Suggs' 24-07 Tops Nixon By 1-06

Predictions in pro bass tournaments often turn out to be nothing more than idle chatter. But those who forecast that Lake Guntersville would outshine Wheeler Lake in the fifth tournament of the FLW Tour season appear to have hit the nail on the head.

Arkansas' Scott Suggs made the long run to the upstream reservoir (Guntersville) and brought back a hefty sack of largemouths to claim the day 1 lead. He tossed a 5-bass limit on the scales and watched as the readout settled on 24-07.

That was enough to beat out fellow Arkansan Larry Nixon's 23-01 by 1-06. Nixon also fished Guntersville, along with more than half of the 200-person field.

Here's how the rest of the Top 5 shake out: Kelly Jordon is 3rd with a 22-15 limit, just 1-08 out; Ray Scheide is 4th with 21-02; and Ken Wick of Star, Idaho, caught a 19-02 limit to nail down 5th.

Alvin Shaw is in the 10th-place cut spot with 17-08, 6-15 out of 1st. Texas' Mike Hawkes is in the all-important 50th-place (final $10,000) spot with 12-13.

Suggs Worked Offshore

Suggs said he had an 18-pound limit by his third stop of the morning and culled up before locking back into Wheeler with the first flight around 1 p.m.

"I'm targeting offshore stuff and catching post-spawners," he said. "I had a pair of 7-pounders that really helped today."

Suggs is throwing a Hart spinnerbait and an Exude worm. "I'm looking for certain little spots – about twice as big as my boat – and there's grass there," he said.

He noted that his co-angler caught fish on "a Senko-type bait. So I think it's just a matter of having confidence in your bait. There's enough fish there that if you fish across them right, you're going to get bit."

Today's calm conditions also were to Suggs' liking. "When the fish get into the areas where they are, I like it to be dead slick with a bluebird sky. Wind and cloud cover spreads them out."

His plan for tomorrow is to catch 12 or 14 pounds. "If I do, then I won't make another cast," he said.

> Suggs is an FLW Tour rookie, but had a great rookie year on the Bassmaster Tour last year, finishing 7th in the Bassmaster Tour points.

Nixon Happy

Nixon won the February 2002 Wheeler FLW, but today decided to fish Guntersville. He caught 7 keepers, and would've had 8 ounces more were it not for a dead-fish penalty.

"I got my limit around 10 a.m., I think," he said. "I never looked at my watch because I was just so happy. It's about time I caught them."

He'd found good fish in Wheeler, but after poking around Monday in Guntersville, his decision about where to fish was obvious – sort of. "Man, I didn't want to make that run. I was on fish at Wheeler, but those cotton-pickers quit pulling current. It just went dead there."

Guntersville also was without current today, he said, but he was able to re-pattern the fish there. "I got it pretty well wired down," he said.

He's fishing a Berkley Gulp Sinkin' Minnow and a 10-inch Berkley Power Worm. He anchored his sack with a 7-pounder.

He's confident about tomorrow. "I feel I can catch more in some other places. I'm not saving a lot of fish because this place is just too good."

Scheide Gets Big Bass

Like several other anglers, Scheide (4th) had to work to keep his limit alive. His livewell included the day's big bass, an 8-10.

"I was done at 11:00 and came down through the locks with Kelly Jordon," he said. He tried to get his co-angler another fish or two, then checked in early. "I was trying to nurse my fish to keep them alive. They're pretty fragile right now in this post-spawn time."

Today he had six bites and "broke off a big one. I may gamble and stay a little later tomorrow, but I really hope I'm locking out of Guntersville by noon."

He described his tactics as "nothing special. I'm throwing a 10-inch worm and have it down to four spots that I'm going to run tomorrow. If they pull any water, it should be really good. I'll fish those sweet spots and try to expand by following the grass lines out a little."

He noted: "Guntersville's just too good to play it safe."

Newton Proves It

Alabama hot stick Jonathan Newton, in 7th with 18-09, shook the home-lake jinx today and whacked a great limit in Wheeler. "I wanted to prove it could be done," he said, explaining why he opted to stay in Wheeler. "I got to fish longer than the others – about 6 hours – and had my limit by 10:30." (Editor's note: Locking through to Guntersville eats up time.)

He's flipping shallow cover with a black and blue Strike King jig, and he's cranking deep water with a Norman DD22 and a Strike King Series 6 crankbait. His tactics resulted in 10 or 12 keepers.

"I ran around and hit a lot of different spots. It went pretty much like I expected it would. The fish are relating the way I like them to with the lack of current."

