High Water Moves Fish Shallow for Bassmaster Elite Series Anglers at Sooner Run Presented by Longhorn

In this article you will read about the 2007 elite series Sooner Run.

The Pros Said It

 “It’s really going to be a much different tournament this year than last year because of the high water level, and water color is really going to play havoc on anyone planning to structure fish. The fish just aren’t out there deep, and I’m fishing much more shallow right now. Last year I was pretty zeroed in on one depth and style, but this year is different. I think there’s going to be a couple of good bags caught, but I’m not sure if it will be consistent for one person every day. The bass are in different depths and you have to cover all facets and possibilities of where they may be.” – Mike McClelland, 39, Bella Vista, Ark., 4-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier and winner of the 2006 Bassmaster Elite Series Sooner Run on Grand Lake.

 “I’m catching a lot of fish, but not many big bass. The lake is high and it came down about 3 feet just before practice started, so it has started to level off now. I think the lake is off just a little bit because the water dirtied up quite a bit and slowed that deep bite down quite a bit. The fishing has been steady the last couple days, and the water is starting to clear, so I think you’ll see some good sacks weighed in.” – Terry Butcher, 35, Talala, Okla., one-time BASS winner, 96th in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

“Last year I had a horrible tournament and was all prepared to fish outside the way it was won in 2006, but now it’s way over pool and muddy water. I’ve changed up my game plan and started fishing shallow again. It’s tough finding areas where you can get more than one or two bites. The fish are scattered and I haven’t found an area with a whole school of them yet. I’m fishing a lot of areas and will hopefully come across some decent-sized bass. I’m fishing the way I like to fish, and now it’s just a matter of getting the bites and getting them in the boat.” Jared Lintner, 33, Arroyo Grande, Calif., one-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier, ranked third in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.

 The Strategy

McClelland: The Arkansan is targeting structure, and using the same pattern that propelled him to win the 2006 Bassmaster Elite Series event on Grand Lake. But, he notes that the stained water color is making it more difficult to locate the bass. He plans to fish shallow and deep, covering a lot of water and using a variety of lures including Carolina rigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Texas-rigged worms. McClelland estimates it will take 60 pounds to win the tournament.Butcher: He is fishing shallow and deep-water locations and using a variety of patterns and lures. For the shallow-water bite he is mainly flipping and for the deep-water bite he prefers crankbaits and soft plastics. He estimates close to 70 pounds will win the tournament.

Lintner: His primary patterns will be flipping and pitching in shallow water around bushes and covering as much water as possible. He also has fished outside points, humps and deeper rock piles to locate the deep-water bite. If he places his bait in the right areas, he is confident he’ll come across a big bass.

 Location and Field

 Sooner Run presented by Longhorn — Bassmaster Elite Series

 

Grand Lake

 

Grove, Okla.

 

June 21-24

 

 

Field

 

108 pros, 108 co-anglers

 

Cut to top 50 after Day 2

 

Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3

 

 

Launch

 

North Beach Development

 

61201 East 270 Rd.

 

Grove, OK

 

5:50 a.m. ET

 

 

Weigh-in

 

North Beach Development

 

61201 East 270 Rd.

 

Grove, OK

 

3 p.m. ET

 

 

Background

 

Previous BASS events

 

2006 ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series

 

2006 ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series

 

2006 Bassmaster Elite Series

 

2006, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series

 

2006, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series

 

2006, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series

 

2006, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series

 

2005, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series

 

2005, ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series

 

1995, Bassmaster Invitational

 

1992, Bassmaster Invitational

 

1991, Bassmaster Invitational

 

1980, Bassmaster Invitational

 

 

Previous winners on lake

 

13-11, Alan Kelly, 2006

 

17-13, John Wynn, 2006

 

79-7, Mike McClelland, 2006

 

13-11, Chuck Lawless, 2006

 

12-1, Leroy Rease, 2006

 

24-4, John Shore, 2006

 

