Lambert takes big lead at TBF Western

Washington team dominates with one day of competition remaining

LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – Team Washington dominated on day two of The Bass Federation Western Divisional on Arizona’s Lake Havasu, with three of its 12 team members in the top five on the overall weight list. Taking the No. 1 slot is Chris Lambert of Olympia, Wash., with a two-day total weight of 31 pounds, 10 ounces.

Competitors from eight states – Washington, California, Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana – are vying for slots in the 2009 TBF Championship presented by the National Guard, with winnings and bragging rights also afforded to the team that catches the most weight over the tournament’s three days. Washington is also currently dominating that race, with 259 pounds, 17 ounces of bass caught thus far, which leads No. 2 California by more than 40 pounds.

Each state’s 12-angler team is comprised of six anglers who are competing as boaters and six anglers who are competing as nonboaters. The top finisher from each state team will advance to the 2009 nationals as a boater, and the No. 2 contender from each state will compete in the national championship as a co-angler. The top three state teams will be awarded trophies and cash prizes. The angler with the heaviest three-day weight will also earn a $500 Wal-Mart gift card as the Castrol Maximum Performer.

Lambert targets big fish for big lead

With 15 pounds, 4 ounces on the first day and another 16 pounds, 6 ounces today, Lambert has amassed a 4-pound, 14-ounce lead on both the overall weight list and on his state team. Lambert ended day one second on the overall list, and his good fortune continued today despite a change in conditions from smooth and glassy to windy and rough.

“The wind blew really badly,” Lambert said of today’s conditions. “I still stayed on the spots, but presentation was a lot tougher, and I think it moved the fish around quite a bit.”

Lambert attributes his success this week on Lake Havasu to a lengthy practice that garnered him several big-fish honeyholes.

“I figured out that pattern in practice, and I’ve located a few big groups of big fish, and I was able to get two of them to bite today, and that’s what gave me the big limit,” he said. “The big ones were largemouths, and I think I weighed in one smallmouth.”

Lambert said he intends to hit his areas as hard as he can tomorrow in search of more big fish as well as a national championship boater slot.

“It’s up to the big fish,” Lambert said, adding he has about five areas he’s milking for the lunkers. “I’ve got a big-fish pattern going, and if I can get one or two of those to bite, then I think I can win the tournament. However, there are so many quality fish out there that somebody could come in with a 20-pound limit, though it’s probably not as likely on the third day. I feel confident in what I’m doing, and all I can control is what I do out there.”

Kromm stays consistent to move up to second

In second place on the overall list as well as the Washington team is David Kromm of Kennewick, Wash., with a two-day catch of 26 pounds, 12 ounces. Kromm caught 13-12 yesterday and followed that up today with another limit weighing 13 pounds.

Despite the blowing winds, Kromm managed to bag a few by sight-fishing, the same technique he used on day one.

“I mostly sight-fished and caught probably a dozen or so, just fishing for really spooky, finicky fish,” said Kromm, who is competing this week as a boater. “I think I weighed three largemouths and two smallmouths and just used light line and all plastics to catch them.”

Kromm admitted the wind eliminated a lot of areas, but says today was pretty much the same for him as day one, as his similar weights suggest.

“If the wind will lay down, I’m going to really go for it,” he said of his final-day plans. “I’m not going to try to just catch a limit; I’m going to try to get big ones.”

However, he knows it will be tough to catch his teammate Lambert and his 4-pound, 14-ounce lead.

“Five pounds is hard to do on this lake,” he said.

California’s Lindner behind Washington contenders in third

Trying to make a dent in the Washington domination is Los Angeles’ Troy Lindner of the California team, who sits in third on the overall list with a two-day total weight of 25 pounds, 3 ounces.

“I think Washington is going to win it without question, and we’re going to do our best to keep our second-place team trophy,” said Lindner of California’s quest. He’s doing his best to keep his team in contention, catching 13-11 on day one and another 11-8 today. Working in Lindner’s favor is a unique strategy he crafted to ensure his fish-catching ability despite the conditions.

“I’m not relying on the sight-fishing bite,” he said. “I mainly tried to put together a pattern that could be repeatable across the lake and up in the river – presentations that would work anywhere that smallmouths and largemouths are keying on. Basically, I’m smallmouth fishing for largemouths is what I’m doing.”

Lindner said he is using power baits to catch his bass. This is his first year to fish The Bass Federation, and he’s in the hunt to earn a rookie ticket to the nationals.

“I think tomorrow’s going to be good,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a lot of work again. It’s not going to come easy, but with a little preparation and a lot of prayer, it can happen.”

Rest of the best

Leading the Arizona team after the second day of competition is Josh Bertrand of Mesa with a two-day total catch of 24 pounds, 7 ounces. Joe Debrucque of Grand Junction, Colo., heads the Utah team with 24 pounds, 4 ounces, while Brandon Palaniuk of the Idaho team sits close behind him with 23-13. Samuel Heckman is on top in Colorado with 23 pounds, 9 ounces after two days, and Eric Lippincott of Daniel, Wyo., leads his state team with a two-day catch of 22-12. Rounding out the state leaders is Sean Andrachick of Marion, Mont., who leads that state team with a two-day weight of 21-13.

Competition concludes tomorrow

TBF Western Divisional qualifiers will head out again tomorrow on Lake Havasu for the final day of competition with a 6 a.m. takeoff from Lake Havasu Marina, located at 1100 McCulloch Blvd. in Lake Havasu City. Tomorrow’s final weigh-in will also be held there beginning at 3 p.m.