Wellman assumes Kentucky-Barkley throne
Michigan pro hauls in 36-15 over two days to take 2-pound, 9-ounce lead
BENTON, Ky. – Blustery winds resulted in a drop in numbers on day two of the Stren Series Central Division event on Kentucky and Barkley lakes and also shook up the leaderboard a bit, as day-one leader Ryan Chandler dropped to 64th, replaced by yesterday’s No. 3 Nate Wellman at the top. Wellman improved his catch today to post a two-day total of 36 pounds, 15 ounces to lead the pro field by 2 pounds, 9 ounces.
Wellman, a Wal-Mart FLW Tour pro from Jenison, Mich., caught a five-bass limit on day one that clocked in at 17 pounds, 1 ounce and followed that up today with an even better limit, this one weighing 19 pounds, 14 ounces.
“Everywhere I caught fish today, I never caught fish yesterday,” Wellman said. “I went looking for protected water, using the same pattern (as yesterday). I had those by 11 o’clock.”
Although using his tried-and-true pattern from day one, Wellman did switch up the bait today, going from a Brush Hog to a jig. He stressed again today the importance of color, which he declined to reveal at this time.
“Color is definitely everything still,” he said. “If you don’t have the right color, you might as well go home.”
Wellman’s sack was anchored by a 5-pound, 8-ounce kicker fish, and that bass and all his others were caught out of Kentucky Lake. As for tomorrow and a potential day on the water Saturday, Wellman remains confident.
“I don’t see how I can’t do this every day,” he said. “Before this tournament, I thought I’d win it. I only milked one out of eight spots today, but I could have had a 23- to 24-pound stringer. I left my spot at 11 and hung out at Moors (Marina) all day and didn’t catch a fish.”
Eakins moves up to second
Troy Eakins of Nixa, Mo., moved 17 spots up the leaderboard today to end day two in the second position with a two-day weight of 34 pounds, 6 ounces. He caught 15-1 yesterday and bettered that weight today with a limit weighing 19-5.
Surprising no one, Eakins said he caught his bass today on his own renowned Eakins Jig.
“I caught them shallow,” he said, adding that he fished Barkley today despite the high winds. He said those winds did indeed affect him, preventing him from traveling as far as he would have liked.
“I feel like I can catch a few and see how it goes,” he said of his tournament chances.
Eakins finished seventh in this event a year ago.
McGuire once again stakes a claim
Curt McGuire of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., has two second-place finishes on this lake at this very event, and he’s once again in the hunt to turn that runner-up status into a win with a third-place showing on day three. McGuire caught 13 pounds, 14 ounces on day one to end the day in 35th and moved up to third today with the day’s heaviest limit, clocking in at 20 pounds, 5 ounces.
“I just got better bites,” he said by way of explanation. “I caught less fish, but better fish.”
McGuire is known for fishing deep on Kentucky and Barkley lakes and targeted postspawners with better success today.
“There have been more fish spawning in the last six or seven days,” he said. “Some are starting to come out – not very many. I’m fishing deep, as usual.”
He said he’s fishing spots that are scattered as far as 30 miles on Kentucky Lake.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I want the wind to lay down so I can get around a little easier.”
Dugan retains top-10 status
Yesterday’s No. 8 moved up to the fourth spot, as J.R. Dugan of Bardstown, Ky., ended day two with a combined weight of 33 pounds, 5 ounces. He caught 16-5 yesterday and followed that up today with a limit weighing 17 pounds.
“It was a little slow early,” he said. “I needed that sun to come out. I didn’t catch many fish until about noon.”
Dugan said he was fishing several isolated spots and pretty much just lucked out.
“I just hit enough of them and got lucky to catch a few in each one,” he said.
Johnson rounds out top five
In the No. 5 position is Chris Johnson of Lowell, Ark., with a two-day catch of 32 pounds, 10 ounces. His day-one catch of 15-10 was followed up today with 17 pounds.
“This has been a great day,” he said. “I was fortunate to catch a limit in the first hour. I used a spinnerbait and culled all day long.”
Johnson also fished Kentucky Lake today to land his bass and credits his better standing today on an earlier flight.
“I got an early boat number, and there is a little bit of bite in the morning,” he said. “The bigger fish are biting in the afternoon, but to get an extra fish in the morning was a big deal.”
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 pros after day two on Kentucky-Barkley:
6th: Jeff Carman, Liberty, Ky., 10 bass, 32-3
7th: Bobby McMullin, Pevely, Mo., 10 bass, 31-12
8th: Mark Rose, Marion, Ark., 10 bass, 31-8
9th: Dick Shaffer, Rockford, Ohio, 10 bass, 31-7
10th: John Randall, Westerville, Ohio, 10 bass, 31-5
Nelson claims co-angler lead
Taking the lead in the Co-angler Division after day two is B.J. Nelson of Louisa, Ky., with a two-day catch of 29 pounds, 11 ounces to lead the co-anglers by a comfy 4-pound, 4-ounce margin. Nelson caught 12-15 yesterday and busted a 16-pound, 12-ounce limit today to claim the lead. Helping his cause was his day-two partner, storied Kentucky-Barkley expert Britt Cone.
“I had a great partner in Britt Cone,” Nelson said. “We got protection from the wind, and I caught three fish in one pocket in 10 minutes, including my two biggest ones.”
As far as presentation, Nelson went with what works.
“I’ve thrown a jig all week – in practice, yesterday and today,” he said. “I think I can do it again tomorrow. The wind is going to blow, so we won’t be out on the main lake, and I’m just going to throw that jig.”
Rhoades fishes shallow to wind up second among co-anglers
Behind Nelson on the co-angler side is Tim Rhoades of Leitchfield, Ky., with a two-day catch of 25-7. His day-one catch of 11-14 was bested today with his 13-pound, 9-ounce limit.
“It was a good day,” Rhoades said. “I lost a good fish that would have helped me – actually, two fish. But what it’s all about on the co-angler side is to get with boaters who are on fish, and I did.”
Rhoades stayed competitive despite drawing two boaters fishing entirely different water.
“Yesterday we fished 8 to 10 feet and I caught fish on a Carolina rig, but today we fished shallow,” he said, adding that he and his partner fished Kentucky Lake today.
Rest of the best
In third is Tim Cummings of Waynesboro, Tenn., with 23 pounds, 9 ounces, the same weight as No. 4 Frank Divis Sr. of Fayetteville, Ark. Behind them in fifth is yesterday’s co-angler leader, Joey Rogers of Mayfield, Ky., with a two-day catch of 23-6.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers after day two on Kentucky-Barkley:
6th: Timothy Vieth, Marthasville, Mo., nine bass, 23-2
7th: Brian Somrek, Calvert City, Ky., eight bass, 22-5
8th: Brian Futch, Goreville, Ill., eight bass, 21-10
9th: Lawrence Bean, Union, Mo., eight bass, 21-9
10th: Joe Waggoner, Carthage, Mo., seven bass, 20-12
Day three of the Stren Series Central event on Kentucky-Barkley will begin Friday at 6:30 a.m. from Moors Resort, located on Moors Road in Gilbertsville, Ky.