LAKE SAM RAYBURN, Texas Larry McNeese of College Station, Texas, took the lead on day two of the McDonald's Big Bass Splash Saturday at Sam Rayburn Lake with his 10.90-pound bass.
McNeese caught his fish with a 10-inch black power worm on a Texas rig in 7 to 8 feet of water. The fish was caught at 9:15 a.m. near Indian Creek. McNeese's catch was the heaviest fish he has ever caught.
Gary Vanya of Pineland, Texas, landed the second heaviest fish of the day which was 9.76 pounds. Vanya's fish was caught on a fluke in 14 feet of water off a grass point. His fish will move him into fourth overall.
Herbert Rusk's 10.09 fish from day one moves to second place, and Kelvin Russell's 9.80-pound fish from day one move to third.
On Saturday, 523 fish were weighed in for a total weight of 2,283 pounds. The average weight of each fish was 4.37 pounds.
The day started slower on Saturday with fewer fish being weighed early but increased in weight and numbers as the day progressed. Rain set in for the final hours of the day on Saturday, which hampered the crowd numbers and may force the Neil McCoy concert to be cancelled or delayed.
There are anglers from 42 states and five foreign countries fishing in the event that claims to be the largest amatuer big bass event in the world. The event expects to exceed 7,000 entrants over the three days.