After a damp and dreary start to Day 1, anglers’ optimism rose with the sun here on Day 2 of the Phoenix Bass Fishing League Presented by T-H Marine All-American on Douglas Lake. Quick limits to start the morning have opened up options for many in this championship event presented by TINCUP.

Not letting the bright sun stop them from going shallow, several of the Top 10 anglers were able to quickly put a several quality fish in the box. Chris Baldwin, who started the day in fifth place, already had three quality keepers when we joined him around 8 o’clock and continued flipping shallow brush with a swim jig thereafter.

Kyle Kitts (fourth) and Blake Tomlin (third) also found success in the shallows, and both had notable limits by 9:30. Tomlin managed to bag an estimated 13 1/2 pounds with a 4-pound kicker, despite losing a good fish in the process.

Day 1 leader Leslie Brandenburg, who was spotted throwing a big swimbait not far from the ramp first thing in the morning stuck to the lower end of the lake today in contrast to his Day 1 game plan.

Brant Grimm (ninth) made all the right moves this morning and is looking to shock everyone at the scales at weigh-in. With an estimated 21 pounds in the box by 10:20, he made a move downriver in preparation for Championship Saturday. If that estimate holds true, it’ll be one of the largest bags caught from Douglas Lake this entire year.

Hunter Litchfield (25th) and Harmon Davis (10th) both encountered frustrations with the lake’s 18-inch length limit on smallmouth, having to release good fish that could have made a big impact on their finish today.

“You want to know what hurts?,” remarked Litchfield. “Throwing a 17 1/2-inch smallmouth back when you have a 1 1/2-pound largemouth in the box.”

Time will tell if those small fish will make an impact, as anglers still have a few hours to round out their moving day limits before weigh-in begins at 3:30 EDT. Be sure to come join us at Point Marina and Resort in Dandridge, Tennessee or tune in live online.