BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., caught five bass weighing 15 pounds, 10 ounces Saturday to take a 1-ounce lead over Kevin VanDam in the second round of the Bassmaster Classic at Lay Lake.
Kriet, who started the day in third place, caught the heaviest bag Saturday to claim the lead with a two-day total of 32-1.
VanDam, of Kalamazoo, Mich., the 2009 Bassmaster Angler of the Year and a two-time Classic champion, caught five bass that weighed 12-7 for a total of 31-15. Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, who started the day in second place, dropped to third with 13-12, and 31-14 overall. He is just 3 ounces out of the lead.
Only the top 25 contenders will fish in today’s final round for the $500,000 top prize. Also making the cut were Billy McCaghren of Mayflower and Stephen Browning of Hot Springs. McCaghren finished the day in 13th place with three bass weighing 4-11 for a two-day total of 19-15. Browning caught five bass that weighed 6-14 for a twoday total of 15-13.
“I’m catching plenty of fish, but I just have not been around any good ones,” said Browning, who finished 15th at the 2002 Classic at Lay Lake. “I guess I could go down one place, but I can go up 23! I’m going to go out tomorrow and change some things up. I think there’s a chance of coming in the top 10. That’s what I’m going to shoot for. I’m not going to worry about a position.”
Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., the 2009 Women’s Bassmaster Tour Anglerof the Year, made history Saturday as the first woman to make the Classic cut into the top 25. Martin-Wells is 21st at 16-12 overall.
“I’m extremely proud of myself, if for no other reason than it’s been tough,” Martin-Wells said, “and I’ve been able to grind out a limit both days.”
The top three anglers lead today’s “Super Six,” a group that also includes 2003 Classic champ Mike Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J., at 26-12, Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala. (25-11), and Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla. (24-9). Right behind them is 2004 Bassmaster Classic winner Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas, in seventh place at 24-5 overall.
Several in the field of 51 have been fishing Beeswax Creek, within eyeshot of the daily launch site, and the top three agreed that the traffic and competition has taken a toll on Lay Lake’s bass. The lake dropped 1 foot Saturday, which also contributed to the day’s tough conditions.
Kriet said he was grateful that several competitors who wanted to fish the same water have instead let him have a stretch to himself.
Three Arkansans did not make the top-25 cut. Mike McClelland of Bella Vista finished in 29th place with 13-5. Kevin Short of Mayflower was 48th at 2-6. Darrell West of Drasco did not weigh a fish and was 50th.
Day 2 standings Lay Lake, Birmingham Ala.
PL. ANGLER, HOMETOWN ..........TOTAL WT 1. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. ................... 32-01 2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. ..... 31-15 3. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas ............. 31-14 4. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, N.J. .... 26-12 5. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. ................... 25-11 6. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. ............ 24-09 7. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas ........... 24-05 8. Matt Herren Trussville, Ala. ............... 23-06 9. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. ... 21-02 10. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas ....... 20-07 11. Bobby Lane Lakeland, Fla. ............... 20-06 12. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, La. ............ 20-00 13. Billy McCaghren Mayflower ....... 19-15 14. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. ............ 19-04 15. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. ...................... 18-09 16. Jeff Freeman Max Meadows, Va. .... 18-05 17. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. ........... 17-09 18. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. ........... 17-06 19. Shaw Grigsby Gainesville, Fla. ........ 17-05 20. Mark Tucker Kirkwood, Mo. ............ 17-03 21. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. .. 16-12 22. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. .............. 16-04 23. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz. 15-14 24. Stephen Browning Hot Springs ... 15-13 25. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C.
......... 15-09
Sports, Pages 34 on 02/21/2010