Top 10 Tournament
Velvick's 21-05 Leads Wildcard, Ash 5 Back

Photo: ESPN Outdoors Leader Byron Velvick said he left the pressure of re-qualification and the national spotlight behind him, and fished 'in a trance' today.

But does the lead really matter? For a competitive personality, probably. But the Wildcard is a no-entry-fee tournament with no payout. Instead, the final Top 10 of the 34-boat field receive an invite to next year's Elite Series.

So it's a tournament where careers can be saved, and new ones begun.

Velvick didn't requalify for next year's Elite Series through the points, so this is his last shot.

Same goes for 2nd-place Rick Ash from Pennsylvania. He caught 16-02 today, and will probably requalify for the Elite Series if he can muster 11 pounds each of the next 2 days.

The rest in the Top 5 are Bassmaster Open anglers looking for their shot at the "bigs."

Louisiana's Randy Allen, with 15-05, is currently 4th. Behind him is Texan Corey Waldrop with 14-08, followed by Texan Bill Brewer with 14-07.

Here's a look the Top 20 after day 1. For the 11th- through 20th-place anglers, distance from 10th (the final qualifying spot) appears in red.

1. Byron Velvick: 5, 21-05
2. Rick Ash: 5, 16-02
3. Randy Allen: 5, 15-05
4. Corey Waldrop: 5, 14-08
5. Billy Brewer: 5, 14-07
6. Bobby Stanfill: 5, 14-00
7. J Todd Tucker: 5, 13-01
8. Keith Phillips: 5, 12-09
9. Bobby Myers: 5, 11-15
10. Doc Merkin: 5, 11-14
11. Eric Nethery: 5, 11-13 (0-01)
12. Dave Parsons: 5, 11-05 (0-09)
13. Darrin Schwenkbeck: 5, 11-03 (0-11)
14. Terry Segraves: 5, 10-12 (1-02)
15. Frank Scalish: 5, 10-08 (1-06)
16. Kenneth Chapman: 5, 10-07 (1-07)
17. Elton Luce, Jr.: 5, 10-06 (1-08)
18. David Sherrer: 5, 10-02 (1-12)
19. Kyle Fox: 5, 9-15 (1-15)
20. Brett Mitchell: 5, 9-11 (2-03)
20. Jimmy Mason: 5, 9-11 (2-03)

Okeechobee was flat-calm today with sunny skies and water temperatures at 76 to 77 degrees – a 7-degree increase since the start of practice.

The weights show a 9- to 10-pound limit is the norm, but it takes at least one good fish, or a few 3s, to climb the 13-pound hump. And since a 10-pound limit's so common, anyone with 13 or more today should be able to at least defend his Top 10 position the next 2 days with like limits.

But the X-factor is definitely the 8- or 10-pounder, which could easily launch anyone into the Top 10 from deep in the field.

Velvick in 'Trance'

Not only did Velvick, a two-time U.S. Open champ, launch this morning with all the pressure to save his tour-level career. He also launched in the wake of last week's national spotlight, which followed his fiancι Mary Delgado's arrest.

He told BassFan he was able to leave all that at the bank this morning, and the result was a day unlike he'd had in a long, long time. He stuck a 6- to 7-pounder, a couple of 5s, and two more "chunks."

"I feel grateful," he said. "I was really glad to go out and kind of redeem myself after a bad year. It's a great way to start out a tournament.

"It's a small tournament, but for all of us it's a real important tournament," he added. "The sponsors are watching, and people are counting on some of the guys they support to get back on tour after this bump in the road – this bad year."

He noted he's "doing what everybody else is doing" – throwing Rat-L-Traps and working worms. He said his best fish are coming on big Berkley Power Worms and Gambler Ribbontails.

About the pressure, and how he left it behind, he said: "I think you just have to go fishing. It's a real important tournament, and yeah, there's other stuff out there, but I said I was going to leave it on the shoreline and just go out.

"I did and it was really nice. I was fishing very slow, which allows me to focus on the fishing. That's the key – not moving around a lot. But at the same time, I find myself almost in a trance where I forget the co-angler's even there. I'm catching fish that are biting very soft – they're real shy.

"It's just a neat thing – to be in this kind of fishing trance and remember why you love fishing. Hopefully it'll hold up tomorrow."

Photo: ESPN Outdoors Rick Ash is here for a Top 10, but he'd love to win too.

Ash's 106th-place finish in the Elite Series points forced him into the Wildcard, but if he can follow up with 10-pound bags the next 2 days – to defend his 16-02 today – he should be back on tour.

"I'm pleased to get off to a good start," he said. "That's the name of the game – a good start – because it builds your confidence. I'm just hoping I have enough fish in my area to hold up for 3 days. But I'm off to a good start.

"I don't know what's there, in my area – I'm just kind of expanding on it. We'll see what happens."

He's shooting only for the Top 10 because the win "does nothing" for him. "I'd love to win, no doubt, because of the competitive nature everyone has, but the key here is to manage your fish and end up in the Top 10," he added.

About career pressure – whether or not he feels it this week – he said: "Obviously there's some pressure. You want to continue to fish at this level. But I'll fish at some level next year. If I'm not in the Elite Series, I'll be fishing somewhere. But yes, there is pressure to get back in."

4th: Waldrop Stoked

Like others, Waldrop wants a Top 10 – it's his goal to fish the Elite Series – but he's fired up at the chance to win.

The Texan caught 14-08 today, so he's 2 1/2 pounds ahead of his Top-10 goal, but about 7 pounds behind the winning pace.

