HENDERSON, N.C. (June 1, 2005) - Pro Pete Gluszek of Franklinville, N.J., caught a five-bass limit weighing 22 pounds to lead day one of the EverStart Series Northeast Division bass fishing tournaments on Kerr Lake near Henderson. A field of 200 pros is competing for $10,000 plus a Ranger 519VX. Ranger also awards an additional $10,000 to the winner if he is a qualified Ranger owner.
"I was fishing for post-spawn fish that were just gorging themselves on shad," Gluszek said. "I had more drag stripped off my reels today than any other time in my life. The fish were tenacious."
While somewhat secretive about his pattern, Gluszek did say he caught his bass on both fast and slow-moving baits. Gambler soft-plastics were among the top producing lures for him. While choosing to keep the depth he was fishing to himself, Gluszek said fishing at the right depth was critical. "I had to adjust to the conditions," Gluszek said. "There was wind and rain, and I had to change my presentation a little each time the weather changed."
Rounding out the top-five pros are Bryan Perry of Raleigh (five bass, 18 pounds, 15 ounces); Wayne Jeffcoat of Chapin, S.C. (five bass, 17 pounds, 11 ounces); Mike Hoskings of Dumfries, Va. (five bass, 17 pounds, 3 ounces); and Brian Wilhoit of Oxon Hill, Md. (five bass, 17 pounds, 2 ounces).
One of Gluszek's bass was a 6-pound, 10-ouncer, which was big enough to earn the day's Snickers Big Bass award for the Pro Division and earn $750.
Pro anglers caught a total of 742 bass weighing 1,784 pounds, 7 ounces on the first day of the event.
Richard Angel of Jacksonville caught a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces to lead the Co-angler Division.
Rounding out the top-five co-anglers are Marshall Honaker of Anderson, W. Va. (five bass, 16 pounds, 1 ounce); Gary Vick of Wilson (five bass, 15 pounds, 14 ounces); Douglas Grant of Manchester, Conn. (five bass, 14 pounds, 9 ounces) and Larry Church of Keysville, Va. (five bass, 13 pounds, 9 ounces).
Joe Schlinger of Ocala, Fla., earned $250 for catching the Snickers Big Bass in the Co-angler Division - a 5-pound, 7-ounce lunker.
Co-anglers caught a total of 503 bass weighing a total of 1,064 pounds, 2 ounces on the first day of the event.
Satterwhite Point marina, located at 6470 Satterwhite Point Road in Henderson hosts the daily takeoffs at 6 a.m. Saturday's weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart located at 200 North Cooper Road in Henderson beginning at 4 p.m.
EverStart Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday and Thursday, and the top 10 pros and co-anglers - based on two-day accumulated weights - advance to the final round. Anglers start at zero Friday, and pro and co-angler winners are determined Saturday based on two-day accumulated weights.