Thomas Takes Advantage Of Ideal Day 1 Conditions

Beaver Lake is renowned for its spotted bass, but you'd better focus on other species if you hope to win the Wal-Mart

Open (Beaver FLW). None of the Top 6 had a single Kentucky in their bag on day 1. North Carolina's Jeffrey Thomas, who had nothing at all in his sack after 2 days at the previous event at Pickwick, led the way with a limit of largemouths that weighed 16-10.

Florida's Koby Kreiger was 2nd with 15-13 and Texan Takahiro Omori was 3rd with 15-11. Tennessee's Craig Powers (15-09) and Arkansas' Mark Rose (14-08) rounded out the Top 5.

Here's the lower half of the Top 10:

6. Toby Hartsell: 13-12
7. Aaron Martens: 12-10
8. Brent Chapman: 12-02
9. (tie) Terry Segraves: 11-13
9. (tie) Rusty Trancygier: 11-13

The Top 4 brought nothing but largemouths to the scales. Rose weighed in three smallmouths and two largemouths and Hartsell caught three largemouths and two smallmouths.

Some of the leaders stayed away from the spots intentionally, while others just sort of ran into the other species. Whatever the case, they were able to rise above the long parade of anglers whose stringers of spots averaged less than 2 pounds per fish. Considerably less, in many cases.

A rainy morning gave way to a calm, breezy, overcast day that was well-suited for catching fish. The real weather is expected to arrive in the Rogers, Ark. area tomorrow – strong storms with winds in excess of 20 mph are in the forecast.

The 200-angler field will be cut to the Top 10 after the day 2 weigh-in. The winner will be determined by highest combined weight over the final 2 days.

Thomas Hits Paydirt

Thomas didn't catch a keeper in 2 days at Pickwick and was 100th and 160th at the other two stops. He came here ready to gamble and hit an early jackpot.

"It gave me a different frame of mind," he said. "I'm pretty much done as far as making the (Forrest L. Wood) Championship and I figured I had nothing to lose, so I rolled the dice and fished for largemouths. The Good Lord blessed me and it worked out.

"I'd caught some good fish in practice, but it was two or maybe three a day at best, so I wasn't really sure (what he could catch today). The water's real clear and I think the overcast and the rain really helped me a lot. It suited my style better."

He caught just six keepers and the biggest was 4-09. His bites were spread throughout the day.

"I'm just power-fishing," he said. "I'm covering a lot of water and using big baits. When I get a bite, it's generally a good one."

He'll do the same thing tomorrow and hopes to catch at least 10 pounds. He doesn't have a backup plan.

"I tried to catch spots a little bit in practice, but I'm a power-fisherman and with them, you're talking finesse," he said. "I wish I had a way to get a limit of them, but I've got all my eggs in one basket.

"I've made the Top 10 at Beaver before (in 2002), and I was power-fishing then. I'm just trying to duplicate what I did back then."

Kreiger Getting a Look

Kreiger, in 2nd, has also struggled in 2006. He was 6th in the points last year, but has finished 182nd, 147th and 138th thus far.

He worked pockets near the dam where the fish were visible. When he saw a good one cruising around, he'd cast to it with a Zoom Trick Worm.

"They're just up there getting ready to spawn, and some of them are on the beds," he said. "Some of them bite and some don't."

He caught about a dozen keepers. Four of the first five were spots, but he gradually culled them out.

"There seem to be quite a few fish in there – I saw a lot more swimming around than I could catch," he said. "Maybe tomorrow I'll get some of those other ones to bite."

He's concerned about tomorrow's weather forecast. If the wind blows too hard, he won't be able to see beneath the surface.

"Today was a good day for doing something like I'm doing," he said. "It wasn't very windy and it was cloudy and warm. Tomorrow might be tough for me and I might have to switch up and do some different things."

He'd like to catch at least 8 pounds, but he'd feel safer with 10. "If I can get 10, then maybe I'll go practicing some more."

Omori Pumped

Omori, in 3rd, said he had his best-ever day at Beaver. He had only a day and a half of practice after arriving from the Santee Cooper Bassmaster Elite Series and decided to focus solely on largemouths.

