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Velvick Extends Lead, Searching for first Bassmaster Elite Series Victory at California’s Clear Lake

March 20, 2010 - Clear Lake continues to be kind to Byron Velvick as the West Coast transplant, who now resides in Del Rio , Texas , inched closer to his first Bassmaster Elite Series victory Saturday on the big-bass factory.  Velvick held the throttle down at the Golden State Shootout, building his three-day total to 75 pounds, 8 ounces, enough to open up a near 6-plus pound margin.

While other competitors threaten Velvick – Bill Lowen brought 24-2 to the scales, enough for 69-9 and second place – he won’t budge.  In fact, he brought in Saturday’s biggest limit at 24-8.  It’s been well documented that Velvick set the BASS’ three-day heaviest tournament weight here 10 years ago with 83 pounds, 5 ounces.  But that was before the swimbait revolution and Velvick noted that the fish have become more intelligent and it’s taken its toll on the 45-year-old.

“Man, I’m sore,” said Velvick, who scored consecutive Bassmaster Classic qualifications the past two seasons.  “I’ve just gotten beat up.  My arm is so sore.  But this feels great to be in a position to win.  My career has progressed nicely the past couple of years and I’m super-excited.”

Much has been made of Velvick’s versatility this week and that has certainly helped his cause.  But he is sticking with his bread-and-butter, the swimbait, for roughly 80 percent of the time. 

He has been plagued by slow mornings – he only had three bites four hours into the tournament – but has been able to capitalize on the majority of the big bites.  He said he knows the area so well that he can almost anticipate when the “dead zone” will occur.  Considering that, he said he wouldn’t hesitate to explore new water Sunday if things slow down to a halt. 

“The big ones live in my primary area,” said Velvick.  “But it’s a constant battle.  Should I stay or should I go? Still, I know that if I get the right five bites in my primary area, I should win the tournament.”

Conversely, Velvick can also anticipate when he is going to entice a big bite. He says the bigger fish are stacked a bit deeper and he has failed to cash in on one big bite each day.

Stepping back and taking a look at the tangibles, it would be easy to assume Velvick should win the tournament.  After all, he has been consistent, absolutely dominant on the fishery and has a sizable lead.  But there is always an X-factor. 

With warming conditions and bluebird skies dominating the event, sight fishing could be prime for Sunday.  And though that could be hit-or-miss for many in the field, the threat exists and was in the back of Velvick’s mind. 

Although Lowen of North Bend, Ohio, continues to tote big limits to the scales, he has yet to gain ground on Velvick.  He did, however, leapfrog Randy Howell to jump into second.  Lowell has been working a staging area where the fish run through before they funnel into the river. 

He was able to consistently entice bites in his primary area but he lamented the fact that he wasn’t able to drill down on a smaller, more-defined spot that was occupied by another competitor.  He was able to hit the spot early – landing a 5- and 6-pounder – but it was rendered useless the rest of the day.  With that competitor making the top-12 cut, Lowen might have to manage without it. 

And questions still remain whether Lowen’s area can withstand the crazy pressure it has been subjected to over three tournament days.  Guy Eaker of Cherryville , N.C. , in third, has been one of a few competitors who have sat on it through the tournament.

“I don’t know how much that spot can take,” said Lowen, 35.  “I do think that I figured a little deal out later in the day though.  It’s something the fish haven’t seen and I’m going to try it out Sunday.”

While the spot is chock full of 5- and 6- pounders, Lowen wasn’t sure it had the potential to yield a big bite that Clear Lake is famous for. 

With Lowen and Eaker sharing the same spot, they have also been connected in the standings.  Each has managed to move up one spot and Eaker, with 68-4, was third and within striking distance for his second BASS victory.

The 70-year-old Eaker has been fishing BASS tournaments for 30-plus years and has gone nearly 150 tournaments without a victory.

“I might not have the accomplishments that some of the other guys who started with me have,” said Eaker, a 10-time Classic qualifier.  “But I guarantee you no one has had as much fun as I have.”

Slipping from second to fourth was Randy Howell of Springville , Ala. , with 67-4.  In fifth was 19-year-old Bradley Roy of Lancaster , Ky. , with 64-2.  Only the top-12 competitors moved on to Sunday.  Notables in the cutline included 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett (ninth) and Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif. (11th).  The full standings can be found below.

DAY 3 GOLDEN STATE SHOOTOUT STANDINGS

 

2010 Lakeport , CA 3/18-3/21

Clear Lake , Lakeport   CA .

