MANY, La. — Dean Rojas outsmarted the wind Friday to hold the lead for the second day in the Battle on the Bayou bass fishing tournament.
“Where I was fishing was pretty well protected,” said Rojas, who had 19-13 Friday for 42-14 over two days on Toledo Bend Reservoir. “In some of the areas I was fishing, the prevailing west wind was OK, and my area wasn’t getting beat up. I was even able to sight-fish a few and catch that big one.”
That “big one” went 7 pounds, 15 ounces. He caught it about 1 p.m., when he already had a limit, allowing him to cull up and keep his lead in the fourth event of the Bassmaster Elite Series season.
Rojas put away Day One’s hottest challengers and staved off Aaron Martens by 2 pounds, 10 ounces. Martens charged from 13th to second place on the strength of a 21-13 sack, one of the day’s best weights. Randy Howell moved into third place with a bag that almost duplicated what he did on Day One, for 37-11 over two days. Fourth was the day’s biggest mover, David Walker. He shot from 53rd place with 24-0, the day’s biggest bag. Rounding out the top five was Gerald Swindle with 36-5.
They led the top-50 field for Saturday’s third round. On Sunday, only the best 12 will compete for the top prize of $100,000 and an automatic entry in the 2012 Bassmaster Classic.
Rojas kept his lead even though he had to abandon his water from the first day. He moved to an area that got him away from the brunt of Friday’s sustained afternoon winds of up to 25 mph punctuated by gusts of 40 mph.
He said he was casting and sight-fishing in the new area.
“Once I get around them, I set up and caught them,” he said.
After that, he said he went scouting.
“I burned up a couple of hours just looking, and I figured out that I need to move even more tomorrow. I left a couple on beds today for tomorrow. I figured it wouldn’t help me much today, only give me a couple pounds, and they’ll be worth a lot more to me tomorrow.”
Like most others, Martens bucked the wind. He also fought off the flu, feeling feverish through most of the day.
“It was a lot of work, I’ll be cramping up tonight,” he said of his day perched on his boat deck, keeping his balance as he cast into the high winds. “I fought the wind all day long, and this cold has me feeling weak.”
Martens said his best spot was crossed by a trotline, and he kept tangling his jig in it. He had five or six spots, main lake and in a creek, from which he pulled about 20 keepers.
Randy Howell produced 19-0 Friday on an offshore pattern, almost repeating his 18-11 on Day One.
“Yesterday I had one 7-pounder, and that gave me a lot of my weight. I had two 5-pounders today and a good, solid bag.”
He had 16 to 17 pounds on one spot, but the wind blew too hard and he had to abandon it. He returned to a place he’d hit the first day, where he got one of the 5-pounders.
“I think the sunlight helped, kind of scrapped it out,” he said. “I’m hoping for less wind, tomorrow, though.”
The day’s big bass was a 10-15 by Ish Monroe. The fish put him not only in contention for the Berkley Big Bass of the Tournament bonus of $500, but into the cut at place No. 21 for Saturday’s fishing.
DAY 2 STANDINGS- BATTLE ON THE BAYOU
2011 Battle On The Bayou - Many, LA PRO 04/14-04/17
Toledo Bend Reservoir, Many La.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz 10 42-14
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 19-13
2. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 10 40-04
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 21-13
3. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 10 37-11
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 19-00
4. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. 10 37-06
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 24-00
5. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 10 36-05
Day 1: 5 19-09 Day 2: 5 16-12
6. Chris Lane Guntersville, Ala. 10 35-05
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 18-03
7. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 10 35-01
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 15-14
8. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Ala. 10 34-00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 18-14
9. James Stricklin Texarkania, Texas 10 34-00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 17-10
10. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 10 33-09
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 13-05
11. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, Okla. 10 32-14
Day 1: 5 21-03 Day 2: 5 11-11
12. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, Tenn. 10 32-02
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 12-07
13. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 10 32-02
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 15-10
14. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, Fla. 10 32-01
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-10
15. John Crews Salem, Va. 10 31-15
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 16-06
16. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, S.C. 10 31-11
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 15-01
17. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 10 31-10
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 16-03
18. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 10 31-04
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 14-02
19. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 10 30-12
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 13-02
20. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 10 30-11
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 16-03
21. Ish Monroe Hughson, Calif. 9 30-11
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 4 18-14
22. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 10 29-15
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 18-06
23. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 10 29-13
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 11-05
24. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 10 29-13
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 13-06
25. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 10 29-12
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 14-11
26. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 10 29-10
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 15-00
27. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, Idaho 10 29-10
Day 1: 5 20-06 Day 2: 5 9-04
28. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 10 29-09
Day 1: 5 9-09 Day 2: 5 20-00
29. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 10 29-07
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 10-15
30. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, Texas 10 29-06
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 13-13
31. Jeff Connella Bentley, La. 10 29-04
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 14-14
32. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 10 29-03
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 14-07
33. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 10 29-00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 16-02
34. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 10 29-00
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 9-00
35. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 10 28-14
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 17-08
36. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 10 28-13
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 15-13
37. Matt Herren Trussville, Ala. 10 28-12
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 13-14
38. Marty Robinson Lyman, S.C. 10 28-11
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 16-10
39. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 10 28-06
Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 10-01
40. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 10 28-05
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 17-09
41. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 10 28-02
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 11-14
42. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, La. 10 27-13
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 12-06
43. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 10 27-10
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-08
44. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 27-07
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-02
45. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, La. 10 27-03
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 13-12
46. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, N.J. 10 27-02
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 8-10
47. Pat Golden High Point, N.C. 10 27-00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 16-05
48. Keith Combs Huntington, Texas 10 27-00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 14-13
49. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 27-00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 12-14
50. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 10 26-13
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-08
51. Peter Thliveros St Augustine, Fla. 10 26-08 173
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 12-13
52. Keith Poche Troy, Ala. 10 26-05 171
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 12-01
53. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, Texas 9 26-05 169
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 4 10-11
54. Bobby Lane Lakeland, Fla. 10 26-02 167
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 15-03
55. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 26-00 165
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 10-06
56. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 10 25-14 163
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 11-06
57. Craig Schuff Watauga, Texas 10 25-11 161
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 11-06
58. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 10 25-07 159
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 9-08
59. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, N.C. 10 25-04 157
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 11-01
60. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 10 24-15 155
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 14-09
61. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka, Japan 10 24-13 153
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 10-09
62. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, Okla. 10 24-11 151
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 12-09
63. Shaw Grigsby Gainesville, Fla. 10 24-11 149
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 12-04
64. Dean Alexander Georgetown, Texas 10 24-08 147
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 11-00
65. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 10 24-03 145
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 9-15
66. Bill Lowen Brookville, Ind. 10 24-03 143
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 12-06
67. Kelly Jordon Palestine, Texas 10 24-00 141
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 11-04
68. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 10 23-14 139
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 12-03
69. Chad Griffin Cresson, Texas 10 23-13 137
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 9-07
70. Derek Remitz Grant, Ala. 10 23-07 135
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 11-09
71. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 10 23-06 133
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 10-15
72. Ben Parker Union City, Tenn. 10 23-06 131
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 5 12-04
73. Russell Parrish Riesel, Texas 10 23-03 129
Day 1: 5 9-14 Day 2: 5 13-05
74. Zell Rowland Austin, Texas 10 23-02 127
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 11-05
75. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 10 22-15 125
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 10-12
76. Travis Manson De Pere, Wisc. 10 22-13 123
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 8-00
77. Bradley Roy Lancaster, Ky. 10 22-09 121
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 9-12
78. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 10 22-09 119
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 9-14
79. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 10 22-09 117
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 12-02
80. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 10 22-08 115
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 8-04
81. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 10 22-08 113
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 9-06
82. Nate Wellman Newaygo, Mich. 10 22-08 111
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 11-02
83. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 10 22-03 109
Day 1: 5 9-01 Day 2: 5 13-02
84. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 10 22-02 107
Day 1: 5 9-05 Day 2: 5 12-13
85. Clark Reehm Lufkin, Texas 10 21-02 105
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 9-06
86. David Smith Del City, Okla. 10 20-09 103
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 8-10
87. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 10 20-09 101
Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 5 11-09
88. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, Ark. 10 20-00 99
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 9-04
89. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 10 19-14 97
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 9-06
90. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 9 19-13 95
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 4 6-13
91. Ryan Said Wixom, Mich. 10 19-04 93
Day 1: 5 8-02 Day 2: 5 11-02
92. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 10 18-07 91
Day 1: 5 8-14 Day 2: 5 9-09
93. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 8 18-04 89
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 3 5-14
94. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 9 18-00 87
Day 1: 4 7-10 Day 2: 5 10-06
95. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 9 17-00 85
Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 4 7-05
96. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, Fla. 8 16-14 83
Day 1: 3 5-07 Day 2: 5 11-07
97. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 9 15-00 81
Day 1: 5 8-08 Day 2: 4 6-08
98. Bradley Hallman Norman, Okla. 5 10-12 79
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 0 0-00
99. Brent Broderick Oregonia, Ohio 5 10-03 77
Day 1: 4 6-11 Day 2: 1 3-08
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 96 491 1365-07
2 91 479 1261-12
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187 970 2627-03