Livesay Takes Day 2 Lead In Bassmaster Elite Series Slugfest On Lake Fork

May 20, 2022

Livesay Takes Day 2 Lead In Bassmaster Elite Series Slugfest On Lake Fork

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QUITMAN, Texas — Lee Livesay couldn’t find what he was looking for, but the pro from Longview, Texas, found what he needed to lead Day 2 of the Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with a total weight of 60 pounds, 10 ounces.

Livesay, who won last year’s Lake Fork event, started the day trailing opening-round leader Cliff Prince of Palatka, Fla., by 5 ounces. But after adding 28-10 to his first-round weight of 32 pounds, Livesay heads into Semifinal Saturday leading Brandon Palaniuk of Rathdrum, Idaho, by 4 pounds.

An active morning saw Livesay catch all of his weight by 10 a.m. Anchoring his bag with a 7-10, he spent the rest of the day searching for one of the mega-schools that he knows hold the caliber of bass that could’ve pushed his total past his Day 1 effort.

“I had a 4-11 and I jumped one good one off that would have helped me a little bit,” Livesay said. “I thought for sure I was going to run into a school that was right to catch a 7-plus-pounder this afternoon, but it just didn’t happen.

“Obviously, I’m happy with leading the tournament. I can’t complain; I’m just a little frustrated not finding a new group yet.”

Livesay said he’s hopeful that a smaller Day 3 field — only the Top 47 competitors — will afford him greater opportunities. With Lake Fork’s water level down about 5 feet for dam repairs, plus big winds rendering a lot of areas unfishable, Livesay struggled to find anything that would cull.

“I’m thinking that losing 45 guys tomorrow is going to let some stuff rest a little bit,” Livesay said. “I haven’t been able to get on anything that was fresh in the afternoon, and the wind has been blowing so hard I haven’t been able to backtrack on my schools.

“It’s going to take a lot of luck, and I think I’m going to need a fresh group or two of fish to keep it going.”

Coming off his first St. Croix Bassmaster Open presented by Mossy Oak Fishing win at Ross Barnett on April 30, Livesay started his day fishing a point in 8 to 14 feet. He caught one of his keepers there and then moved deeper to the 12- to 15-foot range.

“One of my deeper fish came on a spot where a timber edge and a fenceline come together; there’s a high, hard spot there with a channel swing,” he said. “The other ones were on a little point with timber.”

Livesay caught his bass on a 6th Sense Crush 300DD crankbait, a 6th Sense Divine Hybrid Jig with a NetBait Paca Craw and a Hog Farmer hair jig. He said the crankbait fish preferred a fast presentation. Also, positioning was key.

“When I’m throwing in that timber, I’m trying to get the best angle to get the fish out of the timber,” he said. “I usually like to stay farther away from them when I’m casting to them, but you have to be able to get them out.”

After his offshore searching came up empty, Livesay moved shallow and threw a topwater. He caught a few bass that way, but none upgraded his weight.

Palaniuk, who placed eighth on Day 1 with 26-9, added 30-1 for a 56-10 total. This was Palaniuk’s first 30-pound limit in his Bassmaster career.

“It was awesome — I’ve been trying to do that for years,” Palaniuk said. “I got close this year at Santee Cooper, I’ve been close other times before, so when I caught that last 6-pounder today, I was excited.

“I was stuck at 28 pounds forever with a 4-pounder, and I had lost a 6-pounder earlier in the day and it was just eating at me and eating at me. I finally caught that 6-2 around 1:00.”

Palaniuk attributed his success to investing the time to locate the right groups of fish. Bass school by size, so he referenced his practice search, during which his Humminbird MEGA Imaging allowed him to identify groups of higher-quality fish.

Fishing the lake’s lower basin, Palaniuk caught his bass over hard bottom with a variety of Rapala crankbaits.

Bryan New of Saluda, S.C., is in third place with 52-5. After placing 17th on Day 1 with 23-7, he added 28-14.

Rotating through a series of spots — mostly hard bottom on long points — New tried to intercept groups of bass as they moved up to feed. One fortunate encounter yielded a 15-minute flurry that included two fish in the 7-pound class, a 6 and a 5.

“I was just running around and trying to get on a place,” New said. “If you get on a place at the right time, and can get them going, it happens that quick.”

