Gross Leads Bassmaster Elite Tournament On Harris Chain

February 18, 2022
B.A.S.S. News - Archived

LEESBURG, Fla. — Regrouping after an early disappointment and then replicating a specific scenario allowed Tennessee pro Buddy Gross to lead Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite tournament at Harris Chain with a two-day total of 40 pounds, 7 ounces. After placing third on Day 1 with 22-12, Gross added 17-11 Friday. He will head into Saturday’s semifinal round with a lead of 1-3 over Ray Hanselman, but Gross said reaching this point was no easy task since the pattern he relied on for Day 1 vanished.

“Today, I had to work and run a lot of the lakes,” Gross said. “I went to Beauclair, Eustis and I stayed in Harris for a long time today. Yesterday, I stayed in Harris, but today that was not the case.

“I don’t know whether it was the cloudiness or they just moved. I think I was catching postspawners and they were schooled up yesterday. Today, I caught one fish off somewhere I could fish yesterday; everything else came off something new.”

Since Wednesday’s full moon coincided with a warming trend, many predicted an all-out spawning event. But while some anglers reported finding bass on beds, Gross said the lack of significant spawning activity did not hurt his game plan.

“I never do the spawning thing, if I can keep from it,” he said. “I’ll always try to find one or two in case I need them, but I’m not going to go to a tournament and just (focus on) spawning.”

Admitting that he was “winging it today,” Gross said he had two keepers at noon, four at 1:45 p.m. and finished his limit at 2:30. Gross held his cards low on that second pattern, but he said he believes it exists in many areas.

“I was still throwing reaction baits; I just changed up where and how,” he said. “I think it’s something I can take elsewhere, I just have to move around a little bit more tomorrow.

“It’s about a combination of three things. It has to have a little bit of those things for me to get bit. I’ll fish 10 places like that and won’t catch a fish, and then I’ll stop on one and catch three in five casts.”

Gross said he’ll begin Day 3 fishing the spots he identified Friday, but he suspects he’ll need to find more. With the field cut from 94 to 47 for Saturday, Gross will be able to fish more aggressively.

“Tomorrow I think I’ll be a little more specific and target places where I think I can catch a bigger bite and just swing,” Gross said. “Now, we’re in the Top 47 cut, so I have to try and stay in the Top 10 and that’s going to take some weight tomorrow.”

Hailing from Del Rio, Texas, Hanselman, is in second with 39-4. He placed fourth on Day 1 with 22 pounds and gained two spots with Friday’s limit of 17-4. Hanselman said success required fast, aggressive presentations that triggered bites. He accomplished that with a Strike King Hybrid Hunter, a rattling crankbait designed for an enticing action and a 5-inch Strike King Shadalicious swimbait.

“I rigged the swimbait on a 3/8-ounce belly-weighted hook, and I put a 3/8-ounce bullet weight on the front so I could keep it down and just grind it through that grass,” Hanselman said. “I used an 8-foot Power Tackle moderate swimbait rod for long casts, (efficient) hook sets and the power to rip that bait through the grass.

“I know other guys were catching them on other things, but it seemed those bigger ones are a little wiser and I just didn’t want to give them the time to think about it. I just want them to react.”

Jake Whitaker of Fairview, N.C., also tallied 39-4 and placed third. Ties are broken by the heaviest single-day catch. After placing 10th on Day 1 with 20-9, Whitaker added 18-11 Friday. Combining a 1/2-ounce green gizzard shad Z-Man ChatterBait with a white Big Bite Baits Kamikaze Swimon trailer and a junebug Big Bite Baits Tour Swim Worm yielded a 4-pounder and a 3-pounder for Whitaker, who caught both fish on the latter bait on consecutive casts. Whitaker caught his fish in a popular grassy area of Lake Harris. He had plenty of company, but he strategically managed the crowded waters.

