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Casey Ashley Off to A ‘Rocky’ Start at Grand Lake Elite
The limestone, sandstone, and dolomite beds that cradle Grand Lake o’ the Cherokees yielded a disappointing 11-pound limit for Casey Ashley on Day 1 of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite.
But the diamond he presented to longtime girlfriend Kenzi Hartman, in front of her friends and family at her parent’s home just down Interstate-44 in Broken Arrow last weekend, provided the emotional equivalent of his 2015 Bassmaster Classic win.
Grand Lake holds special significance to Casey and Kenzi. The first time they met one another was when the South Carolina pro traveled to the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake to work for sponsors such as Triton, Costa, and Quantum at the Classic Outdoor Expo.
It was one of the few Classics he’s failed to qualify for in his illustrious young career, but he netted a first date during the visit when Bob Bagby, a longtime marketing leader at Quantum, arranged for Casey to meet Kenzi, who Bagby knew through her former part time job at a local golf course.
To say the first date went well, would be like saying Casey ain’t half bad at pitchin’ a jig. Six months after they met, Casey asked Kenzi to move from Northeast Oklahoma to be with him fulltime in South Carolina, and to travel the Bassmaster Elite Series tour with him.
The Oklahoma State grad resigned a great job she had in sales, said a gut-wrenching goodbye to her parents and many close friends, and has been with Casey in South Carolina, and wherever the professional angling lifestyle takes them, ever since.
For the last five years, romantic trips to the mountains, beaches and many other significant destinations passed without the marriage proposal every girl dreams of. “All those great times came and went, and he never proposed, so I really had no clue he would ask me to marry him at my parents last weekend, but it was absolutely perfect,” says Kenzi.
“Rule #1 before any serious bass angler gives a girl a diamond ring is that she has to be a good cook, and she has to be able to back a boat trailer down a ramp. Kenzi can do both, and not only can she cook, but she’s a dang good cook,” says the Quantum pro.
The other rule is no runny eggs. The 2015 Classic champ and country boy, who once recorded a demo CD in Nashville under the tutelage of highly accomplished songwriter and avid angler Rodney Clawson, refuses to eat eggs over easy. But Kenzi’s homemade chicken Alfredo … well, now … that’s the tall brunette’s very best dish according to Casey.
Kenzi’s chicken Alfredo, Popeye’s spinach, General Mills’ Wheaties – whatever it takes to get Casey back in the hunt on the leaderboard – should probably be on the menu to make up for Casey’s small limit on Day 1.
“Back home, you don’t even start to think about looking for bass on spawning beds until the water temp hits 60-degrees. So with the water being in the high 50s and dingy here, I went shallow crankin’ until late in the afternoon on Thursday when I saw two 3-pounders on a spawning bed, and I knew right then I had missed-out on how they were catchin ‘em here,” says Ashley.
He mighta missed Grand Lake’s largemouth, but he’ll head east to the next Elite Series event at Kentucky Lake with one heckuva catch named Kenzi, and a diamond on her finger.
Williams Grabs Early Lead at FLW Tour at Lewis Smith Lake
JASPER, Ala. (April 26, 2018) – Pro David Williams of Maiden, North Carolina, weighed an 18-pound, 11-ounce limit of largemouth bass to take the lead on Day One of the FLW Tour at Lewis Smith Lake presented by T-H Marine. Williams will bring a 2-pound, 9-ounce lead into Day Two of the four-day event that features the world’s premier bass-fishing professionals and co-anglers casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the Pro Division and up to $25,000 cash in the Co-angler Division.
Williams worked along two 4- to 5-mile stretches of creek to catch his largemouth Thursday. He said he fished flooded cover, and that he had 40 to 50 bites throughout his day.
“I went to the area where I’d caught two big ones in practice and caught my weight pretty quickly,” said Williams, who is seeking his first career win as a professional on the FLW Tour. “I culled a few times and was basically done fishing by 10:30 (a.m.).
“They’re on a mixture of stuff – it’s not just one thing,” continued Williams. “I didn’t see anybody else in the area and I didn’t fish anything twice. I just kind of blew through it one time and left.”
Williams said he plans on returning to his two stretches Friday.
“There’s plenty of fish in there to catch a fairly decent limit. It’s just a matter of getting those big 4- and 5-pound bites,” said Williams. “I don’t know if I can catch another 18 pounds, but I can catch some fish. I’m just going to keep working them and hopefully it lasts a few days.”
