Pro angler Phil Tilbury launched on Day Two of the BAM Tournament Trail’s 3rd Pro/Am stop for the 2024 season on the California Delta in 2nd place. Consistency allowed the Oakdale, Calif pro to make up more than a six-pound deficit and take the lead of the top-10 field cut with a two-day total of 44.53.
Tilbury increased his first day’s best five by a little over one-pound and earned the honor as the only angler to sack up over 20-pounds on both days of the event. He now sits with a five-plus pound lead above his nearest competitor as the top-10 prepare to launch for a 3rd and final day of fishing on Champion Sunday.
With the Delta crown on the line, Tilbury hopes to repeat his success even with a potential condition change. “I was surprised that I could use the same bait with the cloud cover as well as the sunshine,” he shared. “I would like another day of wind; but I don’t think I will get it.”
On Day Two, Tilbury found early success with 18-pounds in the box before 7:30 a.m. “It took a lot of pressure off,” he said. “I was able to fish really free for the rest of the day.”
Although bait details were limited, Tilbury did reveal that he weighed two bass that ate a jig, and he was also throwing a ChatterBait.
Hall Holds On To His Junk Fishing Tactics
For Day Two, Ryan Hall of Orangevale, Calif. slid from 1st into 2nd as he continued his Day One junk fishing strategy adding 10.91 to his tournament weight for a two-day total of 38.81. “There was a lack of wind today, and I really needed it,” Hall said.
Hall got the most bites when flipping and punching. “But I didn’t get quality bites doing that,” he said.
By scales close, Hall was undecided on his plan of attack for Championship Sunday.
“I definitely need over 20, and maybe the leader to stumble,” said Hall. “I’ve been in a new area for the first two days; one that I’ve only fished four times in my life. I have some history to run, but I’m up in the air. I’m just going to keep a big rod in my hand and fish confident.”
Mah Makes a Plan To Change
Ken Mah from Elk Grove, Calif. maintained his 3rd place position with an additional 14.68 added to his 20-plus from the first day. His current total of 35.56 leaves him in contention, roughly nine-pounds behind Tilbury. “It’s hard to make these top-10s; I feel blessed to have done it,” said Mah. “I’ve still got to have my big bag. It’s April; so, it’s out there. I have a manageable 23 to 24 pounds to get there.”
Today Mah was forced to alter his Day One presentations of topwater and flipping. “None of that worked and I went cranking and chattering today and I feel fortunate to have caught what I caught,” he stated.
Mah believes the Day Three conditions support his ability to come in with the weight necessary to seal the deal. “I have to check the tides and the weather; but I am not going to do the same thing that I did today,” he revealed. “It’s the blessing and the curse of knowing a place well.”
Brown Remains The Co-Angler Leader
Co-angler Rodney Brown of Sacramento, Calif. weighed in on Day Two with 15.27, maintaining the lead for the non-boater side, and increasing the gap between him and 2nd place by nearly seven-pounds with a two-day total of 32.78.
Fishing with his pro draw, Scott Stanfield from Anderson, Calif., Brown sustained his slow bait approach, which included a Yamamoto Senko as his predominant fish-catching method. “I did get one on a frog,” he shared. “I had been trying to get them on a frog; but they kept coming up and not getting it. Today, I got my last fish on one and that helped me cull my smallest fish.”
Groenewold Gets The Only Bass in The 10-Pound Class
Pro angler Clint Groenewold of Discovery Bay, Calif. boated a double-digit bass at 10.81.
Launching out of Big Break Marina at safelight, the three-day Delta bass battle will continue through Sunday, April 28. Weigh-ins begin at 3 p.m. each day at the same marina. Boaters are fighting it out for a pro purse north of $22,000 and the non-boaters for over $10,000.
Full pro and co-angler results can be seen here.
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