2016 Walmart FLW Tour Lake Okeechobee Day 1: Bradley Hallman Leads!

Vincent Yonemitsu of Thornhill, Ontario leads Co-anglers

by Rob Newell

FLW PRESS RELEASE

The old saying is that the third time is the charm, but for Bradley Hallman of Norman, Okla., it’s more like the first time is the charm. Hallman is fishing his first Walmart FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee. It’s the first day of the first Tour event of 2016, and Hallman sits in first place with 25 pounds even.

Hallman's 25 pound limit grabs lead as flooded Big O remains difficult.
(Photo: FLW)

Hallman even contends that this is the first time he has ever fished Lake Okeechobee – the key word being “lake.”

“I fished an FLW Series event here in ’07 or ’08, but the lake was so low we all fished in the rim ditch – we called it the ‘rim ditch tournament,’” he recalls. “I never even got to go out on the main lake for that event.”

2012 TOP BASS CLASSIC Day 1 Top Ten

Under high winds and relentless rain, the top 75 teams battled it out on Balsam lake. Here is the unofficial Top Ten. Full results will be available early Sunday. 

1) 18.82 Williams & Jacobs (BF 5.19 LBS)
2) 17.59 Culbert & Jacobs
3) 16.68 Pilkey & Martin
4) 15.64 Bullock & Carlyle
5) 15.50 Barton & Scott
6) 15.26 Colucci & Maglio
7) 14.43 Jojos & Tekada
8) 14.42 Dean. & Cocks
9) 14.18 Burns & MacDonald
10) 14.10 Figueira & Gonzales

In the Angler of the year race Mike Williams has leap frogged past Spiro Agouras by less than half a pound.

2012 TOP BASS CLASSIC Day 1: Mike Williams and Duane Jacobs Lead!

Mike Williams and Duane Jacobs take lead in the 2012 TOP BASS Classic with 18.82lbs.
Mike's big fish 5.19lbs

Horrific wind and rain pounded the anglers and TOP BASS staff. Official results will be delayed.

PHOTO: Lures and Tours

FLW EverStart Championship Day 1: Canadian Cory Johnston Leads!

17-15 for Cory, One-Half of Canadian Wonder Brothers
Kentucky Lake - Paris Landing 10/27/11 - 10/30/11

Here is a quick look at the EverStart Championship tournament on Kentucky Lake. Considering all the hype surrounding the new super Alabama Rig, this tournament is clouded in a lot of mystery. With so many future super stars fishing, this Championship might be the launching pad for the legends of tomorrow.

Top 10
Place/Angler/Hometown/weight (fish)
1  CORY JOHNSTON  PETERBOROUGH, ON 17-15 (5)   
2  LENDELL MARTIN JR  NACOGDOCHES, TX 17-11 (5)  
3  MONTE KNIGHT  QUITMAN, MS 15-15 (5)      
4  ZACH KING  CLARKSVILLE, AR 15-03 (5)        
4  DAN MOREHEAD  PADUCAH, KY 15-03 (5)      
6  GEORGE KAPITON  INVERNESS, FL 15-01 (5)       
7  JEFF HIPPERT  HAMBURG, NY 14-14 (5)        
8  CHARLES BEBBER  WILLIS, TX 14-09 (5)       
9  MIKE EUTSLER  SPRINGFIELD, MO 14-04 (5)       
10  SCOTT MANSFIELD  MCKENZIE, TN 14-02 (5) 

FLW Tour Lake Champlain Open Day 3: Wolak Rises to Top With Smallmouth and Largemouth

Wolak’s 19-pound, 13-ounce stringer pushes him into the lead

17.Sep.2011 by Brett Carlson

Dave needed both types of bass to take the lead.
(Photo: Brett Carlson FLW)

