Bassmaster Elite Series Pros Search for Big Bass on Alabama's Lake Guntersville
What's at stake: $673,150 in cash to the top 50 Elite pros and valuable points towards qualifying in the Bassmaster Majors and the race for the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year award. The top 50 co-anglers compete for $122,250 in cash and merchandise.
Telecast: The Southern Challenge presented by Purolator will be aired on The Bassmasters on May 5 at 9 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Pros Said It
"It's really frustrating for me at this point. I've caught some fish but I'm having trouble putting a pattern together. I caught about eight fish but all of them were on different baits and in different areas. I'm just having a hard time figuring out what's going on. A guy who can figure out where the fish are can catch them. There are so many quality fish here you can do it." Bassmaster Elite Series pro and currently third in the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index, Jared Lintner, 33, Arroyo Grande, Calif.
"I'm not catching any big fish. The quantity is there but I'm not on the big ones. I'm sure it will take about the same weight as it did last year to win, about 20 pounds a day. There are two or three different patterns that will work and it will depend on what area of the lake you're in." Currently 44th in the Bassmaster Elite Series Power Index, third place finisher in most recent Bassmaster Elite Series tournament, Pete Ponds, 47, Madison, Miss.
"I'm catching a few pretty good fish out on the main river. It's hard to get bites, but if you get a bite it's usually a pretty good one. It's always funky during and around the spawn times and I don't know why, except that they don't seem to bite when they're spawning. Even the fish out on the river don't seem to bite when it's spawning time. The weather's good but it's still a tough bite." 2007 Bassmaster Classic winner Boyd Duckett, 46, Demopolis, Ala.
The Strategy
Lintner: Lintner said he is trying many techniques, including flipping and throwing reaction baits, spinnerbaits and topwater lures. He also said he was forcing himself to slow down. He said he has caught one fish with every technique but it has been hard to catch more than one. He predicts it will take 20 pounds a day to win the tournament.
Ponds: Ponds said he expects the Bassmaster Elite Series pros to be catching bass on spinnerbaits and topwater lures. He also said that some anglers will be targeting spawning fish.
Duckett: Duckett said he doesn't know Lake Guntersville as well as he knew Lay Lake when earlier this year he became the first angler ever to win the Bassmaster Classic in his home state. He has been throwing spinnerbaits and a Rat-L-Trap to grass in the main river and said he hopes to find some giant bass at the end of each day when he targets spawning bass.
Location and Field
Southern Challenge — Bassmaster Elite Series
Lake Guntersville
Guntersville, Ala.
April 26-29
Field
108 pros, 108 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3
Launch
Top of the River Restaurant
7004 Val Monte Drive
Guntersville, Ala.
5:50 a.m. CT
Weigh-in
Guntersville High School
14227 Hwy 431
Guntersville, Ala.
3 p.m. CT
Background
Previous BASS events
2006, Bassmaster Elite Series
2006, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2006, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2005, Bassmaster Open
2005, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2005, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series
2005, Bassmaster Tour
2004, Bassmaster Tour
2002, Bassmaster Tour
1997, BASS Invitational
1992, Bassmaster Megabucks
1992, BASS Invitational
1991, BASS Invitational
1990, BASS Megabucks
1990, BASS Invitational
1989, BASS Invitational
1988, BASS Invitational
1987, BASS Invitational
1980, BASS Champs Invitational
1976, Bassmaster Classic
Previous winners on lake
71-13, Michael Iaconelli, 2006
16-13, Michael Robinson, 2006
24-9, Matt McLaughlin, 2006
56-6, Andy Morgan, 2005
27-23, Scott Keeling, 2005
22-11, Douglas True, 2005
87-0, Zell Rowland, 2005
99-10, George Cochran, 2004
83-11, Kelly Jordon, 2002
52-6, Chris Baumgardner, 1997
79-11, Denny Brauer, 1992
55-1, George Cochran, 1992
55-10, Zell Rowland, 1991
30-6, Larry Nixon, 1990
71-0, Edward Gettys, 1990
60-7, Robert Byrd, 1989
47-5, Don Snider, 1988
42-6, Rick Clunn, 1987
53-10, Basil Bacon, 1980
59-15, Rick Clunn, 1976
Heaviest winning weight
99-10, George Cochran, 2004
Lowest winning weight
16-13, Michael Robinson, 2006
Weather
Temperature
77 degrees
Lake level
594.55 above mean sea level
Local sponsors: Local sponsors include Lake Guntersville Chamber of Commerce and Marshall County.
