Keith Ellis and Roger Kendrick, from the Chattanooga Bass Association, are leading after Day 1 of the Bassmaster Team Championship on the Harris Chain of Lakes with 22 pounds, 2 ounces.

Photo by Brenden Kanies/B.A.S.S.

December 9, 2020

LEESBURG, Fla. — Keith Ellis and Roger Kendrick have made countless memories in 45 years of fishing together, but there’s little doubt that Day 1 of the Bassmaster Team Championship on the Harris Chain of Lakes will go down as one of their finest.

Ellis and Kendrick, who qualified for the championship via the Chattanooga (Tenn.) Bass Association, caught a five-bass limit of 22 pounds, 2 ounces on Wednesday to grab the lead in the final tournament of the 2020 Bassmaster season.

The haul gave the lifelong friends a narrow lead over Rodney Chastain and Robby Hipps of South Carolina’s Palmetto Boat Center Trail, who are in second place with 21-12. Mark Condron and Tony Simeri of the Alabama Bass Trail are third with 21-11 and Ryan Kelly and Joshua Schumaker of West Michigan Bass are fourth with 21-2.

“It was a consistent day, but we started with a good early bite and then got a good bite right before we left when it warmed up,” Kendrick said, referencing the temperatures that started in the upper 40s Wednesday morning in central Florida but climbed into the low 60s by weigh-in at Venetian Gardens Marina.

“We’re targeting grass, all that hydrilla,” Ellis said. “We’re in about 8 feet of water, looking for a little bit of wind.”

None of the other 142 teams taking part in the tournament are within 3 pounds of Ellis and Kendrick, but the leaders know they can’t sit on their Day 1 showing. That’s partly because the Harris Chain seems primed for production this week, with 90 limits caught Wednesday and a handful of bucket-mouthed bass brought to the scales that weighed more than 7 pounds each.

Ellis and Kendrick relied on a more uniform bag on Day 1, with their biggest bass weighing approximately 5 pounds and the others registering around the 4-pound range. They are fishing in Lake Griffin, which is on the northern end of the Harris Chain, and they said they caught all of their best bass in one area of that fishery.

The friends, who’ve fished together since they were 10 years old, are confident they can catch another sizable limit Thursday.

“We pulled off with them biting,” Kendrick said. “We had to make a pretty good run, so we left early to make it back. But we certainly can duplicate what we did today.”

That confidence bodes well for the leaders, who are looking to win the $20,000 cash prize provided by Ranger/Mercury that will go to the leading team after Thursday’s weigh-in is complete. It’s part of a $77,000 total purse to be distributed on Day 2 when the field will be cut to the Top 3 teams and competition will move into the Classic Fish-Off portion of the tournament.

After Thursday, the six remaining anglers will have their weights zeroed and they’ll fish individually on Friday and Saturday. The leader after those two days of competition will clinch the final spot in the 2021 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk scheduled for March 19-21 on Lake Ray Roberts near Fort Worth, Texas.

Ellis and Kendrick realize the gravity of being one good bag away from the Classic Fish-Off and fishing for the final berth in the biggest bass tournament in the world next March.

“We’re really pleased,” Kendrick said. “Our first practice of this tournament, we hardly caught anything, but it got a little bit better every day.”

That’s sort of like their decades of fishing together, they said, with perhaps their finest moment coming Wednesday during their first competition on the Harris Chain.

“It may be a little beginner’s luck,” Kendrick said. “But after spending as much time in the boat as we have, we’ve figured out a thing or two.”

Danny Lavoie and Sammy Bailey of the Alabama Bass Trail weighed the heaviest bass Wednesday — an 8-7 lunker that was one of three bass they bagged. They’re in 40th place with 12-8.

Day 2 of the Bassmaster Team Championship will begin at 7 a.m. ET Thursday from Venetian Gardens Marina. Weigh-in is scheduled for 3 p.m. and will be shown live on Bassmaster.com.