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – The calm winds experienced on day three of the Walmart FLW Tour event on Lake Champlain allowed the pros to efficiently bounce around from spot to spot. This was advantageous to those chasing mixed bags – in particular David Wolak and Daryl Biron. While Wolak overtook the lead from Gary Yamamoto, Byron sacked a 20-pound stringer to join what looks like a three-horse race.
Like he has each of the first two days, Wolak started on his smallmouth honeyhole and cobbled together a 16-pound limit. Wolak described it as a spot with moving water that has a deep depression that runs 18 to 21 feet deep. To catch those smallies, he uses a drop shot with Jackall Super Cross Tail Shad and occasionally a jig. Today he spent approximately two hours smallie fishing before heading north to Missisquoi Bay to target largemouths.
“Today I weighed in four largemouths and one smallmouth,” said Wolak, the North Carolina pro who is originally from Pennsylvania. “I grew up mixing like this and I really have a knack for it. I caught two of the largemouths up in Missisquoi and two in another area.”

FLW Tour Lake Champlain Open Day 2: Wolak and Yamamoto Share Lead

Wolak, Yamamoto each tally 41 pounds, 12 ounces

16.Sep.2011 by Brett Carlson

FLW PRESS RELEASE



Gary still in charge but shares lead with Wolak.
(Photos: Brett Carlson FLW)



PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. – After two days of Walmart FLW Tour competition, there’s a tie at the top of the leaderboard. Gary Yamamoto still has the official lead thanks to his tiebreaking 24-4 stringer from day one. But David Wolak has the momentum. While Yamamoto sacked 17-8, Wolak caught 19-4 in what was a blustery day two on Lake Champlain.

With several top-10 finishes on Champlain, Wolak appears extremely confident. As he continues to employ his mixed-bag strategy, he has one thing on his mind – adapting to the changing conditions.

“My whole practice is focused on finding semi-protected areas for the different weather conditions we could have,” he explained. “I’m not just committed to one spot. Today I fished entirely new areas because of the conditions and I also wanted to let another spot reload.”

Wolak’s day-two limit consisted of three smallmouths and two largemouths. He fishes for the smallmouths first and then dedicates his afternoons for the greenies. This has earned him the nickname “mixmaster” on Tour.

FLW Tour Lake Champlain Open Day 1: Yamamoto Takes Lead!

By Luigi De Rose

The star studded Walmart FLW Lake Champlain Open has been a whack fest. Regional pro anglers from America, Canada and Japan, including angling heroes from both Bassmaster and FLW tours have made this event a tournament of tournaments. Despite stiff wind, constant rain and a drop in air temps, anglers still caught them. No one caught then quite as well as Palestine angler, Gary Yamamoto. This legendary lure maker and creator of the Senko and Hula Grub, sacked 24-04 of largemouth to claim the lead on Day 1. Past Champlain  winner, Dave Wolak was a close second with 22-08.  The fishing was so fine that it took 18 pounds to claim 20th place today. 

Top 25

1  GARY YAMAMOTO  PALESTINE, TX 5 24-04                       
2  DAVID WOLAK  WAKE FOREST, NC 5 22-08                        
3  ARNIE LANE  LAKELAND, FL 5 21-05                        
4  DARYL BIRON  SOUTH WINDSOR, CT 5 21-04                        
5  BRYAN SCHMITT  DEALE, MD 5 20-11      
                       

FLW EverStart Northern Lake Erie (Eastern portion Day 1: Press Release

Co-angler Ramsier sacks 20-plus in EverStart Northern

18.Aug.2011 by David A. Brown

Gaspare a close second due to penalty.

BUFFALO, N.Y. – EverStart Northern Division anglers started today with two expectations: First, Lake Erie holds the potential for smallmouth quantity and quality. Second, the great lake would make anglers work for their weights. Suffice it to say that Erie delivered on both levels.

We’ll get the latter out of the way right off the bat. Sparing everyone the whimsical analogies, Lake Erie was downright rough. Winds kicked up to 15-mph and seas rose to eight feet. That’s nothing new for Erie, as the shallowest of the Great Lakes is easily stirred. However, that’s no consolation for those who spent eight hours in the relentless slop.