He went up the White River and caught six keepers before noon. "There's not very many fish up there, but there's also not very many boats up there," he said.

"I'm just going for largemouths and I'll see what's going to happen. One day you can catch a big stringer and then the next day nothing, but I have to take my chances when I have a chance to make the Top 10."

He was characteristically tight-lipped about what he was doing. He hopes to catch at least 10 pounds tomorrow.

"I'll have to do my best and catch everything I can."

Powers Jerks Up a Jumble

Powers, in 4th, threw a jerkbait in the main lake all day. He caught about 30 keepers.

"I just went fishing and got lucky to catch five largemouths," he said. "The weather wasn't bad at all and it was just a nice day to fish."

He said he had an excellent practice, but didn't visit any of the areas he'd pre-fished. "Today I went to five places I'd never seen before. But I knew what I was looking for from practice, and the fish are doing about the same thing everywhere you go."

He'll employ a similar strategy tomorrow. "As far as weight-wise, I could catch 5 pounds or I could catch 15. If I get lucky again, I'll get largemouths. If I don't, I'll catch five spots that weigh (a combined) 5 pounds."

He said he'd feel comfortable if he caught at least 8 pounds. "I'm not going to back off if I get that though. You don't want to back off and then not make the cut."

Rose Sought Smallies

Rose, in 5th, targeted smallmouths and caught three rather quickly, but then his bite went dry.

"I never got that fourth one, so I had to fall back on a largemouth deal," he said. That produced his final two fish.

He's not sure if his area has anything left. "I milked it pretty good, so who knows for tomorrow," he said. "I'll go back and try it and see if anything works. If not, I'll try for largemouths."

He caught seven keepers, and his smallmouth were all in the 3-pound range. "They were pre-spawn and real fat. It was just good timing. I was really blessed with more than I expected today."

He has a goal weight in mind for tomorrow. "I'd love to go out and catch 12 pounds."

Hartsell Switches Gears

Hartsell, in 6th, fished for spots during the first half of the day.

"I just got tired of catching little fish after little fish," he said. "When I moved, I just happened to get myself into the right situation to catch some good ones."

He used a jig, a crankbait and a finesse worm and caught 10 keepers on the day. His mixed bag included a 3 1/2-pounder.

He caught four of his five weigh-in fish in the afternoon. "They were mainly caught out of one pocket," he said. "It's a really good spot and I think there's enough in there to do it again."

His goal for tomorrow is 10 pounds, but he's not sure how he'll try to achieve it. "I'll just go with whatever I feel. I'll wait and see what the weather conditions are.

"I've got more spots, but I didn't want to have to go to them today. After I caught what I had, I didn't want to burn up any more fish."

Monroe Braces for Fall

California's Ish Monroe came into the event 3rd in the points. He caught just one keeper for 0-15 and was in 194th.

He said his Angler of the Year (AOY) chances are history. "I just kissed that away. I'll drop down into the 40s, and you can't make that up in two tournaments."

Stubbornness was his undoing today. He said he could have easily caught a limit on a shaky-head worm, but insisted on fishing a crankbait because the conditions seemed perfect for it.

"This lake kills me," he said. "(Greg) Hackney told me before I came here to use nothing but a shaky-head, but I'm one of those people who has to swing for the fences.

"I'll go out tomorrow and catch a limit on the shaky-head just to keep up my points for the (Forrest L. Wood) Championship. The $500,000 (first prize) for that is a lot better than the AOY anyway."

He won't make the same mistake in the future. "When we come back here next time, I don't care what the fish are doing, I'll catch a limit on a shaky-head before I do anything else. Then I'll swing for the fences after that."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 200 anglers, 124 limits, three zeroes.

> Thomas said he accidentally "culled" a keeper spot before he had a limit. Because he was targeting largemouths, he was fixated on the 15-inch minimum length for that species. The minimum for spots is only 12 inches, but his fish was swimming free again before he realized what he'd done. "I'm glad I ended up not needing that one," he said.