2020 Bassmaster Team Championship Harris Chain 12/9-12/10
Harris Chain Of Lakes, Leesburg FL.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

Angler Club/School Pts

1. Keith Ellis – Roger Kendrick Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 5 22-02 Total: 5 22-02
2. Rodney Chastain – Robby Hipps Palmetto Boat Center-PBC 0
Day 1: 5 21-12 Total: 5 21-12
3. Mark Condron – Tony Simeri Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 21-11 Total: 5 21-11
4. Ryan Kelly – Joshua Schumaker West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 21-02 Total: 5 21-02
5. Adam Bain – Kris Colley Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 18-15 Total: 5 18-15
6. Andy Walls – Keith Tuma 0
Day 1: 5 17-11 Total: 5 17-11
7. Stephen Mcavoy – Josh Butts Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 17-04 Total: 5 17-04
8. Wesley Sams – Jordan Wiggins Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 17-03 Total: 5 17-03
9. Joe Wiseman – Lane Parkins Lock Down 0
Day 1: 5 17-02 Total: 5 17-02
10. Matt Henry – Justin Kimmel 0
Day 1: 5 17-00 Total: 5 17-00
11. Blain Bartley – Justin Kappeler Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 0
Day 1: 5 16-09 Total: 5 16-09
11. Jacob Foutz – Brian Foutz Bryan College 0
Day 1: 5 16-09 Total: 5 16-09
13. Capt. Jim Keith – Jimbo Keith Jr Florida 0
Day 1: 5 16-07 Total: 5 16-07
14. Jacob Zeigler – Zach Zeigler Anglers choice 0
Day 1: 5 16-06 Total: 5 16-06
15. Keith Mayfield – Daryl Adams Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 16-05 Total: 5 16-05
16. Todd Buckingham – Chris Beaudrie Kentucky Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 16-03 Total: 5 16-03
17. Trevor Jancasz – Tom Moleski 0
Day 1: 5 15-07 Total: 5 15-07
18. John Smith – Tyler Faulkner Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 5 15-04 Total: 5 15-04
19. James Seymour – Tony McBride Texas B.A.S.S Nation Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 15-00 Total: 5 15-00
20. Rick Fishback – Blake Felix Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-15 Total: 5 14-15
21. Jeff Carman – Andy Greynolds Anglers Outpost NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
21. Greggory Zumwalt – Keith Hendrix Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-13 Total: 5 14-13
23. James Copenhaver III – Adam Dysart Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 5 14-12 Total: 5 14-12
24. Tom Statler – Dillon Statler Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-09 Total: 5 14-09
25. Nick Compagner – Ben Baker West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 14-04 Total: 5 14-04
26. Joey Solomon – Daniel Taylor Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Total: 5 14-02
26. Shawn Williams – Shane Williams Ozark Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-02 Total: 5 14-02
28. Brian Adamson – Ryan Lloyd Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 14-00 Total: 5 14-00
29. Bobby Albert – Robert Cowan Ozark Mtn Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
29. Tyler Williams – Denis Carrier Skowhegan High School 0
Day 1: 5 13-08 Total: 5 13-08
31. Shane Howell – Milton Adams 3F Tournaments 0
Day 1: 5 13-07 Total: 5 13-07
32. Dustin Neat – Mark Wethington NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 13-00 Total: 5 13-00
33. Jeff Lewis – Fredrick Adkins Morristown Marine 0
Day 1: 5 12-15 Total: 5 12-15
34. Brad Jelinek – Brock Reinkemeyer Joe bass team trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-12 Total: 5 12-12
35. Ryan Fingleton – Ryan Hubler West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
35. Dave Frost – Nick Manfredo FL BN Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-11 Total: 5 12-11
37. John Kleinoeder – Robert Mccafferty Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
37. Kelly Power – Mark Wiese Jr Ozark Mountain Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-09 Total: 5 12-09
39. Mark Mott – Justin Mott Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-08 Total: 5 12-08
40. Danny Lavoie – Sammy Bailey Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 3 12-08 Total: 3 12-08
41. Doug Stamper – Ryan Davidson Anglers outpost NTB 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
41. Steve Wilson – Harold Rogers Tennessee team Bass nation 0
Day 1: 5 12-07 Total: 5 12-07
43. Bryan Dowdy – Kyle Lewellen Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 12-06 Total: 5 12-06
44. Clayton Wilcox – Zach Huyser West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
44. Owen Windham – Shawn Larance 0
Day 1: 5 12-01 Total: 5 12-01
46. Jeff Delk – Mike Combs NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
