Hirosky Leads Light Day With 21-11, River Threat Looms

The look in the eyes of the last flight at today's Erie/Niagara Bassmaster Elite Series said it all – they were weary, sore, and some a little sullen. Lake Erie spared its ultimate wrath today, but the wind did blow – especially as the day got late – and the ride back was one to remember.

A gale blew in moments before the end

of today's weigh-in, and breakers topped the west wall of the harbor in Buffalo, N.Y.

So the biggest factor today was definitely weather, and by extension, the early bite. Those anglers who got on their stuff early were able to fish vertical for at least an hour or two. Others arrived at their areas and immediately did the drift.

And on a day when usual Erie studs largely stumbled, big-lake vet Paul Hirsoky turned in the biggest sack of smallmouths. Hirsoky's definitely at home here – he won the 2005 Erie Bassmaster Northern Open out of Sandusky, Ohio.

His 21-11 doesn't give him a big lead – it was just 5 ounces better than 2nd-place Matt Reed's haul – but the potential of a water restriction tomorrow makes it look that much better.

Hazardous conditions are expected to blow through the area tonight, and if it persists until morning, it's possible BASS tournament director Trip Weldon could put the field inside the Niagara River tomorrow. Bags will certainly be lighter there, and it'll be more difficult to make up ground.

Reed ran about 45 miles to Dunkirk for his sack, fished a short while, then made the 2 1/2-hour ride home.

Sophomore Kevin Langill, from North Carolina, weighed 21-05 today and is currently 3rd.

Greg "The Hack Attack" Hackney was in a later flight, but threw 21-02 on the scales, which was enough to secure 4th.

Kevin Wirth's 21-00 puts him 5th.

Here's a look at the current Top 12. Total weight is followed by distance from leader in red.

1. Paul Hirosky: 21-11
2. Matt Reed: 21-06 (0-05)
3. Kevin Langill: 21-05 (0-06)
4. Greg Hackney: 21-02 (0-09)
5. Kevin Wirth: 21-00 (0-11)
6. Edwin Evers: 20-13 (0-14)
7. Elton Luce, Jr: 20-10 (0-15)
8. Kota Kiriyama: 20-08 (1-03)
9. Aaron Martens: 20-01 (1-10)
10. Peter Thliveros: 19-15 (1-12)
11. Dave Wolak: 19-08 (2-03)
11. John Murray: 19-08 (2-03)

Since it's a smallmouth fishery, the weights are predictably tight. Only 2 pounds separates 1st from 11th, and less than a pound separates 1st from 7th. But overall weights were significantly lower than expected, largely due to the wind. No 24-pound sacks came in, and about half the field weighed less than 15 pounds.

The top 50 cut currently sits at 15-07.

Evers, along with Reed, made the run down to Dunkirk. But Hirosky fished close, which could turn out to be the better 4-day play.

The brutal runs showed in equipment failure. At least five boats came in today with problems, and Buffalo native Darrin Schwenkbeck actually cracked his hull during his long run along the Canadian shore.

So the biggest factor now is whether anyone inside the Top 12, or Top 50 for that matter, can get back to their stuff tomorrow, and whether they can hold boat position long enough to stick an 18-pound or better limit.

Hirosky Stayed Close

Hirosky hasn't made a check since back at Clarks Hill, and is currently mired down at 87th in the Elite Series points, so he needed a day like this.

He said things started kind of slow for him this morning, and he caught small ones from his first few areas. After his next move, he didn't catch a fish, but then he headed to yet another spot and bammo! – big bronze.

He was able to stay on those fish with a dropshot for a little while, then had to resort to drifting and dragging. He fished classic eastern-basin structure – rocky areas on large flats, plus breaklines.

He caught all his fish within 4 miles of the launch ramp, and he fished deep, but "not crazy deep."

"My original plan was to go further," he noted. "If it calms down I'll probably run further tomorrow.

"This feels great," he added. "I'm just disappointed I had three fish die on me. I tried to fizz them. I guess I didn't do a good job."

About the waves today, he said: "I got a little scared once in a while. Gambler boats sit so low to the water, it was a little scary, but it was okay."

2nd: Reed 'Survived'

Texan Matt Reed survived two things today. First was his rough drive back from Dunkirk. Second was the leaderboard itself, since big weights in today's weather mean that much more.

