Hanselman Out Front At Travis

By Todd Ceisner
BassFan Editor

Maybe the big bass at Lake Travis aren’t so random after all.

Five anglers eclipsed the 19-pound mark and several others had supposedly tough-to-find Texas lunkers on their scoresheets on a day when the wind was non-existent at the deep, clear and rocky reservoir on the outskirts of the Texas capital today.

Ray Hanselman, Jr., who makes his living as a fishing and hunting guide around Lake Amistad, seems right at home at Travis. The Elite Series rookie recorded a 21-15 limit to top the 108-man field. Bobby Lane was the only other competitor to crack 20 pounds and his 21-02, which included an 8-08 kicker, has him on Hanselman’s stern.

Cliff Pace had an electric start to his day, catching a 10-05 brute before 7 a.m. and riding that to a 19-08 stringer that put him in 3rd. It’s the biggest fish caught in Elite Series competition since Cliff Prince’s 10-08 at the St. Johns River in 2016 and has him as the early leader in the chase for big bass of the tournament, which would earn him a new Toyota truck.

Josh Betrand and Jacob Powroznik had identical 19-05 limits – Bertrand’s was anchored by an 8-03 and Powroznik’s by a 6-07 – and tied for 4th.

Overall, there were 17 limits that weighed 15 or more pounds and there are 33 anglers between 11 and 14 pounds so the race to the top 50 cut will come down to ounces during an event where every fish is weighed by a marshal in the boat before being released back into the lake. Competitors are allowed to keep their largest fish over 18 inches in length to show off on stage.

Here's a look at the Top 12 entering the second day of competition, with deficit margin from Hanselman indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Ray Hanselman Jr.: 21-15
2. Bobby Lane: 21-02 (0-13)
3. Cliff Pace: 19-08 (2-07)
4 (tie). Josh Bertrand: 19-05 (2-10)
4 (tie). Jacob Powroznik: 19-05 (2-10)
6. Jacob Wheeler: 17-04 (4-11)
7. Brent Chapman: 16-01 (5-14)
8. David Mullins: 15-15 (6-00)
9. Brandon Coulter: 15-14 (6-01)
10 (tie). Steve Kennedy: 15-13 (6-02)
10 (tie). Brandon Palaniuk: 15-13 (6-02)
12. Kelly Jordon: 15-12 (6-03)

Wesley Strader, who's won the last two B.A.S.S. events over the past two weeks, is tied for 61st with 10-03. Angler of the Year points leader Bradley Roy caught 12-07 and is in 38th.

The calendar says May, but summer has officially arrived in central Texas as temperatures crept into the 90s today and will approach 100 on Friday. The wind is due to pick up out of the south and that has some competitors thinking those fish that shied away from their bait today might be easier to fool with more of a ripple on the surface.

The field will be reduced to the top 50 pros for day 3 on Saturday and the event will conclude Sunday with the top 12 anglers chasing the win and a berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic.

Hanselman Quietly Confident

> Day 1: 5, 21-15

Hanselman is pleased with how today went, but he knows there’s plenty of work left to do. In fact, he spent part of Thursday afternoon after weigh-in browsing the aisles of Bass Pro Shops.

“It’s a good start,” he said. “It’s better than being 5 pounds behind. It feels good to have a little pressure off, but now there’s some added pressure.”

He said he felt comfortable at Travis from the moment he laid eyes on the water.

“It looks like stuff I have at home,” he added. “When I got here and saw the water, I said, ‘This is gonna work.’ I had a really good first day of practice. If I had hooks on, I could’ve had 30 plus.”

He totaled about 10 keeper bites and had a 7-09 and a 5-13 to go with a pair of 3-plus pounders.

“I’m not getting a ton of bites, but the big ones are there,” he said.

He thinks the fishing will improve tomorrow with the wind that’s in the forecast.

“I have some backup water to go to, but we’ll see,” he added. “I caught a 3 and lost a 4 late in the day so that could help out.”

