Butcher was fired up on day one at G'ville 

 (Photo by Mark Jeffreys)
 

Posted  April 27th, 2007  6:17pm CST
BUTCHER CUTS THE FIELD ON DAY ONE 

Terry Butcher Leads With 26-03, Quinn Second, KVD Third

Story by Dan O'Sullivan, Photos by Mark Jeffreys


As the Bassmaster Elite Series made its fifth stop on the circuit, the Southern Challenge, presented by Purolator. Word had it that the big fish that had made Guntersville famous were responding to the favorable conditions and moving into spawning areas to pair up and nest.

As the official practice period came to a close, the talk was of anglers being able to do just about anything to catch quality fish. Not only was sightfishing going to play a role in the tournament, but just about any method from top to bottom was going to take its share of fish.

As day one of the Southern Challenge neared, the Southern Skies arose and began to storm, and as the morning blast off approached, the severity of the conditions prompted BASS officials to cancel the first day of the event.

With the cancellation, the Southern Challenge would now become a three day event as opposed to the originally scheduled four, with the full field fishing for Friday and Saturday, with a single cut to the top 12 for Sunday’s final day. The shortened competition making it all the more important for anglers to get out in front in a hurry and stake their claim at leading the pack.

By the end of the first day weigh-in, it seemed that many of the anglers at the lower end of the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race had sensed that urgency and leaped at the chance to gain some ground on the usual front runners, who were largely absent from the top half of the leader board.

Terry Butcher, the 35-year-old pro of Talala, Okla. did just that and stormed to the lead of the Southern Challenge. Butcher, taking the urgency to heart relied on two patterns to post his day one weight of 26-pounds, 3-ounces. Butcher’s solid day put him more than three pounds ahead of 34-year-old Jason Quinn of Lake Wylie, S.C. who finished with 22-pounds, 10-ounces. 

After two tournaments without an appearance in the top 12, Kevin Van Dam of Kalamazoo, Mich. The 39-year-old found himself in third position with a limit that weighed 21-pounds, 4-ounces. Rounding out the top five were 38-year-old Terry Scroggins of Palatka, Fla. with 21-pounds, 2-ounces and fourth place. While 46-year-old Pete Ponds of Madison, MS weighed 20-pounds, 7-ounces grabbed the fifth spot.

Here is the rest of the top 12:
6. Mark Tucker 19-12
7. Kotaro Kiriyama 19-8
8. Boyd Duckett 19-3 and Purolator Big Bass (7-15)
9. Ishama Monroe 18-7
10. Yusuke Miyazaki 18-6
11. Morizo Shimizu 18-5
12. Shaw Grigsby 18-0

Butcher Proves it to Himself
Heading into the Southern Challenge, day one leader Terry Butcher was in 108th place in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings, and having a good day has bolstered his confidence. “This is sweet,” Butcher said. “A day like this just reassures me that I can still catch ‘em.” 

Butcher said that he ran two distinct patterns today, and while he declined to be specific, he told BassZone.com that he spent much of his day practicing because he had a 22-pound limit early this morning. “I decided to skip a couple of my areas today and used the second half of the day to practice,” said Butcher. “It just seemed that I could do no wrong today, because everywhere I stopped I caught good one’s.” 		   

Butcher reported that he had one fish over six pounds today and two fish over five pounds.

     Quinn Likes His Position
Jason Quinn said his day started early with a limit in his first seven to eight casts and that his day really took off when he caught his big fish, a 7-pound, 10-ounce Guntersville largemouth. Quinn was also hushed about his pattern, but did say that his morning spots were deeper grass lines.

“I had a couple of places where I could get a limit real quick,” Quinn said. “After my first spot, I just ran my little milk run and culled a fish here or there until I caught the big fish at 10 o’clock.” Quinn also said that he held a little back for day two, but won’t wait too long because of the shortened event. “I have a few bed fish that I didn’t go to today,” Quinn reported, but in an event like this you have to get them quick because it’s a three day event, so I will go after them tomorrow.”
     
Van Dam In His Realm
Kevin Van Dam was one of the anglers who would have liked the chance to fish yesterday in the high winds that came with the front, and while exact details of his game plan were scarce he said that today’s post front conditions were right up his alley.

