Lane Pops An 11-Pounder
Velvick Catches 22 To Maintain Most Of His Advantage

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Byron Velvick underestimated his bag today, but it was plenty to keep him in the lead at the Clear Lake Bassmaster Elite Series.

The California native weighed a 22-pound bag that pushed his 2-day total to 51-00. His lead was reduced a little bit – from more than 5 1/2 pounds to a little less than 4 1/2 – but he sees no reason that he can't keep up the pace he's set thus far.

Randy Howell weighed his second straight sack in excess of 23 pounds and moved up to 2nd with a 46-10 total. He's relying an on early-morning jerkbait bite to account for most of his weight.

Bill Lowen also climbed one spot as his 22-09 stringer bumped him up to 3rd with 45-07. He's sharing a grassy area with 70-year-old Guy Eaker, who caught 22-09 today and moved into 4th with 44-04.

The youngest competitor in the Elite Series is right behind the oldest: 19-year-old Texan Bradley Roy bagged 22-01 today and rounded out the Top 5 with 41-09.

Here's how the Top 12 looks at the midway point, with deficit margin from leader indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Byron Velvick: 51-00
2. Randy Howell: 46-10 (4-06)
3. Bill Lowen: 45-07 (5-09)
4. Guy Eaker: 44-04 (6-12)
5. Bradley Roy: 41-09 (9-07)
6. Jared Lintner: 41-02 (9-14)
7. Bobby Lane: 41-00 (10-00)
8. Matt Herren: 40-03 (10-13)
9. Terry Butcher: 40-00 (11-00)
10. Grant Goldbeck: 39-07 (11-09)
11. Skeet Reese: 39-00 (12-00)
12. Greg Hackney: 38-14 (12-02)

Florida's Bobby Lane made the biggest move today. He catapulted 37 places to 7th with a day-best 24-13 bag that was topped by an 11-01 bruiser (the biggest of the tournament).

Other newcomers to the Top 10 were Roy (up from 15th), Terry Butcher (22nd to 9th with 21-13 today), Grant Goldbeck (18th to 10th, 20-05) and Greg Hackney (39th to 12th, 22-05). They pushed out Denny Brauer (7th to 28th, 14-03), Kelly Jordon (8th to 26th, 14-07), Jeff Kriet (9th to 17th, 17-00), Matt Greenblatt (11th to 22nd, 16-12) and Gary Klein (12th to 29th, 16-00).

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Velvick initially underestimated his bag – he thought he had only 17 or 18 pounds.

The field was cut to the Top 47 after today's weigh-in. Only 12 will advance to Sunday and the winner will be determined by highest cumulative weight.

Same Deal for Velvick

Velvick said his day went pretty much the same as day 1, except for the unfortunate fact that he didn't get a 10-pound bite this time.

"I didn't think I had as much as I did – I was telling everybody I had 17 or 18 pounds," he said. "I also hooked some that got off and I don't know how big they were.

"Most of them are coming from one key area – it's definitely a staging area and they're moving in. I'm really torn as to how much I should leave it and run around to other stuff."

He continued to throw a swimbait mixed in with some other offerings and ended up catching nine keepers, including a 6 1/2-pounder. He had a limit by about 10:30.

He said he received visits from some other tournament anglers this afternoon, but hopes that won't be an issue tomorrow.

"I think now that the pressure (of anglers making the Top 47 and getting a paycheck) is off, I won't be hacked on so much. I think some guys got desperate late in the day, knowing they needed one more good one and that I'd caught that 10-pounder in there yesterday.

"There's also some locals in there and I'm trying to kill them with kindness because if I make them mad, all hell could break loose tomorrow. I'm definitely trying to drop some hints that I only need the place through Sunday and that they can have it all to themselves after that."

His lead would be substantial at a lot of fisheries, but not here.

"Someone's going to make a big move and I'm as nervous as a cat at the weigh-ins. If somebody catches an 11 and an 8, it could change the face of this whole thing. I'm waiting for that 32- or 33-pound bag to show up and I'm skittish about it.

"I'm in areas where I should be able to get that bag, but I'd just like to see a little bit of a front move in or something that would trigger those fish a little bit because it's just so flat right now. It's beautiful sight-fishing weather, but that's not the deal."

2nd: Howell Camped Out

Howell remained in his primary locale all day, even though the vast majority of his action occurred during the early morning.

"I buckled down and stayed on it and fished it hard all day," he said. "I learned a little bit more about the area just by making so many casts.

