PITTSBURGH – It's been a good week for the Mize family.
After BASS announced the Women's Bassmaster Tour - a new fishing outlet for women anglers like Lucy Mize and daughter Melinda Mize - Lucy's husband Jimmy Mize took the lead position on Day 1 in the 35th annual Bassmaster Classic.
The 49-year-old Arkansas pro took the early lead with a five-bass limit weighing 6 pounds, 2 ounces. His total towered above the catch of two pros tied for second with 5-1 - Aaron Martens of Alabama and veteran Missouri pro Stacey King.
Classic rookie Preston Clark of Florida is in fourth place with 4-11, followed by 2001 Classic champion Kevin VanDam with 4-11.
VanDam and King tied for Friday's Big Bass award. Each bagged a 2-pound, 14-ounce smallmouth and split the $1,000 prize. And as expected, smallmouth dominated Friday's catch.
"I didn't catch any spotted today," said Martens. "It was all smallmouth."
Day 1 leader Mize was rather secretive about his tactics. But he did say he was getting keeper bites, though he couldn't hang onto all of them.
"I lost three good fish," he said. "But I did pretty well. I thought I could catch about 5 pounds and I did. I'd be excited about it if this was Day 3."
Second-place Martens, a California transplant and reigning Angler of the Year, caught his bass by targeting bridges, he said. That same tactic enabled him to finish second in last year's Classic outside of Charlotte, N.C.
"This is just a tough situation," he said. "Usually when you have a lot of small fish, there's a way to catch the bigger fish. That might not be the case here."
King, also in second place, appeared satisfied with his results.
. "I'm feeling real good about the way it's going," he said. "It went about the way I expected. I caught the big fish right before I came in. In fact, I caught all of my fish after 2 o'clock."
Clark, a 41-year-old air-conditioning salesman from Palatka, Fla., is the only non-veteran among the top five. He caught 18 bass on Friday.
"I'm real happy with what I caught," said Clark, who finished second in the Toyota Rookie of the Year race. "I had my limit by 7:30 a.m. and then hit about 30 to 35 spots looking for a bigger fish."
Fifth-place VanDam, 37, is no stranger to the top portion of the Classic leader board. He used 10 rods rigged with a variety of lures to pound out four keeper bass.
"I really had no idea what I would be able to catch," the Michigan pro said. "I'm tickled to have what I caught. Tomorrow is going to be a challenge."
In other news, Federation competitor Gerry Jooste of Zimbabwe was disqualified from Day 1 after he ran through a no-wake zone less than an hour after launch. Jooste had one fish at the time.
Pennsylvania law states that the areas between the three bridges where the rivers meet are no-wake zones from 3 p.m. Friday throughout the weekend, according to BASS Tournament Director Trip Weldon.
"However, BASS imposed a no-wake (policy) for everyday," Weldon said. "Classic anglers were notified both in their pre-Classic briefing and in writing."
Saturday's second round begins with the launch at Point State Park at 7 a.m. ET. Weigh-in begins at 4 p.m. ET at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Earlier today, more than 5,300 fishing fans watched the weigh-in at the arena and about 2,000 visited Point State Park to see the tournament anglers launch.
Fans who couldn't make it to Pittsburgh can see live coverage of the Classic on ESPN from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET Saturday.
Standings
2005 Bassmaster Classic 07/28-07/31
Three Rivers, Pittsburgh Pa.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 5 6-02 0
Day 1: 5 6-02
2. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 5 5-01 0
Day 1: 5 5-01
2. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 3 5-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 5-01
4. Preston Clark Palatka, Fla. 5 4-14 0
Day 1: 5 4-14
5. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 3 4-11 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 4-11
6. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 5 4-10 0
Day 1: 5 4-10
7. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 4 4-07 0
Day 1: 4 4-07
7. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 4 4-07 0
Day 1: 4 4-07
9. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 4 3-15 0
Day 1: 4 3-15
10. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 4 3-13 0
Day 1: 4 3-13
10. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 3 3-13 0
Day 1: 3 3-13
12. Andre Moore Scottsdale, Ariz. 4 3-10 0
Day 1: 4 3-10
12. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 4 3-10 0
Day 1: 4 3-10
12. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 3 3-10 0
Day 1: 3 3-10
15. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 3 3-08 0
Day 1: 3 3-08
16. Bradley Stringer Huntington, Texas 4 3-04 0
Day 1: 4 3-04
17. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 3 3-03 0
Day 1: 3 3-03
17. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 3 3-03 0
Day 1: 3 3-03
17. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 2 3-03 0
Day 1: 2 3-03
20. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 3 2-15 0
Day 1: 3 2-15
21. Jeff Hager Alexis, N.C. 1 2-04 0
Day 1: 1 2-04
22. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 2 2-03 0
Day 1: 2 2-03
23. Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff, Calif. 2 2-02 0
Day 1: 2 2-02
24. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 2 2-01 0
Day 1: 2 2-01
25. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 2 2-00 0
Day 1: 2 2-00
26. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 2 1-13 0
Day 1: 2 1-13
27. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 1 1-07 0
Day 1: 1 1-07
27. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 1 1-07 0
Day 1: 1 1-07
29. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 1 1-03 0
Day 1: 1 1-03
30. Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 1 1-02 0
Day 1: 1 1-02
31. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 1 1-01 0
Day 1: 1 1-01
32. Chris Baumgardner Gastonia, N.C. 1 1-00 0
Day 1: 1 1-00
32. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 1 1-00 0
Day 1: 1 1-00
34. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 1 0-15 0
Day 1: 1 0-15
35. Ed Cowan Greeley, Pa. 1 0-13 0
Day 1: 1 0-13
35. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 1 0-13 0
Day 1: 1 0-13
35. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. 1 0-13 0
Day 1: 1 0-13
38. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. John Crews Jetersville, Va. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. Gerry Jooste Harare, Zimbabwe, Zimb 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. Dave Palmer Roseburg, Ore. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
38. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
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Big Bass
Day
1 Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 2-14 $500.00
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 2-14 $500.00
Busch Heavyweight
Day
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 4 96 105-01
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4 96 105-01