Tharp, McMillan Lay Groundwork For Another Duel

By BassFan Staff

Brandon McMillan and Randall Tharp occupied the Top 2 positions when last year's Okeechobee FLW Tour Open had concluded. They're right there again after day 1 of this year's edition, although they're flip-flopped – for now.

On the strength of a 9 1/2-pound brute that took big-fish honors for the day, Tharp holds a 1-ounce lead over his good friend and occasional team-tournament partner, with a substantial gap between them and the rest of the field. Tharp, an Alabamian who's spent the past two winters at the Big "O", sacked 33-09. McMillan, a lifelong resident of the area, is right behind him with 33-07.

John Cox, another Floridian who won last year's Tour event at the Red River as a rookie, is about 6 pounds back in 3rd with 27-10. Art Ferguson III, technically a Michigan resident but a guy with a tremendous amount of guiding experience in Florida, is 4th with 26-12.

And look who's in the No. 5 slot: the legendary Roland Martin, fishing his first tour-level event since 2005. He weighed 26-04.

Here's how the bottom half of the Top 10 stacks up:

6. Steve Kennedy: 26-01
7. Todd Auten: 24-04
8. Glenn Browne: 21-11
9. Justin Lucas: 21-09
10. Matt Peters: 21-06

A steady 15-mph wind that's blown for 2 days muddied up many of the best areas on the southern end of the lake, and the vast majority of the heaviest bags came from the north. As expected, competitors who are intimately familiar with Okeechobee had an advantage under the present conditions – with very few quality fish on the beds, it's a big help to know where they're lurking.

Tharp and McMillan are fishing much of the same stuff, but not at the same time. Others in the Top 10, including Kennedy and Browne, are also in the vicinity.

The Top 16 anglers all weighed at least 20 pounds. The check weight (Top 50 after 2 days) looks like it'll fall somewhere in the neighborhood of 25 pounds.

Tomorrow's forecast calls for scattered thunderstorms and a high temperature of 79 degrees. The wind is expected to shift directions and come from the south/southeast, topping out at about 8 mph.

The field will be cut to the Top 20 after tomorrow's weigh-in, with only the Top 10 advancing to Sunday.

Tharp: Bigger Bag Possible

> Day 1: 5, 33-09

Tharp wasn't the least bit astonished by his weight and said the 40-pound mark isn't out of the realm of possibility for this event.

"That kind of bag is out there right now – I know it and so do a couple of other guys," he said. "What I'm surprised about is that more people didn't catch a big bag. Honestly, there should be a handful of bags (like his) every day."

He said he's "doing what I do best," which means flipping with a big weight and heavy line. He went through about 20 fish on the day, but didn't get a bite for the first hour and a half.

The first fish he boated was the bruiser and the smallest he weighed was over 5 pounds.

"I moved around a good bit. These fish have feeding periods during the day and if you're in the right place at the right time, you can get well really quick. Most of the fish I weighed I caught in a 30-minute time span."

He said he has lots of productive places to try tomorrow and isn't worried about McMillan getting to them first.

"I've got one really good spot that nobody else is hitting – I ran in there today and caught two big ones. There's some isolated deals that nobody's taking the time to fish.

"Brandon and I both have plenty of stuff. There's a lot of obscure places that we can save for an emergency."

2nd: McMillan in Position

> Day 1: 5, 33-07

McMillan served notice that he'll stage a valiant defense of his 2011 title. The affable 28-year-old would be a popular repeat champion under any circumstances, but even more so considering that he's competing just 6 weeks after the murder of his father Jimmy (the 2009 Okeechobee Eastern FLW Series winner) at the family's grocery store in Belle Glade.

He's not so sure of Tharp's claim that 40 pounds is possible.

"I really don't think so," he said. "For one thing, we're sharing water with a bunch of people."

He caught 15 keepers, the best of which was an 8-pounder.

"I lost one that potentially was a big one, but I never did see it. The hook never penetrated and it got off really quick.

"I'm shooting for 25 pounds tomorrow – that should put me in the Top 2 or 3. About 15 should get me to Saturday."

3rd: No Giants for Cox

> Day 1: 5, 27-10

Cox's bag was strong even though it didn't contain a fish that was much over 6 pounds.

"I ran all over the lake, but I caught three of the good ones at one spot and the other two at another spot," he said. "I also caught a bunch of 12-inchers – like maybe 30 of them.

