Well, since the Elite Series at Falcon was postponed, we postponed our Movers & Shakers article, too.
After a week ago when nearly half the field failed to crack 10 pounds combined at the Sabine River, Falcon added three anglers to the Century Club (cracking more than 100 pounds in a four-day span).
Leading the way into the triple digits and winning his first Elite Series event in the process was Keith Combs. We said he was one to watch for in our Data Overload story, and then he went out and sacked 111.5 pounds. So what does catching one of the heaviest stringers in professional bass fishing history get you rankings-wise? Unfortunately, just a short climb from 24th to 22nd in the Majors Ranking. You see, a 2011 Elite Series event on the St. Johns River dropped off that week, where Combs finished ninth. So he basically replaced a ninth with a first, which is an improvement, but it’s not enough to jump his average much.
Last week we touted Todd Faircloth moving into the top 10 after his win at the Sabine River, and how he could contend for No. 1 in the next month or so. This week, he’s back outside the top 10. He finished 61st at Falcon, and he also lost his fourth-place finish at the St. Johns. Those two events slipped him from eighth to 13th this week. You can’t slip up in any tournament to make it to No. 1.
Looking at the teens in the Majors Ranking, not too much to report. Jason Christie stayed put, Dean Rojas climbed two spots to 18th and Brent Chapman fell three spots to 19th.
As for the 20s, Combs was the sole Elite Series pro to gain ground, as Bill Lowen (21st to 26th), Gerald Swindle (23rd to 28th), Greg Hackney (28th to 30th) and Terry Scroggins (29th to 34th) all slipped after Falcon.
The other notable moves in the top 50 after this weekend include Michael Iaconelli back in the top 40 in 38th, Ish Monroe (46th to 42nd), Brandon Card (67th to 48th), Alton Jones (47th to 51st) and Greg Vinson (45th to 63rd).
