BAINBRIDGE, Ga. — If bed fishing’s the game, Shaw Grigsby’s the name. And that’s just how it went Thursday, the first day of the Bassmaster Elite tournament at Lake Seminole. Out of Bainbridge, Ga., the event is the 2014 Elite Series season opener. Well-known for his bed fishing talents, Grigsby led the 108-pro field by 3 pounds, 7 ounces, with a 30-pound, 5-ounce day’s total.
“It was a perfect day,” said Grigsby, who caught the entire 30-plus pounds by 10 a.m., and then sat back and ate cold chicken. “One of those great days — amazing.”
Grigsby took the first step toward duplicating his 2011 season-opener victory in Florida, the ninth and most recent win of his storied Bassmaster career. Two of those titles were taken at Lake Seminole. Grigsby’s 3-7 lead was over Bernie Schultz, who weighed 26-14. A largemouth of 10-10 was the jewel of Schultz’s bag — and the largest single bass brought to the scales Thursday. Coincidentally, the two leaders both hail from Gainesville, Fla.
Kevin Short of Mayflower, Ark., was in third place with 25-9, trailing the leader by 4-12. Fourth place was pegged at 24-11 by Brett Hite, a 2014 Elite rookie from Phoenix, Ariz. In fifth was Tommy Biffle of Wagoner, Okla., with 23-13. Local favorite J Todd Tucker of Moultrie, Ga., who calls Lake Seminole his home water, ended his first day in 18th place. His Day 1 weight of 18-14 was for four bass, one short of the five-fish limit.
The first-place prize of the event is $100,000 and an automatic berth in the 2015 Bassmaster Classic. Pros also earn points that count toward the Bassmaster Angler of the Year award and a Classic qualification.
Grigsby said his largest bass of the day were two over 7 pounds. They came from one of his several bed-fishing spots, he said, as did most of the bass he hooked into Thursday.
For the second round on Friday, Grigsby said he’d go back to his magical spot.
“I don’t know whether I’ll get a bite in that same area, but I’ve got a couple more areas to hit, and then I can always go sight-fishing to get decent little sacks,” he said.
Grigsby said he’s targeting prespawners moving up to beds, as well as fish actually on beds. The cold front that came through Wednesday night did not affect his bite Thursday, unusual behavior for spawning fish, he said. Schultz’s behemoth largemouth of 10-10 set the bar high for the event’s Carhartt Big Bass bonus of up to $1,500. He said he caught the bass sight fishing at about noon.
“She was on a bed with a male that weighed about 4 pounds; I caught him next,” Schultz said.
Fish came in pairs for Schultz. He caught a second couple (male and female) soon after the first two. A fifth bass soon finished his limit. Short, unlike many in the field, was not bed fishing or sight fishing. He established a pattern during practice and stuck to it.
“You gotta love it when the plan comes together,” Short said.
Neither did Biffle try to “look at ’em.”
“I haven’t seen one on the bed. If I did happen to, I’d try for it. But I don’t like to hunt them,” said Biffle, who would describe his pattern only as “just fishing.”
The full field of 108 will return to the water at 7:30 a.m. Friday. Takeoff will be at Earle May Boat Basin, 100 Boat Basin Circle, Bainbridge. The weigh-in will begin at 4 p.m. at the same location.
2014 Bassmaster Elite Series
Lake Seminole, Bainbridge GA.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts
1. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 30-05 100
Day 1: 5 30-05
2. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 26-14 99
Day 1: 5 26-14
3. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 25-09 98
Day 1: 5 25-09
4. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 24-11 97
Day 1: 5 24-11
5. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 23-13 96
Day 1: 5 23-13
6. Hank Cherry Jr Maiden, NC 5 23-03 95
Day 1: 5 23-03
7. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 21-04 94
Day 1: 5 21-04
8. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 21-00 93
Day 1: 5 21-00
9. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 20-15 92
Day 1: 5 20-15
10. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL 5 20-10 91
Day 1: 5 20-10
11. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 20-03 90
Day 1: 5 20-03
12. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 19-11 89
Day 1: 5 19-11
13. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 19-07 88
Day 1: 5 19-07
13. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 19-07 88
Day 1: 5 19-07
13. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 19-07 88
Day 1: 5 19-07
16. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 19-03 85
Day 1: 5 19-03
17. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 19-02 84
Day 1: 5 19-02
18. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 4 18-14 83
Day 1: 4 18-14
19. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 18-11 82
Day 1: 5 18-11
20. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 18-09 81
Day 1: 5 18-09
21. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 18-08 80
Day 1: 5 18-08
22. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 18-07 79
Day 1: 5 18-07
23. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 18-06 78
Day 1: 5 18-06
23. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 18-06 78
Day 1: 5 18-06
25. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 17-11 76
Day 1: 5 17-11
26. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 17-09 75
Day 1: 5 17-09
27. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 17-08 74
Day 1: 5 17-08
27. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 17-08 74
Day 1: 5 17-08
29. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 17-07 72
Day 1: 5 17-07
30. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 17-05 71
Day 1: 5 17-05
31. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 17-01 70
Day 1: 5 17-01
32. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 5 17-00 69
Day 1: 5 17-00
