SANDUSKY, Ohio — Lake Erie’s highly mobile smallmouth bass had much of the field scrambling for bites on Day One of the second 2011 Bassmaster Northern Open bass fishing tournament, but several pros were able to adapt and crack the 20-pound mark.
No one was more surprised at leader Nate Wellman’s Day One weight than Wellman himself.
“My weight was a complete shock. I really thought I had 18 pounds, but as I got to the scales, they felt a lot heavier,” he said. “But, I’m sure glad they put on that weight.”
In practice, Wellman found two areas that held fish bigger than the ones he caught today, but they weren’t home when he arrived this morning, so he fell back on Plan B.
“I caught 25 keepers today, and I threw back probably eight before I put one in the box,” he said. “I just tossed the 2- and 3-pounders back because they won’t help you here. Call it confidence or call it what you want, but that’s not that good of a fish here.”
Wellman kept a drop shot rig in his hand all day, and said that he’d get into more specifics about baits as the tournament progressed.
Wellman is one of the many Elite Series pros entered into this Open looking for a berth in the 2012 Classic, the prize awarded to the pro winner.
Behind him is Bryan Coates, who was also surprised at the weight he caught, which was 21-5.
“Today was better than I expected. I usually shoot for about 19 pounds or so, and I beat that, so I’m happy,” he said. “I started off on my first spot and I didn’t get a bite for an hour and a half, so I asked my co-angler if he was afraid of the big water, and he said no, so we headed out to my other spot. After we got there, we both had limits inside of 45 minutes.”
Coates believes that weights will increase tomorrow if the winds are calmer than today, which they’re predicted to be.
In third place is Chris Malone of Ironton, Ohio, with 21-0. He suffered an 8-ounce fish-care penalty that cost him second place. Like Wellman and Coates, Malone’s first spot turned out to be a dud but his second spot was “stacked with fish.”
In fourth place is 23-year-old Kyle Fox of Lakeland, Fla., with 20-11. Fox is a newcomer to the smallmouth game, having caught his first smallie when he was 19. Rounding out the top five is Kyle Kempkers with 20-5. Only one other angler, Elite Series pro Derek Remitz, cracked the 20-pound mark with 20-0.
In the co-angler division, a brand new, fully rigged Triton bass boat with Mercury outboard is at stake, and the competition is stiff.
Jonathan Shoemaker of Elyria, Ohio, caught a three-fish limit that weighed an astounding 14-12 to take the lead on Day One. Shoemaker admits that much of a co-angler’s success hinges on his pro’s ability to be around fish.
“I’ve done this co-angler game long enough to know that you need to be with a pro who’s on fish,” he said. “Then you need to get a few lucky bites.”
Just off the lead pace is Mike Chunko of Alliance, Ohio, with 14-11; in third place is Jon Jezierski of Troy, Mich., with 13-13; in fourth is Chris Van Vliet of Cleveland, Canada, with 13-11; and in fifth place is Brian Mailot of Columbus, Ohio, with 13-05.
The City of Sandusky, Ohio is hosting this Open, with daily launches leaving from Battery Park Marina, 701 E. Water St., Sandusky, OH 48870 at 6:30 a.m. ET. Weigh-in for Day Two will be held at Shelby Street Boat Launch, 101 Shelby St., Sandusky, OH 48870 at 2:30 p.m. ET. On Day Three, the weigh-in will move to the Bass Pro Shops in Rossford, Ohio, located at 10000 Bass Pro Blvd., where the weigh-in will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET
DAY 1 - NORTHERN OPEN 2 – LAKE ERIE –CO-ANGLER STANDINGS
2011 Northern Open 2 - Lake Erie 8/25-8/27
Lake Erie, Sandusky OH.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jonathan Shoemaker Elyria, OH 3 14-12 305