2nd: Big One Knocked Lane For a Loop

> Day 1: 5, 21-02

Bobby Lane had modest expectations heading into day 1 and had endure a 90-minute dry spell to start the day. After that, things got exciting in a hurry.

Lane connected with an 8 1/2-pounder that required a 5-minute battle to get it in the boat.

“Everybody around me knew I caught it,” Lane said. “I got a little dizzy and overwhelmed there for a bit. My voice hurt for two hours.”

After that, he tacked on a 5-02 and a 4-pounder before the bite slowed down after noon.

“I was hoping for anything in the teens so I’m super excited,” he said. “Practice was okay. I caught a good one each day. Today, I got three quality bites and caught all three on three different baits.”

The challenge tomorrow will be keeping his focus, especially in the morning time period.

“You know you’re going to catch them because there are thousands of them out there,” he said. “I tried new water that didn’t work and tried old water and got some bites so I’m going to stay around where I saw quality in practice.”

3rd: After Giant, Pace ‘Scratched and Clawed’

> Day 1: 5, 19-08

A cursory glance at Pace’s total today could paint the picture of someone who caught fish left and right start to finish. Pace tells a different story.

“I tried to commit to fishing for big ones and caught a 10 and a 4,” he said. “Then I bailed on it because I couldn’t catch any more. I went and scratched and clawed for more just to weigh in. It definitely was not an easy day on the water.”

But it was a memorable first 20 minutes, highlighted by the 10-05 that elicited a smile from the normally stoic Mississippian.

“It never jumped,” he said. “I hooked her and she stayed down. I didn’t know for sure it was a bass, but I just eased her up and when she got to the boat, she acted like she wanted to jump, but I was able to get her before she did.

“That was a pretty special deal and I feel blessed to have caught it today. You catch them during practice, but to catch it today was like a gift from above.”

He said fishing at Travis has been a grind all week and he only tallied six keepers today compared to 40 non-keepers.

“I’m fighting for every one I can catch,” he said.

4th (tie): Two Big Ones Carry Bertrand

> Day 1: 5, 19-05

Bertrand achieved his goal of catching one big fish today right off the bat. The 8-03 that was his first fish of the day set the tone for another strong day for the Arizona pro who seems bent on contending for AOY this season. He didn’t stop at one, though. About 90 minutes later, he caught a 5-02.

“It’s definitely relieving getting a big bite or two because you know they’re hard to come by,” he said. “After I caught that first one, I was relieved and I was like, ‘I got my big one for the day. Then the second was like icing on the cake. I might not get one tomorrow, but hopefully I’ll stay in productive water.”

He said it’s been hard to determine if the big fish are concentrated in certain areas versus areas that seem to harbor smaller fish.

“It’s hard to say because the big ones are eating the same stuff as the little ones,” he said. “The lake is full of shad and they’re all eating them. The giants are somewhat mixed in with the little ones.”

He didn’t focus on just one mindset all day long. He had success in shallow and deeper water and hopes to follow the same plan tomorrow.

“It was one of those days where things went well for me,” he said. “I’m going to mix it up tomorrow. With the wind, I think the shallow fish will bite better.

“The wind is a huge deal. I’ve had a lot of days at home where you might see a big bag or have followers and see them swimming and catch nothing. Sometimes, you feel like there’s nothing you can do. That wind takes all that away. It’s like fishing stained water.”

8th: Mullins Feels Fortunate

> Day 1: 5, 15-15

David Mullins isn’t sure he’ll be able to catch a limit of keepers tomorrow. He’ll worry about that then, but for now he’s happy with how day 1 went. The Tennessee native sits in 8th with 15-15.

“When you come to a place like this you can’t expect to be in the top 10,” he said. “I got a couple keepers in the boat early and that freed me up to fish the rest of the day.”

He capitalized on the morning topwater frenzy and then hit a deep spot to mix it up.

“They’re definitely chewing first thing, but the deal is catching keepers,” he said. “You can fish some of the schoolers and only catch 8- to 10-inchers. You have to get fortunate to catch keepers. It’s not easy out there.