46. Dean Yamagata – Ryan Yamagata Nevada Bass Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Total: 5 11-15
48. Steven White – Dakota Bellew 0
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
49. David Buday – Daryl Devries 2K Jigs Hair of the Dog-Weekend 0
Day 1: 5 11-08 Total: 5 11-08
50. Daniel Padgett – Brad Padgett TN Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Total: 5 11-06
51. Mark O’Brien – Brennon Mccord Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 4 11-06 Total: 4 11-06
52. Dennis Chavez – Stephan Camden Nevada B.A.S.S. Nation Team Trai 0
Day 1: 5 11-02 Total: 5 11-02
53. Eddie Levin – Ryan Mallory OH BN Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
53. Kyle Patrick – Jimmy Obrien Empire Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-15 Total: 5 10-15
55. Garrett Seppala – Travis Salo NH Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 10-11 Total: 5 10-11
56. Rick Imler – Scott Newlon Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 5 10-05 Total: 5 10-05
57. George Toalson – Tom Haynes Angler Nation 0
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
57. Kelly Warren – James Hadley Hadley and Warren 0
Day 1: 5 10-04 Total: 5 10-04
59. Jarrod Swift – Trenton Estridge Anglers Outpost NTBA 0
Day 1: 4 10-04 Total: 4 10-04
60. Don Depew – Brian Ruetz GLLS 0
Day 1: 5 10-03 Total: 5 10-03
61. Glenn Harrison – Rusty Darnell Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-02 Total: 5 10-02
62. Brandon Ackerson – Brad Cook 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
62. Casey Majni – Brandon Willis Morristown marine team trail 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
62. Eric Niswonger – Kyle Radake U.S. Anglers Choice 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Total: 5 10-00
65. Joey Stewart – Trent Mangum Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 3 10-00 Total: 3 10-00
66. Troy Buck – Charles Wieghat 3F 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Total: 5 09-15
67. Kent Keys – David Campbell Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 09-15 Total: 4 09-15
68. Brandon Hawthorne – Tracy Hawthorne 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
69. Jayson Hooven – Matthew Keeble Lakeland Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 09-14 Total: 5 09-14
70. Joe Heath – Wayne Heath AOM NTBA 0
Day 1: 5 09-13 Total: 5 09-13
71. Ben Lind – Michael Hubbard 0
Day 1: 5 09-07 Total: 5 09-07
72. Brody Manley – Barrett Keel 0
Day 1: 5 09-05 Total: 5 09-05
73. Jack Tibbs – Duane Mock Shotgun Sports Supply 0
Day 1: 5 09-03 Total: 5 09-03
74. Jeffrey Kyle – Samuel Drake Florida Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 4 09-02 Total: 4 09-02
75. Mark Orsi – Aaron Orsi Massachusetts Sunday Classic Tea 0
Day 1: 5 09-01 Total: 5 09-01
76. Brian Bylotas – Brian Bylotas 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
76. William Woodall – Roger Foraker DE B.A.S.S. Nation 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Total: 5 09-00
78. Kameron Harbin – Danny Ashley 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
78. John Richards – Brent Bowen NH Bass nation 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Total: 5 08-12
80. Rob Messenger Jr – John Levesque NH Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 08-09 Total: 5 08-09
81. Jeffrey Brauneck – Fred Brauneck West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 08-08 Total: 5 08-08
82. Tyler Weaver – Luke Routh Joe bass team trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-08 Total: 4 08-08
83. Mark McCaig – Tim Hurst Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Total: 4 08-07
83. Mike Polencheck – Brad Longerbone MN BASS Nation Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 08-07 Total: 4 08-07
85. Shane Gray – Dustin Gray Media Bass Teams 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
85. Kevin Hagerman – Max Suter Cheat Lake Anglers 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Total: 5 08-05
87. Paul Gohlke – Bill Mcquarrie Mi Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Total: 5 08-04
88. Jamie Smith – Michael Rains Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-02 Total: 5 08-02
89. Todd Wilson – Mark Wilson Ntbf 0
Day 1: 4 08-01 Total: 4 08-01
90. Keith Kulow – Adam Arnold Iowa BN Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Total: 5 08-00
91. Micheal Henderson – Tim Cook West Michigan BASS 0
Day 1: 5 07-14 Total: 5 07-14
92. Steven Huegerich – Darrin Kirkland Iowa Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 5 07-13 Total: 5 07-13
93. Jerry Loveless – Jordan Loveless USA Bassin 0
Day 1: 5 07-10 Total: 5 07-10
94. Frank Favicchio – David Schultz IBN 0
