Gross Grinds it Out for Seminole Lead
Georgia pro moves up the leaderboard despite tougher day-two bite
If you’re curious as to what the bass are doing on Lake Seminole right now, just ask the pros atop the day-two standings of the Costa FLW Series Southeastern event being held out of Bainbridge, Ga., and presented by Mud Hole Custom Tackle.
Tournament leader Buddy Gross, who hails from Chickamauga, Ga., is keeping his boat in 25 feet and throwing to 14 feet, while former Seminole Costa Series champ Clint Brown of Bainbridge, Ga., is sight-fishing in 2 to 4 feet of water and holding in second place. That pretty much sums up just where Lake Seminole bass are in the spawning cycle right now – everywhere.
After sacking up 24 pounds, 3 ounces on day one, Gross backed it up with 17-1 today for a two-day leading total of 41 pounds, 4 ounces.
Gross has caught most of that weight off one spot in Spring Creek – a unique turn in the creek channel which is serving as a pathway to shallow spawning flats just 100 feet away.
“It’s like a break or pocket in the deep grass line that leads straight to those spawning flats and there’s timber in the middle of it,” Gross explains. “The grass down the sides of the pocket grows up to about 14 or 15 feet and it’s just real green and healthy.”
Gross’ weapon of choice so far has been a variety of swimbaits.
“My boat is sitting out in the main channel in about 25 or 30 feet of water and I’m casting up into that pocket, rolling the bait right down the edges of that deeper grass,” he says. “Those fish are in there feeding up on shad before heading in to spawn. And I’ve caught a few that were pretty skinny, so some have probably retreated back to that area after spawning, too. It’s just one of those textbook kind of spots you dream about.”
Gross, however, does have one problem: his honey hole seems to be wearing thin. He caught the big bag pretty quick on the first day, but could only milk four bass out of it today before scurrying to pick up his fifth keeper elsewhere.
“I do have one other pattern that might work tomorrow if the wind will lay down,” Gross says. “I have a couple of places with matted hydrilla where I think I can punch to catch some fish. I might have to rely on that tomorrow if my good spot doesn’t fire up.”
Top 10 pros:
1. Buddy Gross – Chickamauga, Ga. – 41-4 (10)
2. Clint Brown – Bainbridge, Ga. – 37-14 (10)
3. Chad Prough – Chipley, Fla. – 35-10 (10)
4. Matt Baty – Bainbridge, Ga. – 34-12 (10)
5. Randy Haynes – Counce, Tenn. – 34-10 (10)
6. Bryan Thrift – Shelby, N.C. – 34-5 (10)
7. Rodger Beaver – Dawson, Ga. – 33-11 (10)
8. Barry Wilson – Birmingham, Ala. – 33-11 (10)
9. Bradford Beavers – Ridgeville, S.C. – 33-5 (10)
10. Nic Jeter – Bainbridge, Ga. – 32-10 (10)
Rozema takes co-angler lead
Craig Rozema of Simpsonville, S.C., leads the Co-Angler Division with a two-day total of 29 pounds, 13 ounces.
Rozema has fished with pros David Goshorn and Michael Conley to haul in weights of 13-3 and 16-10, respectively.
“Michael was a great pro partner today,” Rozema says. “He is a local here and knows this lake well, which is always a plus when you’re in the back of the boat.
“We fished a lot of shallow flats and sandy areas.” Rozema continues. “I never saw any fish bedding, but I’m sure that’s what they were doing – I could see lighter spots in some of the areas.”
Top 10 co-anglers:
1. Craig Rozema – Simpsonville, S.C. – 29-13 (10)
2. Todd Beaver – Richland, Ga. – 24-8 (10)
3. Darren Jeter – Marshall, N.C. – 23-14 (10)
4. Scap Cicero – Wetumpka, Ala. – 21-15 (8)
5. Heath Gilmore – Meridian, Miss. – 21-14 (9)
6. Dwayne Fricks – Starr, S.C. – 20-14 (10)
7. Danny Weldon – Baldwin, Fla. – 20-11 (10)
8. Mitch Hayes – Chipley, Fla. – 20-6 (8)
9. Kyle Stafford – Lakeland, Fla. – 20-2 (9)
10. George Davis – Moore Haven, Fla. – 19-2 (9)