Morehead Leads Tightly Packed Field After Day 1

By BassFan Staff

A bout with the flu limited Dan Morehead to just a day and a half of practice for the Hartwell FLW Tour Major. The reduced time on the water certainly didn't hinder him on day 1.

The veteran from Kentucky, who won the EverStart Series Championship last fall but hasn't prevailed at the tour level since 2003, brought in a 20-14 sack to snatch the early lead. He said the Alabama Rig played a big role in his day, but he caught fish doing other things as well.

He holds a 2-ounce lead over 2nd-year pro Matthew Steffan of Illinois, who weighed 20-12. He's fishing a specific pattern for pre-spawn female largemouths, but is limited to just a few productive areas.

Californian Brent Ehrler caught fish from depths ranging from 2 to 50 feet and boxed the other 20-pound sack (20-04 to be precise), grabbing the No. 3 position. Alabamian Blake Nick, another 2nd-year pro, is 4th with 19-11.

Georgia's Micah Frazier made it a trio of sophomore-season competitors in the Top 5 with a 19-07 stringer.

Here's a look at the bottom half of the Top 10:

6. Clifford Pirch: 19-06
7. Michael Neel: 19-02
8. Shane Long: 18-06
9. Jay Yelas: 18-05
10. Lancen Halbert: 18-01

Following a practice period that featured violent wind and blue skies, the field was greeted by overcast conditions with just a mild breeze today. Overall weights might've been a bit higher than anticipated as 23 competitors sacked 15 pounds or more.

It appears as if the A-Rig (along with some of its various knock-offs) will be a substantial factor throughout the event, but won't dominate like it did in the FLW Tour Open at Guntersville last fall. A few anglers indicated that its effectiveness may increase if the wind picks up again.

Tomorrow's forecast for the Anderson, S.C. area calls for morning showers with a high temperature of 60 degrees and a north/northeast wind to 7 mph. The field will be cut to the Top 20 after the weigh-in.

Only the Top 10 will advance to Sunday, when the winner will be determined by highest cumulative weight.

Morehead Feels Good

> Day 1: 5, 20-14

Morehead, who caught the flu bug from his 7-year-old son, would've had an even better bag had he not lost a 5-pounder at the boat. His haul included a pair of 5-pound largemouths and a 4-pound spotted bass.

"I caught some fish in the little bit of time I got to practice, but they weren't that size," he said. "In that sense, I was caught off-guard a little bit. I just kind of put things together as I went.

"I feel good and I think I can go out and catch some fish (tormorrow), but I don't know if I'll be able to do it the same way. I am confident about the areas I'm in."

He went through at least 15 keepers, with most coming on the A-Rig (which he used to win the EverStart Championship at Kentucky Lake) or a Scrounger head. He described the big one that got away as "a miscommunication between me and my co-angler, I believe. It just didn't work."

It won't bother him if the wind picks up again.

"The one full day of practice I had it was windy and I was hoping to get some more of that – I really didn't expect to do great today. If we can get a cloudy, windy day, I assume it'll be a good day of fishing."

2nd: Stefan was Ready

> Day 1: 5, 20-12

Stefan followed up a good practice with an excellent day 1.

"I had 2 (practice) days where I either caught or shook off roughly 18 or 19 pounds," he said. "I'm running a specific pattern and I really need three things to come together. I've got four or five spots I'm rotating through, and it's a grind.

"I think I caught nine fish on 10 bites today. When I do get bit, most of them are pre-spawn females. They're coming from deep, clear, cold water – the temperature is 53 degrees. They're not really even thinking about moving up to spawn."

He used a variety of baits to compile his bag, including a jerkbait, an A-Rig, a jig and a swimbait. He weighed all largemouths.

"I pull up on a spot and throw one bait, and then come back through with another. I basically fish each area with four or five baits. I know the fish are there – I can see them on the graph – and sometimes one of similar size will follow the one I've got hooked. It's a matter of triggering them.

"Location is the key, and my problem is I don't know this lake well enough. I could do a lot better if I had 20 places, but I've only got a few and I'm going to live and die by them."

3rd: Ehrler was Surprised

> Day 1: 5, 20-04

Ehrler said he'd have been happy if he'd caught 15 pounds today.

"I didn't think that kind of size was there and it'll be hard to duplicate," he said. "I caught a big one here and a big one there. There's quite a few good fish on a few of those spots, but there's a lot of little ones, too."

He fished both shallow and deep and employed several different tactics, one of which was throwing a Picasso School-E-Rig (an A-Rig knock-off). He boated about 20 keepers and the biggest was a 5 1/2-pounder.

