Repeat performance

Day-one leader Howie Lee of Brooklyn Park, Minn., used a two-day catch of 20 pounds, 14 ounces to maintain the overall lead in the Pro Division heading into the semifinals. Photo by Gary Mortenson.

June 27, 2002 • Gary Mortenson • Archives

Lee, Ramsey grab top spots in respective divisions for second consecutive day, stringer weights drop again

RED WING, Minn. – In the movie Ground Hog’s Day, actor Bill Murray awakens each morning only to find out that he is reliving the same day over and over again. To be sure, the 330 anglers fishing the season opener of the EverStart Northern Division this week could sympathize. For the second day in a row, very little – if anything – had changed. The pro leader is the same – Howie Lee of Brooklyn Park, Minn. The co-angler leader is the same – Randy Ramsey of Riverside, Ill. The stifling heat and humidity have remained. And the difficult fishing conditions – high water levels, stingy bass bite and murky water – apparently are here to stay.

In fact, the only thing that seemed to change was the number of five-fish limits caught – 18 in the Pro Division and two in the Co-angler Division – six less than yesterday’s abysmal totals. In short, the fishing was as difficult as ever.

However, for the leaders, there was little to be discouraged about.

“So far, so good,” said Lee, who would love to have Bill Murray’s feature-length predicament for another two days. “I’ve got no complaints. I’m happy right where I am.”

Although Lee has seemingly breezed through the tournament so far, he said today’s fishing was actually more difficult than yesterday’s admittedly tough conditions.

“This was a lot of work today,” said Lee. “Unlike yesterday, I didn’t have a limit early in the morning. I had to wait until just before today’s weigh-in to get my five fish. I was nervous all day. I really wanted five fish, and I wasn’t sure I was going to get them until the very end.”

Like yesterday, Lee capitalized on a Carolina-rigged senko – fishing rocky points and riprap – to land the majority of his catch. However, Lee said tomorrow’s competition will bring about a significant change in strategy.

“Tomorrow, I’m going to run and gun,” he said. “I’m going to rig up a bunch of different rods tonight so I can go out there and throw the kitchen sink at these fish tomorrow. I’m going to cover a lot of water and probably wind up burning two tanks of gas. I really want to make it to Saturday’s finals, so I’m not going to hold anything back.”

Johnson uses vacation wisely to grab second place

One month before the start of the June 26-29 EverStart tournament on the Mississippi River, John Johnson of Winnebago, Ill., landed a brand new job as a laser-cutting machine sales representative. However, while Johnson had initially intended to fish the tournament, he questioned whether it was a wise move to ask for a significant chunk of time away from work, given the fact that he had only been at his job for a few weeks. After all, what would his new boss think?

“I didn’t know what I should do,” Johnson said. “I didn’t want to take time off, but I really wanted to fish the tournament. Finally, I went to my boss and told him that I thought I could really win this tournament. He looked at me and told me to take the time off and just go out there and have fun.”

Without a doubt, Johnson is having fun. Using a two-day catch of 19 pounds, 7 ounces, Johnson not only landed in second place, but he also qualified for the semifinals. On top of that, Johnson also netted the day’s big bass award in the Pro Division.

Not bad for a day’s work.

“I’m really happy to be where I am,” said Johnson. “So far, it’s been a lot of fun.”

However, despite the storybook beginning to this tournament, Johnson said he did have some concerns about tomorrow’s fishing strategy.

“Right now I only have one really good spot and we’ve already pulled about 40 pounds of fish out of there,” he said. “Tomorrow, I really don’t have anywhere else to go other than that one spot. It’s either going to be hero or zero for me tomorrow.”

Johnson believes it will take about 9 1/2 pounds to make tomorrow’s top-10 cut.

“I’m going to go out there and shoot for 10 pounds,” he said. “I’m not going to go out there and try to save anything for the finals. And I don’t think anyone else is either.”

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top five competitors in the Pro Division were Mike Feldermann (third) of Galena, Ill., with a catch of 18 pounds, 12 ounces; Dave LeFebre (fourth by virtue of a tie-breaker) of Erie, Penn., with a catch of 18 pounds, 6 ounces; and Jeff Ritter (fifth) of Prairie Du Chien, Wis., with a catch of 18 pounds, 6 ounces.

Richie Eaves of Nauvoo, Ill., tied John Johnson for the day’s big bass award in the Pro Division after landing a 3-pound, 11-ounce bass. Eaves was in sixth place heading into tomorrow’s semifinals. Both anglers won $375 for their efforts.

Ramsey does it again

Randy Ramsey of Riverside, Ill., didn’t have a stellar day on the water during today’s competition. But then again, it didn’t really matter. Although Ramsey only netted two bass in today’s competition, it was still good enough to maintain his overall lead in the Co-angler Division.

“This is my first big tournament, so it feels good to be doing so well with all of these good fishermen here,” said Ramsey, who turned in a two-day catch of 13 pounds, 9 ounces. “I’ve been lucky enough to draw some good boaters, and that’s really helped. Hopefully things will continue to go well for me over the next two days. My dad has loaned me a lot of money to go fishing and if everything works out this week, I’d like to start paying him back.”

Ramsey said his fishing experience on the Wisconsin River has helped him adapt to the difficult conditions on the Mississippi River this week.

“I really love smallmouth fishing and I’m kind of using the same patterns here that I used to use on the Wisconsin River,” he said. “Whenever you’re river fishing, you really have to know how to read the currents and present your baits. And so far, it’s worked out.”

Ramsey said the key to tomorrow’s competition would be his ability to adapt to his pro partner’s lead.

“I’m just going to go out there and try to do something different than what my pro partner is doing,” said Ramsey. “That’s worked for me in the past and hopefully, it will work tomorrow. I’d love to make the finals.”

Jason Howland of Albert Lea, Minn., used a total catch of 12 pounds, 7 ounces – including a monster catch of 10 pounds, 6 ounces in today’s competition – to grab hold of second place heading into the finals.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top-five co-angler performances were Dick Bowman (third) of Thornville, Ohio, with a catch of 12 pounds; Terry White (fourth) of Wellsboro, Penn., with a catch of 11 pounds, 8 ounces; and Michael Smith (fifth) of Cedar Falls, Iowa, with a catch of 10 pounds, 13 ounces.

James May of Camp Douglas, Wis., won the day’s big bass award in the Co-angler Division after netting a 4-pound, 5-ounce bass. May, who finished the tournament in 61st place, won $250 for his efforts.

Tomorrow’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 6 a.m. at Treasure Island Casino, located at 5734 Sturgeon Lake Road in Welch, Minn.