Ellis And Kendrick Grab Lead At Bassmaster Team Championship On Florida’s Harris Chain

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Keith Ellis and Roger Kendrick, from the Chattanooga Bass Association, are leading after Day 1 of the Bassmaster Team Championship on the Harris Chain of Lakes with 22 pounds, 2 ounces.

Photo by Brenden Kanies/B.A.S.S.

December 9, 2020

Ellis And Kendrick Grab Lead At Bassmaster Team Championship On Florida’s Harris Chain

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LEESBURG, Fla. — Keith Ellis and Roger Kendrick have made countless memories in 45 years of fishing together, but there’s little doubt that Day 1 of the Bassmaster Team Championship on the Harris Chain of Lakes will go down as one of their finest.

Ellis and Kendrick, who qualified for the championship via the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Bass Association, caught a five-bass limit of 22 pounds, 2 ounces on Wednesday to grab the lead in the final tournament of the 2020 Bassmaster season.

The haul gave the lifelong friends a narrow lead over Rodney Chastain and Robby Hipps of South Carolina’s Palmetto Boat Center Trail, who are in second place with 21-12. Mark Condron and Tony Simeri of the Alabama Bass Trail are third with 21-11 and Ryan Kelly and Joshua Schumaker of West Michigan Bass are fourth with 21-2.

“It was a consistent day, but we started with a good early bite and then got a good bite right before we left when it warmed up,” Kendrick said, referencing the temperatures that started in the upper 40s Wednesday morning in central Florida but climbed into the low 60s by weigh-in at Venetian Gardens Marina.

“We’re targeting grass, all that hydrilla,” Ellis said. “We’re in about 8 feet of water, looking for a little bit of wind.”

None of the other 142 teams taking part in the tournament are within 3 pounds of Ellis and Kendrick, but the leaders know they can’t sit on their Day 1 showing. That’s partly because the Harris Chain seems primed for production this week, with 90 limits caught Wednesday and a handful of bucket-mouthed bass brought to the scales that weighed more than 7 pounds each.

Ellis and Kendrick relied on a more uniform bag on Day 1, with their biggest bass weighing approximately 5 pounds and the others registering around the 4-pound range. They are fishing in Lake Griffin, which is on the northern end of the Harris Chain, and they said they caught all of their best bass in one area of that fishery.

The friends, who’ve fished together since they were 10 years old, are confident they can catch another sizable limit Thursday.

“We pulled off with them biting,” Kendrick said. “We had to make a pretty good run, so we left early to make it back. But we certainly can duplicate what we did today.”

That confidence bodes well for the leaders, who are looking to win the $20,000 cash prize provided by Ranger/Mercury that will go to the leading team after Thursday’s weigh-in is complete. It’s part of a $77,000 total purse to be distributed on Day 2 when the field will be cut to the Top 3 teams and competition will move into the Classic Fish-Off portion of the tournament.

After Thursday, the six remaining anglers will have their weights zeroed and they’ll fish individually on Friday and Saturday. The leader after those two days of competition will clinch the final spot in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk scheduled for March 19-21 on Lake Ray Roberts near Fort Worth, Texas.

Ellis and Kendrick realize the gravity of being one good bag away from the Classic Fish-Off and fishing for the final berth in the biggest bass tournament in the world next March.

“We’re really pleased,” Kendrick said. “Our first practice of this tournament, we hardly caught anything, but it got a little bit better every day.”

That’s sort of like their decades of fishing together, they said, with perhaps their finest moment coming Wednesday during their first competition on the Harris Chain.

“It may be a little beginner’s luck,” Kendrick said. “But after spending as much time in the boat as we have, we’ve figured out a thing or two.”

Danny Lavoie and Sammy Bailey of the Alabama Bass Trail weighed the heaviest bass Wednesday — an 8-7 lunker that was one of three bass they bagged. They’re in 40th place with 12-8.

Day 2 of the Bassmaster Team Championship will begin at 7 a.m. ET Thursday from Venetian Gardens Marina. Weigh-in is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be shown live on Bassmaster.com.

The tournament is being hosted by GO Sports, Visit Lake and the City of Leesburg.

