Augusta, GA - The topic of conversation heading into the forth stop of the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series at Clark’s Hill has been quit different than the first three stops of the season. In terms of the possibility of busting a big bag of fish, sure…it’s there, but nothing like what anglers have seen thus far where record-setting weigh-ins were becoming cliché.
Also, this was going to be the first tournament where the sight-bite was going to be almost nill. However, during practice, there was another fresh batch of spawners that moved shallow providing the field’s sight-fisherman at least a day’s worth of beds to plunder. Still, sight fishing had little bearing on the final outcome of the first day at the Pride of Georgia.
The real story is how tough the pond is fishing right now – largely due to the fact that the blue-back herring – a food staple for the Clark’s Hill bass – haven’t yet surfaced, making the big Georgia impoundment ultra stingy. In order to be successful, most pros have pointed out the need to be extremely mobile in covering as much of the 70,000 acre impoundment as they can.
As is always the case though, someone is going to figure out a way, and the way today was being lead by young Casey Ashley from nearby Donalds, SC who crossed the stage with the day’s heaviest limit weighing 22-6 to secure first place.
Casey edged out Pete Ponds, who brought in 21-1 and held down second place Thursday. Third place for the day belonged to Mike McClelland who brought a tournament limit of bass to the scales weighing 20-9.
Chris Lane brought five bass to the scales Thursday weighing 20-6 to nab the fourth-place slot, and rounding out the top 5 was Bryan Hudgins with five-fish weighing 19-11.
Casey Runs and Guns for First
During practice it was apparent that the big blue-back herring that populate Clark’s Hill hadn’t moved out of their winter depths yet. The result is that anglers have to have a pattern that allows them to move around the lake from dam to dam. Essentially, that’s exactly what rookie pro Casey Ashley did all day Thursday.
“My topwater fish didn’t really pan out this morning, so I had to go to the jig,” he said “I’m fishing the areas where I know that they’ll be going to, but they haven’t made it there yet because the bait hasn’t shown up. So really, it’s just fish for one bite at each of my spots. The good thing about it is that it’s usually a good one.”
“I just hit all the highlights if my areas, and just went real patient with it,” Casey added. “I know where the bait comes to first, and the fish are there waiting for them.”
While Casey took the lead Thursday, he admitted that it wasn’t the cheapest way to go about it. “I was running around all day long – from one end of the lake to the other,” he said. “I burned probably 40 gallons of gas today – at $3.00 a gallon. I don’t know what it works out to per pound, but those are some expensive fish.”
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Casey wasn’t ready to let the cat out of the bag in terms of how exactly he’s fishing the jig, but did allow that his pattern is only going to get stronger. “I’m catching them everywhere,” he said. “They’re not really stacked in any one particular place. My bait is the deal for me – I have a lot of confidence in it.
“I could not fish anywhere near the same spots as I did today and still have a good limit – that’s how much confidence I have in the bait.”
Ponds Slips into Second
Pete Ponds took a different approach on the day than did the leader on day one. Ponds decided to stay put and confine himself to only two areas as opposed to running all 70,000 acres of the lake. That’s pretty easy to do when you have the kind of confidence Ponds does in his key area right now. “I had a lot of fun today,” he said. “I feel like I’m back on the right track with the finish I had at Clear Lake and the way that I started here.
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“It really boils down to the two spots that I’m fishing right now. I’m all by myself…no one else is even close to me. That really helps boost your confidence.”
In route to his second place finish on day one, Ponds reached deep into his tackle bag for a special confidence bait that a friend gave him before the event at
Amistad. “My buddy Sam Rush gave it to me before I left for
Amistad,” he explained. “I’ve never tied it on until today. It’s the deal man, I’m telling you the truth.
Ponds is confident that the fish he’s on will continue to produce big stringers given the practice he’s had. “My areas have been real good for me all week,” he said. “I could catch a three pounder pretty easy during practice, but it’s tough to know exactly what’s there until it’s time for the tournament.
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“I rolled up this morning and they were eating good – that’s when it became clear just how good the areas really are.”
The plan for tomorrow is simple: keep swinging for the fences and hope that his magic lure doesn’t fly off. “The one that’s tied on is the only one that I’ve got,” he said. “I’ve got some Vicious line tied on to make sure that I don’t lose it.”
“If I can hang on to the lure, I feel like my fish will hold up,” he jokingly added. “I’m pretty confident right now, so all we can do is go out tomorrow and do the same thing…I believe I can.”
McClelland Pleasantly Surprised
Mike McClelland started the morning catching fish, and never let up throughout the remainder of the day – something that was much different than what he’d experienced in practice. “It’s been a lot tougher through the course of practice that it was for me today,” he said. “I had nine keepers through the day, so they definitely bit better than they have all week.”
