Martin Atop Tight Leaderboard After Day 1

By BassFan Staff

The old adage that smallmouth bass love nasty weather was borne out on day 1 of the Lake Cumberland FLW Tour as 20 anglers caught at least 16 pounds. Florida veteran Scott Martin led the way with a 19-07 stringer.

"Wind helps everybody on this lake," said Martin after a day that featured chilly temperatures and pounding rain in addition to gusts that topped 30 mph. "This place reminds me of Beaver Lake, and anytime you get wind, it's good."

Cody Bird boxed 18-13 to claim the No. 2 position on the leaderboard. Casey Scanlon was next with 18-08, followed by Clark Wendlandt with 18-07.

Larry Nixon, the 66-year-old legend from Arkansas, rounded out the top 5 with 18-05.

Here's a look at the initial top 10, with deficit margins from the leader represented by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Scott Martin: 19-07
2. Cody Bird: 18-13 (0-10)
3. Casey Scanlon: 18-08 (0-15)
4. Clark Wendlandt: 18-07 (1-00)
5. Larry Nixon: 18-05 (1-02)
6. Matt Reed: 17-15 (1-08)
7. Jeremy Lawyer: 17-13 (1-10)
8. Chris McCall: 17-10 (1-13)
9. Cody Meyer: 17-08 (1-15)
10. Dylan Hays: 17-07 (2-00)

Cumberland hasn't hosted a top-level event since 2006, when winner Mike Hawkes was the lone competitor to average more than 10 pounds per day. That was primarily a post-spawn tournament and this is a predominantly pre-spawn affair, but there's not question that the fishery has improved.

While the smallmouth-chasers found the inclement conditions to their liking, many of the competitors who were focused on largemouths had a tougher time. The biggest problem in that regard might've been the complete lack of sun, which prevented the green fish from positioning themselves in places where they could be exploited.

The sun should make at least brief appearances on day 2, as the WeatherChannel.com forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and slightly warmer temperatures (a high of 54 degrees). The wind will remain stiff – coming out of the northwest at 17 mph.

The 164-angler field will be reduced to the top 20 after Friday's weigh-in. Only the top 10 will advance to Sunday, when the winner will be determined by highest cumulative weight.

Martin Bounced Around

> Day 1: 5, 19-07

Martin said he had a decent practice, but had no inkling that he'd catch 19 1/2 pounds.

"I wasn't catching anything giant, but I thought I could get 15 or 16 pounds running around doing different stuff," he said. "I hammered down a little bit today, and it was good. Fishing for smallmouths here, the (18-inch minimum-length requirement) can be a little challenging."

His bag consisted of four smallmouths and one hefty largemouth. His biggest fish registered 5-01.

"I've been kind of mixing it up and I thought that today I might have two smallmouths and three largemouths, or maybe two of each and a (spotted bass). I've been catching largemouths in some places, but I've been catching some spots as well.

"The weather was perfect today. There's going to be some changes in the weather, so I'm going to have to make some adjustments, for sure."

He lost one big bronzeback right at the boat.

"It looked like a Lake Erie monster. It came to the surface and I was backing up (using the trolling motor) when it came off, and it stayed there for a second. My co-angler lunged for it with the net and I was praying that he'd come up with it, but he didn't. That's the way it goes.

"Hopefully I can catch some fairly quickly tomorrow and then spend a decent amount of time planning for day 3, because I'll most likely have to make some changes."

2nd: Bird Overcame Rough Start

Day 1: 5, 18-13

Bird failed to put his first three bites in the boat, but recovered to compile a strong bag.

"I broke off a couple, including one real good one, and I lost a real good one," he said. "I finally changed rods and reels and started catching them. I caught them pretty quick after that. It was a pretty good day.

"It was won here with smallmouth last time and I figured it would be again after I got here and saw the size of them, so I concentrated on them my entire practice. Today I caught six keepers, plus another dozen that were over 16 inches. Some of them are heartbreakers when you don't have a limit – you fight them for 5 minutes and then have to throw them back because they're an eighth of an inch short."

His stringer was topped by a 5-pounder.

"These fish never give up – just when you think they're ready to, they fight a little more. They're the funnest fish in the world to catch, but the deal is catching those 'overs.' Not every fish is going to be of that quality."

3rd: Mixed Bag for Scanlon

> Day 1: 5, 18-08

Scanlon, in his first year on the circuit after a stint on the Bassmaster Elite Series, brought three largemouths, a smallmouth and a spot to the scale. One of the largemouths was a 6-06 specimen that took big-fish honors for the day.

"Practice was pretty much hit or miss," he said. "I could catch a good one here or there, but I fished a lot of places that were dead. I found three or four that I felt like had some fish and I ended up fishing one of those today.

