Kevin VanDam

Versatile Velvick maintains lead

March 19, 2010
(bassmaster.com, March 19, 2010)

LAKEPORT, Calif. — Just as Clear Lake is starting to warm up, so is Byron Velvick. Velvick, a West Coast transplant who now resides in Del Rio, Texas, wasn’t able to land a monster bass, like Thursday, but the two-time BASS winner managed 22 pounds Friday, building his two-day total to 51 pounds.
Golden State Shootout: Day Two Behind The Scenes

Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., upgraded his total to 46-10, enough to keep Velvick honest heading into the weekend.

Velvick has considerable big-fish chops — he established the BASS three-day tournament record here with 83 pounds, 5 ounces, — and is tapping into his extensive knowledge of Clear Lake. Still, Elite events are all about learning and adapting and Velvick says he has been able to accrue new knowledge of the fishery each day. And things are setting up to be a slugfest.

“It’s going to be like an Easter egg hunt on Sunday,” said Velvick of the fish being susceptible to sight fishing. “It is just going to be sick.”

Velvick has been mining areas that have produced for him in the past. In fact, one — his primary — was the area that yielded the three-day record. This week, he hasn’t pigeonholed himself into one technique. Instead, he is changing up his lure presentation between three choices.

Some of his strategy has involved protecting his areas from other anglers — both locals and pros. And with the lake turning on and pleasant conditions in store, the lake could be a madhouse over the weekend.

But Velvick has a sound contingency plan. He has formulated something that he can go to and feel confident in scrounging a solid limit if necessary.

“I’ve learned a lot over the past two days,” said Velvick, 45. “I have a little something figured out where I know what I can do no matter what happens.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=5011577

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