"Some of the ones I was catching were nice, but it seemed like any minute I was going to get one over 8 pounds. It just never happened."

He said he missed one fish that might've been his best of the day had he been able to boat it. He also intentionally shook off a couple of 5-pounders this afternoon while exploring different places.

"I wanted to sight-fish here and that just isn't happening, but I do think a couple of the ones I shook off were on beds.

"I think the main areas I'm fishing are going to replenish and I hope they'll keep coming to them. It'll be great if that all works out."

4th: Ferguson Caught 'Em Casting

> Day 1: 5, 26-12

Ferguson is one of the few anglers near the top of the leaderboard who isn't flipping. He took full advantage of a situation he encountered in practice.

"I had a big school blow up in front of me and they basically showed themselves," he said. "I got there at about the same time today and they came up again, and I just picked them off one at a time. It was awesome.

"The only downside was I thought I had a little more weight than I ended up with, but what can you do?"

He said he threw a worm on a 4/0 Owner that was attached to 20-pound Sunline fluorocarbon line.

"I know for a fact those fish will be there again, but it's a matter of whether they'll bite and how the wind affects them. I lost a couple today that were bigger than the biggest one I weighed in (a 7-pounder), so I know those will be there.

"After 20 years of fishing and guiding in Florida, I've seen this kind of thing hundreds of times. It'll just be a matter of catching them."

5th: Solid Bites for Martin

> Day 1: 5, 26-04

Martin didn't catch a lot of fish, but most of the ones he did entice were of high quality.

"We've been catching them this whole week," he said. "Believe it or not, the bite was a little off today with this muddy water and wind, but I did catch four big fish.

"On a normal day that was calmer, I could've worked some other reed patches and caught at least twice as many fish (as the eight he caught today), but maybe I would've only had three big ones. You can never tell."

He flipped and pitched jigs and plastics into extremely heavy cover and thinks that tactic should continue to work.

"It's just a slow deal. I'm going to get the bites eventually – I think I can get five – and the majority of them are big."

6th: New Bait Effective for Kennedy

> Day 1: 5, 26-01

Kennedy had a good day punching mats with a prototype Kinami bait called the Psycho Dad.

"I was really impressed with how many fish I hooked up with," he said. "Normally I lose lots of fish under those mats."

His bag was topped by a 6 1/2-pounder.

"This morning was a struggle, but then I got most of my weight between 9:30 and 11:00. A lot of them were caught around other people – Randall and Brandon were around and I haven't got the place figured out quite as good as those guys, but I did not get the impression that new fish were moving in there."

120th: Schenck Disappointed

> Day 1: 5, 7-04

Shad Schenck, who logged an 18th here last year, was one of numerous anglers who went to the south end of the lake and found their water mucked up by the wind.

"I had a really good topwater spot and a good flipping spot, and I know those fish are still there," he said. "My co-angler had one that was over 6 pounds.

"I was real excited about today, but it just didn't happen. It's not going to be won down where I was at all, and I lost some fish that would've helped. That's just part of it."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 160 anglers, 121 limits, 18 fours, 11 threes, 6 twos, 2 ones, 2 zeroes.

> Reigning Forrest Wood Cup champion Scott Martin (19th, 19-04) said last month that he liked his father's chances better than his own in this event.

> Brandon Medlock, who won last month's Okeechobee Southeastern EverStart, occupies the 20th-place cut position with 18-13.

> Brothers Bobby and Chris Lane, who both notched early wins in their native state on other circuits this year, currently sit outside the money cut. Bobby is 66th with 10-15 and Chris is 83rd with 9-15.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., Feb. 10 - P.M. Showers - 79°/61°
- Wind: From the E/SE at 11 mph

> Sat., Feb. 11 - Few Showers - 72°/48°
- Wind: From the NW at 11 mph

> Sun., Feb. 12 - Partly Cloudy - 68°/50°
- Wind: From the N/NE at 13 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, Al -- 33-09 (5)

2. Brandon McMillan -- Clewiston, Fl -- 33-07 (5)

3. John Cox -- Debary, Fl -- 27-10 (5)

4. Art Ferguson III -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 26-12 (5)

5. Roland Martin -- Naples, Fl -- 26-04 (5)

6. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Al -- 26-01 (5)

7. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 24-04 (5)

8. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 21-11 (5)

9. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, Al -- 21-09 (5)

