BRACEY, Va. (Oct. 3, 2007) - Pro Pete Gluszek of Franklinville, N.J., caught a five-bass limit weighing 17 pounds, 6 ounces Wednesday to lead opening day of the $275,225 Stren Series Northern Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Gaston.
"Today was a great day," said Gluszek, who finished first at the Stren Series event on the Hudson River last month. "I can't wait to get out there and fish tomorrow. There are a lot of places that I didn't even get to go today, that I know have fish. I am going to fish hard and try to stay on top."
Gluszek is fishing near docks and grass to catch his limit.
Rounding out the top five pros are Joe Balog of Harrison Township, Mich. (five bass, 15-12); Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, N.C. (five bass, 15-12); Ott Defoe of Knoxville, Tenn. (five bass, 15-07); and David Wright of Lexington, N.C. (five bass, 15-01).
Jason Knapp of Uniontown, Pa., earned $185 for the Snickers Big Bass award in the Pro Division thanks to a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass.
Overall there were 335 bass weighing 725 pounds, 7 ounces caught by 99 pros Wednesday. The catch included 39 five-bass limits.
Gary Guilliams of Troutville, Va., leads the Co-angler Division in the chase for a top award of $35,000, including a 198VX Ranger if contingency guidelines are met. He caught four bass weighing 11-11 while fishing with pro Emerson Hill of Camden, N.J., who is currently in 55th place.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Derek Moyer of Alexandria, Va. (five bass, 10-07); Lynn Baciuska Jr. of Afton, N.Y. (five bass, 10-06); Dave King of Clewiston, Fla. (five bass, 10-06); and Edward Piwonski of Granby, Conn. (five bass, 10-04). William Green of Auburn, N.Y., earned $105 for the Big Bass award in the Co-angler Division thanks to a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass.
Overall there were 181 bass weighing 390 pounds, 9 ounces caught by 80 co-anglers Wednesday. The catch included nine five-bass limits.
The top 40 co-anglers from each Stren Series division will also advance to the championship, where they will fish for as much as $70,000. The highest-finishing co-angler from each division at the championship will then advance to the 2008 Forrest Wood Cup.
Anglers will take off at 7 each morning from Americamps located at 9 Lakeside Lane in Bracey, Va. Thursday and Friday's weigh-in will be held at the marina beginning at 3 p.m. Saturday's weigh-in will be held at the Wal-Mart store located at 200 N. Cooper Road in Henderson, N.C., beginning at 4 p.m. Takeoffs and weigh-ins are free and open to the public.
Stren Series tournaments are four-day events consisting of two rounds. The entire field competes Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. At the conclusion of Friday's weigh-in, the field is cut to the top 10 pros and co-anglers based on the heaviest three-day accumulated weights. These anglers continue competition Saturday, with the winners determined by the heaviest accumulated weight from all four days