Watauga, Texas 10 24-08 Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 9-00 32. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 10 24-06 Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 8-07 33. Matt Herren Trussville, Ala. 10 24-04 Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 10-13 34. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 10 24-00 Day 1: 5 9-08 Day 2: 5 14-08 35. Bill Lowen Brookville, Ind. 10 23-08 Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 10-03 36. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 6 23-07 Day 1: 5 22-05 Day 2: 1 1-02 37. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 10 22-09 Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-02 38. Peter Thliveros St Augustine, Fla. 10 22-05 Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 7-06 39. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 10 22-05 Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 8-13 40. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 10 22-05 Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 11-07 41. Ryan Said Wixom, Mich. 8 22-03 Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 3 3-12 42. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, N.C. 8 22-03 Day 1: 3 9-12 Day 2: 5 12-07 43. Chris Lane Guntersville, Ala. 10 21-13 Day 1: 5 9-06 Day 2: 5 12-07 44. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 10 21-06 Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 9-03 45. Zell Rowland Austin, Texas 10 21-03 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 11-02 46. Keith Poche Troy, Ala. 6 21-00 Day 1: 1 5-12 Day 2: 5 15-04 47. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 9 20-15 Day 1: 4 8-15 Day 2: 5 12-00 48. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 10 20-11 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 9-09 49. Ish Monroe Hughson, Calif. 10 20-09 Day 1: 5 6-13 Day 2: 5 13-12 50. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 10 20-06 Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 8-06 51. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 10 19-14 173 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 9-13 52. Shaw Grigsby Gainesville, Fla. 10 19-13 171 Day 1: 5 8-06 Day 2: 5 11-07 53. Marty Robinson Lyman, S.C. 10 19-09 169 Day 1: 5 8-11 Day 2: 5 10-14 54. Dean Alexander Georgetown, Texas 9 19-07 167 Day 1: 4 5-14 Day 2: 5 13-09 55. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 10 18-13 165 Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 7-06 56. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 9 18-04 163 Day 1: 4 6-05 Day 2: 5 11-15 57. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 10 18-02 161 Day 1: 5 8-13 Day 2: 5 9-05 58. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, N.J. 10 18-00 159 Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 7-06 59. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 10 17-14 157 Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 7-15 60. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 8 17-09 155 Day 1: 5 7-03 Day 2: 3 10-06 61. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 10 17-06 153 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 6-04 62. Derek Remitz Grant, Ala. 10 17-06 151 Day 1: 5 8-08 Day 2: 5 8-14 63. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 16-12 149 Day 1: 5 7-03 Day 2: 5 9-09 64. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 16-12 147 Day 1: 5 8-13 Day 2: 5 7-15 65. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, Fla. 10 16-09 145 Day 1: 5 8-00 Day 2: 5 8-09 66. Bradley Hallman Norman, Okla. 10 16-08 143 Day 1: 5 8-09 Day 2: 5 7-15 67. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 10 16-03 141 Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 6-04 68. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, S.C. 10 16-03 139 Day 1: 5 7-02 Day 2: 5 9-01 69. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 10 16-03 137 Day 1: 5 7-08 Day 2: 5 8-11 70. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, Okla. 10 16-01 135 Day 1: 5 9-14 Day 2: 5 6-03 71. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka, Japan 10 16-00 133 Day 1: 5 8-15 Day 2: 5 7-01 72. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 10 16-00 131 Day 1: 5 5-09 Day 2: 5 10-07 73. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 9 15-15 129 Day 1: 5 8-14 Day 2: 4 7-01 74. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, Fla. 10 15-14 127 Day 1: 5 7-13 Day 2: 5 8-01 75. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 8 15-13 125 Day 1: 4 6-00 Day 2: 4 9-13 76. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 10 15-11 123 Day 1: 5 6-15 Day 2: 5 8-12 77. Travis Manson De Pere, Wisc. 10 15-06 121 Day 1: 5 9-03 Day 2: 5 6-03 78. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 8 15-05 119 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 3 5-04 79. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, Texas 10 15-00 117 Day 1: 5 7-04 Day 2: 5 7-12 80. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, Idaho 10 14-06 115 Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 3-08 81. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 8 14-00 113 Day 1: 3 5-03 Day 2: 5 8-13 82. Bradley Roy Lancaster, Ky. 5 13-14 111 Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 4 11-08 83. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 9 13-06 109 Day 1: 5 7-13 Day 2: 4 5-09 84. James Stricklin Texarkania, Texas 7 13-04 107 Day 1: 2 2-04 Day 2: 5 11-00 85. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 7 12-14 105 Day 1: 2 2-03 Day 2: 5 10-11 86. Chad Griffin Cresson, Texas 10 12-11 103 Day 1: 5 1-13 Day 2: 5 10-14 87. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, Md. 8 12-09 101 Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 3 2-14 88. Jeff Connella Bentley, La. 7 12-00 99 Day 1: 5 8-15 Day 2: 2 3-01 89. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, La. 8 10-10 97 Day 1: 5 7-02 Day 2: 3 3-08 90. David Smith Del City, Okla. 6 10-03 95 Day 1: 5 8-13 Day 2: 1 1-06 91. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 6 10-02 93 Day 1: 3 5-05 Day 2: 3 4-13 92. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 7 9-02 91 Day 1: 5 6-13 Day 2: 2 2-05 93. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 7 8-03 89 Day 1: 2 2-12 Day 2: 5 5-07 94. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 6 7-12 87 Day 1: 1 2-01 Day 2: 5 5-11 95. Ben Parker Union City, Tenn. 6 7-08 85 Day 1: 2 2-07 Day 2: 4 5-01 96. Nate Wellman Newaygo, Mich. 5 6-12 83 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 6-12 97. Brent Broderick Oregonia, Ohio 4 6-12 81 Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 1 1-00 98. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 5 6-08 79 Day 1: 5 6-08 Day 2: 0 0-00 99. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 4 5-05 77 Day 1: 2 3-02 Day 2: 2 2-03 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 82 451 1118-13 2 80 450 960-09 ---------------------------------- 162 901 2079-06