OKEECHOBEE, Fla. - Despite giving up much of his Thursday lead, Byron Velvick of Del Rio, Texas, moved one step closer to punching his ticket for the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series as he leads the Bassmaster Elite Series WildCard bass fishing tournament on Florida's Lake Okeechobee with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 8 ounces.
The 43-year-old Velvick leads by less than one pound over Keith Phillips of Crosby, Texas, who closed with a Friday total of 16 pounds, 4 ounces. Phillips and Velvick are sharing a stretch of water that is free of other competitors, but the two had to contend with crappie boats Friday, one of which aided Phillips' and hurt Velvick's bite.
The WildCard tournament is a second-chance competition for 2007 Elite pros who didn't qualify via their performance on the top-level circuit as well as 2007 Bassmaster Open pros who put together solid seasons.
"I got to my spot this morning and there was a crappie boat on it," Velvick said. "And I was a little stubborn and didn't move around as much as I should have. It worked to Keith's advantage, however."
Once again, Velvick primarily threw worms to precise areas, mixing in a Rat-L-Trap when the wind permitted. While Velvick is safely in the top-10 cut line and will probably only need to scratch out a small limit to capture one of the 10 berths, his focus is on winning the event.
"It's great anytime that you can earn bragging rights," said Velvick. "Additionally, it would be nice to wrap up the season on a very positive note."
Phillips, who totaled 28 pounds, 13 ounces over two days, surged from eighth to second throwing a Shaky Head worm to brushpiles in 7 to 10 feet of depth. Like Velvick, he occasionally mixed in a Rat-L-Trap.
The 2007 Elite pro expects much of the same crappie boat traffic Saturday but is optimistic of his chances of earning a qualifying berth.
"I think I have enough fish to make it in the top 10," Phillips said. "But it would be nice to win it. I think I've got as good as shot as anyone."
Rounding out the top five were Steve Daniel of Clewiston, Fla., in third with 26 pounds, 13 ounces; Rich Ash of Pottstown, Pa., in fourth with 26 pounds, 9 ounces; and Corey Waldrop of Fort Worth, Texas, with 25 pounds, 7 ounces.
Also among the 34 pros fishing for Elite Series berths are Terry Segraves of Kissimmee, Fla., in 13th with 20 pounds, 0 ounces, and Kyle Fox of Lakeland, Fla., in 22nd with 18 pounds, 5 ounces. Saturday will be the deciding day of the tournament.
2007 Wild Card Qualifier 11/29-12/1
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 10 29-08 310
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 08-03
2. Keith Phillips Crosby, TX 10 28-13 295
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 16-04
3. Steve Daniel Clewiston, FL 10 26-13 290
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 17-03
4. Rick Ash Pottstown, PA 10 26-09 285
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 10-07
5. Corey Waldrop Fort Worth, TX 10 25-07 280
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 10-15
6. David Sherrer Shreveport, LA 10 25-04 276
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 15-02
7. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 10 24-09 272
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 09-04
8. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 10 23-06 268
Day 1: 5 08-14 Day 2: 5 14-08
9. Bobby Stanfill Greenwood, SC 10 23-05 264
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 09-05
10. Billy Brewer Lorena, TX 10 23-01 260
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 08-10
11. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 22-14 257
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 09-13
12. Bobby Myers Tulsa, OK 10 20-11 254
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 08-12
13. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 10 20-00 251
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 09-04
14. Eric Nethery Acworth, GA 10 19-15 248
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 08-02
15. Doc Merkin Downers Grove, IL 10 19-13 243
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 5 07-15
15. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 10 19-13 243
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 10-02
15. Frank Scalish Cleveland Heights, OH 10 19-13 243
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 5 09-05
18. Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, TX 10 19-05 239
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 08-15
19. Trevor Rogge Champlin, MN 10 18-15 237
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 09-13
20. Brett Mitchell Timmonsville, SC 10 18-09 235
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 5 08-14
21. Scott Dean Terrell, TX 10 18-06 233
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 08-14
22. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 10 18-05 231
