Kenney climbs to lead at Seminole
Straight Talk pro proving his versatility
BAINBRIDGE, Ga. – For those who know the names and faces on the FLW Tour, the name JT Kenney means flipping – usually with a big tungsten weight punched through some kind of vegetation.
So when the Straight Talk pro went straight to the top of the leaderboard in the EverStart Series event on weed-infested Lake Seminole today, the logical deduction is that Kenny is flipping, but that’s not the case at all. In fact, he has fished two days on Seminole without even taking a big stick out of his rod box.
Instead Kenney is showing off his versatility as a pro, catching his fish on a crankbait and a spinnerbait.
Today that versatility translated into consistency, allowing him to post daily weights of 18 pounds, 9 ounces and 17 pounds, 13 ounces for a two-day leading total of 36 pounds, 6 ounces.
“The fish I’m catching are post-spawn and they are definitely more interested in chasing shad than eating something on the bottom like a worm or lizard,” Kenney said. “I’ve tried dragging some plastics around but they want something that resembles a minnow. My catches today came on a crankbait, spinnerbait and Fluke.”
Kenney is fishing the first primary break off a spawning flat.
“There are a few small ditches that run around the spawning flat and that’s what the fish are using,” Kenney described. “Lures with speed are the key – they want something fast. Yesterday I was using a big-bladed spinnerbait and today they just nipped at it so I went to smaller blades and sped it up, which seemed to trigger a few more bites.”
Davis second 
Darrell Davis of Dover, Fla., has also been bringing consistent weights to the scales – 17 pounds, 2 ounces and 17 pounds, 6 ounces – for a two-day total of 34 pounds, 8 ounces, which puts him in second place.
Davis, too, is targeting post-spawn fish, but his are coming on a topwater and a worm.
“I’m chasing the shad,” Davis said. “First thing in the morning I can see shad flickering in the area and the bite is on. After that initial flurry, there’s a lull in the mid-morning, then it gets going again about 1 o’clock – it’s like the shad get schooled back up again and the bass feed a second time.”
“Late this afternoon I went to a completely different place and found the same pattern working there as well,” he continued. “My co-angler and I caught a couple there right before we had to come in today so I’m hoping that’s a new area that will produce tomorrow.”
McMillan third
Day-one leader Brandon McMillan of Clewiston, Fla., slipped to third place today, but as his fish showed, he is still on the right size: he brought in three bass weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces.
“I had a late boat number today and that shad spawn was pretty much over when I got there this morning,” McMillan said. “I did catch one good one there, but then had to go to some other spots and do some different things to catch the other two. I think if I can get there earlier tomorrow it will be right again.”
Pace fourth
Keith Pace of Monticello, Ark., moved up to fourth place with a two-day total of 34 pounds, 1 ounce.
Pace is basically fishing a summer pattern – post-spawn fish on major drops in 15 to 18 feet of water.
“I’ve found a few places where there’s new, green grass growing up out deep and that’s been the key for me,” Pace said. “It’s really slow fishing and I don’t get many bites – I only had six bites today – but when I catch one it’s the right size so I’m going to keep doing it tomorrow.”
Baker fifth
Shaye Baker of Tallassee, Ala., moved up to fifth place with two-day total of 33 pounds, 14 ounces.
Baker, who is a freelance writer and on-the-water reporter for FLW Outdoors, is backing up his pen and camera with a rod and reel this week at Lake Seminole.
His ticket on day one was a blistering shad-spawn bite early in the morning. Today, however, his shad-spawn bite waned and he had to adapt with a topwater.
“The key lure on the shad-spawn place is a homemade spinnerbait,” Baker said. “And when I go down the lake I’m throwing a Jackall Bowstick topwater. Yesterday I didn’t have to go way down into the lake, but today when my shad-spawn spot died, I went down there with the Bowstick and it really saved me with a 4-pounder and two 3-pounders.”
Big bass
Pro Gary Fleming caught the big bass in the Pro Division on day two weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top-10 pros in the EverStart Series event on Lake Seminole after day two:
6th: George Kapiton of Inverness, Fla., two-day total of 33-12
7th: Brandon Medlock of Lake Placid, Fla., two-day total of 32-4
8th: Ty Solis of Albany, Ga., two-day total of 32-3
9th: Rodger Beaver of Dawson, Ga., two-day total of 32-2
10th: Joseph Kremer of Osteen, Fla., two-day total of 32-1
Clark leads co-anglers
Cal Clark of Pulaski, Tenn., leads the Co-angler Division with a two-day total of 26 pounds, 2 ounces.
Justin Sward of Birmingham, Ala., is in second in the Co-angler Division with a two-day total of 23 pounds, 3 ounces.
Joe Ventrello of Orlando, Fla., held on to his third place from day one with a two-day total of 22 pounds, 4 ounces.
Charles Stevenson of Albany, Ga., is in fourth place with a two-day total of 21 pounds, 5 ounces.
Robert Wood of Jupiter, Fla., held on to his fifth place spot from day one with a two-day total of 20 pounds, 10 ounces.
Big bass
Randy Hill caught the big bass in the Co-angler Division on day two weighing 5 pounds, 11 ounces.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers in the EverStart Series event on Lake Seminole after day two:
6th: Bradley Johns of Jacksonville, Fla., two-day total of 20-10
7th: Justin Jones of Apex, N.C., two-day total of 19-15
8th: Chad Menard of Rogersville, Ala., two-day total of 19-10
9th: James Brooks of Inverness, Fla., two-day total of 19-6
10th: Jim Short of Ocean Pines, Md., two-day total of 19-4
Day three of the EverStart Series Southeast on Lake Seminole will begin Saturday at 7:30 a.m. at the Earle May Boat Basin in Bainbridge.