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
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182 925 2651-07