Britt Myers fully understands the amount of risk that comes with making a near two-hour boat run to access his fishing spots, but today it paid off in a big way.
Myers of Lake Wylie, S.C., brought in a heavy five-bass limit that weighed 21 pounds, 7 ounces, which catapulted him into the lead with a two-day total of 37-15 during the Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Winyah Bay presented by GoRVing.
After a weather delay on Thursday, Friday’s take-off was on time and preceded a beautiful spring day that produced some impressive bass.
Kelly Jordon of Flint, Texas, weighed the heaviest limit of the tournament so far with 24-7 pushing his two-day total to 32-12. Brett Hite of Phoenix, Ariz., is in third with 32-2, while Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, is holding down fourth place with 26-1. Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., round out the Top 5 with 25-8.
With two days remaining, Myers won’t divulge specific details yet, but he is confident that the right bass will still be where he’s fishing for at least one more day.
“After a good day on Thursday, I really zeroed in on a specific area that was holding a lot of big bass,” Myers said. “I found this spot during practice, but I wasn’t really sure of the fish quality because I avoided setting the hook hoping the same fish would bite again once the tournament began.”
Myers was targeting bass in deep and shallow water, bass that were spawning and bass that were just roaming. But the tide impacted which particular group of fish he focused on, and when he targeted them.
“Today it was all about the timing,” he said. “When the tide was perfect, the biggest fish would eat, which I figured out on Thursday. I capitalized on what I learned today, and I really think I can put myself into position to do it again tomorrow — and hopefully on Sunday for the win.”
Myers believes that if he can catch 13 to 14 pounds each of the final two days, he should be able to claim the championship. However, after Jordon brought in 24-7 during Friday’s weigh-in, it’s hard to predict what might happen.
Jordon had the kind of day that a tournament bass fisherman dreams about.
“I’m the type of angler who swings for the fence at every event,” Jordon said. “It’s cost me big time in the past, but today it definitely paid off. So much of the success in this sport hinges on simple decisions, and I learned something valuable yesterday that made me think I could replicate it again today.”
On Thursday, Jordan weighed only one big bass for 8-5, which revealed what he thought might be a workable pattern. That gut feeling helped put the Texas angler in second place leading into Saturday’s semi-final round.
“I am going to fish the same pattern again tomorrow,” he said. “But, it’s hard to say whether the same caliber fish will bite or not. Because this fishery is so expansive, once you decide where you’re going to fish, you’re pretty much committed. I’m going to gamble and see if I can do it again.”
Hite said that the Winyah Bay area reminded him of the California Delta, which is one of his favorite fisheries.
“I was confident that this event would play out much like a tournament on the California Delta, but you really can’t be sure until you catch some fish,” Hite said. “I found an area that had very similar characteristics to what I’d look for out West, and it’s holding a big school of nice fish.”
Hite is confident that his pattern will hold up for a couple more days. He is one of the many anglers who are making a long run to access prime waters, which naturally comes with risk of travel delays.
“So far the traveling aspect of this tournament has been a breeze, which really keeps me confident in making good decisions and staying on the right fish,” he said. “That kind of confidence doesn’t come easy, but it helps tremendously. I’m excited to see how Saturday shapes up.”
After Saturday’s semi-final round, the Top 12 anglers will advance to Championship Sunday for a shot at the $100,000 prize.
Myers also earned the Livingston Lures Leader award of $500 for leading the second day of the event.
Daily take-offs are scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at the Carroll Ashmore Campbell Marine Complex, with weigh-ins scheduled at the same location at 3:30 p.m.
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Toyota, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, GoPro,
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Shimano, Academy Sports + Outdoors, A.R.E. Truck Caps
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines, Bassmaster website, television show ,The Bassmasters, social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, B.A.S.S. Nation, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by GoPro.
2016 Huk Performance Fishing Bassmaster Elite at Winyah Bay presented by Go RVing 4/7-4/10
Winyah Bay, Georgetown SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 10 37-15 110
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 5 21-07
2. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 6 32-12 109
Day 1: 1 08-05 Day 2: 5 24-07
3. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 32-02 108
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 19-11
4. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 26-01 107
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 12-04
5. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10 25-08 106
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 11-13
6. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 22-07 105
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 11-10
7. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 22-05 104
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
8. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 10 22-00 103
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 12-03
9. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 9 21-14 102
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 5 14-13
10. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 10 21-14 101
Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 5 11-09
11. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 21-14 100
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 11-05
12. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 21-10 99
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 08-10
13. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 10 21-08 98
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 14-05
14. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 21-08 97
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 5 13-01
15. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 10 21-05 96
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 12-06
16. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 6 21-03 95
Day 1: 5 19-11 Day 2: 1 01-08
17. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 9 20-14 94
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 4 11-01
18. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 10 20-10 93
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 11-03
19. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 20-10 92
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 10-00
20. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 20-08 91
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 06-02
21. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 10 20-08 90
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 08-03
22. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 10 20-04 89
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 11-03
23. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 10 19-15 88
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 11-05
24. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 19-12 87
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 09-01
25. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 10 19-10 86
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 08-04
26. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 10 19-10 85
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 10-10
27. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 9 19-08 84
Day 1: 4 06-10 Day 2: 5 12-14
28. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 19-06 83
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 09-04
29. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 19-02 82
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 09-14
30. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 10 19-00 81
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 08-13
31. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 18-14 80
