Florida Rookie Leads Tough Day 1 With 23-08

It was bust day on the Big O for a lot of anglers as the cold front and mud continued to put a serious hurt on the bite. A mere 10 pounds is good enough for 35th place, and just like everyone expected, it was crowded – up to 100 boats were working inside the Monkey Box. Florida FLW Tour rookie Bobby Lane – who finished 5th at the recent EverStart – capitalized on two big bites and leads day 1 with a 23-08.

Second place belongs to fellow rookie Jerry Green. His five-fish limit weighed 22-12 and he's 12 ounces

behind the leader. In 3rd is Greg Pugh with a 19-13 limit and 4th belongs to Brent Chapman with 19-12. Kelly Jordon is 5th with 17-09.

The leaders are tightly packed and the 10th-place cut spot is at 14-09 – only 8-15, or one big bite – behind leader Lane. The weather has stabilized here, and overnight temperatures are expected climb as much as 10 degrees. Some predict that could push the fish out from beneath the mats – or draw in some new waves of fish – but the heavy fishing pressure and crowded conditions also could hold those fish back.

After today's meager weights, the threat of a 25-pound sack from deep in the field weighs heavily on the leaders' minds.

Lane Fished Around 90 Boats

Lane also caught the day's big bass, an 8-15.

"I'm leading, so I guess I couldn't ask for a better day," he said. "To catch the biggest bass out of 200 of my idols is crazy. To lead the tournament on top of that is even better." He noted he began the day fishing against those idols, but by the end, "they were (his) enemies."

He said he did the same thing he did in practice. "I caught the big fish flipping, and I caught another 8-09 casting. I also weighed a 3-pounder and two other little fish. There were about 90 boats in my area, and at first that was intimidating. I was getting a lot of little bites in the morning and I kept missing them."

As the afternoon crept in, he only had two fish in the well. "I thought it was going to be a long day. Then I went up to a mat, flipped in and caught a 9-pounder. Five minutes later I caught a 2-poudner. I didn't see anybody catching a lot of fish.

"Then at 2:00 I caught the 8-pounder. I said, 'Now they have to beat me.' It was the best day I could ask for."

He said he'll fish hard tomorrow rather than lay off. "I'll go fish hard. This lake can produce some giant fish – I had two today – so the Top 10 can flip-flop no problem. I think I'll probably need close to 28 or 29 pounds to make the cut."

He noted the warming trend might help his bite. "It's supposed to get warmer over the nights, and I think they'll start spawning and pulling out from under the mats. I had some awesome casting areas in practice where they were chewing.

"The cold front stopped that. But I'm real familiar with Okeechobee, and I know where the big fish have been. I know exactly where I'm going tomorrow and what I want to fish."

Pugh Had 24 Keepers

Pugh nearly had the big bass of the day with an 8-08. "The day went real good," he said. "I thought the cold front would really hurt the fish, but they bit well. I threw spinnerbaits and Rat-L-Traps and I think I caught about 24 keepers. Everybody I talked to who said they caught them good only caught a few keepers. So the Lord blessed me with a big one today."

He said he knew his areas before he ever arrived for practice. "I found these fish about 3 years ago. You can look at the way I've caught them here the last 3 years and it's the same. A lot of my fish came out of one hole.

"I had seven other places where I thought I could catch a big stringer, but they all got muddy.

"I prayed last night for the Lord to guide me, and that's where I went to this morning. I started catching them right away. I caught the 8-08 at 9:00 and a 6-pounder at 2:00."

He said he doesn't want to take any chances with the cut tomorrow. "I'll go out and just go fishing. I don't know what it'll take (to make the cut), so I'll just go back into my area again. I'll try to catch at least 10 pounds or so.

"I don't want to lay off and not make it. I'd rather go out and make sure I catch them and know for sure."

He said he had some boats around him. "It was the same hole I fished in the EverStart (he finished 48th). My roommate was in there with me today, and there were about 10 other boats. It's too small a place to have that many boats on it, and I caught most of my fish after the other boats left. If they're there tomorrow, maybe they'll give me a little room."

He said doing something different was the key to his big bites. "I'm not just chunking and winding – I'm doing something different."

He also noted the warming conditions. "The wind was blowing this morning about 15 mph, then it backed down to 5 or 10 mph. It almost slicked over a few times.

