PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – James Charlesworth of St. Cloud, Fla., jumped eight places in the standings to take the Day 2 lead in the CITGO Bassmaster Northern Tour on Lake Champlain.
On Friday, fishing Champlain in much the same way as he fishes Florida waters, Charlesworth targeted strictly largemouth bass, reeling in a five-fish limit of 19 pounds, 7 ounces for a two-day total of 37-7. Included in his catch was a 5-pound, 7-ounce, Purolator Big Bass worth a bonus of $1,000.
Charlesworth secured the lead by 1 pound, 1 ounce. Behind him were Rodney Hardwick of Connersville, Ind., with 36-6; South Carolina’s Jason Williamson with 36-2; Vermont’s JJ Judd with 35-11; and North Carolina’s Pat Golden with 34-14.
“I’m working one small area, a specific spot I call the ‘kill zone,’ ” said Charlesworth. “It’s just a little different bottom contour that keeps replenishing itself.”
Fishing a completely opposite pattern because he went out for smallmouth, Hardwick brought in 17 pounds, 5 ounces on Friday. Hardwick said he got his limit with a tube, Carolina rig and drop-shot rig in water 25 feet deep.
“I’m fishing one little area with weeds, rocks and a real good breakline,” said Hardwick. “Anytime my partner caught one, I threw one in right after and they would just hit it. One would come up and 10 would follow it.”
Among the 50 pro anglers who made the cut to fish Saturday were eight CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series anglers. They included Pennsylvania’s Paul Hirosky (8th); Alabama’s Kotaro Kiriyama (13th); Florida’s Charlie Youngers (20th); Pennsylvania’s Randy Yarnall (in a three-way tie for 33rd); Maryland’s Darrin Schwenkbeck and South Dakota’s Jami Fralick, who tied for 37th; Illinois’ Doc Merkin (39th); and Connecticut’s Ken Brodeur (47th).
On the co-angler side, Jack Palmer of Hopkinsville, Ky., moved up from second place to take the lead on Friday with a two-day total of 21 pounds, 1 ounce. He bested Thursday’s leader, Harold Howard of Salem, Ind., by 2 pounds, pushing Howard into second place. In third was George Fister of Lake Charles, La., with 18-12. Completing the top five were Jim Staszewski of Maine with 18-11 and Dave Waldron of West Virginia with 18-9.
At stake for pros are points toward eligibility to move up to the next level of competition, the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series, and a first-place payout of $30,000 in cash and a Triton boat rig worth $45,000. Co-anglers are up against each other for a top prize of a Triton boat package valued at $30,000.
The next stop on the CITGO Bassmaster Northern Tour circuit is Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio, Oct. 2-4. The event will be the fourth of five for the Northern Tour.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.Bassmaster.com.
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CITGO Bassmaster Tour Sponsors: CITGO Petroleum Corp., Toyota, Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics and MotorGuide.
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the CITGO Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
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