Pierre Part’s Crochet moves up to second place

• Advocate news services
• Published: Nov 7, 2009

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BELLE RIVER — Cliff Crochet from nearby Pierre Part has climbed two hills.

Today, on the final day of the three-day Bassmaster Central Open, he has one more to climb.

Crochet jumped from 19th place into second during Friday’s second round of the bass tournament out of the Belle River Public Launch. He came into the event in sixth place after two of the open’s three tournaments and needed an exceptional finish — and some help from the leaders — to achieve a life-long dream of qualifying for the Bassmaster Classic.

As those in front of him stumbled through the first two days of what he called “tough fishing,” only touring pro James Niggemeyer, who’s already qualified for the Classic through the Bassmaster Elite Series, stands in his way of competing in February’s “Super Bowl of Bass Fishing.”

Catching a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 14 ounces — the day’s top stringer — he’s 3 1/2 pounds behind Boater Division leader Mark Smith of West Monroe. Smith, the first-day leader with a 14-6 stringer, added 11-11 Friday for a 26-1 total. Dale Jackson of Van, Texas, and nine-time Classic qualifier Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., take the next spots with identical 21-6 two-day weights.

Open standings leader Todd Castledine is 61st and did not make it to today’s final. Only the top 30 Boaters and Nonboaters moved to today’s final round.

Niggemeyer is second in the standings. Stephen Johnston and Jerrel Pringle were third and fourth, respectively, and also will not fish today with 67th and 92nd spots after the open’s first two days.

The top two in the overall standings get Classic berths, and the top seven in those final rankings will get invitations to compete in the 2010 Elite Series.

“It was tough,” Crochet said. “My first place played out. The fish were not biting, so I switched gears and started flipping and was able to get three good bites to go with two other fish to make my limit.

“I think I’m fishing well and I just know I have to keep fishing. That’s what’s been working for me, just go fishing,” Crochet added. “As long as the sun is shining, it’s in my favor, and the hotter it gets during the day, the better it is for me.”

Smith said he also had trouble catching bass Friday: “I caught two limits of keepers (Thursday) and (Friday) I just caught five fish,” Smith said. “It was a very, very peculiar bite today. I think possibly it’s the high pressure.”

On the nonboater side, Vidalia’s David Cooper stayed in first with a 17-2 two-day total.

Today’s final weigh-in is set to begin at 2:20 p.m.