"It was probably 42 or 43 degrees out this morning. The water temperature where I fished finally warmed up to 57 degrees. During the EverStart, it was 68 to 69. So it's warming up in there and it should just keep getting better and better.

"The cold front pushed (the fish) out into lake, then they started working their way back in. That's where I'm catching them."

Chapman Shook Frustration

"There's tons of fishing pressure where I'm fishing," Chapman said. "I was real frustrated at first, then I finally accepted the fact it was crowded. I know how Okeechobee fishes, and you can catch them with that many boats around, so I just hunkered down and went to it."

Like Pugh, Chapman said he's got something different going. "I found out how different it was today because nobody else was doing it. It's different enough that I caught two 7-pounders doing it today, but I mixed it up too. Tomorrow if I really key on it, I think I can do even better."

He said he was frustrated in practice, too. "It was just the wind. It was so mentally draining. Yesterday the wind was the slowest it had been, and it was still blowing 20 mph. Today, the sun came out and you couldn't just pick up a spinnerbait and cover water. You could do that yesterday, but not today. Today was more of a flipping bite."

He's in an earlier flight tomorrow. "I'll be up to my area sooner tomorrow than I was today. But the late flight might have helped me. I caught my second-biggest fish 5 minutes before I had to come in."

He added: "I'm not really fishing a spot. It's more of an area – like a quarter- to half-mile stretch. There's close to 100 boats in there. It's crazy. A lot of times you can cast over somebody else's line."

Jordon's Got Spots

"My day went pretty well," Jordon said. "I was fishing what I'd found in practice. Basically, my practice was very hard. I was only here for 3 days and the winds were miserable. But I'd eliminated what I'd wanted to. I was familiar with the north end, so I spent the last 2 practice days up there and found several good areas. I had five really good areas."

He said despite the good fishing in his areas, it was tough to get big bites. "You can get lot of little bites, but big ones are a different story. I think the bite today wasn't that good compared to yesterday or the day before. I lost a fish over 8 pounds today that would have really helped me out."

He said he weighed a 7, a 4 and three 2-pounders. "That 8-pounder would have given me a little over 6 pounds more. It was a huge fish. It bit 10 minutes after I caught the 7. I got him up on top of the mat then boop, he just came off. It was really frustrating.

"I'll fish hard tomorrow. If I'd caught that 8-pounder I might have laid off. But I need to catch 11 or 12 pounds tomorrow to even think about making the cut. I won't lay off at all unless I have like 15 pounds."

Grigsby Adjusted

Chad Grigsby's in 7th place with 16-06. "It was terrible out there," he said. "I didn't have a bite until 1:00. It was real slow. I'd been catching them out in open water in practice, but the cold front shut that down. I adjusted – I think pretty well – but the bite didn't turn on until about 1:00 for me. I'd heard that from a few people – that the afternoon flights were a lot better."

He said he avoided the crowds. "It's hard to find your own water out there, but I'm fishing in an area where there's not too many boats. Hopefully that will help me out. There was only one other boat in there with me today and I don't think he'll be there tomorrow."

He said he started in the spot where he caught his afternoon fish, but didn't stay. "I'd found it in practice and started there. Since I didn't catch anything, I went in to fish with the crowds in Monkey Box. I got frustrated there, went back to my spot and that's when I started getting bit. I was flipping a Venom Craw."

Morgenthaler Went South

"It went pretty well," Chad Morgenthaler said. He's in 8th with 16-05. "The bite was off today, and I didn't get nearly as many bites as I'd been getting. But the quality was still there. I lost one big fish right before I came in that'll cost me – it was maybe 5 pounds – and I lost three other fish today.

"I have about three or four areas that I continue to keep an eye on. Two failed me today, so I went back to the area where I'd caught the bigger fish this morning and just stayed there."

He said he thinks he'll have his spot to himself tomorrow. "I didn't fish in the crowd with everybody else. I'm fishing South, not north. I should pretty much be alone tomorrow. I'll just go and fish slow and try to catch enough to make the Top 10. Then, if I'm fortunate, it'll be a whole new tournament with new decisions to make."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 200 anglers, 102 limits, 9 zeroes.