"I'm kind of junk-fishing, but then in a way I'm really not. They're definitely staging fish and they're getting in these areas before pulling up. I laid off a few areas because I didn't feel I needed to beat them up.

"I've got plenty of water to fish and hopefully I can continue to get some of the bigger bites."

The decreased wind suited him just fine.

"I think it helped – it definitely made it easier to run around and fish. As far as it being overcast, I kind of think that maybe that doesn't matter. The timing isn't a sun/cloud issue."

5th: Frazier Needed Patience

> Day 1: 5, 19-07

Frazier's day went from good to great with a couple of big bites in the final hour.

"The first day of practice I had a good day, and I did the same things in the same areas today," he said. "I had to wait today, though – it took a little while for the big ones to pull up in the shallow, stained water.

"I caught two of the big ones later than I'm even going to be able to fish tomorrow (he was in the last flight today), so it might be tough to do it again."

He caught all largemouths and two of them topped 5 pounds. He lost a couple of 2-pounders, but neither would've gone to the scale.

"I'll do pretty much the same thing tomorrow, but I narrowed it down quite a bit today and I'll start in a different area in the morning. I'll go a little farther out and maybe catch some a little deeper first."

6th: Trio of 5s for Pirch

> Day 1: 5, 19-06

Pirch's sack contained three fish that each weighed more than 5 pounds.

"I was hoping for that (kind of weight), but I thought maybe they'd all be 4-pounders," he said. "It was one of those deals where I was fortunate to get those three big ones.

"They were kind of spread out – I caught one in the morning, one at mid-day and one late. I've got a little longer day tomorrow, so I'm excited about that. I'll have more time to slow down and get to work."

He caught approximately 10 keepers on the day – about half from deep water and the others near the bank.

"I'm doing a number of things. I caught two of the big ones shallow and the other one deep, and I also lost a big one out deep.

"I did catch a couple on the A-Rig, but it's not a major part of my gameplan. I don't have much experience with it – we can only use two hooks in Arizona. But you can't ignore it, I guess. Just about every boat you drive by is throwing it."

8th: Long Focused on Quality

> Day 1: 5, 18-06

Long knew he wouldn't get nearly as many bites as some other competitors and wasn't entirely sure he could fill out a limit.

"I'm around quality fish, but I didn't know if I could get five bites or not," he said. "I ended up catching six keepers and two of them were right around 5 pounds each. All of them were largemouths.

"I fished shallow early, but I think that was a mistake. I thought I could catch a couple real quick and I only caught one. I did lose a keeper, but it wouldn't have helped. Then I moved out deep and ended up catching all my good ones out there."

The A-Rig wasn't part of his attack today, but he plans to experiment with it as the event progresses.

"If I'm going to throw it, I'd like to have a little more wind than we had today. I just gained confidence in something else and stuck with it."

He'd prefer to not see the sun at all on day 2.

"If it gets cloudy tomorrow, I think I can catch them."

110th: Thrift's Big Ones didn't Bite

> Day 1: 5, 8-06

Bryan Thrift was befuddled by his inability to catch any quality whatsoever today.

"I did what I thought I needed to do to catch a giant bag, but they did not bite," he said. "I'm going to do the same thing in the same places tomorrow and hope they do bite. I know the potential's there for a 25-pound bag.

"The worst thing was I actually culled three times."

He lost the best bite he had, but said that one likely wasn't over 3 pounds.

"I'll need a huge bag to catch up, and the way I'm fishing is the only chance I've got to catch it. I fished docks and ran pockets for the last 2 hours today and I got some bites, but the quality wasn't any better."

He lives just an hour and a half from the lake in Shelby, N.C., but this is only the second time he's fished it.

"Wylie and Norman are so much fun that I just never come here. Plus, I hate these blueback herring lakes."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 163 anglers, 123 limits, 14 fours, 13 threes, 5 twos, 4 ones, 4 zeroes.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., March 9 - A.M. Showers - 60°/37°
- Wind: From the N/NE at 6 mph

> Sat., March 10 - Sunny - 63°/35°
- Wind: From the E/NE at 13 mph

> Sun., March 11 - Partly Cloudy - 66°/46°
- Wind: From the E at 5 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 20-14 (5)

2. Matthew Stefan -- Park Ridge, Il -- 20-12 (5)

3. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 20-04 (5)

4. Blake Nick -- Adger, Al -- 19-11 (5)

5. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, Ga -- 19-07 (5)

6. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 19-06 (5)

7. Michael Neal -- Dayton, Tn -- 19-02 (5)

8. Shane Long -- Springfield, Mo -- 18-06 (5)

9. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 18-05 (5)

