By Sean Ostruszka
Special to BassFan

Lake Chickamauga is one of the best lakes in the country to catch a 10-pounder. Right now, most of the pros on the Bassmaster Elites are happy bringing in a limit worth 10 pounds – if they bring in a limit at all.

When less than 35 percent of the field catches five keepers, you know fishing is tough. Yet, that tough fishing is also very fickle. Look no further than pros Brandon Cobb and Shane LeHew.

The two work together and share information for every tournament, and this one was no different, with both hitting many of the same spots. Cobb is the day-1 leader with 19-06. LeHew zeroed for the first time in his career.

“That’s how tough it is out here,” says Cobb.

Stetson Blaylock is happy to be in 2nd with 16-01 after his offshore fish disappeared, while Brad Whatley is right behind him with 15-12. And of course, being that it’s Chickamauga, it was almost a guarantee John Cox would make the Top 10, as he sits in 4th with 14-14.

Matt Arey was the only other pro to crack 14 pounds with 14-01. After that, it’s a log jam at 13 pounds with Caleb Sumrall (13-12), Bob Downey (13-06), Matt Herren (13-03), Chad Pipkens (13-03) and Lee Livesay (13-00) all separated by 12 ounces.

Cobb would probably be with them, but he found something that will be at a premium this week – a kicker. In fact, he found two, with one going 6-04 and the other just shy of 6, and he lost a third in that range, with all of them coming on a frog. Yet, to say he was surprised he caught them is an understatement.

“I caught a 2 1/2-pounder within the first 15 minutes of the day and I was thrilled because I was like, ‘I’m not going to zero,’” says Cobb, who bounced around a lot today just fishing any place he got a bite in practice. “I got bites in practice, but I never knew where or what. I still don’t. I just have a general area with some big ones, but I also caught some rats in there.”

That level of unknown is only compounded by what is known; that the bass are all over and eating, as multiple pros mentioned watching bass school or come up and chase bait all day, only to never eat a lure. And a big reason for that, they feel, is just how many baitfish are around.

“The lake is loaded with 2-inch shad,” said Blaylock. “There’s just too much.”

While most pros focused their attention shallow, Blaylock actually hoped to get away from all the bait and other anglers by fishing some offshore points where he’d located a massive school of fish. Unfortunately, the morning’s weather of rain and wind moved his fish, and after a less-than-stellar morning, Blaylock left his offshore points with only four fish to go frogging, catching four more up there.

Cox also had terrible start to his morning, just for different reasons.

“My first cast, a 3-pounder smoked my frog but I missed it,” said Cox. “So I throw back at it and get the worst backlash I’ve had in the last decade. Well, that was my only reel with the 50-pound braid I wanted, so I spent forever picking it out. I finally do and get back to fishing and I get another bite and the reel handle broke.”

In other words, it was a typical John Cox-style morning, as he only had one fish at 11 a.m. and he didn’t have a ruler, having to measure fish by the lid of his cooler. Still, when it comes to Chickamauga, he may be the best on it, as his last three finishes there are wins in a Bassmaster Open and FLW Pro Circuit in 2019 and a 7th in a Pro Circuit in 2020.

Yet, as happy as the top guys were to do well today, none of them felt confident they could replicate it tomorrow. Cobb fished a BFL Regional in the fall on Chickamauga back in 2010. He was 2nd after the first day and then only brought in 4 pounds the second day.

“So, really hoping not to do that again,” he joked.

Cox also has some interesting history on Chickamauga in the fall, having fished an FLW Series event here in 2010.

“I brought in one fish for like 4 pounds the first day,” says Cox. “But then I brought in the biggest bag on day 2 to make the cut.

“I’m actually a little excited about this weekend. This tournament is a lot like that 2010 one, and the water is dropping. That could make those places I caught the big stringers back then be good again, so we’ll see.”

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 85 anglers, 29 limits, 9 fours, 12 threes, 17 twos, 13 ones, 3 zeroes.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., Oct. 16 – Mostly Sunny – 65°/45°
- Wind: From the ENE at 6 mph

> Sat., Oct. 17 – Mostly Sunny – 70°/53°
- Wind: From the S at 7 mph

> Sun., Oct. 18 – Partly Cloudy – 75°/54°
- Wind: From the SSW at 7 mph



Day 1 Standings

1. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 19-06 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 19-06

2. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 16-01 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 16-01

3. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 15-12 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 15-12

4. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 14-14 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 14-14

5. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 14-01 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 14-01

6. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 13-12 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 13-12

7. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 5, 13-06 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 13-06

8. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 13-03 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 13-03

8. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 13-03 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 13-03

10. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 13-00 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 13-00

11. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 12-14 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 12-14

12. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 4, 12-09 -- 89
Day 1: 4, 12-09

13. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 5, 12-06 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 12-06

13. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 12-06 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 12-06

15. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 5, 12-02 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 12-02

16. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 12-01 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 12-01

17. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 5, 11-06 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 11-06

17. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 11-06 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 11-06

19. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 11-02 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 11-02

20. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 11-00 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 11-00

21. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 4, 11-00 -- 80
Day 1: 4, 11-00

22. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 4, 10-12 -- 79
Day 1: 4, 10-12

23. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 10-10 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 10-10

24. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 5, 10-08 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 10-08

25. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 10-07 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 10-07

25. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 10-07 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 10-07

27. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 10-05 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 10-05

28. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 09-12 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 09-12

29. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 3, 09-12 -- 72
Day 1: 3, 09-12

30. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 09-11 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 09-11

31. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 3, 09-09 -- 70
Day 1: 3, 09-09

32. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 09-08 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 09-08

33. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 09-07 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 09-07

34. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 4, 09-06 -- 67
Day 1: 4, 09-06

34. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 4, 09-06 -- 67
Day 1: 4, 09-06

36. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 5, 09-00 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 09-00

37. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 3, 09-00 -- 64
Day 1: 3, 09-00

38. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 2, 08-14 -- 63
Day 1: 2, 08-14

39. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 2, 08-10 -- 62
Day 1: 2, 08-10

40. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, ON -- 4, 08-09 -- 61
Day 1: 4, 08-09

41. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 3, 08-09 -- 60
Day 1: 3, 08-09

42. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 3, 08-01 -- 59
Day 1: 3, 08-01

43. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 4, 08-00 -- 58
Day 1: 4, 08-00

44. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 3, 07-12 -- 57
Day 1: 3, 07-12

45. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 3, 07-08 -- 56
Day 1: 3, 07-08

46. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 4, 06-15 -- 55
Day 1: 4, 06-15

47. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 3, 06-15 -- 54
Day 1: 3, 06-15

48. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 4, 06-13 -- 53
Day 1: 4, 06-13

49. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 2, 06-13 -- 52
Day 1: 2, 06-13

50. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 3, 06-12 -- 51
Day 1: 3, 06-12

51. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 2, 06-10 -- 50
Day 1: 2, 06-10

52. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 3, 06-03 -- 49
Day 1: 3, 06-03

52. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 3, 06-03 -- 49
Day 1: 3, 06-03

54. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 3, 06-00 -- 47
Day 1: 3, 06-00

55. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 3, 05-14 -- 46
Day 1: 3, 05-14

56. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 2, 05-10 -- 45
Day 1: 2, 05-10

57. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 3, 05-08 -- 44
Day 1: 3, 05-08

58. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 2, 05-07 -- 43
Day 1: 2, 05-07

59. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 2, 05-03 -- 42
Day 1: 2, 05-03

60. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 2, 04-07 -- 41
Day 1: 2, 04-07

60. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 2, 04-07 -- 41
Day 1: 2, 04-07

62. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 2, 03-15 -- 39
Day 1: 2, 03-15

63. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 1, 03-14 -- 38
Day 1: 1, 03-14

64. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 1, 03-13 -- 37
Day 1: 1, 03-13

65. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 2, 03-11 -- 36
Day 1: 2, 03-11

66. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 2, 03-10 -- 35
Day 1: 2, 03-10

66. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 2, 03-10 -- 35
Day 1: 2, 03-10

66. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 2, 03-10 -- 35
Day 1: 2, 03-10

69. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 2, 03-06 -- 32
Day 1: 2, 03-06

70. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 2, 03-03 -- 31
Day 1: 2, 03-03

71. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 2, 03-00 -- 30
Day 1: 2, 03-00

72. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 1, 02-11 -- 29
Day 1: 1, 02-11

73. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 1, 02-04 -- 28
Day 1: 1, 02-04

74. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 1, 02-03 -- 27
Day 1: 1, 02-03

75. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 1, 02-01 -- 26
Day 1: 1, 02-01

76. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 1, 01-15 -- 25
Day 1: 1, 01-15

76. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 1, 01-15 -- 25
Day 1: 1, 01-15

78. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 1, 01-14 -- 23
Day 1: 1, 01-14

79. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 1, 01-13 -- 22
Day 1: 1, 01-13

80. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 1, 01-11 -- 21
Day 1: 1, 01-11

81. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 1, 01-10 -- 20
Day 1: 1, 01-10

82. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 1, 01-06 -- 19
Day 1: 1, 01-06

83. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

83. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

83. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00