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Leesburg, FL –
Day one of the Sunshine Showdown went off without a hitch – that is to say, unless you consider a rain-soaked weigh-in no problem, the day was “as planned.” Anglers started the day on Leesburg, Florida’s Harris Chain under clear skies and cool temperatures; however, the afternoon rolled in with thunderstorms and heavy rain…and more is called for Friday.
High pressure promised to be the acellies heel of day one, though not from Mother Nature. The pressure was from the wads of anglers congregated amid the Chain’s miles of canals in search of spawning bass. Some found them in practice, and hoped for a good boat draw while others opted for other plans – most of which were to say away from the “lookers.”
Either way, as expected, the first day of school was in session with a full field of the world’s best bass fishermen putting on a show.
Leading the charge was third year Elite Series pro Bill Lowen of North Bend, Ohio. Lowen brought in brought in a 21-10 limit, including a double-digit bruiser, to the scales to grab a four ounce day-one lead.
Bryan Hudgins of Orange Park, Fla. Brought a solid limit to the scales weighing 21-6 to nail down the second place position after round one. In third place was Elite Series rookie Billy Brewer from Bruceville, TX, who wrestled a 20-7 limit from the waters of the sprawling Florida fishery.
Dean “I love Kermit” Rojas toted a limiting weighing 18-2 across the scales to land solidly in fourth place while Team Toyota’s Dave Wolak brought in at 17-12 to finish the first day of competition in fifth place overall.
Lowen Goes Big
While the 2007 wasn’t a bust for Lowen, it certainly wasn’t one that he’d like to relive, so to be standing in the top spot on the first day is a good feeling. Add to that the fact that his plan coming in worked to perfection. “I was catching some fish flipping, and thought that I could catch a pretty good limit over the day by doing that,” he said, “but by 1:30 I only had one little 13-inch fish.
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“I was starting to get bummed out, but I knew that the fish didn’t leave so I just made a small adjustment and got on ‘em. I only had seven bites all day – and dumped two of them – so the five that I kept were the right ones.”
Leaving in the last flight, Lowen was pressed for space in the areas he was fishing. Fortunately, some fine-tuning allowed him to pick up the scraps (or huge chunks) that were left behind. “I was real fortunate to get those two big bites,” he said. “With the change that I made, I think I’ve figured out how to go get them tomorrow, so I’m really excited about getting back out there.”
Fishing four feet of water, Lowen stayed put around the pad stems that he’d found in practice. “The first day of practice I had two bites, and the second day I had three bites,” he said. “The third day, I had about 25 bites flipping, so I knew right then that they were in there. I went right back to where I left off yesterday and started over this morning.” |
The day’s Big Bass came at a point when Lowen was already fired up. “When I stuck her, I told my partner that I was going to need some help because I knew that she was a double-digit,” he said. “She was on braid, and I knew that she was hooked good, so I didn’t really panic, but you’re always jazzed up – plus, just a few flips before that I had caught the five-pounder.
Lowen isn’t planning on making any changes for Friday – just a continuation of the bob-and-weave approach that got him on top Thursday. “I just can’t wait to go out there tomorrow,” he said. “The weather is supposed to be about the same, and I’m doing enough of a different deal that the guys around me – even though they’re flipping – aren’t too much of a threat.”
Hudgins Looks Early, Fishes Late
Hudgins lives only and hour or so away and had earned his stripes on Harris – including a third-place finish in the Wild Card that got him to the Elites to begin with. Still, a little more practice would have been nice. “I only had a day-and-a-half of practice because I was sick,” he said.
“Fortunately, I had found a few bedding fish before I got sick, so I started there this morning. I caught a five pounder on about my fifth pitch, and was able to put together a pretty good limit. After that, I just went fishing.”
