EUFAULA, Ala. — The Indiana pro stayed near the shoreline during Wednesday’s opening round of the Bassmaster Elite tournament at Lake Eufaula and grabbed the lead with five bass that weighed 23 pounds, 4 ounces. Conventional wisdom says a tournament held on Lake Eufaula during 90-degree weather in June should be won offshore on the ledges. But Bill Lowen wasn't fooled.
“Today was just one of those awesome days when every decision I made worked out perfectly,” Lowen said. “I fished clean, didn’t lose any fish — and yes, it’s no secret I’m fishing shallow.
“I always like to fish in my comfort zone, and if I get out there in the middle of the lake, I’m not in my comfort zone. So, I’m gonna stay shallow the rest of the week.”
Despite Lake Eufaula’s glowing history as a big-bass factory, this is the first time the Elite Series has visited the 45,000-acre Chattahoochee River fishery that runs between the Alabama and Georgia borders. This is also the first time Lowen has fished a tournament on the lake. Because of that, he said his electronics played a key role in helping him find specific pieces of shallow cover. Lowen also says his aluminum boat gives him better access to the 2- to 4-foot water he keyed on all day. Since shallow fish sometimes don’t replenish like the ones that have plenty of space to roam in deep water, Lowen only made one good pass through the area that produced most of his bass. He said he intends to be right back there Thursday.
“I didn’t want to burn ‘em because I don’t know how many are there,” he said. “I don’t feel by any means that I burned the fish that were there. I just hope I can keep running that same pattern up and down the lake.”
Lowen said there are plenty of things that keep fish shallow this time of year, including the bluegill spawn — which is underway on Eufaula — and quick access to a creek channel. He also said he believes some bass call those shallow areas home year-round.
“I’m a firm believer that there’s always resident fish, or I call them ‘shallow fish,’ that don’t even know there’s a main lake out there,” he said. “I try to find those fish everywhere we go, and I was able to stumble across some here today.”
Lowen’s catch was one of 15 bags that topped the 20-pound mark on a sweltering Day 1. His closest competition came from Kyle Monti, a third-year Elite Series pro from Florida who brought in 22-15. Knowing Eufaula’s reputation as a ledge fishery, Monti intended to spend most of his time offshore. But a series of early events ended up sending him to the shallows as well.
“I had three schools of fish marked,” Monti said. “But there were three boats that drew out in front of me, and every one of them went right to those schools. So, I went to another offshore spot and caught a keeper and lost one. Then everything just shut down for me.
“I picked up and went shallow at about 9:30 or 10. I caught one big one and then another, and that gave me confidence to stick with it the rest of the day.”
One angler who found success in slightly deeper water was Chris Zaldain. The California native, who now lives in Texas, got off to a fast start with a limit that included two 5-pounders and wound up in third place with 22-2.
“The research I did said you need 20 to 30 pounds to hang here, depending on the time of year,” Zaldain said. “So, for three whole days of practice, I spent eight or nine hours just idling around looking for offshore structure.”
Zaldain said even though he’s fishing offshore (15 to 20 feet deep), it’s not a typical ledge bite.
“It’s not like the heavy current and 90-degree drops you see on the Tennessee River,” he said. “You’re basically just looking for offshore structure, whether it be a rockpile, a brushpile, a shellbed or whatever. I got off to a great start and spent the rest of the day looking — to the point that I know tomorrow what to do in the middle of the day and what not to do.”
Kentucky pro Mike Huff took the lead in the race for Big Bass of the week with a 6-12 largemouth.
Competition resumes Thursday with takeoff at 5:25 a.m. CST from Lakepoint State Park and the weigh-in back at the park at 2 p.m. After Thursday’s weigh-in, only the Top 40 anglers will advance to Friday’s semifinals.
