Hail to the chief
TBF national president Robert Cartlidge snags Central Divisional lead
LAKE ANDES, S.D. – Despite looming severe weather, TBF Central Divisional contenders hit the waters of Francis Case Reservoir on Thursday for the second day of competition, and taking command of the overall leaderboard was TBF national president Robert Cartlidge of Ponca City, Okla., with a two-day haul of 17 pounds, 13 ounces.
That catch hands him a razor-thin 1-ounce lead on the overall list but a sizable 3-pound, 4-ounce lead on his Oklahoma state team. This week’s Central Divisional includes competitors from eight states – Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Mississippi and Louisiana – all vying for slots in the 2009 TBF National Championship. Each state team brought 12 competitors, and the No. 1 finisher from each state team advances to the national championship as a boater while the runner-up finisher from each team advances as a co-angler.
Competition among the states is also fierce, as cash prizes are not awarded individually but according to the state teams with the heaviest combined weights at the conclusion of the tournament. Oklahoma currently leads the charge with a two-day catch of 136-13, followed by Arkansas, whose team members have caught 132-15 thus far.
Cartlidge’s position atop the leaderboard is not insignificant, however, as whoever holds that spot tomorrow will earn a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer.
Cartlidge rallies to find the lead
Cartlidge led his team yesterday and sat in third overall but thought his chances dwindled at the start of the day.
“I started out doing everything the same as yesterday, but the fish weren’t biting,” he said. “The first two hours of fishing were dismal. After that, I was able to catch my limit in an hour and a half.”
Cartlidge blamed the weather for his morning woes, as he used the blazing sun yesterday to aid a sight-fishing bite. Today’s wind and rain did affect his bite, though he did manage to catch a solid limit and put himself in position for his first national-championship appearance as a competitor.
“The wind and rain obviously had an impact today,” Cartlidge said, adding that he caught many of his fish today on a fluke. “I have finished in second place in five divisional tournaments, all by less than a pound, so it would mean a lot to be able to win and go to the TBF National Championship for the first time.”
Halbersma holds on to second
Yesterday’s No. 2 overall remains the same today, as Marion Halbersma of Ozark, Mo., held on to his Missouri team lead with a two-day total catch of 17 pounds, 12 ounces that gave him a 3-pound lead on his team.
“Yesterday I used a 1/16-ounce split-shot Senko, but today I had to use a heavier weight because of the wind,” Halbersma said. “The bite was down from yesterday, and it was more delicate. The wind made it hard to navigate and feel the bite.”
Halbersma navigated quite a few of Francis Case’s 100,000-plus acres to get to his fish, adding that he felt he had to in order to hang on to his lofty status. Despite the rough weather, the results paid off. In fact, Halbersma feels that the fates of this week’s competitors lie in the fickle hands of Mother Nature.
“It all depends on what the weather does,” he said.
Baird retains Kansas lead
With a two-day catch of 16-1, Jason Baird continues to lead the Kansas team and remain in contention on the overall list, as he is currently in third place overall with a two-day catch of 16 pounds, 1 ounce.
Baird, too, suffered from the weather change but extended his good fortune, as he continues to lead Kansas by a 1-pound, 4-ounce margin.
“I switched my plan totally today,” Baird said. “I went from a topwater to a little finesse bait. On my practice day, the topwater bite was great, but they weren’t going after it today.”
Baird is hoping the wind will die down tomorrow, but current forecasts are calling for more storms and winds ranging from 20 to 30 mph.
“If the wind blows tomorrow, it will be tough because the fish are biting smaller lures,” he said, adding that the fish are staying in wind-protected pockets. “It can get crowded because there are only so many spots on the lake where the fish are holding.”
Rest of the best
Behind Baird in fourth on the overall list is Mark Hensiek of England, Ark., with a two-day total of 16 pounds, 1 ounce. Hensiek took the Arkansas team lead from yesterday’s overall leader Kelly Box, who fell to sixth in Arkansas team standings.
Jerry Necaise reigns as the top Mississippi team angler with a two-day total catch of 14 pounds, 9 ounces that has him in ninth overall. In the 13th spot overall is Nebraska team leader Bob Walla with 14 pounds, 2 ounces over two days.
Troy Montgomery tops Texas with a two-day catch of 13-15, and rounding out the state leaders is Shane Morris of Louisiana with a combined catch of 9-9.
Competition concludes tomorrow
Central Divisional contenders will make their final bid for a national-championship slot tomorrow, beginning with a 7 a.m. CDT takeoff from North Point Recreation Area in Lake Andes. The final weigh-in will take place there tomorrow beginning at 3:30 p.m. CDT.