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Florida’s Scroggins Grabs Lead at Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Clarks Hill Lake

Category: press release

 May 21st, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified May 21st, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Clarks Hill Lake has confounded, confused and discombobulated the Bassmaster Elite Series field this week at the Pride of Georgia, the sixth Bassmaster Elite Series event of the season.  But Terry Scroggins of Palatka, Fla., has put together enough pieces of the puzzle to survive the battle of attrition on stingy Clarks Hill to hold a 1-ounce margin over his closest competitor, Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla.

Terry Scroggins leads by one ounce over Tommy Biffle. (Photo BASS)

Despite holding the top position with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 7 ounces, Scroggins sunk like a rock Friday as he was only able to tote 12-6 to the scales after posting 17-1 Thursday.  With a steady rain pounding Clarks Hill the majority of the day and constant cloud cover, anglers were forced to scramble.

Scroggins couldn’t connect with the deep bite that had produced two 4-plus pound bass Thursday and didn’t register a fish after 10 a.m.

“It’s just extremely tough out there,” said Scroggins, who has earned more than $1.2 million in BASS career earnings.  “It lasts for about two or three hours early in the morning and then it stops.  After 10 a.m., you minus well put your rod down because it’s impossible to catch them.”

Fishing fans can catch all of the on-the-water action from the Pride of Georgia on The Bassmasters, which airs Sunday, June 6, at 10:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Also, the daily weigh-ins for all regular-season Elite events and the postseason will air live on ESPN3.com.  Bassmaster.com will follow the Pride of Georgia each day with BASSCast, BASSCam, real-time leaderboards during weigh-ins, photo galleries, daily results, and Hooked Up with ESPN Outdoors personalities Mark Zona and Tommy Sanders. Live, streaming video will be carried by ESPN3.com.

While Scroggins was prone to hyperbole after a tough day, most in the field agreed that pickings are slim after the early flurry.  As is, the early bite – always a big part of Clarks Hill – has become the only crutch for most anglers.

On Thursday, Scroggins was able to entice his late bass with a worm but that isn’t a factor for his early fish.  Scroggins is working about 15 different points – saturated by competitor’s boats – with a variety of baits.

“When you get the bait in the right areas, you can get them to bite,” said Scroggins, 41.  “It’s more important to be in the right spot.  When you get in the right little spot, they come get it.”

While the bite is tough as nails this week, perhaps it is just what the doctor ordered to turn Scroggins’ subpar season around.  The seven-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier was mired in a relative slump, sitting in 53rd in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings heading into this week.

Of the first five Elite events, Scroggins had managed only one Saturday cut. Still, he hasn’t done enough to prevent him from notching his seventh consecutive Classic appearance, a constant goal for him.  A top finish this week would put him right in the mix for the Classic cut – the top 36 will qualify – with two regular-season events remaining.

Like Scroggins, Biffle is playing it close to the vest on specifics of his pattern.  He is exhibiting a slight bit more consistency than Scroggins as he posted two days of 13-plus pounds.

“I’m fishing the way I like to fish,” said Biffle, a shallow-water expert.  “It’s so tough out there, I have just been lucky to run into a few big bites.”

Biffle, a four-time Bassmaster winner, felt he was hampered by the gloomy conditions Friday.  With that, he mixed up his lure selection.  He is scouring one area for all it’s worth and has little company.  He feels that it should hold up the remainder of the tournament and as such, has no back up plan.

Day One leader Jeff Kriet sits in 8th place after two days. (Photo BASS)

Behind Biffle in third was Elite rookie Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., with 27-5.  Crochet’s total was boosted by the biggest bass of the tournament, a 6-2 brute landed Friday.  In fourth was Mark Davis of Mt. Ida, Ark., with 27-1.  Davis still stands as the only angler to win the Bassmaster Classic and Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year in the same season.  He accomplished the feat in 1995.

Rounding out the top five was local favorite Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C.  Aiken is a stones throw away from here and Williamson considers Clarks Hill a home lake.

Qualifying for Saturday was the top 47 anglers.  Notables included 2006 AOY Mike Iaconelli (14th), Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas (26th), Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla. (38th) and five-time AOY Kevin VanDam (43rd).

