Buck Up By 2 Pounds After 15-02 Stringer

By MLF Communications Staff

Grae Buck of Green Lane, Pennsylvania, brought a five-bass limit to the scale Friday weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces, to extend his lead after Day 2 at the Major League Fishing Pro Circuit event on the James River in Richmond, Virginia.

Buck’s two-day total of 10 bass weighing 36-05 gives him a 2-pound advantage over the second-place pro, Italy’s Jacopo Gallelli, who brought an 18-09 limit to the scale for a two-day total of 34-05. Dakota Ebare of Brookeland, Texas, slipped to third with 10 bass totaling 33-07, and reigning Pro Circuit Angler of the Year Michael Neal of Dayton, Tennessee , jumped into fourth place with 10 bass weighing 33 pounds even. The 73-year-old La Crosse, Wisconsin, pro Tom Monsoor rounds out the Top 5 with 10 bass totaling 32-15.

“I ran the gameplan, the same as I did yesterday. But with the tide being 45 minutes different, I had to wait a little bit longer today for those fish to set up and get right,” Buck said. “Once they did, I caught a big one that was almost 6 pounds, just throwing a Z-Man Bang Stick out and letting it flutter in the current.”

After that, Buck said he bounced around to a couple of different areas, plucking a couple of keepers off of two little drains located on a big flat, and a couple more from the duck blinds that he had fished on Day 1.

“I also ran up to the top of the Chickahominy, which I didn’t have an opportunity to do yesterday because I had a short day,” Buck said. “I wanted to do a little more exploring to see what was going on up there. What I found was decent. I had the opportunity at one real big one that just came off. It was good, though, because it was good information for Day 4, and it’s just going to keep getting longer and longer that I have to wait at my best spot.”

Buck mentioned a Neko-rigged California craw-colored Z-Man Bang Stick as being a key bait for him this week, but also said he was catching fish on a Z-Man Jack Hammer and an unnamed swimjig.

“I don’t know where I’m going to start tomorrow because it will now be two hours until it gets right. I’m very tempted to not go to that ditch right away, because I don’t want to waste time,” Buck said. “But it’s a gamble, because if someone else pulls in there and then I can’t get on it, that would be an issue. But if I can catch them somewhere else in the morning, that would really be valuable information for Championship Sunday. So, I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow and I’m really going to have to come up with a good gameplan tonight.”

Brett Hite earned Friday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass award with a beautiful largemouth that weighed 8-10.

In Pro Circuit competition, the full field of 154 anglers compete in the two-day opening round on Thursday and Friday. The Top 50 pros based on their two-day cumulative weight will 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. ET each day from the Osborne Landing, located at 9530 Osborne Turnpike in Richmond. Weigh-ins are held at the landing daily beginning at 2:30 p.m.

The MLF NOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney break down the extended action on all four days of competition from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. ET. MLF NOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.