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 08-06
23. Darrin Schwenkbeck Varysburg, NY 9 18-02 229
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 4 06-15
24. Sean Dassau Helena, AL 10 18-01 227
Day 1: 5 09-10 Day 2: 5 08-07
25. Kenneth Chapman Woodlawn, TN 10 16-12 225
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 06-05
26. John Cox Debary, FL 10 16-09 223
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 08-09
27. Patrick Pierce Saint John, FL 10 16-07 221
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 07-15
28. Preston Henson Vacaville, CA 10 16-02 219
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 07-01
29. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 9 14-01 217
Day 1: 4 06-07 Day 2: 5 07-10
30. Dave Parsons Yantis, TX 6 12-09 215
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 1 01-04
31. Mike Pickett Brandenburg, KY 7 11-01 213
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 2 01-15
32. Ron Klys Gainesville, FL 7 11-00 211
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 2 02-07
33. Robert Byrd Dallas, TX 5 10-11 209
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 1 02-12
34. Luke Estel Murphysboro, IL 6 07-05 207
Day 1: 3 03-06 Day 2: 3 03-15
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Big Bass
Day
1 Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 06-14 $0.00
2 Keith Phillips Crosby, TX 07-14 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 31 166 368-11
2 28 153 293-03
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59 319 661-14
2007 Wild Card Qualifier 11/29-12/1
Lake Okeechobee, Okeechobee FL.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 10 19-05 305 $300.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 07-08
2. Gil Phillips Alba, TX 10 19-02 295
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-15
3. Ben Todd Pierson, FL 10 18-14 290
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 09-15
4. Jimmy Dudley White, GA 8 18-05 290
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 3 05-00
5. Brandon Stanley Johnson City, TN 10 18-01 280
Day 1: 5 08-06 Day 2: 5 09-11
6. Marty Scoggins Trion, GA 9 16-15 276
Day 1: 4 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-07
7. Jeff Sullivan Frostproof, FL 9 16-07 272
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 4 05-12
8. Bill Poirier Riverview, FL 6 14-02 268 $300.00
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 2 06-06
9. Mary Delgado Tampa, FL 8 13-01 264
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 4 07-02
10. Robbie Thompson Saint Louis, MO 6 12-13 260
Day 1: 2 03-10 Day 2: 4 09-03
11. JIM Parish Overland, MO 9 11-10 257
Day 1: 4 04-07 Day 2: 5 07-03
12. Chad Christensen Alpine, UT 6 11-03 254
Day 1: 1 02-11 Day 2: 5 08-08
13. Don Lewis Jacksonville, FL 6 11-01 251
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 5 09-08
14. John Tavano Pompano Beach, FL 8 10-12246.5
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 3 04-01
14. Wes Hood Annandale, VA 6 10-12246.5
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 5 09-11
16. Clint Sterling Oakland, FL 6 10-11 243
Day 1: 2 02-06 Day 2: 4 08-05
17. Wayne Montgomery Lake Wales, FL 6 10-08 241
Day 1: 3 07-01 Day 2: 3 03-07
18. Blaine Bucy Wellsburg, WV 5 10-00 239
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-00
19. Johnny Stambaugh Vero Beach, FL 7 09-07 237
Day 1: 2 03-06 Day 2: 5 06-01
20. Anthony Holzer East Palestine, OH 7 09-02 235
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 5 07-00
21. Gary Bowien Georgetown, TX 6 08-13 233
Day 1: 4 05-09 Day 2: 2 03-04
22. Eric D. Johnson Millis, MA 6 08-10 230
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 1 01-12
22. Frank Jones Land O Lakes, FL 5 08-10 230
Day 1: 1 01-01 Day 2: 4 07-09
24. Walter Zajkowski Wellington, FL 7 08-04 227
Day 1: 5 06-01 Day 2: 2 02-03
25. Emre Sarihan Deerfield Beach, FL 6 07-12 225
Day 1: 5 06-09 Day 2: 1 01-03
26. Bj Hannah Dyersburg, TN 5 06-11 223
Day 1: 3 04-08 Day 2: 2 02-03
27. Danny Bickom Canastota, NY 3 06-06 221
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 1 03-13
28. Ted Roberts Eustis, FL 2 06-03 219
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 1 04-02
29. David Hagens Bradenton, FL 3 05-06 217
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 1 02-01
30. Adrian Coble Brookeland, TX 3 05-03 215
Day 1: 2 04-04 Day 2: 1 00-15
31. Sam Dewey West Milton, OH 2 04-10 213
Day 1: 1 03-12 Day 2: 1 00-14
32. Edward Guertin Sanbornton, NH 1 01-05 211
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-05
33. James Finley Coconut Creek, FL 1 00-15 209
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 00-15
34. Chris Persiani Bristol, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Robbie Anderson Crystal River, FL 06-03 $300.00
2 Bill Poirier Riverview, FL 05-00 $300.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 10 96 167-01
2 12 106 183-14
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22 202 350-15