SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, La. — The heaviest bag of the day catapulted Brian LaClair of Denton, Del., on Thursday from 9th place to the top of the leaderboard in the 2010 BASS Federation Nation Championship on the Red River.
Hot on his heels was Isauro Tijerina of Guadalupe, Mexico, who said he fished jetties with a crankbait. He brought 9-8 to the scales Thursday, giving him a two-day total of 18-12, 6 ounces behind LaClair.
LaClair's tournament day got off to a nice start when he boated the biggest bass of Day 2 — a 5-2 that netted him a $500 bonus — on his second pitch to a pole near a lock. He ended his day by adding 10-7 to his Day 1 weight of 8-11 for a two-day total of 19-2.
"I stopped and fished around that pole yesterday and the bottom felt good, so I stopped again today," he said. "I got a bite on my first cast but missed, then on the second one, he hit it."
After locking through, LaClair found that his primary spot produced a quick limit, leaving him the rest of the day to improve by trading larger bass for smaller ones already in the livewell.
"After 10 this morning I had a limit and was trying to cull, but it really slowed down," he said. "Also, I didn't catch as many fish today as I did yesterday. I only got eight today and had about 20 yesterday."
LaClair said the fish were positioned tight to cover as the wind blew steady all day and the temperature dropped slightly. He said he relied on a spinnerbait.
In third after Day 2 was Jeff Stetler of Leesburg, N.J., with 18-6. Fourth was Day 1 leader Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, with 17-9. Fifth was Dale Hightower of Sand Springs, Okla., with 16-10.
The overall winner this week will win a fully rigged Skeeter/Yamaha boat and motor package valued at more than $60,000 and an invitation to join the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series. Anglers also are fishing for six Federation-awarded berths in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic, set for Feb. 18-20 on the Louisiana Delta out of New Orleans.
The top angler from each of six divisions will win a Classic seat. Alessio Telese of Italy leads the Northern Division with 12-0; George Crain of Cropwell, Ala., is in command in the Southern Division with 16-7; LaClair leads the Mid-Atlantic Division as well as the tournament with 19-02; Palaniuk leads the Western Division with 17-9, Scott Parker of Londonderry, N.H., is ahead in the Eastern Division with 11-04; and Tijerina leads the Central Division with 18-12.
Friday’s finale at Bossier City’s Red River South Marina will kick off at 3:30 p.m. CT with the Junior Bassmaster World Championship weigh-in. Twelve young anglers will bring in their catches from nearby Cross Lake after one day of fishing. The angler with the heaviest sack of fish within his age group (11-14; 15-18) will win scholarship money. The final weigh-in of the 2010 Federation Nation Championship will begin after the youth champs are named.
BASS FEDERATION NATION CHAMPIONSHIP - DAY 2 STANDINGS
2010 FEDERATION NATION CHAMPIONSHIP 10/27-10/29 Red River, Shreveport La.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown D No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1. Brian LaClair Denton, Del. (DE) M 10 19-02 $500.00
