Ott DeFoe widened his lead in the Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing today, if ever so slightly.
DeFoe of Knoxville, Tenn., weighed in 16 pounds, 7 ounces in the third round of the four-day Elite Series tournament for a total of 51 pounds, 9 ounces. That’s 2 1/2 pounds ahead of second-year Elite pro Seth Feider of Bloomington, Minn., who has 48-15. DeFoe had a 1-14 lead Friday.
That doesn’t sound like much of a margin, but in a fishery where big bass of the day is usually under 5 pounds and only ounces separate many of the positions in the standings, it will take a stumble by DeFoe and a stellar day for Feider. In fact, most of the difference between the two can be accounted for by the 6-pound, 1-ounce largemouth — a giant in this fishery — DeFoe caught at the end of the day Friday.
DeFoe only has two hot spots paying off with good-size bass, but they have been consistently reliable. Alternating between them, which requires a 20-mile boat run one-way, he has checked in limits weighing 17-7, 17-11 and 16-7. He said he’s using a swimbait with a treble hook rigged on it in his “starting place,” which features heavy current, and he’s flipping in his midday hole.
Jordan Lee of Grant, Ala, another young angler making a name for himself in the Elites, fell from second to third after turning in a smaller limit today, 14-10, than he did in earlier rounds. He is fishing floating frogs almost exclusively.
If anyone can catch DeFoe, Feider has demonstrated that he can. He bagged the heaviest limit of the tournament on Friday, 19-5, which moved him from 39th to third in the standings that day. A veteran of tournament fishing on other sections of the Upper Mississippi, Feider has more than a dozen fishing holes to choose from as the final round of fishing begins.
He described them as sandbars that would be out of the water if the river weren’t so high. Current is washing over them, and he’s catching big smallmouth with a combination of lures, including a drop shot, Carolina rig and swim jig.
Interestingly, fourth through seventh places are held by former GEICO Bassmaster Classic champions. They are Alton Jones, fourth with 46-15; Takahiro Omori, fifth with 45-5; Skeet Reese, sixth with 44-4; and Casey Ashley, seventh with 43-9. In fact, seven of the final 12 anglers fishing Sunday are Classic winners; Mark Davis, Edwin Evers and Randy Howell also made it.
Jones said he can’t wait to go fishing Sunday morning because awaiting him is the finest fishing hole he has ever found in 26 years as a B.A.S.S. pro. He found the spot during an Elite tournament in 2013 and, although he never had a bite there, he thought then that it should pay off in some situation.
It paid off in spades this week. Today, for example, he caught more than 50 bass, including five weighing 16-8, and quit at 12:45 p.m. so he could be assured of making it through navigation locks on time.
Gerald Swindle of Warrior, Ala., solidified his lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race by climbing into the Top 12. None of his closest competitors did so.
With all but a dozen anglers eliminated from the competition, the field for the upcoming Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year Championship next week on Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota, has mostly been set. The Top 50 in season-long AOY points will be competing on Mille Lacs for $1 million, which is apportioned according to AOY points standings at the end of the championship.
The final round on the Mississippi begins with takeoff Sunday from Veterans Freedom Park at 6:15 a.m. CT. The weigh-in will be held back at the park at 3:15 p.m. The Bassmaster Elite Series Expo and festival activities begin at 11 a.m. at Freedom Park.
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, GoPro, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota
2016 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Power-Pole, Rapala, Shell Rotella, Shimano, Academy Sports + Outdoors, A.R.E. Truck Caps, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels
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 Plano Bassmaster Elite at the Mississippi River presented by Favorite Fishing 9/8-9/11
Mississippi River, La Crosse, Wis.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 15 51-09 110 $500.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 16-07
2. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 15 48-15 109
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 19-05 Day 3: 5 16-09
3. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 15 47-14 108
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 14-10
4. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 15 46-15 107
Day 1: 5 14-11 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 16-08
5. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 15 45-05 106
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 18-04
6. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 15 44-04 105
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 16-01
7. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 15 43-09 104
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 13-03
8. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 43-01 103
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 14-01
9. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 15 42-14 102
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 14-12
10. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 42-08 101
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 15-08
11. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 42-03 100
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 11-07
12. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 15 42-02 99
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 15-00
13. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 15 41-12 98 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-09 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 13-07
14. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 15 41-02 97 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-13 Day 2: 5 16-05 Day 3: 5 12-00
15. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 15 41-01 96 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 13-05
16. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 40-14 95 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 13-02
17. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 15 40-05 94 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 5 12-05
18. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 15 40-05 93 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 13-09
19. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 15 40-00 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 15-00
20. Fred Roumbanis London, AR 15 40-00 91 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 12-13
21. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 15 39-11 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 12-14
22. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 15 39-09 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 14-03
23. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 15 39-09 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-02 Day 3: 5 12-09
24. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 39-08 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 10-09 Day 3: 5 14-09
25. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 39-06 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-13 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 09-15
26. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 15 39-05 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 14-08
27. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 15 39-04 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 14-11 Day 3: 5 12-10
28. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 15 39-02 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 12-07
29. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 14 39-02 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 4 12-01
30. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 15 39-02 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 12-04
31. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 14 38-07 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-06 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 4 12-02
32. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 14 38-06 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 4 08-08
33. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 15 38-00 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 12-12
34. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 15 37-08 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 12-11
35. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 13 37-06 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 3 07-10
36. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 37-05 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 13-12 Day 3: 5 10-06
37. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 15 37-04 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-08 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 11-11
38. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 15 37-04 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 10-13
39. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 15 37-02 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 11-01
40. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 14 36-10 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-05 Day 3: 4 08-01
41. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 15 36-02 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 11-14 Day 3: 5 11-01
42. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 15 36-01 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 11-10 Day 3: 5 11-05
43. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 15 35-09 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 5 10-09
44. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 13 35-08 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 3 07-08
45. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 14 35-00 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-09 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 4 08-13
46. Casey Scanlon Rocky Mount, MO 13 34-14 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 13-13 Day 3: 3 08-02
47. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 12 34-09 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 15-11 Day 3: 2 04-02
48. John Murray Spring City, TN 13 33-03 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 3 07-08
49. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 12 28-04 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 2 03-05
50. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 10 24-13 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-00 Day 2: 5 10-13 Day 3: 0 00-00
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 88 485 1225-03
2 87 487 1239-02
3 38 226 593-15
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213 1198 3058-04
By: Helen White, Bassmaster