Hudgins made up for the lack of practice by spending the afternoon looking. “I actually found a big group of fish this afternoon that I wish I would’ve had to to fish on,” he said. “It turned out pretty good for me because I wouldn’t have spent as much time looking. The fish that I found this afternoon were actually rubbing, so I they’ll be ready to go tomorrow.” |
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All things considered, Hudgins kept his day in perspective. This was fairly easy considering his standing at the end of the day. “I had a six and a nine right beside each other,” he said. “I caught the six, and the nine dropped down to eat the bait, but never would commit. That’s about the worst thing that happened all day.”
The experience Hudgins has here is what he’s counting on. “There’s not a lot of fish up right now, and the ones that are were just brutalized today,” he said. “I’m only looking in places that I know that spawners are at, but that are really hard to see. You have to actually visualize where the beds would be – you’re bed fishing, but doing it blind.”
Friday, Hudgins is hoping for the obvious – the right five bites. “As long as I can get the good bites over the next couple of days I should be okay,” he said. “I said going out this morning, if I could get one good bite I would be okay. I got two instead. Tomorrow, I’m hoping to get around 15 pounds.”
Brewer is Blessed
The flu that everyong you know has is making it’s way through the ranks of the Elite Series as well, and Elite Series rookie Billy Brewer may well be its lates victim. Despite that, he still managed to put together the day’s third-heaviest bag. “I’m sick as a dog today,” the fatigued pro admitted. “I was just really fortunate today in the fish that I got to the boat.”
Noticeably ill, Brewer recanted his day and emphasized a little help from the man upstairs is what got him to this point. “I caught a five pounder and had one little squeeker
eary, and then dumped two really nice ones right at the boat,” he said. “I was feeling terrible, so I had to focus and keep telling myself that God has a reason for me being here. I caught two sevens pretty soon after that in back-to-back casts. It was just a really neat day.”
A native of Waco, and close friend of Classic Champion Alton Jones, Brewer earned his way into the ’08 Elites – but couldn’t have anticipated being near the top of the pile on the first day of his first outing. “I never dreamed that I would be in third place in my first Elite Series event,” he said. “I’ve watched Alton (Jones) for years, so it’s just a dream to be standing here right now – particularly after dumping 20 pounds – or more – over the course of the day.” |
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Plans for tomorrow are clear – get better, and stick with it. “I’m sick right now, but just a lot of prayer and Vitamin C will hopefully get me through,” he said. “I’ve spent a little bit of time here prior to cut off, so tomorrow it’s just going back to what worked today and try to expand a little.”
Rojas’ California Roots Paying Off
Dean Rojas and Florida fishinggo together like peas and carrots. Without the assistance of his famous frog friend, Rojas slipped inside the top five with some good old fashioned fishing – the details of which, he keeping close to the vest. “I had a good day and caught about 10 keepers today,” he said. “I figured out something late in the day that I think will help me out, so I’m fired up about tomorrow.”
Rojas
added that his SoCal roots help him
greatly when in Florida. “Growing up in
San Diego, I’m very comfortable fishing
for Florida Strain,” he said.
“They’re a different breed, so you
have to be able to continually adjust. My
San Diego ways are helping me here right
now.”
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Aside
from the California-Florida
connection, there’s years of
history that Rojas has to rely on
as well. “I started on some old
stuff, and pulled to a little
patch and go on them pretty
easily,” he said. “I mixed up
my day a little bit – some old
stuff, some new. The big fish came
off a spot that I’d never fished
before, just saw it in practice
and thought that it looked
good.” |
The key for Dean is just staying close to home – something he’s not planning on changing over the coming days. “I’m not making the big run like everyone else is,” he said. “I know that there are some big bites around here local, so I’m planning to just maximize my time every day.
Wolak Praying for Rain
By afternoon, there wasn’t anyone happier with the clouds and rain that was Dave Wolak. After spending the first half of the day grinding away, the clouds brought with them and increase in cast-to-fish ratio – something that’s always a plus when fishing tournaments. “The day just started off slower than I would’ve like,” he said.