"I definitely didn't expect to catch what I did. I felt I could go and catch a limit for sure, but I didn't know what kind of weight I would get.

He put his fifth fish in the box at about 9:30 and had all of his weight by noon. He's fishing mostly deeper water, but slides up toward the bank when shoreline cover is present.

He believes the encounter with the big fish was his second.

"I think I actually saw that fish in practice. I had one that size follow my bait, and it was about 15 feet from where I caught the one today. I got lucky there.

"I lost one smallmouth that definitely would've helped me and I had something really big break me off. I think it was probably a striper."

4th: Wendlandt Caught Clones

> Day 1: 5, 18-07

Wendlandt was just a pound out of the lead despite not catching a fish that weighed more than 3 3/4 pounds.

"I had four smallmouths and one largemouth, and they were almost all identical," he said. "By mid-day I had what I weighed in and I didn't lose any that I saw.

"I think the bad (weather) conditions kind of helped a little bit – we've been in the snow at Table Rock and they bit really good. I just think there's something to that. People caught them about like I thought they would. I thought maybe there'd be some more good largemouth bags, but the weather might've hurt that."

He said he had no company that affected him.

"I saw some boats, but this is such a gigantic lake – it's just huge."

5th: Nixon Expected a Little More

> Day 1: 5, 18-05

Larry Nixon had a very good day, but had anticipated being even a little better.

"I really thought on Tuesday that I learned something that would pay off today, and it did," he said. "Still, it wasn't as good as I thought it would be – I struggled to catch my fifth one.

"I caught a 3-pounder right at the end of the day that gave me my good sack – it culled a pound-and-a-half (spot).

He weighed four smallmouths – including a 5-pounder – and one largemouth throwing primarily a crankbait and a jerkbait.

"I never lost a fish – I landed everything that bit. I don't know what to think about tomorrow if the weather changes, but it looks like we're still going to have the wind."

6th: Reed Committed

> Day 1: 5, 17-15

Reed said he went all-in on the smallmouths in practice, but had some trepidation about whether he could catch a limit of keepers.

"I had one good day in practice, but that 18-inch limit is a scary thing," he said. "I had to commit and go do it and I caught more today than any other day I've been here. I got into an area and started running stuff and I ended up fishing stuff I'd never seen before."

He took four smallmouths and one largemouth to the scale. One of the brown ones weighed 4 3/4.

"It took me until about noon to get my weight – I caught one real quick, then I had five short ones before I caught the next keeper. I had one big one come off that I saw – it came to the top and just came unbuttoned.

"The scary thing on this lake is trying to catch a good bag on multiple days. I'm just going to keep covering a lot of water."

142nd: Tough Day for Cobb

> Day 1: 2, 5-07

Brandon Cobb came into the event 2nd in the Angler of the Year race, but experienced his first difficult day of the year.

"I didn't have a great practice, but I'd have taken what I caught on the last day," he said. "I was catching some decent largemouths, but I figure with no sun today, they weren't set up right and I couldn't get them to eat."

He weighed in two smallmouths and had to other 3-pounders of that species get off.

"I think tomorrow I'll go hit one or two of the areas that I thought had the best potential and see if the sun makes a difference. If not, I'll be running places that I've never fished."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 164 anglers, 101 limits, 16 fours, 26 threes, 13 twos, 5 ones, 3 zeroes.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., April 7 – Partly Cloudy – 54°/32°
- Wind: From the NW at 17 mph

> Sat., April 8 – Sunny – 63°/41°
- Wind: From the WSW at 5 mph

> Sun., April 9 – Mostly Sunny – 76°/52°
- Wind: From the SSW at 10 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 19-7 (5)

2. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 18-13 (5)

3. Casey Scanlon -- Lenexa, Ks -- 18-8 (5)

4. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 18-7 (5)

5. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 18-5 (5)

6. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Tx -- 17-15 (5)

7. Jeremy Lawyer -- Sarcoxie, Mo -- 17-13 (5)

8. Chris McCall -- Palmer, Tx -- 17-10 (5)

9. Cody Meyer -- Auburn, Ca -- 17-8 (5)

10. Dylan Hays -- Sheridan, Ar -- 17-7 (5)

11. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 17-5 (5)

12. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 17-3 (5)

13. Gary Yamamoto -- Palestine, Tx -- 17-1 (5)

14. Jeff Sprague -- Point, Tx -- 16-15 (5)

15. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 16-14 (5)

16. Shinichi Fukae -- Palestine, Tx -- 16-12 (5)

17. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 16-4 (5)

18. Joey Cifuentes -- Clinton, Ar -- 16-4 (5)

19. Aaron Britt -- Yuba City, Ca -- 16-2 (5)

20. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 16-0 (5)

21. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 15-13 (5)

