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Alton Jones masters Mississippi for Elite lead
 BASS Communications / Seigo Saito |
Alton Jones, in a distant third in the AOY standings heading into this week's Elite event, reminded fishing fans of his versatility by grabbing the lead with a two-day total of 24 pounds, 1 ounce, at the Genuity River Rumble on the Mississippi River.
In what has turned into a grind-it-out event, Jones, of Waco, Texas, has been the model of consistency, weighing 12-1 Friday after posting 12-0 on Thursday. With tough conditions on the mighty Mississippi, many anglers have been forced into wholesale adjustments, causing dramatic changes in the leaderboard from the first to the second day.
"I'm running a long way so I'm pretty much committed to this area at this point and don't have many alternatives," said Jones, who is closing in on $2 million in BASS career earnings. "I think it has the potential to replenish but it's hard to say what is going to happen. If it doesn't carry over into tomorrow, I'll be prepared with an excuse." Read More
Jones Jumps Into Lead, But 9 Are Within 3 Pounds
 BASS Communications / Seigo Saito |
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He's sharing a backwater area in Pool 18 (one lock up from the launch) with fellow Texan Kelly Jordon, and it was the hot spot today. The Pool 19 pond that the three leaders from day 1 divvied up – in conjunction with about two dozen other competitors – cooled off dramatically, and two members of that trio tumbled out of the Top 12. Read More
12th: Jones Was Committed
Alton Jones, who remained at No. 3 in the AOY race and gained some points on leader VanDam (he's now 58 back), knew he was in trouble early this morning when the ledge he'd been relying on produced just one bite, and he lost it. He ended up weighing just 12-11.
"It was a pretty long day," he said. "I'd been getting a substantial portion of my weight in the first couple hours, and I guess the shad spawn didn't happen there today.
"It's never good when you drop from 6th to 12th, but I've got to remember that there were 87 guys who'd have loved to have been where I was." Complete Story
6th: No Looking for Jones
Alton Jones expected to post a big number today, and he did just that.
"I thought I could catch at least 25 (pounds)," he said. "Beyond that, it's hard to predict because you're depending on big bites. I was pretty sure I could load up with 5-pounders, but I also caught a 7 1/2. I'm excited to be where I am.
"I will say that I'm not sight-fishing – I'm fishing outside and working the current and that sort of thing. There are lots of fish, and when you find the little sweet spots it can be 20 or 30 straight. Once you figure out the magic cast, it's lights out." Complete Story
6th: Jones Covets Belt
Jones said his chances of winning are very slim, but hopes to earn one of the commemorative belts that BASS awards to anglers to top the 100-pound mark in a tournament.
"I don't have a century belt yet and I think that would be pretty cool," he said. "I'm also excited about closing the (Angler of the Year points) gap on KVD (Kevin VanDam). I think he's still going to be leading, but with Skeet and I both up there, it's going to be a tight race.
"It really gets me pumped up for the rest of the year. Complete Story