“I didn’t bed fish at all – even though I did have one bed that I was going to hit first thing this morning. I caught a mud fish off it, so I totally dropped that plan and just went fishing.”
The way Wolak figures it, anytime you can catch two limits, and have one of them be an eight
pounder, you’ve done good. There’s likely no disagreement there. “You’ve had a pretty good day of fishing when you can go through two limits and have one of them be an eight,” he said “To get the eight pounder out of the stuff that I was fishing was an accomplishment. |
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“I did lose several fish, but that’s sort of the nature of the beast when you fishing around thick cover. You just can’t let it get to you.”
Wolak is planning for the same tomorrow…with the wildcard being the weatherman’s promise of more rain. “I think I would do a lot better if it would just stay cloudy and rain for the next three days,” he jokingly said. “They get super-tight to cover when the sun gets out, so I’ll be praying for rain everyday.”
DAY
ONE STANDINGS
| Place |
Pro
Angler |
Hometown,
State |
Day
One
(#/WT) |
| 1 |
BILL
LOWEN |
NORTH
BEND, OH |
5 21-10 |
| 2 |
BRYAN
HUDGINS |
ORANGE
PARK, FL |
5 21-6 |
| 3 |
BILLY
BREWER |
BRUCEVILLE,
TX |
5 20-7 |
| 4 |
DEAN
ROJAS |
LAKE
HAVASU CITY, AZ |
5 18-2 |
| 5 |
DAVE
WOLAK |
WAKE
FOREST, NC |
5 17-12 |
| 6 |
BRIAN
SNOWDEN |
REEDS
SPRING, MO |
5 17-3 |
| 7 |
JIMMY
MIZE |
BEN
LOMOND, AR |
5 16-9 |
| 8 |
FRED
ROUMBANIS |
BIXBY,
OK |
5 16-5 |
| 9 |
MARK
DAVIS |
MOUNT
IDA, AR |
5 16-1 |
| 10 |
RAY
SEDGWICK |
CROSS,
SC |
4 15-14 |
| 11 |
MIKE
MCCLELLAND |
BELLA
VISTA, AR |
5 15-13 |
| 11 |
BRITT
MYERS |
LAKE
WYLIE, SC |
5 15-13 |
| 13 |
RICK
ASH |
POTTSTOWN,
PA |
5 15-12 |
| 14 |
MATT
REED |
MADISONVILLE,
TX |
5 14-12 |
| 15 |
TAKAHIRO
OMORI |
EMORY,
TX |
5 14-2 |
| 16 |
JASON
QUINN |
YORK,
SC |
5 14-0 |
| 17 |
GARY
KLEIN |
WEATHERFORD,
TX |
5 13-10 |
| 18 |
RICK
MORRIS |
VIRGINIA
BEACH, VA |
5 13-9 |
| 19 |
TIMMY
HORTON |
MUSCLE
SHOALS, AL |
5 13-5 |
| 20 |
CLIFF
PACE |
PETAL,
MS |
5 13-1 |
