By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff
CULLMAN, Ala. — The heat was on, literally and figuratively, on Day 2 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Smith Lake.
And at the halfway point, Cody Huff is the one holding fellow Elite feet to the fire.
Huff, a 27-year-old pro from Ava, Mo., leads the tournament with a two-day total of 10 bass for 29 pounds, 1 ounce. And while that might not be the eye-popping weight the sport’s best sticks regularly post, it’s certainly an impressive total given the slack bite on Day 1 followed by blistering temperatures that pushed the heat index into triple digits Friday.
The heat was extreme enough that Huff came to the scales more than an hour early on Friday, weighing in at approximately 1 p.m.
“I had a fish die on me, and I didn’t want to take the chance of losing any more,” Huff said.
His 15-4 total Friday was the second-heaviest of the day, even with the expired fish factored into his total. He bagged 13-13 on Thursday.
Meanwhile, rookie Trey McKinney, who came into the tournament with a big lead in the Angler of the Year race, self-reported after weigh-in that he received a phone call from a family member asking his whereabouts during competition and was alerted that he was late to check in for weigh-in, which violated rule C3 xiv of the Practice and Competition of the Official Rules of Competition. As a result, McKinney’s weight was disqualified for the day.
“Unfortunately, we made a mistake today that will cost us greatly in the long run,” McKinney said. “We don’t know why the Lord lets some things happen, but He has a plan, and the positivity is we get to fish to win for the rest of the year. Sometimes we don’t always know God’s plan for the future.”
As a result of the disqualification, McKinney slipped out of the lead for the points title. Alabama’s Justin Hamner, winner of the 2024 Classic, leads the standings with 597 points. Huff is 2nd with 577, followed by McKinney in 3rd with 571, Jacob Foutz in 4th with 551 and Jay Przekurat in fifth with 550.
Huff may have the tournament lead, but the secret to his success remains a mystery, much like Smith Lake has been for all competitors this week.
“You never know what kind of fish you’re on here, really, because the fish are moving a lot,” he said. “I ran through some areas in practice that I thought might have fish, and I’ve just been circulating back through them and catching what I can.”
Huff said he’s sharing some spots with competitors, but for the most part has focused on secondary spots, trying to get away from boat traffic. The forecasted warm weekend should bring out a bevy of recreational boaters, too, so Huff said catching an early limit will remain important.
“I know it’s gonna be bumpy out there with some wake, but it might play to my favor, being out of the way of most traffic,” Huff said.
The goal, he added, is to remain consistent.
“I’m catching fish,” he said. “I caught 103 (on Day 1), but you obviously have to weed through a lot of them to get the bigger fish. I didn’t catch nearly as many today, but I had an early limit. Today, I had a 3-5, but I didn’t have a 3-pounder at all on Day 1.”
And yet, he’s still in the lead.
“That doesn’t happen very often, having only one 3-pounder and the lead,” he said, chuckling.
Przekurat, a 25-year-old pro from Stevens Point, Wis., is in 2nd place on Smith with a two-day total of 28-3. He said all his keeper fish have been spotted bass, and that mornings have been the only time he’s hooked up.
“My bite just stops at about 11 o’clock,” he said. “But all that could change. The fish are moody here right now. I haven’t fished much new water, but these fish are educated.”
Przekurat caught a 4-pounder on Friday – pretty much the gold standard anglers are gunning for on Smith this week.
“That 4 is a rare fish right now,” he said. “It’s like catching a 7 or 8 on Toledo Bend. You get one, it’s a game-changer. It was for me. Without the 4-pounder, I’m at 13 pounds today rather than the 14-8 I caught.”
Przekurat said he’s fishing for spotted bass on timber in about 40 feet of water. His best bites have come on a Strike King Z-Too jerkbait in either gray glimmer or smokey shad colors.
“You have to roam around to find them,” he said, “and I’ve been keying on certain sections of the lake with better timber and more bait. You can LiveScope in some areas and not see a thing. But the spots like to hide in that deep timber. And there’s a lot of bait down there for them – threadfin shad, herring. There’s a meal down there.”
Longtime Elite angler Steve Kennedy, who hails from Auburn, Ala., is 3rd at the tournament’s halfway point with a 27-10 total. Kennedy moved up from 5th place courtesy of a 3-10 spot he hooked just before 11 a.m.