Day 1: 5 07-05 Total: 5 07-05
95. Alan Fluharty – Chad Brinegar Benton’s Ferry Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
95. Cody George – Josh Prince Tennessee Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-04 Total: 5 07-04
97. Greg Glouse – Joe Anders Palmetto Boat Center 0
Day 1: 3 07-04 Total: 3 07-04
98. Jake Knight – Stephen Plumb Bayou Bassin League 0
Day 1: 5 07-03 Total: 5 07-03
99. Jeff Gilliam – Johnny Clark Alabama bassNation 0
Day 1: 4 07-01 Total: 4 07-01
100. Lucas Murphy – Nolan Hitt Grand Valley State University 0
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
100. Mike Rogers – Donnie Crist Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 5 07-00 Total: 5 07-00
102. Mike Heffelfinger – Kyle Colone Michigan NTBA 0
Day 1: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
102. Dale Teaney – Randy Alexander Morristown marine team trail 0
Day 1: 3 06-15 Total: 3 06-15
104. Michael Brewer – Jason Cannon Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 06-07 Total: 4 06-07
105. Terry Pryor – Terry Mann Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 06-03 Total: 4 06-03
106. Lanier Burton – Mike Keel Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 3 06-03 Total: 3 06-03
107. Neil Witkowski – Bobby May West Michigan bass 0
Day 1: 3 06-00 Total: 3 06-00
108. John Campbell – David Rogers Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 05-14 Total: 4 05-14
109. Steven Weber – Sam Phillips joe bass team trail 0
Day 1: 3 05-12 Total: 3 05-12
110. James Vanderhoning II – Mark Anderson West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 5 05-08 Total: 5 05-08
111. Ryan Westgate – Donald Bulk West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 2 05-00 Total: 2 05-00
112. Michael Cass – Jacob Whitman Florida B.A.S.S. nation team 0
Day 1: 3 04-14 Total: 3 04-14
113. Hank Golden – Jeffery Lancaster Kowaliga Bassmaster 0
Day 1: 3 04-12 Total: 3 04-12
114. Lucas Mcdaniel – Joshua Norris 0
Day 1: 2 04-11 Total: 2 04-11
115. Rocky Carden – Jacob Delong Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 4 04-09 Total: 4 04-09
116. Bill Mayo – Walton Roberts Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 4 04-08 Total: 4 04-08
117. Michael Jones – Jake Fordyce Pennsylvania Bass Nation 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Total: 2 04-06
118. Brian Chandler – Jermey Jenks West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 3 04-04 Total: 3 04-04
119. Matthew Farrabee – Mark Mounts Keystone Bass Buddy Circuit 0
Day 1: 2 04-04 Total: 2 04-04
120. Jeffrey Cannon – Terry Tucker 0
Day 1: 3 04-02 Total: 3 04-02
121. Jared Winland – Brandan Becki Great Lakes Largemouth Series 0
Day 1: 2 03-14 Total: 2 03-14
122. Steve Barnes – AJ Barnes Jr 0
Day 1: 3 03-06 Total: 3 03-06
123. Jason Burroughs – Darren Ashley 0
Day 1: 1 03-05 Total: 1 03-05
124. Hunter Hamilton – Ty Ball Morristown Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
124. Chuck James – Brad James Chattanooga Bass Association 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Total: 2 03-04
126. Russ Franklin – Jeremy Garrison Ozark mountain team trail 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
126. tim Manning – Cody Wilder Morristown Marine Team Trail 0
Day 1: 2 03-02 Total: 2 03-02
128. Tim Cooper – Bob Clements White River Bass Masters 0
Day 1: 2 03-00 Total: 2 03-00
129. Owen Hentschel – David Hentschel West Michigan Bass 0
Day 1: 2 02-14 Total: 2 02-14
130. Jamie Worth – Johnny Callison Jr Western PA Team Bass Series 0
Day 1: 1 02-14 Total: 1 02-14
131. Drew Blackwood – Terry Blackwood Sunflower team trail 0
Day 1: 2 02-11 Total: 2 02-11
132. Chris Lueg – Heath Stuart KC Team Tour 0
Day 1: 2 02-03 Total: 2 02-03
133. Mark Thompson – Tim Newberry Sr Joe Bass TT 0
Day 1: 1 01-15 Total: 1 01-15
134. Ray Huff – Katherine Row Cen Cal Elites 0
Day 1: 1 01-02 Total: 1 01-02
135. Ronald Belew – Derek Dace Joe Bass Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
135. Jeff Cherry – Stephen Rosson Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
135. Anthony Goggins – Jeremy Headley Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
135. Rick Johnston – Connor Cunningham Ozark Mountain TT 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
135. Caleb Mcneal – Taylor Luna Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
135. Jason Morgan – Craig Whittemore Jr Coosa River Team Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
135. Eric Morris – Ben Williamson Alabama Bass Trail 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00
135. Drew Sadler – Brian Richmond Bluegrass Bassmasters 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Total: 0 00-00