> Bill McDonald zeroed today. Click here to go On Tour With The BassFan Army for his reaction. Todd Ary is in the 132nd-place spot. Is he worried? Uh, nope. Click here to read his first On Tour With The BassFan Army update.

> Pugh said his biggest honor today was to fish with his co-angler Chuck Medley. "He was in the first wave of Army Rangers to go into Kuwait when the war started," Pugh said. "He was one of the front escorts. It was a real honor to get to fish with him, and to tell him how much I appreciate what he did. If not for guys like him, we wouldn't be here fishing today."

> J.T. Kenney, a favorite going into the tournament, is in 6th with 16-10. He had boat trouble and couldn't be reached for comment.

> Florida tour veteran Bernie Schultz was another favorite. He weighed 3-05. "It's tough," he said. "I fished an area where there's some big fish. I saw three really big fish caught. I'll go back there and see what happens tomorrow. It can't get any worse."

> How does Morgenthaler feel about being in 8th? "It's wonderful," he said. "It's about time. I want to make a Top 10 FLW cut so bad I can't stand it."

Weather Forecast

> Thu, Jan 20 – Mostly Sunny – 66°/47°
- Wind: From the W/NW at 11 mph

> Fri, Jan 21 – Sunny – 68°/48°
- Wind: From the NW at 8 mph

> Sat, Jan 22 – Partly Cloudy – 70°/57°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 6 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 5, 23-08
2. Jerry Green -- Justiceburg, Tx -- 5, 22-12
3. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Al -- 5, 19-13
4. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Ks -- 5, 19-12
5. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 17-09
6. J T Kenney -- Frostburg, Md -- 5, 16-10
7. Chad Grigsby -- Colon, Mi -- 5, 16-06
8. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 5, 16-05
9. Warren Wyman -- Calera, Al -- 5, 15-08
10. Jack Bell -- Kane, Pa -- 5, 14-09
11. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 5, 14-08
12. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, Tx -- 5, 14-00
13. Keith Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 5, 13-02
14. Mark Pack -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 12-15
15. David Givens -- Hernando, Fl -- 5, 12-10
16. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 12-09
17. Mickey Bruce -- Buford, Ga -- 5, 12-06
17. Andre Moore -- Scottsdale, Az -- 5, 12-06
19. Michael Johnson -- Talking Rock, Ga -- 4, 12-03
20. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, Nc -- 5, 12-01
21. Tim Carroll -- Owasso, Ok -- 5, 11-14
22. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 11-07
23. Dale Evans -- Ridgeville, Sc -- 5, 11-04
23. Lee Skipper -- Lancaster, Sc -- 5, 11-04
25. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 3, 11-02
26. Robert Karbas Jr -- Wake Forest, Nc -- 5, 10-14
27. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, Nc -- 4, 10-12
28. Dan Mansky -- Youngstown, Oh -- 5, 10-09
29. Jody Cordell -- Flowery Branch, Ga -- 5, 10-06
30. George Cochran -- Hot Springs Np, Ar -- 5, 10-05
31. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Tx -- 5, 10-04
31. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 5, 10-04
33. William Davis -- Russellville, Al -- 5, 10-03
34. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 10-01
35. Roger Boler -- Slidell, La -- 5, 10-00
35. Jim Carnell -- Muskogee, Ok -- 5, 10-00
35. Chris Elliott -- Gloucester, Nc -- 5, 10-00
35. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 5, 10-00
39. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Al -- 5, 9-15
40. Billy Bowen Jr -- Ocala, Fl -- 4, 9-13
41. James Parker -- Fayetteville, Nc -- 5, 9-12
42. Kevin Vida -- Clare, Mi -- 4, 9-10
43. Tony Couch -- Buckhead, Ga -- 5, 9-07
44. Jason Abram -- Chuckey, Tn -- 5, 9-06
44. John (Zell) Rowland -- Montgomery, Tx -- 5, 9-06
44. Stephen Tosh Jr -- Modesto, Ca -- 3, 9-06
47. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 5, 9-05
47. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 9-05
47. Kim Stricker -- Howell, Mi -- 5, 9-05
47. Dale Teaney -- Williamsburg, Oh -- 5, 9-05
47. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 5, 9-05
52. Curt Lytle -- Zuni, Va -- 5, 9-03
52. Russ Moran -- Murfreesboro, Tn -- 3, 9-03
54. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 9-02
54. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 4, 9-02
56. Richard Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 5, 9-00
56. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 5, 9-00
58. Randy Alexander -- London, Ky -- 5, 8-15
59. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 8-14
60. Rick Marsh -- High Point, Nc -- 5, 8-12
60. John Sappington -- Willard, Mo -- 5, 8-12
62. William Drown -- Roseland, Fl -- 1, 8-09
63. Dennis Magoto -- Waynesville, Oh -- 5, 8-07
63. Lloyd Pickett Jr -- Bartlett, Tn -- 5, 8-07
63. Joe Small -- Marion, Ar -- 5, 8-07
63. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 5, 8-07
63. Pete Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fl -- 5, 8-07
68. Danny Correia -- Marlborough, Ma -- 3, 8-06
69. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 5, 8-05
70. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 4, 8-04
71. Lee Bailey Jr -- Amston, Ct -- 5, 8-03
72. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 5, 8-02
72. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Al -- 5, 8-02
74. Asa Godsey -- Clewiston, Fl -- 5, 7-15
74. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 5, 7-15
76. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 7-14
77. Toshinari Namiki -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 7-12
77. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 5, 7-12
79. Ray Scheide -- Russellville, Ar -- 5, 7-11
80. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 5, 7-10
81. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Ok -- 5, 7-09
81. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 7-09
83. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La -- 4, 7-08
83. Chip Harrison -- Bremen, In -- 5, 7-08
83. Robert Sherry -- Saint Charles, Il -- 5, 7-08
86. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Al -- 5, 7-07
87. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Oh -- 5, 7-05
88. Craig Powers -- Rockwood, Tn -- 5, 7-04
88. Terry Tucker -- Gadsden, Al -- 5, 7-04
90. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo -- 5, 7-02
90. Chuck Economou -- Redington Shores, Fl -- 5, 7-02
90. Al Gagliarducci -- Agawam, Ma -- 5, 7-02
93. Sean Hoernke -- Magnolia, Tx -- 4, 7-01
94. Mike Leblanc -- Colchester, Vt -- 5, 6-15
94. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, Pa -- 5, 6-15
96. Michael Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 5, 6-13
96. Brennan Bosley -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 6-13
96. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 6-13
96. John Murray -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 6-13
100. Chic Aydelette -- Thomasville, Nc -- 5, 6-12
101. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, Fl -- 5, 6-08
102. Katsutoshi Furusawa -- Tokyo Japan 1920153 -- 5, 6-05
102. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, Tn -- 5, 6-05
102. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 4, 6-05
105. Harmon Davis -- Marlow, Ok -- 5, 6-04
105. Guido Hibdon -- Gravois Mills, Mo -- 5, 6-04
107. Mike Hawkes -- Sabinal, Tx -- 3, 6-02
108. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 5, 6-01
109. Gary Riffle -- Paris, Tx -- 5, 6-00
110. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 5, 5-15
110. Marcel Veenstra -- Brighton, Mi -- 4, 5-15
112. Emily Shaffer -- Mount Juliet, Tn -- 5, 5-14
113. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 5, 5-13
113. Randy Blaukat -- Lamar, Mo -- 5, 5-13
113. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 4, 5-13
116. Art Berry -- Hemet, Ca -- 3, 5-12
117. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 3, 5-11
117. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 4, 5-11
119. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Tx -- 4, 5-10
119. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 4, 5-10
121. Charles King -- Shreveport, La -- 5, 5-08
121. Alfred Williams -- Jackson, Ms -- 5, 5-08
