Kremer continues to clobber competition

Florida pro maintains large lead in Stren Southeast

MANNING, S.C. – As predicted, the wind whipped Santee Cooper lakes into a froth on day two as Stren Series competitors scrambled for the calmer waters of protected coves and pockets.

After weighing in 28 pounds, 3 ounces Wednesday for the day-one lead, Joseph Kremer of Osteen, Fla., brought in another five-bass limit on day two weighing 15 pounds, 2 ounces to easily keep the competition at bay with a two-day total of 43 pounds, 5 ounces.

Kremer will now tak a 7-pound, 12-ounce lead into day three.

Kremer still maintains that he is not fishing a specific area or pattern. He is running up and down the lake, fishing a variety of areas.

“I’ve got three or four key areas, but they are scattered up and down the upper lake (Marion) from way up to way down,” Kremer explained. “I did catch my biggest bass off bed today, but the rest came on a Trick Worm.”

As for tomorrow, Kremer said he is just going fishing again.

“I’ll probably start in my best area up the lake, but after that, I’m going to fish whatever feels right for the conditions.”

Couch second

Over the first two days of competition, Tony Couch of Buckhead, Ga., has grinded out limits of 17 pounds, 11 ounces and 17 pounds, 14 ounces, respectively, for a two-day total of 35 pounds, 9 ounces to move into second place.

Couch has fished Santee Cooper for so many years that he literally has pet cypress trees that produce fish year after year.

“Some of the trees are so reliable that I don’t even check them in practice,” Couch said. “I only go to them during the tournament, and sometime during the week they’ll give up a few fish.”

Couch is targeting the trees with a Zoom Z-Nail and lizard.

“These aren’t secret trees – other people fish them – but the key for me is to fish them slower than anyone else.”

Ellis third

Give local pro Ken Ellis of Bowman, S.C., enough time on Santee Cooper, and he is eventually going to come through with a big catch.

That big catch came for Ellis Thursday as he weighed the biggest limit of the day at 20 pounds, 12 ounces, moving him into third place with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 4 ounces.

Ellis is particularly focused on the Stren Series Southeast Division points title this week.

Ellis was in second in the points coming into the event, but Joseph Kremer, the current leader, was in third.

“I knew I needed a top-10 to close the points title up,” Ellis said. “I got off to a slow start yesterday because my motor started making a funny noise the last afternoon of practice. I took it to the dealer and borrowed a boat for day one, and it had a bad battery in it, and it really hampered me yesterday.”

With his boat issues fixed today, Ellis made a bee line first thing this morning for a giant bass he knew was on bed in the Hatchery in Lake Moultrie.

“I ran all the way down there, made my first cast and jumped her off,” Ellis said. “On my very next cast, she broke my line. Finally, on the third cast, I got her in the boat.”

The bass weighed 8 pounds, 12 ounces and took the Snickers Big Bass award in the Pro Division.

“Needless to say, I’ve had some adversity this week,” Ellis said. “I knew I needed to catch that big bass to get back on track, so hopefully I’ve gotten all the gremlins out of my system, and I can get the points title sewn up tomorrow.”

Smith fourth

Clark Smith Jr. of Pell City, Ala., is in fourth place with a two-day total of 32 pounds, 2 ounces.

Smith said he is flipping cypress trees in Lake Marion to catch his fish.

Pugh fifth

Despite the wind, Pedigree pro Greg Pugh of Cullman, Ala., sight-fished up 17 pounds, 5 ounces today to move into fifth place with a two-day total of 31 pounds, 5 ounces.

Pugh is fishing all the way over on the other side of Lake Moultrie.

“The fish are just starting to move back up on beds,” Pugh said. “I can see about 25 to 30 pounds swimming around in my area, but they have not locked down. Today, I had to wait until about 11:30 before they finally started to get back on beds. I literally have to watch and wait until one locks down to catch it.”

Pugh wanted to wait on other big bass to lock down today, but had to leave the lower lake early to factor in enough time for rough water on the way back.

“We could see Santee produce some huge bags tomorrow,” Pugh noted. “Things are getting right, and there are a lot of good sight-fishermen in this event.”

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 pros in the Stren Series Southeast event on Santee Cooper after day two:

6th: Glenn Browne of Ocala, Fla., two-day total of 31-3

7th: Allan Glasgow of Ashville, Ala., 30-6

8th: Rick Ankenbauer of Clearwater, Fla., 29-14

9th: Ryan Worthington of Middleburg, Fla., 29-12

10th: Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., 29-5

Rodrigue leads co-anglers

Brad Rodrigue of Pierre Part, La., brought in four bass for 16 pounds, 14 ounces today to take a commanding lead in the Co-angler Division with a two-day total of 24 pounds, 9 ounces.

Rodrigue’s bag included a 7-pound, 7-ounce bass that claimed the Snickers Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division.

“I fished with Bryan Thrift today, and we used crankbaits up in the river,” Rodrigue said. “Bryan was kind enough to let me use one of his crankbaits, and that’s what I caught the big one on.”

Meyers second

Co-angler Lloyd Meyers Jr. of Jacksonville, Fla., zeroed yesterday but rebounded today with a heaping bag of bass weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces to move into second place.

“I was dead-sticking a soft plastic out in the middle of a cove in open water,” Meyers said. “I’d just throw it out there and let it sit until the line started moving off.”

Fahnestock third, eyeing co-angler points title

Aaron Fahnestock of Enterprise, Ala., who was leading the Co-angler Division points in the Southeast Division coming into this event, moved closer to that title today with an 8-pound, 6-ounce catch.

Fahnestock is now in third place in the event with a two-day total of 16 pounds, 6 ounces.

“My mind is on the points title and that Co-angler of the Year boat,” said Fahnestock. “The boat goes to the co-angler who has the highest number of points out of all the Stren Series divisions after the championship event.”

Rest of the best

Jeff Stoner of Wellsville, Pa., is in fourth place with a two-day total of 14 pounds, 3 ounces.

David Iglesias of Crystal River, Fla., is in fifth place with a two-day total of 13 pounds, 14 ounces.

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers in the Stren Series Southeast event on Santee Cooper after day two:

6th: Wil Hardy of Harlem, Ga., two-day total of 13-10

7th: Howard Hammonds of Portersville, Pa., 13-5

8th: William Beekman of East Quogue, N.Y., 12-4

9th: Billy Carroll of Fayetteville, N.C., 12-2

10th: T. Mike Evans of Deatsville, Ala., 11-7

Day-three competition begins at 7 a.m. at the John C. Land III Landing in Summerton, S.C.