Skeet Reese came into this week’s Bassmaster Elite Series event on Pickwick Lake expecting nothing and hoping for everything. After Saturday, he’s closing in on his second straight victory, continuing his red-hot run at the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year trophy. The Auburn, Calif., pro vaulted into first place with a 20-pound, 4-ounce limit building his three-day total to 52 pounds, 3 ounces, at the Alabama Charge.
While Reese took the lead, it’s not much of one. He holds a scant 2-ounce margin over Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss. But Reese has been dominating all season, notching finishes of second, fifth and first thus far in Elite competition.
Looking for redemption after narrowly missing out on the Angler of the Year title last year, Reese circled Pickwick Lake at the start of the season as a fishery that could cause him problems. After all, this would be his first ever visit to Pickwick. Add in the changing conditions – which include fluctuating water levels and nasty weather – and it spelled possible disaster for Reese’s bid at the coveted AOY trophy.
“I’m actually very surprised I’m in this position,” said Reese, the 2007 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year. “I was thinking that a top-20 would be good heading into this event so this is icing on the cake. I’m just going to have to punt and grind it out on Sunday.”
While most anglers have camped out on Pickwick, Reese is locking through and making his run to Wilson Lake. The decision paid off on Thursday as Reese started in third place. But Reese slipped Friday and fell to 13th.
With a tight leaderboard and little separation between the top contingent, Reese was able to take advantage and grab first place, albeit by a slight margin. Saturday, Reese was buoyed by cloudy conditions and landed his big bass ? two that weighed more than 5 pounds ? on an area he identified in practice.
The five-time Bassmaster winner played it close to the vest on specifics of his pattern but did say he is focusing on areas that hold quality bass, but not large quantities.
Repeating his Friday pattern – working shallow smallmouths in the morning and then moving with the fish to offshore areas – Pace posted a 16-8 limit, enough for 52-1. While Reese could be essentially by himself in Pickwick on Sunday, Pace must contend with a number of other contenders, and locals, in his community hole.
The area is so saturated with traffic, it has tested Pace’s patience all week. The area is holding post-spawn fish and Pace, 28th in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings heading into this event, has been largely capitalizing on the offshore areas as the fish move deeper.
Just five ounce behind Pace in third was Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala, with 51-12. Matching Martens was Kevin Short, who led the first two days. Short of Mayflower, Ark., said the clouds and rain killed his bite Saturday and he would have to go back to the drawing board for the final day of competition.
Martens is a Tennessee River impoundment guru, having won an Elite event on Guntersville last year. In fifth was Mike Iaconelli of Pittsgrove, N.J., with 51-9. Iaconelli was the last of five anglers within 1 pound of the lead.
Just outside that contingent was Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., with 50-14. Also qualifying for the final-day was Dean Rojas, who started the event in 83rd after the first day, and Rick Morris of Lake Gaston, Va., in 11th.
Just like the first two days of competition, all competing anglers were able to land a limit. With inclement weather set for Sunday, BASS officials will make a determination in the morning on how the competition day will unfold.
BASS has visited Pickwick Lake, a 47,000-acre Tennessee River fishery, for six events, including a 2002 Southern Open won by Boyd Duckett of Demopolis, Ala., with 33 pounds, 8 ounces, through three days. Duckett was ninth.
The Alabama Charge has a top prize of $100,000 and awards valuable points in the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title race. The full Elite field will compete Thursday and Friday, with the top 47 advancing to Saturday’s competition. From there, the top 12 will advance to Sunday for a shot at the trophy and the top prize.
The public is invited to attend the daily launches at 6:10 a.m. CT at McFarland Park, 200 James M. Spain Dr., Florence, Ala., 35630. Also free and open to the public, the daily weigh-ins are set for 3:30 p.m. CT at McFarland Park.
Local sponsor of the Alabama Charge: Florence/Lauderdale Tourism.
The top 12 pros in the AOY standings at the end of the regular season will advance to the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series postseason, in which the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be determined.
Toyota Trucks Championship Week is set for July 24-31 and will be played out once again on two productive Alabama fisheries. The first leg, the July 24-25 Trophy Chase, returns to Lake Jordan out of Wetumpka. The finale, the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph, is slated for July 30-31 on the Alabama River from Montgomery.
Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Skeeter and Yamaha.
Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance and Triton Boats.
About BASS
For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and its expansive tournament structure while championing efforts to connect directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
As the flagship offering of ESPN Outdoors, the Bassmaster brand and its considerable multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer; comprehensive Web properties and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
BASS oversees the prestigious Bassmaster Tournament Trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, BASS Federation Nation and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.
BASS offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.By: BASS Communications / BASS