No one’s complaining – this is all voluntary recreation. Nevertheless, a lot of worn-out and nearly psyched-out anglers crossed the stage today with tales of brutal poundings, broken trolling motors and motion sickness.

FLW EverStart Northern Lake Erie (Eastern portion) Day 1: Frost and Brodnicki Tie for first!

Big Weights result in a Tie for Lead. 
By Luigi De Rose

Frost in  first.
(Photos: David A Brown FLW)

I was humble during the last EverStart tournament when I predicted the winner and almost the entire top 5 but today I really predicted well. Simon Frost and Brad Brodnicki tied for first with a 22-05. Amazingly, Gaspare Costabile actually was the leader but fell to a first day weight of 22-02 due to a dead fish penalty. John Voyles captured fourth with a great bag 21-08 and Bassmaster Elite angler, John Murray landed fifth with 21-02. Three out of five isn't bad for odds.

Fishing was great on Erie for the ones who had located them. The top 6 anglers all had over 20 pounds and the rest of the top 10 had over 18 pounds. With so many local guys doing well it is politically incorrect to pick a leader or stronger angler. Barry Pringle and Derek Strub are both in the top 10 and  Chris Johnson is in 11th with 18 pounds. Again, never count out Bob Izumi or Mike Desforges. They are too talented to ever dismiss. I'll give it another day but my faves are Frost and Costabile.

The official press release will be up shortly.

Top 20
1  BRAD BRODNICKI  AMHERST, NY 5 22-05             
1  SIMON FROST  ST. CATHARINES, ON 5 22-05         
3  GASPARE COSTABILE  NIAGARA FALLS, ON 5 22-02         
4  JOHN VOYLES  PETERSBURG, IN 5 21-08                
5  JOHN MURRAY  PHOENIX, AZ 5 21-02                 
6  LAWRENCE MAZUR  LANCASTER, NY 5 20-04            
7  BARRY PRINGLE  WELLAND, ON 5 19-07                 
8  JESS CARABALLO  DANBURY, CT 5 18-15               
9  DEREK STRUB  ELORA, ON 5 18-10                
10  BILL CHAPMAN  SALT ROCK, WV 5 18-07           
11  CHRIS JOHNSTON  PETERBOROUGH, ON 5 18-06       
12  DANIEL WELCH  NEW MARTINSVILLE, WV 5 18-03              
13  RANDY YARNALL  WOMELSDORF, PA 5 18-01             
14  MATT STASIAK  PITTSBURGH, PA 5 17-14                
15  FAB MARCHESE  ANCASTER, ON 5 17-08              
15  STEVE VOROS  SPRINGFIELD, ON 5 17-08              
17  ALVARO LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ  SAINT CHARLES, IL 5 17-07               
18  GEORGE LAMBETH  THOMASVILLE, NC 5 17-05               
19  KEVIN SHORT  MAYFLOWER, AR 5 17-04            
20  DENIS KREZE  FORT ERIE, ON 5 17-03 

Forrest Wood Cup 2011 Day 1: Martin Off and Running

National Guard pro leads 2011 Forrest Wood Cup with 19 pounds, 2 ounces

11.Aug.2011

by Brett Carlson

Day 1 leader, Scott Martin

FLW PRESS RELEASE
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – With a breeze, periodic showers and overcast skies, day one of the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup provided a rare reprieve from the oppressive summertime heat. And as many predicted, Lake Ouachita responded favorably, churning out several sacks in the upper teens. The biggest came from 10-time Cup qualifier Scott Martin.

Martin managed most of his 19 pounds, 2 ounces within the first two hours of the morning. And the bulk of it came from one area. That’s quite a way to start the richest tournament in professional bass fishing. .

Forrest Wood Cup 2011 Day 1: Scott Martin Leads with Big Bag!

The Forest Wood Cup is a huge party!
(Photo: FLW)

By Luigi De Rose
Scott Martin takes Day 1 of the FLW, Forrest L. Wood Cup Championship. Held on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas, anglers were met with heavy rains and cooler temps on the first day. Practice for the Cup was under clear skies and triple digit temps. If the weather changes again after this front, the leader board might shake violently.