Day 2 Standings

1. Grae Buck -- 21-03 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 36-05 (10)

2. Jacopo Gallelli -- 15-12 (5) -- 18-09 (5) -- 34-05 (10)

3. Dakota Ebare -- 20-15 (5) -- 12-08 (5) -- 33-07 (10)

4. Michael Neal -- 14-07 (5) -- 18-09 (5) -- 33-00 (10)

5. Tom Monsoor -- 18-03 (5) -- 14-12 (5) -- 32-15 (10)

6. Cole Hewett -- 12-06 (5) -- 20-05 (5) -- 32-11 (10)

7. Tyler Woolcott -- 19-02 (5) -- 13-01 (5) -- 32-03 (10)

8. Jeff Reynolds -- 15-09 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 31-08 (10)

9. Stephen Albertson -- 17-14 (5) -- 13-07 (5) -- 31-05 (10)

10. Nick LeBrun -- 15-11 (5) -- 15-10 (5) -- 31-05 (10)

11. Martin Villa -- 12-07 (5) -- 18-11 (5) -- 31-02 (10)

12. Cole Floyd -- 18-06 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 31-01 (10)

13. Josh Butler -- 18-06 (5) -- 12-02 (5) -- 30-08 (10)

14. Jason Reyes -- 17-06 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 30-03 (10)

15. Josh Bragg -- 16-11 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 30-03 (10)

16. Jacob Wall -- 16-08 (5) -- 13-09 (5) -- 30-01 (10)

17. Barron Adams -- 18-00 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 30-00 (10)

18. Tyler Stewart -- 17-03 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 30-00 (10)

19. Mitch Crane -- 13-02 (5) -- 16-12 (5) -- 29-14 (10)

20. Cody Pike -- 12-05 (5) -- 17-08 (5) -- 29-13 (10)

21. Jason Vance -- 14-08 (5) -- 15-02 (5) -- 29-10 (10)

22. John Cox -- 11-11 (5) -- 17-12 (5) -- 29-07 (10)

23. Braxton Setzer -- 14-07 (5) -- 14-14 (5) -- 29-05 (10)

24. Brett Hite -- 14-01 (5) -- 15-00 (5) -- 29-01 (10)

25. Brian Latimer -- 12-14 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 28-14 (10)

26. Chris Groh -- 20-07 (5) -- 8-06 (5) -- 28-13 (10)

27. Cal Lane -- 10-02 (5) -- 18-11 (5) -- 28-13 (10)

28. Chad Grigsby -- 15-02 (5) -- 13-10 (5) -- 28-12 (10)

29. Richard Lowitzki -- 11-07 (5) -- 17-04 (5) -- 28-11 (10)

30. Kyle Hall -- 15-12 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 28-11 (10)

31. Robby Lefere -- 16-08 (5) -- 12-02 (5) -- 28-10 (10)

32. Cole Harris -- 17-15 (5) -- 10-06 (5) -- 28-05 (10)

33. Miles Howe -- 17-12 (5) -- 10-07 (5) -- 28-03 (10)

34. Justin Lucas -- 12-01 (5) -- 16-02 (5) -- 28-03 (10)

35. Jason Lieblong -- 18-13 (5) -- 9-05 (5) -- 28-02 (10)

36. Evan Barnes -- 14-07 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 28-02 (10)

37. Chad Warren -- 19-03 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 28-01 (10)

38. Clabion Johns -- 13-11 (5) -- 14-05 (5) -- 28-00 (10)

39. Chris Lane -- 11-11 (5) -- 15-13 (5) -- 27-08 (10)

40. David Walker -- 14-14 (5) -- 12-07 (5) -- 27-05 (10)

41. Kyle Weisenburger -- 14-06 (5) -- 12-13 (5) -- 27-03 (10)

42. Jim Moynagh -- 16-00 (5) -- 11-01 (5) -- 27-01 (10)

43. Tai Au -- 15-12 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 27-01 (10)

44. Grant Galloway -- 14-06 (5) -- 12-11 (5) -- 27-01 (10)

45. Justin Cooper -- 14-08 (5) -- 12-05 (5) -- 26-13 (10)

46. Phillip Dutra -- 17-12 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 26-12 (10)

47. Joey Cifuentes -- 15-01 (5) -- 11-10 (5) -- 26-11 (10)

48. J Todd Tucker -- 13-07 (5) -- 13-04 (5) -- 26-11 (10)

49. Wesley Strader -- 12-02 (5) -- 14-03 (5) -- 26-05 (10)

50. Alex Davis -- 12-03 (5) -- 14-01 (5) -- 26-04 (10)

The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on day 3.