Thursday leader Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., battled mechanical problems and faltered to eighth place.  Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., finally showed he is human as the hottest angler on the planet struggled to a 59th place finish and missed his first cut of 2010.  By virtue of his unprecedented start, he will still hold the lead in the AOY standings – albeit by a decreased margin.

Along with the top prize of $100,000, the Pride of Georgia awards valuable points in the 2010 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. The top 12 pros in the AOY standings at the end of the regular season will advance to the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series postseason, in which the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year will be determined.  The top 36 will qualify for the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.

The tournament will run through Sunday with the top 12 moving on to Sunday.  Defending champion Kenyon Hill, who won in 2008, was 34th.

Clarks Hill is a 71,535-acre fishery, an impoundment 39 miles in length located 22 miles north of Augusta. It forms part of the border between Georgia and South Carolina and is renowned for its topwater fishing.

The public is invited to attend the Pride of Georgia’s daily launches at 6:10 a.m. ET at Wildwood Park, 6212 Holloway Rd., Appling, Ga., 30802. After Day 2’s competition Friday, the field will be cut to the top 50 anglers for Day 3. Only the top 12 will go on to compete in Day 4. Also free and open to the public, the daily weigh-ins are set for 3:30 p.m. at Wildwood Park.

Local sponsor of the Pride of Georgia: Columbia County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

After the Pride of Georgia, the 2010 regular season will have just two events remaining. Up next is the June 9-12 Tennessee Triumph on Kentucky Lake out of Paris, Tenn.

Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Skeeter, Yamaha and Bass Pro Shops.

Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Lowrance, Triton Boats, Nitro Boats and Ramada.

 

About BASS

For more than 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing.  The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and its expansive tournament structure while championing efforts to connect directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

 

As the flagship offering of ESPN Outdoors, the Bassmaster brand and its considerable multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer; comprehensive Web properties in Bassmaster.com, BASSInsider.com, ESPNOutdoors.com and ESPN360.com, and ESPN2 television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

 

BASS oversees the prestigious Bassmaster Tournament Trail, which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, BASS Federation Nation and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

 

BASS offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

 

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Media Contact: Doug Grassian at 407-566-2216 or [email protected]

 

DAY 2 STANDINGS- PRIDE OF GEORGIA

 

2010 Evans, GA 5/20-5/23

Clarks Hill Lake, Evans  GA.

(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

 

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

 

1.  Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL           10  29-07  305

  Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   12-06  

2.  Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK             10  29-06  295

  Day 1: 5   15-13     Day 2: 5   13-09  

3.  Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA         10  27-05  290

  Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 5   14-14  

4.  Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR           10  27-01  285

  Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   12-05  

5.  Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC               10  26-10  280

  Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 5   14-07  

6.  Derek Remitz           Grant, AL               10  25-08  276

  Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   11-04  

7.  Matt Herren            Trussville, AL          10  25-02  272

  Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   10-03  

8.  Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK              8  24-15  273

  Day 1: 5   18-04     Day 2: 3   06-11  

9.  Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL               10  24-13  264

  Day 1: 5   12-05     Day 2: 5   12-08  

10. Gary Klein             Weatherford, TX         10  24-11  260

  Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   10-13  

11. Bobby Lane             Lakeland, FL            10  24-06  257

  Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 5   10-13  

12. Pat Golden             High Point, NC          10  24-05  254

  Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   11-15  

13. Terry Butcher          Talala, OK              10  24-04  251

  Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   11-10  

14. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         10  23-15  248

  Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   11-13  

15. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL        10  23-11  245

  Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   10-00  

16. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR         10  23-11  243

  Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   11-03  

17. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC             10  23-08  241

  Day 1: 5   08-03     Day 2: 5   15-05  

18. Morizo Shimizu         Osaka JAPAN             10  23-05  239

  Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 5   09-09  

19. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  23-02  237

  Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   08-04  

20. Gerald Swindle         Warrior, AL             10  23-02  235

  Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   11-09  

21. Boyd Duckett           Demopolis, AL           10  22-10  233

  Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   09-11  

22. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                 10  22-07  231

