By MLF Communications Staff
HARRISON TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala maintained his position atop the leaderboard, catching a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 45 pounds, 9 ounces, to pace Group B and win Tuesday’s Qualifying Round at the MLF BAss Pro Tour event on Lake St. Clair.
The remaining 40 anglers – the top 20 from each group – now advance to Wednesday’s Knockout Round, where weights are zeroed, and the anglers compete to finish in the Top 10 to advance to the Championship Round on Thursday. Weights will carry over from the Knockout Round into the Championship Round, which will feature the final 10 anglers competing for the heaviest two-day cumulative total and the top prize of $100,000.
“It’s been a good two days, but now the real derby starts,” said Connell. “I was able to practice and look around a lot today, but it’s strictly business now. I’ve done great in the Qualifying Rounds this season, but I haven’t done too well in the Knockout Round. I have a feeling that might change in this event though.”
Connell spent the day bouncing around various places on the lower section of Lake St. Clair using his Lowrance ActiveTarget electronics. He said he found a new area – and two new schools of fish – where he expects to find some big ones.
“I’m on such a big area and that’s played out well for me,” said Connell. “I’m able to get away from everyone else and there hasn’t been a single boat in sight, which just makes it better. Hopefully the weather lays down on Wednesday, because if it does, a lot of these fish will slide up off the bottom and that will make it easier to see them and catch them.”
Connell’s five-fish limit on Tuesday included a group of 4-pounders and a 5 1/2-pound kicker fish that he weighed in during Period 2. He caught all of his fish on his 7-foot, 2-inch medium heavy Favorite Fishing Hex Rod, throwing a Googan Baits Rattlin’ Ned on a 3/8-ounce dropshot rig, using 15-pound braid and a 12-pound Seaguar Gold Label fluorocarbon leader.
Tuesday’s $1,000 Berkley Big Bass Award was went Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., who weighed in a 6-02 smallmouth – the biggest bass of the event thus far – that bit a jerkbait in Period 2. Berkley awards $1,000 to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass each day and another $3,000 bonus to the angler who weighs the heaviest bass of the tournament.
Anglers launch each day at 7:20 a.m. ET from the Lake St. Clair Metropark, located at 31300 Metro Parkway in Harrison Township. Each day’s takeout is held at the launch location beginning at 4 p.m. Fans are welcome to attend all launch and takeout events and also encouraged to follow the event online throughout the day on the MLFNOW! livestream and ScoreTracker coverage at MajorLeagueFishing.com.
The tournament features pros competing using the MLF catch, weigh, immediate-release format, with each angler’s five (5) heaviest bass per day tallied as their day’s weight. Anglers strive to catch their heaviest five fish each day while also feeling the pressure and intensity of the live ScoreTracker leaderboard.
The MLFNOW! broadcast team of Chad McKee, Marty Stone and J.T. Kenney break down the extended action live on each day of competition from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET. MLFNOW! is livestreamed on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MyOutdoorTV (MOTV) app.
