Walters expands lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Murray

South Carolina’s Patrick Walters maintains his lead on Day 2 at the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray with a five-bass limit weighing 19-13 for a two-day total of 45-5.

Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

May 11, 2024

Walters expands lead in Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Murray

PROSPERITY, S.C. — Patrick Walters admitted he missed his goal by a few ounces, but you wouldn’t know it from the Day 2 standings.

After turning in an opening-round limit of 25 pounds, 8 ounces — the tournament’s heaviest bag — the pro from Eutawville, S.C., added 19-13. Tallying 45-5, Walters leads rookie J.T. Thompkins by 4-15, as the Top 50 anglers head into Semifinal Sunday of the Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray. (severe weather postponed the event’s scheduled start by one day).

“I knew it was going to be a slower day,” Walters said of the day’s calm, sunny conditions, which contrasted Friday’s cloudy, windy makeup. “The goal was to just survive and get 20 pounds, but I was just a few ounces shy of that.

“The sunny skies don’t bother me, but it means the bite is probably going to end quicker. At 9:30, it shut off for me and I felt like it did for the whole lake.”

At the day’s beginning, Walters knew he was facing a do-or-die scenario. With no time to dally, he went to work on the blueback herring spawn.

“The biggest thing is you have to catch them quick,” Walters said. “The (lack of) wind is what made it tough,” he said. “But I figured it was going to be tough on everybody, so if I could just grind 20 today, I would survive and probably step ahead a little bit.”

Walters caught most of his morning fish on a combination of topwater lures and soft-plastic jerkbaits.

Once the morning bite died, Walters stayed with the fish that had been targeting the herring spawn. Without the congregating stimulus of distracted forage, the bass dispersed, but remained in the general area.

Walters adjusted by tracking down targets with his forward-facing sonar. Saturday’s heavy pleasure boat traffic created a challenge by stirring the lake, but Walters stayed focused on convincing less active fish to bite.

“I did the same thing all day,” Walters said. “I’m putting a square peg in a round hole.”

This strategy yielded a few bites, while a Carolina-rigged Zoom Brush Hog produced a solid keeper later in the day.

Walters said he’s optimistic about the third round’s potential. He’s not expecting an easier day, but a high level of comfort and confidence fuels his enthusiasm.

“This is how I like catching ’em; this is what makes me happy,” Walters said. “When it’s your time, it’s your time. Hopefully, we can maintain this the rest of the tournament.

“All you can ask for is a chance to be in contention and that’s what we did. We’re going into Semifinal Sunday. Let’s see if we can make it to Championship Monday.”

Thompkins, who makes his home in Myrtle Beach, S.C., is in second place with 40-6. After posting a Day 1 limit of 21-1, he added 19-5 and gained five spots.

Thompkins said his day started slowly, but he believes a lot of that was due to a timing challenge.

“I got in a rotation behind five or six guys and I had 12 pounds at midday,” Thompkins said. “I started putting it together later in the day and getting my technique figured out.”

A key element of Thompkins’ success involved targeting areas that were a little less obvious. He also found that varying his soft jerkbait presentations made a big difference.

“I was fishing places that you’re not going to find just by going down the bank,” he said. “I was fishing points, humps, rock ridges — something where it had a steep drop-off.”

Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., is in third place with 39-7. Turning in a consistent performance, the 2022 Rookie of the Year caught 19-11 on Day 1 and backed that up with 19-12 Saturday.

Przekurat found the day’s sunny conditions challenging, but adapting to a scenario he also saw during practice enabled him to capitalize on key bites.

“I caught one fish, a 5 1/2-pounder, about 30 minutes into the day,” he said. “I didn’t really catch that fish doing herring stuff. It was on a herring point, but I wasn’t fishing herring lures. I fished a slow, finesse style.

“I knew there were big fish around. I was just trying to finesse them to get them to bite. I only caught seven or eight fish today and they were all doing something different.”

Przekurat said his day ended up becoming a hodgepodge of point hopping, fishing fry guarders and targeting bed fish.

Bryan Schmitt of Deale, Md., won the $1,000 award for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the day with a 6-3.

Joseph Webster of Hamilton, Ala., is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the tournament honors with his 6-6.

Rookie Trey McKinney of Carbondale, Ill., leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 478 points. Jordan Lee of Cullman, Ala., is in second with 472, followed by Chris Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, with 429, Cory Johnston of Otonabee, Canada, with 428, and Justin Hamner of Northport, Ala., with 402.

