By MLF Communications Staff
Spencer Shuffield brought a limit weighing 18 pounds, 11 ounces to the scales Friday to maintain his lead after Day 2 of the MLF Pro Circuit event at Alabama's Lake Guntersville. Shuffield’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 44-01 gives him a 1-09 lead going into the third day of competition as anglers compete for up to $135,000.
Oregon's Lane Olson of made a massive jump from 70th place to slide into 2nd place on Friday with a monster limit weighing 2614 for a two-day total of 42-08. Reigning Angler of the Year (AOY) Michael Neal finished the day in 3rd place with 10 bass weighing 41-09, while rookie Nick Hatfield moved into 4th with a two-day total of 40-12. Jacob Wall finished the day with a five-bass limit weighing 19-14 for a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 40-05 to round out the Top 5.
“The fish were biting like crazy right off the bat this morning,” Shuffield said. “Then they just stopped biting. I didn’t sit there and hit them hard like I would have if I needed a big bag. I fished out around them more than anything, but they just quit biting the crankbait I’d been catching them on.
“I threw a flutter spoon and a hair jig at them, but the wind was blowing from the side in a screwy direction, and I just wasn’t feeling it today,” Shuffield continued. “There were still hundreds of them there though. I was reeling in a white bass and an 8-pounder chased her all the way to the boat.
“I knew I already had four fish for over 14 pounds, so my heart just wasn’t really in it.”
Shuffield said he wasn’t too worried if the spot did shut down over the next two days, because he had some alternate options in place.
“I can go catch 13 to 14 pounds fishing shallow a hundred times over, but as far as catching a big bag, I’ll definitely have to catch them out on the ledges the rest of the event,” Shuffield said. “I’ve got four places where I feel like I have the potential to catch 20 pounds, and two of them are really good spots. That’s why I’d like to make it to Championship Sunday because I feel like I’d have all of those places to myself by then.”
As far as his strategy for Day 3, Shuffield said he plans to see what he needs to make it into the top 10 and go from there.
“If it looks like I’m only going to need 10 pounds to make it to the final round, I’m not even going to those big schools of fish tomorrow,” Shuffield said. “I’m just going to fish shallow all day, catch 13 pounds and have fun. I just need to make it into the Top 10, then Sunday I’ll go hammer them.”
Although he isn’t leading the pack, Olson made quite the splash on Day 2 as well, coming from behind to narrowly edge out Neal for the 2nd-place spot.
“I fished up shallow most of the day yesterday and had maybe 10 1/2 pounds or so,” Olson said. “I ended up running down the lake and pulled up on a ledge that I knew there were some fish on and ended the day with 15-10. I actually started on that same ledge the first morning, but never had a bite.”
Olson said he thinks the fish pulled up once the current started rolling in, a key discovery which carried him to 2nd place on Day 2.
“This morning I started on that ledge again and they weren’t there, so I went looking for them,” Olson said. “Within 10 minutes or so I found them again.”
Olson said he doesn’t foresee catching another 26 pounds on Saturday but is hopeful that he can get on them enough to at least make it into the Top 10 on Sunday.
“I’m just fishing out deep and have about 20 different rods rigged up on my deck that I’m throwing, but I caught those on a crankbait and a jig in about 15 to 20 feet of water,” Olson said. “I’m hopeful that I can replicate that again tomorrow.”
Jimmy Neece Jr. brought a bass weighing 7-05 to the scale on Friday to win the day's $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award.
In Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit competition, the full field of anglers competed in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. Now, the Top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight advance to Saturday. Only the Top 10 pros, based on cumulative weight from the first three days, will continue competition on Sunday, where weights will be zeroed and anglers will compete in a one-day shootout for the grand prize of up to $135,000.
