Mosley Mixes It Up For Early Lead At Neely Henry

By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

After a few forgettable practice rounds, Brock Mosley polished his junk-fishing repertoire to produce a shining start at the at the Neely Henry Lake Bassmaster Elite Series.

Mosley, a 32-year-old pro from Collinsville, Miss. who was the runner-up at both the Sabine River and Pickwick Lake events, weighed a 16-15 stringer, putting him at the top of the pack in the tournament that was due to start Thursday but was postponed because of extremely heavy rain in the region earlier this week.

All that rain swelled Neely Henry’s water level and sent sediment shooting through the north end of the fishery. Anglers struggled to find clean water, if they could at all, and a muddy Neely Henry made fishing tough on those heading up-lake. Others heading down the 11,250-acre impoundment found many of their spots inaccessible thanks to the flow of water choked at the natural bottleneck on the lake known as Minnesota Bend.

The varied conditions led Mosley to “junk-fishing,” or using a variety of techniques and lures in numerous places to see what worked.

Something certainly did for him, with 5 1/4- and 4 1/2-pound kickers anchoring the limit he brought to the Gadsden City Boat Docks.

“It was a special day, especially after my practice,” Mosley said. “The biggest one I had in practice was only 2 1/4. I was hoping to just catch a limit today and they just bit better than they have all week. I’m fishing upriver, downriver, anything I can. It was just one of those days where everything bounced my way.”

Because he struggled to find anything consistent during practice, Mosley had no idea where he wanted to begin fishing Friday morning. He settled on a place, he said, mostly “because no one else was in there.”

“I was Boat 92 (of 98 taking off) this morning, and this being a small lake, I figured it might be the only place all day I wouldn’t fish behind somebody,” he said. “That’s where I caught the 4 1/2-pounder and I just started fishing new stuff from there. I had all my weight by 11 a.m., but I didn’t lay off anything because I didn’t have anything to lay off.”

Mosley noted that Friday’s weather (mid-60s, partly cloudy skies) was the best it’s been all week, which could have contributed to the better catches most anglers had.

“The fish also got a break yesterday (with the tournament postponed),” he said. “They got the chance to adjust to the high water, the low water. But it’s not easy. It’s a real grind out there.”

Bryan New of Belmont, N.C., is in 2nd place with 16-07. Like Mosley, the 31-year-old pro was surprised by the heft of his bag, considering the struggles he endured in practice.

“I had a little place where I thought I could get some bites, but I couldn’t get to it,” New said. “The water was too low. So, I wound up messing around, practicing, junk-fishing. I caught a 4 1/2-pounder and a 3-plus … I think I ruled some stuff out today, maybe added a few things. I think we can make something happen tomorrow.”

Reigning Bassmaster Angler of the Year Clark Wendlandt of Leander, Texas, is in 3rd place with 15-13. He was another in the long line of anglers who didn’t figure much out in practice but struck some Alabama gold when competition began.

“I caught four in practice doing the same thing I did today when I caught 15 or 20,” he said. “The water’s dirty still, but I think it’s making the fishing better. Nothing has been easy this week.”

Wendlandt won $1,000 for the 5-04 he caught that was the day's Phoenix Boats Big Bass.

“I kind of ran into that 5-04,” he said. “I’d love for that to happen again tomorrow.”

Matt Arey of Shelby, N.C., is 4th with 15-04, followed by Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., with 15-03 and Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C., with 15-02.

A cluster of Alabama anglers is just behind that group — Clent Davis of Montevallo with 14-09, Gerald Swindle of Guntersville with 14-03 and Wes Logan of Springville with 14-01.

The full field of 98 comeptitors will take off again at 6:30 a.m. CT Saturday from the Gadsden City Boat Docks, also known as Coosa Landing, with weigh-in back at the docks at 2:30 p.m. The Top 48 after day 2 will advance to the semifinal round on Sunday.