TOP 10
1 MARTIN, SCOTT 19-02 (5)    
2 CHRISTIE, JASON 18-01 (5)    
3 COULTER, BRANDON 18-00 (5)     
4 YELAS, JAY 17-05 (5)    
5 THARP, RANDALL 16-00 (5)  
6 LUCAS, JUSTIN 14-14 (5)    
7 STRELIC, JON 14-12 (5)    
8 WHEELER, JACOB 14-10 (5)    
9 ROSE, MARK 14-09 (5)    
10 MEYER, CODY 14-02 (5)    

FLW Tour Kentucky Lake Day 1: Chappelear, Colson Jr. lead Walmart FLW

Chappelear, Colson Jr. lead Walmart FLW
FLW PRESS RELEASE

16.Jun.2011
GILBERTSVILLE, Ky. – Pros Glenn Chappelear of Acworth, Ga., and Ramie Colson Jr. of Cadiz, Ky., both crossed the stage Thursday with five-bass limits weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces to lead day one of the Walmart FLW Tour on Kentucky Lake presented by Kellogg’s. They now hold a 4-ounce lead over Diet Mt. Dew pro Jason Christie of Park Hill, Okla., who caught five bass weighing 23-1 in a tournament featuring anglers from all across the U.S. and Canada.
“I felt like fishing was a little bit tougher than it was when we were here two years ago,” Chappelear said. “I located a school of fish on Sunday morning (in practice) and caught several 3-pounders and a 5-pounder.

Bassmaster Elite Diamond Drive Arkansas River Day 1: Brauer Battles to Top

Denny Brauer Leads Day 1
By Deb Johnson
(BASS Press Release)

Jun 9, 2011

Vetran Brauer with a solid limit to take 1st.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — For the second time of the Bassmaster Elite Series season, bass fishing legend Denny Brauer of Camdenton, Mo., took the lead on the first day.
And on what was arguably the toughest first day of any event in the 2011 Elite season, Brauer’s 14 pounds, 10 ounces of Arkansas River bass was just enough to command the top spot in the Diamond Drive on Thursday. He was 2 ounces ahead of Ish Monroe of Hughson, Calif., in second place with 14-8, and more than a pound in front of Keith Poche of Troy, Ala., third with 13-8.
In fourth place was the only pro from Arkansas to slip into the top five. Billy McCaghren of Mayflower brought in 13-3, managing 3 ounces more than Shaw Grigsby, who won the season opener on the Harris Chain of Lakes in his home state of Florida. In sixth was Michigan’s Kevin VanDam, who had 12-12.

FLW Tour on Red River Day 3: John Cox Ahead by 8 Plus Pounds!

Weigths Down for All Except Red Hot John Cox

by Patrick Baker

John Cox readies his rods on Day 4. It is his tournament
to loose.
(Photo: Patrick Baker FLW)

(FLW Press Release)
SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER CITY, La.
Mercury pro John Cox didn’t need to break his back Saturday to access his incredibly productive, nearly inaccessible fishing hole like the first two days of Walmart FLW Tour competition on the Red River. In fact, he hardly had to work up a sweat to outfish the field yet again ? at least he made it seem effortless.
And that’s just fine with him. After punishing his boat and himself the first two days to wiggle through a small culvert that granted access to a bounty of backwater bass, he said his back was awfully stiff this morning (watch video of the maneuver); and while he began the day with more than a 7-pound lead, the Debary, Fla., angler didn’t rest on his laurels.
Instead of locking down to Pool 4 like Thursday and Friday, he stayed closer to the upstream launch site in Pool 5 and still managed to sack more weight than any other pro with a five-bass limit weighing 12 pounds, 1 ounce giving him a three-day total of 40-11 and an 8-pound lead going into the final day of competition.
“I wanted to so bad,” Cox said of the temptation to return to his honeyhole, but he knew the water had dropped enough to likely make entry into the backwater area impossible today. “Instead I ran down by the dam (in Pool 5) and fished a little hole down there and then moved a couple ponds up … I hit one hole and caught my limit.”