"I'm real excited," he said. "I culled fish all day long. I caught a lot of fish – they were just all the same size at about 2 3/4 or 3 pounds. I want to win. I'm shooting for No. 1. I don't think I'll lay back at all. It might not be the right thing, but it got me to this point, so I'm just going to stick to my guns.

"I think it should hold up," he added. I found this area the second day of practice, and I don't think a lot of people are keying on what I'm keying on. If I get a few big bites tomorrow, it could be interesting."

He didn't lay off his fish today, he said, because he kept thinking he'd connect with a kicker. He's running a pattern though, so he didn't beat up a single area. Instead, he picks up, runs 2 or 3 miles to a new spot, and as soon as he puts the trolling motor down he's already catching fish.

Photo: ESPN Outdoors Corey Waldrop's here to win this thing.

About potentially fishing the Elite Series, he said: "It's a huge goal. I wish I had some sponsorships lined up. Then it would be an ever bigger deal. But we'll cross that ditch when it comes. I fished the Wildcard last year and made a few mistakes. I'm really stoked about fishing it again this year. It's an awesome opportunity."

7th: Tucker Wants Berth

Tucker was so bent on fishing the tour level next year, he fished four triple-A divisions – two in the Opens and two in the Strens. He thinks he can fish the FLW Tour next year if things don't pan out here, but he wants to fish the Elite Series.

In 7th with 13-01, he's a little more than a pound ahead of the cutoff.

"I feel pretty good about it," he said of his position. "I think I can do it all 3 days. I caught four limits today. In practice I'd been catching several 4s and 5s and an occasional 8-pounder. But I don't think the big fish bit for me today.

"But numbers-wise, I think I can catch another 10 pounds pretty easy."

His bag included a 4-pounder a 3, a 2 1/2 and a couple dinks. He thinks if he pops a big one tomorrow, that'll start things rolling.

"This lake is known to give up one big fish a day," he said. "That's usually what it takes to break the ice. Once I get a 5-pounder, I'll be over the hump and be able to make it. But I feel pretty good about today."

About his goal, he said: "I definitely want to step up (to the next level). I fished the Central and Southern Opens, and the Southern Strens and Northern Strens this year. The reason I did that was to spread myself out all over the country.

"While I was in the northern country, I went to Oneida and Buffalo, where the Elites will be going. That's how I spent my year – preparing."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 34 anglers, 31 limits, no zeroes.

> Ash noted that the low water levels have made driving potentially dangerous. "I've had several close calls this week in some different areas that came up to a foot of water," he said. "There are a lot of areas that are very hazardous."

> Tucker finished 23rd at the recent Stren Championship.

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days. For more weather information, including satellite and radar imagery, visit OutdoorsFanWeather.com.

> Fri., Nov. 30 - PM Showers - 83°/66°
- Wind: From the S/SE at 7 mph

> Sat., Dec. 1 - PM Showers - 83°/63°
- Wind: From the E/NE at 8 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 21-05 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 21-05

2. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, PA -- 5, 16-02 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 16-02

3. Randy Allen -- Shreveport, LA -- 5, 15-05 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 15-05

4. Corey Waldrop -- Fort Worth, TX -- 5, 14-08 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 14-08

5. Billy Brewer -- Lorena, TX -- 5, 14-07 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 14-07

6. Bobby Stanfill -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 14-00 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 14-00

7. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 5, 13-01 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 13-01

8. Keith Phillips -- Crosby, TX -- 5, 12-09 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 12-09

9. Bobby Myers -- Tulsa, OK -- 5, 11-15 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 11-15

10. Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, IL -- 5, 11-14 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 11-14

11. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, GA -- 5, 11-13 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 11-13

12. Dave Parsons -- Yantis, TX -- 5, 11-05 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 11-05

13. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Varysburg, NY -- 5, 11-03 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 11-03

14. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, FL -- 5, 10-12 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 10-12

15. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, OH -- 5, 10-08 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 10-08

16. Kenneth Chapman -- Woodlawn, TN -- 5, 10-07 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 10-07

17. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, TX -- 5, 10-06 -- 241
Day 1: 5, 10-06

18. David Sherrer -- Shreveport, LA -- 5, 10-02 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 10-02

19. Kyle A. Fox -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 09-15 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 09-15

20. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, AL -- 5, 09-11 -- 234
Day 1: 5, 09-11

20. Brett Mitchell -- Timmonsville, SC -- 5, 09-11 -- 234
Day 1: 5, 09-11

22. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 09-10 -- 230
Day 1: 5, 09-10

22. Sean Dassau -- Helena, AL -- 5, 09-10 -- 230
Day 1: 5, 09-10

24. Scott Dean -- Terrell, TX -- 5, 09-08 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 09-08

25. Mike Pickett -- Brandenburg, KY -- 5, 09-02 -- 224
Day 1: 5, 09-02

25. Trevor Rogge -- Champlin, MN -- 5, 09-02 -- 224
Day 1: 5, 09-02

27. Preston Henson -- Vacaville, CA -- 5, 09-01 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 09-01

28. Wade Grooms -- Bonneau, SC -- 5, 08-14 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 08-14

29. Ron Klys -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 08-09 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 08-09

30. Patrick Pierce -- Saint John, FL -- 5, 08-08 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 08-08

31. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 08-00 -- 213
Day 1: 5, 08-00

32. Robert Byrd -- Dallas, TX -- 4, 07-15 -- 211
Day 1: 4, 07-15

33. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 4, 06-07 -- 209
Day 1: 4, 06-07

34. Luke Estel -- Murphysboro, IL -- 3, 03-06 -- 207
Day 1: 3, 03-06

Big Bass

> Day 1 -- Randy Allen -- Shreveport, LA -- 06-14