COLUMBUS, Miss. - Arkansas pro Mark Davis lengthened his reign on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Friday, when he brought in a whopping 16-pound, 6-ounce limit on day three of the Bassmaster Elite 50 event, the newest addition to the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer.
But, Davis, a three-time CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year, thought he could have had a better day rotating through the six-hole course set aside for the final two days of competition.
"I had a frustrating day," Davis said. "I figured out how to catch them in the backwater areas where it was clear, then they put me in this pool where it's muddy. I traipsed around in the mud half the day, but then when I got back to where it was clear, then it got fun.
"I'm fishing basically the same patterns that I have been, but I'm using different colors."
Davis changed the colors of his Strike King 3X ribbon tail worm from tequila to a green pumpkin and black.
"There's a lot of fish in here, and a lot of big fish, I know," he said. "I don't plan on changing anything for tomorrow."
Another three-time CITGO Bassmaster Angler of the Year, Kevin VanDam, also had a good day on the Tenn-Tom. VanDam brought in 14-7 to take second place going into the final day of competition, which will be telecast on ESPN2, May 29 and June 5 at 10:30 a.m. ET/9:30 a.m. CT.
"It was a good day but it could have been a lot better," VanDam said. "I can't complain. I fished well all week."
The field has been cut down to the Super Six who will fish tomorrow on the six-hole course.
"On a course like this, you really have to fish what's in front of you," VanDam said. "Tomorrow it's going to be really fun because you have the whole area to yourself."
VanDam used a Denny Brauer Pro Model tube and a Denny Brauer Pro Model jig to bring in his catch. That sack also earned him a $1,000 check from Busch for the Busch Heavyweight of the day, a voluntary contingency program from Busch Beer. Davis does not participate in the program.
VanDam's huge catch was anchored by a 5-pound, 7-ounce lunker that earned him another $1,000 for the Purolator Big Bass of the Day. If that fish remains the largest caught through Saturday's final round, VanDam will receive another grand for the Purolator Big Bass of the Tournament.
Saturday, Davis and VanDam will be joined by Missouri's Stacey King (12-11), North Carolina's Dustin Wilks (11-2), and Texas' Alton Jones (10-14) and Gary Klein (10-11).
The final day of the Bassmaster Elite 50 series event on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway gets under way Saturday. Launch begins at 10 a.m. and daily weigh-ins will begin at 7 p.m. at the Stennis Lock and Dam and are free to the public.
The BASS Sponsor Expo will be held Saturday, also at the Stennis Lock and Dam. Fans can take part in the interactive exhibits from 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
The Bassmaster CastingKids program sponsored by CITGO will be held in conjunction with the BASS Sponsor Expo Saturday from 3 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Columbus Marina. Children between the ages of 7 and 14 can participate in the contest with the chance to earn scholarships.
BASS is the world's largest fishing organization, sanctioning more than 20,000 tournaments worldwide through its Federation. The CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail is the oldest and most prestigious pro bass-fishing tournament circuit and continues to set the standard for credibility, professionalism and sportsmanship as it has since 1968.
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Purolator, Triton Boats, Skeeter Boats, Mercury Marine, Yamaha Outboards, Berkley, Abu Garcia, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, MotorGuide, Bass Pro Shops, and BankOne.
Associate Sponsors include G3 Boats.
Local Sponsors include the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (334) 551-2375 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
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