2. Isauro Tijerina Guadalupe, Mexico (MEX) C 10 18-12
3. Jeff Stetler Leesburg, N.J. (NJ) M 10 18-06
4. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, Idaho (ID) W 9 17-09
5. Dale Hightower Sand Springs, Okla. (OK) C 10 16-10
6. Brian Maloney Osage Beach, Mo. (MO) C 10 16-07
7. George Crain Cropwell, Ala. (AL) S 8 16-07
8. Bill Golightly Preston, Wyo. (WY) W 10 16-00
9. Travis Tunnell Benton, Kan. (KS) C 6 14-05
10. Zachary King Clarksville, Ark. (AR) C 7 13-04 $500.00
11. Donnie Cox Tazewell, Tenn. (TN) S 7 12-12
12. Justy Varkevisser Edenvale 1610, South Africa (RSA)S 10 12-11
13. Rob Digh Denver, N.C. (NC) S 9 12-08
14. Jamie Laiche Gonzales, La. (LA) C 10 12-07
15. David Brinkerhoff Kelso, Ore. (OR) W 8 12-05
16. Randy Ladner Bay St Louis, Miss. (MS) C 8 12-02
17. Alessio Telese Signa-Firenz, Italy (ITA) N 8 12-00
18. Jerry Frahm Brigham City, Utah (UT) W 5 12-00
19. Joey Nania Liberty Lake, Wash. (WA) W 6 11-13
20. Scott Parker Londonderry, N.H. (NH) E 5 11-04
21. Mike Macdonald Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (ZWE) M 10 11-03
22. David Watson Dugger, Ind. (IN) N 7 11-03
23. Sean Alvarez Rutland, Vt. (VT) E 7 10-13
24. Jay Evans Corvallis, Mont. (MT) W 8 10-10
25. David Mock Tallahassee, Fla. (FL) S 4 10-03
26. Mark Klemp Villa Park, Ill. (IL) N 6 9-15
27. Brandon Card Caryville, Ky. (KY) S 7 9-12
28. Daniel Gray Butler, Pa. (PA) M 7 9-10
29. Nathan Ranallo La Crosse, Wisc. (WI) N 6 9-03
30. Tom Jessop Dalhart, Texas (TX) C 6 8-09
31. James Smiley Lake Forest, Calif. (CA) W 3 8-08
32. Robert Perkins Crosslake, Minn. (MN) N 5 8-06
33. Cavin Young Prince George, Va. (VA) M 6 7-02
34. George Cooper Buxton, Maine (ME) E 5 6-14
35. Andy Bravence Globe, Ariz. (AZ) W 4 6-14
36. Abe Kalechman Stafford, Conn. (CT) E 4 6-07
37. Dave Rochette Bracebridge, Canada (ONT) E 4 6-06
38. Kenny Wasmund South Sioux City, Neb. (NE) C 5 6-02
39. Joe Matt Syracuse, N.Y. (NY) E 4 5-10
40. Jeremy Franken Watertown, S.D. (SD) N 4 5-00
41. Randy Phillips Oxford, Mass. (MA) E 3 4-09
42. Ed Riley Woodbine, Md. (MD) M 4 4-03
43. Allen McCaw Ignacio, Colo. (CO) W 3 4-03
44. Tony Beck Social Circle, Ga. (GA) S 4 4-02
45. Chris Molineaux Hope Valley, R.I. (RI) E 3 3-11
46. Jeff Green Gaffney, S.C. (SC) S 2 3-07
47. Ronald Ryals Live Oak, Fla. (FL) S 2 3-05
48. Bob Lechel Los Alamos, N.M. (NM) W 2 3-03
49. Dan Parker Guttenberg, Iowa (IA) N 2 2-10
50. Mike Moore Philippi, W.Va. (WV) M 1 2-10
51. Brian Mailot Columbus, Ohio (OH) N 2 2-09
52. Ryuji Saho Moriguchi-Shi Osaka, Japan (JPN) W 1 1-06
53. Gerald Woodard Southfield, Mich. (MI) N 1 0-07
54. Paul Hemsley North Las Vegas, Nev. (NV) W 1 0-03
55. Jason Ross Ashley Falls, Mass. (MA) E 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Zachary King Clarksville, Ark. (AR) 5-00 $500.00
2 Brian LaClair Denton, Del. (DE) 5-02 $500.00
2 Brian LaClair Denton, Del. (DE) 5-02 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 17 170 272-11
2 10 139 224-15
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27 309 497-10
DIVISIONAL STANDINGS Day 2
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CENTRAL
