Points Race Intensifies
Biffle Leads By An Ounce, Lane & McClelland Trail

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Tommy Biffle's 1-ounce lead gave him 5 critical bonus points today.

And that 1 ounce is critical, because he receives 5 bonus points for leading the day and that all brings him one step closer to making the BASS post-season. He's currently in a four-way tie for 17th in the points, and if he can win or finish in the top few slots, he should make it no problem. It would mark his second consecutive appearance in the post-season.

Overall the lake fished well today. There were three bags over 19 pounds and four over 18. The Top-12 cut pace sits at 16-09 and an angler needs at least 12-12 to get paid.

Russ Lane was one of the 19-pounders today. He did it with a mix of deep and shallow and needs to improve just three spots in the points standings to make the post-season.

Mike McClelland was the other 19-pounder. He caught his fish offshore. And like Lane and Biffle, he's vying for a post-season slot, although McClelland's further back (23rd) and probably needs a Top 5 or better to make it.

Pat Golden ended the day in 4th with 18-15, followed by Jared Lintner with 18-05.

Here's a look at the current Top 12. Total weight is followed by distance from leader in red.

1. Tommy Biffle: 19-11
2. Russ Lane: 19-10 (0-01)
3. Mike McClelland: 19-08 (0-03)
4. Pat Golden: 18-15 (0-12)
5. Jared Lintner: 18-05 (1-06)
6. Jami Fralick: 18-04 (1-07)
7. Matt Herren: 18-03 (1-08)
8. Kevin VanDam: 17-10 (2-01)
9. Steve Kennedy: 17-03 (2-08)
10. Randy Howell: 17-00 (2-11)
11. Vince Fulks: 16-14 (2-13)
12. Boyd Duckett: 16-09 (3-02)

The points race will certainly look quite a bit different when this event ends. Several pros well within the Top 12 struggled or bottomed out entirely today. Their points total prior to the event may be enough to retain a post-season berth, but their shot at the title will go from good to longshot at best.

Here's the current Top 20 in the points race, followed by day-1 standing in blue.

1. Skeet Reese -- Calif. -- 1821 (19th)
2. Edwin Evers -- Okla. -- 1759 (43rd)
3. Derek Remitz -- Ala. -- 1673 (45th)
4. Brian Snowden -- Mo. -- 1617 (87th)
5. John Crews -- Va. -- 1609 (88th)
6. Terry Butcher -- Okla. -- 1606 (38th)
7. Cliff Pace -- Miss. -- 1596 (32nd)
8. Kevin VanDam -- Mich. -- 1549 (8th)
9. Aaron Martens -- Ala. -- 1539 (31st)
10. Greg Hackney -- La. -- 1528 (22nd)
11. Bill Lowen -- Ohio -- 1512 (32nd)
12. Gary Klein -- Texas -- 1511 (17th)
13. Dave Wolak -- N.C. -- 1508 (66th)
14. Jeff Kriet -- Okla. -- 1499 (77th)
15. Russ Lane -- Ala. -- 1498 (2nd)
16. Morizo Shimizu -- Japan -- 1489 (34th)
17. Michael Iaconelli -- N.J. -- 1481 (34th)
17. Mark Davis -- Ark. -- 1481 (15th)
17. Todd Faircloth -- Texas -- 1481 (45th)
17. Tommy Biffle -- Okla. -- 1481 (1st)

Points leader Skeet Reese had a good day, especially given Evers' performance. And Kevin VanDam, who charged back into the Top 12 after he won Kentucky Lake last week, is poised to move closer to a possible title repeat. Gary Klein could also make up a lot of ground if he catches them again tomorrow.

On the other hand, pros like Brian Snowden, John Crews, Dave Wolak and Jeff Kriet are in a world of hurt.

Biffle a Little Short

This is Biffle country. He lives in Wagoner along the western side of the lake. His primary bait sponsor, Gene Larew, is just to the north in Tulsa. He owns a Polaris dealership on the lake. He had 20 to 25 boats following him today – buddies and fans out to watch the action. Heck, there are even folks walking around in Biffle shirts that Gene Larew made up just for the event.

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Gary Tramontina Biffle has 40 years of experience on Ft. Gibson, but after this week, every secret spot he ever had will be gone, he says.

"I was wanting just a little bit more (weight)," he said. "I was kind of thinking I could catch around 20 or so. Now I just need to catch that every day. And (leading) is a good deal. I needed those 5 points. I just fished some stuff that I figured these guys wouldn't find or hit. There were 20 to 25 boats following me – my local buddies here – so I'm going to lose every spot I ever had here.