Day 1: 3 14-12
2. Mike Chunko Alliance, OH 3 14-11 295
Day 1: 3 14-11
3. Jon Jezierski Troy, MI 3 13-13 290
Day 1: 3 13-13
4. Chris Van Vliet Cleveland CANADA 3 13-11 285
Day 1: 3 13-11
5. Brian Mailot Columbus, OH 3 13-05 280
Day 1: 3 13-05
5. Ryan Smith Galloway, NJ 3 13-05 280
Day 1: 3 13-05
7. Joe Stois Fairview Park, OH 3 13-01 272
Day 1: 3 13-01
8. Mike Simpson Dayton, OH 3 12-15 268
Day 1: 3 12-15
9. Jeff Cutler Minersville, PA 3 12-12 264
Day 1: 3 12-12
10. Pete Manns Seville, OH 3 12-10 260
Day 1: 3 12-10
11. Sudhir Nath Cheektowaga, NY 3 12-09 257
Day 1: 3 12-09
12. Ben Weber Kent City, MI 3 12-05 254
Day 1: 3 12-05
13. Richard Rodriguez Williamsburg, VA 3 12-04 251
Day 1: 3 12-04
14. Josh Miller Toledo, OH 3 12-01 248
Day 1: 3 12-01
15. Ryan Cooper Nashua, NH 3 11-15 245
Day 1: 3 11-15
15. Jeremy Peters Toledo, OH 3 11-15 245
Day 1: 3 11-15
17. Bobby Woods Stafford, VA 3 11-11 241
Day 1: 3 11-11
18. Ryan Bauman Temple, PA 3 11-10 239
Day 1: 3 11-10
19. Jason Stacy Ashland, KY 3 11-10 237
Day 1: 3 11-10
20. Joshua Barr Akron, OH 3 11-09 235
Day 1: 3 11-09
20. Joshua Hardy Swanton, OH 3 11-09 235
Day 1: 3 11-09
20. Joseph Nega Chicago, IL 3 11-09 235
Day 1: 3 11-09
23. Ashley Bishop Alexandria, VA 3 11-00 229
Day 1: 3 11-00
23. Jim Tyson Middletown, PA 3 11-00 229
Day 1: 3 11-00
25. Bill Valberg London ONTARIO CANADA 3 10-15 225
Day 1: 3 10-15
26. Marvin Stith Piscataway, NJ 3 10-14 223
Day 1: 3 10-14
27. David Matual Chicago, IL 3 10-12 221
Day 1: 3 10-12
28. Kevin Webb Xenia, OH 3 10-11 219
Day 1: 3 10-11
29. Adam Thiede Sandusky, OH 3 10-10 217
Day 1: 3 10-10
29. Jim Withington Tillsonburg CANADA 3 10-10 217
Day 1: 3 10-10
31. Don Laporte Belleville, MI 3 10-08 213
Day 1: 3 10-08
32. Thomas Bavaro Joppa, MD 3 10-05 211
Day 1: 3 10-05
33. Stephen Barrett Kirkfield CANADA 3 10-03 209
Day 1: 3 10-03
34. Dirk Daniel Rutledge, TN 3 10-01 207
Day 1: 3 10-01
35. Thomas Burg Nashotah, WI 3 10-00 205
Day 1: 3 10-00
35. Jeff Kuhar Bridgeport, OH 3 10-00 205
Day 1: 3 10-00
37. David Van Ens Newaygo, MI 3 09-15 201
Day 1: 3 09-15
38. Robert Pelletier Nassau, NY 3 09-13 199
Day 1: 3 09-13
38. Mark Saunders Wellington, OH 3 09-13 199
Day 1: 3 09-13
40. Ron Norris Portage, MI 3 09-09 195
Day 1: 3 09-09
40. Sean Sellhausen Colgate, WI 3 09-09 195
Day 1: 3 09-09
42. Steven Schmidt Madison, NE 3 09-07 191
Day 1: 3 09-07
43. Thomas Rizzo Rochester, PA 3 09-04 189
Day 1: 3 09-04
44. Cody Andrews Elkin, NC 3 09-03 187
Day 1: 3 09-03
44. Mark Donaldson Dunsford Ontario CANADA 3 09-03 187
Day 1: 3 09-03
46. Marc Gallion Lyons, IL 3 09-02 183
Day 1: 3 09-02
47. James Kline Hagerstown, MD 3 09-01 181
Day 1: 3 09-01
48. William Beal Lenox, MI 3 09-00 179
Day 1: 3 09-00
49. Mark McCoy Portage, MI 3 08-15 177
Day 1: 3 08-15
49. Doug Myers Kalamazoo, MI 3 08-15 177
Day 1: 3 08-15
51. Tom Alt Columbia City, IN 3 08-13 173
Day 1: 3 08-13
51. Gary Boyd Reseda, CA 3 08-13 173
Day 1: 3 08-13
51. Rod Poole Salisbury, NC 3 08-13 173
Day 1: 3 08-13
54. Rick Roberts Macomb, MI 3 08-11 167
Day 1: 3 08-11
55. Christopher Herzog Liberty TWP, OH 3 08-08 165
Day 1: 3 08-08
55. Joe Nicholson Cleveland, OH 3 08-08 165
Day 1: 3 08-08
57. Kenneth Acornley Larksville, PA 3 08-08 161
Day 1: 3 08-08
58. Ron Horton Dover, DE 3 08-04 159
Day 1: 3 08-04
59. Jason Mayer West Harrison, IN 3 08-00 157
Day 1: 3 08-00
60. Jerry Britt Barhamsville, VA 2 08-00 155
Day 1: 2 08-00
61. Marcus Barr Hillsboro, OH 3 07-15 153
Day 1: 3 07-15
62. James Shaneyfelt Cheektowaga, NY 3 07-14 151
Day 1: 3 07-14
63. Tom Bever Boulder, CO 3 07-13 149
Day 1: 3 07-13
64. Bob Schinker Galena, OH 3 07-11 147
Day 1: 3 07-11
65. Christopher Rieger Clinton Twp, MI 3 07-06 145
Day 1: 3 07-06
66. Mark Hartle Leeper, PA 3 07-00 143
Day 1: 3 07-00
67. Cass Falcon Evans Mills, NY 2 07-00 141
Day 1: 2 07-00
