Mississippi angler Cliff Pace roared into day two with a massive stringer to take sole possession of first place in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokee in Oklahoma on Saturday. Pace shared the day one lead with New Jersey’s Mike Iaconelli with 21 pounds 8 ounces. But Iaconelli stumbled on day 2 of the Classic and Pace dropped the hammer. The Mississippi angler hauled 21-12 to the weigh-in scales at the BOK Center in Tulsa on Saturday to salt away first place going into Championship Sunday. Pace has a total of 43-4 over two days.
It was a frustrating day for Iaconelli, one of the sports most popular figures. Ike could only manage 13-11 for Day 2, but remains in 3rd place for Sunday’s final shootout. He has a two day total of 35-3.
The biggest gainer on Day 2 was Idaho young gun Brandon Palaniuk who brought 19-10 to the second day weigh-in and moved up the leader board to second place. Palaniuk’s total weight after two days is 36-4, seven pounds out of the lead.
Going into the championship day on Sunday, 4th place belongs to North Carolina angler Hank Cherry and sitting in 5th is Oklahoma angler Jason Christie.
Four-time Classic Champion Kevin Van Dam sits in 6th place and rounding out the top 10 on Day 2 are Jonathan Carter, Shaw Grigsby, Tracy Adams, and Marty Robinson.
West Virginia angler Jeremy Starks saw his first Classic come to a disappointing end with only three fish on the second day. Starks finishes the tournament in 43rd place.
The weather is expected to make another turn on Sunday with a warm front rolling into northeast Oklahoma. Anglers have braved temperatures in the teens and 20’s all week, but many believe a warm up could change the dynamic of this tournament drastically on day 3.