The top 10 pros after day one on Lewis Smith Lake are:
1st: David Williams, Maiden, N.C., five bass, 18-11
2nd: Blake Smith, Lakeland, Fla., five bass, 16-2
3rd: Clent Davis, Montevallo, Ala., five bass, 15-13
3th: Cody Meyer, Auburn, Calif., five bass, 15-13
5th: Pennzoil Marine pro Matt Arey, Shelby, N.C., five bass, 15-9
6th: Joseph Webster, Winfield, Ala., five bass, 15-8
7th: James Niggemeyer, Van, Texas, five bass, 15-6
8th: Jim Moynagh, Carver, Minn., five bass, 15-2
9th: Jeff Dobson, Bartlesville, Okla., five bass, 15-1
10th: Jason Reyes, Huffman, Texas, five bass, 15-0
For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.
Moynagh and Dobson each angler weighed a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass to tie for and split the day’s $500 Simms Big Bass award..
Overall there were 863 bass weighing 1,825 pounds, 15 ounces, caught by 178 pros Thursday. The catch included 161 five-bass limits.
Billy Messer of Spartanburg, South Carolina, leads the Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 15 ounces, followed by Joel Willert of Prior Lake, Minnesota, who weighed five bass totaling 12-10, good for second place.
The top 10 co-anglers after day one on Lewis Smith Lake are:
1st: Billy Messer, Spartanburg, S.C., five bass, 13-15
2nd: Joel Willert, Prior Lake, Minn., five bass, 12-10
3rd: Hiroyuki Watanabe, Shizuoka, Honshu, Japan, five bass, 12-7
4th: Joshua Perrymon, Guntersville, Ala., five bass, 11-11
5th: Brian Norman, Hagersville, Ontario, Canada, five bass, 11-2
5th: Greg Pugh, Cullman, Ala., five bass, 11-2
7th: Marcus Corbett, Anniston, Ala., five bass, 11-1
8th: Casey Martin, New Hope, Ala., five bass, 10-14
9th: Jerry Reagan, Byrdstown, Tenn., five bass, 10-12
10th: Wataru Iwahori, Palestine, Texas, five bass, 10-10
10th: Randy Hill, Athens, Ala., five bass, 10-10
10th: Robby Frashier, Carrollton, Ga., five bass, 10-10
Mark Guhne of Hixson, Texas, earned $250 for the Simms Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division with a 4-pound, 2-ounce bass.
Overall there were 644 bass weighing 1,074 pounds, 12 ounces caught by 169 co-anglers Thursday. The catch included 81 five-bass limits.
In FLW Tour competition, pros and co-anglers are randomly paired each day, with pros supplying the boat, controlling boat movement and competing against other pros. Co-anglers fish from the back deck against other co-anglers. The full field of anglers competes in the two-day opening round. Co-angler competition concludes following Friday’s weigh-in, while the top 30 pros based on their two-day accumulated weight advance to Saturday. Only the top 10 pros continue competition Sunday, with the winner determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from the four days of competition.
The total purse for the FLW Tour at Lewis Smith Lake presented by T-H Marine is more than $930,000. The event is hosted by the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County
Anglers will take off at 6:30 a.m. CDT each day from the Smith Lake Dam Access, located at 7482 Smith Lake Dam Road in Jasper. Friday’s weigh-in, April 27, will be held at the Access beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday’s weigh-ins, April 28-29, will also be held at the Access, but will begin at 4 p.m.
Prior to the weigh-ins Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29, FLW will host a free Family Fishing Expo at the Smith Lake Dam Access from noon to 4 p.m. The Expo is the perfect opportunity for fishing fans of all ages to meet their favorite anglers, enjoy interactive games, activities and giveaways provided by FLW sponsors, and learn more about the sport of fishing and other outdoor activities.
Also for youth, the FLW Foundation’s Unified Fishing Derby will be held at the Smith Lake Dam Access on Saturday, April 28, from 9-11 a.m. The event is hosted by FLW Foundation pro Cody Kelley along with other FLW Tour anglers, and is free and open to youth (18 and under) and Special Olympics athletes (all ages). Rods and reels are available for use, but youth are encouraged to bring their own if they own one. The 1st and 2nd place anglers that catch the biggest fish will be recognized Saturday on the FLW Tour stage, just prior to the pros weighing in.
Throughout the season, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2018 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of professional bass fishing. The 2018 Forrest Wood Cup will be on Lake Ouachita in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 10-12 and is hosted by the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism and Visit Hot Springs.
