Gray Leads On Tough Day 2 On Buggs Island

CLARKSVILLE, Va. — Hallucinations are not uncommon for sweltering hot conditions like those plaguing Day 2 of the Old Milwaukee B.A.S.S. Nation Mid-Atlantic Divisional on Buggs Island/Kerr Reservoir. However, when Daniel Gray starting seeing double, it was a good thing — good, as in a pair of 4-pound, 1-ounce bass that pushed him into first place with a two-day total of 18-6.

The angler from Butler, Pa., caught only those two fish today, but with temperatures reaching 95 degrees and productivity down across the board, his 8-2 weight was actually among the day’s better sacks.

“It was tough today,” Gray said. “Yesterday, I had a limit by 11 a.m. Today, I caught these fish in the last hour. I fished yesterday’s pattern today and it was totally different.

“I was running around, trying to figure it out all day. I pulled into this one spot, got a bite and lost a 2 1/2-pounder. On the next cast, I caught one of my fish and about 15 minutes later, I caught the other one.

Gray, a member of Pennsylvania’s Extreme Anglers bass club, said he had caught a 5-pounder in today’s area during practice, so he was confident that it held big fish. Targeting breaks, Gray positioned his boat in 20 feet, cast up to 2 feet and slowly worked his bait down the contour.

“Yesterday, I was fishing some wood cover with heavy tackle; today, I had to go finesse,” Gray said. “I fished a little deeper on specific stuff I found. I tried to find out what these fish want and I think I have a good idea now.”

Overall, the Day 2 weights were significantly lower than Day 1. The average fish was a little more than 1.8 pounds. The Top 10 had 14 pounds or more, but the vast majority of competitors brought in 5 to 10 pounds for their total weight. Only four anglers boasted limits.

Tomorrow’s forecast shows partly cloudy conditions with possible afternoon thunderstorms for Day 2. The expected cloud cover will hold the air temperatures to the mid-80s.

“Today, we had clear, blue skies and the generators at the dam weren’t running at all, and that makes the water start backing up,” said Mike Bryant, Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation president. “When the water backs up, it makes for a very tough bite because you have to go find the fish. On this lake, they move out deeper.”

Gray, who had the biggest bass of Day 2, is tops on the Pennsylvania team, which sits four spots behind first-place Virginia, the host state. The Virginia B.A.S.S. Nation state team has one angler in the Top 10 (Day 1 leader John Conway) and a 1-pound, 8-ounce lead for the state competition. Virginia has 119 pounds, 15 ounces, followed by Delaware with 118-7 and New Jersey with 113-14.

If Gray maintains his lead for Pennsylvania, he’ll be invited to the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship, Nov. 6-8, on Louisiana’s Ouachita River. Other state leaders as of Day 2 are Greg Alexander, Delaware; Joe Devoe, Maryland; Michael Sentore, New Jersey; John Conway, Virginia; and Randy Huffman, West Virginia.

Ronald Littleton’s 5-pound, 1-ounce bass is currently in the lead for Carhartt Big Bass honors, a $500 prize awarded to the angler who catches the biggest bass of the tournament. Gray won the $250 Livingston Lures Leader award, which goes to the Day 2 leader.

Competition resumes Friday at 5:45 a.m. ET for the launch at Occoneechee State Park. The weigh-in will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. ET on Bassmaster.com.

2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Title Sponsor: Old Milwaukee

2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Supporting Sponsors: Boat US, Booyah, Carhartt, Diet Mountain Dew, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Plano, Power-Pole, Rigid Industries, Shimano

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series presented by Allstate, B.A.S.S. Nation events, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Bassmaster High School Series, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by Diet Mountain Dew and GoPro.