10. Lancen Halbert -- Enoree, SC -- 18-01 (5)

11. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 17-15 (5)

12. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 17-10 (5)

13. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 17-07 (5)

14. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 17-04 (5)

15. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 17-01 (5)

16. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 16-06 (5)

17. Shinichi Fukae -- Palestine, Tx -- 16-05 (5)

18. Chris Neau -- New Orleans, La -- 16-02 (5)

19. Cody Meyer -- Auburn, Ca -- 15-11 (5)

20. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- 15-10 (5)

21. Randall Tharp -- Gardendale, Al -- 15-07 (5)

22. Spencer Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 15-04 (5)

23. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 15-02 (5)

24. Todd Hollowell -- Fishers, In -- 14-13 (5)

25. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 14-09 (5)

26. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, Pa -- 14-08 (5)

27. Craig Dowling -- Nashville, Tn -- 14-05 (5)

27. Travis Fox -- Rogers, Ar -- 14-05 (5)

29. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, NJ -- 14-04 (5)

29. Charles Bebber -- Willis, Tx -- 14-04 (4)

31. Brad Knight -- Wartburg, Tn -- 14-03 (5)

32. Ken Golub -- Pittsford, NY -- 14-02 (5)

33. Allen Boyd -- Salem, In -- 14-01 (5)

34. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, Ar -- 14-00 (5)

34. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, Al -- 14-00 (5)

36. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, NC -- 13-14 (5)

37. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, Tn -- 13-13 (5)

38. Colby Schrumpf -- Highland, Il -- 13-12 (5)

39. Robbie Dodson -- Harrison, Ar -- 13-10 (5)

39. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 13-10 (5)

39. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 13-10 (5)

42. Randy Blaukat -- Joplin, Mo -- 13-09 (5)

42. Jimmy Millsaps -- White, Ga -- 13-09 (5)

44. Tim Mcdonald -- Prestonsburg, Ky -- 13-07 (5)

45. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 13-06 (5)

46. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 13-05 (5)

47. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, Al -- 13-04 (5)

48. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 13-01 (5)

49. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, NC -- 13-00 (5)

50. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, Ok -- 12-14 (5)

50. Kendale Roach -- Knoxville, Tn -- 12-14 (5)

50. Pete Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 12-14 (5)

53. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 12-12 (5)

54. John Cox -- Debary, Fl -- 12-08 (5)

54. Derrick Snavely -- Rogersville, Tn -- 12-08 (5)

56. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, In -- 12-05 (5)

57. Robert Behrle -- Hoover, Al -- 12-02 (5)

58. David Kromm -- Kennewick, Wa -- 12-01 (5)

59. Zach Caudle -- Shreveport, La -- 12-00 (5)

60. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 11-15 (5)

60. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 11-15 (4)

62. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 11-14 (5)

63. Charlie Evans -- Gilbertsville, Ky -- 11-12 (5)

63. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 11-12 (5)

65. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 11-10 (5)

66. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 11-08 (5)

67. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 11-07 (5)

68. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 11-05 (5)

69. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 11-02 (5)

69. Tim Johnson -- Dallas, Ga -- 11-02 (5)

71. JT Palmore -- Blackstone, Va -- 11-01 (5)

72. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 10-13 (5)

72. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 10-13 (5)

72. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 10-13 (5)

72. Brent Long -- Cornelius, NC -- 10-13 (5)

76. John Voyles -- Petersburg, In -- 10-11 (5)

77. Dearal Rodgers -- Camden, SC -- 10-07 (5)

78. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 10-05 (5)

79. Bill Day -- Frankfort, Ky -- 10-01 (5)

80. Dakota Lucy -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 10-00 (5)

80. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 10-00 (5)

82. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 9-15 (5)

82. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 9-15 (4)

84. Kevin Hawk -- Guntersville, Al -- 9-14 (5)

84. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 9-14 (5)

84. Mark Rouse -- League City, Tx -- 9-14 (5)

87. David Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 9-13 (5)

88. Gary Yamamoto -- Palestine, Tx -- 9-11 (4)

89. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 9-10 (5)

89. Wes Thomas -- Hanover, In -- 9-10 (5)

91. Jason Reyes -- Huffman, Tx -- 9-07 (5)

91. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 9-07 (5)