| 21 |
GERALD
SWINDLE |
WARRIOR,
AL |
5 12-15 |
| 21 |
BRADLEY
HALLMAN |
NORMAN,
OK |
5 12-15 |
| 23 |
MARTY
ROBINSON |
LYMAN,
SC |
5 12-14 |
| 24 |
RUSSELL
LANE |
PRATTVILLE,
AL |
5 12-11 |
| 25 |
STEPHEN
KENNEDY |
AUBURN,
AL |
5 12-8 |
| 26 |
GUY
EAKER |
CHERRYVILLE,
NC |
5 12-4 |
| 27 |
YUSUKE
MIYAZAKI |
FORNEY,
TX |
5 12-3 |
| 28 |
BERNNIE
SCHULTZ |
GAINESVILLE,
FL |
5 12-1 |
| 28 |
AARON
MARTENS |
LEEDS,
AL |
5 12-1 |
| 28 |
JAMES
NIGGEMEYER |
VAN,
TX |
5 12-1 |
| 31 |
TODD
FAIRCLOTH |
JASPER,
TX |
5 11-13 |
| 32 |
KEVIN
WIRTH |
CRESTWOOD,
KY |
5 11-11 |
| 32 |
DENNIS
BRAUER |
CAMDENTON,
MO |
5 11-11 |
| 34 |
SKEET
REESE |
AUBURN,
CA |
5 11-9 |
| 35 |
RANDY
HOWELL |
SPRINGVILLE,
AL |
5 11-5 |
| 36 |
KENYON
HILL |
NORMAN,
OK |
5 11-4 |
| 36 |
CHRIS
LANE |
LAKELAND,
FL |
5 11-4 |
| 38 |
SCOTT
CAMPBELL |
SPRINGFIELD,
MO |
5 11-3 |
| 38 |
RICK
CLUNN |
AVA,
MO |
5 11-3 |
| 40 |
KEVIN
SHORT |
MAYFLOWER,
AR |
5 11-2 |
| 41 |
MORIZO
SHIMIZU |
OSAKA,
JP |
5 11-1 |
| 42 |
JARED
LINTNER |
ARROYO
GRANDE, CA |
5 10-15 |
| 43 |
STEPHEN
DANIEL |
CLEWISTON,
FL |
4 10-8 |
| 44 |
TOMMY
BIFFLE |
WAGONER,
OK |
5 10-6 |
| 45 |
MICHAEL
IACONELLI |
RUNNEMEDE,
NJ |
5 10-5 |
| 45 |
CHARLIE
HARTLEY |
GROVE
CITY, OH |
5 10-5 |
| 47 |
MARK
MENENDEZ |
PADUCAH,
KY |
5 10-4 |
| 48 |
SHAW
E GRIGSBY |
GAINESVILLE,
FL |
5 10-1 |
| 48 |
PRESTON
CLARK |
PALATKA,
FL |
5 10-1 |
| 50 |
MIKE
WURM |
HOT
SPRINGS, AR |
5 9-15 |
| 51 |
BOYD
DUCKETT |
DEMOPOLIS,
AL |
5 9-14 |
| 51 |
BRIAN
CLARK |
HALTOM
CITY, TX |
5 9-14 |
| 53 |
STEPHEN
BROWNING |
HOT
SPRINGS, AR |
5 9-12 |
| 53 |
MARTY
STONE |
FAYETTEVILLE,
NC |
5 9-12 |
| 55 |
GLENN
DELONG |
BELLVILLE,
OH |
5 9-11 |
| 55 |
DEREK
REMITZ |
GRANT,
AL |
5 9-11 |
| 57 |
MATT
AMEDEO |
CLINTON,
OH |
5 9-5 |
| 58 |
KEVIN
VANDAM |
KALAMAZOO,
MI |
5 9-2 |
| 59 |
PAUL
ELIAS |
LAUREL,
MS |
5 9-1 |
| 60 |
JOHN
CREWS |
SALEM,
VA |
5 9-0 |
| 60 |
CASEY
ASHLEY |
DONALDS,
SC |
5 9-0 |
| 60 |
COREY
WALDROP |
FORT
WORTH, TX |
4 9-0 |
| 60 |
PAUL
HIROSKY |
GUYS
MILLS, PA |
5 9-0 |
| 64 |
ALTON
JONES |
WACO,
TX |
5 8-14 |
| 65 |
KURT
DOVE |
FAIRFAX,