10. Matt Peters -- Cotter, Ar -- 21-06 (5)

11. Roger Crafton -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 21-04 (5)

12. Chad Prough -- Chipley, Fl -- 20-06 (5)

12. Jeremy York -- Monroe, Ga -- 20-06 (5)

14. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 20-05 (5)

15. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 20-03 (5)

16. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga -- 20-01 (5)

17. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 19-09 (5)

18. Robert Behrle -- Hoover, Al -- 19-06 (5)

19. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 19-04 (5)

20. Brandon Medlock -- Lake Placid, Fl -- 18-13 (5)

21. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 18-11 (5)

22. Bill McDonald -- Greenwood, In -- 18-06 (5)

23. Dion Hibdon -- Sunrise Beach, Mo -- 18-05 (5)

24. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 18-04 (5)

25. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 17-14 (5)

26. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 17-12 (5)

27. Vu Au -- Tucson, Az -- 17-07 (5)

27. Teddy Bradley -- Mishawaka, In -- 17-07 (5)

29. Greg Bohannan -- Rogers, Ar -- 16-15 (5)

30. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, Pa -- 16-08 (5)

31. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, Sc -- 16-04 (5)

32. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 15-13 (5)

33. Jack Wade -- Knoxville, Tn -- 15-12 (5)

34. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 15-09 (5)

34. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Tx -- 15-09 (4)

34. Carmen Patti -- Davie, Fl -- 15-09 (4)

37. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 15-08 (5)

38. Shawn Murphy -- Nicholasville, Ky -- 15-05 (5)

38. Kyle Walters -- Grant Valkaria, Fl -- 15-05 (5)

40. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, On -- 15-02 (5)

41. Randy Blaukat -- Joplin, Mo -- 14-13 (5)

41. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Al -- 14-13 (5)

41. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 14-13 (5)

44. Don Demott -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 14-08 (5)

45. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, Sc -- 14-06 (5)

46. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, In -- 14-05 (5)

47. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 14-03 (5)

48. Keith Monson -- Harrodsburg, Ky -- 13-14 (5)

49. Mark Rose -- West Memphis, Ar -- 13-12 (5)

50. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, Ar -- 13-00 (5)

50. Chris Martinkovic -- Liberty Township, Oh -- 13-00 (5)

52. Gary Niemi -- Lake Placid, Fl -- 12-15 (5)

52. Val Osinski -- Pompano Beach, Fl -- 12-15 (5)

54. Bob Izumi -- Milton, On -- 12-08 (5)

54. Jared McMillan -- Belle Glade, Fl -- 12-08 (4)

56. Shane Long -- Springfield, Mo -- 12-07 (5)

57. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 12-06 (5)

58. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 12-01 (5)

59. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fl -- 11-14 (5)

60. Kevin Clark -- Leesburg, Fl -- 11-08 (5)

61. Harry Moore -- Valley, Al -- 11-06 (5)

62. Spencer Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 11-04 (5)

63. Scott Smith -- Boaz, Al -- 11-02 (5)

64. Keith Combs -- Huntington, Tx -- 11-01 (5)

64. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 11-01 (5)

66. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 10-15 (5)

67. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 10-14 (5)

68. Russell Lane -- Prattville, Al -- 10-13 (5)

69. Andy Gaia -- Tomball, Tx -- 10-12 (5)

70. Kelly Jordon -- Palestine, Tx -- 10-10 (5)

70. George Kapiton -- Inverness, Fl -- 10-10 (5)

72. Kenneth (Boo) Woods -- Hazard, Ky -- 10-09 (5)

73. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, Nc -- 10-08 (5)

74. Craig Dowling -- Nashville, Tn -- 10-07 (4)

75. Charlie Evans -- Gilbertsville, Ky -- 10-06 (5)

75. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Oh -- 10-06 (5)

77. Ray Scheide -- Dover, Ar -- 10-05 (5)

78. Brad Robinson -- Hagerstown, In -- 10-02 (5)

79. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 10-01 (5)

79. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Al -- 10-01 (5)

81. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, Tn -- 10-00 (5)

81. John Voyles -- Petersburg, In -- 10-00 (5)

83. Christopher Lane -- Guntersville, Al -- 9-15 (5)

84. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 9-12 (5)

85. Michael Williamson -- Fort Smith, Ar -- 9-09 (3)

86. Curtis Lewis -- West Palm Beach, Fl -- 9-07 (5)

86. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, Nc -- 9-07 (5)

86. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 9-07 (5)

89. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 9-06 (5)