2014 BASS Nation  MidAtlantic Divisional 6/25-6/27
Kerr Rervoir, Buggs Island  VA.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Daniel Gray            Butler, PA (PA)         7  18-06  0
2.  Michael Sentore        Gloucester City, NJ (NJ 7  17-03  0
3.  Mike Moran             Ruffsdale, PA (PA)      9  16-14  0
4.  Randy Huffman          Charleston, WV (WV)     7  15-08  0
5.  Greg Alexander         Hebron, MD (DE)         9  15-08  0
6.  John Conway            Henrico, VA (VA)        7  15-04  0
7.  Brian La Clair         Denton, MD (DE)         7  15-04  0
8.  Keith Cowan            Mt Ephraim, NJ (NJ)     7  14-14  0
9.  Jerrod Lloyd           Millville, NJ (NJ)      8  14-05  0
10. Joe Devoe              Aberdeen, MD (MD)       7  14-01  0
11. John Mcgraw            Bordertown, NJ (NJ)     6  13-09  0
12. Jason Vaughn           Bridgeville, DE (DE)    7  13-05  0
13. Ronald Littleton       Seaford, DE (DE)        6  13-03  0
14. James Dingess          Barboursville, WV (WV)  7  13-02  0
15. Bobby Smith            Laurel, DE (DE)         7  12-13  0
16. Brian Trieschman       Ellicott City, MD (MD)  6  12-10  0
17. Robert Brennan         Forked River, NJ (NJ)   6  11-12  0
18. Roger Castillo         Goode, VA (VA)          6  11-10  0
19. VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA (VA)        5  11-09  0
20. Mark Hogan             Milford, DE (DE)        6  11-05  0
21. Rodney Rice            Narrows, VA (VA)        6  11-03  0
22. Tim Stump              Dover, DE (DE)          5  11-01  0
23. Greg Hylton            Martinsville, VA (VA)   5  10-15  0
24. Cavin Young            Prince George, VA (VA)  5  10-13  0
25. Michael Burchett       Pulaski, VA (VA)        6  10-12  0
26. Mark Mounts            Washington, PA (PA)     6  10-09  0
27. Damien McMahon         Pilot, VA (VA)          6  09-05  0
28. Paul Gietka            Abingdon, MD (MD)       5  09-03  0
29. Russell Awad           Brooklyn, NY (NJ)       4  09-00  0
30. Eddie McNeil           Poca, WV (WV)           5  08-15  0
31. David Price            New Windsor, MD (MD)    5  08-12  0
32. Darren Brooks          Wenonah, NJ (NJ)        4  08-10  0
33. James Goins            Baltimore, MD (MD)      5  08-08  0
34. William Goots          Reidsville, NC (VA)     3  08-03  0
35. Jerry Burkhart         Belpre, OH (WV)         5  07-15  0
35. Shelton Walters        Felton, DE (DE)         5  07-15  0
37. Douglas Zittle         Thurmont, MD (MD)       4  07-06  0
38. Kenneth Hackworth      Charleston, WV (WV)     3  07-02  0
39. Richard Lane           Pittsburgh, PA (PA)     3  07-01  0
40. Bob Austin             Marydel, DE (DE)        4  07-00  0
41. Bret Winegardner       Swanton, MD (MD)        3  07-00  0
42. William Hubbard        Ridgeway, VA (VA)       4  06-04  0
43. Tyler Trent            Nathalie, VA (VA)       3  06-04  0
44. Ken Baumgardner        Monongahela, PA (PA)    4  06-04  0
45. Cliff Humpreys         Philadelphia, PA (NJ)   3  06-03  0
46. Jim Fields             Camden, DE (DE)         3  06-01  0
47. Randy Baran            Old Bridge, NJ (NJ)     3  05-11  0
48. Jeff Hall              Butler, PA (PA)         3  05-06  0
49. Jeremy Mathias         Monrovia, MD (MD)       3  05-05  0
50. William Kennedy        Mineral Wells, WV (WV)  3  05-01  0
51. Jon Blaine             Frederick, MD (MD)      3  05-00  0
52. Dave Menard            Henrico, VA (VA)        2  04-15  0
53. Andrew Sams            Easton, MD (MD)         3  04-13  0
54. Brian Keister          Atco, NJ (NJ)           3  04-12  0
55. Al Fiorille            Mt Airy, MD (MD)        3  04-10  0
56. Mark Westrick          Hastings, PA (PA)       2  04-08  0
57. Richard Martin Jr      Sparrows Point, MD (MD) 2  04-08  0
58. Eric Bennet            Forked River, NJ (NJ)   2  04-04  0
59. Dion Bright            Fairmont, WV (WV)       2  03-15  0
60. PA HS-Gower/ Mertz     Lewisburg, PA (PA)      1  03-12  0
61. Craig Townsend         Westampton, NJ (NJ)     2  03-11  0
62. Tommy Ford             Leslie, WV (WV)         2  03-08  0
63. Matt Becker            Finleyville, PA (PA)    2  03-07  0
64. Tony Keller            Charleston, WV (WV)     2  03-00  0
65. Christopher Napier     Virginia Beach, VA (VA) 2  02-14  0
66. Mike Morris            Dover, DE (DE)          2  02-04  0
67. Joshua Cross           Elizabeth, WV (WV)      1  02-03  0
68. MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD (MD)       1  01-11  0
69. Bart Keck              Finleyville, PA (PA)    1  01-10  0
70. Todd Caddy             Carnegie, PA (PA)       5  01-08  0
71. DE HS- McKee/ Draper   Milford, DE (DE)        1  01-08  0
72. Don Denault Jr         Delmar, MD (DE)         1  01-04  0
72. Corey Gue              Kenova, WV (WV)         1  01-04  0
74. Ryan Buttermore        Leetsdale, PA (PA)      0  00-00  0
74. Jerry Meadows          Uniontown, PA (PA)      0  00-00  0
74. WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon     Clendenin, WV (WV)      0  00-00  0
74. NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ (NJ)     0  00-00  0
74. Bradley West           Vincent, OH (WV)        0  00-00  0
———————————————————————–

