Brauer, who led the first day by only 2 ounces, put more than 8 pounds between him and his nearest challenger, Kevin VanDam. Brauer had a two-day total of 34-1 to VanDam’s 25-11, a surprisingly big lead in an event that’s been stumping many in the Bassmaster Elite Series field.
Brauer held at the top, but that was about the only leaderboard consistency over two days. Local favorite Billy McCaghren of Mayflower, Ark., climbed from fourth into third with 24-7. Fourth place was claimed by John Murray, who rose five ticks with 23-3 over two days. Fifth was Takahiro Omori, up from 15th place to anchor the top five at 22-6.
The field was cut to the top 50 for Saturday’s competition. The finale will be Sunday, when the top 12 go against each other for $100,000 and a 2012 Bassmaster Classic berth.
Brauer, owner of 16 Bassmaster titles over his venerable career, didn’t see his lead as assurance of a 17th win. One concern is local boat traffic.
“We suddenly got more company today, so I don’t know if it (area) will hold up,” said Brauer, whose five-fish bag was anchored by a 4-4 largemouth. “Tomorrow is a Saturday, the area I’m fishing is going to have a lot of traffic, and a lot of people know where I’m fishing.”
Brauer, unlike many of the pros, said he has not been affected by the river’s fluctuating water level and flow. He played it close to the vest, saying only that the reason he’s immune “has something to do with my proximity to deeper water.”
He said he milked his spot harder today than he did yesterday, but the difference wasn’t much: two hours the second day as opposed to only an hour and a half the first day. He’s leaving the area to make a two-lock trip back to the check-in point.
The fish he caught were postspawners, he said, and they’re pulling off deeper in a “classic” pattern. But he isn’t confident that will hold.
“I’m looking for many of the fish to be leaving, going to the main river, and that’s what worries me. That can happen overnight,” he said.
If Brauer feels his 8-plus-pound lead is tentative, the big number has the attention and respect of his nearest challengers.
“It’s very easy to stumble here. It could happen to me, it could happen to him. Denny usually doesn’t. He’s one of the best closers in the business,” VanDam said, adding that Brauer himself taught him how to take chances to win.
“I don’t expect him to stumble, but I’d sure like to be there if he does,” the superstar from Kalamazoo, Mich., added. “Who knows about tomorrow, it’s going to be a lot tougher. There’s pressure in the areas that have fish. But everybody’s in the same boat there.”
McCaghren, whose lack of a fifth fish kept him almost 10 pounds out of the lead, said that Brauer would have to go down hard for anyone to catch up. Like VanDam, McCaghren would like to try.
“It’s going to be tough,” said McCaghren, who’s been preparing for this tournament since the day he heard the announcement that the Elite Series was coming to his home water.
“I’m trying to fish stuff other people aren’t,” he said. “I beat on my areas pretty hard the first day, and lost two today. You can’t afford to lose a fish when you’re competing against these guys.”
VanDam’s strong performance so far in the Diamond Drive has helped his bid for a seventh and fourth consecutive Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title. He was only 19 points behind AOY points leader Terry Scroggins going into the week; if the tournament were to end after two days and points awarded, VanDam would be leading the points race.
“The thing about the Angler of the Year race is that when it gets down to the end, and it’s tight, you can’t be conservative,” said VanDam. “You can’t go out and say ‘I just need to survive this tournament.’ You have to go out and try to win the thing.”
Brauer, VanDam, McCaghren and many others are locking through to fish multiple pools of the Arkansas River. Because of heavy commercial traffic at the Murray Lock and Dam, six pros were not able to lock back into Pool 6 in time to meet their official check-in time. According to B.A.S.S. rule C18, the late penalty is 1 pound for each minute late. The rule also stipulates that “any competitor more than 15 minutes late shall lose all credit for that day’s catch to include points credit under Rule C19."
Commercial traffic always has priority for lock use, and anglers were advised by B.A.S.S. officials of the locking times and protocol, and of the fact that backed-up commercial traffic due to recent flooding could shut a pro out of a lock at any time during competition.
Zell Rowland of Austin, Texas, was Friday’s big bass leader with a 4-14, the Big Bass of the Tournament so far.
