EUFAULA, Ala. (March 16, 2006) - Pro Johnny Crews of Lakeland, Fla., caught a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 37 pounds, 7 ounces to hold his lead on day two of the Stren Series Southeast Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Eufaula. Crews, who also led on day one by catching bedding fish, continued his pattern on day two, though he said constantly falling water is making his pattern tougher each day.
"These bass are in a foot of water or less," Crew said. "It's crazy. I can't get my boat in there to them because it's so shallow, so when I hook one, I have to drag it through weeds and cover, so I'm losing quite a few fish. I lost a 5-pounder and a 3-pounder today.
"I've been getting bit on a Berkley jig tied on heavy braided line to bring them through the cover." With the falling water levels, bass are getting a little spookier each day. Crews is getting bit early in the morning, but the bite is waning as time goes on.
Rounding out the top five pros are Ryan Ingram of Phoenix City, Ala. (10 bass, 35 pounds, 1 ounce); John Cox of Debary, Fla. (10 bass, 33 pounds, 8 ounces); Rodger Beaver of Dawson, Ga. (10 bass, 32 pounds, 14 ounces); and Scott Hayes of Newnan, Ga. (10 bass, 31 pounds, 3 ounces).
Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., earned $750 for the Snicker's Big Bass award in the Pro Division, thanks to an 8-pound, 14-ounce bass.
Anthony Hawkins of Pell City, Ala., leads the Co-angler Division in the chase for a top award worth as much as $35,000, including a 519VX Ranger if contingency guidelines are met. He caught nine bass weighing 19 pounds, 9 ounces.
Unlike Crews, who's getting most of his bites in the morning, Hawkins reported the afternoon bite to be a little better. "They're moving in on the beds, and the bite seemed to pick up this afternoon," Hawkins said. "We were just blind-casting to beds in thick cover."
While Hawkins threw a Chatterbait on day one to target pugnacious bedding fish, he had to slow his presentation and lighten his tackle to garner strikes on day two as bass became increasingly wary. "I'm using 10-pound line with a Senko and just fishing very slowly," he said.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Mahady of Kennesaw, Ga. (eight bass, 19 pounds, 5 ounces); Aaron Fahnestock of Enterprise, Ala. (five bass, 19 pounds, 4 ounces); Jim Buchanan of Dothan, Ala. (nine bass, 18 pounds, 14 ounces); and Kevin Roberts of West Chester, Ohio (eight bass, 17 pounds, 15 ounces).
Jim Barnick of Pembroke Pines, Fla., earned $250 for the Snicker's Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 5-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Stren Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of three rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 20 pros and co-anglers - based on two-day accumulated weights - advance to day three. Anglers start at zero Thursday and compete for 10 spots in each division in the final round. Winners are determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from days three and four.