FLW Tour on Red River Day 1: John Cox Rocks with 14-10

Florida pro leads FLW Tour Red River event on day one, McDonald leads Co-angler Division

19.May.2011

by Patrick Baker

(FLW Press Release)

John Cox with a nice pair.
(Photos by Patrick Baker FLW)

SHREVEPORT/BOSSIER CITY, La. — How low can you go? For Debary, Fla., pro John Cox, the answer was low enough to skim through a shallow underpass that led to his Red River hot spot – one that produced a five-bass limit weighing 14 pounds, 10 ounces and put him in first place on day one of the Walmart FLW Tour Major.

“We knew about it from a long time ago,” Cox said of his honeyhole in Pool 4, one lock downstream from the takeoff site at Red River South Marina, adding that he became aware of the backwater area after a 2009 tourney in which he didn’t fare well. “We brought a push-pole; I lightened the boat up completely.”

A few more details about just what it took to achieve Cox’s limbo underneath the road above: a 2-by-4 for a push-pole; a 17-foot aluminum Crestliner powered by a 75-hp Mercury four-stroke engine for maximum flotation with minimal weight; the least amount of tackle possible; and a single battery that he also used to power his trolling motor when he made it through.

Even with the herculean effort to mimic a water bug, it wasn’t easy for Cox and his co-angler partner (Timothy Sisk – 2nd) to pass through the tunnel. In fact, they saw another boat get temporarily stuck trying to thread the same needle.

“I was hoping to catch the water drop just like we did,” Cox said of the falling water level in Pool 4, which helped set off the bite in his area. “I caught a limit in like five flips.”

Cox was fishing a jig made by his friend Andy Scholz, also an FLW Tour co-angler. He fished the ½-ounce Dandy Baits jig with a green-pumpkin/green-glitter skirt in 6 to 7 feet of water. He said he was “just dropping it in, and they were yanking the rod out of my hands.”

FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga Day 1: Shin Fukae Steals First

Fukae Takes Day 1 with 23-11
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.
FLW Official Press Release

Shinichi leads Lake Chickamauga.
(Photo: Brett Carlson FLW)

Cheez-It pro Shinichi Fukae of Palestine, Texas, crossed the stage Thursday with a five-bass limit weighing 23 pounds, 11 ounces to lead day one of the Walmart FLW Tour on Lake Chickamauga presented by National Guard. Fukae holds a 6-ounce lead over Clifford Pirch of Payson, Ariz., who caught five bass weighing 23-5 in a tournament featuring 154 anglers from all across the country and Canada.


“Two days of practice I was looking for bedding fish,” said Fukae, who said he was surprised he ended the first day of competition in the lead because he spent the day “junk fishing” - fishing using a variety of baits or methods. “But the water level got lower and everything was gone. Then on the third day of practice I found a couple of fish close to the bank. I didn’t have any confidence today, but I do have confidence right now.”


Fukae remained tight-lipped about the methods he used during the first day of competition, although he did say he was fishing near the bank and caught fish both shallow as well as a “little deeper.” Fukae said his bigger fish came in shallow water and looks for the more of the same with the lower water levels on Friday.

Bassmaster Elite TroKar Battle on the Bayou Day 1: Dean Rojas Takes Top Spot

Rojas Sacks 23-01 For First on Toledo Bend
TroKar Battle on the Bayou
Toledo Bend — Many, La.
April 14-17

By Luigi De Rose

One of Toledo Bend's famous stump fields.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

Foggy weather greeted anglers on Day 1 on Toledo Bend. This famed east Texas, stumped filled lake is below normal pool and anglers are met with daunting fishing. Elite pros admit that the lake is full of bass but catching quality fish is the true problem. Scanning through the top 25 places today, its clear that one or two larger bass can really make a difference. The focus on Toledo Bend is not to hope for a giant but to try and find concentrations of 3 to 4 pound bass. Big bass exist in Texas, like Chris Lane of Guntersville, AL netted today's big bass honours with a 7-14 brute.

