Veteran FLW Tour pro Shin Fukae grabbed the initial lead at the Smith Lake Bassmaster Southern Open in Alabama on Friday as he boxed a 15-04 stringer. Weights were low throughout the field and more than 30 anglers zeroed in the unseasonably warm weather that saw temperatures climb into the 90s.
Fukae's bag was topped by a fish that was just an ounce shy of 5 pounds.
“(Practice was) bad, bad, bad,” Fukae said. “But I found two good spots, and I went to one spot the last two days. I don’t know if I’ll keep catching, but I was catching today.”
Jesse Wiggins, whofished his rookie season on the Elite Series this year, isn’t fighting for a Classic berth because he already won the season’s first Southern Open on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes to lock up his spot. Instead, he’s fishing for a generous cash prize, as well as a Skeeter boat/Yamaha motor package that would accompany yet another Open victory.
Wiggins was in 2nd place after Thursday with a limit that weighed 15-02. He’s already proven he can win big tournaments on his home lake – he won the 2016 Southern Open on Smith Lake to gain a spot in the 2017 Classic – and another win here would further cement his bragging rights on the reservoir.
“I actually had more weight today than I thought I did,” Wiggins said. “This lake is awesome and we saw that last April. We’re waiting on the weather that would really turn this place on, but I’m happy with the start today. One-third of the work is done.”
Here's how the current top 12 stacks up"
1. Shin Fukae: 15-04
2. Jesse Wiggins: 15-02
3. Lucas Ragusa: 13-14
4. Jordan Lee: 13-11
5. (tie) David Kilgore: 12-12
5. (tie) Bill Weidler: 12-12
7. Rick Morris: 12-08
8. Brian Morris: 12-07
9. Michael Murphy: 12-06
10. Hunter Shryock: 11-12
11. David Fritts: 11-11
12. William Smith: 11-07