McClelland, like most of the field is bouncing from point to point. He’s able, with only a few casts, to discern if there are active fish at the spot or now. “It seems that the fish are changing every day,” he said.
“You have to be able to read the water and key in to what they’re doing, but you can miss the timing of the bit by two or three minutes either way and you won’t catch a fish.” |
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While practice might not have given much away for Mike, he knew enough to key on certain spots which held true for the opener. “They are in all the same places that they’ve been in all week,” he said. “I knew that they were in there, but today they just decided to turn on for me.”
The wind blew for a brief period Thursday – something that McClelland hopes occurs again Friday. “We got a little bit of south wind for about two hours today,” he said. “That’s really important to the way that I’m fishing. If it doesn’t blow, I think I’ve still got a few spots to hit.”
Lane Nabs Fourth
The BASS ZONE caught up with Chris Lane prior to the tournament’s start where he explained that he’d had a really good – but grueling practice where he’d spend close to 13 hours per day on the water. His plan was simple – focus on the kind of fish he would need to win. “I fished real hard the first two days of practice,” he said.
“I really concentrated on fish that I felt that I could do well with during the tournament. I didn’t feel like two pounders would do anything but get me a check, and that’s not what I want – I want to win the thing, so four pounders is all that I looked for.”
Lane left his primary area at 9:30 and scouted some new water until about 11:00. From there, he explained, he was pretty much through. “left my fish biting real early,” he said. “I didn’t feel the need to wear them out, but there’s plenty to go around…I’m the only boat in there.”
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The question at Clark’s Hill is the day-to-day changes that result from water generation and it’s effect on the fishery’s bass. Will Friday be different? “It’s probably going to be,” Lane explained. “They’ve been pulling water everyday, but today they didn’t so it kind of tightened the fish up. If they pull water tomorrow, they’ll change again.”
Lane plans to run the same plan Friday, which involved a series of baits – including a new lure by Gambler and a swimbait. “I’m going to run all my stuff again tomorrow,” he said. “I’m going to try and do the same thing again and hope that it works.”
Hudgins Dumps Two
Rookie pro Bryan Hudgins admitted that while he’s ecstatic to be starting Friday in fourth place, getting through Thursday was brutal. “It was tough out there,” he explained. “I was fortunate to get what I brought in because I wasn’t really confident when the day began.
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If not for two fish that jumped off, he could be in the driver’s seat. “I lost a couple of fish – a three and a five – that would have definitely put me in the hunt,” he said. “All in all it was a good day.”
In just his fourth tournament at the Elite level, Hudgins doesn’t get starry-eyed when looking at his competition. “I try to block it all out,” he said. “I try not to think about the other guys out there, but I’m having the time of my life right now.”
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Evers Junked to Sixth
Edwin Evers couldn’t be happier to be in sixth place based on his practice. “I had a horrible practice,” he said. “The fish were just swimming around and I couldn’t seem to pull anything together. I’m just tickled to death to have what I have right now.”
Evers explained that not really having anything to hang his hat on when the day began may have been the best thing. “It changes a lot here because of the way they generate water,” he said. “Plus, these fish are mostly in transition so it’s easiest if you can have the confidence to just go fishing. I didn’t really have a choice because I stunk during practice so bad.”
Tomorrow, Evers hopes for a repeat performance. “I’m just going to go fishing again,” he said. “Hopefully, with the fish that I’ve found today I can put something else together again tomorrow…we’ll see.”
