BULL SHOALS, Ark. – The bite improved Thursday for some, although many others once again left Bull Shoals Boat Dock after day two of the Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour event scratching their heads.
Reigning FLW Walleye Tour champion Nick Johnson once again led the field, despite only bringing in one fish. Johnson’s lone walleye weighed 3 pounds, 1 ounce, giving him a two-day total of 15 pounds, 10 ounces.
Johnson hoped to continue yesterday’s successful pattern, but his fish wouldn’t cooperate.
“My water was stained today, and I don’t think the fish are seeing my presentation,” he said. “I started off with the same pattern as yesterday, but didn’t have any luck. I changed it up later because my back stiffened up and my shoulder is sore. From that point on, I was basically prefishing the rest of the day, which is what many of us are still doing. Once I changed it up, I got one.”
Johnson’s lead has shrunk from 5 pounds, 3 ounces on day one to 3 pounds, 1 ounce after two days.
“I’m a little scared right now, because it looks like the other guys are starting to figure some things out. Consistency will dictate who wins this tournament. I think one or two tomorrow should put me right in it.”
Riley climbs to second
Todd Riley made a strong push to close the gap between first and second by bringing in three walleyes that weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces. Riley, an Amery, Wis., resident, was pleased with his catch and looks forward to tomorrow.
“Today I might have stumbled on something that I can repeat tomorrow,” he said. “Most of us are just hoping for the opportunity to bring one in the boat. We caught three today using cranks and jigs in shallow water, so that’s pretty good.”
In addition to his three walleyes, Riley caught a variety of trout, largemouth bass and a giant white bass.
While Riley likes his position, he remained uneasy about projecting the cutoff.
“It’s possible for me to not catch a fish and still make the cut,” he said reluctantly. “But I won’t feel comfortable not catching a fish. Realistically, someone could bring in a 30-pound bag.”
Lampman third
With only two fish for the entire tournament, Robert Lampman found himself sitting in third place, courtesy of a 9-pound, 9-ounce giant female walleye. In addition to his monster marble-eye, the De Soto, Wis., native caught a second walleye that weighed 2 pounds, 4 ounces.
“We blew an engine early in the day,” said Lampman. “I guess it was a good end to a poor start.”
Crow fourth
Slipping to fourth place was Paterson, Wash., native Robert Crow. After bringing in 7 pounds, 6 ounces on day one, Crow managed only one walleye that weighed 2 pounds, 14 ounces, giving him a two-day total of 10 pounds, 4 ounces.
Przekurat moves to fifth
In fifth place was Jason Przekurat with three walleyes that weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces.
“I switched up from crankbaits to jigging plastics,” he said. “When fishing clear water like this, color is the key. Other than that, I’ve just been concentrating on small changes in the shoreline structure.
“I’m excited because I didn’t change until midday, which is when I got all three. Tomorrow I can run this pattern all day. I think I’ve got a legitimate shot; two fish basically guarantees that I’m in.”
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 pros after two days at Bull Shoals:
6th: Chris Gilman of Chisago City, Minn., 8-10
7th: John Kolinski of Greenville, Wis., 7-4
8th: Tommy Skarlis of Walker, Minn., 7-2
9th: Tony Renner of Hutchinson, Minn., 6-4
10th: Mark Courts of Harris, Minn., 6-2
Brewer exhausted, but in first
On the co-angler side, William Brewer was worn out after constantly casting for the past two days.
“I have been throwing so many crankbaits, I’ve got blisters all over my hands,” gasped Brewer. “We fished areas where there were obvious transitions from boulders to gravel. We also got one on the inside of a creek arm. I don’t think the structure matters that much because they are really scattered.”
Brewer likes his chances to advance.
“I probably will make the cutoff, but I need a fish tomorrow to make sure. I really want to get to the championship; that’s what I’m working toward.”
Coming in second for the co-anglers was Jim Schleicher of Maxwell, Neb., dropping only one place, despite not catching a fish.
Co-angler Dave Crawford of Maybee, Mich., who zeroed on day one, placed third on day two with a weight of 12 pounds, 1 ounce.
Janet Flynn of Tea, S.D., claimed the fourth spot for the co-anglers with a weight of 8 pounds, 11 ounces.
Fifth place went to Kenneth Brenner of Moline, Ill., for 7 pounds, 6 ounces.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers after two days at Bull Shoals:
6th: Dana Delp of Lansing, Mich., 7-2
7th: Stephen Gaston of Montegut, La., 6-8
8th: Chad Kiefer of Henderson, Colo., 6-2
9th: Jason Lange of Elkhorn, Neb., 6-0
10th: Jackie Perry of Milaca, Minn., 5-14
Day three of FLW Walleye Tour competition at Bull Shoals begins as the field of 104 boats takes off from Bull Shoals Boat Dock at 7 a.m. Central time Friday for the final day of the opening round.