By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
Lee Livesay couldn’t find what he was looking for, but the pro from Longview, Texas, found what he needed to lead Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork in his home state with a total weight of 60 pounds, 10 ounces.
Livesay, who guides on the lake and won last year’s Fork event, started the day trailing opening-round leader Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., by 5 ounces. But after adding 28-10 to his first-round weight of 32 pounds, Livesay heads into Day 3 leading Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, by 4 pounds.
An active morning saw Livesay catch all of his weight by 10 a.m. Anchoring his bag with a 7-10, he spent the rest of the day searching for one of the mega-schools that he knows hold the caliber of bass that could’ve pushed his total past his Day-1 effort.
“I had a 4-11 and I jumped one good one off that would have helped me a little bit,” Livesay said. “I thought for sure I was going to run into a school that was right to catch a 7-plus-pounder this afternoon, but it just didn’t happen.
“Obviously, I’m happy with leading the tournament. I can’t complain; I’m just a little frustrated not finding a new group yet.”
Livesay said he’s hopeful that a smaller Day-3 field – only the Top 47 competitors – will afford him greater opportunities. With Lake Fork’s water level down about 5 feet for dam repairs, plus big winds rendering a lot of areas unfishable, Livesay struggled to find anything that would cull.
“I’m thinking that losing 45 guys tomorrow is going to let some stuff rest a little bit,” Livesay said. “I haven’t been able to get on anything that was fresh in the afternoon, and the wind has been blowing so hard I haven’t been able to backtrack on my schools.
“It’s going to take a lot of luck, and I think I’m going to need a fresh group or two of fish to keep it going.”
Coming off his first Bassmaster Open win at Ross Barnett on April 30, Livesay started his day fishing a point in 8 to 14 feet. He caught one of his keepers there and then moved deeper to the 12- to 15-foot range.
“One of my deeper fish came on a spot where a timber edge and a fenceline come together; there’s a high, hard spot there with a channel swing,” he said. “The other ones were on a little point with timber.”
Livesay caught his bass on a 6th Sense Crush 300DD crankbait, a 6th Sense Divine Hybrid Jig with a NetBait Paca Craw and a Hog Farmer hair jig. He said the crankbait fish preferred a fast presentation. Also, positioning was key.
“When I’m throwing in that timber, I’m trying to get the best angle to get the fish out of the timber,” he said. “I usually like to stay farther away from them when I’m casting to them, but you have to be able to get them out.”
After his offshore searching came up empty, Livesay moved shallow and threw a topwater. He caught a few bass that way, but none upgraded his weight.
Palaniuk, who placed eighth on Day 1 with 26-09, added 30-01 for a 56-10 total. This was Palaniuk’s first 30-pound limit in his Bassmaster career.
“It was awesome – I’ve been trying to do that for years,” Palaniuk said. “I got close this year at Santee Cooper, I’ve been close other times before, so when I caught that last 6-pounder today, I was excited.
“I was stuck at 28 pounds forever with a 4-pounder, and I had lost a 6-pounder earlier in the day and it was just eating at me and eating at me. I finally caught that 6-02 around 1 o'clock.”
Palaniuk attributed his success to investing the time to locate the right groups of fish. Bass school by size, so he referenced his practice search, during which his Humminbird MEGA Imaging allowed him to identify groups of higher-quality fish.
Fishing the lake's lower basin, Palaniuk caught his bass over hard bottom with a variety of Rapala crankbaits.
Bryan New of Saluda, S.C., is in third place with 52-05. After placing 17th on Day 1 with 23-07, he added 28-14.
Rotating through a series of spots – mostly hard bottom on long points – New tried to intercept groups of bass as they moved up to feed. One fortunate encounter yielded a 15-minute flurry that included two fish in the 7-pound class, a 6 and a 5.
“I was just running around and trying to get on a place,” New said. “If you get on a place at the right time, and can get them going, it happens that quick.”
New caught his fish on a Spro Little John Super DD, a hollow-belly swimbait and a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm on a Greenfish Tackle football head. His two biggest ate the swimbait.
Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with an 8-11 largemouth.
Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at SRA Headquarters – Lake Fork in Quitman. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 3:10 p.m.
