Gross Catches 33-09 On Day 1 At Fork

By B.A.S.S. Communications Staff

YANTIS, Texas — Buddy Gross knew he had enough fish for at least one day of competition and his determination to maximize that potential rewarded the Chattanooga, Tenn., pro with a whopping limit of 33 pounds, 9 ounces which led Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Fork.

On a day that saw the Top 6 anglers reach the 30-poun mark Gross notched a lead of 1-04 over Trey McKinney.

“God is good; he always shows up for me when I need it,” Gross said. “We weren’t catching quantity, we were catching quality. We’re just going to have to do it again and try to back it up.

“I did this on the first day of practice and I zeroed the second day, so we’re going to have to work hard and make sure we get a lot of fish in the boat.”

Anchoring his day with a 9-11, Gross got the action going early with a couple of quality fish and ended with a 6-11 at 1:14 p.m. Leaving nothing to chance, he squeezed all he could out of his areas.

“In practice, I caught some quality and today, I went to those areas and really soaked them up,” Gross said. “I fished hard in those areas. I don’t know what to expect the rest of the week, but I knew I needed a good bag today to stay in contention, so I just bore down and fished those areas.”

Gross held his cards low, but he described his areas as postspawn staging spots. He clearly found the right size fish, but he’s aware that his opportunities are limited.

“I just don’t have a lot of it,” Gross said. “I thought I could run some history here and still catch them, but I didn’t. I did find a little offshore stuff but it just wasn’t helping, so I quit that. I hope I have enough left to do well tomorrow.”

Gross said Fork’s water level — currently full pool — has the fish widely dispersed. While low water periods gather fish in tighter areas, a full lake makes it harder to dial in consistency.

“The water being high has them moved around a little bit,” Gross said. “I think timing is not the problem, I think it’s the high water. I think it has spread them out. I just got blessed and found one place that’s kinda loading up.”

Gross said he had to fish a broad spectrum of baits on Day 1.

“I had to throw everything — I used (Garmin LiveScope), I used Humminbird 360,” Gross said. “When I got the first five, I didn’t catch any of the fish on the same bait. I had five different baits. It was work.

“I needed that last one (6-11); that’s the one that pushed us over the edge. I caught it doing the same kind of stuff, just a way different location.”

Looking ahead to Day 2, Gross said he’ll return to some of his Day 1 waters, but he suspects continued success will require additional prospecting.

“I’m going to run the same stuff and just hope they’re there,” Gross said. “If they’re not, we’re just going to have to run new water. I ran new water today and caught some. Where I caught that 6-11, I hadn’t fished at all.

“There’s just not a lot of what I’m doing. I’m only going to catch one or two here and there. I’m not going to run into a school of them.”

McKinney, who won last year’s Lake Fork event with a 4-day total of 130-15, is in second place with 32-05. Hailing from Carbondale, Ill., McKinney made a key upgrade with a 7-02 that bit a little after 2 p.m.

“I love this place, but the fish are educated and smart and tough to catch,” McKinney said. “They’ve been beat on for (many years) so they’re probably the smartest bass anywhere in the country.

“Instead of looking for numbers and throwing at every one, you’re looking for five.”

McKinney fished a variety of scenarios, including schools, roaming fish and timber. He found his best action with the schoolers.

“I caught 30 pounds off schools and then I caught that 7-02 roaming,” McKinney said. “I caught most of my fish, including that 7-02, on a (jighead minnow). Most of these fish are so smart, I really can’t get them to bite much else. I caught one on a big glidebait.”

Jay Przekurat of Plover, Wis., is in third place with 31-02. Despite a slow start, the 2022 Rookie of the Year put together a solid day. Doing so, he said, required perseverance.

“I had a terrible practice; I had one place I was excited to go to, but I got there this morning and never had a bite,” Przekurat said. “I was pretty discouraged about that so I scrambled around the rest of the day and I only caught six or seven fish.”

Przekurat caught his fish on a dropshot with a Strike King KVD Filler Worm and a Strike King 6XD. He cemented his performance with a late-day kicker that exemplified Lake Fork’s nationwide appeal.

