Kevin VanDam

Wirth hanging tough

June 28, 2008
(bassmaster.com, June 27, 2008)

HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. — Kevin Wirth mentioned that he was “not comfortable” with the water depth where he was catching fish Thursday, after he took the lead on the first day of the Bassmaster Elite Series Tennessee Triumph presented by Longhorn.

But that shallow water in Old Hickory Lake must be starting to feel like home. The Crestwood, Ky., pro stayed in the top spot for the second straight day by adding 15 pounds, 10 ounces to his 17-2 on Day One for a total of 32-12. It also marked the second time Wirth had the Berkley Big Bag of the day.

And for the second straight day, Wirth quit fishing his area long before his check-in time at Sanders Ferry Park.

“I lost a couple, broke a couple off, but I still had a limit by 8:30,” said the 45-year-old former jockey. “I know there are limited numbers (of bass) in the area. I kind of put it in shutdown mode then. I eased around a little and tried to see what was really there.”

Wirth said around 11 o’clock he made one pitch to an area he’d already fished that morning and caught a bass weighing 5 pounds, 5 ounces. He was able to cull a 2-pounder from the five-bass limit in his livewell.

“Once I did that, I totally left everything,” Wirth said.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=3464633

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