Dustin Connell of Clanton, Ala., takes the lead on the second day of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett bringing a two-day total weight of 36 pounds, 7 ounces to the scales.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.

April 28, 2017

Connell Climbs On Top Of Bassmaster Elite At Ross Barnett

RIDGELAND, Miss. — Twenty-six-year-old Bassmaster Elite Series rookie Dustin Connell took over the lead on Friday’s second round of competition at the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett.

Connell of Clanton, Ala., caught a five-bass limit that weighed 16 pounds, 11 ounces pushing his two-day total to 36-7, which is less than 2 pounds ahead of second place.

A big wind picked up during the afternoon pushing sustained speeds of 20 mph, with gusts near 30. On a relatively shallow lake like Mississippi’s Ross Barnett Reservoir, that means muddy water and big waves — something all of the competitors will have to deal with on Saturday’s semi-final round.

“The wind won’t affect my fishing spots, but it will affect my travel time to and from where I’ll be spending my day,” Connell said. “What’s concerning me is that the water level is rising and getting muddier.”

The young angler mentioned that the water conditions seemed to be worsening, but the bass were still active and willing to attack multiple presentations.

“I feel like the bass are holding tighter to the structure, which is requiring repetitive casts to the same spot,” he said. “I have a lot of locations where I know I can catch fish, and I’m confident the fish are big enough for me to stay in the lead. But, if the wind gets worse, making it back to weigh-in will be my biggest concern.”

Connell said he’s excited to be leading an event on the Elite Series during his first year as a touring pro.

“I was humbled to have several boats following me around today,” Connell said. “It wasn’t but a few years ago I was one of those guys following my heroes around. Now, I’m living that dream. It’s important for me to keep my focus and fish smart, and not worry about who’s going to win. Tomorrow, I’m just going fishing.”

Kentucky angler Mark Menendez jumped to second place by weighing in 17-11 for a total of 34-11. He said fishing in tough conditions requires intense focus.

“To be honest, I’m not sure how well my pattern will hold up tomorrow,” Menendez said. “But I know that if I focus on making the best cast possible, as often as possible, I will catch fish. The forecasted winds tomorrow will have an impact on my spots; I’m just hoping I can continue to be consistent. Ross Barnett bass are used to wind and mud, they’ll still bite.”

After weighing 11 pounds for a two-day total of 33-14, Brandon Card of Knoxville, Tenn., fell to third place on Friday after leading the derby’s opening day.

“I think the fishing pressure where I’ve started over the past couple days is taking its toll,” Card said. “The wind and muddy water that is affecting a bulk of the field won’t be as big of an issue for my initial spot. But where I’ve been fishing later in the day will most likely be blown out tomorrow. Hopefully I can get a quick limit early in the morning and build from there.”

Rounding out the Top 10: Dave Lefebre (33-14), Bobby Lane (32-8), Mark Davis (31-14), Keith Poche (31-2), Jonathon VanDam (30-14), Jared Lintner (30-12) and Ish Monroe (30-9).

Lester remains in the lead for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award thanks to the 7-2 largemouth bass he caught during Thursday’s opening round.

Competition will resume Saturday with the Top 51 anglers taking off at 6:15 a.m. CT from Madison Landing. The weigh-in will be held at Old Trace Park at 3:15 p.m.

The event is hosted by the Ridgeland Tourism Commission.

2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota

2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Power-Pole, Yamaha, Berkley, Huk, Shell Rotella, Humminbird, Nitro Boats, Mercury, Skeeter Boats, Minn Kota, Triton Boats

2017 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, Shimano, Advance Auto Parts, Livingston Lures, T-H Marine

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For more than 45 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation presented by Magellan, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Costa Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Toyota Bonus Bucks Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.