(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

 

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

 

1.  Byron Velvick          Del Rio , TX             15  75-08  315

  Day 1: 5   29-00     Day 2: 5   22-00     Day 3: 5   24-08  

2.  Bill Lowen             North Bend , OH           15  69-09  295

  Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 5   22-09     Day 3: 5   24-02  

3.  Guy Eaker              Cherryville , NC          15  68-04  290

  Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 5   22-06     Day 3: 5   24-00  

4.  Randy Howell           Springville , AL          15  67-04  285

  Day 1: 5   23-03     Day 2: 5   23-07     Day 3: 5   20-10  

5.  Bradley Roy            Lancaster , KY            15  64-02  280

  Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   22-01     Day 3: 5   22-09  

6.  Terry Butcher          Talala, OK              15  62-12  276

  Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   21-13     Day 3: 5   22-12  

7.  Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande , CA        15  62-08  272

  Day 1: 5   23-04     Day 2: 5   17-14     Day 3: 5   21-06  

8.  Matt Herren            Trussville, AL          15  61-15  268

  Day 1: 5   21-13     Day 2: 5   18-06     Day 3: 5   21-12  

9.  Boyd Duckett           Demopolis , AL            15  61-11  264

  Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   20-14     Day 3: 5   22-15  

10. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        15  61-05  260

  Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   21-03     Day 3: 5   22-12  

11. Skeet Reese            Auburn , CA              15  60-02  257

  Day 1: 5   20-04     Day 2: 5   18-12     Day 3: 5   21-02  

12. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK             15  58-15  254

  Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   21-13     Day 3: 5   20-10  

13. Morizo Shimizu         Osaka JAPAN             15  58-04  251

  Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   19-05     Day 3: 5   20-12  

14. Dave Wolak             Wake Forest , NC         15  57-11  248

  Day 1: 5   15-08     Day 2: 5   18-05     Day 3: 5   23-14  

15. Pat Golden             High Point , NC          15  57-07  245

  Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   18-06     Day 3: 5   19-10  

16. Greg Hackney           Gonzales , LA             15  56-10  243

  Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   22-05     Day 3: 5   17-12  

17. Grant Goldbeck         Gaithersburg , MD        15  56-06  241

  Day 1: 5   19-02     Day 2: 5   20-05     Day 3: 5   16-15  

18. Matt Greenblatt        Palm Beach Gardens, FL  15  56-03  239

  Day 1: 5   19-13     Day 2: 5   16-12     Day 3: 5   19-10  

19. Kevin Wirth            Crestwood , KY            15  55-15  237

  Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   20-13     Day 3: 5   20-13  

20. Kelly Jordon           Mineola , TX             15  55-14  235

  Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   14-07     Day 3: 5   19-15  

21. Denny Brauer           Camdenton , MO            15  55-12  233

  Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   14-03     Day 3: 5   20-00  

22. Bobby Lane             Lakeland , FL            15  55-08  231

  Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   24-13     Day 3: 5   14-08  

23. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              15  55-08  229

  Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   17-14     Day 3: 5   19-09  

24. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka , AL             13  55-00  227

  Day 1: 3   13-01     Day 2: 5   22-07     Day 3: 5   19-08  

25. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         15  54-15  225

  Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 5   19-05     Day 3: 5   17-09  

26. Billy McCaghren        Mayflower, AR           15  54-07  223

  Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   18-00     Day 3: 5   20-05  

27. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira , KS         15  54-04  221

  Day 1: 5   19-09     Day 2: 5   17-00     Day 3: 5   17-11  

28. Clark Reehm            Russellville , AR         15  53-12  219

  Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   20-11     Day 3: 5   15-06  

29. Marty Stone            Fayetteville , NC         13  53-12  217

  Day 1: 3   12-01     Day 2: 5   20-15     Day 3: 5   20-12  

30. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                 15  53-08  215

  Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   17-07     Day 3: 5   19-00  

31. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista , AR          15  53-04  213

  Day 1: 5   19-09     Day 2: 5   14-02     Day 3: 5   19-09  

32. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City , AZ    15  53-01  211

  Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   17-06     Day 3: 5   16-11  

33. Jeff Kriet              Ardmore , OK             15  52-12  209

  Day 1: 5   21-04     Day 2: 5   17-00     Day 3: 5   14-08  

34. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC             15  52-12  207

  Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   19-14     Day 3: 5   17-12  

35. Gary Klein              Weatherford , TX          15  52-07  205

  Day 1: 5   19-10     Day 2: 5   16-00     Day 3: 5   16-13  

36. Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL               15  52-02  203

  Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   17-12     Day 3: 5   15-06  

37. Takahiro Omori         Emory , TX                15  52-01  201

  Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   18-11     Day 3: 5   18-03  

38. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL                15  51-15  199

  Day 1: 5   18-15     Day 2: 5   15-01     Day 3: 5   17-15  

39. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX              15  51-10  197

  Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   18-03     Day 3: 5   16-15  

40. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS               15  51-10  195

  Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   16-10     Day 3: 5   17-03  

41. Derek Remitz           Grant , AL                15  50-09  193

  Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   18-10     Day 3: 5   15-15  

42. Shaw E Grigsby         Gainesville , FL         15  50-08  191

  Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   17-10     Day 3: 5   17-12  

43. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville , FL         15  50-04  189

  Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   15-15     Day 3: 5   16-03  

44. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA         14  49-12  187

  Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   19-02     Day 3: 4   13-12  

45. Keith Poche            Troy , AL                 15  48-10  185

  Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 5   16-06     Day 3: 5   15-00  

46. Jami Fralick           Martin , SD               12  43-10  183

  Day 1: 5   18-01     Day 2: 4   15-05     Day 3: 3   10-04  

47. Mark Menendez          Paducah , KY             11  37-01  181

  Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   18-00     Day 3: 1   03-14  

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Totals

Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight

 1        72       416      1429-12

 2        75       425      1496-09

 3        44       228       876-06

----------------------------------

         191      1069      3802-11

 

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