PARIS, Tenn. - Throughout two bass fishing tournament days, Bobby Lane has taken it fairly easy on Kentucky Lake, and it's debatable as to whether the Lakeland, Fla., pro has broken a sweat. But don't let that fool you. Lane, with 54 pounds, 7 ounces after Day Two on Thursday, has employed a cunning strategy at the Tennessee Triumph, managing a "special" spot for a fraction of his day while employing a tight defense as he leads the field heading into the final two days of competition at the sixth regular-season Elite Series event.
Thursday was a perfect illustration of Lane's dilemma. He boated all of his weight - a limit of 24 pounds, 9 ounces - in his first eight casts. After that, Lane made a two-pronged decision that he hoped would pay off twofold. First, he protected his spot from other competitors, and second, he gambled on preserving the area so that he could make it a factor throughout Saturday's final day.
The 35-year-old estimated he has fished the prime spot for less than 1 1/2 hours in the past two days, leaving more than 15 hours on the table. Could the decision backfire? Certainly, but Lane, in his second Elite season, was confident after Thursday's competition that he had made the correct decision.
"Obviously, I'm fortunate to have found this spot," said Lane, who was 31st in the Angler of the Year standings heading into this event. "It's all about fish management though, and I'm just dying to get to the last day so I can fully exploit the area. Someone could probably come out of nowhere and knock me out of the lead, but I know this is for the best."
On Wednesday, Lane was lamenting past tournaments he had here and some unfortunate luck, but by Thursday, he was poised for his first BASS win. While he has kept quiet on the specifics of his pattern, Lane did say that he has been landing fish on a variety of baits. The two-time Classic qualifier also said he noticed a fundamental change with his area Thursday.
The forage in the area seemed to be getting bigger and Lane said he would make the adjustment to increase the size of his baits. While Lane does have two other spots he believes could yield quality fish, he has not checked on them during the tournament and said he would rely on them only as a last resort.
So for the leader, it's sink or swim with strategy.
"Today, I saw a school of about 100 bass that were all in the 4- to 5-pound range," Lane said. "They were just wrecking anything that you threw out there. I'm not sure why this area is special, but it certainly is."
While Lane has had an impressive two days, his advantage - just more than 4 pounds - is certainly not insurmountable. Especially when four-time Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam is breathing down Lane's neck.
VanDam, with a two-day total of 50 pounds, 4 ounces, tapered off a bit Thursday but was very upbeat after weighing in.
"I feel really good," said VanDam, a two-time Classic champion. "Like Bobby, I really managed my fish today. Perhaps I shouldn't have laid off so much, but Friday I'm going to really get on them."
VanDam continued to work his customary pattern, a Strike King crankbait in sexy shad color, to small, precise areas. While VanDam continues to notch top finishes, he can't seem to shake 2009 Classic champion Skeet Reese in the Angler of the Year standings.
Reese is right behind VanDam at Kentucky, in third with 48 pounds, 9 ounces. The two are also connected in the AOY race as VanDam holds a scant lead over Reese. With this and two more regular-season events remaining, the two will continue to duel heading into the inaugural Elite Series postseason, the Championship Week, which will be played out Sept. 10-18 on Alabama's Lake Jordan and Alabama River featuring the top 12 anglers in the AOY standings.
Rounding out the top five at Kentucky Lake was Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., in fourth with 48-5, and dropping one place to fifth was Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., with 47-4.
After Thursday, the field was cut to the top 50 anglers. Notables who advanced to Day Three included 2006 Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli (16th), Guntersville Elite champion Aaron Martens (17th) and Guy Eaker of Cherryville, N.C. (33rd). Full standings can be found below. Only the top 12 will go on to compete in Saturday's Day Four.
Kentucky Lake has hosted 10 previous BASS events. Straddling the Kentucky-Tennessee border, Kentucky Lake is 185 miles in length, with 160,000 surface acres and 2,380 miles of shoreline. Lake Barkley, a navigable canal, adds another 80,000 surface acres.
In the 2008 event on Kentucky Lake, VanDam totaled 84 pounds, 13 ounces, courtesy of a variety of lures, including jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits. His most productive lure was what would become the trademark in his march to the 2008 Angler of the Year title: a Strike King Series 6 in sexy shad color.