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Media Contact: JamieDay Matthews, 205-313-0945, [email protected] or Dave Precht, 205-313-0931, [email protected]
2017 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Ross Barnett 4/27-4/30
Ross Barnett Reservoir, Ridgeland MS.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

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

1. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 10 36-07 110 $500.00
Day 1: 5 19-12 Day 2: 5 16-11
2. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 10 34-11 109
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 17-11
3. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 10 33-14 108
Day 1: 5 22-14 Day 2: 5 11-00
4. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 10 33-14 107
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 15-10
5. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 10 32-08 106
Day 1: 5 20-14 Day 2: 5 11-10
6. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 10 31-14 105
Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 11-04
7. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 10 31-02 104
Day 1: 5 20-02 Day 2: 5 11-00
8. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 30-14 103
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 15-01
9. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 8 30-12 102
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 3 14-01
10. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 10 30-09 101
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 5 16-02
11. Fred Roumbanis London, AR 10 29-12 100
Day 1: 5 15-14 Day 2: 5 13-14
12. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 10 29-09 99
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 15-03
13. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 10 29-08 98
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 15-11
14. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 10 29-00 97
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 14-11
15. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 10 28-15 96
Day 1: 5 18-01 Day 2: 5 10-14
16. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 10 28-02 95
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 12-05
17. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 10 27-15 94
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 17-00
18. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 10 27-13 93
Day 1: 5 15-15 Day 2: 5 11-14
19. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 10 27-10 92
Day 1: 5 15-07 Day 2: 5 12-03
20. Darrell Ocamica New Plymouth, ID 10 27-07 91
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 13-02
21. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 10 26-13 90
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 12-03
22. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 10 26-13 89
Day 1: 5 14-06 Day 2: 5 12-07
23. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 10 26-10 88
Day 1: 5 12-11 Day 2: 5 13-15
24. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 10 26-09 87
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 12-01
25. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 10 26-07 86
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 15-08
26. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 10 26-06 85
Day 1: 5 16-11 Day 2: 5 09-11
27. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 8 26-02 84
Day 1: 5 19-15 Day 2: 3 06-03
28. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 10 26-02 83
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 14-15
29. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 10 26-02 82
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 14-07
30. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 10 26-01 81
Day 1: 5 17-05 Day 2: 5 08-12
31. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 10 25-15 80
Day 1: 5 12-15 Day 2: 5 13-00
32. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 9 25-13 79
Day 1: 4 07-12 Day 2: 5 18-01
33. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 10 25-13 78
Day 1: 5 12-12 Day 2: 5 13-01
34. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 10 25-12 77
Day 1: 5 18-00 Day 2: 5 07-12
35. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 10 25-08 76
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 12-01
36. David Walker Sevierville, TN 9 25-07 75
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 5 18-05
37. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 10 25-06 74
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 14-05
38. Seth Feider Isle, MN 9 25-03 73
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 4 08-15
39. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 10 25-01 72
Day 1: 5 14-03 Day 2: 5 10-14
40. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 10 24-15 71
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 15-02
41. Luke Clausen Otis Orchards, WA 10 24-14 70
Day 1: 5 12-05 Day 2: 5 12-09
42. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 9 24-10 69
Day 1: 4 08-05 Day 2: 5 16-05
43. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 10 24-05 68
Day 1: 5 10-04 Day 2: 5 14-01
44. Chad Grigsby Maple Grove, MN 10 24-05 67
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 5 11-04
45. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 10 23-12 66
Day 1: 5 12-04 Day 2: 5 11-08
46. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 10 23-11 65
Day 1: 5 13-03 Day 2: 5 10-08
47. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 10 23-09 64
Day 1: 5 10-02 Day 2: 5 13-07
48. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 10 23-08 63
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 12-02
49. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 10 23-02 62
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 11-13
50. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 10 23-01 61
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 5 10-11
51. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 10 22-14 60
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 5 13-01
52. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 10 22-13 59
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 12-07
