“That was the key to my day,” he said of the bass that weighed 8 pounds and 6 ounces, as he took the lead with 24-0 on the first day of the St. Johns River bass fishing tournament, the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series season opener.
Catching the 8-6 was just how he started his day. He repeated with an 8-3 taken off a bed in another spot. That one was somewhat of a surprise for Tucker, who said he had counted on only one kicker a day from the areas he scouted in practice earlier in the week.
Tucker, of Moultrie, Ga., has three more days before he can claim his first Elite Series win, and there are many challengers for the $100,000 title. Tucker was only 2 ounces in front of Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., who had 23-14 Thursday. Bill Lowen of Brookville, Ind., was third with 22-3; Rick Morris of Lake Gaston, Va., was fourth with 21-12; and Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., was fifth with 21-5.
Yet, Tucker hinted, there’s another giant out there. He saw it Thursday sitting on a bed. He caught two male bass on the same bed.
“And she left,” he said. “I don’t know if she’ll be back or not, but I’ll certainly be checking her out tomorrow. That’s all I’ve got going now, other than being patient, getting on that push pole and easing around, not making any noise at all.”
Confidence in what he was doing, and having enough patience to wait until the big fish moved onto the beds was his approach. He stuck to two tiny areas that yielded all his fish. The size of those two spots was the biggest difference between the St. Johns competition this year and last year, said Tucker, who finished in sixth place in the 2011 event on St. Johns.
“Last year, I was on five acres of fish. This year my area is much, much smaller — the size of that stage,” said Tucker, gesturing to the Bassmaster weigh-in stage.
First prize in the St. Johns River Showdown is $100,000 and a qualification for the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. Pros are also fishing to rack up points that count toward postseason entry, Classic qualification and the Bassmaster Angler of the Year award.
Like Tucker, Hackney landed a huge bass, but he didn’t have its twin. Hackney’s big one was a 10-9, his anchor and the day’s largest bass brought in by the 99-angler field. The catch set the bar for the tournament’s Big Bass award.
The 10-9 was a one-cast fish.
“I saw just half of her — I thought it was a 6- or 7-pounder. I pitched in the hole and she took it, first cast.”
Hackney said some of his fish came from sight fishing tactics, but some did not.
“I’m mixing it up a little bit, he said. “You can catch them both ways.”
He said he junk fished many spots along a 60-mile run of the river.
“It’s junky, but I knew it was going to be that way today because there are fish coming, and there are fish going (to and from beds). There’s not one thing to be doing, but you need one big one every day.”
The two Elite Series pros with a home-water advantage, Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Fla., and Cliff Prince of Palatka, ended the first day in mid-field. Prince came to the scales with 15-10 for 24th place, and Scroggins had 14-0 for 35th.
Defending champion Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., who came from behind to win in 2011 on the St. Johns, was seventh after one day with 20-4.
The public is invited to watch the St. Johns River Showdown at Palatka’s Riverfront Park. The pros will launch at 7:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The weigh-in will begin at 4 p.m. There’s no admission charge.
2012 St. Johns River Showdown 3/15-3/18
St. Johns River, Palatka FL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 24-00 99
Day 1: 5 24-00
2. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 23-14 98
Day 1: 5 23-14
3. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 22-03 97
Day 1: 5 22-03
4. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 21-12 96
Day 1: 5 21-12
5. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 21-05 95
Day 1: 5 21-05
6. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 20-09 94
Day 1: 5 20-09
7. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 20-04 93
Day 1: 5 20-04
8. John Crews Salem, VA 5 19-09 92
Day 1: 5 19-09
9. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 19-00 91
Day 1: 5 19-00
10. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 5 18-09 90
Day 1: 5 18-09
11. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 18-08 89
Day 1: 5 18-08
12. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 18-05 88
Day 1: 5 18-05
13. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 5 18-01 87
Day 1: 5 18-01
14. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 17-08 86
Day 1: 5 17-08
15. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 17-05 85
Day 1: 5 17-05
16. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 17-02 84
Day 1: 5 17-02
17. Alton Jones Woodway, TX 5 16-07 83
Day 1: 5 16-07
18. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 16-02 82
Day 1: 5 16-02
19. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 15-14 81
Day 1: 5 15-14
19. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 15-14 81
Day 1: 5 15-14
21. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 15-12 79
Day 1: 5 15-12
22. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 15-11 78
Day 1: 5 15-11
23. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 15-10 77
Day 1: 5 15-10
24. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 15-10 76
Day 1: 5 15-10
25. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 15-07 75
Day 1: 5 15-07
26. Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 5 15-03 74
Day 1: 5 15-03
26. Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 15-03 74
Day 1: 5 15-03
28. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 14-14 72
Day 1: 5 14-14
28. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 14-14 72
Day 1: 5 14-14
30. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 14-10 70
Day 1: 5 14-10
31. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 14-08 69
Day 1: 5 14-08
32. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 14-04 68
Day 1: 5 14-04
32. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka JAPAN 5 14-04 68
Day 1: 5 14-04
34. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 5 14-03 66
Day 1: 5 14-03
35. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 14-00 65
Day 1: 5 14-00
36. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 13-13 64
Day 1: 5 13-13
37. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 13-10 63
Day 1: 5 13-10
38. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 13-07 62
Day 1: 5 13-07
39. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 5 13-03 61
Day 1: 5 13-03
40. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 12-15 60
Day 1: 5 12-15
41. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 12-13 59
Day 1: 5 12-13
41. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 12-13 59
Day 1: 5 12-13
43. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 12-12 57
Day 1: 5 12-12
44. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 12-10 56
Day 1: 5 12-10
45. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 12-07 55
Day 1: 5 12-07
46. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 12-06 54
Day 1: 5 12-06
47. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 12-04 53
Day 1: 5 12-04
48. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 12-02 52
Day 1: 5 12-02
49. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 12-01 51
Day 1: 5 12-01
50. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 12-00 50
Day 1: 5 12-00
51. Pat Golden Bethlehem, GA 5 11-13 49
Day 1: 5 11-13
52. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 11-11 48
Day 1: 5 11-11
53. Clark Reehm Lufkin, TX 5 11-11 47
Day 1: 5 11-11
54. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 11-10 46
Day 1: 5 11-10
54. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 11-10 46
Day 1: 5 11-10
56. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 11-09 44
Day 1: 5 11-09
57. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 5 11-08 43
Day 1: 5 11-08
58. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 11-07 42
Day 1: 5 11-07
59. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 11-01 41
Day 1: 5 11-01
60. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 10-15 40
Day 1: 5 10-15
60. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 10-15 40
Day 1: 5 10-15
62. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 10-10 38
Day 1: 5 10-10
63. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 10-08 37
Day 1: 5 10-08
64. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 10-07 36
Day 1: 5 10-07
65. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 10-06 35
Day 1: 5 10-06
66. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 10-05 34
Day 1: 5 10-05
67. Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 5 10-03 33
Day 1: 5 10-03
67. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 10-03 33
Day 1: 5 10-03
69. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 10-01 31
Day 1: 5 10-01
70. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 10-00 30
Day 1: 5 10-00
71. Travis Manson De Pere, WI 5 09-12 29
Day 1: 5 09-12
71. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 5 09-12 29
Day 1: 5 09-12
73. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 09-10 27
Day 1: 5 09-10
74. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 5 09-01 26
Day 1: 5 09-01
74. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 5 09-01 26
Day 1: 5 09-01
74. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 09-01 26
Day 1: 5 09-01
77. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 09-00 23
Day 1: 5 09-00
78. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 5 08-13 22
Day 1: 5 08-13
79. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 08-11 21
Day 1: 5 08-11
80. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 4 08-11 20
Day 1: 4 08-11
81. Zell Rowland Austin, TX 5 08-09 19
Day 1: 5 08-09
82. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 08-08 18
Day 1: 5 08-08
83. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 08-07 17
Day 1: 5 08-07
84. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 08-06 16
Day 1: 5 08-06
85. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 08-04 15
Day 1: 5 08-04
86. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 07-13 14
Day 1: 5 07-13
87. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 07-12 13
Day 1: 5 07-12
88. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 07-11 12
Day 1: 5 07-11
89. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 07-10 11
Day 1: 5 07-10
90. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 07-05 10
Day 1: 5 07-05
91. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 07-01 9
Day 1: 5 07-01
92. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 06-08 8
Day 1: 5 06-08
93. David Smith Del City, OK 5 06-07 7
Day 1: 5 06-07
94. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 06-03 6
Day 1: 5 06-03
95. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 4 05-11 5
Day 1: 4 05-11
96. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 05-08 4
Day 1: 5 05-08
97. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 3 03-15 3
Day 1: 3 03-15
98. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 3 03-12 2
Day 1: 3 03-12
99. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 1 01-04 1
Day 1: 1 01-04
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 94 485 1234-03
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94 485 1234-03