Schoonveld sets another record on day two at Amistad
Stren Texas competitors continue to weigh incredible numbers of bass
DEL RIO, Texas – With a five-bass limit weighing 21 pounds, 9 ounces, Louisiana pro Dan Schoonveld added his name to even more lists in the FLW Outdoors record books, as his two-day total of 56 pounds, 5 ounces is the heaviest combined day-one and day-two tournament catch in the history of the Stren Series and every other FLW Outdoors bass trail.
The competitors behind him were no slouches either, as pros and co-anglers combined to catch 4,386 pounds and 9 ounces of bass out of Lake Amistad today, a total that broke no records but landed in the top three of the all-time lists of heaviest day-two tournament catch and heaviest combined tournament catch for days one and two – lists that include all FLW Outdoors bass-fishing trails.
In fact, the only thing keeping today’s numbers from topping the Stren Series history books is day two of the 2006 Stren Series event on Lake Amistad, when competitors brought in more than 5,071 pounds of bass on day two and more than 9,133 pounds on days one and two combined.
The numbers are incredible as a whole, but so are the individual bass. Sam Rayburn winner Stephen Johnston brought in a 10-pound, 6-ounce bass today that obviously earned day-two big-bass honors, but is also the heaviest bass weighed in at this tournament so far.
Leading the pack for a second day is Schoonveld, whose weight dropped considerably on day two, but still afforded him a 3-pound, 10-ounce lead over No. 2 pro Bob Coleman. Schoonveld hoped yesterday for another windy day today, and he got it, but in a far stronger dose than anglers saw on day one.
“Remember when I told you I needed more wind?” Schoonveld asked. “I didn’t quite need that much.”
Schoonveld battled mechanical problems today as well, making one wonder what phenomenal weight he might have brought in if not for the weather and a battery issue.
“I ran out of trolling-motor batteries,” he said. “I hope it’s not a factor tomorrow.”
Regardless of the obstacles, one thing is for certain: Schoonveld fished extremely hard to land his bass today, and the effort paid off.
“The bite was a little tougher than yesterday,” he said. “I think it was the wind. I kept my head down and kept going. I didn’t even drink a drop of water today.”
Dehydration aside, Schoonveld says he intends to continue what is working for him tomorrow – information that is still under wraps, of course – with one minor exception.
“I might move a little quicker tomorrow,” he said.
Schoonveld’s record-breaking performance was also stymied today by boat traffic on his hot spot, something he feared yesterday when he realized other competitors had seen him land yesterday’s haul.
“I had to move,” he said simply.
Coleman steady at second
Improving his catch ever so slightly on day two is Bob Coleman of Washington, Mo., who weighed in a limit worth 26 pounds, 15 ounces for a two-day total of 52 pounds, 11 ounces, good for second. That bag included a hefty 9-pound, 6-ounce kicker.
Even though Coleman’s weight was up just more than a pound and he moved up the leaderboard from fifth to second, he actually had a tougher day two.
“I only had eight bites yesterday, and today I had six,” he said. “They were just good fish.”
Like everyone else, Coleman fought the wind all day. Yesterday, the wind was a blessing to some and a nuisance to others; today, the near-general consensus is that the wind was a major hindrance.
“The wind this morning was really bad,” Coleman said. “It was hard to fish. I just kept doing the same stuff, fought the wind and got lucky. I got two big ones.”
Coleman, a resident of Missouri, made what seems like the odd decision to fish the full slate of Texas Division events this season. His home in Missouri is more than 1,000 miles from Del Rio.
“This lake is just spectacular,” he said. “I was here last year, and I love the lake. I love Texas lakes.”
Eschete makes a change to move up to third
Moving up from sixth to third is Ronnie Eschete Jr. of Thibodaux, La., with a two-day total of 52 pounds, 8 ounces. Eschete caught 25-4 yesterday and caught exactly 2 more pounds today despite rough conditions on Lake Amistad.
“It was a lot rougher,” Eschete said. “The wind was blowing a lot stronger, and it was tough. I think I’m around fish, but the wind is hindering my process. I may have to move.”
Moving wouldn’t be the first adjustment Eschete has had to make this tournament. Today he was forced to use entirely different presentations to reel in his bass.