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Isauro Tijerina Guadalupe, Mexico (MEX) 10 18-12
2 Dale Hightower Sand Springs, Okla. (OK) 10 16-10
3 Brian Maloney Osage Beach, Mo. (MO) 10 16-07
4 Travis Tunnell Benton, Kan. (KS) 6 14-05
5 Zachary King Clarksville, Ark. (AR) 7 13-04 $500.00
6 Jamie Laiche Gonzales, La. (LA) 10 12-07
7 Randy Ladner Bay St Louis, Miss. (MS) 8 12-02
8 Tom Jessop Dalhart, Texas (TX) 6 8-09
9 Kenny Wasmund South Sioux City, Neb. (N 5 6-02
WESTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, Idaho (ID) 9 17-09
2 Bill Golightly Preston, Wyo. (WY) 10 16-00
3 David Brinkerhoff Kelso, Ore. (OR) 8 12-05
4 Jerry Frahm Brigham City, Utah (UT) 5 12-00
5 Joey Nania Liberty Lake, Wash. (WA) 6 11-13
6 Jay Evans Corvallis, Mont. (MT) 8 10-10
7 James Smiley Lake Forest, Calif. (CA) 3 8-08
8 Andy Bravence Globe, Ariz. (AZ) 4 6-14
9 Allen McCaw Ignacio, Colo. (CO) 3 4-03
10 Bob Lechel Los Alamos, N.M. (NM) 2 3-03
11 Ryuji Saho Moriguchi-Shi Osaka, Japa 1 1-06
12 Paul Hemsley North Las Vegas, Nev. (NV 1 0-03
SOUTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 George Crain Cropwell, Ala. (AL) 8 16-07
2 Donnie Cox Tazewell, Tenn. (TN) 7 12-12
3 Justy Varkevisser Edenvale 1610, South Afri 10 12-11
4 Rob Digh Denver, N.C. (NC) 9 12-08
5 David Mock Tallahassee, Fla. (FL) 4 10-03
6 Brandon Card Caryville, Ky. (KY) 7 9-12
7 Tony Beck Social Circle, Ga. (GA) 4 4-02
8 Jeff Green Gaffney, S.C. (SC) 2 3-07
9 Ronald Ryals Live Oak, Fla. (FL) 2 3-05
MID-ATLANTIC
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Brian LaClair Denton, Del. (DE) 10 19-02 $1,000.00
2 Jeff Stetler Leesburg, N.J. (NJ) 10 18-06
3 Mike Macdonald Bulawayo, Zimbabwe (ZWE) 10 11-03
4 Daniel Gray Butler, Pa. (PA) 7 9-10
5 Cavin Young Prince George, Va. (VA) 6 7-02
6 Ed Riley Woodbine, Md. (MD) 4 4-03
7 Mike Moore Philippi, W.Va. (WV) 1 2-10
NORTHERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Alessio Telese Signa-Firenz, Italy (ITA) 8 12-00
2 David Watson Dugger, Ind. (IN) 7 11-03
3 Mark Klemp Villa Park, Ill. (IL) 6 9-15
4 Nathan Ranallo La Crosse, Wisc. (WI) 6 9-03
5 Robert Perkins Crosslake, Minn. (MN) 5 8-06
6 Jeremy Franken Watertown, S.D. (SD) 4 5-00
7 Dan Parker Guttenberg, Iowa (IA) 2 2-10
8 Brian Mailot Columbus, Ohio (OH) 2 2-09
9 Gerald Woodard Southfield, Mich. (MI) 1 0-07
EASTERN
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Scott Parker Londonderry, N.H. (NH) 5 11-04
2 Sean Alvarez Rutland, Vt. (VT) 7 10-13
3 George Cooper Buxton, Maine (ME) 5 6-14
4 Abe Kalechman Stafford, Conn. (CT) 4 6-07
5 Dave Rochette Bracebridge, Canada (ONT) 4 6-06
6 Joe Matt Syracuse, N.Y. (NY) 4 5-10
7 Randy Phillips Oxford, Mass. (MA) 3 4-09
8 Chris Molineaux Hope Valley, R.I. (RI) 3 3-11
9 Jason Ross Ashley Falls, Mass. (MA) 0 0-00
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 connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.
The Bassmaster brand and its 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 in Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.
BASS oversees the 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 and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
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