“I‘m not close to the bank, but I am covering a lot of water,” said KVD. “This lake really suits my style of fishing, a good bag of fish is not too far way, and you can really get them with a spinnerbait here around the grass, especially with wind and clouds thrown in.” Van Dam said that the only thing that kept him from a great day was the lack of a big kicker bite. 		  

     
Scroggins, Feels Better About Tomorrow
While sitting in fourth place isn’t too bad, Terry Scroggins said that a late blast off and a couple of lost fish cost him a better finish on day one. But, “Big Show” said that conditions were things looked to be better for him tomorrow.
 

     

“I had a late blast off number today, and that hurt me, because I am fishing the shad spawn in the morning, and I need to be there early,” Scroggins said. “This morning I was running around to find them, and when I did I caught them.” Scroggins also said that a first flight blast off should be great for day two. “I know right where I am going to fish the shad spawn first thing,

 I’ve got a deep crankbait bite in the afternoon, and a little sightfishing in between,” he concluded. “It should be a good day.”

Ponds Surprised by His Weight 
Pete Ponds is looking to make his third top 12 position of the season, and he is off to a good start at Guntersville, but his position surprises him a little. “I only caught one fish over four pounds the entire practice period,” Ponds said. “I didn’t hit them really hard in practice, so I was pleased to see this quality come out of the area today.”

Ponds reported being a little concerned because he managed to get only six bites all day, but that he will keep fishing. “I’m a little concerned, but you know how it is, this is fishing, I could get 24 or 25-pounds again tomorrow, so I am going to go after them again.”

 

   

DAY ONE STANDINGS

Day 1 Day 1
Place Pro Angler Hometown, State # Weight
1.  Terry Butcher          Talala, Okla.           5 

 26-03
2.  Jason Quinn            Lake Wylie, S.C.        5  22-10     
3.  Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, Mich.        5  21-04     
4.  Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, Fla.         5  21-02     
5.  Pete Ponds             Madison, Miss.          5  20-07     
6.  Mark Tucker            Saint Louis, Mo.        5  19-12     
7.  Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, Ala.             5  19-08     
8.  Boyd Duckett           Demopolis, Ala.         5 