Day 1 is not the place to find answers. Keen anglers will try to focus on patterns. Will Toledo Bend hold true to the Elite trend of the top anglers being bow to bow? We'll have to wait and see.



Top 25
1 Dean Rojas 5 23- 1 5
2 Fred Roumbanis 5 21- 3
3 Brandon Palaniuk 5 20- 6 
4 Todd Faircloth 5 20- 4 
5 Steve Kennedy 5 20- 0 
6 Ott DeFoe 5 19-11 
7 Gerald Swindle 5 19- 9 
8 Takahiro Omori 5 19- 3 
9 Randy Howell 5 18-11
10 Michael Iaconelli 5 18- 8 
10 Davy Hite 5 18- 8 
10 Rick Morris 5 18- 8  13 Aaron Martens 5 18- 7 
14 Casey Ashley 5 18- 5
15 Jason Williamson 5 17-10
16 Chris Lane 5 17- 2 
16 Paul Elias 5 17- 2
18 Andy Montgomery 5 16-10 
19 Terry Scroggins 5 16- 8 
20 Scott Rook 5 16- 7
21 James Stricklin 5 16- 6
22 Cliff Pace 5 16- 4 
23 Gary Klein 5 15-15
24 Grant Goldbeck 5 15-10 
24 Britt Myers 5 15-10

Bassmaster Elite Sunshine Showdown Day 1: A Golden Day for Pat

Sunshine Showdown
Harris Chain, Tavares, FL, March 10-13, 2011
By Deb Johnson
Bassmaster.com (Press Release)
 If it worked once, repeat. That's Pat Golden's plan when he gets back on Florida's Harris Chain of Lakes on Friday to defend his slim lead in the Sunshine Showdown, the season opener of the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Working several canals for bedding bass, the High Point, N.C., pro linked together 20 pounds, 7 ounces Thursday for a 10-ounce lead over Stephen Browning and Kevin Wirth, who tied for second place with 19-13.
Sharing fourth place at 17-9 were Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Fla., and Kevin VanDam, the Michigan pro fresh off his fourth Bassmaster Classic victory.

A Rainy Day 1.
(Photo: James Overstreet BASS)

"I was looking at them today, mainly," said Golden, an Elite pro since 2008. "I had some I scoped out during practice and I went back to them today, and some were still there and some weren't. That's kind of how it goes with sight-fishing. That's how I got them all."
He plans to return Friday to the same area.
"You got to go with what brought you here," he said. "I'll start with that first and see what happens. I've got some stretches I can throw on, but I am going to start out tomorrow to see if I can look at them again."
He said he'll go back after an 8-pounder he was unsuccessful in hooking Thursday under windy conditions. That lunker would be a twin to the big bass he hauled to the scales, an 8-15. It fell for a green-pumpkin Senko, he said, rigged weightless with a round-bend Gamakatsu hook, the same rig that took three other fish.
Wirth, of Crestwood, Ky., who won an Elite event in 2008, said he made an adjustment away from sight-fishing that resulted in six bites for six good fish.
"They came a long way apart. Tomorrow I'll just have to keep my nose to the grindstone and keep fishing," he said.
Browning, also not sight-fishing, said he slowed down Thursday.
"I'm taking a flipping stick and doing what you're supposed to do in Florida, throwing a worm and slowing down," he said. "It worked out real well for me today."
He said he concentrated on one lake on the opening day and would return to the same location to try again.
"You catch almost 20 pounds, you have to go back," said the Hot Springs, Ark., pro, who is recovering from elbow injuries. He said he likely will share the water with other competitors, if Thursday was any indication of the competition for fish.
Browning is trying for his first Elite win. This year for the first time, a win is worth an instant qualification for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic as well as $100,000.