53. Jacob Wheeler Indianapolis, IN 8 22-06 58
Day 1: 3 09-14 Day 2: 5 12-08
54. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 9 22-03 57
Day 1: 4 07-11 Day 2: 5 14-08
55. Koby Kreiger Bokeelia, FL 10 22-02 56
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 09-11
56. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 10 22-02 55
Day 1: 5 11-08 Day 2: 5 10-10
57. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 10 22-01 54
Day 1: 5 11-05 Day 2: 5 10-12
58. Brent Ehrler Newport Beach, CA 10 21-15 53
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 5 13-02
59. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 9 21-14 52
Day 1: 5 12-06 Day 2: 4 09-08
60. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 8 21-13 51
Day 1: 3 09-10 Day 2: 5 12-03
61. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 10 21-10 50
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 08-12
62. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 9 21-09 49
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 4 09-12
63. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 10 21-09 48
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 11-09
64. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 9 21-07 47
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 5 10-07
65. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 8 20-02 46
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 3 07-02
66. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 10 19-15 45
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 09-09
67. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 9 19-13 44
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 4 08-02
68. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 10 19-11 43
Day 1: 5 08-09 Day 2: 5 11-02
69. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 8 19-08 42
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 3 04-15
70. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 10 19-08 41
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 08-05
71. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 9 19-08 40
Day 1: 4 09-08 Day 2: 5 10-00
72. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 10 19-07 39
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 08-14
73. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 8 19-04 38
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 3 07-14
74. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 8 19-01 37
Day 1: 4 09-04 Day 2: 4 09-13
75. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 6 18-13 36
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 5 17-00
76. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 9 18-12 35
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 4 08-14
77. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 9 18-11 34
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 4 10-08
78. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 9 18-11 33
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 4 08-04
79. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 9 18-07 32
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 4 07-06
80. Jesse Tacoronte Orlando, FL 9 18-01 31
Day 1: 5 12-00 Day 2: 4 06-01
81. James Elam Tulsa, OK 6 17-13 30
Day 1: 4 11-00 Day 2: 2 06-13
82. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 7 17-11 29
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 2 04-04
83. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 8 17-11 28
Day 1: 3 06-01 Day 2: 5 11-10
84. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 6 17-10 27
Day 1: 1 02-01 Day 2: 5 15-09
85. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 8 17-10 26
Day 1: 4 09-10 Day 2: 4 08-00
86. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 8 16-12 25
Day 1: 3 05-09 Day 2: 5 11-03
87. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 8 16-10 24
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 3 05-09
88. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 8 16-09 23
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 4 07-00
89. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 9 16-03 22
Day 1: 4 06-06 Day 2: 5 09-13
90. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 9 15-12 21
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 4 07-01
91. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 9 15-03 20
Day 1: 4 06-12 Day 2: 5 08-07
92. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 8 15-03 19
Day 1: 4 06-15 Day 2: 4 08-04
93. David Williams Newton, NC 8 15-02 18
Day 1: 3 04-10 Day 2: 5 10-08
94. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 7 15-00 17
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 5 11-13
95. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 7 14-12 16
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 2 03-13
96. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 6 14-07 15
Day 1: 4 09-00 Day 2: 2 05-07
97. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 7 14-07 14
Day 1: 4 08-09 Day 2: 3 05-14
98. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 7 14-01 13
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 2 03-02
99. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 6 14-00 12
Day 1: 1 01-11 Day 2: 5 12-05
100. Alton Jones Jr. Lorena, TX 6 13-05 11
Day 1: 4 09-14 Day 2: 2 03-07
101. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 5 11-09 10
Day 1: 1 03-04 Day 2: 4 08-05
102. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 11-05 9
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 2 05-15
103. David Fritts Lexington, NC 6 10-14 8
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 1 01-13
104. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 6 10-12 7
Day 1: 2 03-08 Day 2: 4 07-04
105. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 6 10-11 6
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 2 03-13
106. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 08-09 5
Day 1: 3 05-06 Day 2: 2 03-03
107. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 4 06-15 4
Day 1: 4 06-15 Day 2: 0 00-00
108. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 4 06-02 3
Day 1: 2 03-03 Day 2: 2 02-15
109. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 3 05-04 2
Day 1: 0 -01-00 Day 2: 3 06-04