“I lost a 5 and a 4 and a couple 3s so I had the chance to have a big bag,” he added. “I just didn’t capitalize on it.”

86th: Tharp Keeping the Faith

> Day 1: 5, 7-12

Catching fish wasn’t an issue for Randall Tharp today. Getting the right ones to commit was the challenge.

“I was culling ounces and I needed to be culling pounds,” the Florida pro said. “I think it’ll shake up tomorrow. There are a lot of small fish here and a lot of big ones, too. If you catch two big ones, you’re up in the top 25. I had two big bites – one missed the bait and one pulled off.”

He said the still calm conditions made it hard to get fish to commit and if the wind blows Friday like it did in practice Wednesday, he thinks a rally is possible.

“When the wind blows, it’s a lot easier to trick them,” he said. “On Wednesday, if I could’ve caught half of the ones I saw, I could’ve had 20 pounds. They’re so dialed into whatever they’re feeding on.”

He figured he caught 50 fish today and roughly 20 keepers.

“I just need to capitalize (tomorrow),” he said. “I caught the majority of my fish today on a bait I hadn’t pulled out since I’ve been here. It can happen so quick. I pulled up on a place I’d fished in practice and there are 5-pounders blowing up everywhere. I throw my bait out by the boat and the smallest one in the pack gets it.”

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 108 anglers, 91 limits, 7 fours, 4 threes, 6 twos.

> This article was updated at 12:15 p.m. EST to reflect Cliff Prince’s 10-08 bass at the St. Johns River in 2016 was the most recent double-digit bass caught in Elite Series competition before Thursday.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., May 18 – Clear, Sunny - 98°/71°
- Wind: From the S at 10 to 15 mph

> Sat., May 19 – Partly Cloudy - 97°/71°
- Wind: From the SSE at 10 to 20 mph

> Sun., May 20 – Partly Cloudy - 94°/69°
- Wind: From the SE at 5 to 10 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 21-15 -- 110
Day 1: 5, 21-15

2. Bobby Lane Jr. -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 21-02 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 21-02

3. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 19-08 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 19-08

4. Josh Bertrand -- San Tan Valley, AZ -- 5, 19-05 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 19-05

4. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 5, 19-05 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 19-05

6. Jacob Wheeler -- Harrison, TN -- 5, 17-04 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 17-04

7. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 16-01 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 16-01

8. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 15-15 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 15-15

9. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 15-14 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 15-14

10. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 15-13 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 15-13

10. Brandon Palaniuk -- Hayden, ID -- 5, 15-13 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 15-13

12. Kelly Jordon -- Flint, TX -- 5, 15-12 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 15-12

13. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 5, 15-10 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 15-10

14. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 15-09 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 15-09

15. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 5, 15-02 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 15-02

16. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 15-00 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 15-00

16. Morizo Shimizu -- Suita, Osaka JAPAN -- 5, 15-00 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 15-00

18. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 14-13 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 14-13

19. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 14-09 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 14-09

20. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 14-05 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 14-05

21. Seth Feider -- Bloomington, MN -- 5, 14-02 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 14-02

22. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 5, 13-15 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 13-15

23. John Murray -- Spring City, TN -- 5, 13-11 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 13-11

24. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 13-09 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-09

24. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 13-09 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-09

26. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 5, 13-08 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 13-08

27. Shin Fukae -- Palestine TX JAPAN -- 5, 13-07 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 13-07

27. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 13-07 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 13-07

29. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 4, 13-07 -- 82
Day 1: 4, 13-07

30. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 13-06 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 13-06

31. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 13-04 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 13-04

32. Dustin Connell -- Clanton, AL -- 5, 13-03 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 13-03

32. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, CA -- 5, 13-03 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 13-03

34. Gerald Spohrer -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 13-02 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 13-02

35. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 12-14 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 12-14

36. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 12-12 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 12-12

37. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 12-08 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 12-08

38. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 5, 12-07 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 12-07

39. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 12-06 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 12-06

39. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 5, 12-06 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 12-06

41. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 12-04 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 12-04

42. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 5, 11-13 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 11-13

42. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 5, 11-13 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 11-13

44. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 11-12 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 11-12

44. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 5, 11-12 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 11-12

46. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 11-10 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 11-10

47. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 5, 11-09 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-09

47. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 11-09 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 11-09

49. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 11-07 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 11-07

50. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 11-06 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 11-06

50. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 11-06 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 11-06

52. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 11-05 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 11-05

53. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 5, 11-02 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 11-02

54. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 11-01 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 11-01

55. Brandon Card -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 11-00 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 11-00

56. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 10-12 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 10-12

57. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 10-11 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 10-11

58. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 5, 10-10 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 10-10

59. Roy Hawk -- Lk Havasu Cty, AZ -- 5, 10-07 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 10-07

60. Jonathon VanDam -- Gobles, MI -- 5, 10-05 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 10-05

61. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 10-03 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 10-03

61. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, TN -- 5, 10-03 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 10-03

63. Gary Klein -- Mingus, TX -- 5, 10-01 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 10-01

64. Mark Daniels Jr. -- Tuskegee, AL -- 5, 09-15 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 09-15

64. Mike McClelland -- Bentonville, AR -- 5, 09-15 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 09-15

64. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 09-15 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 09-15

67. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 09-14 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 09-14

68. Randy Howell -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 09-13 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 09-13

69. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 5, 09-10 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 09-10

70. Jesse Wiggins -- Cullman, AL -- 5, 09-07 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 09-07

71. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 4, 09-01 -- 40
Day 1: 4, 09-01

72. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 08-15 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 08-15

73. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 5, 08-13 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 08-13

74. Chris Zaldain -- Laughlin, NV -- 5, 08-12 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 08-12

75. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 08-11 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 08-11

76. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, NJ -- 5, 08-10 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 08-10

76. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 08-10 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 08-10

76. Darrell Ocamica -- New Plymouth, ID -- 5, 08-10 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 08-10

79. Ott DeFoe -- Blaine, TN -- 5, 08-07 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 08-07

80. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 08-06 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 08-06

80. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 5, 08-06 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 08-06

82. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 5, 08-00 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 08-00

83. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 07-15 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 07-15

84. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 07-14 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 07-14

84. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 07-14 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 07-14

86. Randall Tharp -- Port St. Joe, FL -- 5, 07-12 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 07-12

87. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 3, 07-06 -- 24
Day 1: 3, 07-06

88. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 5, 07-01 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 07-01

89. Alton Jones Jr. -- Waco, TX -- 5, 07-00 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 07-00

90. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 06-13 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 06-13

91. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 4, 06-12 -- 20
Day 1: 4, 06-12

92. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 06-11 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 06-11

93. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 06-10 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 06-10

94. Matt Lee -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 06-05 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 06-05

95. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 06-00 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 06-00

96. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 4, 05-06 -- 15
Day 1: 4, 05-06

96. Shaw Grigsby Jr. -- Gainesville, FL -- 4, 05-06 -- 15
Day 1: 4, 05-06

98. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 2, 05-06 -- 13
Day 1: 2, 05-06

99. Fred Roumbanis -- Russellville, AR -- 4, 05-00 -- 12
Day 1: 4, 05-00

100. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 2, 05-00 -- 11
Day 1: 2, 05-00

101. Boyd Duckett -- Guntersville, AL -- 4, 04-15 -- 10
Day 1: 4, 04-15

102. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 3, 04-14 -- 9
Day 1: 3, 04-14

103. Fletcher Shryock -- Dennison, OH -- 3, 04-09 -- 8
Day 1: 3, 04-09

104. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 3, 03-14 -- 7
Day 1: 3, 03-14

105. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 2, 03-08 -- 6
Day 1: 2, 03-08

106. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 2, 03-01 -- 5
Day 1: 2, 03-01

107. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 2, 02-04 -- 4
Day 1: 2, 02-04

108. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 2, 02-03 -- 3
Day 1: 2, 02-03