Kennedy back in lead after stormy day three

Storms pummel EverStart Series Southeast anglers at West Point

VALLEY, Ala. – At about 1 o’clock this afternoon, the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers fishing in the EverStart Series Southeast event on West Point Lake had an abrupt change in weather.

The sunny skies and slick surface of West Point Lake were interrupted by an intense line of thunderstorms that crossed the lake.

The weather seemed to have little impact on Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., who toted another solid limit of bass weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces to the scales to take the lead by 4 pounds.

“The bite did seem to slow up a bit after the storms,” Kennedy said. “When it gets dark, it doesn’t seem to position the fish as well.”

Kennedy started deep again this morning, but after several meek bites, he decided to start running his shallow-water pattern.

“I’m basically fishing cypress trees all over the lake,” Kennedy said. “There is a technique to catching them around the trees, and I don’t want to say what it is just yet. I’m pretty sure they’re up there spawning, but I’m not looking at them.”

Kennedy reported getting three of his biggest bites off one particular tree today.

“I caught two 4-pounders off it and came back to it later and lost one about 6 (pounds) – all off the same tree,” he added.

Powers switches up for second

Craig Powers of Rockwood, Tenn., caught 12 pounds, 4 ounces today to take second place.

Powers had to lay his beloved Pop-R down this morning and switch to lizards and Senkos to catch his fish.

“It’s the craziest thing,” he said. “Today we had some wind and clouds – a perfect topwater day, right? Wrong. Not here.

“I only caught one on the topwater this morning and the rest of the day I had to go to soft plastics to get bit. I need the sun to come back out tomorrow. The fish are still around the same places, but they won’t come up for that topwater unless it’s bright and sunny.”

Keel moves into third

Mike Keel of Auburn, Ala., moved into his best position of the week with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 1 ounce for third place.

He is fishing both shallow and deep to catch his fish.

“In the morning, I’ve been fishing shallow with a topwater and a jerkbait,” Keel said. “Then in the afternoons, I’ve been moving out and fishing isolated stumps and rocks in 8 to 12 feet of water with a jig.”

Of the two, Keel said the shallow bite has been better for bigger fish.

Parmer fourth

Jared Parmer of Roanoke, Ala., also moved up to his best position of the week, fourth place, with 11 pounds, 6 ounces.

“I’m fishing shallow wood with a jig,” he said. “I’m covering a lot of water, and I’m trying to cover all new water each day.

“I’ve been fishing here 16 of the last 18 days, and it seems like if you catch a fish off a piece of wood, another fish won’t move back up on it for four or five days. So I am intentionally seeking out new water each day.”

Gagliardi hangs onto fifth

Anthony Gagliardi of Prosperity, S.C., held onto fifth place today with 11 pounds, 2 ounces.

Gagliardi says he is “sight-fishing,” but not bed fishing.

“I’m not really sure what these fish are doing,” Gagliardi said. “I can see them, but they’re not bedding or guarding fry, they’re just sitting up near the surface.”

He reported using topwaters and wacky worms all week to catch the visible fish.

“I threw a wacky worm at one 20 times today, and the fish paid it no attention,” he said. “Then I threw a big prop bait over there and the fish annihilated it. So I really don’t know what they’re doing.”

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 pros after day three at the EverStart Series Southeast event on West Point:

6th: Michael Johnson of Talking Rock, Ga., with 10-6

7th: Asa Godsey of Clewiston, Fla., 7-14

8th: Tony Wood of Bowdon, Ga., with 3-5

9th: Rick Couch of Ocala, Fla., with 3-1

10th: Flash Butts Roanoke Rapids, N.C., with 2-7

Vanegmond leads co-anglers

Tim Vanegmond of Gay, Ga., jumped back into the lead of the Co-angler Division after day three of the EverStart Series Southeast event on West Point Lake with 6 pounds, 14 ounces.

Just behind him is Tommy Gunn of Cusseta, Ala., in second place with 5 pounds, 12 ounces.

Matthew Parker of Whitesburg, Ga., is in third place with 3 pounds, 9 ounces.

Michi Oba of Tokyo, Japan, is in fourth place with 3 pounds, 3 ounces.

And James Barnick of Pembroke Pines, Fla., is in fifth place with 2 pounds, 15 ounces.

Rest of the best

Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers after day three at the EverStart Series Southeast event on West Point:

6th: Ronald Mueller of Prosperity, S.C., with 2-6

7th: Johnny Pittman of Somerville, Ala., with 1-11

8th: Richard Mitchell of Appling, Ga., with 1-8

9th: John Crosby of Macon, Ga., with 1-8

10th: James Chapman of Cedartown, Ga.

Final-day action begins tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. at Southern Harbor Marina.