“When I’m in a lot of boats, I stick to my game and throw what I’m going to throw,” Whitaker said. “At all times, I’m watching all these boats to see where they’re going. At times today, the wind got up a little bit and it would push everybody.

“Before everybody got to the end of their drift, I’d go ahead and go back up to where there had not been as much pressure for 30 minutes. I don’t know if that helped me or not, but I have been fortunate enough to get some key bites out of those areas.”

Noting that the smaller Saturday field may help his cause, Whitaker said: “They’re in there, I know they are; I just have to catch a couple more big fish out of that area, and we can make the same thing happen.”

2022 SiteOne Bassmaster Elite at Harris Chain of Lakes 2/17-2/20
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg  FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN         10  40-07  100
  Day 1: 5   22-12     Day 2: 5   17-11   
2.  Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  39-04   99
  Day 1: 5   22-00     Day 2: 5   17-04   
3.  Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC            10  39-04   98
  Day 1: 5   20-09     Day 2: 5   18-11   
4.  David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  38-15   97
  Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   18-13   
5.  Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  38-00   96
  Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   23-07   
6.  Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              10  37-04   95
  Day 1: 5   13-06     Day 2: 5   23-14   
7.  Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  36-02   94   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   14-14   
8.  Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         10  35-11   93
  Day 1: 5   19-03     Day 2: 5   16-08   
9.  Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  35-05   92
  Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   15-11   
10. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               10  34-15   91
  Day 1: 5   21-13     Day 2: 5   13-02   
11. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                 10  34-10   90
  Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   15-11   
12. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN             10  34-09   89
  Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 5   18-02   
13. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  34-04   88
  Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   17-03   
14. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  34-02   87
  Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   13-02   
15. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  34-01   86
  Day 1: 5   23-00     Day 2: 5   11-01   
16. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               10  33-15   85
  Day 1: 5   22-15     Day 2: 5   11-00   
17. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  33-10   84
  Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   19-10   
18. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            10  33-06   83
  Day 1: 5   21-00     Day 2: 5   12-06   
19. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA            10  33-06   82
  Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   18-03   
20. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  33-06   81
  Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 5   17-15   
21. John Cox               Debary, FL              10  32-15   80
  Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   14-08   
22. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  32-12   79
  Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 5   21-00   
23. Drew Benton            Blakely, GA             10  32-12   78
  Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   19-01   
24. Bryan New              Saluda, SC              10  32-10   77
  Day 1: 5   15-15     Day 2: 5   16-11   
25. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI              10  32-08   76
  Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   17-12   
26. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC             10  32-06   75
  Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   17-01   
27. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  31-13   74
  Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   15-10   
28. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX              10  31-11   73
  Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   15-15   
29. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  31-06   72   $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   17-00   
30. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           10  31-05   71
  Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   14-03   
31. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK           10  31-03   70
  Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   15-01   
32. Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL            10  31-01   69
  Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 5   18-03   
33. Michael Iaconelli      Pittsgrove, NJ          10  31-01   68
  Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   16-03   
34. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  30-13   67
  Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   16-07   
35. Jay Yelas              Turner, OR              10  30-12   66
  Day 1: 5   20-14     Day 2: 5   09-14   
36. David Williams         Newton, NC              10  30-11   65
  Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 5   16-03   
37. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           10  30-03   64
  Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   11-13   
38. Mike Huff              London, KY              10  29-12   63
  Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   15-11   
39. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  29-12   62
  Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   15-02   
40. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            10  29-11   61
  Day 1: 5   11-12     Day 2: 5   17-15   
41. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA              10  29-10   60
  Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   14-07   
42. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          10  29-04   59
  Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 5   15-13   
43. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               10  29-01   58
  Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   15-04   
44. Jeff Gustafson         Keewatin Ontario CANADA 10  29-00   57
  Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 5   14-08   
45. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          10  28-12   56
  Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   11-05   
46. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC             10  28-10   55
  Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   16-11   
47. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI       10  28-10   54
  Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   13-12   
48. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             10  28-07   53   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   14-06   
49. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             10  28-02   52   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-10     Day 2: 5   10-08   
50. Patrick Walters        Summerville, SC         10  27-14   51   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   16-01   
51. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                10  27-14   50   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   15-06   
52. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             10  27-13   49   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 5   17-13   
53. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  27-10   48   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   11-08   
54. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  27-08   47   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   12-03   
55. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                10  27-07   46   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   11-05     Day 2: 5   16-02   
56. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL            10  27-04   45   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 5   16-10   
57. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                 10  27-02   44   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   10-13     Day 2: 5   16-05   
58. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN             10  27-02   43   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   14-05   
59. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL          10  27-00   42   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   11-14     Day 2: 5   15-02   
60. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            10  26-12   41   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   13-12   
61. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO        10  26-11   40   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   13-11   
62. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          10  26-04   39   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 5   14-00   
63. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10  25-14   38   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   11-01     Day 2: 5   14-13   
64. Bob Downey             Hudson, WI              10  25-12   37   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   09-15     Day 2: 5   15-13   
65. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  25-11   36   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   16-10     Day 2: 5   09-01   
66. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  25-05   35   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   08-00   
67. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          10  25-03   34   $2,500.00
  Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 5   12-15   
68. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN        10  25-00   33
  Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   13-14   
69. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            10  24-15   32
  Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   11-05   
70. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC          10  24-15   31
  Day 1: 5   13-05     Day 2: 5   11-10   
71. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           10  24-14   30
  Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   11-03   
72. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA   10  24-11   29
  Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 5   11-02   
73. Wes Logan              Springville, AL         10  23-09   28
  Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 5   12-09   
74. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA           10  23-07   27
  Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 5   12-11   
75. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  23-06   26
  Day 1: 5   09-03     Day 2: 5   14-03   
76. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  23-05   25
  Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   09-11   
77. Daisuke Aoki           Minamitsurugun Yamanash  9  22-15   24
  Day 1: 4   07-05     Day 2: 5   15-10   
78. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            8  22-12   23
  Day 1: 3   11-02     Day 2: 5   11-10   
79. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            10  22-05   22
  Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   09-08   
80. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL             10  22-04   21
  Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   09-04   
81. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                10  22-02   20
  Day 1: 5   10-14     Day 2: 5   11-04   
82. Frank Talley           Temple, TX              10  21-08   19
  Day 1: 5   08-07     Day 2: 5   13-01   
83. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Shi JAPAN      10  20-14   18
  Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 5   10-13   
84. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN          10  20-11   17
  Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   09-09   
85. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  20-05   16
  Day 1: 5   09-12     Day 2: 5   10-09   
86. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             8  19-11   15
  Day 1: 3   03-15     Day 2: 5   15-12   
87. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           10  19-09   14
  Day 1: 5   08-02     Day 2: 5   11-07   
88. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN           10  19-07   13
  Day 1: 5   08-13     Day 2: 5   10-10   
89. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  18-05   12
  Day 1: 5   10-02     Day 2: 5   08-03   
90. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL            10  18-00   11
  Day 1: 5   07-14     Day 2: 5   10-02   
91. Jesse Tacoronte        Kissimmee, FL            6  16-14   10
  Day 1: 1   03-04     Day 2: 5   13-10   
92. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI            10  16-08    9
  Day 1: 5   06-08     Day 2: 5   10-00   
93. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            8  14-15    8
  Day 1: 5   10-14     Day 2: 3   04-01   
94. Derek Hudnall          Denham Springs, LA       6  11-01    7
  Day 1: 1   01-08     Day 2: 5   09-09   
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS 
Day
 1   Jamie Hartman            Newport, NY         08-10      $1,000.00
 2   Clifford Pirch           Payson, AZ          08-13      $1,000.00

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Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
 1        89       457      1312-14
 2        93       468      1338-09
----------------------------------
         182       925      2651-07