"The only thing that could really hurt me would be not to catch them," he added. "I should be able to catch them, and I should have enough places. I've been fishing here for so long, but I don't have any brushpiles like everybody thinks. I used to have them, but that was so many years ago they're gone now. I've just got places where I know they live. They're just going to have to keep being in those kinds of places."

2nd: Lane Fished a Mix

Ft. Gibson is a Grand River impoundment, and fishes a lot like the upstream Grand Lake. Lane cashed checks in both Elite Series events at Grand, but just barely.

This time around in Oklahoma, he's a threat to win. An extra shad in the stomach of a bass would have given Lane the lead over Biffle and 5 bonus points, but all told, he's happy with the way things went.

Per his style, Lane ran a bunch of different stuff today – both deep and shallow. He wasn't ever able to find concentrations of fish, but rather picked up a keeper here and there, he said. He just ran around and fished what looked good.

"I had a pretty good practice day yesterday, and hopefully I found another place or two today. I'm not worried about winning this thing right now – I just want to get to the post-season and be able to fish at home against Kevin (VanDam) and everybody else. If I can catch another solid limit tomorrow and then make the Top 12, I think that'll put me in the post-season."

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Russ Lane ran around a bunch today and came up just short of 5 bonus points.

About his expectations concerning weights tomorrow and the following days, Lane thinks the Top 12 weights on average will go down, but the cut weight will stay about the same.

3rd: McClelland Used Grand Experience

McClelland lives a few hours from the Grand River over in Bella Vista, Ark. He's strong on Grand – he won there in 2006 and finished 11th in 2007.

"I'm glad for Biffle, but I'd rather be leading right now," McClelland said. "I'm in a position where I need to make the end-of-the-year Top 12. I probably need a Top 5 and to lead a day or two to make it, and it's been my goal all year to make it."

That wasn't his first thought this morning, though. He was most concerned with catching a fish to ensure he made the Classic. He called it "survival mode."

"The first one I caught was a 4-pounder, and then things started coming together. I had a limit pretty early and I figured out a bait for catching some better fish and rolled with it."

At that point he was torn. The lake fishes small and he clearly had a good offshore spot. He milled around his offshore areas for a good while to look after it, but he knew he also needed to find some new water to carry him further in the event.

He eventually left and "went practicing."

"I feel I have a couple other areas where I can catch some if I get in a pinch, but it's still going to be a struggle," he said. "I caught seven or eight keepers all day, but then again I didn't pound it too hard."

Photo: ESPN Outdoors/Seigo Saito Mike McClelland milled around his offshore area for a long time, then eventually went to check out some new water.

5th: Lintner Added Late Fish

It's no surprise that Lintner, a California pro, spent the bulk of his day offshore. He added a late fish he caught off the bank – a 5-pounder – but his morning spot is what carried the day.

"I feel really good about it," he said. "With only 1 day of practice yesterday, I put my boat in the water and pretty much noticed there wasn't any shallow structure as far as wood or anything. I figured, 'Well, it's going to be an out-fishing deal.' I had three bites in a spot and one of them was a 4-pounder.

"I got boat 16 out today, ran down and started there and that's where I caught them."

He didn't pound it, and instead ran to explore some new water. Each time he passed the area later there were boats around it or pulling up on it, and pros waiting to get on it.

"Tomorrow could be real interesting," he noted. "Once I left it I never could get back on it. It was one of those deals. I guess I shouldn't have left it, but at the same time, if those fish move, or something happens and they're not biting there, I'd have had nothing else."

The bank-fish he caught bit a jig. He threw the jig for a long time, trying to "force-feed them," and that one fish, he said, will probably make him do the same thing tomorrow. "But it's kind of discouraging that I only got one bite on it."

12th: Duckett Cleared First Hurdle

For Boyd Duckett, this week is all about making the Classic. He's currently 34th – three spots to the good – but any slip will cost him a berth.

He took a big step toward the Classic today with a 16-09 limit, which puts him in 12th in the tournament standings. He has to follow it up tomorrow, though.

"Tomorrow is huge, huge, huge," he said. "I can't say enough about that."

Regarding his day today, he noted: "I'm happy with it. I just ran around and kind of worked off that little something I got going yesterday. And I just kept expanding on it – looking for more water like that. I was able to find some more.

