The Highs and Lows of Classic Day 2:
The Final Cut
As Day 2 of the 2019 GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods is in the books. A day of highs and lows, bass caught and bass lost, and the realization that it might be the last time they every step foot upon the Bassmaster Classic stage. The road back can be difficult at times, and for some, it may never happen again.
Day one leader Ott Defoe brought 20 pounds on day one and backed it up with 10 pounds 5 ounces on day two, but dropped to 4th place. Jacob Wheeler brought in a nice 17 pound 11 ounce bag to jump into the lead with 32 pounds 6 ounces. Mark Daniels Jr. brought in a nice 17 pound 6 ounce bag to leap into 2nd place. But the big story was Chris Zaldain who after having only 9 pounds on day one, bring in an astounding bag weighing 21 pounds and 12 ounces. Mike Iaconelli also made a huge leap into 5th place with a sweet 19 pound 7 ounce bag. Roy Hawk, who was in 2nd place on day, brought in 9 pounds 15 ounces to drop to 7th place.
Roy found more bass today, but they were all smaller and I need to get back to “less bass, but bigger bass.” The water is clearing and more stable. A jerkbait was key in finding his bass, but he said he was using a technique that most don’t use, he would slow crank it over gravel beds, rocks and such. The weather conditions should be stable overnight even though it will be in the 30s, but it should not make a big difference. The morning bite is something he needs to “capitalize on” as it has been rough for him. He also did not catch any smallmouth, which has been a key to a bigger bag.
Brent Chapman, sitting in 14th place heading into Championship Sunday, was hoping to have 15 plus pounds for day 2, had a good day, but only brought 9 pounds 10 ounces to the scales. He said he had been fishing well, but never had the quality bites he had been fishing for. “But I have kept myself in the hunt, so maybe tomorrow.” A bladed jig, squarebill and flipping have accounted for most of his bites. Brent “swears there are no smallmouth in this place, but I had to pick up Jacob Wheeler on the way in and found out otherwise.” He hit something, and while able to keep going, had a vibration for about 10 miles and it just went, but luckily “I was there to help him out.”
Championship Sunday should prove to be an emotional day for some, as for some, like Kevin VanDam, Mike Iaconelli, and Jacob Powroznik, tomorrow with be the last opportunity for the foreseeable future to stand on the big stage before their fans with a chance to be the Bassmaster Classic Champion!
