Kevin VanDam

Chapman Stuns Himself With 19-07 First-Day Sack

March 26, 2009
(bassfan.com, March 26, 2009)

In the wake of an extremly difficult practice period, it was no big surprise that none of the bags caught on the first day of the Dardanelle Bassmaster Elite Series topped 20 pounds. Brent Chapman, however, absolutely shocked himself by making a strong run at that mark.

“I thought I’d be real fortunate to catch five, and if they weighed 10 pounds I’d be excited,” said the Kansan, who sat atop the day-1 leaderboard with 19-07. “If you’d have told me I could’ve had that weight after 2 days I probably would’ve signed on the dotted line this morning.”

He’s 1-11 up on Kentuckian Mark Menendez – one of four competitors who ran an aluminum boat to better access the backwaters, but the only one of that quartet who landed higher than 79th place. He weighed 17-12.

Texan Alton Jones was 3rd with 17-05. Alabama’s Matt Herren claimed the 4th slot with 17-01 and Oklahoma’s Fred Roumbanis completed the Top 5 with 16-12.

Here’s a look at the current Top 12 (red numbers in parentheses indicate deficit margin from leader):

1. Brent Chapman: 19-07
2. Mark Menendez: 17-12 (1-11)
3. Alton Jones: 17-05 (2-02)
4. Matt Herren: 17-01 (2-06)
5. Fred Roumbanis: 16-12 (2-11)
6. Cliff Pace: 16-11 (2-12)
7. Denny Brauer: 16-06 (3-01)
8. Chris Lane: 15-14 (3-09)
9. Skeet Reese: 15-13 (3-10)
10. Billy McCaghren: 15-11 (3-12)
11. Kevin VanDam: 15-06 (4-01)
12. Stephen Browning: 15-05 (4-02)

The field had to wait out a fog delay of slightly more than 3 hours this morning, which cost those in the early weigh-in flight almost half of their fishing day. On the flip side, the water level was up 6 inches to a foot from where it was in practice, which brought some shoreline vegetation into play and benefited some anglers who were plying the extreme shallows.

Less than half of the 100-angler field caught a limit and the 50th-place money cutoff currently sits at less than 10 pounds. There could be a big shake-up in the standings tomorrow if everybody gets a full day, but BASS is considering shortening it on the back end due to a forecast that calls for violent weather in the afternoon.

Once the fog lifted, the dominant conditions today were overcast skies and wind. Thunderstorms were predicted to hit the Russellville, Ark. area tonight and and then return sometime after lunch tomorrow.

The field will be cut to 50 after tomorrow’s weigh-in, and then to the Top 12 for Sunday. The winner will be determined by highest 4-day weight.

http://www.bassfan.com/news_article.asp?id=3236

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