ESPN Tournaments

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — It was 30 minutes before the anglers were set to take off when Kevin VanDam decided it was time to take a look at the Day One standings for the Bassmaster Legends presented by Ramada Worldwide. He commandeered a copy from a reporter and unfolded the sheet of paper with hands that are scarred and scabbed from catching huge numbers of fish on Thursday. His name sits seven places down the list, but he was more interested in Jason Quinn, who sits right on the cut line in 12th.

For 30 seconds VanDam studied the sheet — perhaps doing math or maybe planning his day in his head — but he eventually broke the silence.

"Ten pounds," he mumbled under his breath as he handed the sheet back to the reporter and moved on. At 15 pounds, 15 ounces after one day, 10 pounds would obviously give VanDam 25-15. Quinn caught 13-6 on Day One, which in most angler's eyes, would put the 12-cut at 26-12 (double Day One).

However, the time-tested, though quite unofficial, Elite Anglers' formula for predicting the two-day cut weight in any of these events is: Double the Day One cut weight (in this case, Quinn's 13-6) and subtract two pounds. That's the formula VanDam had in his head. In this case, it produces a probable cut weight of 24 pounds, 12 ounces. Ten pounds for VanDam today should put him safely inside the top 12 cut.

The cut was a popular topic Friday morning as the anglers readied their boats to take off on a lake/river system that can take just as quickly as it can give. And the cut never means more than it does at a Major, where the weights are zeroed after two days and the anglers move to completely new water for the weekend.

There are only three anglers in the top 12 that can feel semi-comfortable about their lead on the field. Fred Roumbanis, Greg Hackney and Ish Monroe could all get by on sub-par days, but the rest of the leaderboard should watch their backs.

Two Arkansans, Mike McClelland and last year's Legends Champion Scott Rook, are both less than a pound out of the cut and they know this system as well as anybody.

"I'm going to give these guys a run for their money," McClelland said. "And if I can make it to the weekend, every tournament I've ever won on this lake has been in that six-hole course."

Mike Iaconelli, who with a win could turn around a season that could be considered a letdown after winning Angler of the Year in 2006, sits only two spots out in 14th. Iaconelli said he thinks it will take 26 or 27 pounds to get in.

Another Arkansan, Stephen Browning, represents a group of anglers 19th to 25th that had stringers around 11 pounds on Thursday.

"I'd be hard-pressed to say it's going to take anything more than 26 pounds to make it," Browning said. "That means I've got to go out and catch 14 pounds, and it's definitely out there."

But with a 15-inch slot limit (on largemouth bass), it's going to be a challenge for any angler to post back-to-back limits on Dardanelle.

"There's a lot of fish biting, it's just real hard to get that quality bite," VanDam said. "The key is to stay consistent."

Editor's note: Check in daily during the tournament for live video of the weigh-ins and a realtime leaderboard at 7 p.m. ET Thursday through Saturday. ESPNOutdoors.com will air Hooked Up, the live Internet show, on Sunday at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The full Hooked Up show begins at 6:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, leading into the final live weigh-in and a realtime leaderboard at 7 p.m. ET.

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