 19-03
9.  Ishama Monroe          Hughson, Calif.         5  18-07     
10. Yusuke Miyazaki        Mineola, Texas          5  18-06     
11. Morizo Shimizu         Murrieta, Calif.        5  18-05     
12. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr     Gainesville, Fla.       5  18-00     
13. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, Mo.       5  17-14     
14. Gerald Swindle         Warrior, Ala.           5  17-13     
15. Jeff Reynolds          Idabel, Okla.           5  17-07     
16. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, Okla.          5  17-03     
17. Dean Rojas             Grand Saline, Texas     5  17-01     
18. Denny Brauer           Camdenton, Mo.          5  16-12     
18. Skeet Reese            Auburn, Calif.          5  16-12     
20. Kevin Short            Mayflower, Ark.         5  16-10     
21. Cliff Pace             Petal, Miss.            5  16-09     
22. Matt Reed              Madisonville, Texas     5  16-08     
23. Jami Fralick           Martin, S.D.            5  16-07     
24. Davy Hite              Ninety Six, S.C.        5  16-05     
24. Timmy Horton           Muscle Shoals, Ala.     5  16-05     
24. Alton Jones            Waco, Texas             5  16-05     
27. Greg Gutierrez         Red Bluff, Calif.       5  16-04     
28. Ken Brodeur            Niantic, Conn.          5  16-02     
28. Paul Hirosky           Guys Mills, Pa.         5  16-02     
28. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, Ark.       5  16-02     
31. Ben Matsubu            Hemphill, Texas         5  15-11     
32. Aaron Martens          Leeds, Ala.             5  15-10     
33. Takahiro Omori         Emory, Texas            5  15-08     
34. Mark Rogers            Naples, Fla.            5  15-05     
35. James Kennedy          Lacombe, La.            5  15-03     
36. Kelly Jordon           Mineola, Texas          5  15-01     
36. Rick Clunn             Ava, Mo.                5  15-01     
38. Paul Elias             Laurel, Miss.           5  14-12     
38. Jim Murray             Arabi, Ga.              5  14-12     
40. Mark Menendez          Paducah, Ky.            5  14-11     
41. Lee Bailey             Boaz, Ala.              5  14-10     
42. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, Texas           5  14-08     
43. Derek Remitz           Hemphill, Texas         5  14-05     
43. Ray Sedgwick           Cross, S.C.             5  14-05     
45. Chris Lane             Winter Haven, Fla.      5  14-02     
46. Kevin Wirth            Crestwood, Ky.          5  14-01     
47. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, Calif.   5  14-00     
48. Zell Rowland           Montgomery, Texas       5  13-15     
49. Preston Clark          Palatka, Fla.           5  13-14     
49. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, Ala.            5  13-14     
51. Bill Lowen             North Bend, Ohio        5  13-09     
52. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, Ark.       5  13-08     
52. John Crews             Salem, Va.              5  13-08     
52. Bryan Hudgins          Orange Park, Fla.       5  13-08     
52. Jimmy Mize             Ben Lomond, Ark.        5  13-08     
56. Rick Morris            Virginia Beach, Va.     5  13-07     
57. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, Fla.       5  13-06     
58. Matt Amedeo            Clinton, Ohio           5  13-05     
58. Edwin Evers            Talala, Okla.           5  13-05     
60. Grant Goldbeck         Gaithersburg, Md.       5  13-04     
61. Peter E Thliveros      Jacksonville, Fla.      5  13-03     
62. Ken D Cook             Lawton, Okla.           5  13-02     
63. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, Ohio        5  12-10     
63. Elton Luce Jr          Brookeland, Texas       5  12-10     
65. Randy Howell           Springville, Ala.       5  12-08     
66. Jeremy Starks          Charleston, W.Va.       5  12-07     
67. Mark Tyler             Vian, Okla.             5  12-03     
68. Gary Klein             Weatherford, Texas      5  12-02     
69. James Charlesworth     Saint Cloud, Fla.       5  12-01     
70. John Murray            Phoenix, Ariz.          5  12-00     
70. Keith Phillips         Calera, Ala.            5  12-00     
70. Scott Rook             Little Rock, Ark.       5  12-00     
70. Fred Roumbanis         Auburn, Calif.          5  12-00     
74. Jason Williamson       Aiken, S.C.             5  11-15     
74. Mike Wurm              Hot Springs, Ark.       5  11-15     
76. Russ Lane              Prattville, Ala.        5  11-12     
77. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, La.           5  11-11     
78. Marty Robinson         Landrum, S.C.           5  11-04     
78. Eric Nethery           Acworth, Ga.            4  11-04     
80. Scott Campbell         Springfield, Mo.        3  11-03     
81. Jon Bondy              Windsor, Canada         5  11-01     
82. Michael Iaconelli      Runnemede, N.J.         4  10-13     
83. Jeff Connella          Bentley, La.            5  10-12     
84. Steve Daniel           Clewiston, Fla.         4   9-03     
84. James Niggemeyer       Van, Texas              4   9-03     
86. Bradley Hallman        Norman, Okla.           3   9-02     
86. Jimmy Mason            Rogersville, Ala.       2   9-02     
88. Kevin Langill          Terrell, N.C.           3   8-10     
89. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, Okla.          4   8-07     
90. Bradley Stringer       Huntington, Texas       3   8-05     
91. Kurt Dove              Fairfax, Va.            3   8-03     
92. Darrin Schwenkbeck     Silver Spring, Md.      3   7-06     
92. Marty Stone            Fayetteville, N.C.      3   7-06     
94. Casey Ashley           Donalds, S.C.           2   7-02     
95. Kenyon Hill            Norman, Okla.           3   6-10     
96. William Smith          Somerset, Ky.           2   5-10     
97. Frank Scalish          Cleveland Heights, Ohi  5   5-09     
97. Dave Wolak             Wake Forest, N.C.       2   5-09     
99. Byron Velvick          Del Rio, Texas          1   5-06     
100. Glenn Delong           Bellville, Ohio         2   5-01     
101. Guy Eaker              Cherryville, N.C.       2   4-12     
102. Rick Ash               Pottstown, Pa.          2   4-04     
103. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, S.C.        2   3-15     
104. Matthew Sphar          Pavilion, N.Y.          2   3-14     
105. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, Kan.      2   3-13     
106. Doc Merkin             Downers Grove, Ill.     0   0-00     
106. Dave Smith             Del City, Okla.         0   0-00     
106. Charlie Youngers       Geneva, Fla.            0   0-00