“Late in the day, I caught a 9-14,” Przekurat said. “That was the catch of my life so far. That was my personal best and I caught it in a tournament.”

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 6:30 a.m. CT at Caney Point Recreation Area. The weigh-in will be held at the same area at 2:30 p.m.

Day 1 Standings

1. Buddy Gross -- Chattanooga, TN -- 5, 33-09 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 33-09

2. Trey McKinney -- Carbondale, IL -- 5, 32-05 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 32-05

3. Jay Przekurat -- Plover, WI -- 5, 31-02 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 31-02

4. Kyoya Fujita -- Yamanashi, JAPAN -- 5, 31-00 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 31-00

5. Paul Marks -- Cumming, GA -- 5, 30-13 -- 100
Day 1: 5, 30-13

6. Dakota Ebare -- Brookeland, TX -- 5, 30-01 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 30-01

7. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 29-06 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 29-06

8. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 29-05 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 29-05

9. Easton Fothergill -- Grand Rapids , MN -- 5, 29-03 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 29-03

10. John Garrett -- Union City, TN -- 5, 28-12 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 28-12

11. JT Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, SC -- 5, 28-04 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 28-04

12. Seth Feider -- Elko New Market, MN -- 5, 27-10 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 27-10

13. Patrick Walters -- Eutawville, SC -- 5, 27-09 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 27-09

14. Emil Wagner -- Marietta, GA -- 5, 27-04 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 27-04

15. Cody Huff -- Ava, MO -- 5, 26-01 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 26-01

16. Kyle Patrick -- Cooperstown, NY -- 5, 25-15 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 25-15

17. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 25-10 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 25-10

18. Brad Whatley -- Bivins, TX -- 5, 25-06 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 25-06

19. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 25-05 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 25-05

20. Tucker Smith -- Birmingham, AL -- 5, 25-04 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 25-04

21. Kyle Welcher -- Valley, AL -- 5, 24-06 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 24-06

22. Will Davis Jr -- Sylacauga, AL -- 5, 23-15 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 23-15

23. Chris Zaldain -- Boyd, TX -- 5, 23-11 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 23-11

24. Tyler Williams -- Belgrade, ME -- 5, 23-04 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 23-04

25. Taku Ito -- Dalton, JAPAN -- 5, 23-02 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 23-02

25. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 23-02 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 23-02

27. Matt Robertson -- Kuttawa, KY -- 5, 23-01 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 23-01

28. Andrew Loberg -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 23-00 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 23-00

29. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 5, 22-14 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 22-14

30. Alex Redwine -- Blue Ash, OH -- 5, 22-10 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 22-10

31. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, AL -- 5, 22-08 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 22-08

32. Jake Whitaker -- Hendersonville, NC -- 5, 22-06 -- 73
Day 1: 5, 22-06

33. Ed Loughran III -- Richmond, VA -- 5, 22-05 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 22-05

34. Bryan New -- Leesville, SC -- 5, 22-04 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 22-04

35. Drew Cook -- Cairo, GA -- 5, 22-01 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 22-01

36. Jason Christie -- Dry Creek, OK -- 5, 21-14 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 21-14

37. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 5, 21-07 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 21-07

38. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 21-06 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 21-06

39. Cooper Gallant -- Bowmanville, ON -- 5, 21-01 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 21-01

40. Ben Milliken -- Omaha, NE -- 4, 21-00 -- 65
Day 1: 4, 21-00

41. Wes Logan -- Springville, AL -- 5, 20-11 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 20-11

41. Cody Meyer -- Eagle, ID -- 5, 20-11 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 20-11

43. Hunter Shryock -- Ooltewah, TN -- 5, 20-07 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 20-07

44. Randy Howell -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 20-05 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 20-05

45. Cory Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 5, 20-03 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 20-03

45. Tyler Rivet -- Raceland, LA -- 5, 20-03 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 20-03

47. Beau Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 20-02 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 20-02

47. Wesley Gore -- Clanton, AL -- 5, 20-02 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 20-02

47. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 5, 20-02 -- 58
Day 1: 5, 20-02

50. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 5, 20-01 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 20-01

51. Shane LeHew -- Catawba, NC -- 5, 19-15 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 19-15

52. Cliff Pace -- Ovett, MS -- 5, 19-14 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 19-14

53. Caleb Kuphall -- Mukwonago, WI -- 5, 19-11 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 19-11

54. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, MD -- 5, 19-07 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 19-07

55. Justin Atkins -- Florence, AL -- 5, 19-06 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 19-06

56. Bryant Smith -- Roseville, CA -- 5, 19-04 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 19-04

57. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 19-02 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 19-02

58. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 18-10 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 18-10

59. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, MN -- 5, 18-06 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 18-06

59. Alex Wetherell -- Middletown, CT -- 5, 18-06 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 18-06

61. Cole Sands -- Johnson City, TN -- 5, 18-03 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 18-03

62. John Cox -- Debary, FL -- 5, 18-02 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 18-02

63. Chris Johnston -- Otonabee, ON -- 5, 18-00 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 18-00

64. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 17-13 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 17-13

65. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 5, 17-08 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 17-08

66. Jordan Lee -- Cullman, AL -- 5, 17-00 -- 39
Day 1: 5, 17-00

67. Jacob Foutz -- Charleston, TN -- 5, 16-12 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 16-12

67. Evan Kung -- Pickering, ON -- 5, 16-12 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 16-12

69. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 15-14 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 15-14

70. Logan Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 15-11 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 15-11

71. Justin Hamner -- Northport, AL -- 5, 15-09 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 15-09

71. Pat Schlapper -- Eleva, WI -- 5, 15-09 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 15-09

73. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 15-07 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 15-07

74. Kyle Norsetter -- Cottage Grove, WI -- 5, 15-04 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 15-04

75. Bob Downey -- Detroit Lakes, MN -- 5, 14-14 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 14-14

75. Jonathan Kelley -- Old Forge, PA -- 5, 14-14 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 14-14

77. Marc Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 14-13 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 14-13

78. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 4, 14-11 -- 27
Day 1: 4, 14-11

79. Joey Cifuentes III -- Clinton, AR -- 5, 14-09 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 14-09

79. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 5, 14-09 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 14-09

81. Brandon Card -- Salisbury, NC -- 5, 14-08 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 14-08

82. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 14-07 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 14-07

83. Lee Livesay -- Longview, TX -- 5, 14-05 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 14-05

84. Carl Jocumsen -- Queensland, AUS -- 4, 14-01 -- 21
Day 1: 4, 14-01

85. Robert Gee -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 13-13 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 13-13

86. Matty Wong -- Honolulu, HI -- 5, 13-09 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 13-09

87. Logan Parks -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 13-07 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 13-07

88. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 12-12 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 12-12

89. KJ Queen -- Catawba, NC -- 4, 11-14 -- 16
Day 1: 4, 11-14

90. Jeff Gustafson -- Kenora, ON -- 4, 11-13 -- 15
Day 1: 4, 11-13

91. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 11-09 -- 14
Day 1: 5, 11-09

92. Blake Capps -- Muskogee, OK -- 5, 11-05 -- 13
Day 1: 5, 11-05

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

94. Luke Palmer -- Coalgate, OK -- 5, 10-08 -- 11
Day 1: 5, 10-08

95. Chad Pipkens -- Dewitt, MI -- 5, 09-01 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 09-01

96. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 2, 07-13 -- 9
Day 1: 2, 07-13

97. Timothy Dube -- Nashua , NH -- 2, 07-09 -- 8
Day 1: 2, 07-09

98. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 2, 04-14 -- 7
Day 1: 2, 04-14

99. David Gaston -- Sylacauga, AL -- 3, 04-08 -- 6
Day 1: 3, 04-08

100. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 3, 04-01 -- 5
Day 1: 3, 04-01

101. Gregory DiPalma -- Millville, NJ -- 2, 04-00 -- 4
Day 1: 2, 04-00

102. Kenta Kimura -- Osaka, JAPAN -- 1, 03-04 -- 3
Day 1: 1, 03-04