68. Jeff Domonkos Middlebrg Hts, OH 2 06-14 139
Day 1: 2 06-14
68. Dan Minor Norwalk, OH 2 06-14 139
Day 1: 2 06-14
70. James Mcmullen Quakertown, PA 2 06-13 135
Day 1: 2 06-13
71. Neil Farlow Weland CANADA 3 06-12 133
Day 1: 3 06-12
72. JJ Earhart Green Springs, OH 2 06-09 131
Day 1: 2 06-09
73. Tom Hofstetter Fort Jennings, OH 3 06-08 129
Day 1: 3 06-08
74. Jason Hickman Orient, OH 2 06-07 127
Day 1: 2 06-07
75. Kip Fleming Newark, OH 3 06-03 125
Day 1: 3 06-03
76. Brad Craft New Bremen, OH 2 06-03 123
Day 1: 2 06-03
76. Mark Hanson Becker, MN 2 06-03 123
Day 1: 2 06-03
78. Larry Thomas Lambertville, MI 3 05-13 119
Day 1: 3 05-13
79. Destin Demarion Grove City, PA 3 05-06 117
Day 1: 3 05-06
80. Jay Shaffer Bath, MI 3 05-05 115
Day 1: 3 05-05
81. Chris Dupras Oxford, MI 2 05-03 113
Day 1: 2 05-03
81. Bob Snyder Marion, IN 2 05-03 113
Day 1: 2 05-03
81. Mike Staebler Westerville, OH 2 05-03 113
Day 1: 2 05-03
84. Richard Falcon Evans Mills, NY 3 04-15 107
Day 1: 3 04-15
85. Matt Price Manhattan, IL 2 04-15 105
Day 1: 2 04-15
86. Cory Krawczyk Buffalo, NY 1 04-15 103
Day 1: 1 04-15
87. Brian Schram Saint Clair Shores, MI 1 04-11 101
Day 1: 1 04-11
88. Joseph Colegrove Allendale, MI 2 04-02 99
Day 1: 2 04-02
89. Stephen Schneider Selden, NY 1 04-02 97
Day 1: 1 04-02
90. Nathan Troyanek Redford, MI 1 03-09 95
Day 1: 1 03-09
91. Timothy Clark Canton, OH 1 03-08 93
Day 1: 1 03-08
91. Christopher Helfer Ostrander, OH 1 03-08 93
Day 1: 1 03-08
93. Chris Jeffery Sedan, KS 2 03-06 89
Day 1: 2 03-06
94. Dan Laur Bethel Park, PA 1 03-06 87
Day 1: 1 03-06
95. Keith Diluzio North East, PA 1 03-02 85
Day 1: 1 03-02
96. Robert Moratti Fairless Hills, PA 1 03-01 83
Day 1: 1 03-01
97. James Gargis Mishawaka, IN 1 02-15 81
Day 1: 1 02-15
98. Eric Klotz Bowling Green, OH 1 02-13 79
Day 1: 1 02-13
99. David Kovack Lancaster, PA 1 02-12 77
Day 1: 1 02-12
100. Phil Salinas Alto, MI 1 02-09 76
Day 1: 1 02-09
101. Brian Kich Berea, OH 1 02-07 75
Day 1: 1 02-07
102. Steve Redwine Ash Blue, OH 1 02-03 74
Day 1: 1 02-03
103. Matt Reckman Cincinnati, OH 1 02-02 73
Day 1: 1 02-02
104. Del Smith Castalia, OH 1 01-13 72
Day 1: 1 01-13
105. David Adams Schererville, IN 1 01-11 71
Day 1: 1 01-11
105. Trevor Baykowski Muskegon, MI 1 01-11 71
Day 1: 1 01-11
107. Ike Rogers Madison, AL 3 00-00 69
Day 1: 3 00-00
108. Peter Barello Staten Island, NY 1 00-00 68
Day 1: 1 00-00
109. Brandon Baker Eagle Mountain, UT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Vance Baker Beavercreek, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Jason Bassett Minneapolis, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Gary Besmer East Islip, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. William Boisvenue Rockford, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Dustin Dieckmann Royal Oak, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Paul D Grove Mount Joy, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Kevin Haley Syracuse, Ny, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Matt Mahle Sunbury, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Shawn Parenteau Kingston, NH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Doug Shaver Fostoria, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. William Singleton River Rouge, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Lamar Spade Brodheadsville, PA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Jamie Templin Farmington Hills, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Carleton Umstead Anna, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. John Watts Flushing, MI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
109. Jon Zera Newington, CT 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 73 269 865-04
----------------------------------
73 269 865-04