2020 Bassmaster Team Championship Harris Chain 12/9-12/10
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg  FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

    Angler                                       Club/School                       Pts

1.  Keith Ellis – Roger Kendrick                 Chattanooga Bass Association          0
Day 1: 5   22-02   Total:   5  22-02
2.  Rodney Chastain – Robby Hipps                Palmetto Boat Center-PBC              0
Day 1: 5   21-12   Total:   5  21-12
3.  Mark Condron – Tony Simeri                   Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   21-11   Total:   5  21-11
4.  Ryan Kelly – Joshua Schumaker                West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 5   21-02   Total:   5  21-02
5.  Adam Bain – Kris Colley                      Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   18-15   Total:   5  18-15
6.  Andy Walls – Keith Tuma                                                            0
Day 1: 5   17-11   Total:   5  17-11
7.  Stephen Mcavoy – Josh Butts                  Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   17-04   Total:   5  17-04
8.  Wesley Sams – Jordan Wiggins                 Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   17-03   Total:   5  17-03
9.  Joe Wiseman – Lane Parkins                   Lock Down                             0
Day 1: 5   17-02   Total:   5  17-02
10. Matt Henry – Justin Kimmel                                                         0
Day 1: 5   17-00   Total:   5  17-00
11. Blain Bartley – Justin Kappeler              Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit           0
Day 1: 5   16-09   Total:   5  16-09
11. Jacob Foutz – Brian Foutz                    Bryan College                         0
Day 1: 5   16-09   Total:   5  16-09
13. Capt. Jim Keith – Jimbo Keith Jr             Florida                               0
Day 1: 5   16-07   Total:   5  16-07
14. Jacob Zeigler – Zach Zeigler                 Anglers choice                        0
Day 1: 5   16-06   Total:   5  16-06
15. Keith Mayfield – Daryl Adams                 Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   16-05   Total:   5  16-05
16. Todd Buckingham – Chris Beaudrie             Kentucky Bass Nation                  0
Day 1: 5   16-03   Total:   5  16-03
17. Trevor Jancasz – Tom Moleski                                                       0
Day 1: 5   15-07   Total:   5  15-07
18. John Smith – Tyler Faulkner                  Morristown Marine                     0
Day 1: 5   15-04   Total:   5  15-04
19. James Seymour – Tony McBride                 Texas B.A.S.S Nation Team Trail       0
Day 1: 5   15-00   Total:   5  15-00
20. Rick Fishback – Blake Felix                  Joe Bass Team Trail                   0
Day 1: 5   14-15   Total:   5  14-15
21. Jeff Carman – Andy Greynolds                 Anglers Outpost NTBA                  0
Day 1: 5   14-13   Total:   5  14-13
21. Greggory Zumwalt – Keith Hendrix             Joe Bass Team Trail                   0
Day 1: 5   14-13   Total:   5  14-13
23. James Copenhaver III – Adam Dysart           Chattanooga Bass Association          0
Day 1: 5   14-12   Total:   5  14-12
24. Tom Statler – Dillon Statler                 Joe Bass Team Trail                   0
Day 1: 5   14-09   Total:   5  14-09
25. Nick Compagner – Ben Baker                   West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 5   14-04   Total:   5  14-04
26. Joey Solomon – Daniel Taylor                 Morristown Marine                     0
Day 1: 5   14-02   Total:   5  14-02
26. Shawn Williams – Shane Williams              Ozark Mountain Team Trail             0
Day 1: 5   14-02   Total:   5  14-02
28. Brian Adamson – Ryan Lloyd                   Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   14-00   Total:   5  14-00
29. Bobby Albert – Robert Cowan                  Ozark Mtn Team Trail                  0
Day 1: 5   13-08   Total:   5  13-08
29. Tyler Williams – Denis Carrier               Skowhegan High School                 0
Day 1: 5   13-08   Total:   5  13-08
31. Shane Howell – Milton Adams                  3F Tournaments                        0
Day 1: 5   13-07   Total:   5  13-07
32. Dustin Neat – Mark Wethington                NTBA                                  0
Day 1: 5   13-00   Total:   5  13-00
33. Jeff Lewis – Fredrick Adkins                 Morristown Marine                     0
Day 1: 5   12-15   Total:   5  12-15
34. Brad Jelinek – Brock Reinkemeyer             Joe bass team trail                   0
Day 1: 5   12-12   Total:   5  12-12