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Day
One Standings
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Day
1 |
Day
1 |
| Place |
Pro
Angler |
Hometown,
State |
# |
Weight |
| 1. |
Casey
Ashley |
Donalds,
S.C. |
5 |
22-06 |
| 2. |
Pete
Ponds |
Madison,
Miss. |
5 |
21-01 |
| 3. |
Mike
McClelland |
Bella
Vista, Ark. |
5 |
20-09 |
| 4. |
Chris
Lane |
Winter
Haven, Fla. |
5 |
20-06 |
| 5. |
Bryan
Hudgins |
Orange
Park, Fla. |
5 |
19-11 |
| 6. |
Edwin
Evers |
Talala,
Okla. |
5 |
18-11 |
| 7. |
Jeff
Reynolds |
Idabel,
Okla. |
5 |
17-08 |
| 8. |
Randy
Howell |
Springville,
Ala. |
5 |
16-14 |
| 9. |
John
Crews |
Salem,
Va. |
5 |
16-09 |
| 10. |
Aaron
Martens |
Leeds,
Ala. |
5 |
16-07 |
| 11. |
Jason
Quinn |
Lake
Wylie, S.C. |
5 |
16-00 |
| 12. |
Jon
Bondy |
Windsor,
Canada |
5 |
15-11 |
| 13. |
Derek
Remitz |
Hemphill,
Texas |
5 |
15-09 |
| 14. |
Frank
Scalish |
Cleveland
Heights, Ohio |
5 |
15-08 |
| 15. |
Kevin
Short |
Mayflower,
Ark. |
5 |
15-06 |
| 16. |
Mark
Menendez |
Paducah,
Ky. |
5 |
15-02 |
| 17. |
Jared
Lintner |
Arroyo
Grande, Calif. |
5 |
14-12 |
| 18. |
Dean
Rojas |
Grand
Saline, Texas |
5 |
14-08 |
| 19. |
Ken
Brodeur |
Niantic,
Conn. |
5 |
14-02 |
| 19. |
Timmy
Horton |
Muscle
Shoals, Ala. |
5 |
14-02 |
| 21. |
Marty
Robinson |
Landrum,
S.C. |
5 |
14-01 |
| 21. |
Matthew
Sphar |
Pavilion,
N.Y. |
5 |
14-01 |
| 21. |
Kevin
Wirth |
Crestwood,
Ky. |
5 |
14-01 |
| 24. |
Gerald
Swindle |
Warrior,
Ala. |
5 |
13-09 |
| 25. |
Rick
Morris |
Virginia
Beach, Va. |
5 |
13-07 |
| 26. |
Shaw
E Grigsby, Jr |
Gainesville,
Fla. |
5 |
13-02 |
| 27. |
Jeff
Connella |
Bentley,
La. |
5 |
13-01 |
| 28. |
Bernie
Schultz |
Gainesville,
Fla. |
5 |
12-14 |
| 29. |
Scott
Campbell |
Springfield,
Mo. |
5 |
12-11 |
| 29. |
Dave
Smith |
Del
City, Okla. |
5 |
12-11 |
| 31. |
Peter
E Thliveros |
Jacksonville
, Fla. |
5 |
12-09 |
| 32. |
Terry
Scroggins |
San
Mateo, Fla. |
5 |
12-03 |
| 32. |
Dave
Wolak |
Wake
Forest, N.C. |
5 |
12-03 |
| 34. |
Michael
Iaconelli |
Runnemede,
N.J. |
5 |
12-01 |
| 35. |
William
Smith |
Somerset,
Ky. |
5 |
12-00 |
| 36. |
Tommy
Biffle |
Wagoner,
Okla. |
5 |
11-15 |
| 37. |
Jimmy
Mize |
Ben
Lomond, Ark. |
5 |
11-10 |
| 38. |
Matt
Amedeo |
Clinton,
Ohio |
5 |
11-09 |
| 38. |
Jimmy
Mason |
Rogersville,
Ala. |
5 |
11-09 |
| 40. |
Fred
Roumbanis |
Auburn,
Calif. |
5 |
11-07 |
| 41. |
Brent
Chapman |
Moneta,
Va. |
5 |
11-05 |
| 42. |
Jeremy
Starks |
Charleston,
W.Va. |
4 |
11-01 |
| 43. |
James
Niggemeyer |
Van,
Texas |
5 |
10-13 |
| 44. |
Grant
Goldbeck |
Gaithersburg,
Md. |
5 |
10-09 |
| 45. |
Keith
Phillips |
Calera,
Ala. |
5 |
10-07 |
| 46. |
Skeet
Reese |
Auburn,
Calif. |
5 |
10-06 |
| 46. |
Jason
Williamson |
Aiken,
S.C. |
4 |
10-06 |
| 48. |
Paul
Hirosky |
Guys
Mills, Pa. |
5 |
10-04 |
| 49. |
Kenyon
Hill |
Norman,
Okla. |
5 |
10-02 |
| 50. |
Davy
Hite |
Ninety
Six, S.C. |
5 |
10-01 |
| 50. |
John
Murray |
Phoenix,
Ariz. |
5 |
10-01 |
| 52. |
Bill