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       8        167       339-01
2       4        142       257-08
———————————-
12       309       596-09

TEAM STANDINGS Day 2
———————————-
State                Lbs-Oz
1 VIRGINIA             119-15
2 DELAWARE             118-07
3 NEW JERSEY           113-14
4 MARYLAND              93-07
5 PENNSYLVANIA          79-05
6 WEST VIRGINIA         71-09

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 2
———————————————————————–

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

1 Greg Alexander       Hebron, MD                  9   15-08  0
2 Brian La Clair       Denton, MD                  7   15-04  0
3 Jason Vaughn         Bridgeville, DE             7   13-05  0
4 Ronald Littleton     Seaford, DE                 6   13-03  0
5 Bobby Smith          Laurel, DE                  7   12-13  0
6 Mark Hogan           Milford, DE                 6   11-05  0
7 Tim Stump            Dover, DE                   5   11-01  0
8 Shelton Walters      Felton, DE                  5   07-15  0
9 Bob Austin           Marydel, DE                 4   07-00  0
10 Jim Fields           Camden, DE                  3   06-01  0
11 Mike Morris          Dover, DE                   2   02-04  0
12 DE HS- McKee/ Draper Milford, DE                 1   01-08  0
13 Don Denault Jr       Delmar, MD                  1   01-04  0

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

1 Joe Devoe            Aberdeen, MD                7   14-01  0
2 Brian Trieschman     Ellicott City, MD           6   12-10  0
3 Paul Gietka          Abingdon, MD                5   09-03  0
4 David Price          New Windsor, MD             5   08-12  0
5 James Goins          Baltimore, MD               5   08-08  0
6 Douglas Zittle       Thurmont, MD                4   07-06  0
7 Bret Winegardner     Swanton, MD                 3   07-00  0
8 Jeremy Mathias       Monrovia, MD                3   05-05  0
9 Jon Blaine           Frederick, MD               3   05-00  0
10 Andrew Sams          Easton, MD                  3   04-13  0
11 Al Fiorille          Mt Airy, MD                 3   04-10  0
12 Richard Martin Jr    Sparrows Point, MD          2   04-08  0
13 MD HS-Wannall/ Stewart La Plata, MD                1   01-11  0

