Card Draws 5 Aces On Day 1 At Oahe

By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

Capitalizing on several different flurries throughout the day, Brandon Card landed 21 pounds, 10 ounces to claim the Day 1 lead at the Bassmaster Elite Series event on Lake Oahe in Mobridge, S.D.

The Tennessee native turned North Carolinian holds narrow advantages of 1-04 over Georgia's Drew Cook in 2nd and 1-05 over South Carolina angler Patrick Walters in 3rd. With his Day 1 bag, Card exceeded the biggest bag weighed at the 2018 Elite Series event on Oahe, a 20-11 sack brought in by Clifford Pirch.

“I didn’t know how good it was going to be. I had high hopes, and it turned out to be a lot better than I thought,” Card said. “It was weird. I had several flurries, but then lots of just nothing. There were hours of no bites and then several in a row. It was like there were small little feeding windows.”

With a rotation of baits, Card caught quality bass that were consistent in size, with his biggest smallmouth weighing 4-14.

Despite seeing miles of dead water, Card located six or seven areas in practice that held decent schools of smallmouth. One of those areas produced most of his action on Day 1, while he didn’t end up going to another of his better areas.

Fishing what he called “pretty deep,” Card landed a limit early and culled several times throughout the day.

A calm start quickly gave way to a gusty north wind that got stronger, giving Lake Oahe a decent chop. While that may sound daunting, Card said it actually improved his bite.

“In the South, a north wind is bad,” Card said. “But it must be good up here because they bit way better today with a north wind than the south wind for the three days of practice. It was interesting that they turned on with a north wind.”

Using his Humminbird MEGA Live imaging, Card has been able to see several different types of baitfish – and while he doesn’t know what types there are, they are the key to his bite.

“When you start seeing life, the bass aren’t too far away,” he said.

Cook got off to a frantic start, landing all of his 20-06 limit of smallmouth during a 30-minute stretch as soon as he reached his first spot.

“I ran an hour one way, sat the boat down, panned over on LiveScope and I hooked one the first pitch I made into them,” the 2022 Santee Cooper Elite champion said. “They sat under the boat and for 30 minutes I caught them at will. After that, the strategy kicked in. I still had a 3-something I wanted to get rid of but it wasn’t worth burning an 18-pound bag over. So, I left.”

Cook had five dropshots ready to go on his deck with a Big Bite Baits Scentsation SoMolly in a smelt color and a Big Bite Baits Scentsation Quarantine Craw with the pinchers removed. As soon as he hooked and landed one smallmouth, he would unhook it and drop to the next one with a different rod. Once he had hooked one on each of his drop shots, he re-rigged and started the process over.

“I had no idea it was like it was,” he said. “There is a different caliber of fish once you get to a point in the lake. They really start eating the bigger-profile bait. Whenever you hook one, they are spitting it up everywhere. They are spitting out like eight or 10 of them.”

Following his 30-minute rally, Cook essentially practiced the rest of the day. With the wind projected to blow harder out of the north on day 2, he looked at areas closer to takeoff in the event the wind is too bad to make the run to his primary spot on Friday.

Walters did not benefit from a quick start but managed to work his way to a limit of smallmouth weighing 20-05 despite having a 14-incher in his bag.

“At 11:30, I only had three fish. I pulled up on a spot and on the first drop I caught one that was 12 inches,” Walters said. “At that point, I was so happy with that fish. I dropped back down there and caught a 2-pounder, and dropped down there again and caught another big one and culled the 12-incher.”

After practice, Walters thought he would be throwing a topwater bait with the goal of catching 15 to 17 pounds. On tournament day, he rotated through 12 different rods and kept an open mind.

“Don’t commit to anything,” he said. “Just go until you find the fish. Day 1 of practice I caught them in 3 feet with a topwater. Day 2 I caught them in 40 feet. Today I caught them in 25 to 30. Really, you find the good areas that have the bait and smallmouth and adjust accordingly.”

The full field of 90 anglers will launch from Indian Creek Recreation Area beginning at 7 a.m. CT Friday and return for weigh-in at the Walleye Up Statue in Mobridge starting at 3 p.m. The field will be cut to the Top 47 anglers after the Day 2 weigh-in, and the Top 10 will compete on Sunday for a 1st-place prize of $100,000.

