TBF Western Divisional Championship, Day 2

Top three shuffle, Russell takes pole position into final day

NAMPA, Idaho – Lake Lowell continued to give up impressive numbers of bass Thursday for the 88 anglers competing in The Bass Federation’s Western Divisional Championship, and yesterday’s top three anglers remained in the top three. However, Green River, Wyo., angler Sam Russell, who was in third place yesterday with 12 pounds, 13 ounces, caught a five-bass limit that weighed 14 pounds, 1 ounce to take the lead on the second day of the event.

Russell also caught the big bass of the day, a 3-pound, 10-ounce largemouth that came on his second cast. His two-day total weight is 26 pounds, 14 ounces.

Day-one leader John Albidrez, who brought 14 pounds, 1 ounce to the scales Wednesday, weighed a 10-pound limit today. The Fresno, Calif., angler dropped to second place.

Ruline “Bubba” O’Neil, a member of Evanston, Wyoming’s Bear River Bassmasters, moved down a slot from second to third place after he weighed an 11-pound, 7-ounce limit of largemouths. His total weight for two days is 25 pounds, 6 ounces.

“I had one of my best days of fishing ever,” Russell said. “It was awesome. I caught 20 or 25 bass, and not a single one was under a pound. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out which fish in my livewell to cull. My balance beam got a pretty good workout today. This whole experience has been awesome. ”

Russell stuck with the same bait, a green-pumpkin Yum Craw Bug, and the same flipping technique he used on the first day. He also returned to the same two areas that surrendered so many bass.

“I’ve got a few other areas for Friday. I’m feeling pretty good,” he said.

Idaho angler Bill Golightly, who fishes with Wyoming’s Ham’s Fork Bassmasters, was tied for fifth place yesterday with his wife, Rebecca. He caught 11 pounds, 11 ounces to move into fourth place Thursday. His total weight is 24 pounds, 2 ounces. Ryan Krost of Canyon Lake, Calif., rounds out the top five with a two-day total of 24 pounds.

The California state team weighed a total of 255 pounds, 3 ounces for the lead, followed by Washington, Idaho and Wyoming.

Overall, average weights were down slightly today. Powell is a relatively small lake at 9,600 acres, but Russell expects to see lots of limits and similar weights brought to the scales tomorrow. Friday’s weather forecast calls for slightly cooler temperatures with a high in the upper 80s and a chance of afternoon thunderstorms.

The Bass Federation’s Western Divisional Championship is hosted by the Idaho Bass Federation and the Nampa Chamber of Commerce.