22. Justin Atkins -- Florence, Al -- 15-10 (5)

23. Jimmy Brewer -- Marshall, Tx -- 15-2 (5)

24. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, Md -- 15-1 (5)

25. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 14-12 (5)

26. James Watson -- Lampe, Mo -- 14-12 (5)

27. Derrick Blake -- Rockwood, Tn -- 14-9 (5)

28. Jason Lambert -- Michie, Tn -- 14-9 (5)

29. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 14-8 (5)

30. Brandon Medlock -- Lake Placid, Fl -- 14-5 (5)

31. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 14-3 (5)

32. Peter Cherkas -- Des Moines, Ia -- 14-3 (5)

33. Drew Montgomery -- Maiden, Nc -- 14-2 (5)

34. Michael Neal -- Dayton, Tn -- 14-0 (5)

35. Bill McDonald -- Greenwood, In -- 14-0 (5)

36. Kurt Mitchell -- Milford, De -- 14-0 (5)

37. Matthew Stefan -- Junction City, Wi -- 13-14 (5)

38. Ron Farrow -- Rock Hill, Sc -- 13-14 (5)

39. Jim Jones -- Big Bend, Wi -- 13-11 (5)

40. Powell Kemp -- Scotland Neck, Nc -- 13-11 (5)

41. Scott Wiley -- Bay Minette, Al -- 13-8 (5)

42. Andrew Upshaw -- Tulsa, Ok -- 13-8 (5)

43. Clark Reehm -- Huntington, Tx -- 13-5 (5)

44. Dean Alexander -- Georgetown, Tx -- 13-5 (5)

45. Shawn Murphy -- Nicholasville, Ky -- 13-3 (5)

46. Matt Arey -- Shelby, Nc -- 13-2 (5)

47. Tim McDonald -- Prestonsburg, Ky -- 13-2 (5)

48. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, Ar -- 13-1 (5)

49. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 13-1 (5)

50. Rodney Thomason -- Maumelle, Ar -- 13-0 (5)

51. Joshua Weaver -- Macon, Ga -- 13-0 (5)

52. Braxton Setzer -- Montgomery, Al -- 12-15 (5)

53. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 12-15 (5)

54. Mark Rose -- West Memphis, Ar -- 12-14 (5)

55. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, On -- 12-13 (5)

56. Bradley Dortch -- Atmore, Al -- 12-12 (5)

57. Andy Young -- Mound, Mn -- 12-12 (5)

58. Brandon McMillan -- Clewiston, Fl -- 12-11 (5)

59. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 12-10 (5)

60. Jim Moulton -- Merced, Ca -- 12-9 (5)

61. Timmy Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, Sc -- 12-8 (5)

62. Shane Lehew -- Catawba, Nc -- 12-6 (5)

63. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 12-6 (5)

64. Luke Dunkin -- Lawrenceburg, Tn -- 12-4 (5)

65. Jason Johnson -- Gainesville, Ga -- 12-3 (5)

66. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 12-2 (5)

67. Robert Behrle -- Hoover, Al -- 12-2 (5)

68. Kyle Cortiana -- Broken Arrow, Ok -- 12-2 (5)

69. Jamie Horton -- Centerville, Al -- 12-2 (5)

70. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Ms -- 12-0 (5)

71. Mike Kernan -- Wylie, Tx -- 12-0 (5)

72. Jamey Caldwell -- Carthage, Nc -- 11-15 (5)

73. Jeff Dobson -- Bartlesville, Ok -- 11-14 (5)

74. Jordan Osborne -- Longview, Tx -- 11-14 (3)

75. Clayton Batts -- Macon, Ga -- 11-14 (5)

76. Michael Wooley -- Collierville, Tn -- 11-12 (4)

77. Troy Morrow -- Eastanollee, Ga -- 11-8 (5)

78. Zack Birge -- Blanchard, Ok -- 11-7 (5)

79. Matt Wittekiend -- Angleton, Tx -- 11-6 (5)

80. Josh Douglas -- Mound, Mn -- 11-5 (5)

81. John Cox -- Debary, Fl -- 11-4 (5)

82. Kyle Weisenburger -- Ottawa, Oh -- 11-3 (5)

83. Stephen Patek -- Garland, Tx -- 11-2 (4)

84. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 11-2 (5)

85. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 11-1 (5)

86. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 11-0 (3)

87. Christopher Brasher -- Longview, Tx -- 10-15 (5)

88. Kenneth (Boo) Woods -- London, Ky -- 10-14 (4)

89. Joe Holland -- Jefferson, Me -- 10-14 (5)

90. Bill Day -- Frankfort, Ky -- 10-13 (5)

91. Chad Randles -- Elkhorn, Ne -- 10-9 (5)

92. Chris Gosselaar -- Fresno, Ca -- 10-9 (5)

93. Jason Reyes -- Huffman, Tx -- 10-9 (5)

94. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, On -- 10-8 (5)