The Top 20

1	Pat Golden	5	20- 7	5	20- 7
2	Kevin Wirth	5	19-13	5	19-13
2	Stephen Browning	5	19-13	5	19-13
4	Terry Scroggins	5	17- 9	5	17- 9
4	Kevin VanDam	5	17- 9	5	17- 9
6	J Todd Tucker	5	17- 8	5	17- 8
7	Clark Reehm	5	17- 2	5	17- 2
8	Jason Williamson	5	15- 1	5	15- 1
9	Jami Fralick	5	14-10	5	14-10
10	Jeff Kriet	5	14- 9	5	14- 9
11	Shaw E Grigsby	5	14- 7	5	14- 7
12	Brandon Palaniuk	5	14- 6	5	14- 6
13	Chris Lane	5	14- 5	5	14- 5
14	Lee Sisson	5	14- 4	5	14- 4
15	Fred Roumbanis	5	14- 3	5	14- 3
15	Brian Snowden	5	14- 3	5	14- 3
17	Greg Vinson	5	14- 2	5	14- 2
18	Ott Defoe	5	14- 0	5	14- 0
19	Kotaro Kiriyama	3	13-15	3	13-15
20	Jonathon Vandam	5	13-14	5	13-14

Bass Master Classic 2011 Day 1: Aaron Marten's 20-07 Leads It!

Bass Master Classic: Day 1
Friday,  February 18, 2011
Louisiana Delta
New Orleans, La.

By Luigi De Rose

Day 1


Aaron Martens Photo:BASS

 Aaron Martens leads Day 1 of the 2011 Bass Master Classic with a stunning catch of 5 bass for 20-07. His kicker and today's big bass was a 5-09 stud. Right on his heels is Scott Rook of AR with a weight of 19-06. Van Dam is just 3 small ounces behind Rook in third with a stellar catch of 19-03. With the top 3 catches so close, one fish can easily flip flop the standing. Luckily, for Martens his big bass help secured him the glory of being the best today.

Surprisingly, all three anglers raced down to Cataouatche then ended up fishing within inches of each other along a spawning flat. Mining the area carefully, the top three sacked a combined total of 59 pounds. The Delta is geographically immense but freakishly all three anglers found the identical location.



Crowding on Day 1
Photo: James Overstreet (BASS)

 Will it hold up over the course of the next two days? That is the million dollar question. If Van Dam, a huge crowd pleaser, is in the mix, expect immense spectator boat traffic. In addition to the other competing anglers this might stir this hot spot into a muddy mess, sinking everyone's chances. 

The Top 10
1. Aaron Martens 20- 7
2. Scott Rook 19- 6
3. Kevin VanDam 19- 3
4. Brent Chapman 18- 0
5. Bobby Lane 16-12
6. Dale Hightower 15- 9
7. Cliff Pace 15- 7
8. Todd Faircloth 15- 2
9. Skeet Reese  15- 1
10. Paul Elias 14-13

Ibassin.com Top Picks
Well I didn't do too well on my top picks. It is only Day 1 so I still have a chance of calling a winner. Here is how my top picks fared on Day 1.
3. Kevin Van Dam
12. Kelly Jordon 14- 3
21. Michael Iaconelli 13- 1
24. Gary Klein 12- 7
32. Morizo Shimizu 10- 0
46. Greg Hackney  4- 3

Really, the only real shocker is Hackey. Three fish for 4-03 is not great. The fog might have made him have a brain fart and out think himself but who knows. Spring time is all about timing and his fish might have split or he didn't find much during the freezing cold pre-practice. The weights are very close. One 6 pounder and the whole leader board can change in a hurry.

Weather


Finally, Van Dam is the first out!
Photo: James Overstreet (BASS)

 Anglers were greeted with gloomy, thick fog on Friday morning. Many questioned their game plans as Trip Wilson, BASS Tournament Director held the boats in a fog delay until 8:10am (central time). During morning interviews, Gary Klein who is making a very long trek to his waters summed it up best with his statement of "It really sucks!"  when asked about the foggy weather during an interview with bassmasters.com.


Stay tuned for more action tomorrow.
P.S.
Sorry for the delay. I was at the Spring Fishing and Boat Show in Toronto this afternoon and have some cool stuff to show you in future posts.