VA |
5 8-12 |
| 66 |
MARK
TYLER |
VIAN,
OK |
5 8-9 |
| 67 |
ROBERT
MYERS |
TULSA,
OK |
5 8-7 |
| 68 |
JEREMY
STARKS |
CHARLESTON,
WV |
4 8-5 |
| 68 |
DAVY
HITE |
NINETY
SIX, SC |
5 8-5 |
| 70 |
BEN
MATSUBU |
HEMPHILL,
TX |
5 8-4 |
| 70 |
ZELL
ROWLAND |
MONTGOMERY,
TX |
5 8-4 |
| 72 |
ELTON
LUCE |
BROOKELAND,
TX |
5 8-3 |
| 73 |
MATTHEW
SPHAR |
PAVILION,
NY |
5 8-2 |
| 74 |
KEVIN
LANGILL |
TERRELL,
NC |
5 8-1 |
| 75 |
JON
BONDY |
WINDSOR,
ON |
3 8-0 |
| 76 |
KOTARO
KIRIYAMA |
MOODY,
AL |
4 7-15 |
| 76 |
KEN
D COOK |
LAWTON,
OK |
5 7-15 |
| 78 |
TERRY
SCROGGINS |
SAN
MATEO, FL |
5 7-13 |
| 78 |
TERRY
BUTCHER |
TALALA,
OK |
5 7-13 |
| 80 |
EDWIN
EVERS |
TALALA,
OK |
5 7-12 |
| 81 |
JAMI
FRALICK |
MARTIN,
SD |
5 7-11 |
| 82 |
GRANT
GOLDBECK |
GAITHERSBURG,
MD |
5 7-8 |
| 82 |
JEFF
KRIET |
ARDMORE,
OK |
4 7-8 |
| 82 |
DUSTIN
WILKS |
ROCKY
MOUNT, NC |
5 7-8 |
| 85 |
PAT
GOLDEN |
HIGH
POINT, NC |
5 7-6 |
| 85 |
BOBBY
LANE |
LAKELAND,
FL |
5 7-6 |
| 87 |
KELLY
JORDON |
MINEOLA,
TX |
3 7-4 |
| 88 |
JASON
WILLIAMSON |
AIKEN,
SC |
4 7-0 |
| 88 |
PETE
PONDS |
MADISON,
MS |
5 7-0 |
| 90 |
CLARK
REEHM |
RUSSELLVILLE,
AR |
5 6-14 |
| 90 |
JAY
FULLER |
KINGSTON,
OK |
5 6-14 |
| 92 |
BYRON
VELVICK |
DEL
RIO, TX |
5 6-13 |
| 92 |
JEFF
CONNELLA |
BENTLEY,
LA |
5 6-13 |
| 94 |
JIM
MURRAY |
ARABI,
GA |
3 6-12 |
| 95 |
TODD
AUTEN |
LAKE
WYLIE, SC |
5 6-10 |
| 96 |
DAVID
SMITH |
EDMOND,
OK |
5 6-7 |
| 97 |
GREG
GUTIERREZ |
RED
BLUFF, CA |
5 6-3 |
| 98 |
SCOTT
ROOK |
LITTLE
ROCK, AR |
5 6-2 |
| 99 |
ISHAMA
MONROE |
HUGHSON,
CA |
5 6-1 |
| 100 |
PETER
E THLIVEROS |
ST
AUGUSTINE, FL |
5 5-13 |
| 101 |
MARK
TUCKER |
SAINT
LOUIS, MO |
5 5-10 |
| 102 |
JAMES
KENNEDY |
LACOMBE,
LA |
5 5-6 |
| 103 |
JOHN
MURRAY |
PHOENIX,
AZ |
3 5-3 |
| 104 |
BRENT
CHAPMAN |
LAKE
QUIVIRA, KS |
4 5-0 |
| 105 |
DAVID
SHERRER |
SHREVEPORT,
LA |
3 4-12 |
| 106 |
WADE
GROOMS |
BONNEAU,
SC |
3 3-15 |
| 107 |
RANDY
ALLEN |
SHREVEPORT,
LA |
2 3-1 |
| 108 |
JEFF
REYNOLDS |
IDABEL,
OK |
2 2-12 |
| 109 |
GREG
HACKNEY |
GONZALES,
LA |
1 1-2 |
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