Kilby's Spinnerbait Produces

If the fish can be caught with a spinnerbait, watch out for veteran Arkansas pro Rob Kilby. Today he's in 8th with a 17-12 limit, and was confident that he'd catch them on a blade in Guntersville – but it didn't exactly work out that way.

"I'd been catching them good on a spinnerbait up there, but I didn't get there today until 8:30 and the spinnerbait bite was about over," he said.

He caught four bass on a 9/16-ounce Terminator Tungsten double willowleaf spinnerbait, then had to switch to a big worm. "I worked 7 feet of water with the 10-inch worm with a light weight to swim it through the grass," he noted.

He finished the day with 9 keepers. Like most of the field, Kilby will make the long run again Thursday. "I've got the area where I got four nice ones and then left. I'll start there tomorrow."

Weather Forecast

Looks like mostly stable weather, according to the Weather Channel, with a low-pressure system moving in for Saturday.

Thurs, May 12 -- Mostly Sunny -- 88°/64°
> Wind: SE 7 mph

Fri, May 13 -- Mostly Sunny -- 87°/64°
> Wind: S 11 mph

Sat, May 14 -- Isolated T-Storms -- 83°/59°
> Wind: SW 12 mph

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 200 anglers, 73 limits, 27 fours, 30 threes, 33 twos, 26 ones, 11 zeroes.

> Predictions for the cut weight range between 32 and 34 pounds.

> If he makes it to Saturday, a short day, Suggs still won't fish Wheeler. "I'd rather pull hen's teeth," he said.

> Like most in the field, Florida pro Mike Surman made his first cast today in Guntersville. But his trip there was not without incident. Surman speared one of the mountainous wakes from the more than 100 boats that emerged from the lock and found himself and his co-angler sitting in water up to the gunwales. "It was sure great to have a Ranger underneath me," he said. "I managed to get the nose up thanks to the power in that Evinrude E-Tec and the bilge pump got us pumped out in about 10 minutes."

> After today, it looks like the FLW Angler of the Year race is wide open. Of the Top 5 in the FLW points, Florida rookie Bobby Lane (4th in the points) is the highest in today's standings (26th), followed by Anthony Gagliardi (5th in the points) in 27th. Matt Herren, 2nd in the points, is in 33rd. And points leader JT Kenney is down in 46th. But Greg Hackney, 8th in the points, is up in 15th. A high finish by Hackney could put him back into the No. 1 in the world spot.

> Go On Tour With the BassFan Big Sticks by clicking here.