"Obviously, I need some bigger bites to catch up with the leaders. And I had a couple of dead ones today that cost me a pound. But I've found two areas that has them and I hammered them pretty good. And I'm working really hard. It's a bite-an-hour type of thing. I haven't found a group of them anywhere."

He noted he's "not fishing very far from the shore."

50th: Wilks Disappointed

Dustin Wilks entered the event at 56th in the points. He needed a big finish to make the Classic, but with 12-10 today he's currently 50th, so he dug himself into a huge hole.

The problem, he said, was he misjudged what a quality bag would be.

"I thought I was actually catching them pretty good. But when I came in I realized otherwise. The way people were fishing – running all over – it didn't look like they were catching anything.

"I spent most of my time shallow, back in a creek. It was just unusual. Guys running around – I thought that was telling me nobody caught anything. I guess it's just that guys don't know the lake. And I actually held back quite a bit – I didn't want to burn up too many keepers. I wish I wouldn't have now."

If he did pound his area he thinks he might have caught 15, which would have given him a lot better shot at the Classic. As it sits now, he needs a 20-pound day tomorrow – a mark nobody hit today.

"It's pretty disappointing. I couldn't believe how well they caught them."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 93 anglers, 78 limits, 7 fours, 4 threes, 3 twos, 1 zero.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., June 18 - Mostly Sunny - 94°/75°
- Wind: From the S at 13 mph

> Sat., June 19 - Sunny - 97°/76°
- Wind: From the S at 10 mph

> Sun., June 20 - Sunny - 96°/75°
- Wind: From the S at 11 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 5, 19-11
Day 1: 5, 19-11

2. Russ Lane -- Prattville, Ala. -- 5, 19-10
Day 1: 5, 19-10

3. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, Ark. -- 5, 19-08
Day 1: 5, 19-08

4. Pat Golden -- High Point, N.C. -- 5 18-15
Day 1: 5, 18-15

5. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 5, 18-05
Day 1: 5, 18-05

6. Jami Fralick -- Martin, S.D. -- 5, 18-04
Day 1: 5, 18-04

7. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Ala. -- 5, 18-03
Day 1: 5, 18-03

8. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 5, 17-10
Day 1: 5, 17-10

9. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 5, 17-03
Day 1: 5, 17-03

10. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 5, 17-00
Day 1: 5, 17-00

11. Vince Fulks -- Purcell, Okla. -- 5, 16-14
Day 1: 5, 16-14

12. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 5, 16-09
Day 1: 5, 16-09

13. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, S.C. -- 5, 16-05
Day 1: 5, 16-05

14. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Kan. -- 5, 16-02
Day 1: 5, 16-02

15. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, Ark. -- 5, 16-01
Day 1: 5, 16-01

15. David Smith -- Del City, Okla. -- 5, 16-01
Day 1: 5, 16-01

17. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas -- 5, 16-00
Day 1: 5, 16-00

18. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, Md. -- 5, 15-14
Day 1: 5, 15-14 --

19. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 5, 15-11
Day 1: 5, 15-11

20. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, Okla. -- 5, 15-09
Day 1: 5, 15-09

21. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark. -- 5, 15-08
Day 1: 5, 15-08

22. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La. -- 5, 15-04
Day 1: 5, 15-04

23. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Okla. -- 5, 15-02
Day 1: 5, 15-02

24. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, N.C. -- 5, 15-01
Day 1: 5, 15-01

24. Peter Thliveros -- St Augustine, Fla. -- 5, 15-01
Day 1: 5, 15-01

26. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Miss. -- 5, 15-00
Day 1: 5, 15-00

26. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, Va. -- 5, 15-00
Day 1: 5, 15-00

28. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, Texas -- 5, 14-11
Day 1: 5, 14-11

29. Keith Poche -- Troy, Ala. -- 5, 14-09
Day 1: 5, 14-09

30. James Niggemeyer -- Van, Texas -- 5, 14-06
Day 1: 5, 14-06

31. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala. -- 5, 14-05
Day 1: 5, 14-05

32. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, Ohio -- 5, 14-04
Day 1: 5, 14-04

32. Cliff Pace -- Petal, Miss. -- 5, 14-04
Day 1: 5, 14-04

34. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, N.J. -- 5, 14-00
Day 1: 5, 14-00

34. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan -- 5 14-00
Day 1: 5, 14-00

36. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 5, 13-14
Day 1: 5, 13-14

36. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, Mo. -- 5, 13-14
Day 1: 5, 13-14

38. Terry Butcher -- Talala, Okla. -- 5, 13-12
Day 1: 5, 13-12

39. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo. -- 5, 13-11
Day 1: 5, 13-11

39. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 5, 13-11
Day 1: 5, 13-11

41. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 5, 13-10
Day 1: 5, 13-10

42. Mark Tyler -- Vian, Okla. -- 5, 13-08
Day 1: 5, 13-08

43. Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla. -- 5, 13-03
Day 1: 5, 13-03

44. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 5, 13-00
Day 1: 5, 13-00

45. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Texas -- 5, 12-13
Day 1: 5, 12-13

45. Derek Remitz -- Grant, Ala. -- 5, 12-13
Day 1: 5, 12-13

47. Wade Grooms -- Bonneau, S.C. -- 5, 12-12
Day 1: 5, 12-12

47. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, Ky. -- 5, 12-12
Day 1: 5, 12-12

49. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala. -- 5, 12-11
Day 1: 5, 12-11
50. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, N.C. -- 5 12-10
Day 1: 5, 12-10
51. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas -- 5, 12-08
Day 1: 5, 12-08
52. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga. -- 5, 12-05
Day 1: 5, 12-05
53. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, Ark. -- 5, 12-02
Day 1: 5, 12-02
54. Mark Burgess -- Norton, Mass. -- 5, 11-14
Day 1: 5, 11-14
55. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 5, 11-10
Day 1: 5, 11-10
55. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fla. -- 5, 11-10
Day 1: 5, 11-10
55. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, Ark. -- 5, 11-10
Day 1: 5, 11-10
58. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Miss. -- 5 11-06
Day 1: 5, 11-06
58. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, Texas -- 5, 11-06
Day 1: 5, 11-06
60. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 5, 11-05
Day 1: 5, 11-05
61. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 5, 11-04
Day 1: 5, 11-04
61. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, Ariz 5 -- 11-04
Day 1: 5, 11-04
63. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, La. -- 5 11-02
Day 1: 5, 11-02
63. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 5, 11-02
Day 1: 5, 11-02
65. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 5, 11-01
Day 1: 5, 11-01
66. Shaw Grigsby -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 5, 11-00
Day 1: 5, 11-00
66. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, Ala. -- 5, 11-00
Day 1: 5, 11-00
66. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, N.C. -- 5, 11-00
Day 1: 5, 11-00
69. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, Okla. -- 4, 10-15
Day 1: 4, 10-15
70. Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas -- 5, 10-06
Day 1: 5, 10-06
71. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, Texas -- 5, 10-05
Day 1: 5, 10-05
72. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, S.C. -- 5, 10-03
Day 1: 5, 10-03
73. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, S.C. -- 5, 10-01
Day 1: 5, 10-01
73. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, N.C. -- 5, 10-01
Day 1: 5, 10-01
75. Zell Rowland -- Austin, Texas -- 5, 9-15
Day 1: 5, 9-15
76. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 5, 9-14
Day 1: 5, 9-14
77. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla. -- 3, 9-13
Day 1: 3, 9-13
78. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala. -- 5, 9-11
Day 1: 5, 9-11
79. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Ohio -- 4, 9-01
Day 1: 4, 9-01
80. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, Ala. -- 5, 8-12
Day 1: 5, 8-12
81. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fla. -- 4, 8-12
Day 1: 4, 8-12
82. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, S.C. -- 4, 8-11
Day 1: 4, 8-11
83. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, Mo. -- 5, 8-05
Day 1: 5, 8-05
84. Matt Greenblatt -- Palm Beach Gardens, Fl -- 4, 8-01
Day 1: 4, 8-01
84. Byron Haseotes -- Centerville, Mass. -- 4, 8-01
Day 1: 4, 8-01
86. John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 3, 7-14
Day 1: 3, 7-14
87. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, Mo. -- 3, 7-02
Day 1: 3, 7-02
88. John Crews -- Salem, Va. -- 4, 6-14
Day 1: 4, 6-14
89. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, W.Va. -- 3, 6-00
Day 1: 3, 6-00
90. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, Okla. -- 2, 5-05
Day 1: 2, 5-05
91. Clark Reehm -- Russellville, Ark. -- 2, 4-03
Day 1: 2, 4-03
92. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, La. -- 2, 3-08
Day 1: 2, 3-08
93. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, La. -- 0, 0-00
Day 1: 0, 0-00