FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 23, 2013
Arkansas Pro Mark Davis Jumps Into Bassmaster Elite Series Lead At Michigan Event
DETROIT, Mich. — Mullygrubs? Yup. Mark Davis said he had them on Thursday, the first day of the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament out of Detroit, Mich. He said he caught the mullygrubs after not boating two big smallmouth bass he hooked. He settled for second place.
He shook off those mullygrubs Friday. Not hard to do after spending a great day on the water, weighing 20 pounds, 10 ounces of smallmouth bass and taking the tournament lead with a two-day tally of 42 pounds, 11 ounces.
“Mullygrubs,” the pro from Mount Ida, Ark., explained, is an old Arkansas term that means something that falls between the grumps and the blues, and maybe is tangled with regrets over missed chances.
“No mullygrubs today, everything was good. Everything went pretty well. I caught a limit pretty quick. I did lose one huge fish, but you aren’t going to catch all these big smallmouth,” said Davis, the 1995 Classic winner who also took the Bassmaster Angler of the Year title that same season. He went on to claim another AOY crown in 1998 and a third in 2001.
Davis was in front by 1 pound, 4 ounces over Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., who moved up from third into second place with 41-7. In third place Friday with 40-7 was Kotaro Kiriyama of Moody, Ala., breaking free from a Day 1 tie at fifth place.
First-day leader Chris Lane of Guntersville, Ala., fell to fourth with 39-10. Fifth place was taken by Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, also with 39-10. (The tie-breaker of largest bag over two days was applied, with Lane winning for his 22-9 of Day 1.)
The field was cut to the Top 50 for Friday’s third round. On Saturday, only the Top 12 will compete for the tournament prize of $100,000 and an entry in the 2014 Bassmaster Classic.
Davis has been a model of consistency at the tournament, following his first-day weight of 22-1 with 20-10.
“I really thought if I you catch over 20 (pounds) every day, you could win the tournament,” he said, “and I’ve caught over 20.”
Unusual for him, Davis has made a long run and endured it two days in a row. Traveling from the takeoff point on Lake St. Clair to his productive spots south into Lake Erie has been a gamble he’s been willing to take. His jackpot would be earning enough points to qualify for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic (which he could also achieve with a win).
He vows he won’t change his game plan for Saturday, the third of four competition days.
“I’m all in on that,” he said. “That’s the only thing I have going. I was sort of between a rock and a hard place, trying to make the Classic. I have to have a real good finish to make it. When I found those fish in practice, all my eggs went in that basket.”
Davis said he is drop shotting to smallmouth, but tweaking his presentation to get the bites. Exactly what his adjustments have been, he understandably wasn’t ready to reveal.
Davis earned the Livingston Leader Award, a $500 bonus to the leader after the second day of competition.
In second place, Martens positioned himself not only to make a run at an event win, but at the biggest award of the Elite season, the Toyota Angler of the Year title.
His title bid got a boost Friday when the AOY frontrunner coming into the tournament, Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., fell out of the cut by 8 ounces. He finished in 54th place.
The upshot was that by Friday, interim points standings had Martens 22 points ahead of Evers.
While Martens still has control over how many points he’ll have by tournament’s end, Evers has earned all he can: 640 to Martens’ 662 (as of Friday).
Behind both Martens and Evers in the points standings was seven-time AOY Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich. VanDam needs to make up 34 points to catch Martens. VanDam’s window is still open a crack. Like Martens, he made the cut — but at 27th place.
Martens won the AOY title in 2005 and has come close several other times. Evers is looking for his first.
The tournament is based just north of Detroit on Lake St. Clair, the fishery that’s No. 1 on Bassmaster Magazine’s 2013 list of 100 Best Bass Lakes. Elite pros also are allowed to fish in the adjoining St. Clair and Detroit rivers, as well as Great Lakes Erie and Huron.
Lane weighed the heaviest fish of the day, a 5-12. It matched his 5-12 of Thursday — that day’s biggest bass. He’s the leader for the event’s Carhartt Big Bass award of $1,000 plus another $500 for wearing Carhartt apparel.
Lane also set the bar Thursday at 22-9 for the Berkley Heavyweight Award of $500 for the tournament’s best five-fish limit.
In the season’s Bassmaster Rookie of the Year race, Hank Cherry of Maiden, N.C., stayed ahead of Cliff Pirch of Payson, Ariz. Cherry has 522 points to Pirch’s 467.
The 2013 ROY will qualify for the Sept. 27-29 postseason, the Toyota All-Star Week and Evan Williams Bourbon Championship out of Muskegon, Mich. The ROY will join 13 other Elite pros for that event on Muskegon Lake. They’ll compete for a piece of the $100,000 prize pie, including $50,000 to the winner.
The 50 Elite Series pros who made Friday’s cut will return to the water Saturday for the third of four rounds. They will launch their boats from Lake St. Clair Metropark at 6:30 a.m. ET. They’ll bring their catches back to the park for a 3:15 p.m. ET weigh-in. (GPS help: The address of the Metropark is 31300 Metropolitan Parkway, Harrison Township, MI 48045.)
At the park on Saturday and Sunday beginning at noon, the Bassmaster Elite Series Expo will showcase sponsors’ products. Two free concerts are on tap: The Sun Messengers, the official band of the Detroit Pistons, will take the stage at noon Saturday. On Sunday at noon, the band Purdy Good will perform.
ESPN2 will air The Bassmasters coverage of the tournament Aug. 31, 7-8 a.m. ET. Fans can catch the same show again that day on ESPN Classic at 9-10 a.m. ET.