"I drove a long way," he said. "I ran about 25 mph. I left at 9:30 to come home. I caught two 4-pouners on my first two drops."

He added that he hit a wave on his way back in that hurt his back pretty good, and that he's worried he won't get back there tomorrow.

5th: Wirth Amped

"I feel elated," Wirth said of his 21-00. "I really didn't expect that. I didn't have that good of practice. It was just one of those days. Everything seemed to go right."

His weight happened pretty quickly this morning. He caught 20 pounds by 10:00, then weighed in 2 hours early to avoid potential fish-care penalties.

"I was just fortunate to get some good bites. When it happened quick, it kind of got me going. It really helps to have that before the big wind picks up."

He said he caught all his smallmouths on a Berkley Gulp! goby, and he did catch one largemouth on a spinnerbait. And he noted this is his kind of fishing.

"I love doing this. This is a lot of fun. When we come up here and do this, it's a nice change of pace. And to catch these smallmouths, that's just a blast."

8th: Kiriyama Throws the Crazy Ninja

There's far, then there's real far, and Kota Kiriyama may have run further than just about anyone today – past Dunkirk all the way to Barcelona. He saw two or three other boats there, one of which may have been Dean Rojas.

It seemed worth the trip. He weighed 20-08 and trails Hirosky by just over a pound.

About his weight, Kiriyama said: "It's good, but I don't know if I can get there (to Barcelona) tomorrow. I only need 2 hours there."

He's had several strong finishes on Erie in triple-A level events, and he's throwing his favorite Erie bait – the Jackall Lures Crazy Ninja worm.

About whether he thinks he can win, he said: "What I can tell you is if the wind doesn't blow tomorrow, I have a chance. If it does, I don't think so."

Another consideration: He's currently 54th in the points, so a strong finish would move him ever closer to a guaranteed Bassmaster Classic berth (awarded to the final Top 36 in the points). "I just need to do what I need to do, and catch the fish that I can," he said in reference to his points position.

9th: Martens Disappointed

Aaron Martens told BassFans yesterday that he was on a solid 22 pounds, but now he thinks it might have been more. Not because he weighed 20-01 today, but because he thought he had 17 pounds in the box. That makes him think he was on 24 to 25 pounds in practice.

"I'm a little disappointed I guess, but I'm really happy with 20 pounds," he said. "I only hit two of my 50 waypoints. They're little rockpiles, and you can't stay on them (in the wind)."

He added that he couldn't use a drift sock – the areas were so small it would have been prohibitive. But that comes with the territory, because "this is Erie – it's like an ocean. It's awesome. There's no place like it."

About whether he can win, he said: "Hopefully, but I don't know with the wind. But it's looking pretty good."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 108 anglers, 90 limits, 6 fours, 5 threes, 4 twos, 2 ones, 1 zero.

> Tim Horton, in 23rd with 18-02, fished from a walleye boat today. "It's a Tracker Tundra Pro with a 225 Mercury OptiMax," he said. "It's unbelievable. You can just go from point A to point B. Tracker made them available for us – they want to market the boat in this area – and it's 10-fold the best kind of boat for this water. I'm amazed."

> Angler of the Year (AOY) leader Skeet Reese is 24th with 18-01. "I'm happy to get that," he said. "I didn't know I'd be that fortunate. As always, AOY's on my mind. That's why I'm out here. There's 11 more days of competition left, and I'm in good position right now." He added that he caught all his fish on Berkley Gulp!, and several non-Berkley pros "have their hands out. It's pretty much like crack for smallmouths."

> Kevin VanDam, who's 26th with 17-08, said: "I thought I'd be pretty good – the water was muddy out to 20 or 30 feet – but as good as these guys are, they caught them."

> Local Matt Sphar's tied for 27th with 16-02. "I don't feel good about it," he noted. "I was expecting to be able to catch more 4-pounders. It's been hard. Everybody knows I'm a local, so I tried to hide in practice. I'm seeing fish on the graph. They're just not the size I need."

> Rick Clunn's 17-00 puts him in decent position for tomorrow – at 30th he's inside the Top 50, and trails the Top 12 cut by 2-08. "This is my kind of weather," he said. "But it used to be that only 10 or so guys could fish in this. Now it's different. These guys can fish in some pretty brutal weather."