90. Trevor Fitzgerald -- Belleview, Fl -- 9-05 (5)

90. Chris McCall -- Brookeland, Tx -- 9-05 (5)

92. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 9-02 (5)

92. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 9-02 (5)

94. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 8-15 (5)

94. Leon Knight -- Guntersville, Al -- 8-15 (5)

94. Chris Wilkerson -- Conroe, Tx -- 8-15 (5)

97. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 8-13 (5)

98. Darrell Davis -- Dover, Fl -- 8-08 (3)

99. Tommy Dickerson -- Orange, Tx -- 8-06 (4)

99. David Fritts -- Lexington, Nc -- 8-06 (5)

101. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 8-05 (5)

102. Asa Godsey -- Clewiston, Fl -- 8-04 (5)

102. Kevin Hawk -- Guntersville, Al -- 8-04 (5)

102. Jay Keith -- Camden, Sc -- 8-04 (4)

105. JT Palmore -- Blackstone, Va -- 8-02 (5)

105. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 8-02 (5)

107. Charles Bebber -- Willis, Tx -- 8-01 (5)

107. Tim Johnson -- Dallas, Ga -- 8-01 (4)

109. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, Al -- 8-00 (4)

110. Richard Held -- Lake Worth, Fl -- 7-14 (5)

110. Richard Lowitzki -- St Charles, Il -- 7-14 (5)

110. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 7-14 (5)

113. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, Fl -- 7-13 (5)

114. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 7-12 (4)

114. Wil Hardy -- Harlem, Ga -- 7-12 (5)

116. Bill Tervin -- Pocola, Ok -- 7-10 (5)

117. Gary Yamamoto -- Palestine, Tx -- 7-09 (5)

118. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 7-08 (5)

119. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 7-07 (2)

120. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 7-04 (5)

121. Stephen Tosh Jr -- Turlock, Ca -- 7-03 (4)

122. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 7-00 (5)

123. Kevin Snider -- Elizabethtown, Ky -- 6-15 (5)

124. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 6-14 (5)

125. John Mcginnis -- Clarkson, Ky -- 6-13 (5)

126. Jim Milson -- Odessa, Tx -- 6-07 (5)

126. Daniel Welch -- New Martinsville, Wv -- 6-07 (4)

126. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 6-07 (4)

129. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 6-05 (5)

130. Brad Knight -- Wartburg, Tn -- 6-04 (4)

131. Pete Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 6-02 (3)

132. Arnie Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 5-15 (5)

132. Tim McDonald -- Prestonsburg, Ky -- 5-15 (3)

134. Robert Morin -- Seymour, Tn -- 5-14 (2)

135. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, Ga -- 5-13 (5)

136. Bob Eagleston -- Newberry, Fl -- 5-08 (4)

136. Justin Hamner -- Birmingham, Al -- 5-08 (4)

138. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5-06 (5)

138. Tom Spangler -- Corryton, Tn -- 5-06 (4)

140. Brandon Rummel -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5-05 (5)

141. Brandon Hunter -- Benton, Ky -- 5-04 (5)

141. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, Ok -- 5-04 (2)

143. Shinichi Fukae -- Palestine, Tx -- 5-02 (5)

143. Leon Williams -- Fairdale, Ky -- 5-02 (4)

145. Tony Dumitras -- Wnston, Ga -- 4-15 (5)

146. Wes Thomas -- Hanover, In -- 4-12 (4)

147. Tommy Robinson -- Westland, Mi -- 4-11 (2)

148. Jeff McMillan -- Belle Glade, Fl -- 4-06 (3)

148. Derek Yamamoto -- Boulder City, Nv -- 4-06 (3)

150. Blake Nick -- Adger, Al -- 4-04 (3)

151. Bo Cross -- Knoxville, Tn -- 4-03 (2)

152. Bill Milton -- Searcy, Ar -- 3-15 (2)

153. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Ms -- 3-09 (3)

154. Russell Parrish -- Riesel, Tx -- 3-05 (3)

155. Larry Kempler -- Bluemont, Va -- 3-00 (3)

156. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 2-14 (3)

157. Jerry Gore -- Orlando, Fl -- 2-07 (1)

158. Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Ct -- 1-02 (1)

Bill Day -- Frankfort, Ky -- 0-00 (0)

Derek Yasinski -- Senoia, Ga -- 0-00 (0)

Big Bass

Day 1: Randall Tharp -- 9-08 -- $500