> Monroe had plenty of company at the bottom of the heap from fellow two-tour pros. Steve Kennedy was 184th with 1-13, Fred Roumbanis was 191st with 1-01 and Alton Jones and Kelly Jordon were tied for 192nd with 1-00.

> BassFan News is brought to you by Rapala.

Weather Forecast

Here's the Weather Channel's forecast for the remaining tournament days.

> Thurs., April 6 – Scattered Strong Storms/Wind – 74°/55°
- Wind: From the S/SW at 21 mph

> Fri., April 7 – P.M. Showers – 71°/45°
- Wind: From the W/SW at 16 mph

> Sat., April 8 – Partly Cloudy – 60°/38°
- Wind: From the S/SE at 10 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Jeffrey Thomas -- Broadway, NC -- 5, 16-10

2. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 15-13

3. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Tx -- 5, 15-11

4. Craig Powers -- Rockwood, Tn -- 5, 15-09

5. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 5, 14-08

6. Toby Hartsell -- Livingston, Tx -- 5, 13-12

7. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Al -- 5, 12-10

8. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Ks -- 5, 12-02

9. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 5, 11-13

9. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 5, 11-13

11. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 5, 11-10
12. Thanh Le -- Davie, Fl -- 5, 11-04
13. Al Little -- Greensboro, NC -- 5, 11-03
14. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 5, 11-02
15. Yancy Windham -- Gordo, Al -- 5, 11-00
16. Stephen Tosh Jr -- Modesto, Ca -- 5, 10-15
17. Gabe Bolivar -- Ramona, Ca -- 5, 10-14
18. Shinichi Fukae -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 10-12
18. Katsutoshi Furusawa -- Tokyo Japan, Jp -- 4, 10-12
18. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Al -- 5, 10-12
21. Kim Stricker -- Howell, Mi -- 5, 10-11
22. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 5, 10-08
23. Randy Blaukat -- Lamar, Mo -- 5, 10-07
23. Chris Elliott -- Beaufort, NC -- 5, 10-07
25. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 10-06
26. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 5, 10-05
27. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 5, 10-04
28. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, NC -- 5, 10-03
28. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 10-03
28. Curt Lytle -- Zuni, Va -- 5, 10-03
31. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka, Japan -- 5, 10-02
32. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 5, 10-01
32. Mike Hawkes -- Sabinal, Tx -- 5, 10-01
34. Chris Cox -- Appleton, Wi -- 5, 10-00
34. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Al -- 5, 10-00
36. David Curtis -- Trinity, Tx -- 4, 9-14
37. Bill Chapman -- Salt Rock, Wv -- 5, 9-12
37. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 5, 9-12
37. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 9-12
40. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 9-08
41. David Cooke -- Mooresville, NC -- 3, 9-07
42. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 5, 9-06
42. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 5, 9-06
42. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 5, 9-06
45. Art Berry -- Hemet, Ca -- 5, 9-05
46. David Young -- Mayfield, Ky -- 3, 9-04
47. Jeremiah Kindy -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 9-02
47. Mark Pack -- Mineola, Tx -- 4, 9-02
49. Nate Wellman -- Jenison, Mi -- 5, 9-00
50. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 5, 8-15
50. Chris McCall -- Jasper, Tx -- 5, 8-15
52. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 5, 8-12
53. Toshinari Namiki -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 8-06
54. Ray Scheide -- Russellville, Ar -- 5, 8-05
55. Marcus Clouse -- Las Vegas, Nv -- 5, 8-04
56. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 5, 8-03
56. Craig Taylor -- Tallahassee, Fl -- 5, 8-03
58. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 5, 8-02
58. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 5, 8-02
60. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 8-01
61. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 8-00
61. Brad Wall -- Clarksville, Oh -- 5, 8-00
61. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 5, 8-00
64. Art Ferguson III -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 5, 7-15
65. David Smith -- Del City, Ok -- 5, 7-14
65. Dale Teaney -- Williamsburg, Oh -- 5, 7-14
67. Dale Evans -- Ridgeville, SC -- 5, 7-13
67. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- 5, 7-13
67. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 7-13
70. Charles Cummings -- Leeds, Al -- 5, 7-12
70. Sam Newby -- Pocola, Ok -- 4, 7-12
72. Mark Fann -- Clewiston, Fl -- 5, 7-11
72. John Tanner -- Quitman, Tx -- 5, 7-11
74. Keith Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 4, 7-10
75. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 7-09
75. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 5, 7-09
75. Bill Stutzman -- Nampa, Id -- 4, 7-09
78. Todd Ary -- Moody, Al -- 5, 7-08
79. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 7-07
79. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, Ar -- 5, 7-07
79. Bill Mcdonald -- Indianapolis, In -- 5, 7-07
79. Neil Nix -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 7-07
83. Mark Hardin -- Jasper, Ga -- 5, 7-06
83. John Sappington -- Willard, Mo -- 5, 7-06
85. Guido Hibdon -- Gravois Mills, Mo -- 5, 7-05
85. Wes Thomas -- Hanover, In -- 5, 7-05
87. Nick Grebb -- Maumelle, Ar -- 5, 7-04
88. Jim Blake -- LiNC oln, Ne -- 5, 7-03
88. Tony Couch -- Buckhead, Ga -- 5, 7-03
90. Jason Knapp -- Uniontown, Pa -- 3, 7-02
90. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 5, 7-02
90. David Wolak -- Warrior Run, Pa -- 5, 7-02
90. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 7-02
94. Richard Lowitzki -- St Charles, Il -- 5, 7-01
95. Terry Tucker -- Gadsden, Al -- 5, 7-00
96. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, NC -- 5, 6-15
96. Al Gagliarducci -- Agawam, Ma -- 5, 6-15
96. Charles King -- Shreveport, La -- 5, 6-15
99. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, NC -- 5, 6-14
100. Robert Karbas Jr -- Wake Forest, NC -- 5, 6-13
100. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 5, 6-13
100. Robert Sherry -- Saint Charles, Il -- 4, 6-13
100. Marcel Veenstra -- Brighton, Mi -- 5, 6-13
104. Jacob Powroznik -- PriNC e George, Va -- 5, 6-12
105. Jody Cordell -- Flowery Branch, Ga -- 5, 6-11
105. Chip Harrison -- Bremen, In -- 5, 6-11
105. George Jeane Jr -- Evans, La -- 5, 6-11
105. Tim Klinger -- Boulder City, Nv -- 4, 6-11
105. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 5, 6-11
110. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Ok -- 2, 6-09
110. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 5, 6-09
112. Bobby Curtis -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 5, 6-08
112. Tony Defilippo -- Lake Ann, Mi -- 4, 6-08
112. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 6-08
115. J T Kenney -- Daytona Beach, Fl -- 5, 6-07
116. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 4, 6-06
116. Clay Dyer -- Hamilton, Al -- 5, 6-06
116. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 5, 6-06
119. R J Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 4, 6-03
119. Brennan Bosley -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 6-03
119. Dwayne Horton -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 6-03
119. Rick Marsh -- High Point, NC -- 3, 6-03
119. Sam Swett -- Covington, La -- 5, 6-03
124. Jason Abram -- Chuckey, Tn -- 5, 6-02
125. Pat Fisher -- Buckhead, Ga -- 3, 6-01
126. Kevin Vida -- Clare, Mi -- 5, 6-00
127. Mark Goines -- Shady Point, Ok -- 4, 5-15
127. Clint Johanson -- Benton City, Wa -- 3, 5-15
127. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 5, 5-15
127. Steve Wilson -- Lufkin, Tx -- 5, 5-15
131. Ralph Laster Jr -- Lees Summit, Mo -- 3, 5-14
132. Jerry Green -- Justiceburg, Tx -- 5, 5-13
133. Kevin Long -- Berkley, Mi -- 4, 5-12
134. Danny Correia -- Marlborough, Ma -- 4, 5-11
134. Jack Gadlage -- Benton, Ky -- 5, 5-11
134. Jay Yelas -- Tyler, Tx -- 2, 5-11
137. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 5, 5-10
138. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 4, 5-09
138. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 5, 5-09
140. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 5, 5-08
141. Rich Tauber -- Camarillo, Ca -- 5, 5-07
142. Barrett Moss -- Somerset, Ky -- 4, 5-06
142. John Murray -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 5-06
144. John Peters -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 4, 5-05
145. Mike Ellenstein -- Newburgh, In -- 3, 5-03
146. Alvin Shaw -- State Road, NC -- 5, 5-02
147. Shirley Crain -- Van Buren, Ar -- 5, 5-01
148. Mike Leblanc -- Colchester, Vt -- 5, 5-00
148. Chuck Medley -- Owens Cross Roads, Al -- 5, 5-00
150. James Parker -- Fayetteville, NC -- 4, 4-15
150. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 5, 4-15
152. Jimmy Millsaps -- Canton, Ga -- 5, 4-14
152. Randy Morris -- Garfield, Ar -- 4, 4-14
154. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 3, 4-12
155. Keith Pace -- Monticello, Ar -- 4, 4-10
156. Tee Watkins -- East Point, Ky -- 4, 4-08
157. Michael Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 3, 4-07
158. Wayne Jeffcoat -- Chapin, SC -- 4, 4-06
159. Rock Monteith -- Columbia, SC -- 3, 4-05
160. Brad Dunn -- Fayetteville, Ar -- 3, 4-03
160. Billy Schroeder -- Paducah, Ky -- 4, 4-03
162. Chad Cook -- Summerville, SC -- 1, 4-02
163. Derek Jones -- Chicago, Il -- 4, 4-01
164. Sean Hoernke -- Magnolia, Tx -- 4, 4-00
165. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, SC -- 1, 3-14
165. Kevin Lasyone -- Dry Prong, La -- 2, 3-14
165. Emily Shaffer -- Mount Juliet, Tn -- 3, 3-14
168. Aaron Hastings -- Middletown, Md -- 4, 3-12
169. John Crews -- Salem, Va -- 2, 3-11
170. Tim Carroll -- Owasso, Ok -- 4, 3-10
170. Cecil Kingsley -- Lawrence, Ks -- 4, 3-10
172. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 4, 3-08
172. Carl Svebek Iii -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 3, 3-08
174. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 2, 3-06
175. Alfred Williams -- Jackson, Ms -- 3, 3-02
176. Gary Riffle -- Paris, Tx -- 2, 3-01
177. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 3, 2-15
178. Lewis Denney -- Indian Mound, Tn -- 3, 2-14
179. Andre Moore -- Alabaster, Al -- 2, 2-12
180. James Quillman -- Dallas, Tx -- 2, 2-08
181. Jason Kilpatrick -- Satsuma, Al -- 2, 2-06
182. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 1, 2-02
183. Asa Godsey -- Clewiston, Fl -- 2, 2-00
184. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Al -- 2, 1-13
185. Brian Hensley -- Edwardsburg, Mi -- 1, 1-12
186. William Davis -- Russellville, Al -- 1, 1-11
187. Harmon Davis -- Marlow, Ok -- 1, 1-09
187. Pierre Fortin -- Lady Lake, Fl -- 1, 1-09
189. Tom Burns -- Carbondale, Il -- 1, 1-08
190. Pete Gluszek -- Franklinville, Nj -- 1, 1-04
191. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, Ca -- 1, 1-01
192. Alton Jones -- Waco, Tx -- 1, 1-00
192. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Tx -- 1, 1-00
194. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 1, 0-15
195. William Drown -- Roseland, Fl -- 1, 0-14
196. David Lauer -- South Bend, In -- 1, 0-13
197. Zack Bull -- Memphis, Tn -- 1, 0-11
Roger Crafton -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 0, 0-00
Karen Savik -- St. Louis Park, Mn -- 0, 0-00
Tim Sitterding -- Freetown, In -- 0, 0-00

Big Bass

Day 1: Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Ks -- 5-09 -- $750