15-10, Robbie Dodson, 2006

 

13-8, Steve Dowty, 2005

 

13-5, Luis Nolda, 2005

 

52-6, Tommy Martin, 1995

 

43-15, Jim Morton, 1992

 

49-1, Ron Shuffield, 1992

 

26-3, Ken Cook, 1980

 

 

Heaviest winning weight

 

79-7, Mike McClelland, 2006

 

 

Lowest winning weight

 

12-1, Leroy Rease, 2006

 

 

Weather

 

Temperature

 

93 degrees

 

 

Lake level

 

746.42 ft. above mean sea level

 

 

 Bassmaster Elite Series Schedule

 

 The Western Run

 

 #1	March 8-11		Battle on the Border  - Lake Amistad, Del Rio, Texas

 

 #2	March 22-25	Duel in the Delta  - California Delta, Stockton, Calif.

 

 #3	March 29 — April 1	Golden State Shootout — Clear Lake, Lakeport, Calif.

 

 The Southern Swing

 

 #4	April 19-22	Pride of Georgia — Clarks Hill Lake, Evans, Ga.

 

 #5	April 26-29	Southern Challenge — Lake Guntersville, Guntersville, Ala.

 

 #6	June 7-10		Blue Ridge Brawl — Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, Va.

 

 The Turn

 

 #7	June 21-24		Sooner Run - Grand Lake, Grove, Okla.

 

 The Northern Run

 

 #8	July 12-15		Champion's Choice - Lake Champlain, Plattsburgh, N.Y.

 

 #9	July 19-22		Empire Chase — Lake Erie/Niagara River, Buffalo, N.Y.

 

 The Final Charge

 

 #10	Aug. 9-12		Capitol Clash - Potomac River, Charles County, Md.

 

 #11	Sept. 13-16	Sunshine Showdown — Lake Tohopekaliga, Kissimmee, Fla.

 

Local sponsors: Local sponsors include Grand Lake Association.

 

 

Bassmaster Elite Series sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide and Costa Del Mar.

 

 

For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com. Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN’s latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

 

 

BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.

 

 

BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry’s widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

 

 

Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings

 

 

 -------------------------------------------

 

 Place  Name               St            Pts

 

 -------------------------------------------

 

 1 Skeet Reese           Calif.       1573

 

 2 Kevin VanDam          Mich.        1460

 

 3 Jared Lintner         Calif.       1441

 

 4 Fred Roumbanis        Calif.       1361

 

 5 Ishama Monroe         Calif.       1350

 

 6 Jeff Kriet            Okla.        1338

 

 7 Terry Scroggins       Fla.         1327

 

 8 Derek Remitz          Texas        1292

 

 8 Casey Ashley          S.C.         1292

 

 10 Steve Kennedy         Ala.         1271

 

 11 Aaron Martens         Ala.         1268

 

 12 Dean Rojas            Texas        1244

 

 13 John Crews            Va.          1237

 

 14 Stephen Browning      Ark.         1236

 

 15 Gerald Swindle        Ala.         1226

 

 15 Kelly Jordon          Texas        1226

 

 17 Chris Lane            Fla.         1220

 

 18 Bryan Hudgins         Fla.         1217

 

 19 John Murray           Ariz.        1215

 

 20 Gary Klein            Texas        1204

 

 21 Mark Tyler            Okla.        1183

 

 22 Scott Rook            Ark.         1182

 

 23 Kevin Wirth           Ky.          1175

 

 24 Peter Thliveros       Fla.         1166

 

 25 Jeff Reynolds         Okla.        1162

 

 25 Mark Menendez         Ky.          1162

 

 27 Jason Quinn           S.C.         1161

 

 27 Timmy Horton          Ala.         1161

 

 29 Mike McClelland       Ark.         1160

 

 30 Michael Iaconelli     N.J.         1157

 

 31 Tommy Biffle          Okla.        1155

 

 32 Cliff Pace            Miss.        1150

 

