The final 50 are out on Sam Rayburn Reservoir today battling to get into the Elite 12 and fish on Sunday, led by KVD.  Kevin VanDam is fishing better than anyone else right now, he has been in the Top 10 in his last 8 tournaments, which have been  against the top competition the sport has to offer (Elite 50s, Classics, Elite Series) This is not Lake Amistad, but there are some good solid bags crossing the scales.  I think the bags are good considering all the tournament pressure Rayburn is receiving due to the dangerously low waters at nearby Toledo Bend Reservoir.  2004 Classic Champ Takahiro Omori made the largest push with his 20-12 limit, that is the biggest of the tournament.

KVD made a big mistake yesterday as he flipped a 5lb fish into the boat and came unhooked and went right out the other side of his boat.  They aired it on BassCenter this morning.  I think this will shape up to a very exciting tournament, just look at the names that are currently in the Top 12.

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, Mich.       10  39-06  305
  Day 1: 5   22-01    Day 2: 5   17-05  
2.  Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu, Ariz.     10  39-03  295
  Day 1: 5   21-00    Day 2: 5   18-03  
3.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, La.          10  38-15  295    $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   22-02    Day 2: 5   16-13  
4.  John Crews             Salem, Va.             10  37-09  282
  Day 1: 5   20-06    Day 2: 5   17-03  
4.  Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, Ala.    10  37-09  282
  Day 1: 5   18-03    Day 2: 5   19-06  
6.  Edwin Evers            Talala, Okla.          10  37-03  276
  Day 1: 5   20-12    Day 2: 5   16-07  
7.  Takahiro Omori         Emory, Texas           10  36-06  272    $1,000.00
  Day 1: 5   16-00    Day 2: 5   20-06  
8.  Matt Reed              Madisonville, Texas    10  35-15  268
  Day 1: 5   17-04    Day 2: 5   18-11  
9.  John Murray            Phoenix, Ariz.         10  34-14  264
  Day 1: 5   20-11    Day 2: 5   14-03  
10. Skeet Reese            Auburn, Calif.         10  34-09  260
  Day 1: 5   19-03    Day 2: 5   15-06  
11. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, Ark.      10  34-03  257
  Day 1: 5   14-04    Day 2: 5   19-15  
12. Michael Iaconelli      Runnemede, N.J.        10  34-00  252
  Day 1: 5   21-08    Day 2: 5   12-08  

On another not, did you call catch the airing of the Bassmasters today on ESPN2?  It was amazing to see the big fish lost by some of the anglers.  What a giant that Hackney lost and Ish made some big mistakes and still crushed the lb mark and took home the victory.  I think there is a pretty good chance the Elite Series will be on Amistad in 2007

Still another month of ice in MN,
Rich
www.richlindgren.com
basstournament.blogspot.com