(LEBANON, Ill., April 1)--The McKendree University bass fishing program returned to action Sunday at the Murray State University Invitational held on Kentucky Lake.

What a difference two weeks can make. Just two weeks ago on Kentucky Lake, the McKendree duo of Trevor McKinney (Benton, IL/Benton) and Blake Jackson (Carterville, IL/Carterville) were sitting in first place after day one of the FLW Open with five five for 23 pounds, 11 ounces, and Jacob Louis (Pinckneyville, IL/Pinckneyville) and Nate Doty (Decatur, IL/Sangamon Valley) were in 19th place with 20 pounds, seven ounces. According to McKendree head coach Jon Rinderer at that time the TVA was releasing 340,000 cubic feet of water per second. The lake was eight feet above normal summer pool, and the water temperature was 48 degrees. Since that time the lake dropped 12 feet, the release rate decreased to 57,000 cubic feet per second, and the water temperature increased to 58 degrees. On top of that, add high winds, dirty water and a major cold front passing through while the teams were practicing. These huge changes in conditions, accoring to Rinderer, are what make bass fishing so difficult and challenging for the anglers.

After day one of the Murray State event one thing was consistent as McKinney and Jackson were in first place again. This time, however, they only had two bass for 7.22 pounds, and nearly two-thirds of the field was shut out on day one. Louis and Doty could only come up with 13 non-keepers for the day.

Day two was also extremely tough on the field with 37 percent of the field coming up empty. Louis and Doty weighed in two fish for 5.03 pounds and finished the tournament in seventh place. McKinney and Jackson also had a better day two with three fish for 10.38 pounds for a two-day total winning weight of 17.60 pounds.

The next event for the McKendree bass fishing team will be the FLW Central Qualifier on Lake Cumberland on April 12.