> Jeff Kriet, who's 93rd with 10-04, noted: "I'm not good at this kind of fishing. I like the dropshot, but the wind kills that. That's what's really disappointing. I thought I could catch 16 to 18 pounds, but the stuff I'm fishing is very specific. I can't just go out and drift for a mile."

> Several pros commented on how unbelievable it was to fight a smallmouth while looking up at it – meaning, when the boat was in a trough, the fish was well above eye level.

> Preston Clark, who zeroed, had equipment problems. His rig was at the service station before weigh-in.

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days:

> Fri., July 19 – Partly Cloudy – 72°/56°
- Wind: From the NW at 15 mph

> Sat., July 20 – Sunny – 75°/58°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 10 mph

> Sun., July 21 – Partly Cloudy – 77°/63°
- Wind: From the Wat 9 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, PA -- 5, 21-11 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 21-11

2. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 5, 21-06 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 21-06

3. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, NC -- 5, 21-05 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 21-05

4. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 21-02 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 21-02

5. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 5, 21-00 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 21-00

6. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 20-13 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 20-13

7. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, TX -- 5, 20-10 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 20-10

8. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 5, 20-08 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 20-08

9. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 20-01 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 20-01

10. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, FL -- 5, 19-15 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 19-15

11. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 5, 19-08255.5
Day 1: 5, 19-08

11. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 19-08255.5
Day 1: 5, 19-08

13. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, OK -- 5, 19-04 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 19-04

14. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, VA -- 5, 19-03 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 19-03

15. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 19-02 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 19-02

16. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, TX -- 5, 18-12 -- 242
Day 1: 5, 18-12

16. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, WV -- 5, 18-12 -- 242
Day 1: 5, 18-12

18. Bryan Hudgins -- Orange Park, FL -- 5, 18-10 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 18-10

19. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 5, 18-07 -- 236
Day 1: 5, 18-07

19. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 18-07 -- 236
Day 1: 5, 18-07

21. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 5, 18-05 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 18-05

22. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 5, 18-03 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 18-03

23. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 5, 18-02 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 18-02

24. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 18-01 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 18-01

25. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 5, 17-10 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 17-10

26. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira , KS -- 5, 17-08 -- 222
Day 1: 5, 17-08

26. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 17-08 -- 222
Day 1: 5, 17-08

28. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, SC -- 5, 17-05 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 17-05

29. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 17-01 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 17-01

30. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 17-00 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 17-00

31. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 16-13 -- 213
Day 1: 5, 16-13

32. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 5, 16-11 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 16-11

33. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 16-07 -- 209
Day 1: 5, 16-07

34. Dave Smith -- Del City, OK -- 5, 16-04 -- 206
Day 1: 5, 16-04

34. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 16-04 -- 206
Day 1: 5, 16-04

36. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 16-03 -- 203
Day 1: 5, 16-03

37. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 5, 16-02 -- 200
Day 1: 5, 16-02

37. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, NY -- 5, 16-02 -- 200
Day 1: 5, 16-02

39. Jim Murray -- Arabi, GA -- 5, 16-00 -- 197
Day 1: 5, 16-00

40. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 15-15 -- 195
Day 1: 5, 15-15

41. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 15-13 -- 192
Day 1: 5, 15-13

41. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 15-13 -- 192
Day 1: 5, 15-13

43. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 15-12 -- 189
Day 1: 5, 15-12

44. Jon Bondy -- Windsor CANADA -- 5, 15-10 -- 187
Day 1: 5, 15-10

45. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, LA -- 5, 15-09 -- 184
Day 1: 5, 15-09

45. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 5, 15-09 -- 184
Day 1: 5, 15-09

47. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 15-08 -- 180
Day 1: 5, 15-08

47. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 15-08 -- 180
Day 1: 5, 15-08

49. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Varysburg, MD -- 5, 15-07 -- 175
Day 1: 5, 15-07

49. Marty Robinson -- Landrum, SC -- 5, 15-07 -- 175
Day 1: 5, 15-07

49. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 5, 15-07 -- 175
Day 1: 5, 15-07

52. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 5, 15-05 -- 171
Day 1: 5, 15-05
53. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 15-03 -- 168
Day 1: 5, 15-03
53. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 15-03 -- 168
Day 1: 5, 15-03
55. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 5, 15-01 -- 165
Day 1: 5, 15-01
56. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 14-15 -- 163
Day 1: 5, 14-15
57. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, FL -- 5, 14-13 -- 160
Day 1: 5, 14-13
57. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 5, 14-13 -- 160
Day 1: 5, 14-13
59. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 14-12 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 14-12
60. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 5, 14-11 -- 154
Day 1: 5, 14-11
60. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 14-11 -- 154
Day 1: 5, 14-11
62. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 5, 14-10 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 14-10
63. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 14-09 -- 149
Day 1: 5, 14-09
64. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, OK -- 5, 14-07 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 14-07
65. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, OH -- 5, 14-05 -- 145
Day 1: 5, 14-05
66. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 14-02 -- 142
Day 1: 5, 14-02
66. Ken D Cook -- Lawton, OK -- 5, 14-02 -- 142
Day 1: 5, 14-02
68. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 5, 14-00 -- 138
Day 1: 5, 14-00
68. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 14-00 -- 138
Day 1: 5, 14-00
70. Matt Amedeo -- Clinton, OH -- 5, 13-13 -- 134
Day 1: 5, 13-13
70. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 4, 13-13 -- 134
Day 1: 4, 13-13
72. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 5, 13-11 -- 130
Day 1: 5, 13-11
72. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 5, 13-11 -- 130
Day 1: 5, 13-11
74. Kurt Dove -- Fairfax, VA -- 5, 13-10 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 13-10
75. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 13-09 -- 125
Day 1: 5, 13-09
76. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 13-04 -- 121
Day 1: 5, 13-04
76. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, NJ -- 5, 13-04 -- 121
Day 1: 5, 13-04
76. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, CA -- 5, 13-04 -- 121
Day 1: 5, 13-04
79. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 5, 13-03 -- 117
Day 1: 5, 13-03
80. Bradley Stringer -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 13-01 -- 115
Day 1: 5, 13-01
81. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, MO -- 5, 13-00 -- 113
Day 1: 5, 13-00
82. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, OH -- 4, 12-15 -- 111
Day 1: 4, 12-15
83. Keith Phillips -- Calera, AL -- 5, 12-13 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 12-13
83. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, AR -- 5, 12-13 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 12-13
85. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 12-11 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 12-11
86. Ken Brodeur -- Niantic, CT -- 5, 12-03 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 12-03
87. Ben Matsubu -- Hemphill, TX -- 5, 12-00 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 12-00
87. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 4, 12-00 -- 100
Day 1: 4, 12-00
89. Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, IL -- 5, 11-15 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 11-15
90. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- 5, 10-15 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 10-15
91. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, PA -- 5, 10-11 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 10-11
92. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, NC -- 4, 10-06 -- 91
Day 1: 4, 10-06
93. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 10-04 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 10-04
94. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 4, 10-00 -- 87
Day 1: 4, 10-00
95. James Kennedy -- Lacombe, LA -- 5, 9-07 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 9-07
95. William Smith Jr. -- Somerset, KY -- 3, 9-07 -- 84
Day 1: 3, 9-07
97. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, TX -- 3, 9-04 -- 81
Day 1: 3, 9-04
98. Mark Rogers -- Naples, FL -- 4, 9-03 -- 79
Day 1: 4, 9-03
99. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, MD -- 3, 7-15 -- 77
Day 1: 3, 7-15
100. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, AL -- 3, 7-05 -- 76
Day 1: 3, 7-05
101. Charlie Youngers -- Geneva, FL -- 3, 5-12 -- 75
Day 1: 3, 5-12
102. Morizo Shimizu -- Murrieta, CA -- 2, 4-13 -- 74
Day 1: 2, 4-13
103. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 2, 4-12 -- 73
Day 1: 2, 4-12
104. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville , NC -- 2, 4-11 71.5
Day 1: 2, 4-11
104. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, GA -- 2, 4-11 71.5
Day 1: 2, 4-11
106. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, FL -- 1, 2-06 -- 70
Day 1: 1, 2-06
107. Lee Bailey -- Boaz, AL -- 1, 1-12 -- 69
Day 1: 1, 1-12
108. Preston Clark -- Palatka, FL -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00

Big Bass

> Day 1 -- Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, TX -- 06-04 -- $1,000