“I caught all my fish on one bait yesterday,” he said. “Today it took four different baits.”
Reneau, Robinson stay in the hunt
Falling to fourth place is yesterday’s No. 2, Tim Reneau of Seguin, Texas, who caught 20 pounds, 3 ounces Thursday for a combined total of 47 pounds, 14 ounces.
“I’ve been catching a bunch; I’ve just got to weed out the little ones,” Reneau said. “The wind started out a whole lot stronger today, and I’m kind of fishing open water. I’m still not fishing where I want to because of the wind.”
Landing in the fifth spot is Robert Robinson of Mobile, Ala., with 45 pounds, 7 ounces over two days. Robinson caught 24-8 yesterday and followed that up today with a limit weighing 20-15.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 pros after day two on Lake Amistad:
6th: Corey Waldrop, Fort Worth, Texas, 10 bass, 44-0
7th: David Mauldin, Tomball, Texas, 10 bass, 43-15
8th: Rick Turner, Tyler, Texas, 10 bass, 40-15
9th: Stephen Johnston, Hemphill, Texas, 10 bass, 40-5
10th: Barry Smith, Palo Pinto, Texas, 10 bass, 39-6
Ballard claims co-angler lead
Yesterday’s No. 2 co-angler, Jimmy Ballard of Powderly, Texas, assumed the No. 1 position today thanks to a combined weight of 41 pounds, 10 ounces. His 26-pound, 1-ounce, day-one catch was combined with a 15-pound, 9-ounce catch today to give him a slim 8-ounce lead.
Ballard’s continued success on Lake Amistad is all the more remarkable given the fact that his day-two pro was fishing an entirely different depth than his day-one partner.
“Yesterday I was fishing deep, today I was fishing shallow,” Ballard said. “I actually lost a few fish today.”
Lost fish weren’t Ballard’s only concern – the shallow bite also came to him painfully slowly.
“The bite slowed down after the morning,” he said. “It took most of the day to come up with a limit.”
This is Ballard’s first season to compete in the Stren Series.
Herron stumbles, but falls no farther than second
On day one, Michael Herron wrote his name in the Stren Series co-angler history books with his 29-pound, 5-ounce limit. Today was a bit tougher, as he brought in only 11 pounds, 13 ounces, but his combined total of 41 pounds, 2 ounces was still plenty good for second.
“We fished the opposite end of the lake,” Herron said. “We were fishing a lot of postspawn fish, and yesterday we were fishing for spawning fish.”
Herron says the numbers weren’t any worse today; it was simply a matter of quantity vs. quality.
“I probably got more fish today, but I just didn’t get a big bite,” he said.
Vogt moves up to third
Yesterday’s No. 6 co-angler is today’s No. 3, as John Vogt of Boerne, Texas, caught a limit weighing 19 pounds, 12 ounces to follow up his day-one catch of 20 pounds, 13 ounces for a combined total of 40-9.
“It was a really slow day,” Vogt said. “I caught three of my fish with 30 minutes left to go.”
If the wind made things tough for the pros, it could only have been more complicated for those fishing out of the back of the boat. Vogt is no exception.
“The wind was a little rougher, so it’s tougher to hold a good boat position,” Vogt said. “I’m fishing the same style, just hoping to run across the right water.”
Rest of the best
In fourth is Jacques Fleischmann of Valencia, Calif., with 36 pounds, 13 ounces, and behind him in fifth is Wayne Johnston of Port Arthur, Texas, with 36 pounds, 6 ounces.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers after day two on Lake Amistad:
6th: Clark Franklin, Midland, Texas, 10 bass, 36-1
7th: Bo Middleton, Elgin, Okla., 10 bass, 35-4
8th: Jacob Brown, Clyde, Texas, 10 bass, 34-5
9th: Matt Williams, Nacogdoches, Texas, 10 bass, 33-13
10th: Neil Herline, Silsbee, Texas, 10 bass, 33-7
Day three of Texas Division competition at Lake Amistad begins as the field of 198 boats takes off from Lake Amistad Marina (East Diablo Launch Ramp) at 7:45 a.m. Central time Friday. Following tomorrow’s competition, the fields will be cut to the top 10 anglers apiece based on three-day cumulative weight.