5/5/11 Lake Powell, UT – The fish are rushing the banks at Lake Powell in Utah for the 2011 Southwest Division Championship, presented by Lowrance. Sun was out today and bass are all over the banks this afternooon looking for spawning sites and setting up nests. If tomorrow is another high sunny day with calm winds, site-fishing will rule.
Cameron Smith of Dana Point, Cal., California Bass Federation’s 2010 Angler of the Year and State Champion, takes the lead today with a 2-day total of 26lbs 6 oz. “I’ve been doing alot of site fishing on points that I marked in pre-fishing practice.” Smith is going to switch it up a little bit tomorrow, going up the river a little ways. If Cameron qualifies tomorrow for the National Championship, this will be his second appearance, his first being in 2010.
Second place angler, Mike Powell of Heber City, Utah, is just about a pound behind Smith with a 2 day total of 25 lbs 2 oz. Powell was sitting in 8th place yesterday. Lake Powell is his home lake and says even the locals are having a tough 
time. “The lake is fishing tough. The cold front that came in last week has changed the fishing conditions quite a bit.” Powell has been fishing close to Bull Frog, fishing jigs on deep ledges, using a swim bait if he needs to. If Powell finishes in the top 2 spots of the Utah Federation, this will be his first National Championship appearance. His fellow teammate, Tyler Swaney is only 5 oz behind him, in 3rd place overall.
Sitting in fourth place overall, is day one leader, Jeff Erickson of the AZ Bass Federation. He has a 2 day total of 23 lbs 9 oz. Erickson is having good luck site fishing throwing Yamam0to Senko and flipping a Creature Bait. Today wasn’t as good as yesterday for him, “I lost numerous good fish today, which hurt me a little. I still have some spots with fish locked onto beds I’m gonna hit tomorrow.” Hopefully it will be enough for him to finish at the top of his state federation and qualify for the 2012 National Championship. This would make his third trip to Nationals, he was there in ’08 and ’10. Jon Griffith, Mesa, AZ is looking to qualify also, trailing Erickson by just a couple pounds at 21-03.
In the State Federation standings, Arizona has a 4 lb lead over California with 203-4. Team California has a 2 day total of 199-02. Host team, Utah, is in 3rd with 195lbs 3 oz.
Tomorrow, the anglers will see who moves on to the 2012 TBF National Championship and their shot at the Living the Dream Prize Package, valued at $100,000.
Full Results
Day 2 State Team Member Standings
Day 2 State Federation Standings
All photos can be viewed on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/thebassfederation
