Kevin VanDam

Then There Were 12

April 12, 2008
(bassmaster.com, April 12, 2008)

DEL RIO, Texas — Jason Williamson, Kevin Short and Greg Hackney proved the Battle on the Border presented by Mahindra Tractors is wide open going into the final day of the weather-shortened, three-day Bassmaster Elite Series tournament at Lake Amistad.

Only 11 pounds, 2 ounces separates first and 12th place going into Sunday’s finale. Williamson jumped from 10th to first Saturday with a five-bass limit weighing 29-13.

Short leaped from 18th to third with the Berkley Heavyweight Bag of the tournament so far, at 31-6. Hackney moved even further, going from 32nd to seventh with 28-13, which included the Purolator Big Bass weighing 11-11.

“It feels pretty good,” said Hackney, who has gotten off to a horrible start on the 2008 season and ranked 96th in Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points entering this event. “I’ve been looking for that fish for about a month.”

Saturday also brought some revenge for Short. The Mayflower, Ark., pro was leading at Amistad after Day One last year with 33-6, then fell all the way to 59th place and missed the cut when he zeroed on Day Two. He said he caught everything Saturday on a Jewel football jig.

“I was fishing slow,” Short said. “This afternoon I slowed down even more. And it was like a totally different fishery. I had a 6-pounder I never culled, but I culled everything else after 3:30.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=3344195

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