By Jonathan Manteuffel
Special to BassFan

Lost fish hurt, especially when they’re better than average among hundreds of cookie-cutter specimens. Multiple anglers lamented the escapees as they related their woes on the weigh-in stage at the Lake Champlain Bassmaster Elite Series. Weights are tight, as is often the case at Champlain, with a number of ties down the leaderboard.

Native New Yorker Jamie Hartman overcame the lost-fish curse to grab the lead with 22-01, establishing just under a pound of margin over 2nd.

“I only broke off one fish today and didn’t jump off any,” he said. “I lost a bunch at the St. Lawrence so I was a little trigger-shy here.”

Despite some exciting catches, the weigh-in seemed a bit spooky with everyone wearing masks and the eerie quiet due to the absence of crowds to cheer the big catches (owing to state restrictions prohibiting spectators as COVID-19 concerns continue). Scattered rain storms chased the anglers around the lake during the day, but eased up for the weigh-in at Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Buddy Gross, already a winner this season at Lake Eufaula, grabbed 2nd place with 21-02, less than a pound ahead of Micah Frazier (20-08) in 3rd. Seth Feider is 4th with 20-01, followed by Brock Moseley and David Mullins in a tie for 5th with 19-13.

The lower half of the Top 10 contained two more deadlocks. Stetson Blaylock tied Brandon Palaniuk for 7th (19-12). A 3-way tie for 9th included St. Lawrence winner Chris Johnston and runner-up Paul Mueller along with Bryan Schmitt; all three weighed 19-06.

Only 2-11 (one average fish) separates the Top 10.

Schmitt roped in a heavy green fish (6-02) to anchor his limit and it turned out to be the big bass of the day. He was another who suffered things not going his way due to lost opportunities, yet still landed in the Top 10.

Hartman may have made it look simple, but it wasn't.

“It did not come easy and I was a little worried for a while,” he said. “I made a few of the right decisions, though, and it worked out. It was a lot better than practice. You never know what you’re on until you put your head down and really work the areas where you got bites.”

He targeted largemouth at times and smallmouth at others, and weighed a mixed bag. He got scattered bites throughout the day and was never on a heavy concentration of fish.

“I’ll just fish by the seat of my pants tomorrow and see what the weather does,” he added. “I’ll hit a few of the same places and try some others.”

Gross had a good practice and caught about what he expected on day 1.

“I started shallow chasing a few largemouths and then went out and caught some brown fish,” he said. “Later I went kind of mid-depth and caught both (species).”

He weighed four largemouths and one smallmouth.

“I’m fishing isolated stuff, trying to get better size,” he noted. “I was running from storms all day but luckily I had somewhere to go fish every time. I burned through one side of the lake today and I hope I can do the same on the other side tomorrow.”

Gross had fished Champlain in the past with FLW, and it didn’t go so well.

“We were here in the spring then, and I didn’t do any good,” he said. “Being here in the post-spawn helps me a lot. I like it a lot better.”

Feider weighed all largemouths – to the surprise of some who know the Minnesota Mullet Man is a smallmouth wizard. He caught three of his weigh-in fish on a jig and two on a Texas rig.

“I started off fishing for smallies, but it was slow,” he said. “I got maybe three babies and then made a run down to some largemouth stuff. I got a few nice ones and then just ground it out from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. when I had my weight. I beat the hell out of it for 3 hours and then went looking for more areas for tomorrow.

“I’ll probably make a pass there again first, since it’s my farthest south spot, and then work my way back,” he added. “I may mess with smallmouths for an hour and then go. There’s not much happening with the largemouths until around 9 a.m.”

Points leader Clark Wendlandt caught a pedestrian 16-03 and is in 55th place, though that's just 15 ounces from the 40th-place cut weight.

The full field with fish on Friday, with a cut to the Top 40 to fish Saturday. The Top 10 will then fish Sunday with cumulative 4-day weight determining the winner.

