Waco pro angler Alton Jones surged to the front of the pack in Friday’s Bassmaster Elite Series Genuity River Rumble on the Mississippi River in Fort Madison, Iowa.

Jones, who posted a 12-1 Friday after a 12-0 weight on Thursday, battled tough conditions and adjusted strategies to take the lead at the mid-point of the tourney.

“I’m running a long way so I’m pretty much committed to this area at this point and don’t have many alternatives,” said Jones, who is closing in on $2 million in BASS career earnings. “I think it has the potential to replenish but it’s hard to say what is going to happen. If it doesn’t carry over into tomorrow, I’ll be prepared with an excuse.”

Jones is currently a distant 3rd in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, behind Kevin VanDam of Michigan and California’s Skeet Reese, who are currently in 10th and 30th place in the tournament respectively. A win would bump Jones back into the mix.

Buoyed by a quick start Friday, Jones landed two 3-pounders within 30 minutes of his first cast flipping to shallow water. The five-time BASS winner was then able to survive a long period of inactivity, rounding out his five-fish limit late in the day.