Lowen |
North
Bend, Ohio |
5 |
10-00 |
| 53. |
Jeff
Kriet |
Ardmore,
Okla. |
5 |
9-15 |
| 54. |
Ishama
Monroe |
Hughson,
Calif. |
5 |
9-14 |
| 55. |
Takahiro
Omori |
Emory,
Texas |
5 |
9-12 |
| 56. |
Stephen
Browning |
Hot
Springs, Ark. |
5 |
9-11 |
| 56. |
Eric
Nethery |
Acworth,
Ga. |
5 |
9-11 |
| 58. |
Kelly
Jordon |
Mineola,
Texas |
5 |
9-10 |
| 58. |
Doc
Merkin |
Downers
Grove, Ill. |
5 |
9-10 |
| 60. |
Lee
Bailey |
Boaz,
Ala. |
5 |
9-09 |
| 60. |
Byron
Velvick |
Del
Rio, Texas |
5 |
9-09 |
| 62. |
Scott
Rook |
Little
Rock, Ark. |
5 |
9-08 |
| 63. |
Mark
Tyler |
Vian,
Okla. |
5 |
9-07 |
| 64. |
Mike
Wurm |
Hot
Springs, Ark. |
5 |
9-05 |
| 65. |
Cliff
Pace |
Petal,
Miss. |
5 |
9-04 |
| 66. |
Denny
Brauer |
Camdenton,
Mo. |
5 |
9-03 |
| 67. |
Preston
Clark |
Palatka,
Fla. |
5 |
9-00 |
| 67. |
Mark
Tucker |
Saint
Louis, Mo. |
5 |
9-00 |
| 69. |
Boyd
Duckett |
Demopolis,
Ala. |
4 |
8-14 |
| 70. |
Kotaro
Kiriyama |
Moody,
Ala. |
5 |
8-13 |
| 71. |
Matt
Reed |
Madisonville,
Texas |
5 |
8-12 |
| 72. |
Charlie
Youngers |
Geneva,
Fla. |
4 |
8-09 |
| 73. |
Jim
Murray |
Arabi,
Ga. |
4 |
8-07 |
| 74. |
Yusuke
Miyazaki |
Mineola,
Texas |
5 |
8-04 |
| 75. |
Morizo
Shimizu |
Murrieta,
Calif. |
5 |
8-02 |
| 76. |
Alton
Jones |
Waco,
Texas |
5 |
8-00 |
| 77. |
Gary
Klein |
Weatherford,
Texas |
5 |
7-15 |
| 78. |
Todd
Faircloth |
Jasper,
Texas |
5 |
7-14 |
| 78. |
Ray
Sedgwick |
Cross,
S.C. |
5 |
7-14 |
| 80. |
Greg
Hackney |
Gonzales,
La. |
5 |
7-13 |
| 80. |
Zell
Rowland |
Montgomery,
Texas |
5 |
7-13 |
| 82. |
Marty
Stone |
Fayetteville
, N.C. |
5 |
7-11 |
| 82. |
Kevin
VanDam |
Kalamazoo,
Mich. |
4 |
7-11 |
| 84. |
Brian
Snowden |
Reeds
Spring, Mo. |
5 |
7-09 |
| 85. |
Guy
Eaker |
Cherryville,
N.C. |
5 |
7-04 |
| 86. |
Steve
Kennedy |
Auburn,
Ala. |
5 |
7-01 |
| 86. |
Mark
Rogers |
Naples,
Fla. |
5 |
7-01 |
| 88. |
Paul
Elias |
Laurel,
Miss. |
5 |
6-13 |
| 89. |
Rick
Clunn |
Ava,
Mo. |
5 |
6-09 |
| 90. |
James
Charlesworth |
Saint
Cloud, Fla. |
4 |
6-06 |
| 91. |
Bradley
Hallman |
Norman,
Okla. |
3 |
6-01 |
| 91. |
Rick
Ash |
Pottstown,
Pa. |
3 |
6-01 |
| 93. |
Jami
Fralick |
Martin,
S.D. |
4 |
6-00 |
| 94. |
Steve
Daniel |
Clewiston,
Fla. |
3 |
5-12 |
| 95. |
Greg
Gutierrez |
Red
Bluff, Calif. |
5 |
5-10 |
| 96. |
Bradley
Stringer |
Huntington,
Texas |
2 |
5-07 |
| 97. |
Britt
Myers |
Lake
Wylie, S.C. |
3 |
5-05 |
| 98. |
Ben
Matsubu |
Hemphill,
Texas |
3 |
5-01 |
| 99. |
Russ
Lane |
Prattville,
Ala. |
3 |
5-00 |
| 100. |
Ken
D Cook |
Lawton,
Okla. |
4 |
4-15 |
| 101. |
Terry
Butcher |
Talala,
Okla. |
2 |
4-13 |
| 102. |
Darrin
Schwenkbeck |
Silver
Spring, Md. |
3 |
4-06 |
| 103. |
Charlie
Hartley |
Grove
City, Ohio |
3 |
4-03 |
| 104. |
James
Kennedy |
Lacombe,
La. |
3 |
3-03 |
| 105. |
Glenn
Delong |
Bellville,
Ohio |
2 |
3-00 |
| 106. |
Kurt
Dove |
Fairfax,
Va. |
2 |
2-04 |
| 107. |
Kevin
Langill |
Terrell,
N.C. |
0 |
0-00 |
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