121. David Wright -- Lexington, Nc -- 4, 5-08
124. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 5, 5-06
124. Wes Thomas -- Hanover, In -- 4, 5-06
124. David Truax -- Beaumont, Tx -- 3, 5-06
124. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 4, 5-06
128. Toby Hartsell -- Livingston, Tx -- 4, 5-04
129. Allen Cauthen -- Lancaster, Sc -- 3, 5-02
129. Art Ferguson Iii -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 4, 5-02
129. Sam Newby -- Pocola, Ok -- 5, 5-02
132. Todd Ary -- Birmingham, Al -- 3, 5-01
132. Morizo Shimizu -- Suita, Osaka Japan 81 -- 4, 5-01
134. Terry Boyd -- Cincinnati, Oh -- 4, 4-14
135. Marcus Clouse -- Henderson, Nv -- 3, 4-12
135. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 4, 4-12
137. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 3, 4-11
137. Karen Savik -- St. Louis Park, Mn -- 3, 4-11
139. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, Sc -- 3, 4-10
139. Kenneth Strickland -- Greensboro, Nc -- 3, 4-10
141. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, Nc -- 4, 4-09
141. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 4, 4-09
143. Shinichi Fukae -- Osaka Japan 566-0072 -- 3, 4-05
144. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Ms -- 3, 4-03
145. Jackie Davis -- Willard, Mo -- 4, 4-01
145. Rich Tauber -- Camarillo, Ca -- 4, 4-01
147. Chris Mccall -- Jasper, Tx -- 4, 4-00
148. Masaki Shimono -- Shiga-Pref Japan -- 4, 3-14
148. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 2, 3-14
150. Lewis Denney -- Indian Mound, Tn -- 3, 3-13
150. Walt Starling -- Live Oak, Fl -- 3, 3-13
152. Bobby Curtis -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 4, 3-11
152. Dwayne Horton -- Knoxville, Tn -- 3, 3-11
152. Ricky Shumpert -- Lexington, Sc -- 4, 3-11
155. Jim Nolan -- Bull Shoals, Ar -- 2, 3-10
156. Tony Defilippo -- Lake Ann, Mi -- 3, 3-09
156. Greg Gulledge -- Monticello, Ar -- 3, 3-09
158. Rick Lillegard -- Pickton, Tx -- 3, 3-08
159. Sam Swett -- Covington, La -- 2, 3-07
159. Jerry Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 3, 3-07
161. Tim Shmigal -- Akron, Oh -- 3, 3-06
162. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fl -- 3, 3-05
163. Alton Jones -- Waco, Tx -- 3, 3-04
164. Mark Goines -- Shady Point, Ok -- 3, 3-00
165. Randy Morris -- Garfield, Ar -- 2, 2-14
166. John Crews -- Salem, Va -- 2, 2-11
167. Keith Pace -- Monticello, Ar -- 2, 2-09
167. Paul Whitman Jr -- Dallas, Tx -- 2, 2-09
169. Jason Kilpatrick -- Satsuma, Al -- 2, 2-08
170. Mary Divincenti -- Clinton, La -- 2, 2-07
171. David Smith -- Del City, Ok -- 2, 2-05
172. Jeremiah Kindy -- Benton, Ar -- 2, 2-04
173. Nick Grebb -- Roseville, Ca -- 3, 2-02
174. Derek Yamamoto -- Tempe, Az -- 2, 2-00
175. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 2, 1-15
176. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 2, 1-14
177. Carl Svebek Iii -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 2, 1-13
178. Alvin Shaw -- State Road, Nc -- 1, 1-12
179. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 1, 1-11
179. Glenn Miller -- Newborn, Ga -- 1, 1-11
181. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, Nj -- 1, 1-08
182. Bobby Lanham -- Scottsdale, Az -- 1, 1-07
182. Charlie Weyer -- West Hills, Ca -- 1, 1-07
184. David Cooke -- Mooresville, Nc -- 1, 1-03
184. Simon Morrow -- Alexander City, Al -- 1, 1-03
184. Rusty Salewske -- Alpine, Ca -- 1, 1-03
184. John Tanner -- Quitman, Tx -- 1, 1-03
188. Pat Fisher -- Danielsville, Ga -- 1, 1-01
189. Michael Brown -- Rocky Face, Ga -- 1, 1-00
189. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, Tx -- 1, 1-00
191. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 1, 0-15
Terry Baksay -- Monroe, Ct -- 0, 0-00
Ben Carroll -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 0, 0-00
Scott David -- Goodrich, Tx -- 0, 0-00
Bill Mcdonald -- Indianapolis, In -- 0, 0-00
Jimmy Millsaps -- Canton, Ga -- 0, 0-00
Steve Naas -- Inverness, Fl -- 0, 0-00
James Quillman -- Plano, Tx -- 0, 0-00
Clark Wendlandt -- Cedar Park, Tx -- 0, 0-00
Stephen Wilson -- Mission Hills, Ca -- 0, 0-00

Big Bass

> Day 1: Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 8-15 -- $ 750