Day 1 Standings

1. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 5, 24-07
2. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 23-01
3. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 22-15
4. Ray Scheide -- Russellville, Ar -- 5, 21-02
5. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 5, 19-02
6. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 18-15
7. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 5, 18-09
8. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 17-12
9. Katsutoshi Furusawa -- Tokyo Japan 1920153 -- 5, 17-11
10. Alvin Shaw -- State Road, Nc -- 5, 17-08
11. Chad Grigsby -- Colon, Mi -- 5, 17-06
12. Toshinari Namiki -- Hachioji- City, To -- 5, 17-03
13. Art Ferguson Iii -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 5, 17-02
14. Danny Correia -- Marlborough, Ma -- 5, 17-00
15. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La -- 5, 16-11
16. Michael Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 5, 16-10
17. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 16-08
17. Chip Harrison -- Bremen, In -- 5, 16-08
19. Sam Newby -- Pocola, Ok -- 5, 16-04
19. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 16-04
21. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Al -- 5, 16-00
22. Dwayne Horton -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 15-14
23. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 5, 15-13
24. Jerry Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 5, 15-12
25. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 5, 15-10
26. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 5, 15-09
27. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 5, 15-07
28. Randy Blaukat -- Lamar, Mo -- 5, 15-05
29. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, Nc -- 5, 15-01
29. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Al -- 5, 15-01
31. John Crews -- Salem, Va -- 5, 14-15
32. David Givens -- Hernando, Fl -- 5, 14-14
33. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Al -- 4, 14-11
34. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, Pa -- 5, 14-10
35. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 4, 14-09
36. John Murray -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 14-04
37. Kevin Vida -- Clare, Mi -- 4, 14-00
38. Tim Carroll -- Owasso, Ok -- 5, 13-11
38. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 5, 13-11
40. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 5, 13-08
41. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, Fl -- 3, 13-04
41. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, Tx -- 5, 13-04
41. Terry Tucker -- Gadsden, Al -- 5, 13-04
44. William Davis -- Russellville, Al -- 5, 13-03
45. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 5, 13-01
46. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, Sc -- 5, 13-00
46. J T Kenney -- Frostburg, Md -- 5, 13-00
46. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 13-00
49. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Tx -- 5, 12-15
50. Mike Hawkes -- Sabinal, Tx -- 5, 12-13
51. Keith Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 5, 12-11
52. David Smith -- Del City, Ok -- 5, 12-08
53. Andre Moore -- Scottsdale, Az -- 4, 12-06
54. Wayne Jeffcoat -- Chapin, Sc -- 3, 12-05
54. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 3, 12-05
56. Michael Brown -- Rocky Face, Ga -- 4, 12-04
56. Derek Yamamoto -- Tempe, Az -- 5, 12-04
58. Lee Bailey Jr -- Amston, Ct -- 5, 12-02
58. Alton Jones -- Waco, Tx -- 5, 12-02
60. Tony Couch -- Buckhead, Ga -- 5, 12-01
60. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Ms -- 4, 12-01
60. Craig Taylor -- Tallahassee, Fl -- 4, 12-01
63. Travis Adams -- Danielsville, Ga -- 5, 12-00
63. Michael Johnson -- Talking Rock, Ga -- 4, 12-00
65. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 4, 11-15
65. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 5, 11-15
67. Jody Cordell -- Flowery Branch, Ga -- 4, 11-14
68. Curt Lytle -- Zuni, Va -- 5, 11-12
68. Wes Thomas -- Hanover, In -- 3, 11-12
70. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5, 11-11
71. Jason Kilpatrick -- Satsuma, Al -- 5, 11-10
71. Mark Pack -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 11-10
73. Pete Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fl -- 5, 11-06
74. George Cochran -- Hot Springs Np, Ar -- 5, 11-04
75. Chris Mccall -- Jasper, Tx -- 4, 11-03
76. Richard Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 5, 11-02
76. Dale Teaney -- Williamsburg, Oh -- 4, 11-02
78. Toby Hartsell -- Livingston, Tx -- 5, 11-01
78. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 4, 11-01
80. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 4, 10-14
81. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 5, 10-12
82. Sean Hoernke -- Magnolia, Tx -- 5, 10-11
83. Al Gagliarducci -- Agawam, Ma -- 4, 10-07
84. Guido Hibdon -- Gravois Mills, Mo -- 4, 10-06
84. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 4, 10-06
86. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 5, 10-03
87. Clark Wendlandt -- Cedar Park, Tx -- 5, 10-02
88. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, Nj -- 4, 10-01
89. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 4, 9-13
90. Jeremiah Kindy -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 9-08
91. Kim Stricker -- Howell, Mi -- 5, 9-04
91. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 9-04
93. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Tx -- 3, 9-02
94. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, Tx -- 4, 9-01
94. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 4, 9-01
96. Carl Svebek Iii -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 3, 9-00
96. Stephen Tosh Jr -- Modesto, Ca -- 5, 9-00
98. Robert Sherry -- Saint Charles, Il -- 3, 8-15
99. Marcel Veenstra -- Brighton, Mi -- 4, 8-14
100. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Al -- 5, 8-13
101. Randy Morris -- Garfield, Ar -- 4, 8-12
101. Jeffrey Thomas -- Broadway, Nc -- 4, 8-12
103. Bobby Lanham -- Scottsdale, Az -- 4, 8-11
104. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 3, 8-10
104. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 3, 8-10
106. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Ok -- 5, 8-08
106. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 4, 8-08
108. Art Berry -- Hemet, Ca -- 3, 8-04
109. Randy Alexander -- London, Ky -- 4, 8-01
109. Dale Evans -- Ridgeville, Sc -- 3, 8-01
111. Ricky Shumpert -- Lexington, Sc -- 3, 7-15
112. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, Nc -- 3, 7-14
113. William Drown -- Roseland, Fl -- 2, 7-10
114. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo -- 3, 7-09
115. Glenn Miller -- Newborn, Ga -- 3, 7-08
116. Mary Divincenti -- Clinton, La -- 3, 7-07
117. James Quillman -- Plano, Tx -- 3, 7-06
117. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 3, 7-06
119. Roger Boler -- Slidell, La -- 5, 7-05
120. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 3, 7-04
120. James Parker -- Fayetteville, Nc -- 3, 7-04
122. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 3, 7-03
123. Billy Bowen Jr -- Ocala, Fl -- 3, 7-01
123. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Tx -- 2, 7-01
123. Rich Tauber -- Camarillo, Ca -- 2, 7-01
123. Alfred Williams -- Jackson, Ms -- 3, 7-01
127. Curt Mcguire -- Lawrenceburg, Tn -- 3, 6-13
128. Chris Elliott -- Gloucester, Nc -- 3, 6-09
129. David Lauer -- South Bend, In -- 2, 6-08
129. Kenneth Strickland -- Greensboro, Nc -- 3, 6-08
131. Shinichi Fukae -- Osaka Japan 566-0072 -- 2, 6-06
131. Mark Hardin -- Canton, Ga -- 3, 6-06
133. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Ms -- 3, 6-03
134. Jason Abram -- Chuckey, Tn -- 2, 6-02
135. Greg Gulledge -- Monticello, Ar -- 2, 5-15
135. Simon Morrow -- Alexander City, Al -- 2, 5-15
137. Mickey Bruce -- Buford, Ga -- 2, 5-14
138. Steve Galloway -- La Fayette, Ga -- 2, 5-11
138. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 2, 5-11
140. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, Nc -- 2, 5-08
140. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 2, 5-08
140. Charles King -- Shreveport, La -- 2, 5-08
140. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 2, 5-08
140. Jim Nolan -- Bull Shoals, Ar -- 3, 5-08
145. Nick Grebb -- Roseville, Ca -- 2, 5-03
145. Craig Powers -- Rockwood, Tn -- 2, 5-03
147. Pat Fisher -- Danielsville, Ga -- 1, 5-02
148. Chad Cook -- Summerville, Sc -- 2, 4-09
149. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 2, 4-07
149. Rusty Smith -- Somerset, Ky -- 2, 4-07
151. Jerry Green -- Justiceburg, Tx -- 1, 4-06
151. Mike Leblanc -- Colchester, Vt -- 2, 4-06
153. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 2, 4-05
154. Bobby Curtis -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 2, 4-02
155. Emily Shaffer -- Mount Juliet, Tn -- 2, 4-01
155. David Wright -- Lexington, Nc -- 1, 4-01
157. John Sappington -- Willard, Mo -- 2, 3-15
158. Warren Wyman -- Calera, Al -- 2, 3-14
159. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 2, 3-13
159. Paul Whitman Jr -- Dallas, Tx -- 2, 3-13
161. Lloyd Pickett Jr -- Bartlett, Tn -- 2, 3-10
161. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fl -- 2, 3-10
163. David Cooke -- Mooresville, Nc -- 2, 3-09
163. Lewis Denney -- Indian Mound, Tn -- 2, 3-09
165. Asa Godsey -- Clewiston, Fl -- 2, 3-07
166. Marcus Clouse -- Las Vegas, Nv -- 1, 3-04
166. Robert Karbas Jr -- Wake Forest, Nc -- 1, 3-04
168. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Oh -- 1, 3-02
169. Jim Carnell -- Muskogee, Ok -- 1, 2-12
170. Rusty Salewske -- Alpine, Ca -- 1, 2-11
171. Jim Kelley -- Athens, Al -- 1, 2-06
172. Todd Ary -- Moody, Al -- 1, 2-02
172. Brad Wall -- Clarksville, Oh -- 1, 2-02
174. Gary Riffle -- Paris, Tx -- 1, 2-01
174. Lee Skipper -- Lancaster, Sc -- 1, 2-01
176. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 1, 2-00
176. Masaki Shimono -- Shiga-Pref Japan -- 1, 2-00
178. Keith Pace -- Monticello, Ar -- 1, 1-15
178. Stephen Wilson -- Mission Hills, Ca -- 1, 1-15
180. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Ks -- 1, 1-14
180. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, Tn -- 1, 1-14
180. Richard Patterson -- Windermere, Fl -- 1, 1-14
183. Allen Cauthen -- Lancaster, Sc -- 1, 1-13
183. Mark Rizk -- Arab, Al -- 1, 1-13
185. Brennan Bosley -- Benton, Ar -- 1, 1-11
185. Chuck Economou -- Redington Shores, Fl -- 1, 1-11
187. Tim Shmigal -- Akron, Oh -- 1, 1-10
188. John Tanner -- Quitman, Tx -- 1, 1-07
189. Chic Aydelette -- Thomasville, Nc -- 3, 0-14
Mark Goines -- Shady Point, Ok -- 0, 0-00
Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 0, 0-00
Dennis Magoto -- Waynesville, Oh -- 0, 0-00
Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 0, 0-00
Rick Marsh -- High Point, Nc -- 0, 0-00
Jimmy Millsaps -- Canton, Ga -- 0, 0-00
Russ Moran -- Murfreesboro, Tn -- 0, 0-00
Karen Savik -- St. Louis Park, Mn -- 0, 0-00
Morizo Shimizu -- Suita, Osaka Japan 91, Ky -- 0, 0-00
Joe Small -- Marion, Ar -- 0, 0-00
Sam Swett -- Covington, La -- 0, 0-00

Big Bass
> Day 1 -- Ray Scheide -- 8-10 -- $750