Anglers take off at 6:30 a.m. CT each day from the Lake Guntersville State Park, located at 1155 Lodge Drive, in Guntersville. Weigh-ins will are held at the park daily at 2:30 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend the event or follow the live on-the-water action all four days of competition online on MLF NOW! beginning at 7 a.m. CT at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
Day 2 Standings
1. Spencer Shuffield -- 25-06 (5) -- 18-11 (5) -- 44-01 (10)
2. Lane Olson -- 15-10 (5) -- 26-14 (5) -- 42-08 (10)
3. Michael Neal -- 22-02 (5) -- 19-07 (5) -- 41-09 (10)
4. Nick Hatfield -- 19-13 (5) -- 20-15 (5) -- 40-12 (10)
5. Jacob Wall -- 20-07 (5) -- 19-14 (5) -- 40-05 (10)
6. Rusty Salewske -- 19-00 (5) -- 20-10 (5) -- 39-10 (10)
7. Nick Lebrun -- 16-15 (5) -- 22-02 (5) -- 39-01 (10)
8. Ron Nelson -- 21-13 (5) -- 16-15 (5) -- 38-12 (10)
9. Derrick Snavely -- 17-11 (5) -- 21-00 (5) -- 38-11 (10)
10. Robert Nakatomi -- 17-12 (5) -- 20-13 (5) -- 38-09 (10)
11. Josh Butler -- 20-14 (5) -- 17-04 (5) -- 38-02 (10)
12. Jason Reyes -- 18-04 (5) -- 19-07 (5) -- 37-11 (10)
13. Bobby Lane -- 14-07 (5) -- 22-13 (5) -- 37-04 (10)
14. Dakota Ebare -- 17-01 (5) -- 19-09 (5) -- 36-10 (10)
15. Alex Davis -- 20-05 (5) -- 15-10 (5) -- 35-15 (10)
16. Dylan Hays -- 20-07 (5) -- 15-07 (5) -- 35-14 (10)
17. Jared McMillan -- 21-03 (5) -- 14-08 (5) -- 35-11 (10)
18. Cal Lane -- 18-14 (5) -- 16-13 (5) -- 35-11 (10)
19. Grae Buck -- 17-15 (5) -- 17-09 (5) -- 35-08 (10)
20. Trevor Fitzgerald -- 17-06 (5) -- 18-01 (5) -- 35-07 (10)
21. Keith Carson -- 15-11 (5) -- 19-08 (5) -- 35-03 (10)
22. Tom Monsoor -- 21-06 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 35-02 (10)
23. Steve York -- 14-14 (5) -- 20-02 (5) -- 35-00 (10)
24. Josh Bragg -- 18-02 (5) -- 16-14 (5) -- 35-00 (10)
25. Kyle Cortiana -- 15-12 (5) -- 19-03 (5) -- 34-15 (10)
26. Tyler Stewart -- 17-08 (5) -- 17-07 (5) -- 34-15 (10)
27. Justin Lucas -- 18-12 (5) -- 16-01 (5) -- 34-13 (10)
28. Shonn Goodwin -- 18-12 (5) -- 16-01 (5) -- 34-13 (10)
29. Mickey Beck -- 18-00 (5) -- 16-07 (5) -- 34-07 (10)
30. Clabion Johns -- 17-11 (5) -- 16-12 (5) -- 34-07 (10)
31. Mike McClelland -- 14-03 (5) -- 20-02 (5) -- 34-05 (10)
32. Brandon Mosley -- 11-13 (5) -- 22-06 (5) -- 34-03 (10)
33. Skeet Reese -- 20-06 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 33-15 (10)
34. Matt Becker -- 16-00 (5) -- 17-14 (5) -- 33-14 (10)
35. Casey Scanlon -- 17-07 (5) -- 16-06 (5) -- 33-13 (10)
36. Blake Hall -- 16-11 (5) -- 17-02 (5) -- 33-13 (10)
37. Cody Pike -- 16-13 (5) -- 17-00 (5) -- 33-13 (10)
38. Brian Latimer -- 15-02 (5) -- 18-10 (5) -- 33-12 (10)
39. Larry Nixon -- 17-02 (5) -- 16-10 (5) -- 33-12 (10)
40. Chris Lane -- 12-02 (5) -- 21-07 (5) -- 33-09 (10)
41. Ramie Colson Jr -- 18-10 (5) -- 14-13 (5) -- 33-07 (10)
42. Kyle Weisenburger -- 16-02 (5) -- 16-13 (5) -- 32-15 (10)
43. David Walker -- 21-09 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 32-14 (10)
44. Ricky Robinson -- 15-06 (5) -- 17-08 (5) -- 32-14 (10)
45. John Hunter -- 15-13 (5) -- 17-01 (5) -- 32-14 (10)
46. Chad Warren -- 10-06 (5) -- 22-04 (5) -- 32-10 (10)
47. Jim Moynagh -- 16-01 (5) -- 16-09 (5) -- 32-10 (10)
48. Takayuki Koike -- 16-04 (5) -- 16-06 (5) -- 32-10 (10)
49. Jeff Bridges -- 19-04 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 32-08 (10)
50. Bill McDonald -- 19-09 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 32-07 (10)
The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on Day 3.