51. Bobby Lane -- 12-15 (5) -- 13-05 (5) -- 26-04 (10) -- $10,000

52. Kerry Milner -- 15-01 (5) -- 11-02 (5) -- 26-03 (10) -- $10,000

53. Larry Nixon -- 12-10 (5) -- 13-03 (5) -- 25-13 (10) -- $10,000

54. Brandon McMillan -- 13-11 (5) -- 11-14 (5) -- 25-09 (10) -- $10,000

55. Lance Crawford -- 13-03 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 25-09 (10) -- $10,000

56. Skeet Reese -- 11-12 (5) -- 13-07 (5) -- 25-03 (10) -- $6,333

57. Darrell Davis -- 15-00 (5) -- 10-02 (5) -- 25-02 (10) -- $5,500

58. Michael Matthee -- 11-13 (5) -- 13-03 (5) -- 25-00 (10) -- $5,500

59. Derrick Snavely -- 8-11 (5) -- 16-03 (5) -- 24-14 (10) -- $5,500

60. Charlie Evans -- 12-12 (5) -- 12-02 (5) -- 24-14 (10) -- $5,500

61. Ron Nelson -- 13-02 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 24-13 (10) -- $5,000

62. Corey Neece -- 12-06 (5) -- 12-06 (5) -- 24-12 (10) -- $5,000

63. Chase Serafin -- 15-09 (5) -- 9-02 (5) -- 24-11 (10) -- $5,000

64. Kyle Cortiana -- 15-02 (5) -- 9-08 (5) -- 24-10 (10) -- $5,000

65. Joshua Weaver -- 11-02 (5) -- 13-08 (5) -- 24-10 (10) -- $5,000

66. Ricky Robinson -- 12-14 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 24-09 (10) -- $5,000

67. John Voyles -- 12-12 (5) -- 11-12 (5) -- 24-08 (10) -- $5,000

68. Blake Smith -- 13-05 (5) -- 11-02 (5) -- 24-07 (10) -- $5,000

69. Tommy Dickerson -- 13-10 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 24-05 (10) -- $5,000

70. Darrel Robertson -- 12-01 (5) -- 12-03 (5) -- 24-04 (10) -- $5,000

71. John Hunter -- 12-04 (5) -- 11-15 (5) -- 24-03 (10) -- $5,000

72. Tom Redington -- 14-13 (5) -- 9-02 (5) -- 23-15 (10) -- $5,000

73. Ramie Colson Jr -- 12-09 (5) -- 11-06 (5) -- 23-15 (10) -- $5,000

74. Shonn Goodwin -- 9-01 (5) -- 14-13 (5) -- 23-14 (10) -- $5,000

75. Jimmy Reese -- 13-10 (5) -- 10-04 (5) -- 23-14 (10) -- $5,000

76. Jared McMillan -- 13-03 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 23-14 (10)

77. Andrew Loberg -- 10-00 (5) -- 13-13 (5) -- 23-13 (10)

78. Bruce Parsons -- 12-07 (5) -- 11-05 (5) -- 23-12 (10)

79. Matt Becker -- 12-10 (5) -- 11-00 (5) -- 23-10 (10)

80. Scott Towry -- 9-04 (5) -- 14-05 (5) -- 23-09 (10)

81. Casey Scanlon -- 11-06 (5) -- 12-01 (5) -- 23-07 (10)

82. Clayton Batts -- 11-14 (5) -- 11-09 (5) -- 23-07 (10)

83. Nick Hatfield -- 13-13 (5) -- 9-09 (5) -- 23-06 (10)

84. Billy Hines -- 11-02 (5) -- 12-02 (5) -- 23-04 (10)

85. Greg Bohannan -- 13-02 (5) -- 10-01 (5) -- 23-03 (10)

86. Spencer Shuffield -- 12-13 (5) -- 10-06 (5) -- 23-03 (10)

87. Randall Tharp -- 9-05 (5) -- 13-13 (5) -- 23-02 (10)

88. Terry Luedtke -- 11-01 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 23-01 (10)

89. Pete Ponds -- 12-05 (5) -- 10-11 (5) -- 23-00 (10)

90. Shane Lineberger -- 9-10 (5) -- 13-05 (5) -- 22-15 (10)

91. Brad Knight -- 12-06 (5) -- 10-09 (5) -- 22-15 (10)

92. Lane Olson -- 13-05 (5) -- 9-06 (5) -- 22-11 (10)

93. Mitchell Webb -- 13-12 (5) -- 8-12 (5) -- 22-08 (10)

94. Laramy Strickland -- 12-11 (5) -- 9-13 (5) -- 22-08 (10)

95. Trevor Fitzgerald -- 7-07 (5) -- 15-00 (5) -- 22-07 (10)

96. Cameron Mattison -- 13-13 (5) -- 8-09 (5) -- 22-06 (10)

97. Matt Reed -- 11-04 (5) -- 10-13 (5) -- 22-01 (10)

98. Mark Fisher -- 11-01 (5) -- 11-00 (5) -- 22-01 (10)