32. Randall Tharp Port Saint Joe, FL 5 17-00 69
Day 1: 5 17-00
34. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 16-15 67
Day 1: 5 16-15
35. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 16-10 66
Day 1: 5 16-10
35. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 16-10 66
Day 1: 5 16-10
37. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 16-07 64
Day 1: 5 16-07
37. Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 5 16-07 64
Day 1: 5 16-07
39. Boo Woods Oneida, KY 5 16-06 62
Day 1: 5 16-06
40. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 16-00 61
Day 1: 5 16-00
41. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 15-15 60
Day 1: 5 15-15
42. Trevor Romans Plano, TX 5 15-14 59
Day 1: 5 15-14
43. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 15-10 58
Day 1: 5 15-10
44. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 15-09 57
Day 1: 5 15-09
45. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 15-05 56
Day 1: 5 15-05
45. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 15-05 56
Day 1: 5 15-05
47. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 15-04 54
Day 1: 5 15-04
48. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 15-03 53
Day 1: 5 15-03
49. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 15-02 52
Day 1: 5 15-02
50. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 14-13 51
Day 1: 5 14-13
51. Jacob Powroznik Port Haywood, VA 5 14-12 50
Day 1: 5 14-12
52. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 14-11 49
Day 1: 5 14-11
53. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 14-10 48
Day 1: 5 14-10
54. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 14-09 47
Day 1: 5 14-09
54. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 14-09 47
Day 1: 5 14-09
56. Mike Kernan Wylie, TX 5 14-08 45
Day 1: 5 14-08
57. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 14-05 44
Day 1: 5 14-05
57. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 14-05 44
Day 1: 5 14-05
59. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 5 14-04 42
Day 1: 5 14-04
60. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 14-00 41
Day 1: 5 14-00
61. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 13-15 40
Day 1: 5 13-15
62. James Elam Tulsa, OK 4 13-15 39
Day 1: 4 13-15
63. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 13-08 38
Day 1: 5 13-08
64. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-03 37
Day 1: 5 13-03
65. Casey Scanlon Shawnee Mission, KS 5 13-01 36
Day 1: 5 13-01
66. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 5 12-15 35
Day 1: 5 12-15
67. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 12-13 34
Day 1: 5 12-13
68. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 12-12 33
Day 1: 5 12-12
69. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 12-10 32
Day 1: 5 12-10
70. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 12-08 31
Day 1: 5 12-08
71. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 12-03 30
Day 1: 5 12-03
71. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 12-03 30
Day 1: 5 12-03
73. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 5 11-14 28
Day 1: 5 11-14
74. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 4 11-12 27
Day 1: 4 11-12
75. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 11-11 26
Day 1: 5 11-11
76. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 11-10 25
Day 1: 5 11-10
77. Tracy Adams Wilkesboro, NC 5 11-09 24
Day 1: 5 11-09
78. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 11-03 23
Day 1: 5 11-03
78. Fletcher Shryock New Philadelphia, OH 5 11-03 23
Day 1: 5 11-03
80. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 4 11-00 21
Day 1: 4 11-00
81. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 10-15 20
Day 1: 5 10-15
82. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 4 10-07 19
Day 1: 4 10-07
83. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 2 10-05 18
Day 1: 2 10-05
84. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 3 09-12 17
Day 1: 3 09-12
85. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 4 09-01 16
Day 1: 4 09-01
86. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 09-00 15
Day 1: 5 09-00
87. Glenn Browne Ocala, FL 5 08-13 14
Day 1: 5 08-13
88. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 08-09 13
Day 1: 5 08-09
89. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 3 07-15 12
Day 1: 3 07-15
90. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 4 07-13 11
Day 1: 4 07-13
91. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 3 07-08 10
Day 1: 3 07-08
92. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 3 07-04 9
Day 1: 3 07-04
93. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 3 06-11 8
Day 1: 3 06-11
94. Randy Howell Springville, AL 2 06-10 7
Day 1: 2 06-10
95. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 4 06-09 6
Day 1: 4 06-09
96. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 3 06-05 5
Day 1: 3 06-05
97. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 2 06-03 4
Day 1: 2 06-03
98. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 06-01 3
Day 1: 5 06-01
99. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 3 05-12 2
Day 1: 3 05-12
100. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 2 05-00 1
Day 1: 2 05-00
101. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 1 04-10 0
Day 1: 1 04-10
102. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 2 03-15 0
Day 1: 2 03-15
103. Joel Baker Talala, OK 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04
103. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 2 03-04 0
Day 1: 2 03-04
105. Jared Miller Norman, OK 2 02-12 0
Day 1: 2 02-12
106. David Smith Del City, OK 2 02-07 0
Day 1: 2 02-07
107. Joseph Sancho New Windsor, NY 1 02-03 0
Day 1: 1 02-03
108. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 1 02-00 0
Day 1: 1 02-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 81 479 1503-02
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81 479 1503-02