Posted  May 16th, 2008  4:25 pm CST

Virginia Pro Rick Morris Takes the Day Two Lead at Murray

Story by Brent Conway - Photos by Mark Jeffreys

Columbia, SC – Lake Murray, site of the sixth regular season stop of the 2008 Elite Series tour, plays host to this week’s Carolina Clash. It’s the second time in as many weeks that the field of 108 of the world’s best bass fishermen have had to come to grips with bass that don’t really behave like a bass should behave this time of the year due to their relentless pursuit of the infamous blueback herring.

Yes, Murray is a little high and the abundant shoreline flora that once wrapped the lake is gone, but that’s not the problem…and it’s not what has many of the anglers befuddled. In fact, many in the field explained during practice that the lake’s water level has brought shoreline bushes and brush into play – habitat that would traditionally be a flipper’s dream. 

Unfortunately the bass don’t share the same view, given their herring-crazed state. Kelly Jordon put it best after Thursday’s weigh-in by saying that the bass at Murray behave more like striper and, as a result, are not positioned where the books say they should be.

So, it’s all about the blueback herring at Murray – just as it was at Clarks Hill two weeks ago. Actually, early success this week has as much to do with being able to cover 50 points a day as it does with figuring out the subtleties that will trigger a bite. And while there are a few anglers who have found productive solitude, for most it’s simply take a number and get in line to go through the point rotation. 

Conventional wisdom would lead you to assume that local knowledge would prove vital in post-spawn conditions. However, at the conclusion of Thursday’s weigh-in there wasn’t a homer in the Top 12, though there were some super-stars lined up for a shot at the win – including Mike McClelland (5th, 18-7), Kelly Jordon (9th, 17-13), and Alton Jones (12th, 16-7).

With clouds and a stiff breeze much of Friday – something many anglers looked forward to after Thursday’s glass-like conditions – things shaped up to be more productive weight-wise given the tournament’s leader Grant Goldbeck was the only angler to cross the 20-pound barrier the day before. 

Thursday’s trend of round robin held true as the field was held below 20 pounds, but journeyman Rick Morris scored and climbed seven places to take the lead after boating 17-7 Friday, giving him 35-7 in two days of fishing. Mike McClelland closed out the second quarter in second place with 34-13 overall, after bringing 16-6 to the scales Friday.

Third-place belonged to Day One leader Grant Goldbeck, with 34-4 overall, who fell off the pace and brought 14-0 to the weigh-in stage, and Edwin Evers ended Friday in fourth place, after bringing in five bass weighing 14-10, with a two-day total weight of 33-15.

Toyota pro Dave Wolak stormed into fifth place after starting the day in 20th, thanks to his second-day bag weighing 18-8, giving him 33-5 overall. Coming from 28th place to round out the Super Six was Brian Snowden, who weighed 18-11 Friday giving him a two-day total of 32-8.

Morris Went Big
Rick Morris is having a solid year with four Top 50 cuts – including two Top 12 finishes, and it’s all about being persistent he explained.“I started off early in one of my sweet spots follow and another little two pounder swat the bait,” Morris explained. “None of them hooked up, and I went about two hours without a bite.”

With an hour to go, and with only three fish, Morris put away the big baits and the Berkley hand-poured finesse worm. “I knew that I needed another two keepers to be safe and the little finesse worm saved the day for me,” he said. “It could’ve been such a better day because I had the bites to have over 20 pounds, but I can’t complain.”

Morris plans to start the day with the big baits, but knows that should the wind fail him he can – and will – go to finesse baits. “I’ve been getting the big bites, and with the one exception, I’ve been able to get them all to the boat,” he explained. “I wish the wind would blow again tomorrow because I seem to do well in those conditions. 

“If the wind dies, and I don’t have a decent bag by noon I’ll drag a rig around or throw a finesse worm some.”

McClelland Making it Look Easy
“I’ll be honest with you,” Mike McClelland boldly proclaimed. “I’m really, really puzzled by all of these guys saying that they’re catching them good early. I’ve fished some outstanding water the first two hours of each day and I haven’t got the first bite yet.”