93. Kyle Mabrey -- Mccalla, Al -- 9-06 (4)

94. Van Roy Foster Jr -- Dalton, Ga -- 9-03 (5)

95. Tim Wilson -- Gas City, In -- 9-01 (5)

96. Tim Griggs -- Paducah, Ky -- 9-00 (5)

96. Guido Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 9-00 (5)

96. Christian Romans -- Carrollton, Ky -- 9-00 (5)

99. Dion Hibdon -- Sunrise Beach, Mo -- 8-15 (5)

100. Jason Meninger -- Gainesville, Ga -- 8-14 (5)

100. Jack Wade -- Knoxville, Tn -- 8-14 (3)

102. James Watson -- Waynesville, Mo -- 8-12 (4)

103. Nick Larson -- Ball Ground, Ga -- 8-11 (4)

103. Troy Morrow -- Eastanollee, Ga -- 8-11 (5)

105. Jim Milson -- Odessa, Tx -- 8-10 (4)

105. Keith Monson -- Harrodsburg, Ky -- 8-10 (5)

107. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 8-08 (5)

108. Christopher Brasher -- Spring, Tx -- 8-07 (5)

108. Randy McAbee Jr -- Bakersfield, Ca -- 8-07 (5)

110. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC -- 8-06 (5)

110. Kenneth (Boo) Woods -- Hazard, Ky -- 8-06 (5)

112. Jay Keith -- Camden, SC -- 8-05 (4)

113. Mike Reynolds -- Modesto, Ca -- 8-02 (5)

113. Chris Wilkerson -- Conroe, Tx -- 8-02 (5)

115. Greg Bohannan -- Rogers, Ar -- 8-01 (5)

115. Jeff Cloud -- Lubbock, Tx -- 8-01 (3)

115. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, Al -- 8-01 (5)

118. Tony Chachere -- Opelousas, La -- 8-00 (4)

118. Mark Rose -- West Memphis, Ar -- 8-00 (5)

120. Joseph Thompson -- Landenberg, Pa -- 7-15 (5)

121. Stacey King -- Reeds Spring, Mo -- 7-13 (5)

121. Shawn Murphy -- Nicholasville, Ky -- 7-13 (5)

123. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 7-12 (5)

124. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 7-11 (5)

125. Tim Gaskill -- Edwardsville, Il -- 7-10 (5)

126. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, Tn -- 7-08 (5)

127. Terry Baksay -- Easton, Ct -- 7-07 (3)

128. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 7-04 (5)

129. Mike Neilson -- Markham, On -- 7-03 (3)

130. Brad Rightnour -- Mingoville, Pa -- 7-02 (5)

131. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 6-14 (5)

132. John McGinnis -- Clarkson, Ky -- 6-13 (5)

132. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 6-13 (5)

134. Roland Martin -- Naples, Fl -- 6-09 (4)

135. Brien Vaughn -- Kinmundy, Il -- 6-07 (3)

136. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 6-04 (5)

136. Todd Schmitz -- Goshen, In -- 6-04 (4)

136. Andrew Upshaw -- Hemphill, Tx -- 6-04 (5)

139. Ray Scheide -- Dover, Ar -- 6-02 (5)

139. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 6-02 (4)

141. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 6-01 (5)

142. Wil Hardy -- Harlem, Ga -- 5-11 (3)

143. Andy Gaia -- Tomball, Tx -- 5-03 (3)

144. Clint Brownlee -- Tifton, Ga -- 4-15 (3)

145. Jason Cordiale -- Orinda, Ca -- 4-05 (2)

146. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 4-04 (2)

147. Richard Lowitzki -- St Charles, Il -- 4-02 (3)

148. Stuart Arthur -- Benton, Mo -- 4-01 (1)

149. Kevin Snider -- Elizabethtown, Ky -- 4-00 (3)

150. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, Al -- 3-13 (3)

151. Brandon Rummel -- Knoxville, Tn -- 3-12 (3)

152. Ryan Chandler -- Hobart, In -- 3-11 (3)

152. Payden Hibdon -- Sunrise Beach, Mo -- 3-11 (2)

154. Wade Hendricks -- Thompsons Station, Tn -- 3-08 (4)

155. Tom Redington -- Royse City, Tx -- 3-04 (2)

156. Travis Loyd -- Kinmundy, Il -- 3-01 (2)

157. Joe Nech -- Alba, Tx -- 2-04 (1)

158. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 1-03 (1)

159. Michael Williamson -- Fort Smith, Ar -- 1-02 (1)

Sean Brehm -- Eddyville, Ky -- 0-00 (0)

Jordan Card -- Cary, NC -- 0-00 (0)

Rick Cotten -- Guntersville, Al -- 0-00 (0)

Jerry Willis -- Atlanta, Ga -- 0-00 (0)

Big Bass

Day 1: Brandon Coulter -- 5-13 -- $500