  Day 1: 5   11-06     Day 2: 5   11-01  

23. J Todd Tucker          Moultrie, GA            10  22-04  229

  Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   08-03  

24. Mark Tyler             Vian, OK                10  21-04  227

  Day 1: 5   09-01     Day 2: 5   12-03  

25. Bill Lowen             North Bend, OH          10  21-04  225

  Day 1: 5   10-00     Day 2: 5   11-04  

26. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS        10  21-00  223

  Day 1: 5   12-01     Day 2: 5   08-15  

27. John Crews             Salem, VA               10  20-13  221

  Day 1: 5   14-03     Day 2: 5   06-10  

28. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               10  20-13  219

  Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 5   10-08  

29. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX              10  20-11  217

  Day 1: 5   07-13     Day 2: 5   12-14  

30. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS               10  20-09  215

  Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   07-12  

31. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR         10  20-08  213

  Day 1: 5   10-04     Day 2: 5   10-04  

32. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL          10  20-03  211

  Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 5   10-10  

33. Shaw E Grigsby         Gainesville, FL         10  20-03  209

  Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 5   09-04  

34. Kenyon Hill            Norman, OK              10  20-02  207

  Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 5   06-09  

35. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH          10  20-02  205

  Day 1: 5   08-07     Day 2: 5   11-11  

36. Denny Brauer           Camdenton, MO           10  20-01  203

  Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   10-03  

37. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         10  19-15  201

  Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   08-13  

38. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              10  19-12  199

  Day 1: 5   06-15     Day 2: 5   12-13  

39. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX              10  19-10  197

  Day 1: 5   10-07     Day 2: 5   09-03  

40. Matt Reed              Madisonville, TX        10  19-09  195

  Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 5   10-00  

41. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ    10  19-07  193

  Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 5   09-02  

42. Kevin Wirth            Crestwood, KY           10  19-05  191

  Day 1: 5   09-08     Day 2: 5   09-13  

43. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI           10  19-05  189

  Day 1: 5   09-03     Day 2: 5   10-02  

44. Clark Reehm            Russellville, AR        10  18-14  187

  Day 1: 5   09-07     Day 2: 5   09-07  

45. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC               10  18-11  185

  Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 5   04-15  

46. Alton Jones            Waco, TX                10  18-11  183

  Day 1: 5   07-12     Day 2: 5   10-15  

47. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR         10  18-02  181

  Day 1: 5   05-09     Day 2: 5   12-09  

48. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA       10  17-15  179

  Day 1: 5   10-11     Day 2: 5   07-04  

49. Billy McCaghren        Mayflower, AR           10  17-13  177

  Day 1: 5   07-08     Day 2: 5   10-05  

50. Timmy Horton           Muscle Shoals, AL       10  17-11  175

  Day 1: 5   09-01     Day 2: 5   08-10   

51. Davy Hite              Ninety Six, SC          10  17-10  173

  Day 1: 5   09-11     Day 2: 5   07-15  

52. Dustin Wilks           Rocky Mount, NC         10  17-08  171

  Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 5   07-03  

53. Chad Griffin           Cresson, TX             10  17-06  169

  Day 1: 5   09-00     Day 2: 5   08-06  

54. Peter E Thliveros      St Augustine, FL        10  17-06  167

  Day 1: 5   08-12     Day 2: 5   08-10  

55. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  17-03  165

  Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 5   05-00  

56. Jason Quinn            Lake Wylie, SC          10  17-03  163

  Day 1: 5   09-14     Day 2: 5   07-05  

57. Grant Goldbeck         Gaithersburg, MD        10  17-03  161

  Day 1: 5   08-09     Day 2: 5   08-10  

58. Dave Wolak             Wake Forest, NC         10  15-15  159

  Day 1: 5   07-10     Day 2: 5   08-05  

59. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA               8  15-15  157

  Day 1: 3   05-07     Day 2: 5   10-08  

60. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        10  15-10  155

  Day 1: 5   06-05     Day 2: 5   09-05  

61. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY            9  15-08  153

  Day 1: 5   10-12     Day 2: 4   04-12  

62. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA             10  15-07  151