51. Jacopo Gallelli -- 13-14 (5) -- 18-04 (5) -- 32-02 (10) -- $10,000
52. Jamie Horton -- 17-08 (5) -- 14-07 (5) -- 31-15 (10) -- $10,000
53. Colby Miller -- 17-06 (5) -- 14-08 (5) -- 31-14 (10) -- $10,000
54. Clayton Batts -- 18-12 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 31-09 (10) -- $10,000
55. Braxton Setzer -- 17-03 (5) -- 14-06 (5) -- 31-09 (10) -- $10,000
56. Joshua Weaver -- 17-12 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 31-08 (10) -- $10,000
57. Barron Adams -- 16-04 (5) -- 15-04 (5) -- 31-08 (10) -- $10,000
58. Jimmy Neece Jr -- 14-01 (5) -- 17-05 (5) -- 31-06 (10) -- $10,000
59. Randy Howell -- 16-12 (5) -- 14-09 (5) -- 31-05 (10) -- $5,500
60. Greg Bohannan -- 13-02 (5) -- 17-14 (5) -- 31-00 (10) -- $5,500
61. Gary Yamamoto -- 14-00 (5) -- 17-00 (5) -- 31-00 (10) -- $5,000
62. Andrew Loberg -- 16-11 (5) -- 14-00 (5) -- 30-11 (10) -- $5,000
63. Mike Surman -- 16-01 (5) -- 14-10 (5) -- 30-11 (10) -- $5,000
64. Tai Au -- 14-10 (5) -- 16-01 (5) -- 30-11 (10) -- $5,000
65. Robby Lefere -- 15-14 (5) -- 14-12 (5) -- 30-10 (10) -- $5,000
66. Martin Villa -- 19-01 (5) -- 11-03 (5) -- 30-04 (10) -- $5,000
67. Jeff Reynolds -- 12-13 (5) -- 17-07 (5) -- 30-04 (10) -- $5,000
68. Mitch Crane -- 16-04 (5) -- 14-00 (5) -- 30-04 (10) -- $5,000
69. John Voyles -- 14-08 (5) -- 15-11 (5) -- 30-03 (10) -- $5,000
70. Justin Cooper -- 12-09 (5) -- 17-08 (5) -- 30-01 (10) -- $5,000
71. Brandon McMillan -- 14-10 (5) -- 15-07 (5) -- 30-01 (10) -- $5,000
72. Terry Bolton -- 14-10 (5) -- 15-07 (5) -- 30-01 (10) -- $5,000
73. Kurt Mitchell -- 17-09 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 30-00 (10) -- $5,000
74. John Cox -- 13-02 (5) -- 16-10 (5) -- 29-12 (10) -- $5,000
75. Kyle Gelles -- 17-02 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 29-10 (10) -- $5,000
76. Andy Newcomb -- 11-07 (5) -- 17-15 (5) -- 29-06 (10)
77. Ricardo Gonzalez -- 16-07 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 29-06 (10)
78. Matthew Stefan -- 15-15 (5) -- 13-07 (5) -- 29-06 (10)
79. Blake Smith -- 13-13 (5) -- 15-09 (5) -- 29-06 (10)
80. Clark Reehm -- 14-01 (5) -- 15-05 (5) -- 29-06 (10)
81. Charlie Evans -- 16-11 (5) -- 12-10 (5) -- 29-05 (10)
82. Brad Knight -- 13-04 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 29-04 (10)
83. Jon Canada -- 15-00 (5) -- 14-04 (5) -- 29-04 (10)
84. Joe Wieberg -- 17-09 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 29-02 (10)
85. Chad Grigsby -- 14-10 (5) -- 14-07 (5) -- 29-01 (10)
86. Mark Rose -- 16-08 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 28-15 (10)
87. Darrell Davis -- 16-02 (5) -- 12-12 (5) -- 28-14 (10)
88. Miles Burghoff -- 9-02 (4) -- 19-11 (5) -- 28-13 (9)
89. Randy Despino -- 16-02 (5) -- 12-09 (5) -- 28-11 (10)
90. Evan Barnes -- 15-13 (5) -- 12-14 (5) -- 28-11 (10)
91. Colby Schrumpf -- 15-13 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 28-10 (10)
92. Jimmy Washam -- 15-01 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 28-05 (10)
93. River Lee -- 10-12 (5) -- 17-06 (5) -- 28-02 (10)
94. Scott Wiley -- 12-06 (4) -- 15-12 (5) -- 28-02 (9)
95. Grant Galloway -- 12-12 (5) -- 15-03 (5) -- 27-15 (10)
96. Tom Redington -- 18-07 (5) -- 9-04 (4) -- 27-11 (9)
97. Troy Stokes -- 12-11 (5) -- 14-15 (5) -- 27-10 (10)
98. Pete Ponds -- 14-01 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 27-02 (10)
99. Steve Lopez -- 14-05 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 27-00 (10)
100. J Todd Tucker -- 13-13 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 26-14 (10)
101. Chase Serafin -- 15-05 (5) -- 11-07 (5) -- 26-12 (10)
