BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — Brett Hite’s first catch Friday was a 4-pounder. On his next cast, a largemouth just as big came back to the boat.
“That got things rolling and gave me a lot of confidence in what I’m doing,” said Hite, the Bassmaster Elite Series rookie who moved up from fourth place into Friday’s catbird seat in the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Seminole.
The Phoenix, Ariz., pro ended his day with 20 pounds, 11 ounces. Added to his 24-11 already on the board, Hite had the lead in his first Elite appearance. His 45-6 total gave him a 14-ounce jump on Bernie Schultz of Gainesville, Fla. Schultz held fast to his second-place standing achieved the first day, when a 10-pound, 10-ounce behemoth made his weigh-in bag sag. His 17-10 of Friday brought his weight to 44-8. Kevin Short of Mayflower, Ark., owned third place — for the second consecutive day — with his 43-3 total. A rookie like the leader, Justin Lucas of Guntersville, Ala. catapulted from 27th place into fourth place with the day’s largest bag, 25-9. In fifth was yet another rookie, Chad Morgenthaler of Coulterville, Ill., with 43-0. Day 1 leader Shaw Grigsby of Gainesville, Fla., slipped to sixth place after bringing in 12-5.
Hite, unlike some pros in the field, is not banking on the bank. In this case, “the bank” means focusing on bedding bass.
“I’m targeting prespawn fish,” said Hite. “Water temperature is not really at the point where enough fish are going to the bank. I wanted to key in on the fish that are replenishing, that are going to be there day after day.”
After the two 4-pounders that set him in the right direction, Hite’s day got better.
“I ran to a secondary spot, and there were a lot more fish there than I realized. I had quite a few bites — then got out of there,” he said.
That was at about 1 o’clock. Hite backed off his fish and hunted for new water in hopes he could develop alternate plans for the two remaining competition days.
“In a four-day event, fish management is huge,” Hite said.
For Schultz, the obvious difference between his two competition days was a 10-10 lunker taken from a spawning bed on the first, but nothing near that weight on the second. His two largest bass were in the 4-pound range, he said. Schultz said the fog delay of an hour and 20 minutes Friday morning changed his game plan. He decided to not make one of his spawning hotspots the first stop of the morning.
“Because of the delay, I went to my open-water pattern first. Then I went to sight fish, but never really saw any big fish at all,” he said.
Short also was affected by the delay.
“I think it made a lot more difference than I thought it would,” he said.
On Friday, Short said, he had caught 17 to 18 pounds by the time he made his first cast on Saturday. He turned his slow day around when he boated a 6-3 and a 5-plus-pounder. That happened only a few minutes before he had to head back to shore and check in. Hite won the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500 for his second-day domination of the field.
The big fish of the day, a 7-12, was by James Niggemeyer of Van, Texas. But the 10-10 of Thursday by Schultz remains the largest so far. The big bass over four days is worth the Carhartt Big Bass bonus of up to $1,500. Lucas won a $250 bonus from Rigid Industries for being the participating angler who achieved a 25-pound or heavier bag. The same award went to Short on Thursday.
The field was cut to the Top 50 for Saturday’s round. The pros will begin Day 3 at 7:30 a.m. from Earle May Boat Basin, 100 Boat Basin Circle, Bainbridge, Ga. The weigh-in will begin at 4 p.m. at the same location. By Sunday, only the Top 12 will remain in the competition for a first-place prize of $100,000 and an automatic berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. Pros also earn points that count toward the Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and a Classic qualification.
Lake Seminole, Bainbridge, Ga.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 45-06 100 $500.00
Day 1: 5 24-11 Day 2: 5 20-11
2. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 44-08 99
Day 1: 5 26-14 Day 2: 5 17-10
3. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 43-03 98
Day 1: 5 25-09 Day 2: 5 17-10
4. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 43-01 97
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 25-09
5. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 10 43-00 96
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 22a-06
6. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 10 42-10 95
Day 1: 5 30-05 Day 2: 5 12-05 a
7. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 41-13 94
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 20-13
8. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 10 37-13 93
Day 1: 5 23-03 Day 2: 5 14-10
9. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 9 37-09 92
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 4 18-02
10. Randall Tharp Port Saint Joe, FL 10 37-07 91
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 20-07
11. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 10 36-10 90
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 21-05
12. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 10 36-08 89
Day 1: 5 19-02 Day 2: 5 17-06
13. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 10 35-15 88
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 17-09
14. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 35-14 87
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 21-05
15. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 35-08 86
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-01
16. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 35-01 85
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 18-02
17. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 34-10 84
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 14-07
18. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 34-10 83
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 5 14-15
19. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 10 34-00 82
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 19-07
20. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 33-15 81
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 16-04
21. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 9 33-11 80
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 4 17-04
22. David Walker Sevierville, TN 10 33-09 79
Day 1: 5 21-04 Day 2: 5 12-05
23. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 33-03 78
Day 1: 5 20-15 Day 2: 5 12-04
24. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 9 32-15 77
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 4 17-10
25. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 32-10 76
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 18-05
26. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 32-01 75
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 14-08
27. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 32-00 74
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 19-13
28. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 31-13 73
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 13-04
29. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 10 31-05 72
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 5 15-11
30. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 10 31-02 71
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 13-10
31. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 10 31-00 70
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 16-08
32. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 30-14 69
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 12-07
33. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 30-08 68
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 15-13
34. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 30-07 67
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 17-15
35. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 10 30-07 66
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 15-11
36. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 9 30-05 65
Day 1: 5 23-13 Day 2: 4 06-08
37. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 30-05 64
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 13-00
38. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 30-02 63
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 16-15
39. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 30-01 62
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 14-13
40. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 29-03 61
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 10-11
41. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 10 29-03 60
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 14-00
42. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 7 28-15 59
Day 1: 2 05-00 Day 2: 5 23-15
43. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 9 28-11 58
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 4 12-11
44. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 9 28-05 57
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 4 14-13
45. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 28-00 56
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 09-10
46. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 28-00 55
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 15-13
47. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 9 27-11 54
Day 1: 4 10-07 Day 2: 5 17-04
48. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 27-08 53
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 11-01
49. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 6 27-04 52
Day 1: 4 18-14 Day 2: 2 08-06
50. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 10 27-04 51
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 10-04
51. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 27-01 50
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 14-05
52. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 27-00 49
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 14-03
53. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 8 26-09 48
Day 1: 3 07-04 Day 2: 5 19-05
54. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 26-08 47
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 11-06
55. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 9 25-07 46
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 4 13-12
56. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 8 25-01 45
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 3 08-07
57. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 8 24-14 44
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 3 05-07
58. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 24-10 43
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 10-10
59. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 9 24-08 42
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 4 10-03
60. Glenn Browne Ocala, FL 10 24-02 41
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 15-05
61. Casey Scanlon Shawnee Mission, KS 9 23-15 40
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 4 10-14
62. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 6 23-14 39
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 1 04-11
63. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 8 23-11 38
Day 1: 3 09-12 Day 2: 5 13-15
64. Boo Woods Oneida, KY 9 22-14 37
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 4 06-08
65. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 9 22-09 36
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 4 13-09
66. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 10 22-04 35
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 09-05
67. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 10 21-15 34
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 07-11
68. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 7 21-14 33
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 2 06-05
69. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 9 21-13 32
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 4 10-10
70. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 7 21-12 31
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 2 04-11
71. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 21-05 30
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 5 15-04
72. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 10 21-03 29
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 09-05
73. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 7 21-02 28
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 2 04-08
74. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 6 21-01 27
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 1 03-10
75. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 9 21-00 26
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 4 07-01
76. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 8 21-00 25
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 3 10-01
77. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 8 20-13 24
Day 1: 3 05-12 Day 2: 5 15-01
78. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 9 20-09 23
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 5 14-00
79. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 8 20-04 22
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 3 04-05
80. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 9 20-03 21
Day 1: 5 11-10 Day 2: 4 08-09
81. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 6 20-02 20
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 1 01-07
82. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 7 19-10 19
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 2 05-00
83. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 8 19-10 18
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 3 07-00
84. James Elam Tulsa, OK 7 19-08 17
Day 1: 4 13-15 Day 2: 3 05-09
85. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 8 19-08 16
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 3 08-05
86. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 6 18-15 15
Day 1: 1 04-10 Day 2: 5 14-05
87. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 7 18-09 14
Day 1: 3 06-11 Day 2: 4 11-14
88. Trevor Romans Plano, TX 6 18-07 13
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 1 02-09
89. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 6 17-06 12
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 1 02-09
90. Jared Miller Norman, OK 6 17-04 11
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 4 14-08
91. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 4 17-04 10
Day 1: 2 10-05 Day 2: 2 06-15
92. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 7 17-03 9
Day 1: 2 06-03 Day 2: 5 11-00
93. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 7 17-01 8
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 3 06-01
94. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 6 16-14 7
Day 1: 4 09-01 Day 2: 2 07-13
95. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 6 16-05 6
Day 1: 4 11-12 Day 2: 2 04-09
96. Tracy Adams Wilkesboro, NC 8 15-15 5
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 3 04-06
97. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 6 15-02 4
Day 1: 3 06-05 Day 2: 3 08-13
98. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 4 14-12 3
Day 1: 3 07-08 Day 2: 1 07-04
99. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 7 14-10 2
Day 1: 4 07-13 Day 2: 3 06-13
100. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 7 13-04 1
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 2 04-11
101. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 4 09-10 0
Day 1: 3 07-15 Day 2: 1 01-11
102. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 09-09 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 3 06-05
103. Joel Baker Talala, OK 7 09-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 5 06-00
104. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 3 08-06 0
Day 1: 2 03-15 Day 2: 1 04-07
105. David Smith Del City, OK 5 07-06 0
Day 1: 2 02-07 Day 2: 3 04-15
106. Randy Howell Springville, AL 2 06-10 0
Day 1: 2 06-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
107. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 2 03-07 0
Day 1: 1 02-03 Day 2: 1 01-04
108. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 4 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00 Day 2: 3 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 81 479 1503-02
2 59 428 1268-11
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140 907 2771-13