McKinney also leads the Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings.

Sunday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at Dreher Island State Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m., with only the Top 10 advancing to Championship Monday with a chance at the 100,000 first-place prize.

On Semifinal Sunday, watch live coverage on FS1from 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. and on Bassmaster.com from 12:30-3 p.m. On Championship Monday watch live coverage on Bassmaster.com from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

2024 Minn Kota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Murray 5/10-5/13Lake Murray, Columbia  SC.(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1.  Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC          10  45-05  103  Day 1: 5   25-08     Day 2: 5   19-13   2.  JT Thompkins           Myrtle Beach, SC        10  40-06  102  Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   19-05   3.  Jay Przekurat          Plover, WI              10  39-07  101  Day 1: 5   19-11     Day 2: 5   19-12   4.  Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS        10  39-03  100  Day 1: 5   19-07     Day 2: 5   19-12   5.  Lee Livesay            Longview, TX            10  38-07   99  Day 1: 5   22-05     Day 2: 5   16-02   6.  Trey McKinney          Carbondale, IL          10  38-06   98  Day 1: 5   21-09     Day 2: 5   16-13   7.  Jordan Lee             Cullman, AL             10  38-00   97  Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   20-05   8.  Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL           10  37-11   96  Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   17-13   9.  Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN        10  37-11   95  Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   18-03   10. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD               10  36-13   94   $1,000.00  Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   19-15   11. Cory Johnston          Otonabee CANADA         10  36-10   93  Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   21-00   12. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA            10  36-08   92  Day 1: 5   19-09     Day 2: 5   16-15   13. John Cox               Debary, FL              10  36-03   91  Day 1: 5   17-02     Day 2: 5   19-01   14. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI               10  36-01   90  Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   16-03   15. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                 10  35-14   89  Day 1: 5   22-01     Day 2: 5   13-13   16. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA               10  35-10   88  Day 1: 5   16-15     Day 2: 5   18-11   17. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA 10  35-10   87  Day 1: 5   17-03     Day 2: 5   18-07   18. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX             10  35-09   86  Day 1: 5   20-15     Day 2: 5   14-10   19. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA            10  35-04   85  Day 1: 5   19-00     Day 2: 5   16-04   20. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL           10  35-01   84  Day 1: 5   18-14     Day 2: 5   16-03   21. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN            10  34-13   83  Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 5   13-08   22. John Garrett           Union City, TN          10  34-13   82  Day 1: 5   21-01     Day 2: 5   13-12   23. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA 10  34-13   81  Day 1: 5   16-06     Day 2: 5   18-07   24. Wes Logan              Springville, AL         10  33-15   80  Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 5   17-03   25. Mike Huff              London, KY              10  33-13   79  Day 1: 5   21-05     Day 2: 5   12-08   26. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL           10  33-12   78  Day 1: 5   20-12     Day 2: 5   13-00   27. Wesley Gore            Clanton, AL             10  33-05   77  Day 1: 5   17-05     Day 2: 5   16-00   28. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC              10  33-01   76  Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   17-06   29. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         10  32-14   75  Day 1: 5   19-05     Day 2: 5   13-09   30. Drew Cook              Cairo, GA               10  32-13   74  Day 1: 5   20-02     Day 2: 5   12-11   31. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN       10  32-12   73  Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 5   15-06   32. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA              10  32-08   72  Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 5   20-04   33. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC          10  32-07   71  Day 1: 5   19-12     Day 2: 5   12-11   34. Robert Gee             Knoxville, TN           10  32-05   70  Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 5   16-04   35. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  32-04   69  Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   18-03   36. Taku Ito               Dalton GA JAPAN         10  32-00   68  Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   15-05   37. Kyle Patrick           Cooperstown, NY         10  31-14   67  Day 1: 5   17-14     Day 2: 5   14-00   38. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC               10  31-11   66  Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   16-00   39. Logan Parks            Auburn, AL              10  31-08   65  Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   12-11   40. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                 10  31-05   64  Day 1: 5   16-12     Day 2: 5   14-09   41. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 10  31-04   63  Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 5   12-07   42. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX          10  31-03   62  Day 1: 5   17-00     Day 2: 5   14-03   43. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC           10  31-02   61  Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   16-12   44. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN          10  30-15   60  Day 1: 5   19-06     Day 2: 5   11-09   45. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC             10  30-13   59  Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   14-10   46. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK            10  30-11   58  Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   15-02   47. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL            10  30-05   57   $1,000.00  Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   14-12   48. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL         10  30-01   56  Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   13-03   49. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  30-00   55  Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 5   17-02   50. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ           10  30-00   54  Day 1: 5   14-04     Day 2: 5   15-12   51. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL            10  29-15   53   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   16-01     Day 2: 5   13-14   52. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI            10  29-12   52   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   11-15   53. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            10  29-12   51   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   12-04     Day 2: 5   17-08   54. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  29-06   50   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   11-06   55. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  9  29-06   49   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 4   12-08   56. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX          10  29-03   48   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   11-04   57. Kenta Kimura           Osaka OK JAPAN          10  29-01   47   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   10-10   58. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI           10  28-15   46   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   12-10   59. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            10  28-14   45   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 5   17-15   60. Bryan New              Leesville, SC           10  28-13   44   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   14-03   61. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT          10  28-11   43   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   15-11     Day 2: 5   13-00   62. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY             10  28-11   42   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   13-05     Day 2: 5   15-06   63. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL           10  28-10   41   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   17-07     Day 2: 5   11-03   64. Derek Hudnall          Zachary, LA             10  28-10   40   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   14-13   65. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH            10  28-07   39   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   16-14     Day 2: 5   11-09   66. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA           10  28-05   38   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   18-07     Day 2: 5   09-14   67. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK             10  28-03   37   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   11-15   68. Seth Feider            New Market, MN          10  28-03   36   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   15-13   69. Kyle Welcher           Valley, AL              10  28-03   35   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   15-00     Day 2: 5   13-03   70. Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI       10  28-02   34   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   15-15     Day 2: 5   12-03   71. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          8  28-01   33   $2,500.00  Day 1: 3   07-09     Day 2: 5   20-08   72. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC      10  27-11   32   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   12-09   73. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC           10  27-11   31   $2,500.00  Day 1: 5   13-13     Day 2: 5   13-14   74. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL           10  27-08   30  Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   14-12   75. KJ Queen               Catawba, NC             10  27-08   29  Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 5   14-05   76. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX             10  26-15   28  Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 5   14-07   77. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN         10  26-14   27  Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   13-00   78. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            8  26-12   26  Day 1: 5   18-13     Day 2: 3   07-15   79. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR              10  26-06   25  Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   10-13   80. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL        10  26-06   24  Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   12-12   81. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             8  26-04   23  Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 3   11-03   82. Kyoya Fujita           Yamanashi CA JAPAN       9  26-02   22  Day 1: 4   12-01     Day 2: 5   14-01   83. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA          10  26-02   21  Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   13-03   84. Tyler Williams         Belgrade, ME             9  25-09   20  Day 1: 5   14-02     Day 2: 4   11-07   85. Ben Milliken           New Caney, TX            7  25-08   19  Day 1: 5   20-12     Day 2: 2   04-12   86. Timothy Dube           Nashua , NH              8  25-01   18  Day 1: 4   12-04     Day 2: 4   12-13   87. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            7  24-15   17  Day 1: 5   19-04     Day 2: 2   05-11   88. Todd Auten             Clover, SC               8  24-13   16  Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 3   09-11   89. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              7  24-09   15  Day 1: 5   20-08     Day 2: 2   04-01   90. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  23-10   14  Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   10-14   91. Chad Pipkens           Dewitt, MI              10  23-03   13  Day 1: 5   09-10     Day 2: 5   13-09   92. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               7  22-10   12  Day 1: 2   03-10     Day 2: 5   19-00   93. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              9  22-09   11  Day 1: 5   10-13     Day 2: 4   11-12   94. Frank Talley           Belton, TX               8  21-12   10  Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 3   06-06   95. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 8  20-10    9  Day 1: 5   13-12     Day 2: 3   06-14   96. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              7  20-08    8  Day 1: 4   11-07     Day 2: 3   09-01   97. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             8  19-04    7  Day 1: 3   08-08     Day 2: 5   10-12   98. Cole Sands             Calhoun , TN             5  16-03    6  Day 1: 0   00-00     Day 2: 5   16-03   99. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              6  16-03    5  Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 1   01-14   100. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TN AUSTRALIA  6  16-00    4  Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 1   01-09   101. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            6  14-14    3  Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 1   01-11   102. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  10-11    2  Day 1: 2   05-08     Day 2: 3   05-03   ———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS Day 1   Joseph Webster           Hamilton, AL        06-06      $1,000.00 2   Bryan Schmitt            Deale, MD           06-03      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight 1        94       492      1633-07 2        85       471      1407-02———————————-         179       963      3040-09

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