Group B Qualifying Round – Day 2
(Figure at far right indicates weight of angler's heaviest fish for the round)
1. Dustin Connell -- 22-13 (5) -- 22-12 (5) -- 45-09 (10) -- 5-07
2. Mark Daniels Jr. -- 20-08 (5) -- 21-13 (5) -- 42-05 (10) -- 4-15
3. Mark Davis -- 18-08 (5) -- 22-12 (5) -- 41-04 (10) -- 5-05
4. Jacob Wheeler -- 18-13 (5) -- 21-09 (5) -- 40-06 (10) -- 4-12
5. John Hunter -- 22-09 (5) -- 17-08 (5) -- 40-01 (10) -- 5-01
6. Bradley Roy -- 20-11 (5) -- 19-00 (5) -- 39-11 (10) -- 4-06
7. Jesse Wiggins -- 18-15 (5) -- 20-12 (5) -- 39-11 (10) -- 4-09
8. Kevin VanDam -- 18-00 (5) -- 20-14 (5) -- 38-14 (10) -- 6-02
9. Gerald Spohrer -- 19-04 (5) -- 19-01 (5) -- 38-05 (10) -- 4-09
10. Josh Bertrand -- 18-15 (5) -- 19-04 (5) -- 38-03 (10) -- 4-13
11. Jeremy Lawyer -- 20-05 (5) -- 17-13 (5) -- 38-02 (10) -- 4-11
12. Dylan Hays -- 20-15 (5) -- 17-02 (5) -- 38-01 (10) -- 4-08
13. Jeff Sprague -- 18-04 (5) -- 19-00 (5) -- 37-04 (10) -- 4-02
14. Justin Lucas -- 19-02 (5) -- 17-12 (5) -- 36-14 (10) -- 4-01
15. Cliff Pace -- 15-09 (5) -- 21-00 (5) -- 36-09 (10) -- 5-15
16. Brett Hite -- 18-12 (5) -- 17-04 (5) -- 36-00 (10) -- 4-03
17. Fred Roumbanis -- 13-15 (5) -- 21-08 (5) -- 35-07 (10) -- 5-02
18. Scott Suggs -- 15-09 (5) -- 19-08 (5) -- 35-01 (10) -- 5-09
19. Gary Klein -- 17-11 (5) -- 17-02 (5) -- 34-13 (10) -- 3-15
20. Jacob Wall -- 16-15 (5) -- 17-06 (5) -- 34-05 (10) -- 4-04
The following anglers did not make the cut and will not advance to the Knockout Round
21. Keith Poche -- 17-15 (5) -- 16-05 (5) -- 34-04 (10) -- 4-00
22. Shin Fukae -- 16-06 (5) -- 17-14 (5) -- 34-04 (10) -- 4-00
23. John Murray -- 17-06 (5) -- 16-11 (5) -- 34-01 (10) -- 4-02
24. Alton Jones -- 20-03 (5) -- 13-13 (5) -- 34-00 (10) -- 4-14
25. Brent Ehrler -- 17-07 (5) -- 16-08 (5) -- 33-15 (10) -- 3-10
26. James Elam -- 17-12 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 33-12 (10) -- 3-13
27. Nick Lebrun -- 14-02 (5) -- 19-08 (5) -- 33-10 (10) -- 4-12
28. Edwin Evers -- 17-10 (5) -- 16-00 (5) -- 33-10 (10) -- 3-08
29. Zack Birge -- 15-05 (5) -- 17-00 (5) -- 32-05 (10) -- 3-13
30. Mike McClelland -- 12-15 (5) -- 19-05 (5) -- 32-04 (10) -- 4-08
31. Brandon Coulter -- 13-14 (5) -- 17-06 (5) -- 31-04 (10) -- 4-01
32. Skeet Reese -- 14-09 (5) -- 15-10 (5) -- 30-03 (10) -- 4-00
33. Luke Clausen -- 11-06 (5) -- 18-11 (5) -- 30-01 (10) -- 4-12
34. Matt Lee -- 13-10 (5) -- 15-15 (5) -- 29-09 (10) -- 3-14
35. Russ Lane -- 10-03 (5) -- 18-09 (5) -- 28-12 (10) -- 5-04
36. Jared Lintner -- 14-11 (5) -- 14-01 (5) -- 28-12 (10) -- 3-06
37. Dakota Ebare -- 20-06 (5) -- 8-01 (3) -- 28-07 (8) -- 3-10
38. Todd Faircloth -- 19-05 (5) -- 8-09 (3) -- 27-14 (8) -- 3-09
39. Tommy Biffle -- 13-00 (5) -- 14-08 (5) -- 27-08 (10) -- 3-08
40. Stephen Browning -- 13-00 (5) -- 11-11 (5) -- 24-11 (10) -- 2-10