DAY 2 STANDINGS- DIAMOND DRIVE
2011 Diamond Drive - Little Rock, AR 6/9-6/12
Arkansas River, Little Rock AR.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 10 34-01 310
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 19-07
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 25-11 295
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 12-15
3. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 9 24-07 290
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 4 11-04
4. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 23-03 285
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-12
5. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 22-06 280
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 12-01
6. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 21-06 276
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 10-14
7. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 21-05 272
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 10-15
8. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 9 20-15 268
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 4 06-07
9. Clark Reehm Lufkin, TX 10 20-12 264
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 08-06
10. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 9 20-11 260
Day 1: 4 08-04 Day 2: 5 12-07
11. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 19-12 257
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 5 10-03
12. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 19-10 254
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 10-06
13. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 7 19-08 251
Day 1: 3 09-02 Day 2: 4 10-06
14. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 9 19-02 248
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 4 11-09
15. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 7 19-00 245
Day 1: 2 04-03 Day 2: 5 14-13
16. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 8 18-10 243
Day 1: 4 07-00 Day 2: 4 11-10
17. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 8 18-06 241
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 3 07-06
18. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 17-12 239
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 09-06
18. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 17-12 239
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 08-06
20. John Crews Salem, VA 10 17-00 235
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 06-15
21. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 6 16-10 233
Day 1: 1 03-10 Day 2: 5 13-00
22. Keith Poche Troy, AL 7 16-07 231
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 2 02-15
23. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 7 16-07 229
Day 1: 3 07-06 Day 2: 4 09-01
24. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 16-03 227
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 08-08
25. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 7 16-03 225
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 2 05-15
26. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 7 16-02 223
Day 1: 4 09-12 Day 2: 3 06-06
27. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 10 16-00 221
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 07-04
28. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 8 16-00 219
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 3 05-14
29. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 7 15-14 217
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 3 07-07
30. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 15-10 215
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 15-10
31. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 8 15-09 213
Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 4 08-00
32. Ben Parker Springville, TN 8 14-15 211
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 5 08-04
33. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 8 14-12 209
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 3 04-12
34. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 9 14-11 207
Day 1: 4 07-03 Day 2: 5 07-08
35. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 7 14-09 205
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 3 06-00
36. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 6 14-08 203
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 5 12-07
37. David Smith Del City, OK 7 14-07 201
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 2 04-02
38. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 6 14-07 199
Day 1: 3 08-02 Day 2: 3 06-05
39. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 6 14-06 197
Day 1: 4 10-11 Day 2: 2 03-11
40. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 6 13-12 195
Day 1: 2 04-09 Day 2: 4 09-03
41. Dean Alexander Georgetown, TX 7 13-11 193
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 5 09-12
42. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka JAPAN 7 13-09 191
Day 1: 4 08-02 Day 2: 3 05-07
43. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 6 13-08 189
Day 1: 4 07-05 Day 2: 2 06-03
44. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 8 13-06 187
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 4 06-08
45. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 13-05 185
Day 1: 2 05-05 Day 2: 3 08-00
46. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 6 13-01 183
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 2 04-09
47. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 5 13-00 181
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
48. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 6 12-11 179
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 1 00-11
49. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 6 12-10 177
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 3 06-03
50. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 6 12-08 175
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 4 09-12
51. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 7 12-07 173
Day 1: 3 06-07 Day 2: 4 06-00
52. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 6 12-07 171
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 1 01-10
53. Zell Rowland Austin, TX 4 12-00 169
Day 1: 2 05-02 Day 2: 2 06-14
54. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 6 11-12 167
Day 1: 1 01-08 Day 2: 5 10-04
55. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 8 11-09 165
Day 1: 5 06-03 Day 2: 3 05-06
56. Craig Schuff Watauga, TX 7 11-09 163
Day 1: 4 06-10 Day 2: 3 04-15
57. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 7 11-09 161
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 5 07-05
58. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 9 11-08 159
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 5 05-10
59. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 7 11-06 157
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 5 07-14
60. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 6 11-05 155
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 1 03-00
61. James Stricklin Texarkania, TX 6 10-07 153
Day 1: 3 06-04 Day 2: 3 04-03
62. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 10-01 151
Day 1: 2 03-02 Day 2: 3 06-15
63. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 09-11 149
Day 1: 1 00-13 Day 2: 4 08-14
64. Ryan Said Wixom, MI 5 09-07 147
Day 1: 2 04-02 Day 2: 3 05-05
65. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 6 09-05 145
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 05-06
66. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 09-01 143
Day 1: 3 06-12 Day 2: 2 02-05
67. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 4 08-12 141
Day 1: 1 01-05 Day 2: 3 07-07
68. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 4 08-10 139
Day 1: 4 08-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
69. Alton Jones Waco, TX 6 08-07 137
Day 1: 4 05-03 Day 2: 2 03-04
70. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 3 08-06 135
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 08-06
71. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 4 07-15 133
Day 1: 1 01-15 Day 2: 3 06-00
72. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 4 07-12 131
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 1 02-04
73. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 3 07-11 129
Day 1: 3 07-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
74. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 6 07-09 127
Day 1: 3 03-02 Day 2: 3 04-07
75. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 4 07-08 125
Day 1: 4 07-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
76. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 3 07-05 123
Day 1: 2 04-00 Day 2: 1 03-05
77. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 3 07-03 121
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 07-03
78. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 3 07-03 119
Day 1: 2 04-10 Day 2: 1 02-09
79. Pat Golden High Point, NC 3 06-07 117
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 2 05-06
80. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 3 06-05 115
Day 1: 1 01-02 Day 2: 2 05-03
81. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 4 06-04 113
Day 1: 2 02-14 Day 2: 2 03-06
82. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 3 05-11 111
Day 1: 3 05-11 Day 2: 0 00-00
83. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 4 05-10 109
Day 1: 3 03-12 Day 2: 1 01-14
84. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 3 05-10 107
Day 1: 2 03-13 Day 2: 1 01-13
85. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 05-09 105
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 4 03-12
86. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 4 05-09 103
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 2 02-13
87. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 3 05-08 101
Day 1: 3 05-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
88. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 2 05-01 99
Day 1: 2 05-01 Day 2: 0 00-00
89. Travis Manson De Pere, WI 3 04-14 97
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 3 04-14
90. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 2 04-12 95
Day 1: 2 04-12 Day 2: 0 00-00
91. Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 2 04-09 93
Day 1: 1 02-12 Day 2: 1 01-13
92. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 4 04-08 91
Day 1: 4 04-08 Day 2: 0 00-00
93. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 4 04-06 89
Day 1: 2 01-13 Day 2: 2 02-09
94. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 2 04-01 87
Day 1: 1 02-05 Day 2: 1 01-12
95. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 1 02-08 85
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 02-08
96. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, FL 1 01-14 83
Day 1: 1 01-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 1 01-07 81
Day 1: 1 01-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
98. David Walker Sevierville, TN 4 00-12 79
Day 1: 1 00-12 Day 2: 3 00-00
99. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 00-00 77
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 28 307 620-01
2 27 295 601-03
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55 602 1221-04