2020 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Eufaula 6/10-6/13
Lake Eufaula, Eufaula AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 23-04 100 Day 1: 5 23-04 2. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 22-15 99 Day 1: 5 22-15 3. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 22-02 98 Day 1: 5 22-02 4. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 22-00 97 Day 1: 5 22-00 5. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 21-15 96 Day 1: 5 21-15 6. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 21-13 95 Day 1: 5 21-13 7. Lee Livesay Gladewater, TX 5 21-11 94 Day 1: 5 21-11 8. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 21-02 93 Day 1: 5 21-02 9. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 5 20-14 92 Day 1: 5 20-14 10. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 20-13 91 Day 1: 5 20-13 11. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 20-12 90 Day 1: 5 20-12 12. Drew Benton Blakely, GA 5 20-12 89 Day 1: 5 20-12 13. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 20-06 88 Day 1: 5 20-06 14. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 20-05 87 Day 1: 5 20-05 15. Kyle Welcher Opelika, AL 5 20-03 86 Day 1: 5 20-03 16. John Cox Debary, FL 5 19-13 85 Day 1: 5 19-13 17. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 19-07 84 Day 1: 5 19-07 17. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 19-07 84 Day 1: 5 19-07 19. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 19-04 82 Day 1: 5 19-04 20. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 19-03 81 Day 1: 5 19-03 21. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 19-00 80 Day 1: 5 19-00 22. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 18-13 79 Day 1: 5 18-13 23. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 18-12 78 Day 1: 5 18-12 23. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 18-12 78 Day 1: 5 18-12 25. Drew Cook Midway, FL 5 18-10 76 Day 1: 5 18-10 26. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 18-08 75 Day 1: 5 18-08 27. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 5 18-06 74 $1,000.00 Day 1: 5 18-06 28. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 18-06 73 Day 1: 5 18-06 29. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 18-05 72 Day 1: 5 18-05 30. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 18-03 71 Day 1: 5 18-03 31. Taku Ito Chiba JAPAN 5 18-00 70 Day 1: 5 18-00 32. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 17-09 69 Day 1: 5 17-09 33. Greg DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 17-09 68 Day 1: 5 17-09 34. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 17-08 67 Day 1: 5 17-08 34. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 17-08 67 Day 1: 5 17-08 34. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 17-08 67 Day 1: 5 17-08 37. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 5 17-08 64 Day 1: 5 17-08 38. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 17-05 63 Day 1: 5 17-05 39. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 17-04 62 Day 1: 5 17-04 39. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 17-04 62 Day 1: 5 17-04 41. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 16-15 60 Day 1: 5 16-15 41. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 16-15 60 Day 1: 5 16-15 43. Buddy Gross Chickamauga, GA 5 16-14 58 Day 1: 5 16-14 44. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 16-12 57 Day 1: 5 16-12 45. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 5 16-09 56 Day 1: 5 16-09 46. Rob Digh Denver, NC 5 16-08 55 Day 1: 5 16-08 46. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 16-08 55 Day 1: 5 16-08 48. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 16-07 53 Day 1: 5 16-07 49. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 16-07 52 Day 1: 5 16-07 50. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 5 16-06 51 Day 1: 5 16-06 50. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 5 16-06 51 Day 1: 5 16-06 52. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 16-05 49 Day 1: 5 16-05 52. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 5 16-05 49 Day 1: 5 16-05 54. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 16-01 47 Day 1: 5 16-01 55. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 16-00 46 Day 1: 5 16-00 56. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 15-12 45 Day 1: 5 15-12 57. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 15-11 44 Day 1: 5 15-11 58. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 5 15-09 43 Day 1: 5 15-09 59. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 5 15-05 42 Day 1: 5 15-05 60. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 5 15-04 41 Day 1: 5 15-04 61. Derek Hudnall Baton Rouge, LA 5 15-02 40 Day 1: 5 15-02 62. Bob Downey Hudson, WI 5 14-09 39 Day 1: 5 14-09 63. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 14-06 38 Day 1: 5 14-06 64. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 14-00 37 Day 1: 5 14-00 65. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 13-14 36 Day 1: 5 13-14 66. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 13-13 35 Day 1: 5 13-13 67. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 13-12 34 Day 1: 5 13-12 68. David Fritts Lexington, NC 5 13-11 33 Day 1: 5 13-11 68. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 5 13-11 33 Day 1: 5 13-11 70. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 5 13-10 31 Day 1: 5 13-10 71. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 13-04 30 Day 1: 5 13-04 72. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 12-15 29 Day 1: 5 12-15 73. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 12-13 28 Day 1: 5 12-13 74. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 12-01 27 Day 1: 5 12-01 75. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 12-00 26 Day 1: 5 12-00 76. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 12-00 25 Day 1: 5 12-00 77. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 11-13 24 Day 1: 5 11-13 78. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 5 11-11 23 Day 1: 5 11-11 79. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 11-10 22 Day 1: 5 11-10 79. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 5 11-10 22 Day 1: 5 11-10 81. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 11-09 20 Day 1: 5 11-09 82. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 09-11 19 Day 1: 5 09-11 83. Destin DeMarion Grove City, PA 5 09-04 18 Day 1: 5 09-04 84. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 4 08-12 17 Day 1: 4 08-12 85. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 3 08-03 16 Day 1: 3 08-03 86. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 86. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS Day 1 Mike Huff Corbin, KY 06-12 $1,000.00 -----------------------------------------------------------------------TotalsDay #Limits #Fish Weight 1 83 422 1413-06---------------------------------- 83 422 1413-06