95. Richard Lowitzki -- Hampshire, Il -- 10-4 (5)

96. Bill Smith Jr -- Burlington, Ky -- 10-3 (4)

97. Todd Hollowell -- Fishers, In -- 10-3 (4)

98. Matt Greenblatt -- Port St Lucie, Fl -- 10-2 (3)

99. Johnny Mccombs -- Morris, Al -- 9-15 (5)

100. Jimmy Reese -- Witter Springs, Ca -- 9-15 (3)

101. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, Nc -- 9-13 (5)

102. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, Or -- 9-12 (5)

103. Chris Neau -- New Orleans, La -- 9-12 (3)

104. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, Ar -- 9-11 (5)

105. Wade Curtiss -- Meadow Vista, Ca -- 9-10 (5)

106. John Voyles -- Petersburg, In -- 9-10 (5)

107. Tim Frederick -- Leesburg, Fl -- 9-6 (4)

108. Kerry Milner -- Bono, Ar -- 9-4 (3)

109. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 9-3 (5)

110. Rex Huff -- Corbin, Ky -- 9-2 (5)

111. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 9-2 (4)

112. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, Ga -- 8-14 (4)

113. Brian Latimer -- Belton, Sc -- 8-10 (4)

114. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 8-8 (5)

115. Joseph Webster -- Fulton, Ms -- 8-8 (3)

116. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Tx -- 8-2 (4)

117. Jason Meninger -- Gainesville, Ga -- 8-2 (3)

118. Curtis Richardson -- Belleville, On -- 8-1 (3)

119. Chad Warren -- Sand Springs, Ok -- 8-0 (3)

120. Blake Smith -- Lakeland, Fl -- 7-14 (3)

121. William (Billy) Shelton III -- La Crosse, Va -- 7-13 (4)

122. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 7-13 (5)

123. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, On -- 7-11 (3)

124. Peter Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 7-10 (4)

125. Alvin Shaw -- Roaring Gap, Nc -- 7-8 (3)

126. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Ok -- 7-5 (4)

127. Tom Redington -- Royse City, Tx -- 7-5 (3)

128. Chris Whitson -- Louisville, Tn -- 7-3 (2)

129. Jay Kendrick -- Grant, Al -- 7-3 (5)

130. Alex Davis -- Albertville, Al -- 7-2 (3)

131. Cody Kelley -- Conway, Ar -- 6-13 (4)

132. Kurt Dove -- Del Rio, Tx -- 6-12 (3)

133. Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Ct -- 6-9 (2)

134. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 6-9 (4)

135. Carl Jocumsen -- Frisco, Tx -- 6-8 (3)

136. Jeff Cannon -- Douglasville, Ga -- 6-6 (3)

137. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, Mn -- 6-5 (3)

138. Daniel Kweekul -- Bryant, Ar -- 6-3 (3)

139. Brad Knight -- Lancing, Tn -- 6-2 (2)

140. Jason Abram -- Piney Flats, Tn -- 5-13 (3)

141. Blake Nick -- Trussville, Al -- 5-10 (4)

142. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, Sc -- 5-7 (2)

143. Charlie Evans -- Berea, Ky -- 5-4 (2)

144. Harry Moore -- Valley, Al -- 5-2 (3)

145. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, Sc -- 4-13 (3)

146. Keith Bryan -- Novato, Ca -- 4-10 (2)

147. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 4-9 (3)

148. Bob Morin -- Seymour, Tn -- 4-6 (2)

149. Greg Bohannan -- Bentonville, Ar -- 4-3 (3)

150. Grae Buck -- Harleysville, Pa -- 4-2 (3)

151. David Smith -- Del City, Ok -- 4-0 (2)

152. Chase Brooks -- Iraan, Tx -- 3-11 (2)

153. Brandon Mosley -- Choctaw, Ok -- 3-10 (1)

154. Jonathan Henry -- Grant, Al -- 3-9 (2)

155. Billy Hines -- Vacaville, Ca -- 3-3 (2)

156. Evan Barnes -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 3-1 (1)

157. Bill Hutchison -- Bessemer, Al -- 2-14 (2)

158. Randy Blaukat -- Joplin, Mo -- 2-11 (2)

159. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, Ok -- 2-8 (1)

160. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 2-0 (1)

161. Mark Fisher -- Wauconda, Il -- 1-7 (1)

162. Eric Jackson -- Walling, Tn -- 0-0 (0)

162. Michael McCoy -- Mentor On The Lake, Oh -- 0-0 (0)

162. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, La -- 0-0 (0)

Big Bass

Day 1: Casey Scanlon -- 6-06 -- $500