As McClelland explained, the fish at Murray are “moody” and timing is elemental to loading the live well. As such, he’s going to be able to start on his prime water in the morning – something he’s been unable to do so far this week. “I’m still going to get to start on a place that I feel like is probably the best spot that I’ve got,” he said. 

“I’ve been sharing it a little bit this morning but we’ve agreed to allow me to start there in the morning. Hopefully, I can get started early when they’re there and biting.”

Goldbeck Thankful
Grant Goldbeck is in route to having the best finish he’s had since last August at the Potomac, and he’s quick to graciously point out that with the lost fish he’s had, he’s blessed to be in this position. “I’ve had two great days, and I’m really thankful to have what I have,” he said. 

“If I could ever get everything that bites to the boat I would have and incredible day, but that’s fishing.”

Ignoring his instincts, Goldbeck is still sticking to his guns and staying focused on not fishing a jig around cover, opting instead to milk his spots for all they’re worth. “I only fished about four spots today,” he said. “I had a couple of mechanical problems, so it kind of scared me to make the runs that I would’ve had to make. 

“I had a couple of other spots that I maybe could’ve caught them on, but with the wind I doubt that I would’ve even been able to fish them.”

Goldbeck explained that picking up the jig and heading to the bank is what he’s most confident in doing, and that just about the time he’s ready to drop the finesse rig for the big bait, the school returns. “This morning I lost one in the first couple of minutes, and after that it took probably 20 minutes to get another bite,” he said. 

“Just about the time I started to doubt myself they started busting all around me.”

The wind (and mechanical concerns) kept Grant off two of his best areas, though as he sees it, it could be a positive for Saturday. “It gives me something else to think about, that’s for sure,” he said. “I doubt that anyone else was able to get on them today, and I haven’t seen anyone there during practice, so if the wind will cooperate tomorrow it should be good.”

Evers explained that there’s no change in his game heading into the weekend. “I’ve got all the confidence in the world right now,” he said. “I can’t really change anything because I’m fishing as hard and I can. That’s all that I know to do.”

It’s All About Angles for Wolak
With two big fish in his bag, Dave Wolak was able to make a push to be in contention for Sunday’s final round. However, he explained that the big fish were “loners” and were little more than a gift. “When you get those big ones like that, you just have to count your blessings,” he said. 

“I missed a four-pounder right at the boat, but she pulled off. Otherwise, I would’ve had over 20 pounds.”

Wolak went deep Friday as a result of the wind, but with only five bites all day, it was still a grind. “I couldn’t really get the offshore stuff going yesterday, so I just beat the bank,” he said. “Today with the wind I spent a lot more time offshore, and I knew that it would be a grind to get five, but I knew that when they bit, it would be quality. 

“Spending your time out deep is a risk, but if you can get them to the boat when they bite, the reward justifies it.” 

The wind, Wolak said, was critical to his offshore bite – something he keyed in on early in the week. “It was windy Monday and I had an eight-pounder,” he said. “The wind Monday was blowing out of the same direction as it was today so I figured out how the fish posted up when it blew.”

Wolak explained that he’s not really doing anything different, as far as technique goes, from anyone else; however, for him, it’s about angles. “I think my approach to the areas – the way that I’m angling my boat to cast – that I’ve been fishing is a little different than most guys,” he said. “You never know what tomorrow brings, but I’ve got a pretty good shallow bite working along with the deep bite. I feel pretty good.”

Let it Snow in South Carolina
“I’d really get excited about the day if it wasn’t for the herring,” he said. “I really did about the same thing today as I did yesterday but the quality was there today. It’s just all about covering water.”

Snowden isn’t bashful in saying that he’s throwing a YUM Money Minnow and a Siebel swimbait exclusively given that his pattern and the way he’s fishing isn’t at all unique. “A lot of what you get here is going to be luck,” he said. “You know they’re there, it’s just a matter of getting them to bite.”

DAY TWO STANDINGS