Kevin VanDam

Texas angler moves from 10th to 1st

February 24, 2008
(bassmaster.com, February 24, 2008)

GREENVILLE, S.C. — Brent Chapman succinctly summed up the second day of the Bassmaster Classic for almost every angler in the 50-man field.

“It was a lot warmer than yesterday, but the fishing was a little colder,” Chapman said.

Of the top 12 anglers going into Sunday’s $500,000 first-place final, only three caught a bigger bag Saturday than they did on Friday.

Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, had the second-biggest bag of the day — 18 pounds, 11 ounces — and jumped from 10th place to first with a two-day total of 36-0. Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., had the biggest five bass limit, 18-12, and lept from 23rd place into fifth with 31-11.

The clear skies and 60-degree temperatures made a striking contrast with the 30-degree rain on Friday. And it left many in the field scratching their heads, searching for answers.

“I thought I had an invincible pattern,” said Scott Rook, who had one of three 20-pound bags Friday, which weighed only 7-12 Saturday — and dropped from second to 12th. “[Friday] the smallest fish I caught weighed 2 pounds. Today, that was the biggest fish I caught. I don’t know what happened.”

Two-time Classic champion Kevin VanDam also had a 20-pound bag Friday, but brought in only 11-14 Saturday.

“I think the weather had more to do with it than anything,” VanDam said. “That was a pretty big front that came through.”

First-day leader Charlie Hartley had 13-12 Saturday, and that was enough to keep him within 1-3 of the lead, after 21-1 on Friday. Hartley admitted being the leader in the Classic caused some concentration problems for him Saturday.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/classic/news/story?id=3261337

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