By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

Gary Clouse knew what he had to do, and he was determined that not even a three-hour fog delay was going to stop him.

It was a good call for the Tennessee pro, who caught a five-bass limit that weighed 25-12 to lead day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series season opener at the St. Johns River in Florida.

After dense fog created hazardous navigational conditions, B.A.S.S. delayed Thursday’s scheduled 7 a.m. takeoff until 10:15. Taking off in the 69th position in a field of 99 boats, Clouse had plenty of time to contemplate his game plan, which involved making what he called a long run.

“I was fishing bedding areas and bed fish too; it was a little of both,” Clouse said. “I feel like the fish are coming to me because I went into this area in practice and I had a couple of bites, but I had no idea it was going to be loaded like that.”

With this week’s new moon plus a warming trend that started Wednesday, the stage was set for a textbook spawning movement. Clouse said he believed his distant spot offered him the best opportunity, but he admits he had to ignore his mental question marks.

“I had all kinds of doubts while I was running,” he said. “I thought maybe I should just pull over here and try to catch one. That crossed my mind – like I shouldn’t make this run.

“It was a huge gamble. The smarter money would have been to stay close and get a couple fish and hopefully get a long day tomorrow. But I just decided to go for it and I’m glad I did.”

Clouse was understandably guarded with his tactical details, but he said he caught his fish on a mix of moving baits and reaction baits. Targeting bass that were moving up to spawn, he had only six bites, but they were mostly quality fish.

“It really didn’t matter what you threw,” Clouse said. “You just had to get around one.”



B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito
Photo: B.A.S.S./Seigo Saito

This 9 1/2-pound bruiser propelled Derek Hudnall to 2nd place in the standings.

The smallest bass in Clouse’s bag was a 2-pounder. According to BassTrakk, between 1:51 and 2:37, he caught three in the 5-pound class and one about 4 pounds.

“I had a really unbelievable day; things just went right,” he said. “It was just my day. There wasn’t anything magical about it. Everything lined up for me.

“I may have burned up everything I had. I could zero tomorrow probably easier than catching 25 pounds. We’ll see what happens.”

Derek Hudnall of Baton Rouge, La., is in 2nd place with 22-05 – a haul that included a 9 1/2-pounder that took big-bass honors for the day. Making a long run south, Hudnall focused on areas with gaps and openings in shoreline vegetation where spawning fish would likely position themselves out of sight.

“I’m not looking at these fish,” Hudnall said. “It’s extremely shallow and anywhere those fish can get to the bank, that’s where they’re moving up and spawning.

“If you have available cover, like an overhanging limb, and the fish can get to the bank, that’s where the fish are going to spawn. This area has some great big ones in it, and when those fish move up, I can pinpoint where those fish are going to be.”

Hudnall caught all of his bass on a wacky-rigged Missile Baits 48 worm in the bruiser flash and junebug colors. Fishing his bait on 15-pound braided line was essential for making long skips into the cover to avoid spooking the fish.

Australian pro Carl Jocumsen is in 3rd place with 18-02. Running about an hour south of takeoff was a risky call for him as well, but Jocumsen said practice allowed him to dial in an area with the right mix of habitat and conditions.

“I fished from one end of (tournament waters) to the other, and I felt like that was the area where it was going to happen,” he said. “I started to see better water temperature, more life and fish.

“I targeted anywhere I thought they were going to spawn and anywhere I thought no one else was casting. I wasn’t looking at them, I’m just fishing where I think they are and I think that’s helping me run into some fresh fish.”

Jocumsen caught his bass on a Texas-rigged X Zone Lures Deception Worm in the plum color.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET from Palatka City Docks. The weigh-in will be held at Palatka Riverfront Park at 3 p.m.

After Friday’s round, only the Top 50 anglers will advance to Saturday’s semifinals. The Top 10 remaining pros will fish on Sunday with a chance at the $100,000 first-place prize.

Day 1 Standings

1. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 5, 25-12 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 25-12

2. Derek Hudnall -- Denham Springs, LA -- 5, 22-05 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 22-05

3. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 5, 18-02 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 18-02

4. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 5, 17-15 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 17-15

5. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 17-12 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 17-12

6. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 16-09 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 16-09

7. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, GA -- 5, 16-05 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 16-05

8. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 16-02 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 16-02

8. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 5, 16-02 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 16-02

10. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 5, 15-08 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 15-08

11. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 5, 14-13 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 14-13

12. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 14-10 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 14-10

13. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 14-00 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 14-00

14. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 13-04 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 13-04

15. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 5, 13-03 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 13-03

16. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 3, 12-14 -- 85
Day 1: 3, 12-14

17. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 12-08 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 12-08

17. Mike Huff -- Corbin, KY -- 5, 12-08 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 12-08

19. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 12-07 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 12-07

19. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 12-07 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 12-07

21. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 5, 12-06 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 12-06