35. Ryan Fingleton – Ryan Hubler                 West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 5   12-11   Total:   5  12-11
35. Dave Frost – Nick Manfredo                   FL BN Team Trail                      0
Day 1: 5   12-11   Total:   5  12-11
37. John Kleinoeder – Robert Mccafferty          Great Lakes Largemouth Series         0
Day 1: 5   12-09   Total:   5  12-09
37. Kelly Power – Mark Wiese  Jr                 Ozark Mountain Team Trail             0
Day 1: 5   12-09   Total:   5  12-09
39. Mark Mott – Justin Mott                      Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   12-08   Total:   5  12-08
40. Danny Lavoie – Sammy Bailey                  Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 3   12-08   Total:   3  12-08
41. Doug Stamper – Ryan Davidson                 Anglers outpost NTB                   0
Day 1: 5   12-07   Total:   5  12-07
41. Steve Wilson – Harold Rogers                 Tennessee team Bass nation            0
Day 1: 5   12-07   Total:   5  12-07
43. Bryan Dowdy – Kyle Lewellen                  Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   12-06   Total:   5  12-06
44. Clayton Wilcox – Zach Huyser                 West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
44. Owen Windham – Shawn Larance                                                       0
Day 1: 5   12-01   Total:   5  12-01
46. Jeff Delk – Mike Combs                       NTBA                                  0
Day 1: 5   11-15   Total:   5  11-15
46. Dean Yamagata – Ryan Yamagata                Nevada Bass Anglers                   0
Day 1: 5   11-15   Total:   5  11-15
48. Steven White – Dakota Bellew                                                       0
Day 1: 5   11-08   Total:   5  11-08
49. David Buday – Daryl Devries                  2K Jigs Hair of the Dog-Weekend       0
Day 1: 5   11-08   Total:   5  11-08
50. Daniel Padgett –  Brad Padgett               TN Team Trail                         0
Day 1: 5   11-06   Total:   5  11-06
51. Mark O’Brien – Brennon Mccord                Anglers Choice                        0
Day 1: 4   11-06   Total:   4  11-06
52. Dennis Chavez – Stephan Camden               Nevada B.A.S.S. Nation Team Trai      0
Day 1: 5   11-02   Total:   5  11-02
53. Eddie Levin – Ryan Mallory                   OH BN Team Trail                      0
Day 1: 5   10-15   Total:   5  10-15
53. Kyle Patrick – Jimmy Obrien                  Empire Team Trail                     0
Day 1: 5   10-15   Total:   5  10-15
55. Garrett Seppala – Travis Salo                NH Bass Nation                        0
Day 1: 5   10-11   Total:   5  10-11
56. Rick Imler – Scott Newlon                    Great Lakes Largemouth Series         0
Day 1: 5   10-05   Total:   5  10-05
57. George Toalson – Tom Haynes                  Angler Nation                         0
Day 1: 5   10-04   Total:   5  10-04
57. Kelly Warren – James Hadley                  Hadley and Warren                     0
Day 1: 5   10-04   Total:   5  10-04
59. Jarrod Swift – Trenton Estridge              Anglers Outpost NTBA                  0
Day 1: 4   10-04   Total:   4  10-04
60. Don Depew – Brian Ruetz                      GLLS                                  0
Day 1: 5   10-03   Total:   5  10-03
61. Glenn Harrison – Rusty Darnell               Joe Bass Team Trail                   0
Day 1: 5   10-02   Total:   5  10-02
62. Brandon Ackerson – Brad Cook                                                       0
Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
62. Casey Majni – Brandon Willis                 Morristown marine team trail          0
Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
62. Eric Niswonger – Kyle Radake                 U.S. Anglers Choice                   0
Day 1: 5   10-00   Total:   5  10-00
65. Joey Stewart – Trent Mangum                  Coosa River Team Trail                0
Day 1: 3   10-00   Total:   3  10-00
66. Troy Buck – Charles Wieghat                  3F                                    0
Day 1: 5   09-15   Total:   5  09-15
67. Kent Keys – David Campbell                   Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 4   09-15   Total:   4  09-15
68. Brandon Hawthorne – Tracy Hawthorne                                                0
Day 1: 5   09-14   Total:   5  09-14
69. Jayson Hooven – Matthew Keeble               Lakeland Bassmasters                  0
Day 1: 5   09-14   Total:   5  09-14
70. Joe Heath – Wayne Heath                      AOM NTBA                              0
Day 1: 5   09-13   Total:   5  09-13
71. Ben Lind – Michael Hubbard                                                         0
Day 1: 5   09-07   Total:   5  09-07
