Consistent Collins Takes over Rayburn Lead
Wind hampers bite again in Rayovac event
ZAVALLA, Texas – Churning out consistency day to day – that seems to be the key to winning multiple day FLW events on Rayburn Reservoir these days.
Catching 16 to 17 pounds may not make you a headliner on day one, but do it two days in a row and suddenly you’re in contention to win a Rayovac FLW Series event.
That pretty much sums up the last two days for Albert Collins of Nacogdoches, Texas, who has checked in limits of 16 pounds, 12 ounces and 17 pounds, 15 ounces the last two days to lead the Rayovac Rayburn event with 34 pounds, 11 ounces.
Not only are Collins’ weights similar but for the last two days his limits have been almost identical: two bass in the 5- to 7-pound class and three keepers to go with them.
“I’m just hanging with it out there on some deeper dropoffs,” Collins said. “Most of it is a clay and sand bottom with big stumps. I’m not catching a lot of fish on any of these places – maybe just one or two per spot.”
So far Collins’ key baits have been big Texas-rig worms: a Missile baits Tomahawk and a Mister Twister Hang Ten.
Today the wind on Rayburn switched from the south to the northwest after a frontal passage last night. Collins had to adapt by fishing different places, but they were the same make up of clay, sand and wood.
“During the day there are a lot of little bass coming up chasing shad on the surface in some of these spots,” he said. “But I’m not fishing for those. The better quality seems to be under them.”
Prvonozac second
Nick Prvonozac of Warren, Ohio, moved up to second place with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 2 ounces.
Prvonozac is another one who has dialed up a consistency program at Rayburn bringing in limits of 15 pounds, 6 ounces on day one and 16 pounds, 12 ounces today.
“I think we would be seeing bigger weights from more guys in this tournament if it wasn’t for the wind,” Prvonozac said. “I think everyone, including myself, would like to be out there on the main lake fishing out deeper for bigger ones but this wind really forces you back in the bays and around the grass, which is what I’ve done for two days.”
Prvonozac says his two key baits have been a Booyah buzzbait and pitching a Yum Wooly Bug in grass.
“I’m not running around spot hopping in this wind,” he added. “I’ve opted to just stay in one big area, hunker down and keep doing what I’m doing. I have to really hunt and peck around to get a better quality fish. Hopefully tomorrow I can get out there and fish the big water where the real big ones live.”
Dalbey third
Rich Dalbey of Greenville, Texas, jumped to third place today with an 18-pound, 14-ounce limit for a two-day total of 31-10.
The better weight for Dalbey today was the result of being able to fish a deep place that he couldn’t fish yesterday in the heavy south winds.
“I wanted to fish out in the lake, but all my spots yesterday were getting pounded with those big rollers,” he said. “So I just went to the grass and caught about 13 pounds. I went back to the grass today and only caught one keeper. At about 11:30 I picked up to move to another shallow area across the lake and as I was running, I noticed the wind had really slacked off on one of my best deep spots. So I stopped in there to try it and in two hours I caught what I weighed in.”
Dalbey said his primary lure in the deeper water was a big Texas-rigged worm.
“Setting up on those deep spots so I can fish them correctly with that worm is key,” he added. “Yesterday it was just impossible with 3 footers rolling over the bow.”
Upshaw fourth
Day-one leader Andrew Upshaw of Tulsa, Okla., slipped to fourth place today with 11 pounds, 7 ounces for a two-day total of 31 pounds, 6 ounces.
“It was just a tough day of fishing for me,” Upshaw said. “That’s about all there is to it. I caught four real quick and initially I thought it was going to be another good day. But after that they just started slapping at my bait and not eating it. So I changed up and started running some windy points. My goal here this week is to fish the conditions as they unfold and I just didn’t make that happen today.”
Despino fifth
Randy Despino of Colfax, La., rounds out the top five with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 4 ounces.
“I stayed out in the big lake and fought that rough water all day with waves coming over the bow,” Despino said. “I’m catching a lot of little fish out there and the big ones are few and far between. I caught a 4-pounder just before I had to come in that really saved the day for me.”
Big bass
Philip Crelia caught the big bass in the Pro Division on day two weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top-10 pros in the Rayovac FLW Series event after day two:
6th: Nick Lebrun of Tyler, Texas, two-day total of 30-0
7th: Charlie King of Coushatta, La., two-day total of 29-6
8th: Philip Crelia of Center, Texas, two-day total of 29-4
9th: Clark Reehm of Huntington, Texas, two-day total of 28-14
10th: John Hatton of Buna, Texas, two-day total of 27-12
Cifuentes leads co-anglers
Joey Cifuentes of Clinton, Ark., leads the Co-angler Division after day two with 32 pounds, 10 ounces.
“I have been really fortunate in that my pros both days fished some shallow and some deep,” Cifuentes said. “So I have had the best of both worlds. I have caught my smaller fish to finish my limits up shallow, but I have also caught a couple of bigger ones out deep.”
Robert Davis of Lufkin, Texas, is in second place with a two-day total of 28 pounds, 12 ounces.
Corbett Ross of Port Neches, Texas, is in third place with 28 pounds, 8 ounces.
Tim Fox of Meridian, Miss., is in fourth place with 27 pounds, 6 ounces.
Neil Herline of Silsbee, Texas, rounds out the top five co-anglers with 21-11.
Big bass
Mark Mowery caught the big bass in the Co-angler Division on day two weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top-10 co-anglers in the Rayovac FLW Series event after day two:
6th: Kevin Carter of Spring, Texas, two-day total of 21-4
7th: Travis Kelehan of Broussard, La., two-day total of 20-15
8th: Johnny Manning of Arkadelphia, Ark., two-day total of 20-3
9th: Brett Rachal of Monroe, La., two-day total of 19-8
10th: Mike Power of Conroe, Texas, two-day total of 19-4