Jasper, Ala. - Smith Lake is surprising everyone. Anglers who fished the lake in practice figured 10 pounds a day would be a healthy catch, but they were dead wrong. Ten pounds wasn't even good enough for 25th place today as the sun was shining and the fish were biting on Day One of the season-opening Bassmaster Elite 50 event.
With plenty of bass shallow and preparing to spawn, sight fishing was the presentation of choice for the bluebird conditions the top 50 pros enjoyed today, but three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year and 2001 Bassmaster Classic champion Kevin VanDam sits atop the leader board with a limit catch weighing 20 pounds, two ounces. What's more, the Kalamazoo, Mich., pro used a run and gun approach to take the top spot.
"A lot of guys are sight fishing out here," VanDam said, "but these fish are really fussy. I had to throw a bunch of different plastics at them."
VanDam's limit earned him the Catch of the Day and an additional $1,000 in prize money. If his tally is among the best at the end of the Elite 50 season, he could earn his way to the Busch Shootout.
Following Van Dam are Grand Saline, Texas' Dean Rojas (17-3), two-time Angler of the Year and 1995 Classic champion Mark Davis (16-12), Minneola, Texas' Kelly Jordon (15-3) and Ardmore, Oklahoma's Jeff Kriet (15-2).
Rojas, who used sight-fishing techniques to bag the biggest five-bass limit in BASS history (45-2) in 2001 on Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga, was eyeballing his fish again today, though he offered few details on the methods that have him in second place.
"I'd rather not get too specific with what I'm doing out there," Rojas said. "I can tell you I'm running and gunning out there and keying on certain stretches in the backs of creeks. I think my areas have enough to keep me in the mix."
Another angler in the mix is Mark Davis, the perennial standout who had a disappointing Bassmaster Tour season and is looking to qualify for the Classic through the Elite 50s. Davis won two Elite 50s in 2004 and is in the thick of things again at Smith Lake. Two off-season shoulder surgeries are finally paying off.
"I've just had a terrible season so far," Davis said, "but I'm putting that behind me because I feel 100 percent now."
Davis was sight fishing on main lake pockets to catch his bass. His limit included a five-pound, eight-ounce largemouth that was good enough for the Purolator Big Bass Award and $1,000. Davis caught the lunker on a floating worm.
Alabama pro Tim Horton came to the scales with a limit of bass weighing 15 pounds, six ounces - good enough for fourth place except for a rules violation. Horton's first day catch was disqualified by tournament officials because his observer held the boat while Horton was fishing. The practice had been discussed and disallowed by tournament officials at an earlier briefing.
If today's top anglers are to repeat their Day One success, they'll need to adjust to changing weather. The forecast is calling for scattered thunderstorms and cooler temperatures tomorrow, which promises to make things tougher for the sight fishermen and may bring on some topwater action.
"You'll have to change things up as the weather changes," VanDam said. "Different patterns will develop, and the topwater bite should definitely be good this weekend."
Each Elite 50 angler will have a payday in the no-entry-fee event. The winner will take home a check for $100,000, and the last place finisher will earn $5,000. The total payout for each of the four Elite 50 events is $400,000.
Part One of the Bassmaster Elite 50 Series event on Smith Lake will be telecast on The Bassmasters on Saturday, April 30 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2. Part Two will air on May 7 at 10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN2.
2005 Alabama CITGO Bassmaster Elite 50 04/20-04/23
Smith Lake, Jasper, Ala.
Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total
$$$
1. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 20-02 305
$1,000.00
Day 1: 5 20-02
2. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 5 17-03 295
Day 1: 5 17-03
3. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 5 16-12 290
$2,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-12
4. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 5 15-03 285
Day 1: 5 15-03
5. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 5 15-02 280
Day 1: 5 15-02
5. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, Ill. 5 15-02 280
Day 1: 5 15-02
7. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, Ark. 5 15-00 272
Day 1: 5 15-00
8. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 5 14-05 268
Day 1: 5 14-05
9. Jay Yelas Tyler, Texas 5 14-01 264
Day 1: 5 14-01
10. Davy Hite Prosperity, S.C. 5 13-12 260
Day 1: 5 13-12
11. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 5 13-11 257
Day 1: 5 13-11
12. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 5 12-09 254
Day 1: 5 12-09
13. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 5 12-07 251
Day 1: 5 12-07
14. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 5 12-04 248
Day 1: 5 12-04
15. Gerald Swindle Hayden, Ala. 5 11-15 245
Day 1: 5 11-15
16. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 5 11-14 243
Day 1: 5 11-14
17. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 4 11-12 241
Day 1: 4 11-12
18. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 5 11-10 239
Day 1: 5 11-10
19. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 5 11-08 237
Day 1: 5 11-08
20. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 5 11-02 235
Day 1: 5 11-02
20. David Fritts Lexington, N.C. 5 11-02 235
Day 1: 5 11-02
20. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 5 11-02 235
Day 1: 5 11-02
23. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, Wash. 5 11-01 229
Day 1: 5 11-01
24. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 5 10-10 227
Day 1: 5 10-10
24. Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 5 10-10 227
Day 1: 5 10-10
26. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 5 10-03 223
Day 1: 5 10-03
27. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 4 9-11 221
Day 1: 4 9-11
28. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 4 9-10 219
Day 1: 4 9-10
29. Roland Martin Naples, Fla. 4 9-08 217
Day 1: 4 9-08
30. George Cochran Hot Springs, Ark. 5 9-06 215
Day 1: 5 9-06
31. Dave Wolak Warrior Run, Pa. 4 9-05 213
Day 1: 4 9-05
32. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, Ark. 4 8-13 211
Day 1: 4 8-13
33. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 4 8-12 209
Day 1: 4 8-12
34. Stacey D King Reeds Spring, Mo. 4 8-07 207
Day 1: 4 8-07
35. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 4 8-02 205
Day 1: 4 8-02
36. Terry Scroggins Palatka, Fla. 3 8-01 203
Day 1: 3 8-01
37. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 3 7-12 201
Day 1: 3 7-12
38. Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 4 7-07 199
Day 1: 4 7-07
39. Mike Reynolds Modesto, Calif. 2 5-15 197
Day 1: 2 5-15
40. Mark Tyler Scottsdale, Ariz. 3 5-11 195
Day 1: 3 5-11
41. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 2 5-10 193
Day 1: 2 5-10
42. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 3 5-09 191
Day 1: 3 5-09
43. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 3 5-08 189
Day 1: 3 5-08
44. Marty Stone Linden, N.C. 3 4-15 187
Day 1: 3 4-15
45. Jim Bitter Fruitland Park, Fla. 1 4-14 185
Day 1: 1 4-14
46. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 2 4-13 183
Day 1: 2 4-13
47. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 1 3-10 181
Day 1: 1 3-10
48. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 1 2-08 179
Day 1: 1 2-08
49. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 1 1-05 177
Day 1: 1 1-05
50. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 0 0-00 0
Day 1: 0 0-00
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Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 5-08 $1,000.00
Day
1 Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 5-08 $1,000.00
Day
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 20-02 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 26 198 497-06
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26 198 497-06