"I can catch them early on the jerkbait, and then it's just one or two bites every little while. I caught a 5-pounder on a Lunker Lure Rattleback football jig and I also used a Do-It football head with a 10-inch Yamamoto Kut Tail worm to make a couple of late culls."

He lost his biggest bite of the day. He thought it was a 7-pounder, but said his marshal and Scott Rook, who was fishing nearby, put it in the 8-pound class.

"I never lose fish on jigs, but that one jumped and then went back down, and then it just popped loose. He must not have had the hook in him right."

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Randy Howell stayed in one spot all day, but most of his action was early.

"The place I'm on has the potential to turn out a consistently big bag every day, but it must be a big community hole that a lot of locals fish. Hopefully I'll get a break and there won't be a lot of live-bait guys in there tomorrow.

"The morning bite is fast and furious – I had a limit in 10 or 15 minutes – but then it gets slow. I have to make hay before the sun shines."

3rd: Lowen Okay with Sharing

Lowen said he and Eaker are amicably splitting up the transition area that's kept both in the Top 5 for each of the first 2 days.

"He's got his little parts of it and I've got mine," he said. "I just hope it doesn't get criss-crossed up tomorrow by some people who've been staying a ways out sliding in."

He caught 10 keepers and ended up weighing two 5-pounders and three 4s, just as he had on day 1. He and Eaker both pulled off of the fish shortly after noon.

"There's a point where you've got to leave because all you're doing is catching more 4-pounders – I threw back another 20 pounds. I did pretty much the exact same thing I did yesterday and didn't change anything up. Hopefully it'll stay just like it is.

"I'd be happy to keep catching 22 pounds a day and keep creeping up the leaderboard, but I'll take 25 if the lake will give it to me."

4th: Eaker Hopes for Bigger Bites

Eaker's day was pretty much a mirror image of Lowen's, though he caught a few more keepers.

"I had two 5-pounders and the rest were 4s," he said. "They were pretty cold in there this morning so I backed off for a little while, but when the sun came up they went to eating."

He thinks that more and more fish will continue to move into the locale and there will be enough for both himself and Lowen for the rest of the tournament. He'd like to see a couple of hawgs show up, though.

"I just need some of those better bites. They've got to come in there just like all the rest because they're going to the beds.

"When they do, I'll be sitting there waiting for them."

5th: Roy feels Relief

The teen-aged Roy said a sense of relief was the primary emotion he felt after the best day of the 4 he's fished as a pro.

"I had a tough time at the Delta and after getting that first (paycheck) out of the way, I think I can go out and fish a little more relaxed. I just hope they bite again tomorrow."

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Bill Lowen is sharing water with 4th-place Guy Eaker, but there seems to be enough fish to go around.

"As long as they keep coming I should be fine, and they did come today. I keep defining the area a little better each day and today I found another bait they'd hit. I'll try to catch 17 or 18 pounds in there tomorrow, and then run a few spots and see if I can cull up a few times."

He caught eight keepers and the biggest went a little over 6 pounds.

"I lost two fish today – one of them certainly would've helped and I didn't get to see the other one because I never turned it. I've got a few other areas that have one (fish) here and one there, but there's not a big group of them and they're a little tougher to catch."

7th: Charmed Day for Lane

Bobby Lane's young daughter had given him a "lucky" marble before he left Florida, and he realized he didn't have it in his pocket today once he'd parked his truck after launching his boat. So he jogged back to his room and got it.

Then, on his 10th cast of the day, he caught that 11-pound beast.

"I fished kind of wimpy yesterday and caught some 3 1/2s and 4s, and then when the day was over I realized that that was what a lot of people did," he said. "I had a swimbait spot where I'd caught a 10 and a 7 in practice, and I ran into Jared Lintner at about 11:00 yesterday and he told me the swimbait bite was early.

"It was too late to help me that day, but I went there first thing this morning and caught a 3 1/2, and then the 11. I also had another good one that pulled off, so now I'm really excited about it."

He has little experience throwing swimbaits, but that hasn't proven to be much of a hindrance here.

"(Steve) Kennedy won last time and he had no clue about them before that, so I don't feel so dumb."

29th: Klein takes a Tumble

Gary Klein, like Velvick a California native who now resides in Texas, dropped 17 places today with a 16-pound bag that was more than 3 1/2 pounds lighter than the one he caught on day 1.

