CHARLOTTE - Surging from 13th place, Alabama's Timmy Horton seized the Day 2 lead of the Bassmaster American bass fishing tournament on lake Wylie with a limit of 15 pounds, 12 ounces on Friday.
Although Horton owned a slight lead over Alabama's Lee Bailey, Horton's two-day total of 27 pounds, 8 ounces and the other weights of the 12 anglers advancing to Day 3 will be zeroed. Anglers will fish a timed, six-hole course format.
"I feel real fortunate," said the 33-year old. "Everything came together today and I am really excited to move on to fish the six-hole course."
Horton, a three-time BASS winner, fished the lower end of Lake Wylie - a popular location for a number of anglers. Horton declined to discuss specifics about his presentation or equipment.
At 11 a.m., Horton had his sizable limit and used a majority of time to explore the six-hole course where anglers will fish Saturday and Sunday. Athletes are allowed to ride through the course, but can't fish any areas within it.
Horton's performance is a far cry from his disappointing 48th-place showing at the 2004 Classic on the 13,443-acre Wylie.
Bailey, in second place, also performed poorly at the 2004 Classic. But the one-time BASS winner is looking to bury that 37th-place finish and has developed a pattern he believes will help him. "The way I am fishing, I can fish that it in every hole with success," the 44-year-old said. "I am so confident in my pattern right now that I just want to get out in the water tomorrow."
Bailey called the pattern a "unique" one - but described it just as Kevin VanDam did of his tatic: A fusion of power and finesse fishing.
Meanwhile, highlighting a star-studded field advancing to Day 3 were 2004 Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle (26-4) in third, two-time Classic champion VanDam in fourth (25-11) and three-time BASS winner Terry Scroggins (23-12) in fifth.
Pleasing the crowd was local favorite Jason Quinn - who vaulted into the top 12 with a solid Day 2 limit of 11 pounds, 12 ounces. Quinn finished in a tie for ninth with Takahiro Omori (20-14), who won the 2004 Classic on this lake. But with Quinn's knowledge of the fishery, he enters Saturday as a local favorite.
"I can't wait to get on the course tomorrow," said Quinn, responding to a contingent of fans that cheered loudly as he crossed the stage.
Only the top six anglers advance to the final competition day on Sunday. They will fish the same six-hole course. Hole priority is awarded to anglers based on current Angler of the Year standings.
Also on Friday, BASS announced Mike Reynolds of Modesto, Calif., as the winner of the Hottest Rig Running Contest on www.Bassmaster.com. Reynolds' boat design features the four U.S. military seals and the phrase "These Colors Don't Run". It garnered more than 20 percent of all votes cast in the final round of the contest, earning him the grand prize, $10,000 cash.
Lastly, Saturday will mark the opening of the ESPN Outdoors Expo at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart. The expo is open Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET and admission is free.
2006 Bassmaster American 07/27-07/30
Lake Wylie, Charlotte N.C.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 10 27-08 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 15-12
2. Lee Bailey Boaz, Ala. 10 27-03 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 12-04
3. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 10 26-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 14-04
4. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 9 25-11 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 4 9-07
5. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 10 23-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 11-13
6. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 10 22-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 10-09
7. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 10 21-09 0
Day 1: 5 8-10 Day 2: 5 12-15
8. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 10 21-08 0
Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 5 12-08
9. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 10 20-14 0
Day 1: 5 9-02 Day 2: 5 11-12
9. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 10 20-14 0
Day 1: 5 9-15 Day 2: 5 10-15
11. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 7 20-03 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-06 Day 2: 2 4-13
12. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 10 20-00 0
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 8-09
13. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 10 19-15 0 $11,700.00
Day 1: 5 9-10 Day 2: 5 10-05
14. John Crews Salem, Va. 9 19-13 0 $11,600.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 4 7-14
15. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 10 19-11 0 $11,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 8-13
16. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 10 19-08 0 $11,350.00
Day 1: 5 8-15 Day 2: 5 10-09
16. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 8 19-08 0 $11,350.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 3 6-15
18. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 10 19-06 0 $11,150.00
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 9-01
18. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 8 19-06 0 $12,150.00
Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 5 13-10
20. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 10 19-04 0 $11,000.00
Day 1: 5 8-03 Day 2: 5 11-01
21. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 8 18-15 0 $10,900.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 3 7-12
22. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 9 18-13 0 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 4 6-04
23. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 10 18-11 0 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 8-02
24. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 8 18-10 0 $10,600.00
Day 1: 4 9-12 Day 2: 4 8-14
25. Morizo Shimizu Murrieta, Calif. 9 18-03 0 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 9-11 Day 2: 4 8-08
26. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 9 18-02 0
Day 1: 4 6-14 Day 2: 5 11-04
27. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 8 17-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 3 5-05
28. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu, Ariz. 8 16-11 0
Day 1: 4 7-12 Day 2: 4 8-15
29. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 8 16-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 3 4-04
30. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 8 15-11 0
Day 1: 5 9-03 Day 2: 3 6-08
31. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 7 15-00 0
Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 5 11-11
32. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 9 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 8-11 Day 2: 4 6-02
33. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 7 14-04 0
Day 1: 5 9-03 Day 2: 2 5-01
34. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 7 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 9-07 Day 2: 2 4-11
35. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 8 13-13 0
Day 1: 4 7-11 Day 2: 4 6-02
36. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 6 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 11-14 Day 2: 1 1-11
37. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 6 13-05 0
Day 1: 3 5-09 Day 2: 3 7-12
38. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 7 13-01 0
Day 1: 2 3-06 Day 2: 5 9-11
39. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 2 4-06 Day 2: 3 8-10
40. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 7 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 9-05 Day 2: 2 3-08
41. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 6 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-00 Day 2: 1 1-08
42. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 6 12-07 0
Day 1: 3 6-02 Day 2: 3 6-05
42. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 5 12-07 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 0 0-00
44. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 6 12-06 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 1 2-05
45. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 6 12-00 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 1 1-14
46. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 5 10-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 0 0-00
47. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 5 9-12 0
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 9-12
48. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 5 8-13 0
Day 1: 3 6-10 Day 2: 2 2-03
49. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 5 8-05 0
Day 1: 2 2-15 Day 2: 3 5-06
50. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 4 7-13 0
Day 1: 3 6-04 Day 2: 1 1-09
51. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 3 6-15 0
Day 1: 2 4-10 Day 2: 1 2-05
51. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 3 6-15 0
Day 1: 1 2-08 Day 2: 2 4-07
53. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 4 6-13 0
Day 1: 3 5-03 Day 2: 1 1-10
54. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 3 5-10 0
Day 1: 2 3-07 Day 2: 1 2-03
55. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 2 3-03 0
Day 1: 2 3-03 Day 2: 0 0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 David Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 5-07 $1,000.00
2 Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5-05 $1,000.00
Day
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 16-04 $1,000.00
2 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 15-12 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 36 229 489-14
2 21 184 395-15
----------------------------------
57 413 885-13