The show will reair Sept. 14 on ESPN2 at 6-7 a.m. ET, and Sept. 15 on ESPN Classic at 8-9 a.m. ET.
2013 Detroit River Championship 8/22-8/25
Detroit River, Detroit MI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 42-11 99
Day 1: 5 22-01 Day 2: 5 20-10
2. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 41-07 98
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 19-09
3. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 40-07 97
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 20-00
4. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 10 39-10 96
Day 1: 5 22-09 Day 2: 5 17-01
5. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 39-10 95
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 19-06
6. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 38-11 94
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 18-07
7. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 38-05 93
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 20-03
8. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 10 37-01 92
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 18-04
9. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 9 36-05 91
Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 4 15-03
10. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 35-15 90
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 18-03
11. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 10 35-10 89
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 18-03
12. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 35-09 88
Day 1: 5 19-10 Day 2: 5 15-15
13. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 10 35-09 87
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 18-09
14. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 35-04 86
Day 1: 5 20-05 Day 2: 5 14-15
15. Hank Cherry Maiden, NC 10 35-04 85
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 19-07
16. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 10 35-02 84
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 21-05
17. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 34-10 83
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 16-12
18. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 10 34-08 82
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 18-09
19. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 10 34-04 81
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 19-00
20. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 34-00 80
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 17-07
21. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 9 33-14 79
Day 1: 4 12-05 Day 2: 5 21-09
22. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 33-14 78
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 14-07
23. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 33-10 77
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 18-10
24. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 10 33-09 76
Day 1: 5 20-07 Day 2: 5 13-02
25. John Crews Salem, VA 10 33-00 75
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 15-08
26. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 10 32-14 74
Day 1: 5 18-11 Day 2: 5 14-03
27. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 32-13 73
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 5 17-07
28. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 32-11 72
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 18-08
29. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 32-11 71
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 18-04
30. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 10 32-11 70
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 16-10
31. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 32-10 69
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 16-02
32. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 10 32-06 68
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 15-10
33. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 32-03 67
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 15-12
34. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 10 32-01 66
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-01
35. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 10 31-13 65
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 17-05
36. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 10 31-12 64
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 15-08
37. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 31-06 63
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 17-09
38. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 9 31-02 62
Day 1: 4 13-03 Day 2: 5 17-15
39. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 31-02 61
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 15-07
40. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 30-14 60
Day 1: 5 15-12 Day 2: 5 15-02
41. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 30-13 59
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 17-08
42. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 30-13 58
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 15-10
43. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 30-13 57
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 15-09
44. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 30-12 56
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 15-01
45. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 10 30-11 55
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 13-04
46. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 30-11 54
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 15-04
47. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 30-10 53
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 14-00
48. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 30-10 52
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 14-02
49. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 30-10 51
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 14-11
50. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 10 30-09 50
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 15-14
51. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 9 30-09 49
Day 1: 5 15-10 Day 2: 4 14-15
52. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 30-05 48
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 13-12
53. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 30-03 47
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 16-02
54. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 30-01 46
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 17-00
55. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 10 29-13 45
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 11-12
56. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 10 29-13 44
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 15-00
57. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 29-11 43
Day 1: 5 17-14 Day 2: 5 11-13
58. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 29-11 42
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 13-01
59. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 10 29-11 41
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 13-11
60. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 29-11 40
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 15-01
61. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 10 29-10 39
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 14-11
62. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 10 29-08 38
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 13-00
63. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 10 29-08 37
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 13-13
64. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 10 29-06 36
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 14-08
65. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 29-00 35
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 15-05
66. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 10 28-05 34
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 15-06
67. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 10 28-05 33
Day 1: 5 14-01 Day 2: 5 14-04
68. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 28-02 32
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 15-00
69. David Walker Sevierville, TN 10 27-14 31
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 13-14
70. Jason Quinn Rock Hill, SC 10 27-12 30
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 12-12
71. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 10 27-05 29
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 16-01
72. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 9 26-14 28
Day 1: 4 08-12 Day 2: 5 18-02
73. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 26-12 27
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 12-05
74. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 10 26-09 26
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 11-02
75. James Elam Tulsa, OK 10 26-06 25
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 12-07
76. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 26-02 24
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 14-07
77. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 25-15 23
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 14-08
78. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 10 25-12 22
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 13-10
79. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 10 25-11 21
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 12-00
80. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 9 25-11 20
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 4 13-05
81. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 25-10 19
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 15-04
82. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 25-06 18
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 11-08
83. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 9 25-03 17
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 4 09-14
84. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 9 25-02 16
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 4 12-04
85. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 24-11 15
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 10-11
86. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 9 24-09 14
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 4 08-09
87. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 8 22-00 13
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 3 09-06
88. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 8 21-08 12
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 3 05-10
89. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 7 21-06 11
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 2 05-14
90. Casey Scanlon Shawnee Mission, KS 8 21-03 10
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 3 08-13
91. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 9 20-09 9
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 4 10-08
92. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 20-07 8
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 08-15
93. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 9 17-15 7
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 4 09-07
94. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 8 16-11 6
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 4 08-02
95. Chip Porche Bixby, OK 6 15-11 5
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 1 03-15
96. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 15-02 4
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 5 12-10 3
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-10
98. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 11-08 2
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 3 06-05
99. David Smith Del City, OK 4 10-09 1
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 10-09
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 92 478 1484-00
2 82 465 1439-09
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174 943 2923-09