102. Corey Neece -- 14-01 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 26-09 (10)
103. Dicky Newberry -- 13-10 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 26-09 (10)
104. Tim Frederick -- 12-10 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 26-06 (10)
105. Brett Hite -- 10-00 (5) -- 16-05 (5) -- 26-05 (10)
106. Cole Floyd -- 13-01 (5) -- 13-02 (5) -- 26-03 (10)
107. Lance Oligschlaeger -- 12-02 (5) -- 13-12 (5) -- 25-14 (10)
108. Randall Tharp -- 12-14 (5) -- 13-00 (5) -- 25-14 (10)
109. Wesley Strader -- 13-08 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 25-13 (10)
110. Shane Lineberger -- 16-14 (5) -- 8-11 (4) -- 25-09 (9)
111. Jordan Osborne -- 11-14 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 25-09 (10)
112. Richard Lowitzki -- 13-15 (5) -- 11-06 (5) -- 25-05 (10)
113. Chris Groh -- 15-00 (5) -- 10-04 (5) -- 25-04 (10)
114. Jason Abram -- 13-13 (5) -- 11-06 (5) -- 25-03 (10)
115. Dave Parsons -- 11-09 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 25-01 (10)
116. Joey Cifuentes -- 13-03 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 24-15 (10)
117. Cole Hewett -- 14-00 (5) -- 10-11 (4) -- 24-11 (9)
118. Ron Farrow -- 13-09 (5) -- 10-15 (4) -- 24-08 (9)
119. Phillip Dutra -- 7-00 (3) -- 17-07 (5) -- 24-07 (8)
120. Tyler Woolcott -- 12-00 (5) -- 12-04 (5) -- 24-04 (10)
121. Jimmy Reese -- 11-06 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 24-03 (10)
122. Shannon Abbott -- 10-02 (5) -- 14-00 (5) -- 24-02 (10)
123. Aaron Britt -- 11-10 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 24-00 (10)
124. Billy Hines -- 11-07 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 23-14 (10)
125. Jim Tutt -- 15-07 (5) -- 8-06 (4) -- 23-13 (9)
126. James Niggemeyer -- 15-02 (5) -- 8-09 (3) -- 23-11 (8)
127. Laramy Strickland -- 14-00 (5) -- 9-09 (4) -- 23-09 (9)
128. Jeff McLain -- 10-08 (5) -- 12-12 (5) -- 23-04 (10)
129. Scott Dobson -- 7-09 (2) -- 15-10 (5) -- 23-03 (7)
130. Terry Luedtke -- 11-09 (5) -- 11-03 (5) -- 22-12 (10)
131. Nick Gainey -- 12-10 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 22-09 (10)
132. Tommy Dickerson -- 13-01 (5) -- 8-11 (4) -- 21-12 (9)
133. Todd Walters -- 18-01 (5) -- 3-07 (3) -- 21-08 (8)
134. Jason Meninger -- 8-11 (4) -- 12-06 (5) -- 21-01 (9)
135. Michael Matthee -- 11-02 (5) -- 9-13 (5) -- 20-15 (10)
136. Mark Fisher -- 12-07 (5) -- 8-03 (3) -- 20-10 (8)
137. Scott Towry -- 9-07 (5) -- 10-15 (5) -- 20-06 (10)
138. Matt Reed -- 9-08 (4) -- 10-10 (5) -- 20-02 (9)
139. Lance Crawford -- 11-15 (5) -- 8-02 (4) -- 20-01 (9)
140. Christian Greico -- 7-11 (3) -- 12-01 (5) -- 19-12 (8)
141. Jason Vance -- 11-11 (5) -- 8-01 (4) -- 19-12 (9)
142. Stephen Albertson -- 11-09 (5) -- 8-03 (2) -- 19-12 (7)
143. Miles Howe -- 11-09 (5) -- 7-13 (4) -- 19-06 (9)
144. Rusty Trancygier -- 8-15 (4) -- 10-01 (5) -- 19-00 (9)
145. Cole Harris -- 7-02 (3) -- 11-13 (5) -- 18-15 (8)
146. Kerry Milner -- 17-11 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 17-11 (5)
147. Mitchell Webb -- 12-01 (5) -- 5-06 (3) -- 17-07 (8)
148. Darrel Robertson -- 7-05 (3) -- 9-10 (4) -- 16-15 (7)
149. Lendell Martin Jr -- 5-15 (2) -- 10-11 (5) -- 16-10 (7)
150. Jason Lieblong -- 16-08 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 16-08 (5)
151. Kyle Hall -- 14-01 (3) -- 2-03 (2) -- 16-04 (5)
152. Charlie Ingram -- 11-14 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 11-14 (5)
153. Stuart Arthur -- 7-13 (2) -- 2-06 (1) -- 10-03 (3)
154. Jason Blair -- 5-03 (2) -- 4-13 (2) -- 10-00 (4)
155. Cameron Mattison -- 5-15 (2) -- 0-00 (0) -- 5-15 (2)
156. Bruce Parsons -- 5-06 (3) -- 0-00 (0) -- 5-06 (3)