  Day 1: 5   05-11     Day 2: 5   09-12  

63. Kelly Jordon           Mineola, TX              9  15-06  149

  Day 1: 5   08-06     Day 2: 4   07-00  

64. Wade Grooms            Bonneau, SC              7  15-06  147

  Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 2   05-01  

65. Mark Tucker            Saint Louis, MO          9  15-05  145

  Day 1: 5   08-09     Day 2: 4   06-12  

66. Jeff Connella          Bentley, LA             10  15-04  143

  Day 1: 5   06-02     Day 2: 5   09-02  

67. Bradley Hallman        Norman, OK              10  15-03  141

  Day 1: 5   10-08     Day 2: 5   04-11  

68. Byron Haseotes         Centerville, MA          6  14-13  139

  Day 1: 2   08-11     Day 2: 4   06-02  

69. Vince Fulks            Purcell, OK              9  14-08  137

  Day 1: 4   05-07     Day 2: 5   09-01  

70. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  14-02  135

  Day 1: 5   07-02     Day 2: 5   07-00  

71. John Murray            Phoenix, AZ              9  13-07  133

  Day 1: 4   05-01     Day 2: 5   08-06  

72. Randy Howell           Springville, AL          9  13-02  131

  Day 1: 4   05-13     Day 2: 5   07-05  

73. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               7  13-01  129

  Day 1: 5   06-06     Day 2: 2   06-11  

74. David Smith            Del City, OK            10  12-10  127

  Day 1: 5   04-14     Day 2: 5   07-12  

75. Byron Velvick          Del Rio, TX              9  12-10  125

  Day 1: 5   06-03     Day 2: 4   06-07  

76. Zell Rowland           Austin, TX               8  12-06  123

  Day 1: 5   08-09     Day 2: 3   03-13  

77. Marty Stone            Fayetteville, NC         7  12-05  121

  Day 1: 5   10-01     Day 2: 2   02-04  

78. Guy Eaker              Cherryville, NC         10  11-13  119

  Day 1: 5   05-01     Day 2: 5   06-12  

79. Matt Greenblatt        Palm Beach Gardens, FL   9  11-10  117

  Day 1: 4   03-15     Day 2: 5   07-11  

80. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC           7  11-09  115

  Day 1: 4   07-15     Day 2: 3   03-10  

81. Scott Ashmore          Broken Arrow, OK         8  11-05  113

  Day 1: 3   03-09     Day 2: 5   07-12  

82. Fred Roumbanis         Bixby, OK                9  11-03  111

  Day 1: 4   05-02     Day 2: 5   06-01  

83. Rick Morris            Virginia Beach, VA       7  11-03  109

  Day 1: 5   07-01     Day 2: 2   04-02  

84. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  5  09-05  107

  Day 1: 3   06-09     Day 2: 2   02-12  

85. Dennis Tietje          Roanoke, LA              6  09-03  105

  Day 1: 1   01-14     Day 2: 5   07-05  

86. Pete Ponds             Madison, MS              6  09-03  103

  Day 1: 1   00-06     Day 2: 5   08-13  

87. Jami Fralick           Martin, SD               6  08-10  101

  Day 1: 2   02-07     Day 2: 4   06-03  

88. Mark Burgess           Norton, MA               6  08-10   99

  Day 1: 3   04-06     Day 2: 3   04-04  

89. Jeremy Starks          Charleston, WV           5  08-00   97

  Day 1: 3   03-14     Day 2: 2   04-02  

90. Kevin Short            Mayflower, AR            6  07-08   95

  Day 1: 4   05-01     Day 2: 2   02-07  

91. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL             6  05-15   93

  Day 1: 5   05-04     Day 2: 1   00-11  

92. Keith Poche            Troy, AL                 4  05-07   91

  Day 1: 2   02-06     Day 2: 2   03-01  

93. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX                4  05-04   89

  Day 1: 4   05-04     Day 2: 0   00-00  

———————————————————————–

Totals

Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight

 1        75       430       865-09

 2        73       418       791-06

———————————-

         148       848      1656-15

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