72. Brody Manley – Barrett Keel                                                        0
Day 1: 5   09-05   Total:   5  09-05
73. Jack Tibbs – Duane Mock                      Shotgun Sports Supply                 0
Day 1: 5   09-03   Total:   5  09-03
74. Jeffrey Kyle – Samuel Drake                  Florida Bass Nation                   0
Day 1: 4   09-02   Total:   4  09-02
75. Mark Orsi – Aaron Orsi                       Massachusetts Sunday Classic Tea      0
Day 1: 5   09-01   Total:   5  09-01
76. Brian Bylotas – Brian Bylotas                                                      0
Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
76. William Woodall – Roger Foraker              DE B.A.S.S. Nation                    0
Day 1: 5   09-00   Total:   5  09-00
78. Kameron Harbin – Danny Ashley                                                      0
Day 1: 5   08-12   Total:   5  08-12
78. John Richards – Brent Bowen                  NH Bass nation                        0
Day 1: 5   08-12   Total:   5  08-12
80. Rob Messenger Jr – John Levesque             NH Bass Nation                        0
Day 1: 5   08-09   Total:   5  08-09
81. Jeffrey Brauneck – Fred Brauneck             West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 5   08-08   Total:   5  08-08
82. Tyler Weaver – Luke Routh                    Joe bass team trail                   0
Day 1: 4   08-08   Total:   4  08-08
83. Mark McCaig – Tim Hurst                      Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 4   08-07   Total:   4  08-07
83. Mike Polencheck – Brad Longerbone            MN BASS Nation Team Trail             0
Day 1: 4   08-07   Total:   4  08-07
85. Shane Gray – Dustin Gray                     Media Bass Teams                      0
Day 1: 5   08-05   Total:   5  08-05
85. Kevin Hagerman – Max Suter                   Cheat Lake Anglers                    0
Day 1: 5   08-05   Total:   5  08-05
87. Paul Gohlke – Bill Mcquarrie                 Mi Bass Nation                        0
Day 1: 5   08-04   Total:   5  08-04
88. Jamie Smith – Michael Rains                  Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   08-02   Total:   5  08-02
89. Todd Wilson – Mark Wilson                    Ntbf                                  0
Day 1: 4   08-01   Total:   4  08-01
90. Keith Kulow – Adam Arnold                    Iowa BN Team Trail                    0
Day 1: 5   08-00   Total:   5  08-00
91. Micheal Henderson – Tim Cook                 West Michigan BASS                    0
Day 1: 5   07-14   Total:   5  07-14
92. Steven Huegerich – Darrin Kirkland           Iowa Bass Nation                      0
Day 1: 5   07-13   Total:   5  07-13
93. Jerry Loveless – Jordan Loveless             USA Bassin                            0
Day 1: 5   07-10   Total:   5  07-10
94. Frank Favicchio – David Schultz              IBN                                   0
Day 1: 5   07-05   Total:   5  07-05
95. Alan Fluharty – Chad Brinegar                Benton’s Ferry Bassmasters            0
Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-04
95. Cody George – Josh Prince                    Tennessee Team Trail                  0
Day 1: 5   07-04   Total:   5  07-04
97. Greg Glouse – Joe Anders                     Palmetto Boat Center                  0
Day 1: 3   07-04   Total:   3  07-04
98. Jake Knight – Stephen Plumb                  Bayou Bassin League                   0
Day 1: 5   07-03   Total:   5  07-03
99. Jeff Gilliam – Johnny Clark                  Alabama bassNation                    0
Day 1: 4   07-01   Total:   4  07-01
100. Lucas Murphy – Nolan Hitt                    Grand Valley State University         0
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
100. Mike Rogers – Donnie Crist                   Joe Bass Team Trail                   0
Day 1: 5   07-00   Total:   5  07-00
102. Mike Heffelfinger – Kyle Colone              Michigan NTBA                         0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
102. Dale Teaney – Randy Alexander                Morristown marine team trail          0
Day 1: 3   06-15   Total:   3  06-15
104. Michael Brewer – Jason Cannon                Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 4   06-07   Total:   4  06-07
105. Terry Pryor – Terry Mann                     Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 4   06-03   Total:   4  06-03
106. Lanier Burton – Mike Keel                    Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 3   06-03   Total:   3  06-03
107. Neil Witkowski – Bobby May                   West Michigan bass                    0
Day 1: 3   06-00   Total:   3  06-00