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 10-14
32. David Williams Newton, NC 10 18-14 79
Day 1: 5 08-02 Day 2: 5 10-12
33. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 18-13 78
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 5 10-01
34. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 8 18-12 77
Day 1: 4 10-11 Day 2: 4 08-01
35. James Elam Tulsa, OK 7 18-11 76
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 5 16-02
36. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 8 18-11 75
Day 1: 5 06-10 Day 2: 3 12-01
37. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 18-10 74
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 10-00
38. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 10 18-08 73
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 09-03
39. Randy Allen Shreveport, LA 10 18-07 72
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 08-05
40. Matt Reed Jr Madisonville, TX 6 18-05 71
Day 1: 1 03-09 Day 2: 5 14-12
41. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 9 18-05 70
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 5 09-10
42. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 10 18-03 69
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 10-10
43. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 8 18-00 68
Day 1: 3 07-14 Day 2: 5 10-02
44. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 8 18-00 67
Day 1: 3 08-04 Day 2: 5 09-12
45. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 10 17-15 66
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 09-10
46. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 17-15 65
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 09-05
47. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 17-15 64
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 08-11
48. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 17-03 63
Day 1: 5 07-01 Day 2: 5 10-02
49. Casey Scanlon Rocky Mount, MO 10 17-02 62
Day 1: 5 08-08 Day 2: 5 08-10
50. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 9 17-01 61
Day 1: 4 08-11 Day 2: 5 08-06
51. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 17-00 60
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 09-05
52. John Murray Spring City, TN 6 17-00 59
Day 1: 1 08-09 Day 2: 5 08-07
53. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 16-12 58
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 09-01
54. Billy McCaghren Jr Mayflower, AR 10 16-11 57
Day 1: 5 07-14 Day 2: 5 08-13
55. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 10 16-11 56
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 08-07
56. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 16-10 55
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 09-07
57. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 7 16-07 54
Day 1: 2 03-09 Day 2: 5 12-14
58. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 9 16-07 53
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 5 10-05
59. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 10 16-07 52
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 5 07-03
60. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 16-06 51
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 08-15
61. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 16-05 50
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 16-05
62. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 9 16-04 49
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-14
63. Ken Iyobe Tokoname Aichi JAPAN 9 15-14 48
Day 1: 5 08-07 Day 2: 4 07-07
64. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 6 15-13 47
Day 1: 3 05-05 Day 2: 3 10-08
65. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 8 15-12 46
Day 1: 3 07-03 Day 2: 5 08-09
66. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 8 15-09 45
Day 1: 5 09-04 Day 2: 3 06-05
67. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 15-08 44
Day 1: 5 07-11 Day 2: 5 07-13
68. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 7 15-03 43
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 5 11-08
69. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 9 15-00 42
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 4 06-06
70. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 7 14-15 41
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 05-04
71. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 14-13 40
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 5 07-06
72. David Walker Sevierville, TN 7 14-05 39
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
73. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 9 14-05 38
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 4 04-14
74. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 8 13-13 37
Day 1: 4 05-14 Day 2: 4 07-15
75. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 7 13-06 36
Day 1: 5 09-11 Day 2: 2 03-11
76. Fabian Rodriguez Ocean City, DE 4 13-04 35
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 13-04
77. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 7 13-01 34
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 5 10-04
78. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 8 12-14 33
Day 1: 3 04-05 Day 2: 5 08-09
79. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 12-09 32
Day 1: 2 06-11 Day 2: 3 05-14
80. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 6 12-05 31
Day 1: 1 01-06 Day 2: 5 10-15
81. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 7 12-05 30
Day 1: 2 04-01 Day 2: 5 08-04
82. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 5 12-03 29
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-03
83. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 12-02 28
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 12-02
84. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 8 12-02 27
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 3 04-02
85. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 8 11-15 26
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 4 05-09
86. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 8 11-08 25
Day 1: 4 06-02 Day 2: 4 05-06
87. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 7 11-07 24
Day 1: 2 01-03 Day 2: 5 10-04
88. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 6 11-04 23
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 4 07-09
89. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 10-11 22
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 10-11
90. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 7 10-10 21
Day 1: 2 02-15 Day 2: 5 07-11
91. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 6 10-10 20
Day 1: 3 05-04 Day 2: 3 05-06
92. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 6 10-06 19
Day 1: 2 04-11 Day 2: 4 05-11
93. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 6 09-12 18
Day 1: 4 06-10 Day 2: 2 03-02
94. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 7 09-11 17
Day 1: 4 06-01 Day 2: 3 03-10
95. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 5 09-08 16
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 4 07-11
96. Jay Brainard Enid, OK 5 09-07 15
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
97. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 6 09-01 14
Day 1: 3 03-15 Day 2: 3 05-02
98. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 08-14 13
Day 1: 1 03-06 Day 2: 4 05-08
99. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 6 08-09 12
Day 1: 2 03-05 Day 2: 4 05-04
100. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 08-08 11
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 08-08
101. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 6 08-04 10
Day 1: 1 01-09 Day 2: 5 06-11
102. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 6 08-04 9
Day 1: 2 03-00 Day 2: 4 05-04
103. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 3 07-10 8
Day 1: 3 07-10 Day 2: 0 00-00
104. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 07-07 7
Day 1: 5 07-07 Day 2: 0 00-00
105. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 3 07-04 6
Day 1: 2 05-03 Day 2: 1 02-01
106. Matt Vermilyea Perrysburg, OH 5 06-10 5
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 06-10
107. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 4 04-04 4
Day 1: 2 02-02 Day 2: 2 02-02
108. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 1 02-06 3
Day 1: 1 02-06 Day 2: 0 00-00
109. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 1 01-08 2
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-08
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 58 400 780-05
2 75 470 978-09
———————————-
133 870 1758-14
By: Helen White, Bassmaster