 33 Takahiro Omori        Texas        1149

 

 34 Todd Faircloth        Texas        1136

 

 35 Morizo Shimizu        Calif.       1121

 

 36 Greg Hackney          La.          1114

 

 37 Ray Sedgwick          S.C.         1109

 

 38 Alton Jones           Texas        1108

 

 39 Edwin Evers           Okla.        1104

 

 40 Paul Elias            Miss.        1100

 

 41 Pete Ponds            Miss.        1098

 

 42 Randy Howell          Ala.         1097

 

 43 Brent Chapman         Kan.         1096

 

 44 Boyd Duckett          Ala.         1084

 

 45 Dave Wolak            N.C.         1083

 

 46 Brian Snowden         Mo.          1075

 

 47 Kevin Short           Ark.         1066

 

 48 Mark Tucker           Mo.          1048

 

 49 Shaw Grigsby, Jr      Fla.         1046

 

 50 Davy Hite             S.C.         1038

 

 51 Matthew Sphar         N.Y.         1036

 

 52 Denny Brauer          Mo.          1034

 

 53 Russ Lane             Ala.         1029

 

 54 Mike Wurm             Ark.         1025

 

 55 Scott Campbell        Mo.          1022

 

 56 Jimmy Mize            Ark.         1016

 

 57 Jason Williamson      S.C.          997

 

 58 Ken Brodeur           Conn.         991

 

 59 Rick Morris           Va.           980

 

 60 Yusuke Miyazaki       Texas         979

 

 61 Ken Cook              Okla.         969

 

 62 Lee Bailey            Ala.          966

 

 63 Rick Clunn            Mo.           959

 

 64 James Niggemeyer      Texas         952

 

 65 Kotaro Kiriyama       Ala.          943

 

 66 Greg Gutierrez        Calif.        942

 

 67 Ben Matsubu           Texas         933

 

 68 Matt Reed             Texas         924

 

 69 Kurt Dove             Va.           917

 

 70 Zell Rowland          Texas         915

 

 71 Britt Myers           S.C.          914

 

 72 James Charlesworth    Fla.          912

 

 73 Bernie Schultz        Fla.          904

 

 74 Marty Robinson        S.C.          901

 

 75 Bill Lowen            Ohio          888

 

 76 Jeff Connella         La.           887

 

 77 Marty Stone           N.C.          885

 

 78 Bradley Hallman       Okla.         879

 

 78 Bill Smith            Ky.           879

 

 80 Jami Fralick          S.D.          877

 

 81 Kenyon Hill           Okla.         872

 

 82 Jim Murray            Ga.           870

 

 83 James Kennedy         La.           852

 

 84 Kevin Langill         N.C.          848

 

 84 Jeremy Starks         W.Va.         848

 

 86 Grant Goldbeck        Md.           843

 

 87 Paul Hirosky          Pa.           831

 

 88 Charlie Hartley       Ohio          828

 

 89 Mark Rogers           Fla.          821

 

 90 Guy Eaker             N.C.          815

 

 91 Matt Amedeo           Ohio          807

 

 92 Preston Clark         Fla.          801

 

 93 Glenn Delong          Ohio          767

 

 94 Keith Phillips        Ala.          734

 

 95 Steve Daniel          Fla.          732

 

 96 Terry Butcher         Okla.         715

 

 97 Eric Nethery          Ga.           709

 

 98 Doc Merkin            Ill.          706

 

 99 Jimmy Mason           Ala.          678

 

 100 Darrin Schwenkbeck    Md.           677

 

 101 Jon Bondy             Canada        672

 

 102 Charlie Youngers      Fla.          667

 

 103 Bradley Stringer      Texas         664

 

 104 Dave Smith            Okla.         660

 

 105 Rick Ash              Pa.           642

 

 106 Byron Velvick         Texas         564

 

 107 Frank Scalish         Ohio          560

 

 108 Elton Luce Jr         Texas         426