108. John Campbell – David Rogers                 Joe Bass Team Trail                   0
Day 1: 4   05-14   Total:   4  05-14
109. Steven Weber – Sam Phillips                  joe bass team trail                   0
Day 1: 3   05-12   Total:   3  05-12
110. James Vanderhoning II – Mark Anderson        West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 5   05-08   Total:   5  05-08
111. Ryan Westgate – Donald Bulk                  West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 2   05-00   Total:   2  05-00
112. Michael Cass – Jacob Whitman                 Florida B.A.S.S. nation team          0
Day 1: 3   04-14   Total:   3  04-14
113. Hank Golden – Jeffery Lancaster              Kowaliga Bassmaster                   0
Day 1: 3   04-12   Total:   3  04-12
114. Lucas Mcdaniel – Joshua Norris                                                     0
Day 1: 2   04-11   Total:   2  04-11
115. Rocky Carden – Jacob Delong                  Joe Bass Team Trail                   0
Day 1: 4   04-09   Total:   4  04-09
116. Bill Mayo – Walton Roberts                   Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 4   04-08   Total:   4  04-08
117. Michael Jones – Jake Fordyce                 Pennsylvania Bass Nation              0
Day 1: 2   04-06   Total:   2  04-06
118. Brian Chandler – Jermey Jenks                West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 3   04-04   Total:   3  04-04
119. Matthew Farrabee – Mark Mounts               Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit           0
Day 1: 2   04-04   Total:   2  04-04
120. Jeffrey Cannon – Terry Tucker                                                      0
Day 1: 3   04-02   Total:   3  04-02
121. Jared Winland – Brandan Becki                Great Lakes Largemouth Series         0
Day 1: 2   03-14   Total:   2  03-14
122. Steve Barnes – AJ Barnes Jr                                                        0
Day 1: 3   03-06   Total:   3  03-06
123. Jason Burroughs – Darren Ashley                                                    0
Day 1: 1   03-05   Total:   1  03-05
124. Hunter Hamilton – Ty Ball                    Morristown Marine Team Trail          0
Day 1: 2   03-04   Total:   2  03-04
124. Chuck James – Brad James                     Chattanooga Bass Association          0
Day 1: 2   03-04   Total:   2  03-04
126. Russ Franklin – Jeremy Garrison              Ozark mountain team trail             0
Day 1: 2   03-02   Total:   2  03-02
126. tim Manning – Cody Wilder                    Morristown Marine Team Trail          0
Day 1: 2   03-02   Total:   2  03-02
128. Tim Cooper – Bob Clements                    White River Bass Masters              0
Day 1: 2   03-00   Total:   2  03-00
129. Owen Hentschel – David Hentschel             West Michigan Bass                    0
Day 1: 2   02-14   Total:   2  02-14
130. Jamie Worth – Johnny Callison Jr             Western PA Team Bass Series           0
Day 1: 1   02-14   Total:   1  02-14
131. Drew Blackwood – Terry Blackwood             Sunflower team trail                  0
Day 1: 2   02-11   Total:   2  02-11
132. Chris Lueg – Heath Stuart                    KC Team Tour                          0
Day 1: 2   02-03   Total:   2  02-03
133. Mark Thompson – Tim Newberry Sr              Joe Bass TT                           0
Day 1: 1   01-15   Total:   1  01-15
134. Ray Huff – Katherine Row                     Cen Cal Elites                        0
Day 1: 1   01-02   Total:   1  01-02
135. Ronald Belew – Derek Dace                    Joe Bass Team Trail                   0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
135. Jeff Cherry – Stephen Rosson                 Coosa River Team Trail                0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
135. Anthony Goggins – Jeremy Headley             Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
135. Rick Johnston – Connor Cunningham            Ozark Mountain TT                     0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
135. Caleb Mcneal – Taylor Luna                   Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
135. Jason Morgan – Craig Whittemore Jr           Coosa River Team Trail                0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
135. Eric Morris – Ben Williamson                 Alabama Bass Trail                    0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
135. Drew Sadler – Brian Richmond                 Bluegrass Bassmasters                 0
Day 1: 0   00-00   Total:   0  00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        90       575      1341-07
———————————-
90       575      1341-07