KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Records fell on Day 1 of the 36th annual Bassmaster Classic Friday as Lake Tohopekaliga lived up to the high expectations of trophy bass and big catches.
The top four finishers broke the existing Bassmaster Classic record for the heaviest five-fish catch - 21 pounds, 8 ounces - set by Paul Elias on Lake Logan Martin in 1993. Friday's Classic leader Luke Clausen of Washington brought in 29 pounds, 6 ounces, Florida's Preston Clark had 29-1, Edwin Evers of Oklahoma weighed in 23-10 and Kentucky's Kevin Wirth had 22-5.
Clark, one of two Floridians in the Classic, also broke a record that had existed for 30 years. Ricky Green set the big-bass standard in the 1976 Classic on Lake Guntersville with an 8-pound, 9-ounce largemouth. But Clark's Purolator Big Bass on Friday weighed an impressive 11 pounds, 10 ounces.
The exception to Friday's numerous success stories occurred right after the weigh-in at the Orange County Convention Center, when 2003 Bassmaster Classic champion Michael Iaconelli had his day's catch disqualified for conduct that violated BASS rules, specifically a clause outlining unsportsmanlike conduct. "He violated our sportsmanship rule," BASS tournament director Trip Weldon said. "He destroyed some safety equipment and he also used profane language in front of a lot of spectators."
Iaconelli said he was upset because of what he thought was a livewell malfunction that had killed one of his fish, which he discovered around 11 a.m. Tournament officials later determined the livewell was functioning properly. "I disagree with the decision that was made today," he said of the disqualification that cost him a catch of 11-9. "I'm trying to figure out if I have any recourse for appealing the decision."
Weldon said he would discuss the issue with Iaconelli on Saturday.
Still, the story of the day was big bass - and lots of them.
Anglers brought in seven limits weighing more than 20 pounds. In addition to the four leaders, the others belonged to Missouri's Rick Clunn (20-12), Davy Hite of South Carolina (20-9) and Oklahoma's Jeff Kriet (20-3). Also, four 9-pound-plus bass were weighed in, including Clunn's 10-10 largemouth.
The lead in the race for the $500,000 top prize belongs to Clausen, 27, competing in his third Classic. "Everything went right for me today," he said. "Everywhere I went I caught fish."
Unlike other Bassmaster Classic contenders, Clausen did not fish for visible bedding bass - a technique complicated by Friday's windy and overcast conditions. Instead, he targeted isolated clumps of vegetation in deeper water with two soft-plastic lures from Mann's HardNose line.
Clark, 41, had a 9-pounder to go with his giant catch. Those big bass were caught sightfishing in shallow water with a Zoom Big Critter Claw with a 3/16-ounce Penetrator weight.
"The only time I got nervous was when I threw that biggest fish in the boat and realized this was the Bassmaster Classic and I already had those two big fish in the boat," Clark said. "I didn't think I was going to catch that big of a stringer today. No one starts out thinking they're going to catch a 30-pound stringer in the Bassmaster Classic."
Day 2 action begins Saturday with the 6:40 a.m. ET launch at Big Toho Marina at Lakefront Park in Kissimmee.