Day 1 Standings

1. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 16-15 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 16-15

2. Bryan New -- Belmont, NC -- 5, 16-07 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 16-07

3. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 5, 15-13 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 15-13

4. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 15-04 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 15-04

5. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 15-03 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 15-03

6. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 15-02 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 15-02

7. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 5, 14-09 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 14-09

8. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 14-03 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 14-03

9. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 5, 14-01 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 14-01

10. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 5, 13-15 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 13-15

11. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 13-14 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 13-14

12. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 5, 13-13 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 13-13

13. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 13-10 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 13-10

14. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 13-08 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-08

15. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 5, 13-07 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 13-07

16. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 5, 12-08 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 12-08

17. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 12-05 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 12-05

18. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 5, 11-13 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 11-13

19. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 11-12 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 11-12

20. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 11-09 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 11-09

21. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 11-08 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 11-08

22. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 5, 11-07 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 11-07

23. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 11-06 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 11-06

24. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 5, 11-05 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 11-05

25. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 5, 11-03 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 11-03

26. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 11-02 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 11-02

27. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 5, 11-01 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 11-01

28. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 11-00 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 11-00

29. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 10-15 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 10-15

30. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 10-13 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 10-13

30. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 5, 10-13 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 10-13

32. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 10-08 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 10-08

33. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 5, 10-07 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 10-07

34. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 10-06 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 10-06

35. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 10-05 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 10-05

36. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 10-04 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 10-04

36. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 5, 10-04 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 10-04

38. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 10-03 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 10-03

38. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 5, 10-03 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 10-03

40. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 5, 10-01 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 10-01

41. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 5, 10-00 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 10-00

42. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 5, 09-15 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 09-15

42. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 09-15 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 09-15

42. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 09-15 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 09-15

45. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 4, 09-15 -- 56
Day 1: 4, 09-15

46. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 09-13 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 09-13

47. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 4, 09-10 -- 54
Day 1: 4, 09-10

48. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 09-09 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 09-09

48. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 5, 09-09 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 09-09

48. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 09-09 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 09-09

51. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 09-07 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 09-07

52. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 09-02 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 09-02

53. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 5, 09-01 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 09-01

54. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 5, 09-00 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 09-00

54. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 09-00 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 09-00

56. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 08-14 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 08-14

57. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 08-10 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 08-10

58. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 5, 08-09 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 08-09

59. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 08-08 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 08-08

60. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 5, 08-05 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 08-05

61. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 5, 08-01 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 08-01

62. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 5, 07-12 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 07-12

63. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 07-11 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 07-11

64. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 07-10 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 07-10

64. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 07-10 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 07-10

66. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 4, 07-07 -- 35
Day 1: 4, 07-07

67. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 5, 07-05 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 07-05

68. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 07-04 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 07-04

69. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 5, 06-14 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 06-14

70. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 4, 06-14 -- 31
Day 1: 4, 06-14

71. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 4, 06-13 -- 30
Day 1: 4, 06-13

71. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 4, 06-13 -- 30
Day 1: 4, 06-13

73. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 5, 06-11 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 06-11

74. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 4, 06-11 -- 27
Day 1: 4, 06-11

75. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 3, 06-09 -- 26
Day 1: 3, 06-09

76. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 3, 06-08 -- 25
Day 1: 3, 06-08

77. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 3, 06-03 -- 24
Day 1: 3, 06-03

78. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 3, 05-12 -- 23
Day 1: 3, 05-12

79. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 5, 05-09 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 05-09

80. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 2, 05-05 -- 21
Day 1: 2, 05-05

81. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 3, 05-02 -- 20
Day 1: 3, 05-02

82. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 3, 05-00 -- 19
Day 1: 3, 05-00

83. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 3, 04-04 -- 18
Day 1: 3, 04-04

83. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 3, 04-04 -- 18
Day 1: 3, 04-04

85. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 2, 04-03 -- 16
Day 1: 2, 04-03

86. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 3, 04-00 -- 15
Day 1: 3, 04-00

87. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 3, 03-09 -- 14
Day 1: 3, 03-09

88. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 2, 03-09 -- 13
Day 1: 2, 03-09

89. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 1, 03-08 -- 12
Day 1: 1, 03-08

90. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 2, 03-07 -- 11
Day 1: 2, 03-07

91. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 2, 03-06 -- 10
Day 1: 2, 03-06

92. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 1, 03-05 -- 9
Day 1: 1, 03-05

93. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 2, 02-10 -- 8
Day 1: 2, 02-10

94. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 1, 02-06 -- 7
Day 1: 1, 02-06

95. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 1, 01-04 -- 6
Day 1: 1, 01-04

96. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

96. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

96. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00