Day 2 Standings
1. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 10, 60-10 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 32-00 -- Day 2: 5, 28-10
2. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 10, 56-10 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 26-09 -- Day 2: 5, 30-01
3. Bryan New -- Saluda, SC -- 10, 52-05 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 23-07 -- Day 2: 5, 28-14
4. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 51-12 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 29-07 -- Day 2: 5, 22-05
5. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 51-02 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 26-11 -- Day 2: 5, 24-07
6. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 10, 50-11 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 32-05 -- Day 2: 5, 18-06
7. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 48-14 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 27-07 -- Day 2: 5, 21-07
8. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 10, 47-07 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 24-05 -- Day 2: 5, 23-02
9. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 10, 46-11 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 22-14 -- Day 2: 5, 23-13
10. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 10, 46-07 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 26-04 -- Day 2: 5, 20-03
11. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 10, 46-04 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 18-12 -- Day 2: 5, 27-08
12. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 46-04 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 20-15 -- Day 2: 5, 25-05
13. Jay Yelas -- Turner, OR -- 10, 46-03 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 23-04 -- Day 2: 5, 22-15
14. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 10, 45-13 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 19-07 -- Day 2: 5, 26-06
15. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 45-01 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 28-07 -- Day 2: 5, 16-10
16. John Cox -- DeBary, FL -- 10, 45-01 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 21-14 -- Day 2: 5, 23-03
17. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 10, 44-14 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 24-12 -- Day 2: 5, 20-02
18. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 10, 44-12 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 16-11 -- Day 2: 5, 28-01
19. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 10, 44-09 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 23-05 -- Day 2: 5, 21-04
20. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 10, 44-02 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 17-02 -- Day 2: 5, 27-00
21. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 10, 43-13 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 19-05 -- Day 2: 5, 24-08
22. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 43-09 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 22-04 -- Day 2: 5, 21-05
23. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 10, 43-08 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 23-02 -- Day 2: 5, 20-06
24. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 10, 42-14 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 23-06 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08
25. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 10, 42-12 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 23-04 -- Day 2: 5, 19-08
26. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 10, 42-10 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 20-13 -- Day 2: 5, 21-13
27. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 10, 42-03 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 25-05 -- Day 2: 5, 16-14
28. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 41-11 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 24-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-06
29. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 10, 41-04 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 19-12
30. Matty Wong -- Honolulu, HI -- 10, 41-01 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 27-11 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06
31. Jacob Foutz -- Charleston, TN -- 10, 40-14 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 24-00 -- Day 2: 5, 16-14
32. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 40-00 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 24-11 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05
33. Bob Downey -- Detroit Lakes, MN -- 10, 39-15 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 23-13
34. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 10, 39-12 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 24-15
35. Daisuke Aoki -- Minamitsurugun, JAPAN -- 10, 38-14 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 21-06 -- Day 2: 5, 17-08
36. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 10, 38-09 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 20-10 -- Day 2: 5, 17-15
37. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 10, 37-15 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 16-02 -- Day 2: 5, 21-13
38. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 10, 37-12 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 22-09
39. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 10, 37-01 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 16-10 -- Day 2: 5, 20-07
40. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 10, 37-00 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 18-10
41. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 36-01 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 18-13 -- Day 2: 5, 17-04
42. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 9, 36-01 -- 59
Day 1: 4, 17-15 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02
43. Josh Douglas -- Isle, MN -- 9, 35-07 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 25-05 -- Day 2: 4, 10-02
44. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 10, 35-01 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 19-02 -- Day 2: 5, 15-15
45. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 34-14 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 14-15 -- Day 2: 5, 19-15
46. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 10, 34-12 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 21-06 -- Day 2: 5, 13-06
47. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 8, 34-05 -- 54
Day 1: 3, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 22-09
The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 3.
48. David Williams -- Newton, NC -- 10, 34-00 -- 53 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-05 -- Day 2: 5, 19-11
49. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 10, 33-12 -- 52 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 20-12
50. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 10, 33-09 -- 51 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 18-14 -- Day 2: 5, 14-11
51. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 10, 33-07 -- 50 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 10-02 -- Day 2: 5, 23-05
52. Joseph Webster -- Hamilton, AL -- 10, 32-12 -- 49 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-03 -- Day 2: 5, 16-09
53. Buddy Gross -- Chattanooga, TN -- 10, 32-09 -- 48 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 14-07 -- Day 2: 5, 18-02
54. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 8, 32-05 -- 47 -- $2,500
Day 1: 3, 14-10 -- Day 2: 5, 17-11
55. Michael Iaconelli -- Pittsgrove, NJ -- 10, 32-02 -- 46 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 21-02
56. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 10, 32-02 -- 45 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-05
57. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 10, 31-08 -- 44 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 17-12 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12
58. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 10, 31-07 -- 43 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 09-02 -- Day 2: 5, 22-05
59. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 10, 31-05 -- 42 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 21-08 -- Day 2: 5, 09-13
60. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 10, 31-05 -- 41 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 5, 16-03
61. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 30-13 -- 40 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 17-09
62. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 30-11 -- 39 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 17-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-15
63. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 30-09 -- 38 -- $2,500
Day 1: 5, 15-10 -- Day 2: 5, 14-15
64. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 8, 30-06 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 21-03 -- Day 2: 3, 09-03
65. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 9, 30-04 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 18-02 -- Day 2: 4, 12-02
66. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10, 29-13 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 16-15 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14
67. Mike Huff -- London, KY -- 10, 29-13 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 15-03 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10
68. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 10, 29-06 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 17-15
69. Cody Huff -- Ava, MO -- 9, 29-05 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 18-07 -- Day 2: 4, 10-14
70. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 10, 29-02 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 17-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01
71. Masayuki Matsushita -- Tokoname-Shi, JAPAN -- 10, 28-05 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 15-07
72. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 10, 28-04 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 16-07
73. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 27-13 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 14-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-00
74. Jay Przekurat -- Stevens Point, WI -- 10, 27-09 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 14-00 -- Day 2: 5, 13-09
75. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 10, 27-03 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 16-12 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07
76. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 26-15 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 16-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02
77. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 10, 26-12 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15
78. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 7, 26-05 -- 23
Day 1: 2, 06-10 -- Day 2: 5, 19-11
79. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 10, 25-12 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02
80. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 25-11 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-01
81. Alex Redwine -- Blue Ash, OH -- 10, 25-02 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11
82. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 8, 24-11 -- 19
Day 1: 3, 06-02 -- Day 2: 5, 18-09
83. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 5, 24-08 -- 18 -- $1,000
Day 1: 4, 18-11 -- Day 2: 1, 05-13
84. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 9, 24-07 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 17-04 -- Day 2: 4, 07-03
85. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 8, 22-07 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 15-14 -- Day 2: 3, 06-09
86. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, PA -- 10, 22-04 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 08-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-12
87. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 10, 22-03 -- 14
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-06
88. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 7, 19-14 -- 13
Day 1: 3, 08-14 -- Day 2: 4, 11-00
89. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 8, 19-13 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 3, 06-05
90. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 8, 19-07 -- 11
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 3, 05-05
91. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 10, 19-06 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 08-06
92. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 8, 19-04 -- 9
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 3, 05-12
