Cliff Pace's long day of fishing produced just a few bites Saturday. It is a similar tale that could be told by plenty of anglers.
But that's where the similarities end, as Pace's mastery of bass fishing's best field continued despite the limited action.
Pace has a commanding seven-pound lead heading into the final day of the Bassmaster Classic presented by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa.
The Petal, Miss., native landed five fish totaling 21 pounds, 12 ounces to bring his total to 43-4. Brandon Palaniuk is in second place with a two-day total of 36-4 at the Grand Lake O' the Cherokees.
"Today for me, actually was a lot harder than yesterday," Pace said following Saturday's weigh-in at the BOK Center. "The only thing that separated me from these other guys is that I just got fortunate and caught two kicker fish. It just happened. I knew what you needed to do to get it to happen, but it's not a given. It's fishing.
"I think all these guys that are around the fish, it could happen for them tomorrow."
The top 25 anglers advanced to Sunday's final round of competition, which begins with a 7 a.m. launch at Wolf Creek Park in Grove.
A world champion will be determined, with the victor taking home $500,000 and a label that will last a lifetime.
Fans are advised to arrive early for Sunday's final weigh-in at the BOK Center. Doors open at 3 p.m.
By the middle of Saturday's weigh-in, the BOK Center hit capacity (which is 12,000 for the current setup). Marshals began regulating the entrance, with spectators being allowed to enter only as others departed.
"I knew it was going to be full," said Wagoner native Tommy Biffle, who sits in 25th place. "I was kind of surprised a little to see it full on Saturday. On Sunday, it will be rocking."
History is on Pace's side. In the last eight Classics, the largest final-day deficit overcome was when Boyd Duckett erased Kevin VanDam's two-pound lead to win in 2007.
Pace's best finish was second place at the 2008 Classic, when he placed behind Alton Jones.
He landed two lunkers Saturday to sprint away from the 53-man field. His largest was a 7-2 largemouth that is the heaviest this weekend. He also added a 6-11 catch.
Only two other anglers are within 11.5 pounds of the leader.
Palaniuk is making his fourth Classic appearance. He finished a personal-best fourth in the 2011 Classic.
The Rathdrum, Idaho, resident moved from 11th place to second with a 19-10 bag.
Palaniuk said he's planning to fish the same pattern as he's done all week.
"You just have to catch a big bag," he said. "The possibility is there. I need those five bites I get tomorrow to be five-pounders."
Michael Iaconelli entered Day 2 in a first-place tie with Pace. After finishing with 13-11, he's dipped to third place with an overall weight of 35-3.
One of the sport's fan favorites had a rough Saturday. Iaconelli's first trolling motor died in the morning and, later in the day, his backup trolling motor quit. He had to change boats, which cost him nearly an hour of fishing.
"It affected me," he said. "Mechanical problems, that's one of the uncontrollables of the sport. You could be on the best patterns in the world and make great decisions, but if your equipment fails you, then it's a tough deal."
The time lost, "doesn't seem like a lot, but the failures happened at key times of the day."
Oklahoma's three anglers qualified for the final day.
Park Hill's Jason Christie moved up one spot to fifth place. He bagged 12-9 on Saturday to move his overall weight to 31-5.
Edwin Evers, from Talala, has a total weight of 26-7, which placed him in 20th. Biffle was the last man to reach Sunday's qualifying mark. He is in 25th, with his total weight of 25-15 one ounce ahead of Brent Chapman's final weight.
An insurmountable lead?
If recent history is any indication, you would be safe etching Cliff Pace's name into the 2013 Bassmaster Classic trophy. Pace holds a seven-pound lead heading to the final day. The biggest deficit overcome in the last eight Bassmaster Classics is a little more than two pounds:
|
Year | Day 2 leader | Winner | Def. overcome (lbs.) |
|
2012 | Chris Lane | Chris Lane | none |
|
2011 | Kevin VanDam | Kevin VanDam | none |
|
2010 | Jeff Kriet | Kevin VanDam | .95 |
|
2009 | Jami Fralick | Skeet Reese | .80 |
|
2008 | Alton Jones | Alton Jones | none |
|
2007 | Kevin VanDam | Boyd Duckett | 2.02 |
|
2006 | Luke Clausen | Luke Clausen | none |
|
2005 | Aaron Martens | Kevin VanDam | .94 |
Eric Bailey 918-581-8391
eric.bailey@tulsaworld.com
Original Print Headline: Bass blackjack
