Kenyon climbs atop leaderboard at Stren event on Red River

Hults nets first place in Co-angler Division

NATCHITOCHES, La. – Heading into the day in 14th place, Robert Kenyon of Cordova, Tenn., wanted to make sure that he was in a strong position to qualify for Friday’s top-10 cut. In the end, Kenyon exceeded his own expectations, parlaying a whopping 15-pound, 5-ounce sack – the largest stringer recorded in the tournament to date – into a first-place finish by the end of Thursday’s weigh-in.

“It feels really good,” said Kenyon. “But I got a little lucky today. My practice was hit or miss, and it took me nearly all day today to get a limit. It was very stressful. But I’m fishing an area that seems to be replenishing itself every day, so I’m pretty happy about that.”

Kenyon, one of only four pros to record double-digit stringers each of the first two days of tournament action, said that the moving water really helped his cause in today’s competition.

“The water levels were up, and there was current today,” said Kenyon, who now boasts a two-day total weight of 25 pounds, 13 ounces. “And that really helped me because it positions the fish differently. The Red River is fishing a lot like the Tennessee River back home, so I have a pretty good idea where the fish are going to be.”

Kenyon said that he is fishing two “moving baits” in particular and covering a lot of water in the process.

“I’m really doing a lot of running around,” said Kenyon. “I have about 10 spots, and I’m pretty much moving from spot to spot.”

While Kenyon said his interpretation of current is important, he also said it’s not necessary to excel in this event.

“I caught a limit with no current on Wednesday, and I caught a limit with current today. So I think I have about as good of a chance as anyone to win this,” said Kenyon. “But it’s really going to come down to how I execute. I just need to go out there and catch as much as I can tomorrow.”

Kenyon also managed to grab the day’s Snickers Big Bass honors after recording a largemouth, which weighed in at 5 pounds, 6 ounces. Kenyon netted $165 for his efforts.

Gulledge falls to second

Day-one leader Danny Gulledge of Crossett, Ark., had yet another difficult day on the water. After losing four fish in yesterday’s competition, Gulledge only managed to bring three fish to the scales on Thursday. But remarkably enough, Gulledge still ended the day in second place overall with a total catch of 24 pounds, 13 ounces – only 1 pound out of first place.

“It all comes down to execution, and I didn’t execute very well today,” said Gulledge.

However, that being said, there are approximately 90 other pros who would be more than happy to have Gulledge’s “execution problems” at this juncture of the tournament. And if Gulledge somehow manages to refine his technique in the coming days, the rest of the field could be in big trouble.

Curtis maintains his top-five position

For the second day in a row, Stren Series pro David Curtis of Trinity, Texas, ended the day in third place.

“I’m still struggling out there, but I’m tickled to have what I caught today,” said Curtis.

Curtis enters Friday’s competition boasting a combined two-day weight of 24 pounds, 10 ounces.

Best of the rest

Stephen Johnston of Hemphill, Texas, used a two-day catch of 23 pounds, 8 ounces to grab hold of fourth place.

Meanwhile, Bob Weaver of Lawton, Okla., grabbed fifth place overall with a total catch of 23 pounds, 1 ounce.

Hults snares co-angler lead

Alan Hults of Gautier, Miss., turned in another stellar performance in today’s competition – nearly duplicating yesterday’s 9-pound, 12-ounce catch for a two-day total of 19 pounds, 5 ounces. Hults’ consistency is clearly paying off as he leapfrogged from fifth place to first place overall by the end of Thursday’s competition.

“I’m happy,” said Hults. “I’m just trying to catch five keepers every day and let the chips fall where they may.”

Hults said the key to his success has been his versatility.

“I’m really mixing things up,” said Hults. “I’m throwing worms, jigs, crankbaits and frogs – whatever it takes. There are so many different places on this river where there are fish, and you have to be ready to fish a different spot at any moment. You just can’t keep one bait in your hand the whole time.”

Hults said that so far he has been targeting shallow structure to land the majority of his catch. But he said he’s also ready to change things up if need be.

“When you’re fishing from the back of the boat, you’re really at the mercy of your pro,” said Hults. “So you have to be ready to change if need be. As far as tomorrow is concerned, I’m just going to go out there and try to catch one fish at a time. And hopefully that will get me to where I need to be.”

Best of the rest

David Underwood of Waco, Texas, grabbed hold of second place overall in the Co-angler Division after netting a two-day catch of 18 pounds, 12 ounces.

Meanwhile, Stephen Francis of Brookeland, Texas, finished the day in third place with a total catch of 18 pounds, 9 ounces.

Rounding out the top five co-angler leaders at the Stren Series Texas Division event:

4th: Bennie Anderson of Grand Prairie, Texas, 15-4

5th: Kit Getchell of Granbury, Texas, 15-0

Getchell also took home Big Bass honors in the Co-angler Division after netting a 4-pound, 12-ounce largemouth.

Day three of Stren Series Texas Division action continues during Friday’s takeoff, scheduled to take place at 6:30 a.m. CDT at the Grand Encore Recreation Complex, located at 234 Rufus Morgan Road in Natchitoches, La.