"To me it was just tougher," he said. "There was no wind – it was just dead, flat calm. We had a lot of guys running around and the ones who didn't know how to catch them were basically spooking a lot of the fish.

"It should be better tomorrow, especially if we can get just a little bit of weather. I'd love to see it dark all day."

He's spent most of the tournament flipping, but caught a couple of swimbait fish on day 1. His bag today consisted of five that were at or just slightly over 3 pounds.

"I'm catching quite a few, but it hasn't been easy. Sometimes I've had to back out of stuff and I've been moving around a lot.

"I'll just play it by ear tomorrow and see what the day brings."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 93 anglers, 75 limits (3 more than yesterday), 6 fours, 5 threes, 4 twos, 3 ones, no zeroes (1 fewer than yesterday).

> Reigning Angler of the Year and Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin Van Dam ended up 59th with 31-00. That's his lowest placement in an event he actually fished in the 4-plus-year history of the Elite Series. He was credited with a 103rd at Santee Cooper in 2006 – a tournament at which he and several other anglers were disqualified for having someone else drive their boats while they looked for bedding fish.

> BassFan Big Stick John Murray failed to catch a limit on either day and finished 81st with a seven-fish, 23-03 total. To read his competition report, click here.

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days.

> Sat., March 20 - Mostly Sunny - 70°/38°
- Wind: From the S/SE at 6 mph

> Sun., March 21 - Partly Cloudy - 65°/38°
- Wind: From the SW at 9 mph

Day 2 Standings

1. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 51-00 -- 310
Day 1: 5, 29-00 -- Day 2: 5, 22-00

2. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 10, 46-10 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 23-03 -- Day 2: 5, 23-07

3. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 10, 45-07 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 22-14 -- Day 2: 5, 22-09

4. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 10, 44-04 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 21-14 -- Day 2: 5, 22-06

5. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 10, 41-09 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 19-08 -- Day 2: 5, 22-01

6. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 10, 41-02 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 23-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-14

7. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 10 41-00 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 24-13

8. Matt Herren -- Trussville, AL -- 10, 40-03 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 21-13 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06

9. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 10, 40-00 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 21-13

10. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, MD -- 10, 39-07 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 20-05

11. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 10, 39-00 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 20-04 -- Day 2: 5, 18-12

12. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 38-14 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 16-09 -- Day 2: 5, 22-05

13. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 10, 38-12 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 17-14 -- Day 2: 5, 20-14

14. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 10, 38-09 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 17-06 -- Day 2: 5, 21-03

15. Clark Reehm -- Russellville, AR -- 10, 38-06 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 17-11 -- Day 2: 5, 20-11

16. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 10, 38-05 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 16-08 -- Day 2: 5, 21-13

17. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 10, 38-04 -- 241
Day 1: 5, 21-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00

18. Pat Golden -- High Point, NC -- 10, 37-13 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06

19. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan-- 10, 37-08 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 18-03 -- Day 2: 5, 19-05

20. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 10 37-06 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 19-05

21. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 10, 36-12 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-12

22. Matt Greenblatt -- Palm Beach Gardens, FL -- 10, 36-09 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 19-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-12

23. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 10, 36-09 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 19-09 -- Day 2: 5, 17-00

24. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 10, 36-06 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 19-00 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06

25. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 10, 36-00 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 16-14 -- Day 2: 5, 19-02

26. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 10, 35-15 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07

27. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 10 35-15 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 5, 17-14

28. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 10, 35-12 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 21-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-03

29. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 10, 35-10 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 19-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00

30. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 8, 35-08 -- 215
Day 1: 3, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 22-07

31. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 10, 35-02 -- 213
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 20-13

32. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 10, 35-00 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 19-14

33. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 10, 34-11 -- 209
Day 1: 5, 16-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-03

34. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 10, 34-10 -- 207
Day 1: 5, 16-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-10

35. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 10, 34-08 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 17-01 -- Day 2: 5, 17-07

36. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 10, 34-07 -- 203
Day 1: 5, 17-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10

37. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 10, 34-02 -- 201
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00

38. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 34-01 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 18-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15

39. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 10, 34-00 -- 197
Day 1: 5, 18-15 -- Day 2: 5, 15-01

40. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 10, 33-14 -- 195
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 18-11

41. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 10, 33-13 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 15-08 -- Day 2: 5, 18-05

42. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 10, 33-11 -- 191
Day 1: 5, 19-09 -- Day 2: 5, 14-02

43. Keith Poche -- Troy, AL -- 10, 33-10 -- 189
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 5, 16-06

44. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 9, 33-06 -- 187
Day 1: 5, 18-01 -- Day 2: 4, 15-05

45. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 33-03 -- 185
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 18-00

46. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, NC -- 8, 33-00 -- 183
Day 1: 3, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 20-15

47. Shaw E Grigsby -- Gainesville, FL -- 10, 32-12 -- 181
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 17-10

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not be fishing tomorrow.

48. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 10, 32-10 -- 179
Day 1: 5, 18-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08

49. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, OK -- 10, 32-05 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-08

50. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 10, 32-05 -- 175
Day 1: 5, 15-11 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10

51. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 10, 32-04 -- 173
Day 1: 5, 15-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-15

52. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 9, 31-13 -- 171
Day 1: 4, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 18-13

53. David Smith -- Del City, OK -- 10, 31-10 -- 169
Day 1: 5, 16-12 -- Day 2: 5, 14-14

54. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 10, 31-06 -- 167
Day 1: 5, 16-01 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05

55. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 10, 31-05 -- 165
Day 1: 5, 19-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02

56. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 10, 31-04 -- 163
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 17-03

57. Zell Rowland -- Austin, TX -- 10, 31-03 -- 161
Day 1: 5, 16-04 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15

58. Peter E Thliveros -- St Augustine, FL -- 10, 31-01 -- 159
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-11

59. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 10, 31-00 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 15-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-10

60. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 10, 30-14 155
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-01

61. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 10, 30-11 -- 153
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02

62. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 10, 30-11 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15

63. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 8, 30-07 -- 149
Day 1: 3, 13-01 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06

64. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 10, 30-02 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05

65. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 10, 30-01 -- 145
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 17-04

66. Vince Fulks -- Purcell, OK -- 9, 29-15 -- 143
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 4, 14-12

67. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 9, 29-05 -- 141
Day 1: 5, 16-05 -- Day 2: 4, 13-00

68. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 28-07 -- 139
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12

69. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, LA -- 10, 28-03 -- 137
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12

70. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 9, 27-14 -- 135
Day 1: 4, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-04

71. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 8, 27-06 -- 133
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 3, 11-04

72. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 9, 26-07 -- 131
Day 1: 4, 12-02 -- Day 2: 5, 14-05

73. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 8, 26-01 -- 129
Day 1: 3, 07-15 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02

74. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, OK -- 9, 25-13 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 14-04 -- Day 2: 4, 11-09

75. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 8, 25-13 -- 125
Day 1: 3, 08-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09

76. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, VA -- 8, 24-12 -- 123
Day 1: 5, 14-11 -- Day 2: 3, 10-01

77. Mark Burgess -- Norton, MA -- 9, 24-04 -- 121
Day 1: 4, 11-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10

78. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 7, 24-03 -- 119
Day 1: 2, 05-15 -- Day 2: 5, 18-04

79. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, LA -- 7, 24-00 -- 117
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 2, 07-03

80. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 8, 23-05 -- 115
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 3, 08-08

81. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 7, 23-03 -- 113
Day 1: 4, 11-10 -- Day 2: 3, 11-09

82. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 7, 22-13 -- 111
Day 1: 2, 07-06 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07

83. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 8, 21-14 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 13-01 -- Day 2: 3, 08-13

84. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, WV -- 6, 21-08 -- 107
Day 1: 1, 03-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-01

85. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, NC -- 8, 20-15 -- 105
Day 1: 3, 08-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11

86. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 7, 20-14 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 2, 06-14

87. Wade Grooms -- Bonneau, SC -- 7, 19-03 -- 101
Day 1: 3, 07-11 -- Day 2: 4, 11-08

88. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 6, 19-03 -- 99
Day 1: 2, 05-02 -- Day 2: 4, 14-01

89. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 3, 11-05 -- 97
Day 1: 2, 07-15 -- Day 2: 1, 03-06

90. Byron Haseotes -- Centerville, MA -- 4, 10-12 -- 95
Day 1: 2, 05-15 -- Day 2: 2, 04-13

91. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 4, 10-04 -- 93
Day 1: 3, 08-06 -- Day 2: 1, 01-14

92. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 2, 07-12 -- 91
Day 1: 1, 03-02 -- Day 2: 1, 04-10

93. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 2, 05-10 -- 89
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 2, 05-10