NEW JERSEY
Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$

1 Michael Sentore      Gloucester City, NJ         7   17-03  0
2 Keith Cowan          Mt Ephraim, NJ              7   14-14  0
3 Jerrod Lloyd         Millville, NJ               8   14-05  0
4 John Mcgraw          Bordertown, NJ              6   13-09  0
5 Robert Brennan       Forked River, NJ            6   11-12  0
6 Russell Awad         Brooklyn, NY                4   09-00  0
7 Darren Brooks        Wenonah, NJ                 4   08-10  0
8 Cliff Humpreys       Philadelphia, PA            3   06-03  0
9 Randy Baran          Old Bridge, NJ              3   05-11  0
10 Brian Keister        Atco, NJ                    3   04-12  0
11 Eric Bennet          Forked River, NJ            2   04-04  0
12 Craig Townsend       Westampton, NJ              2   03-11  0
13 NJ HS-Curran/ Stevenson Westampton, NJ              0   00-00  0

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

1 Daniel Gray          Butler, PA                  7   18-06  0
2 Mike Moran           Ruffsdale, PA               9   16-14  0
3 Mark Mounts          Washington, PA              6   10-09  0
4 Richard Lane         Pittsburgh, PA              3   07-01  0
5 Ken Baumgardner      Monongahela, PA             4   06-04  0
6 Jeff Hall            Butler, PA                  3   05-06  0
7 Mark Westrick        Hastings, PA                2   04-08  0
8 PA HS-Gower/ Mertz   Lewisburg, PA               1   03-12  0
9 Matt Becker          Finleyville, PA             2   03-07  0
10 Bart Keck            Finleyville, PA             1   01-10  0
11 Todd Caddy           Carnegie, PA                5   01-08  0
12 Ryan Buttermore      Leetsdale, PA               0   00-00  0
12 Jerry Meadows        Uniontown, PA               0   00-00  0

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

1 John Conway          Henrico, VA                 7   15-04  0
2 Roger Castillo       Goode, VA                   6   11-10  0
3 VA HS- Strayer/ Graves Madison, VA                 5   11-09  0
4 Rodney Rice          Narrows, VA                 6   11-03  0
5 Greg Hylton          Martinsville, VA            5   10-15  0
6 Cavin Young          Prince George, VA           5   10-13  0
7 Michael Burchett     Pulaski, VA                 6   10-12  0
8 Damien McMahon       Pilot, VA                   6   09-05  0
9 William Goots        Reidsville, NC              3   08-03  0
10 William Hubbard      Ridgeway, VA                4   06-04  0
11 Tyler Trent          Nathalie, VA                3   06-04  0
12 Dave Menard          Henrico, VA                 2   04-15  0
13 Christopher Napier   Virginia Beach, VA          2   02-14  0

WEST VIRGINIA
Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$

1 Randy Huffman        Charleston, WV              7   15-08  0
2 James Dingess        Barboursville, WV           7   13-02  0
3 Eddie McNeil         Poca, WV                    5   08-15  0
4 Jerry Burkhart       Belpre, OH                  5   07-15  0
5 Kenneth Hackworth    Charleston, WV              3   07-02  0
6 William Kennedy      Mineral Wells, WV           3   05-01  0
7 Dion Bright          Fairmont, WV                2   03-15  0
8 Tommy Ford           Leslie, WV                  2   03-08  0
9 Tony Keller          Charleston, WV              2   03-00  0
10 Joshua Cross         Elizabeth, WV               1   02-03  0
11 Corey Gue            Kenova, WV                  1   01-04  0
12 WV HS-Goff/ Sigmon   Clendenin, WV               0   00-00  0
12 Bradley West         Vincent, OH                 0   00-00  0