New caught his fish on a Spro Little John Super DD, a hollow-belly swimbait and a Zoom Magnum Trick Worm on a Greenfish Tackle football head. His two biggest ate the swimbait.

Chad Pipkens of DeWitt, Mich., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with an 8-11 largemouth.

Prince is currently in the lead for the VMC Monster Bag with his 32-5 limit from Day 1.

Palaniuk leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 442 points. John Cox of DeBary, Fla., is in second with 438, followed by David Mullins of Mt. Carmel, Tenn., with 415, Drew Benton of Blakely, Ga., with 383 and Brandon Lester of Fayetteville, Tenn., with 374.

Jay Przekurat of Stevens Point, Wis., leads the Falcon Rods Rookie of the Year standings with 320 points.

Saturday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at SRA Headquarters — Lake Fork. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 3:10 p.m. Coverage will be available on Bassmaster.com and the FOX Sports digital platforms. FS1 will also broadcast live with the tournament leaders beginning at 7 a.m.

The Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork is being hosted by the Sabine River Authority and Wood County Economic Development Commission.

2022 Simms Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork 5/19-5/22Lake Fork, Quitman  TX.(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            10  60-10  100Day 1: 5   32-00     Day 2: 5   28-102.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            10  56-10   99Day 1: 5   26-09     Day 2: 5   30-013.  Bryan New              Saluda, SC              10  52-05   98Day 1: 5   23-07     Day 2: 5   28-144.  Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  51-12   97Day 1: 5   29-07     Day 2: 5   22-055.  Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             10  51-02   96Day 1: 5   26-11     Day 2: 5   24-076.  Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  50-11   95Day 1: 5   32-05     Day 2: 5   18-067.  David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  48-14   94Day 1: 5   27-07     Day 2: 5   21-078.  Derek Hudnall          Denham Springs, LA      10  47-07   93Day 1: 5   24-05     Day 2: 5   23-029.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  46-11   92Day 1: 5   22-14     Day 2: 5   23-1310. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10  46-07   91Day 1: 5   26-04     Day 2: 5   20-0311. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI              10  46-04   90   $1,000.00Day 1: 5   18-12     Day 2: 5   27-0812. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA              10  46-04   89Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   25-0513. Jay Yelas              Turner, OR              10  46-03   88Day 1: 5   23-04     Day 2: 5   22-1514. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               10  45-13   87Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   26-0615. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  45-01   86Day 1: 5   28-07     Day 2: 5   16-1016. John Cox               DeBary, FL              10  45-01   85Day 1: 5   21-14     Day 2: 5   23-0317. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  44-14   84Day 1: 5   24-12     Day 2: 5   20-0218. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN             10  44-12   83Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   28-0119. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           10  44-09   82Day 1: 5   23-05     Day 2: 5   21-0420. Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL            10  44-02   81Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   27-0021. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC          10  43-13   80Day 1: 5   19-05     Day 2: 5   24-0822. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  43-09   79Day 1: 5   22-04     Day 2: 5   21-0523. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY             10  43-08   78Day 1: 5   23-02     Day 2: 5   20-0624. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  42-14   77Day 1: 5   23-06     Day 2: 5   19-0825. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                10  42-12   76Day 1: 5   23-04     Day 2: 5   19-0826. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY             10  42-10   75Day 1: 5   20-13     Day 2: 5   21-1327. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           10  42-03   74Day 1: 5   25-05     Day 2: 5   16-1428. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          10  41-11   73Day 1: 5   24-05     Day 2: 5   17-0629. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK           10  41-04   72Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   19-1230. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI            10  41-01   71Day 1: 5   27-11     Day 2: 5   13-0631. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          10  40-14   70Day 1: 5   24-00     Day 2: 5   16-1432. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  40-00   69Day 1: 5   24-11     Day 2: 5   15-0533. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN       10  39-15   68Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   23-1334. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA    10  39-12   67Day 1: 5   14-13     Day 2: 5   24-1535. Daisuke Aoki           Minamitsurugun Yamanash 10  38-14   66Day 1: 5   21-06     Day 2: 5   17-0836. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN           10  38-09   65Day 1: 5   20-10     Day 2: 5   17-1537. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  37-15   64Day 1: 5   16-02     Day 2: 5   21-1338. Patrick Walters        Summerville, SC         10  37-12   63Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   22-0939. Drew Benton            Blakely, GA             10  37-01   62Day 1: 5   16-10     Day 2: 5   20-0740. Jeff Gustafson         Keewatin Ontario CANADA 10  37-00   61Day 1: 5   18-06     Day 2: 5   18-1041. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  36-01   60Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   17-0442. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           9  36-01   59Day 1: 4   17-15     Day 2: 5   18-0243. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                 9  35-07   58Day 1: 5   25-05     Day 2: 4   10-0244. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  35-01   57Day 1: 5   19-02     Day 2: 5   15-1545. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  34-14   56Day 1: 5   14-15     Day 2: 5   19-1546. