Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., maintains the lead on the third day of the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge, bringing 14 pounds, 15 ounces to the scales on Sunday for a three-day total weight of 48-8.
June 4, 2017
Davis Still On Top At Bassmaster Elite on Lake Dardanelle
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RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Mark Davis of Mount Ida, Ark., caught a five-bass limit that weighed 14 pounds, 15 ounces during today’s semi-final round to maintain his lead at the GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge.
With $100,000 on the line for Mondays champion, Davis still thinks 16 to 17 pounds will be required to win. He’s averaging just over 16 pounds with a three-day total of 48-8.
“I’ve really beat up on the fish I’ve been depending on this week,” Davis said. “I believe the right fish are still there, and that I can catch a decent limit tomorrow. But I didn’t get as many big bites today as I had hoped.”
Davis’ spot did receive some additional local pressure before he could get there, and that certainly could be contributing to the reduced action during Sunday’s competition.
“I have no problem sharing water with local anglers, heck they’ve got just as much right to fish there as I do — if not more so,” he said. “When I arrived he moved off and let me have it, which was appreciated.
“I will go back there again tomorrow, there’s no way around it. I have to,” he said. “It’s a commitment, though; 40 miles from takeoff. It’s the only spot I have on that part of the lake, and it’s a small area, but it’s been key to my success this week. I’ll give it the time it requires in the morning, and hopefully it will pay off.”
He said it’s unfortunate that his spot is so isolated, but that’s likely why other Elite Series anglers haven’t been fishing it. Davis plans to fish there until about 9 a.m. before relocating down the lake.
“The water dropped in my areas yesterday, and that is a condition that positions the fish in predictable areas,” Davis explained. “The water rose some earlier today, then it began to pull out in the afternoon. If it continues to drop tomorrow I am confident that I can catch another 14 to 16 pounds, but that’s not enough to make me comfortable.”
New York resident and Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Jamie Hartman is just 9 ounces behind Davis. He caught 16-6 today pushing his total to 47-15.
He has finished in the Top 12 three times during his first season as an Elite Series pro, second at Cherokee Lake, third at Toledo Bend and will begin Championship Monday on Dardanelle in third place.
“I’m very surprised. Based on my practice, I didn’t think I could be this consistent. It’s certainly been a grind,” the 44-year-old angler said. “I’m fishing a very specific ledge with a couple specific presentations, and I managed to get a couple quality bites that kept me in the hunt for this title.”
Hartman has not been fishing conservatively this week, but he also hasn’t been getting many bites. Friday he caught seven keepers, six on Saturday and seven again today.
“I’m not catching very many fish, but when I do they’re pretty good ones,” he said. “I think tomorrow will be similar, but this lake has been known to change dramatically from day to day. I’ll probably need 19 to 20 pounds tomorrow to have a shot at winning.”
Rounding out the Top 12 include: Steve Kennedy (47-3), Michael Iaconelli (45-13), Dean Rojas (45-13), David Mullins (44-14), Kevin VanDam (43-11), Brandon Palaniuk (43-2), Mark Menendez (42-12), Cliff Pace (42-8), Cliff Prince (42-8) and Matt Lee (42-6).
David Mullins of Mount Carmel, Tenn., is still leading the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award thanks to a 6-pound, 8-ounce largemouth he caught on Friday.
Championship Monday will begin with takeoff at 6:15 a.m. CT at Lake Dardanelle State Park, and weigh-in will be in the same location at 3:15 p.m.
The event is hosted by the Russellville Advertising and Promotion Commission.
2017 GoPro Bassmaster Elite at Lake Dardanelle presented by Econo Lodge 6/2-6/5
Lake Dardanelle, Russellville AR.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 15 48-08 110 $500.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 19-04 Day 3: 5 14-15
2. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 15 47-15 109
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 16-06
3. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 15 47-03 108
Day 1: 5 16-10 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 16-06
4. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 15 45-13 107
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 14-10 Day 3: 5 18-14
5. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 15 45-13 106
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 15-00
6. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 15 44-14 105
Day 1: 5 17-02 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 15-13
7. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 43-11 104
Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 12-00
8. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 15 43-02 103
Day 1: 5 13-14 Day 2: 5 15-01 Day 3: 5 14-03
9. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 15 42-12 102
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 15-05
10. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 15 42-08 101
Day 1: 5 16-03 Day 2: 5 12-09 Day 3: 5 13-12
11. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 15 42-08 100
Day 1: 5 15-02 Day 2: 5 14-07 Day 3: 5 12-15
12. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 15 42-06 99
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 16-08 Day 3: 5 12-05
13. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 15 42-03 98 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 14-13
14. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 42-01 97 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 15-02
15. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 15 41-12 96 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-12 Day 2: 5 10-03 Day 3: 5 12-13
16. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 41-05 95 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-01 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 13-14
17. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 15 40-10 94 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 10-14 Day 3: 5 13-12
18. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 15 40-05 93 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 14-09 Day 3: 5 10-04
19. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 15 40-04 92 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-10 Day 2: 5 13-08 Day 3: 5 14-02
20. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 15 40-00 91 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 12-15 Day 3: 5 13-06
21. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 14 39-15 90 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 4 13-07 Day 3: 5 10-02
22. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 14 39-13 89 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 11-13 Day 3: 4 13-02
23. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 14 38-11 88 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 4 11-00
24. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 14 38-10 87 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 4 08-07 Day 3: 5 13-07
25. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 15 38-07 86 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-02 Day 2: 5 09-02 Day 3: 5 13-03
26. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 15 38-01 85 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 11-15 Day 3: 5 16-01
27. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 14 37-14 84 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 4 07-06 Day 3: 5 14-04
28. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 15 37-14 83 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 14-00 Day 3: 5 14-13
29. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 15 37-11 82 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 12-11
30. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 15 37-06 81 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 17-10 Day 3: 5 10-13
31. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 15 37-03 80 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 5 11-00 Day 3: 5 09-12
32. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 13 36-10 79 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 4 11-02 Day 3: 4 08-01
33. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 13 36-05 78 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 09-10 Day 3: 3 10-02
34. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 15 36-00 77 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 09-14 Day 3: 5 14-05
35. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 15 35-15 76 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-09 Day 2: 5 09-06 Day 3: 5 13-00
36. James Elam Tulsa, OK 15 35-14 75 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-12 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 10-15
37. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 15 35-14 74 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 10-11
38. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 14 35-09 73 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-01 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 4 08-09
39. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 15 35-07 72 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 15-09 Day 3: 5 09-10
40. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 15 35-06 71 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 11-15
41. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 15 35-05 70 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-02 Day 2: 5 12-12 Day 3: 5 09-07
42. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 12 35-04 69 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 2 04-11 Day 3: 5 12-02
43. David Walker Sevierville, TN 15 35-04 68 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 12-05 Day 3: 5 13-08
44. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 15 35-02 67 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 10-15 Day 3: 5 10-06
45. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 15 34-15 66 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 07-03
46. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 15 34-13 65 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-05 Day 2: 5 09-11 Day 3: 5 11-13
47. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 33-03 64 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 14-06 Day 3: 5 08-09
48. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 13 31-08 63 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 3 05-03
49. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 12 31-04 62 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-09 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 2 04-05
50. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 15 31-04 61 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 5 08-06
51. Fred Roumbanis London, AR 12 30-02 60 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 4 06-03 Day 3: 3 08-08
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 80 487 1213-10
2 65 451 1080-13
3 43 242 621-14
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188 1180 2916-05