Television coverage of the FLW Tour at Lewis Smith Lake presented by T-H Marine will premiere in high-definition (HD) on NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) June 6 from Noon-1 p.m. EST. The Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show airs on NBCSN, the Pursuit Channel and the World Fishing Network and is broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow the sport’s top anglers on the FLW Tour on FLW’s social media outlets at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
About FLW
FLW is the world’s largest tournament-fishing organization, providing anglers of all skill levels the opportunity to compete for millions in prize money in 2018 across five tournament circuits. Headquartered in Benton, Kentucky, with offices in Minneapolis, FLW and their partners conduct 286 bass-fishing tournaments annually around the world, including the United States, Canada, China, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Portugal, South Africa and Spain. FLW tournament fishing can be seen on the Emmy-nominated “FLW” television show, broadcast to more than 564 million households worldwide, while FLW Bass Fishing magazine delivers cutting-edge tips from top pros. For more information visit FLWFishing.com and follow FLW at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat.
Takahiro Omori Is On Top Again At Grand Lake Bassmaster Elite
Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas, takes the lead on the first day of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Grand Lake, bringing 23 pounds, 12 ounces to the scales on Thursday.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
GROVE, Okla. — Japanese angler Takahiro Omori, who now calls Emory, Texas, his home, recently earned his seventh Bassmaster title at the first event of the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series season on Alabama’s Lake Martin.
Today his dominating streak continues thanks to a pair of 6-pound bass that anchored a 23-pound, 12-ounce five-bass limit at the 2018 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Grand Lake in Grove, Okla.
“I didn’t have a very good practice earlier this week,” he said. “I knew the fish were about to spawn, but I was surprised with what I caught today. The rest of the field also caught quite a few big fish, and that’s going to keep things interesting for the next three days.”
The 47-year-old angler has been fishing with B.A.S.S. for over 27 years, and he said this was his best day ever on Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees.
“The best finish I’ve had on this lake was 30th place, so I’m very happy with how I did today,” said the 2004 Bassmaster Classic champion. “I know more fish are moving to shallow water, but it will be tough to catch this much again tomorrow.”
The last angler to win back-to-back Elites was the 2016 Classic Champion Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., who won on Kentucky Lake then again at the next tournament on the St. Lawrence River in 2015.
Looking at a second $100,000 paycheck in a row, Omori is cautiously optimistic.
“I probably fished over 50 different spots today. It’s important to keep moving,” he said. “Grand Lake is fishing very well right now, and I expect the fishing to only get better with the forecasted weather over the next few days.”
The weather is also a factor for third-year pro Brock Mosley of Collinsville, Miss. After catching five fat bass that weighed 23-5, the 29-year-old angler will be starting the second day of competition in second place.
“I knew I had a good sack of fish, but they ended up being heavier than I figured. There was a 6-pounder and a 5-10 in the mix, and that helped tremendously,” he said. “I think the fish are moving in to spawn, so I’m confident my spots will reload again tomorrow, but that should make the fishing better for the bulk of the field, too.”
Typically sight fishing is a very productive technique at this time of the year. However, the darker waters of Grand Lake will make consistent sight fishing a challenge.
“I think there are some fish to be caught sight fishing this week, but I’m not committed to it at this point,” Mosley said. “If I see a good fish on a bed, I will slow down and try to catch it. But my plan of attack is a little different.”
While Omori showed winning form at Lake Martin, Bassmaster rookie Kyle Monti, of Okeechobee, Fla., finished dead last in that tournament — his first Bassmaster Elite event ever.
Monti showed up at Grand Lake with an axe to grind. The 26-year-old pro caught 22-6 during Thursday’s opening round, and he will be starting Friday’s second round of competition in third place.
“I am very happy with how today went, and I’m confident my pattern will stay productive,” he said.
At this point in a tournament, most anglers won’t provide many details about how they are catching their bass, but Monti did say that fishing slow was key.
“I feel like these fish are very spooky, and that means fishing very slow is important to being successful,” he said.
Rounding out the Top 5 are bass fishing superstar Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., with 21-15, and California pro Brent Ehrler with 21-8.
Daily takeoffs will occur at 6:15 a.m. CT out of Wolf Creek Park, and weigh-ins are scheduled in the same location beginning at 3 p.m. CT. each day.
2018 Bassmaster Elite At Grand Lake Title Sponsor: Academy Sports + Outdoors
2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Huk, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota
2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: Academy Sports + Outdoors, Carhartt, Livingston Lures, Lowrance, Phoenix Boats, T-H Marine
2018 Bassmaster Elite Series Elite Partner: Black Velvet Canadian Whisky
About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S. is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 500,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), television show (The Bassmasters on ESPN2), radio show (Bassmaster Radio), social media programs and events. For 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.