Bassmaster Elite Series sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide and Costa Del Mar.
Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Standings: After Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, Ga. Ending 04-22-2007 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Skeet Reese Calif. 1120 2 Jared Lintner Calif. 1029 3 Derek Remitz Texas 1015 4 Fred Roumbanis Calif. 965 5 Kevin VanDam Mich. 958 6 Ishama Monroe Calif. 930 7 Aaron Martens Ala. 927 8 Brent Chapman Kan. 921 9 Jeff Kriet Okla. 891 10 Mike McClelland Ark. 876 11 Steve Kennedy Ala. 867 12 Tommy Biffle Okla. 866 13 John Crews Va. 852 14 Chris Lane Fla. 851 15 Casey Ashley S.C. 847 16 Scott Rook Ark. 836 17 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 813 18 Gerald Swindle Ala. 812 19 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 811 20 John Murray Ariz. 800 21 Pete Ponds Miss. 796 22 Stephen Browning Ark. 791 23 Mark Tyler Okla. 789 23 Gary Klein Texas 789 25 Kevin Wirth Ky. 788 26 Cliff Pace Miss. 782 27 Greg Hackney La. 775 28 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 772 29 Todd Faircloth Texas 764 30 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 756 31 Scott Campbell Mo. 754 32 Alton Jones Texas 753 33 Paul Elias Miss. 751 33 Kelly Jordon Texas 751 35 Randy Howell Ala. 749 36 Mark Menendez Ky. 748 36 Russ Lane Ala. 748 38 Terry Scroggins Fla. 747 39 Dean Rojas Texas 745 40 Ken Brodeur Conn. 739 41 Takahiro Omori Texas 738 42 Dave Wolak N.C. 736 43 Rick Morris Va. 734 44 Edwin Evers Okla. 732 45 Davy Hite S.C. 726 46 Peter Thliveros Fla. 724 47 Timmy Horton Ala. 720 48 Brian Snowden Mo. 719 49 Jason Williamson S.C. 718 50 Britt Myers S.C. 712 51 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 705 52 Kevin Short Ark. 682 53 Lee Bailey Ala. 679 54 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 677 55 Jason Quinn S.C. 660 56 Bernie Schultz Fla. 654 57 Bill Smith Ky. 649 58 Marty Robinson S.C. 648 59 Bill Lowen Ohio 644 60 Paul Hirosky Pa. 643 61 James Charlesworth Fla. 639 61 Kenyon Hill Okla. 639 63 Guy Eaker N.C. 636 64 James Niggemeyer Texas 635 65 Matt Reed Texas 629 66 Zell Rowland Texas 628 67 Jimmy Mize Ark. 620 68 Jeff Connella La. 613 69 Glenn Delong Ohio 611 70 Ken Cook Okla. 610 71 Morizo Shimizu Calif. 593 72 Boyd Duckett Ala. 589 73 Ben Matsubu Texas 583 73 Shaw Grigsby, Jr Fla. 583 73 Kurt Dove Va. 583 76 Denny Brauer Mo. 580 77 Kevin Langill N.C. 577 78 Jim Murray Ga. 567 79 Matt Amedeo Ohio 557 80 Bradley Hallman Okla. 556 81 Mark Tucker Mo. 552 82 Mark Rogers Fla. 551 83 Steve Daniel Fla. 550 83 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 550 85 Charlie Hartley Ohio 546 86 Marty Stone N.C. 544 87 James Kennedy La. 516 88 Rick Clunn Mo. 515 89 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 512 90 Jami Fralick S.D. 511 91 Mike Wurm Ark. 510 92 Jon Bondy Canada 509 92 Eric Nethery Ga. 509 94 Grant Goldbeck Md. 503 94 Darrin Schwenkbeck Md. 503 96 Dave Smith Okla. 494 97 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 487 98 Preston Clark Fla. 486 99 Jimmy Mason Ala. 479 100 Doc Merkin Ill. 458 101 Keith Phillips Ala. 439 102 Charlie Youngers Fla. 424 103 Rick Ash Pa. 416 104 Byron Velvick Texas 410 105 Frank Scalish Ohio 398 106 Bradley Stringer Texas 352 107 Elton Luce Jr Texas 323 108 Terry Butcher Okla. 295
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