Oklahomans Edwin Evers and Tommy Biffle made solid showings on Day One of the final Bassmaster Elite Series tournament of the season Thursday while Ardmore angler Jeff Kriet may need to pick it up a little to maintain his Classic berth.
Evers, shooting for an Angler of the Year ranking of 8th place or better to end the season is in 10th place at Oneida weighing in five fish at 15 pound 5 ounces. A Top 10 finish at Oneida could definitely push him up in the standings. He currently is in 9th place in AOY standings.
Biffle is the only other Oklahoman to crack the top 20 on Day One. He is in 18th place with five fish weighing 14 pounds 10 ounces. Biffle said he believes a top 30 finish at Oneida could earn him enough AOY points for him to qualify to fish the Bassmaster Classic, set for Grand Lake in February.
Both anglers are lumped in a top 25 anglers who brought in Day One bags ranging from 14 to 16 pounds. As the saying goes, you usually can’t win the tournament on Day One but you can lose it from there. Biffle and Evers are where they need to be for now.
Kriet, currently in 26th place would have to suffer very poor luck to lose his Classic berth but he weighed only one fish on Day One for 3 pounds 2 ounces and a 91st place standing.
The exception on Day One is leader Michael Iaconelli of New Jersey. He had 20 pounds 3 ounces and is nearly four pounds ahead of Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, KS in second place. Chapman, however, is in good position to secure the 2012 Angler of the Year title even if he doesn’t win this tournament.
Biffle said he changed tactics for the Thursday and targeted smallmouth bass instead of largemouth bass. “The good thing is I found three or four spots where I think I can catch them tomorrow,” he said.
Ten Oklahomans are in the tournament and are working to qualify to fish the Bassmaster Classic on their home waters at Grand Lake in February.
Here is how they stand currently in AOY points and what they need to do at Oneida to qualify for the Classic: Evers (9th place) will qualify. Jeff Kriet of Ardmore (26th) is in pretty good shape but needs to hold his ranking. Biffle (38th) and Terry Butcher of Talala (40th) need a top 30 or top 20 finish. Fred Roumbanis of Bixby (50th) probably needs a top 10 finish. Scott Ashmore of Broken Arrow (72nd), Kevin Ledoux of Choctaw (79th), David Smith of Del City (91st), Kenyon Hill of Norman (93rd), and Jared Miller of Norman (96th) all need to win to get in the Classic.
Here is the current Top 10 with weight and standings for Oklahomans after Day One:
1 – Michael Iaconelli, Pittsgrove NJ, 20-3
2 – Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, KS, 16-12
3 – J Todd Tucker, Moultrie Ga., 16-6
4 – Clark Reehm, Lufkin, Tx., 15-15
4 – David Walker, Sevierville, Tenn. , 15-15
6 – Randy Howell, Springville, Ala., 15-12
7 – Jason Williamson, Aiken, S.C., 15-8
8 – Jami Fralick, Martin, S.D., 15-7
8 – Scott Rook, Little Rock, Ark.15-7
10 – Edwin Evers, Talala, 15-5
18 – Tommy Biffle, Wagoner, 14-10
27 – Terry Butcher, Talala, 13-11
38 – Kevin LeDoux, Choctaw, 13-5
77 – Kenyon Hill, Norman, 8-9
80 – Jared Miller, Norman, 7-9
83 – Fred Roumbanis, Bixby, 6-13
84 – Scott Ashmore, Broken Arrow, 6-11
91 – Jeff Kriet, Ardmore , 3-2
93 – David Smith, Del City, 2 -4
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