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            10  34-12   55Day 1: 5   21-06     Day 2: 5   13-0647. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             8  34-05   54Day 1: 3   11-12     Day 2: 5   22-0948. David Williams         Newton, NC              10  34-00   53   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   19-1149. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               10  33-12   52   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   13-00     Day 2: 5   20-1250. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA            10  33-09   51   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 5   14-1151. Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL             10  33-07   50   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   10-02     Day 2: 5   23-0552. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL            10  32-12   49   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   16-0953. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN         10  32-09   48   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   18-0254. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  8  32-05   47   $2,500.00Day 1: 3   14-10     Day 2: 5   17-1155. Michael Iaconelli      Pittsgrove, NJ          10  32-02   46   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 5   21-0256. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  32-02   45   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   15-0557. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  31-08   44   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   13-1258. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  31-07   43   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   09-02     Day 2: 5   22-0559. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  31-05   42   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   21-08     Day 2: 5   09-1360. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL          10  31-05   41   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   16-0361. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  30-13   40   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   13-04     Day 2: 5   17-0962. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             10  30-11   39   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   12-1563. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           10  30-09   38   $2,500.00Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   14-1564. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            8  30-06   37Day 1: 5   21-03     Day 2: 3   09-0365. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               9  30-04   36Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 4   12-0266. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  29-13   35Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 5   12-1467. Mike Huff              London, KY              10  29-13   34Day 1: 5   15-03     Day 2: 5   14-1068. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          10  29-06   33Day 1: 5   11-07     Day 2: 5   17-1569. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  9  29-05   32Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 4   10-1470. Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC            10  29-02   31Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   12-0171. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Shi JAPAN      10  28-05   30Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 5   15-0772. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN             10  28-04   29Day 1: 5   11-13     Day 2: 5   16-0773. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              10  27-13   28Day 1: 5   14-13     Day 2: 5   13-0074. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI       10  27-09   27Day 1: 5   14-00     Day 2: 5   13-0975. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            10  27-03   26Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 5   10-0776. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC             10  26-15   25Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   10-0277. Frank Talley           Temple, TX              10  26-12   24Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   13-1578. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              7  26-05   23Day 1: 2   06-10     Day 2: 5   19-1179. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  25-12   22Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   12-0280. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  25-11   21Day 1: 5   12-10     Day 2: 5   13-0181. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            10  25-02   20Day 1: 5   11-07     Day 2: 5   13-1182. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                8  24-11   19Day 1: 3   06-02     Day 2: 5   18-0983. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           5  24-08   18   $1,000.00Day 1: 4   18-11     Day 2: 1   05-1384. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            9  24-07   17Day 1: 5   17-04     Day 2: 4   07-0385. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          8  22-07   16Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 3   06-0986. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA           10  22-04   15Day 1: 5   08-08     Day 2: 5   13-1287. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  22-03   14Day 1: 5   12-13     Day 2: 5   09-0688. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         7  19-14   13Day 1: 3   08-14     Day 2: 4   11-0089. Chad Morgenthaler      Reeds Spring, MO         8  19-13   12Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 3   06-0590. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             8  19-07   11Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 3   05-0591. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                10  19-06   10Day 1: 5   11-00     Day 2: 5   08-0692. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          8  19-04    9Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 3   05-12———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASSDay1   Gary Clouse              Winchester, TN      08-10      $1,000.002   Chad Pipkens             Dewitt, MI          08-11      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight1        85       447      1676-052        81       441      1605-01———————————-166       888      3281-06

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