99. Mike Surman -- 13-05 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 22-00 (10)

100. Dylan Hays -- 10-12 (5) -- 11-02 (5) -- 21-14 (10)

101. Stuart Arthur -- 7-12 (5) -- 13-11 (5) -- 21-07 (10)

102. Jason Abram -- 11-05 (5) -- 10-01 (5) -- 21-06 (10)

103. Jason Meninger -- 10-06 (5) -- 10-09 (5) -- 20-15 (10)

104. Jeff Bridges -- 11-06 (5) -- 9-08 (3) -- 20-14 (8)

105. Terry Bolton -- 10-05 (5) -- 10-09 (5) -- 20-14 (10)

106. Robert Nakatomi -- 14-02 (5) -- 6-11 (3) -- 20-13 (8)

107. Takayuki Koike -- 8-13 (5) -- 12-00 (5) -- 20-13 (10)

108. Matthew Stefan -- 10-14 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 20-13 (10)

109. Mark Rose -- 7-12 (5) -- 12-15 (5) -- 20-11 (10)

110. Rusty Salewske -- 9-12 (5) -- 10-15 (5) -- 20-11 (10)

111. Colby Schrumpf -- 10-11 (5) -- 10-00 (5) -- 20-11 (10)

112. Joe Wieberg -- 15-07 (5) -- 5-03 (4) -- 20-10 (9)

113. Randy Despino -- 13-13 (5) -- 6-13 (5) -- 20-10 (10)

114. Jamie Horton -- 12-05 (5) -- 8-05 (5) -- 20-10 (10)

115. Scott Dobson -- 11-14 (5) -- 8-10 (5) -- 20-08 (10)

116. Scott Wiley -- 11-08 (5) -- 9-00 (5) -- 20-08 (10)

117. Todd Walters -- 11-01 (5) -- 9-07 (5) -- 20-08 (10)

118. Ron Farrow -- 9-01 (5) -- 11-04 (5) -- 20-05 (10)

119. Keith Carson -- 13-03 (5) -- 7-00 (5) -- 20-03 (10)

120. Jordan Osborne -- 9-14 (4) -- 10-02 (5) -- 20-00 (9)

121. Steve York -- 9-13 (5) -- 9-13 (5) -- 19-10 (10)

122. Mike McClelland -- 12-06 (5) -- 7-03 (5) -- 19-09 (10)

123. Kyle Gelles -- 11-14 (5) -- 7-11 (5) -- 19-09 (10)

124. Rusty Trancygier -- 7-14 (5) -- 11-08 (5) -- 19-06 (10)

125. Randy Howell -- 10-00 (5) -- 9-04 (5) -- 19-04 (10)

126. Tim Frederick -- 9-04 (5) -- 9-14 (5) -- 19-02 (10)

127. Lance Oligschlaeger -- 11-05 (5) -- 7-12 (5) -- 19-01 (10)

128. Kurt Mitchell -- 11-02 (5) -- 7-14 (5) -- 19-00 (10)

129. Blake Hall -- 13-13 (5) -- 5-01 (3) -- 18-14 (8)

130. Jeff McLain -- 9-00 (5) -- 9-13 (5) -- 18-13 (10)

131. Steve Lopez -- 12-11 (5) -- 6-01 (5) -- 18-12 (10)

132. Colby Miller -- 9-01 (5) -- 9-10 (5) -- 18-11 (10)

133. Dave Parsons -- 8-04 (5) -- 10-06 (5) -- 18-10 (10)

134. Jimmy Neece Jr -- 10-03 (5) -- 8-06 (5) -- 18-09 (10)

135. James Niggemeyer -- 9-09 (5) -- 8-14 (5) -- 18-07 (10)

136. Troy Stokes -- 9-03 (5) -- 9-04 (5) -- 18-07 (10)

137. Dicky Newberry -- 8-13 (5) -- 9-07 (5) -- 18-04 (10)

138. Jim Tutt -- 9-00 (5) -- 8-15 (5) -- 17-15 (10)

139. Andy Newcomb -- 11-07 (5) -- 6-06 (4) -- 17-13 (9)

140. Aaron Britt -- 8-13 (5) -- 8-11 (5) -- 17-08 (10)

141. Jason Blair -- 7-08 (5) -- 9-15 (5) -- 17-07 (10)

142. Bill McDonald -- 8-00 (5) -- 9-03 (5) -- 17-03 (10)

143. Christian Greico -- 8-10 (5) -- 8-06 (5) -- 17-00 (10)

144. Miles Burghoff -- 10-04 (5) -- 6-09 (5) -- 16-13 (10)

145. Jimmy Washam -- 7-10 (5) -- 9-02 (5) -- 16-12 (10)

146. Ricardo Gonzalez -- 8-08 (5) -- 8-00 (5) -- 16-08 (10)

147. Brandon Mosley -- 9-05 (5) -- 6-12 (5) -- 16-01 (10)

148. Gary Yamamoto -- 8-07 (5) -- 7-01 (5) -- 15-08 (10)

149. Shannon Abbott -- 8-05 (5) -- 7-03 (5) -- 15-08 (10)

150. Jon Canada -- 9-04 (5) -- 4-07 (3) -- 13-11 (8)

151. River Lee -- 8-10 (5) -- 3-14 (3) -- 12-08 (8)

152. Charlie Ingram -- 9-04 (5) -- 3-00 (2) -- 12-04 (7)

153. Nick Gainey -- 10-13 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 10-13 (5)

154. Clark Reehm -- 6-06 (5) -- 0-00 (0) -- 6-06 (5)