Japanese angler Kenta Kimura caught a 13-04 stringer to take the day-1 lead at the Red River Bassmaster Central Open out of Bossier City, La.
“I think I caught all the bass in my area early this morning,” he said. “Tomorrow I will start all over again.”
Second-place angler Larry Puckett of Decatur, Texas, had 12-04, followed by Eric Gilchrist of Plaquemine, La., with 11-11. Craig Schuff, of Springtown, Texas, and fellow Texan Brad Whatley of Bivins, are sitting in 4th and 5th with 11-4.
Gilchrist’s catch included the biggest bass of the day, a 4-09 largemouth.
Tournament waters are pools 5, 4 and 3 of the Red. Competitors launch from the lower stretch of Pool 5, which is just south of Shreveport and Bossier City. From there to the end of Pool 3 is a round-trip travel time of about 4 hours.
Here's a look at the initial top 12:
1. Kenta Kimura: 13-04
2. Larry Puckett: 12-04
3. Eric Gilcrhist: 11-11
4. (tie) Craig Schuff: 11-04
4. (tie) Brad Whatley: 11-04
6. Logan Latuso: 10-15
7. Nickolas LeBrun: 10-09
8. Michael Fazende: 10-09
9. Drew Cook: 10-05
10. Brock Mosley: 10-00
11. Trey Hilton: 9-12
12. Tommy Durham: 9-10