The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Academy Sports + Outdoors B.A.S.S. Nation Series presented by Magellan Outdoors, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Mossy Oak Fishing Bassmaster High School Series presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Bassmaster Team Championship and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the GEICO Bassmaster Classic presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees, Grove OK.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 23-12 110
Day 1: 5 23-12
2. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 23-05 109
Day 1: 5 23-05
3. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 22-06 108
Day 1: 5 22-06
4. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 21-15 107
Day 1: 5 21-15
5. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 5 21-08 106
Day 1: 5 21-08
5. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 21-08 106
Day 1: 5 21-08
7. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 21-04 104
Day 1: 5 21-04
8. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 21-00 103
Day 1: 5 21-00
9. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 20-08 102
Day 1: 5 20-08
10. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 5 20-04 101
Day 1: 5 20-04
10. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 5 20-04 101
Day 1: 5 20-04
12. Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley, AZ 5 19-15 99
Day 1: 5 19-15
13. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 19-13 98
Day 1: 5 19-13
13. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 19-13 98
Day 1: 5 19-13
15. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 5 19-12 96
Day 1: 5 19-12
16. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 19-11 95
Day 1: 5 19-11
17. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 19-03 94
Day 1: 5 19-03
18. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 18-12 93
Day 1: 5 18-12
19. Fred Roumbanis Russellville, AR 5 18-09 92
Day 1: 5 18-09
20. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 18-07 91
Day 1: 5 18-07
20. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 5 18-07 91
Day 1: 5 18-07
22. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 18-05 89
Day 1: 5 18-05
22. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 18-05 89
Day 1: 5 18-05
24. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 18-02 87
Day 1: 5 18-02
25. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 17-12 86
Day 1: 5 17-12
26. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 17-09 85
Day 1: 5 17-09
26. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 17-09 85
Day 1: 5 17-09
28. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 17-07 83
Day 1: 5 17-07
29. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 17-06 82
Day 1: 5 17-06
29. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 17-06 82
Day 1: 5 17-06
31. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 5 17-05 80
Day 1: 5 17-05
32. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 5 17-04 79
Day 1: 5 17-04
32. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 17-04 79
Day 1: 5 17-04
34. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 17-03 77
Day 1: 5 17-03
35. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 17-02 76
Day 1: 5 17-02
36. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 17-01 75
Day 1: 5 17-01
37. Roy Hawk Lk Havasu Cty, AZ 5 16-15 74
Day 1: 5 16-15
37. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 16-15 74
Day 1: 5 16-15
39. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 16-12 72
Day 1: 5 16-12
39. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 16-12 72
Day 1: 5 16-12
41. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 16-11 70
Day 1: 5 16-11
42. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 16-10 69
Day 1: 5 16-10
42. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 5 16-10 69
Day 1: 5 16-10
44. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 16-09 67
Day 1: 5 16-09
45. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 16-03 66
Day 1: 5 16-03
46. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 15-14 65
Day 1: 5 15-14
47. Alton Jones Jr. Waco, TX 5 15-12 64
Day 1: 5 15-12
47. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 15-12 64
Day 1: 5 15-12
47. Fletcher Shryock Dennison, OH 5 15-12 64
Day 1: 5 15-12
50. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 5 15-11 61
Day 1: 5 15-11
51. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 5 15-09 60
Day 1: 5 15-09
52. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 15-07 59
Day 1: 5 15-07
52. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 15-07 59
Day 1: 5 15-07
52. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 5 15-07 59
Day 1: 5 15-07
55. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 5 15-04 56
Day 1: 5 15-04
55. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 15-04 56
Day 1: 5 15-04
57. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 15-01 54
Day 1: 5 15-01
58. David Fritts Lexington, NC 5 15-00 53
Day 1: 5 15-00
58. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 15-00 53
Day 1: 5 15-00
60. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 5 14-13 51
Day 1: 5 14-13
61. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 14-11 50
Day 1: 5 14-11
61. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 14-11 50
Day 1: 5 14-11
61. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 14-11 50
Day 1: 5 14-11
64. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 5 14-10 47
Day 1: 5 14-10
65. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 14-08 46
Day 1: 5 14-08
66. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 14-07 45