Day 1 Standings

1. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 5, 21-10 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 21-10

2. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 5, 20-06 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 20-06

3. Patrick Walters -- Summerville, SC -- 5, 20-05 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 20-05

4. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, ON -- 5, 19-09 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 19-09

5. Bryan New -- Saluda, SC -- 5, 19-05 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 19-05

6. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 19-01 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 19-01

7. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 5, 18-15 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 18-15

8. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 18-13 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 18-13

9. Josh Douglas -- Isle, MN -- 5, 18-10 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 18-10

10. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 18-08 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 18-08

11. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 18-03 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 18-03

12. Frank Talley -- Temple, TX -- 5, 18-00 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 18-00

13. Taku Ito -- Chiba, JAPAN -- 5, 17-04 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 17-04

14. Jake Whitaker -- Hendersonville, NC -- 5, 17-02 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 17-02

15. Jay Przekurat -- Stevens Point, WI -- 5, 16-15 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 16-15

16. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 16-07 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 16-07

17. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 16-04 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 16-04

18. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 16-03 -- 0
Day 1: 5, 16-03

19. Chris Zaldain -- Fort Worth, TX -- 5, 16-02 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 16-02

20. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 5, 16-01 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 16-01

21. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 16-00 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 16-00

22. Seth Feider -- New Market, MN -- 5, 15-14 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 15-14

23. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 15-11 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 15-11

24. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 5, 15-07 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 15-07

25. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 15-05 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 15-05

26. Bob Downey -- Detroit Lakes, MN -- 5, 15-04 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 15-04

27. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 14-14 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 14-14

28. Drew Benton -- Blakely, GA -- 5, 14-12 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 14-12

28. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 14-12 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 14-12

30. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 14-11 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 14-11

30. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 5, 14-11 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 14-11

32. Cody Huff -- Ava, MO -- 5, 14-05 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 14-05

33. Darold Gleason -- Many, LA -- 5, 14-03 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 14-03

34. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 14-02 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 14-02

35. Koby Kreiger -- Alva, FL -- 5, 13-15 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 13-15

36. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 13-13 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 13-13

37. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 5, 13-13 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 13-13

38. Masayuki Matsushita -- Tokoname-Shi, JAPAN -- 5, 13-12 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 13-12

39. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 13-05 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 13-05

40. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 13-01 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 13-01

41. Buddy Gross -- Chattanooga, TN -- 5, 12-15 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 12-15

41. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 12-15 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 12-15

43. Alex Redwine -- Blue Ash, OH -- 5, 12-11 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 12-11

44. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 5, 12-09 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 12-09

45. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 12-08 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 12-08

46. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 5, 12-03 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 12-03

47. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 12-02 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 12-02

48. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 4, 11-15 -- 53
Day 1: 4, 11-15

49. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 11-13 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 11-13

50. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, AL -- 5, 11-11 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 11-11

51. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 5, 11-06 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 11-06

52. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 5, 10-15 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 10-15

53. Gary Clouse -- Winchester, TN -- 4, 10-14 -- 48
Day 1: 4, 10-14

54. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 5, 10-12 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 10-12

55. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 10-11 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 10-11

56. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 10-10 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 10-10

57. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 10-07 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 10-07

58. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, ON -- 5, 10-06 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 10-06

59. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 10-03 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 10-03

59. Joshua Stracner -- Vandiver, AL -- 5, 10-03 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 10-03

61. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 10-02 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 10-02

62. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 5, 10-00 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 10-00

63. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 09-15 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 09-15

63. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 09-15 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 09-15

65. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 4, 09-15 -- 36
Day 1: 4, 09-15

66. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 09-14 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 09-14

66. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 09-14 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 09-14

68. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 4, 09-14 -- 33
Day 1: 4, 09-14

69. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 5, 09-06 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 09-06

70. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 09-05 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 09-05

71. Kyle Welcher -- Opelika, AL -- 5, 09-04 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 09-04

72. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 3, 09-02 -- 29
Day 1: 3, 09-02

73. Derek Hudnall -- Zachary, LA -- 5, 09-00 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 09-00

74. Mike Huff -- London, KY -- 5, 09-00 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 09-00

75. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 4, 08-11 -- 26
Day 1: 4, 08-11

76. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 08-07 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 08-07

77. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 08-04 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 08-04

78. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 07-10 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 07-10

79. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 07-07 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 07-07

80. Joseph Webster -- Hamilton, AL -- 4, 07-06 -- 21
Day 1: 4, 07-06

81. Daisuke Aoki -- Minamitsurugun, JAPAN -- 5, 07-04 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 07-04

82. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 06-11 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 06-11

83. Matty Wong -- Honolulu, HI -- 5, 06-09 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 06-09

84. Jacob Foutz -- Charleston, TN -- 3, 06-09 -- 17
Day 1: 3, 06-09

85. Michael Iaconelli -- Pittsgrove, NJ -- 5, 05-15 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 05-15

86. David Williams -- Newton, NC -- 5, 05-10 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 05-10

87. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, PA -- 2, 04-12 -- 14
Day 1: 2, 04-12

88. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 3, 04-08 -- 13
Day 1: 3, 04-08

89. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 2, 03-12 -- 12
Day 1: 2, 03-12

90. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 1, 01-00 -- 11
Day 1: 1, 01-00