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 85 anglers, 85 limits

> Gerald Swindle remarked that he didn’t remember the smallmouth ever being as big as this year on Champlain, ever since he first fished it in 1997. That was the year Roland Martin won, breaking his own record for most Bassmaster tour-level wins with his 19th victory.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., July 31 –Mostly Sunny – 81°/64°
- Wind: From the NE at 5 mph

> Sat., August 1 – Sunny – 82°/69°
- Wind: From the N at 5 mph

> Sun., August 2 – Showers Likely – 83°/71°
- Wind: From the S at 6-10 mph



Day 1 Standings

1. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 22-01 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 22-01

2. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 5, 21-02 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 21-02

3. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 20-08 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 20-08

4. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 5, 20-01 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 20-01

5. -rock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 19-13 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 19-13

5. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 19-13 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 19-13

7. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 19-12 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 19-12

8. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 19-12 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 19-12

9. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, ON -- 5 -- 19-06 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 19-06

9. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 19-06 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 19-06

9. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 5, 19-06 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 19-06

12. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 19-04 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 19-04

13. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 5, 19-03 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 19-03

14. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 18-12 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 18-12

15. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 5, 18-10 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 18-10

16. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 18-09 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 18-09

17. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 5, 18-08 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 18-08

17. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 18-08 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 18-08

19. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 18-07 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 18-07

20. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 5, 18-06 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 18-06

21. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 5, 18-05 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 18-05

21. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 18-05 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 18-05

23. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 5, 18-04 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 18-04

23. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 18-04 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 18-04

25. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 18-03 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 18-03

26. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 5, 18-01 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 18-01

27. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 18-00 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 18-00

27. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 18-00 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 18-00

27. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 18-00 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 18-00

30. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 17-12 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 17-12

31. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 17-10 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 17-10

32. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 17-09 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 17-09

33. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 5, 17-07 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 17-07

34. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 17-05 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 17-05

35. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 5, 17-04 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 17-04

36. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 5, 17-03 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 17-03

36. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 17-03 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 17-03

36. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 5, 17-03 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 17-03

36. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 5, 17-03 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 17-03

40. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 17-02 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 17-02

41. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 17-01 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 17-01

42. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 5, 17-00 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 17-00

43. Greg DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 5, 16-15 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 16-15

44. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 16-13 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 16-13

45. Drew Cook -- Midway, FL -- 5, 16-12 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 16-12

46. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 5, 16-11 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 16-11

47. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 5, 16-10 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 16-10

48. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 5, 16-09 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 16-09

49. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 16-08 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 16-08

50. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 16-07 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 16-07

51. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 16-06 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 16-06

52. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 16-05 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 16-05

53. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 5, 16-05 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 16-05

54. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 5, 16-04 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 16-04

55. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 16-03 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 16-03

55. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 5, 16-03 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 16-03

57. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 5, 16-01 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 16-01

57. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 5, 16-01 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 16-01

57. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 5, 16-01 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 16-01

60. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 16-00 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 16-00

61. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 15-14 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 15-14

61. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 5, 15-14 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 15-14

63. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 15-13 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 15-13

64. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 5, 15-09 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 15-09

65. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 15-05 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 15-05

66. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 5, 15-04 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 15-04

67. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 15-01 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 15-01

68. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 5, 15-00 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 15-00

68. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 15-00 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 15-00

68. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 5, 15-00 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 15-00

71. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 5, 14-14 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 14-14

72. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 14-09 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 14-09

73. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 5, 14-06 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 14-06

74. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 5, 14-02 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 14-02

75. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 5, 14-00 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 14-00

75. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 14-00 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 14-00

77. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 13-13 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 13-13

78. Jesse Tacoronte -- Kissimmee, FL -- 5, 13-10 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 13-10

79. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 5, 13-10 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 13-10

80. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 12-15 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 12-15

80. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 12-15 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 12-15

82. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 5, 12-14 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 12-14

83. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 5, 11-11 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 11-11

84. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 11-08 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 11-08

85. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 10-00 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 10-00