Texan Keith Combs Goes From Zero To Hero
at Bassmaster Elite Series Event on West Point Lake

May 2, 2013 - LAGRANGE, Ga. — Zero.

By 1:30 p.m. Thursday, that’s how many bass Keith Combs of Huntington, Texas, believed he’d end up weighing in on the first day of the West Point Lake Battle, the fourth event of the Bassmaster Elite Series season. In six hours of casting, he had not had one bite.

Suddenly, “Things just started to roll,” he said.

Combs ended the day leading the tournament after weighing 15 pounds, 14 ounces. He was 4 ounces in front of Greg Vinson of Wetumpka, Ala., who turned in 15-10. Behind Combs and Vinson was the 2013 Bassmaster Classic champ, Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., who was third with 14-2

“I had some sight fish, I had some flipping fish, I had some fish in the current, I had some cranking fish — and I ran all that stuff and didn’t catch any,” Combs said. “I thought I wasn’t going to catch a fish today.”

Fishless, he re-ran all the same water, trying all his different techniques again and again. His breakthrough was a largemouth off a spawning bed. Then he moved and was able to fill his five-fish limit with smaller spotted bass for about 7 pounds total, he estimated.

His day just got better and better. He saw a largemouth “cruising” and made a cast to it.

“They don’t usually bite, but this one did. It was a 3 1/2. I caught my big one the same way,” he said, “but in a different place.”

His “big one” weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and enabled him to cull another smaller spotted bass.

“It just was weird to go through all that stuff one time and not catch a fish, then come back to it again and whack them. I’d say I’m probably the luckiest guy in Georgia right now,” said Combs, who on March 24 won the Elite event on Falcon Lake in wire-to-wire fashion.

Vinson — who less than two weeks ago led the Ramada Quest Elite event for two days running at Bull Shoals Lake — said he’s fishing with confidence and is tapping into his high comfort level at West Point Lake.

“Bull Shoals didn’t hurt my confidence, even though I fell as much as I did,” Vinson said, referring to his fall out of contention on Day 3 after his prime fishing spot filled with floating logs and debris.

“I’m building off Bull Shoals,” he said. “And here, I’m on a lake I’ve spent a lot of time on.”

Vinson said he started his day on the areas and pattern as he’d planned and caught two largemouth, including his biggest, a 4-14. But then the action stopped. He regrouped at about 11 a.m.

“I finally realized that my primary pattern was a bust,” he said. “I went to another deal, totally different, and it worked out. Hopefully I’ve started to build a pattern that could work out.”

In fourth place was Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., with 13-5. Fifth place was claimed by Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., with 13-0.

The largest bass weighed Thursday was a 6-12. Caught by Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., it leads the Battle’s Carhartt Big Bass competition for $1,000, plus $500 if the angler was wearing Carhartt clothing. Combs’ bag of 15-14 set the pace for the Berkley Heavyweight award of $500.

For many in the field of 100 pros, Day 1 of the Battle was a lot rougher. It took just 10-6 to get into the Top 12 in Thursday’s standings. Sixty-nine pros weighed five-fish limits.

The Elite pros are competing for $100,000, an instant-in for the 2014 Bassmaster Classic and points that count toward the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year title awarded at the end of the season.

The four-day event continues Friday when the full field of 100 will return to West Point Lake out of LaGrange, Ga. The pros will launch at 6:40 a.m. each day from Pyne Road Park (4481 Roanoke Road, LaGrange, GA 30240). Beginning at 3:15 p.m., weigh-ins will be at the same location.

Fans are invited to watch. All Bassmaster events are free and open to the public.

2013 West Point Lake Battle 5/2-5/5
West Point Lake, La Grange GA.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts

1. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 15-14 0
Day 1: 5 15-14
2. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 15-10 0
Day 1: 5 15-10
3. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 14-02 0
Day 1: 5 14-02
4. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 13-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-05
5. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 13-00 0
Day 1: 5 13-00
6. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 12-10 0
Day 1: 5 12-10
7. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 4 12-10 0
Day 1: 4 12-10
8. Hank Cherry Maiden, NC 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04
9. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 11-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-05
10. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 3 10-13 0
Day 1: 3 10-13
11. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 10-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-07
12. John Crews Salem, VA 4 10-06 0
Day 1: 4 10-06
13. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 10-04 0
Day 1: 5 10-04
14. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 09-12 0
Day 1: 5 09-12
15. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 09-11 0
Day 1: 5 09-11
16. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 09-09 0
Day 1: 5 09-09
17. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 09-07 0
Day 1: 5 09-07
18. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 09-05 0
Day 1: 5 09-05
19. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 09-04 0
Day 1: 5 09-04
20. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-15
20. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 08-15 0
Day 1: 5 08-15
22. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 5 08-14 0
Day 1: 5 08-14
23. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 08-12 0
Day 1: 5 08-12
24. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 08-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-11
24. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 08-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-11
26. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
26. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 08-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-10
28. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 08-07 0
Day 1: 5 08-07
29. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 08-06 0
Day 1: 5 08-06
30. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 08-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05
31. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 08-03 0
Day 1: 5 08-03
32. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 08-01 0
Day 1: 5 08-01
33. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
33. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
35. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
35. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
37. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 07-14 0
Day 1: 5 07-14
38. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 5 07-13 0
Day 1: 5 07-13
38. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 07-13 0
Day 1: 5 07-13
40. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 5 07-12 0
Day 1: 5 07-12
40. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 07-12 0
Day 1: 5 07-12
40. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 07-12 0
Day 1: 5 07-12
43. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 07-11 0
Day 1: 5 07-11
43. Clark Reehm Shreveport, LA 5 07-11 0
Day 1: 5 07-11
45. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 07-10 0
Day 1: 5 07-10
46. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 07-09 0
Day 1: 5 07-09
47. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 07-07 0
Day 1: 5 07-07
48. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 07-06 0
Day 1: 5 07-06
49. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 07-04 0
Day 1: 5 07-04
50. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 4 07-04 0
Day 1: 4 07-04
51. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 3 07-04 0
Day 1: 3 07-04
52. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 07-03 0
Day 1: 5 07-03
53. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 07-01 0
Day 1: 5 07-01
54. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 07-00 0
Day 1: 5 07-00
55. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 06-15 0
Day 1: 5 06-15
56. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 06-09 0
Day 1: 5 06-09
56. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 5 06-09 0
Day 1: 5 06-09
58. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 06-07 0
Day 1: 5 06-07
58. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 06-07 0
Day 1: 5 06-07
60. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 06-06 0
Day 1: 5 06-06
61. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 06-04 0
Day 1: 5 06-04
61. David Smith Del City, OK 5 06-04 0
Day 1: 5 06-04
63. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 2 06-04 0
Day 1: 2 06-04
64. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 06-03 0
Day 1: 5 06-03
65. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 4 06-03 0
Day 1: 4 06-03
65. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 4 06-03 0
Day 1: 4 06-03
67. Randy Howell Springville, AL 4 06-00 0
Day 1: 4 06-00
68. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 4 05-13 0
Day 1: 4 05-13
69. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 05-12 0
Day 1: 5 05-12
69. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 05-12 0
Day 1: 5 05-12
71. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 05-11 0
Day 1: 5 05-11
71. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 5 05-11 0
Day 1: 5 05-11
71. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 05-11 0
Day 1: 5 05-11
74. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 05-10 0
Day 1: 5 05-10
74. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 05-10 0
Day 1: 5 05-10
76. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 05-09 0
Day 1: 5 05-09
76. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 05-09 0
Day 1: 5 05-09
78. Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 05-08 0
Day 1: 5 05-08
79. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 4 05-07 0
Day 1: 4 05-07
80. Jared Miller Norman, OK 3 05-07 0
Day 1: 3 05-07
81. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 4 05-06 0
Day 1: 4 05-06
81. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 4 05-06 0
Day 1: 4 05-06
83. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 4 05-03 0
Day 1: 4 05-03
84. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 3 05-03 0
Day 1: 3 05-03
85. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 04-15 0
Day 1: 5 04-15
86. Chip Porche Bixby, OK 3 04-14 0
Day 1: 3 04-14
87. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 4 04-12 0
Day 1: 4 04-12
87. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 4 04-12 0
Day 1: 4 04-12
89. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 3 04-06 0
Day 1: 3 04-06
90. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 2 04-01 0
Day 1: 2 04-01
91. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 2 04-00 0
Day 1: 2 04-00
92. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 3 03-10 0
Day 1: 3 03-10
93. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 2 03-03 0
Day 1: 2 03-03
94. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 3 03-00 0
Day 1: 3 03-00
95. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 2 02-12 0
Day 1: 2 02-12
96. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 2 02-08 0
Day 1: 2 02-08
97. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 3 02-07 0
Day 1: 3 02-07
98. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 2 02-03 0
Day 1: 2 02-03
99. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 2 02-01 0
Day 1: 2 02-01
100. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 69 441 729-11
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69 441 729-11