22. Bryan New -- Belmont, NC -- 5, 12-00 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 12-00

23. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 5, 11-13 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 11-13

24. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 4, 11-11 -- 77
Day 1: 4, 11-11

25. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 5, 11-10 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 11-10

25. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 11-10 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 11-10

27. Randy Pierson -- Oakdale, CA -- 4, 11-10 -- 74
Day 1: 4, 11-10

28. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 3, 11-10 -- 73
Day 1: 3, 11-10

29. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 5, 11-09 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 11-09

30. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 11-06 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 11-06

30. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 11-06 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 11-06

32. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 5, 11-05 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 11-05

33. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 5, 11-04 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 11-04

34. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 5, 11-01 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 11-01

35. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, TX -- 5, 10-11 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 10-11

36. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 5, 10-08 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 10-08

37. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 10-07 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 10-07

38. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 5, 10-06 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 10-06

39. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 3, 10-04 -- 62
Day 1: 3, 10-04

40. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, OR -- 4, 09-15 -- 61
Day 1: 4, 09-15

41. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 5, 09-14 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 09-14

42. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 09-13 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 09-13

43. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 5, 09-08 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 09-08

43. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 5, 09-08 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 09-08

43. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 09-08 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 09-08

46. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 08-14 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 08-14

47. Rob Digh -- Denver, NC -- 5, 08-14 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 08-14

48. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 3, 08-14 -- 53
Day 1: 3, 08-14

49. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 08-11 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 08-11

50. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 08-09 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 08-09

51. Quentin Cappo -- Prairieville, LA -- 5, 08-07 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 08-07

51. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 08-07 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 08-07

53. Bob Downey -- Hudson, WI -- 5, 08-05 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 08-05

54. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 08-04 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 08-04

55. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 5, 08-03 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 08-03

55. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 5, 08-03 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 08-03

57. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 07-08 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 07-08

58. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 3, 07-05 -- 43
Day 1: 3, 07-05

59. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 4, 07-04 -- 42
Day 1: 4, 07-04

60. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 07-01 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 07-01

61. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 3, 07-01 -- 40
Day 1: 3, 07-01

62. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 3, 07-00 -- 39
Day 1: 3, 07-00

63. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 06-15 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 06-15

64. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 3, 06-14 -- 37
Day 1: 3, 06-14

65. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 06-12 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 06-12

66. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 4, 06-10 -- 35
Day 1: 4, 06-10

67. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 3, 06-05 -- 34
Day 1: 3, 06-05

68. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 5, 06-04 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 06-04

69. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 4, 06-04 -- 32
Day 1: 4, 06-04

70. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 3, 06-02 -- 31
Day 1: 3, 06-02

71. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 4, 06-01 -- 30
Day 1: 4, 06-01

72. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, NC -- 4, 06-00 -- 29
Day 1: 4, 06-00

73. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 3, 05-09 -- 28
Day 1: 3, 05-09

73. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 3, 05-09 -- 28
Day 1: 3, 05-09

75. Taku Ito -- Chiba, Japan -- 3, 05-08 -- 26
Day 1: 3, 05-08

76. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 3, 05-05 -- 25
Day 1: 3, 05-05

77. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, Japan -- 3, 05-02 -- 24
Day 1: 3, 05-02

78. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 3, 05-01 -- 23
Day 1: 3, 05-01

79. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 3, 04-05 -- 22
Day 1: 3, 04-05

80. Cody Hollen -- Beaverton, OR -- 3, 04-02 -- 21
Day 1: 3, 04-02

81. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 2, 04-01 -- 20
Day 1: 2, 04-01

82. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 2, 04-00 -- 19
Day 1: 2, 04-00

83. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 2, 03-06 -- 18
Day 1: 2, 03-06

84. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 2, 03-04 -- 17
Day 1: 2, 03-04

85. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 2, 03-03 -- 16
Day 1: 2, 03-03

86. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 2, 03-01 -- 15
Day 1: 2, 03-01

87. Garrett Paquette -- Canton, MI -- 1, 03-00 -- 14
Day 1: 1, 03-00

88. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, LA -- 2, 02-15 -- 13
Day 1: 2, 02-15

89. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 1, 02-11 -- 12
Day 1: 1, 02-11

90. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 1, 02-10 -- 11
Day 1: 1, 02-10

91. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 1, 02-02 -- 10
Day 1: 1, 02-02

92. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 1, 02-01 -- 9
Day 1: 1, 02-01

93. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 1, 01-02 -- 8
Day 1: 1, 01-02

94. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 1, 01-01 -- 7
Day 1: 1, 01-01

95. Harvey Horne -- Bella Vista, AR -- 1, 00-15 -- 6
Day 1: 1, 00-15

96. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

96. Destin DeMarion -- Grove City, PA -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

96. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, OK -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00

96. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 0, 00-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 00-00