Day 1: 5 14-07
66. Wesley Strader Spring City, TN 5 14-07 45
Day 1: 5 14-07
68. Ott DeFoe Blaine, TN 5 14-04 43
Day 1: 5 14-04
68. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 14-04 43
Day 1: 5 14-04
70. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 14-03 41
Day 1: 5 14-03
71. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 14-02 40
Day 1: 5 14-02
71. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 5 14-02 40
Day 1: 5 14-02
73. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 14-00 38
Day 1: 5 14-00
74. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 5 13-14 37
Day 1: 5 13-14
74. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 13-14 37
Day 1: 5 13-14
74. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 13-14 37
Day 1: 5 13-14
77. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 13-12 34
Day 1: 5 13-12
77. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 13-12 34
Day 1: 5 13-12
79. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 13-09 32
Day 1: 5 13-09
79. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 5 13-09 32
Day 1: 5 13-09
81. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 13-08 30
Day 1: 5 13-08
82. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-03 29
Day 1: 5 13-03
83. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 13-01 28
Day 1: 5 13-01
84. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 12-15 27
Day 1: 5 12-15
85. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 12-14 26
Day 1: 5 12-14
86. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 12-13 25
Day 1: 5 12-13
87. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 12-12 24
Day 1: 5 12-12
88. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 12-10 23
Day 1: 5 12-10
89. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 12-08 22
Day 1: 5 12-08
90. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 12-07 21
Day 1: 5 12-07
91. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 5 12-05 20
Day 1: 5 12-05
92. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 12-00 19
Day 1: 5 12-00
93. Shin Fukae Palestine TX JAPAN 5 11-14 18
Day 1: 5 11-14
94. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 11-13 17
Day 1: 5 11-13
94. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 11-13 17
Day 1: 5 11-13
96. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 4 11-12 15
Day 1: 4 11-12
96. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 4 11-12 15
Day 1: 4 11-12
98. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 11-11 13
Day 1: 5 11-11
99. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 11-09 12
Day 1: 5 11-09
100. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 11-03 11
Day 1: 5 11-03
101. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 5 11-02 10
Day 1: 5 11-02
101. Darrell Ocamica New Plymouth, ID 5 11-02 10
Day 1: 5 11-02
103. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 09-14 8
Day 1: 5 09-14
104. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 09-04 7
Day 1: 5 09-04
105. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 4 09-04 6
Day 1: 4 09-04
106. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 4 08-14 5
Day 1: 4 08-14
107. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 3 05-08 4
Day 1: 3 05-08
108. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 2 05-08 3
Day 1: 2 05-08
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 102 531 1674-05
———————————-
102 531 1674-05
Matt Lee: Misplaced Wallet and a Lot of Caffeine
Carhartt angler Matt Lee began the first day of the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Elite at Grand Lake with scrambled eggs, low carb wheat toast, and black coffee in his 5th wheel RV, but soon realized on the dark drive to the Wolf Creek launch that he had misplaced his wallet, and had no way to stop at a convenient store for a bag of ice and the day’s supply of caffeine drinks.
So at 5:37 a.m. he and fiancé Abby phoned a friend — me.
“Matt can’t find his wallet, we think it fell out of the grocery bag as we left the camper, and now we’re stuck in the boat launch line. So can we beg you to stop and buy us a black coffee, two sugar free Red Bulls, a bag of ice, and a honey bun with icing?”
Of course, I obliged. First, because we take care of one another out here. And second, because I know Matt is a Type 1 diabetic who wears an insulin pump, and needs the proper blend of dietary fuel to make his body meet the demands of an energy-burning tournament day.
Turns out the Honey Bun with icing was for Abby, but the caffeine was definitely for Matt. And ironically, Matt’s ride-along Marshall for the day is Susan Forbes, a dietician from nearby Neosho, MO hoping to garner some pointers for the Grand Challenge tournament she’s competing in next week.
“He’s got a lot of quick energy and refined carbs, but not much fiber, so I don’t think we’ll have to worry about him having to use the restroom,” grinned Forbes.
That’s good news. And so is the fact that Abby found Matt’s wallet upon returning to the RV after launch, as Matt made his way down lake to Duck Creek.
“I didn’t have a real good practice, so I’m going to the one area where I feel like I can slow down, fish thoroughly, and catch some keepers,” says Lee.
Hopefully, the Auburn grad with dual engineering degrees can continue his streak of Top 12 finishes this week. And one thing’s for certain, Abby will be waiting on the dock as he pulls into weigh-in, just as she does during every tournament day, with a sandwich he can eat immediately – and today, a once temporarily misplaced wallet too.
The Day 1 Mercer Report from Grand Lake
Here is your day one Mercer Report from the Grand Lake Elite.