“There were seven or eight of them that showed up, a real wolfpack,” Kennedy said. “I could’ve had a bigger bag today, but when I swung back around on that group, I got three bites on a Glide but didn’t catch one of them. I took out a Senko and hooked a 3-pound largemouth, but he broke off, then I took out an Original Glide and just missed on another 2-pound largemouth.”
Robert Gee, a 25-year-old pro from Knoxville, is in 4th place with 27-7. Canada’s Cory Johnston is 5th with 27-6.
Caleb Kuphall won $1,000 for the 4-7 he caught Friday, the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day. That ties him with Day 1 leader Hunter Shryock for biggest of the tournament and the $2,000 prize that goes with it.
The Top 10 anglers after Saturday’s weigh-in will advance to fish on Sunday with the winner taking home a top prize of $100,000.
Day 2 Standings
1. Cody Huff -- Ava, MO -- 10, 29-01 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 13-13 -- Day 2: 5, 15-04
2. Jay Przekurat -- Plover, WI -- 10, 28-03 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 13-11 -- Day 2: 5, 14-08
3. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 27-10 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 14-02 -- Day 2: 5, 13-08
4. Robert Gee -- Knoxville, TN -- 10, 27-07 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 13-07 -- Day 2: 5, 14-00
5. Cory Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 10, 27-06 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 14-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10
6. Taku Ito -- Dalton, GA -- 10, 27-05 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 13-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-11
7. Alex Redwine -- Blue Ash, OH -- 10, 27-00 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 14-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08
8. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 10, 26-11 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 14-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10
9. Kyle Patrick -- Cooperstown, NY -- 10, 26-11 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03
10. Todd Auten -- Clover, SC -- 10, 26-10 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 10-10 -- Day 2: 5, 16-00
11. JT Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, SC -- 10, 26-09 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-15
12. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 10, 26-08 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 13-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04
13. Bryan New -- Leesville, SC -- 10, 26-04 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01
14. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 10, 26-03 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 15-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-04
15. Cooper Gallant -- Bowmanville, ON -- 10, 26-01 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-04
16. John Garrett -- Union City, TN -- 10, 25-15 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 13-08 -- Day 2: 5, 12-07
17. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 10, 25-14 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-12 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02
18. Cole Sands -- Calhoun , TN -- 10, 25-14 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 12-10 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04
19. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 10, 25-09 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 12-04 -- Day 2: 5, 13-05
20. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 10, 25-09 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-11
21. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 10, 24-14 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12
21. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 10, 24-14 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 5, 12-12
23. Bob Downey -- Detroit Lakes, MN -- 10, 24-13 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 12-06
24. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 10, 24-12 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 11-08 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04
25. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 10, 24-11 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10
26. Jacob Foutz -- Charleston, TN -- 10, 24-10 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 11-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-03
27. Bryant Smith -- Roseville, CA -- 10, 24-06 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 12-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00
28. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 10, 24-05 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 11-03 -- Day 2: 5, 13-02
29. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 10, 24-03 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-14
30. Kyle Welcher -- Valley, AL -- 10, 24-03 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 12-05
31. Tyler Williams -- Belgrade, ME -- 10, 24-02 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04
32. Jordan Lee -- Cullman, AL -- 10, 24-00 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-10
33. Wesley Gore -- Clanton, AL -- 10, 23-15 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08
34. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 10, 23-14 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 12-08
35. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 10, 23-12 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 09-05 -- Day 2: 5, 14-07
36. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 10, 23-12 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 13-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07
37. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 10, 23-11 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 12-11 -- Day 2: 5, 11-00
38. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 10, 23-10 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10
39. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 10, 23-05 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14
40. Jeff Gustafson -- Kenora, ON -- 10, 23-05 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 12-00
41. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 10, 23-04 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 5, 10-08
42. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 10, 23-03 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 12-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03
43. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 10, 23-02 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 5, 09-12
44. Ben Milliken -- New Caney, TX -- 10, 23-02 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 12-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03
45. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 10, 23-02 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-02
46. Mike Huff -- London, KY -- 10, 23-01 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-13
47. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 10, 23-01 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01
48. Kyoya Fujita -- Yamanashi, JAPAN -- 10, 23-00 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 5, 10-03
49. Logan Parks -- Auburn, AL -- 10, 23-00 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 11-03
50. Kyle Norsetter -- Cottage Grove, WI -- 10, 22-15 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 10-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04
The following anglers did not make the cut and will not fish on Day 3
51. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 10, 22-14 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-08
52. John Soukup -- Sapulpa, OK -- 10, 22-12 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 10-11 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01
53. Joey Cifuentes III -- Clinton, AR -- 10, 22-12 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14
54. David Gaston -- Sylacauga, AL -- 10, 22-09 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 11-12 -- Day 2: 5, 10-13
55. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 10, 22-08 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-15
56. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 10, 22-08 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 5, 10-13
57. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 10, 22-05 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 12-01
58. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 10, 21-14 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 09-10 -- Day 2: 5, 12-04
59. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 10, 21-12 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 5, 10-06
60. Patrick Walters -- Eutawville, SC -- 10, 21-12 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07
61. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 10, 21-11 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07
62. Timothy Dube -- Nashua , NH -- 10, 21-09 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 11-14 -- Day 2: 5, 9-11
63. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 10, 21-06 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 09-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-14
64. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 10, 21-05 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14
65. Alex Wetherell -- Middletown, CT -- 10, 21-03 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 09-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-05
66. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 21-03 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 10-02 -- Day 2: 5, 11-01
67. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 10, 21-02 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 5, 10-02
68. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 10, 21-02 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 10-09 -- Day 2: 5, 10-09
69. Will Davis Jr -- Sylacauga, AL -- 10, 21-00 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 10-02 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14
70. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 10, 20-14 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 09-10 -- Day 2:5, 11-04
71. Joseph Webster -- Hamilton, AL -- 10, 20-13 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 11-13 -- Day 2: 5, 09-00
72. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 10, 20-09 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 09-14 -- Day 2: 5, 10-11
73. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 10, 20-06 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 10-15 -- Day 2: 5, 09-07
74. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 8, 20-04 -- 30
Day 1: 3, 08-09 -- Day 2: 5, 11-11
75. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 10, 20-02 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 10-03 -- Day 2: 5, 09-15
76. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 10, 20-00 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 08-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-02
77. Jake Whitaker -- Hendersonville, NC -- 10, 19-13 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- 5, 09-05
78. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 19-12 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 09-15 -- Day 2: 5, 9-13
79. Jason Christie -- Dry Creek, OK -- 10, 19-07 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 09-00 -- Day 2: 5, 10-07
80. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 10, 19-04 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 10-05 -- Day 2: 5, 08-15
81. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 10, 19-03 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 08-05 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14
82. Frank Talley -- Belton, TX -- 10, 19-01 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 09-12 -- Day 2: 5, 09-05
83. Logan Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 10, 18-15 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 09-13 -- Day 2: 5, 9-02
84. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 10, 18-07 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 07-15 -- Day 2: 5, 10-08
85. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 10, 18-01 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 08-15 -- Day 2: 5, 09-02
86. Matty Wong -- Honolulu, HI -- 9, 18-00 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 11-11 -- Day 2: 4, 06-05
87. Buddy Gross -- Chattanooga, TN -- 9, 17-14 -- 17
Day 1: 4, 08-04 -- Day 2: 5, 9-10
88. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 9, 17-09 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 4, 07-02
89. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, PA -- 8, 17-09 -- 15
Day 1: 3, 07-03 -- Day 2: 5, 10-06
90. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 10, 17-05 -- 14
Day 1: 5, 08-15 -- Day 2: 5, 08-06
91. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 8, 16-12 -- 13
Day 1: 5, 10-10 -- Day 2: 3, 6-02
92. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 7, 13-12 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 2, 03-08
93. Trey McKinney -- Carbondale, IL -- 5, 12-02 -- 11
Day 1: 5, 12-02 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00
94. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 6, 11-06 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 10-04 -- Day 2: 1, 01-02
95. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 6, 10-05 -- 9
Day 1: 2, 03-02 -- Day 2: 4, 07-03
96. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 6, 10-12 -- 8
Day 1: 4, 06-13 -- Day 2: 2, 03-05
97. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 08-12 -- 8
Day 1: 5, 08-12 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00
98. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 4, 06-13 -- 6
Day 1: 4, 06-13 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00
99. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00 -- Day 2: 0, 00-00
