Leaders lay up at Santee Cooper
First-round leaders coast into top-20 cut on day two of EverStart Series Eastern event; Dameron takes lead
MANNING, S.C. – Most of the day-one leaders were able to lay up at the EverStart Series Eastern event today and coast into the top 20.
Scott Dameron of Ghent, W.Va., who was in third yesterday, caught two bass today that weighed 11 pounds, 13 ounces to take the day-two lead with 36 pounds, 1 ounce.
Dameron said he made one pass through his primary area on Lake Moultrie, caught a 6-pound bass and then left. Later in the day, he moved up to Lake Marion and caught another 6-pound bass.
Dameron is counting on his best place in Moultrie tomorrow. “The area has had a lot of boats in it,” he said. “I hope that the reduced field will alleviate that pressure tomorrow, and I can get in there and really fish it right.”
Surprisingly, the current leader only had one day of practice on Santee Cooper lakes. “My daughter got baptized on Sunday, and I wanted to see that so I did not leave until Monday,” Dameron said. “That left me with one day of practice on Tuesday, but I have fished here several times before.”
Melvin goes practicing for second
Sandy Melvin of Boca Grande, Fla., did not even go to the place that produced 25 pounds, 7 ounces for him yesterday. Instead, he went practicing in areas near his primary spot on Lake Moultrie and is now in second place.
“I tied on a Gambler spinner bait and just went fishing,” said Melvin about his four bass that weighed 9 pounds, 7 ounces. “The spinner bait had a small Colorado in the front and a big number 6 blade on the back.”
Melvin says he will be returning to his primary area tomorrow, but he is concerned about the wind. “My best spot is in the wide open. If it blows, I will just have to do that back up deal I found today with the spinner bait.”
Strader strikes again
Wesley Strader of Spring City, Tenn., brought in the second biggest bag of bass today that weighed 19 pounds, 8 ounces. His two-day total is now 32 pounds, 15 ounces, which puts him in third place.
Strader says he is fishing isolated cypress trees that have ditches running by them. “These are places where the fish are stopping as they migrate from the shallows,” he said. “They kind of funnel out to these trees.”
Strader is fishing the Cow Pasture area in Lake Moultrie with a 3/8-ounce War Eagle spinner bait and a Lake Fork Top Dog lizard. “I am fishing the same trees with the spinner bait and lizard,” he added. “I just got two big bites today.”
Powroznik eases up too
After leading the tournament with 26 pounds, 9 ounces yesterday, Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va., made just one pass through his primary area on Lake Marion this morning. “I caught a 3-1/2-pounder and left,” he said. “Then I went sight-fishing in Eutaw Creek and caught a couple more off the bed.”
Powroznik is now in fourth with 32 pounds, 14 ounces. “This has been the longest day of my life,” he said. “I am ready to go back to my best area and start catching them again. I still think there is a large quantity of bass down there. I am going to try to catch about 16 or 17 pounds tomorrow. Once I get that, I’ll leave it alone again.”
Christian rounds out top five
The Eastern EverStart’s points leader, Tony Christian of Hull, Ga., remains just under the radar screen in fifth place. He brought in 12 pounds, 15 ounces today for a total of 29 pounds, 5 ounces.
Christian says he is out of fish at Santee Cooper. But those who have watched Christian take their money this year know better.
Major gains for Gainey
Today’s biggest comeback story belongs to Nick Gainey of Charleston, S.C. Gainey weighed in 22 pounds, 15 ounces with just four fish. He jumped 83 places into seventh with the catch.
“I’ve got one great staging area that is only about 50 yards by 100 yards,” he said. “I went there yesterday and did not do any good. I returned this morning and caught three giants in five casts. I am still shaking just thinking about it. I am going to live or die there tomorrow.”
Gainey caught his fish on a spinner bait in Lake Moultrie.
Unintentional laying up
Speaking of easing off, Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., eased himself into a standstill today when he zeroed. Fortunately, Morgan caught 19 pounds, 3 ounces yesterday, and that catch kept him in the top 20 – barely. He is in 19th with only a pound to spare.
“Hey, I did not zero on purpose,” exclaimed Morgan. “I fished like a madman today, but I lost the only two bites I had.”
Deak leads co-anglers
In the Co-Angler Division, John Deak of Phillipsburg, Ohio, leads with 17 pounds, 6 ounces. He has caught all of his fish this week on a 1/2-ounce Predator spinner bait in a parrot color with two gold willow-leaf blades.
In second place is Ron Warren of Ocklawaha, Fla., with 16 pounds 10 ounces. He reported catching his fish, including today’s co-angler big bass, on a watermelon Senko tied to 8-pound-test line.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Ken Crumpler of Marianna, Fla., (third) with 14 pounds, 6 ounces; Jeff Haywood of Troy, N.C., (fourth) with 14 pounds, 1 ounce; and James Hill of Ozark, Ala., (fifth) with 12 pounds, 15 ounces.
Top-20 action resumes tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. at the John C. Land III Boating Facility.
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