DAY 2 STANDINGS- TENNESEE TRIUMPH- KENTUCKY LAKE
2009 Tennessee Triumph 6/3-6/6
Kentucky Lake, Paris TN.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 10 54-07 310
Day 1: 5 29-14 Day 2: 5 24-09
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 50-04 295
Day 1: 5 28-11 Day 2: 5 21-09
3. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 48-09 290
Day 1: 5 25-15 Day 2: 5 22-10
4. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 10 48-05 285
Day 1: 5 23-07 Day 2: 5 24-14
5. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 47-04 280
Day 1: 5 26-02 Day 2: 5 21-02
6. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 10 46-13 276
Day 1: 5 27-06 Day 2: 5 19-07
7. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 10 46-08 272
Day 1: 5 23-07 Day 2: 5 23-01
8. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 10 45-04 268
Day 1: 5 21-08 Day 2: 5 23-12
9. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 10 44-08 264
Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 26-05
10. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 44-07 260
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 26-14
11. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 10 44-03 257
Day 1: 5 22-03 Day 2: 5 22-00
12. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 10 43-06 254
Day 1: 5 22-06 Day 2: 5 21-00
13. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 43-06 251
Day 1: 5 23-01 Day 2: 5 20-05
14. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 43-01 248
Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 22-01
15. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 10 42-10 245
Day 1: 5 26-00 Day 2: 5 16-10
16. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 10 42-06 243
Day 1: 5 23-03 Day 2: 5 19-03
17. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 10 42-01 241
Day 1: 5 21-14 Day 2: 5 20-03
18. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 41-15 239
Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 5 19-15
19. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 10 41-09 237
Day 1: 5 24-04 Day 2: 5 17-05
20. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 41-06 235
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 23-05
21. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 10 40-05 233
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 22-09
22. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 10 39-12 231
Day 1: 5 19-04 Day 2: 5 20-08
23. Randy Howell Springville, AL 10 39-07 229
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 19-04
24. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 10 39-06 227
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 17-11
25. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 10 39-01 225
Day 1: 5 21-10 Day 2: 5 17-07
26. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 10 39-00 223
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 21-04
27. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 38-09 221
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 22-00
28. Alton Jones Waco, TX 10 38-09 219
Day 1: 5 21-05 Day 2: 5 17-04
29. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 38-03 217
Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 18-02
30. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 38-00 215
Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 5 16-00
31. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 37-11 213
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 18-03
32. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 10 37-07 211
Day 1: 5 20-03 Day 2: 5 17-04
33. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 10 37-00 209
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 23-11
34. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 36-11 207
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 18-02
35. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 36-10 205
Day 1: 5 20-11 Day 2: 5 15-15
36. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 10 36-10 203
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 17-13
37. Jason Quinn York, SC 10 36-03 201
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 17-12
38. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 10 36-01 199
Day 1: 5 19-07 Day 2: 5 16-10
39. John Crews Salem, VA 10 35-15 197
Day 1: 5 23-00 Day 2: 5 12-15
40. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 10 35-06 195
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 16-14
41. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 10 35-04 193
Day 1: 5 24-03 Day 2: 5 11-01
42. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 10 35-03 191
Day 1: 5 13-12 Day 2: 5 21-07
43. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 10 34-11 189
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 17-04
44. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 10 34-08 187
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 20-01
45. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 34-08 185
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 14-12
46. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 10 34-07 183
Day 1: 5 17-08 Day 2: 5 16-15
47. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 10 34-07 181
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 17-02
48. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 10 34-06 179
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 13-12
49. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 10 34-05 177
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 15-04
50. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 34-04 175
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 17-07
51. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 10 34-03 173
Day 1: 5 17-09 Day 2: 5 16-10
52. Pat Golden High Point, NC 10 33-05 171
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 18-01
53. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 10 33-01 169
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 15-02
54. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 32-11 167
Day 1: 5 20-04 Day 2: 5 12-07
55. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 10 32-10 165
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 16-12
56. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 10 32-06 163
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 13-13
57. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 10 32-04 161
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 16-09
58. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 10 31-12 159
Day 1: 5 17-12 Day 2: 5 14-00
59. Chris Lane Lakeland, FL 10 31-05 157
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 15-12
60. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 10 31-00 155
Day 1: 5 18-02 Day 2: 5 12-14
61. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 10 30-13 153
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 16-00
62. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 30-12 151
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 15-04
63. Billy Mccaghren Mayflower, AR 10 30-08 149
Day 1: 5 18-13 Day 2: 5 11-11
64. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 30-07 147
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 5 19-03
65. Jim Murray Arabi, GA 10 30-07 145
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 12-13
66. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 10 30-04 143
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 16-07
67. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 9 29-14 141
Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 4 09-01
68. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 8 29-09 139
Day 1: 5 21-09 Day 2: 3 08-00
69. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 28-12 137
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-08
70. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 28-05 135
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 14-07
71. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 10 28-02 133
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-07
72. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 10 27-15 131
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 17-06
73. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 10 27-09 129
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 15-14
74. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 27-07 127
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 10-03
75. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 10 27-05 125
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 11-07
76. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 10 27-05 123
Day 1: 5 15-03 Day 2: 5 12-02
77. David Smith Del City, OK 9 27-05 121
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 4 10-13
78. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 26-12 119
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 14-12
79. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 26-09 117
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 12-00
80. Elton Luce Jr. Brookeland, TX 9 25-15 115
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 14-14
81. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 10 25-14 113
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 13-01
82. Ken D Cook Lawton, OK 10 25-13 111
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 14-02
83. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 9 25-07 109
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 4 07-00
84. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 8 25-04 107
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 3 08-05
85. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 10 24-10 105
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-02
86. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 10 24-10 103
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 5 12-02
87. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 9 24-07 101
Day 1: 5 12-08 Day 2: 4 11-15
88. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 10 24-00 99
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 11-15
89. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 10 23-14 97
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 11-04
90. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 8 22-14 95
Day 1: 3 09-15 Day 2: 5 12-15
91. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 7 22-11 93
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 2 05-07
92. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 9 21-09 91
Day 1: 4 10-12 Day 2: 5 10-13
93. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 7 18-14 89
Day 1: 2 04-15 Day 2: 5 13-15
94. Luke Gritter Kalamazoo, MI 7 17-09 87
Day 1: 3 06-13 Day 2: 4 10-12
95. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 6 16-13 85
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 1 04-06
96. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 7 15-01 83
Day 1: 2 04-08 Day 2: 5 10-09
97. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 7 13-07 81
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 03-12
98. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 12-10 79
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
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BIG BASS
Day
1 Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 07-15 $0.00
2 Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 08-04 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 479 1720-14
2 86 465 1565-02
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179 944 3286-00