DUDLEY LEADS ON CHAMPLAIN

Story and photo courtesy of FLW Outdoors Communications

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. - The best professional bass anglers from all over the world began their four-day battle for a top cash award of up to $125,000 at the Walmart FLW Tour Major on Lake Champlain presented by Chevy on Thursday. Just a few short weeks after an incredible event on Kentucky Lake, the pros were anticipating a hot bite at the popular angler destination. Lake Champlain didn’t disappoint them.

Castrol pro David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., who went into the Champlain event with a one-point lead in the FLW Tour Angler of the Year race, weighed a five-bass limit for 24 pounds even to take the early lead in the tournament. Dudley now holds a 3-pound, 4-ounce lead over Walmart pro George Cochran of Hot Springs, Ark., and Snapple pro Jacob Powroznik of Prince George, Va., who both caught five bass weighing 20-12.

“They were biting,” Dudley said. “It’s Lake Champlain in June. They bite.

“The lake was calm,” Dudley added. “It’s Lake Champlain. You can go anywhere and do anything you want to do.”

Dudley remained quiet about techniques he used during the first day of competition, but he did report he caught close to 30 keepers during the course of the day, 25 of which were keepers. When asked for his plan of attack on the second day, Dudley was quick to say he planned to repeat the plan he executed on day one.

The top 10 pros after day one on Lake Champlain are:

1st: Castrol pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 24-0
2nd: Walmart pro George Cochran, Hot Springs, Ark., five bass, 20-12
2nd: Snapple pro Jacob Powroznik, Prince George, Va., five bass, 20-12
4th: Chad Morgenthaler, Coulterville, Ill., five bass, 20-5
5th: Shad Schenck, Waynetown, Ind., five bass, 19-11
6th: Blake Nick, Adger, Ala., five bass, 19-10
7th: Goodwill pro Chad Grigsby, Maple Grove, Minn., five bass, 19-7
8th: Koby Kreiger, Okeechobee, Fla., five bass, 19-2
9th: Micah Frazier, Newnan, Ga., five bass, 19-1
10th:Shane Long, Springfield, Mo., five bass, 19-0
10th:Spencer Shuffield, Bismarck, Ark., five bass, 19-0

Dudley and Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., shared Thursday’s big bass honors with a pair of bass weighing 6-0 on the pro side to split $500.