Jeff Gustafson starts the second day of this tournament two ounces shy of a four-pound lead. If that doesn’t sound like much, consider that less than four pounds separates the rest of the top 20 – from second-place Steve Kennedy (14-0) to 20th place Drew Cook (10-1). These Tennessee River tournament waters are double-tough right now – for everyone but Gustafson.
We will know quickly today whether Gustafson can build on his lead or fall back in the pack. He caught his five-bass limit – all smallmouth topping the 18-inch minimum – before 10 a.m. Thursday. He’s boat No. 5 in the 7 a.m. takeoff order.
“What I’m doing is kind of a unique way of catching them,” said the third-year Elite Series pro from Keewatin, Ontario, Canada. “It’s not easy for everyone, if you’ve never done it. I’m confident. I’m excited to go again. But I could easily go and they’re not there and then I’m in big trouble.”
Gustafson’s confidence isn’t shared by anyone else in this 100-man field. Even his closest competitors expressed no confidence they could repeat what they’d done on Day 1. Only 29 limits were brought to the scales Thursday, and 23 anglers weighed one keeper or less (there were six zeroes). But anyone could make the top 50 cut that will occur after today’s weigh-in, as 50th place on Day 1 was 5 pounds, 7 ounces.
Everyone expects today’s weather change – cloudy skies, cooler temperatures and 100% chance of rain vs. Thursday’s bright sunshine and 60 degrees – to change the bass fishing too. But if Gustafson’s pattern holds for one more morning, he’s going to be hard to catch.