Lashlee Comes In Blind, Bags 16-06 To Take Lead

No practice, no problem.

Sam Lashlee learned that he'd be fishing the Old Hickory FLW Series less than 24 hours before the tournament started. Consequently, he didn't get to pre-fish for the event.

That certainly didn't hurt him today. He worked locations where he'd done well in the past – some shallow, some deep – and bagged a 16-06 limit to lead day 1.

He has a 7-ounce lead over good friend Ashley Hayes, another Tennessee resident who made his Series debut today. Hayes is on a group of big fish and would have led by an ounce, but a half-pound penalty for a dead fish dropped his official weight to 15-15.

Texan Sean Hoernke was just another ounce back in 3rd with 15-14. Gary Clouse, a third Tennessean fishing his first Series event, was 4th with 15-05, and Michael Brown and Stacey King were tied for 5th with 14-09.

Here's the rest of the Top 10:

7. Tommy Martin: 14-00
8. Matt Herren: 13-14
9. Luke Clausen: 13-11
10. Andy Morgan: 13-07

The thunderstorms that were forecast for the Gallatin, Tenn. area didn't occur. Instead, it was another mid-summer-type day with temperatures that pushed 100 degrees and not even the hint of a breeze.

On top of that, the Army Corps of Engineers didn't pull any water through the dam today. The lake was so stagnant that Hoernke drove his boat around in circles to oxygenate the water on a ledge that he knew held fish. He caught a 5-pounder shortly thereafter.

Scattered thunderstorms, along with a drop in the high temperature to 79 degrees, are predicted for tomorrow. The southwest wind is expected to top out at 6 mph.

The entire 200-angler field will fish the first 3 days, but only the Top 10 will be around for the final day (Saturday). The winner will be determined by combined weight over all 4 days.

Lashlee Ran Around

Lashlee lives about 2 hours away in Camden and fishes several tournaments here each year. He got into the event off the waiting list and said his lack of practice might have been a blessing.

"I thought it was a longshot for me to get in, but I got a call at the last minute saying my number was up," he said. "I didn't know what the fish were doing and I didn't talk to anybody.

"I've got a few little places where I know I can catch some fish, and it might have been an advantage that I didn't practice because nobody was pounding those areas. I started out fishing kind of shallow and I caught a few, then that bite died. Then I moved deeper and caught a few, then that died. I just kept running around hitting stuff I know and I ended up with 16 pounds."

He caught fish on a combination of Strike King crankbaits, jigs and spinnerbaits. He had a lot of fun today, but tomorrow could be another story – he thinks he might've burned through most of his good fish.

"I worked really hard to catch what I caught, and I'm going to have to find some new fish to keep doing well," he said. "But I know the lake – I know where they've been and where they're going."

He said that if the Corps pulls some water, a 20-pound bag is possible.

"If they pull current, you'll see some bigger weights. It positions the fish better so they're not so spread out and makes them more active and aggressive.

"It puts them in a true sweet spot where you know they'll be. When they don't pull, those fish just scatter. They could be chasing shad up on the flats or whatever."

2nd: Hayes On Some Hawgs

Hayes caught only six keepers, but he said his primary spot has the potential to keep giving up sacks like the one he whacked today.

"I'm fishing a creek that has a drop to about 10 feet, and they're stacked in it," he said. "There's a big school of fish and they're all 4-, 5- and 6-pounders.

"I've kind of got one guy who could mess me up – he saw me catch my big one (a 5-13, which tied Lashlee for biggest of the day) right off the bat and he came over and caught a couple of keepers, and I got mad and left. I came back later and he was gone, and that's when I caught the fire out of them."

Like Lashlee, he relied exclusively on Strike King baits.

"We're good buddies and we're both on the Strike King team," he said. "It's pretty exciting that we're 1st and 2nd and tied for big fish."

He already knows what it's like to win $100,000 here – he and partner Randy Hargis topped the Stratos Owners World Championship in 2004. He fishes two or three of Old Hickory's numerous local tournaments per month.

"With where I'm fishing, I should be in pretty good shape," he said. "If I can catch 10 pounds a day over the next 2 days, I believe I'll make the Top 10."

3rd: Textbook Day for Hoernke

Hoernke had a 12-pound limit by 8:00 and improved it later in the day with his second 5-pounder.

"It was just a textbook post-spawn day," he said. "The fish are scattered everywhere and it's hard to find a group of fish, and I don't have one. I just ran round and fished a few little patterns, a couple shallow and a couple deep, and I got about a dozen keeper bites.

"I fished some offshore structure and some shallow cover and I caught two 5-pounders – one deep and one shallow. I'm just kind of rolling with it and fishing by the seat of my pants."

The best part about his solid early limit was that he didn't have to burn much of his best water.

"It was about as good of a day as I could have asked for. I feel like I still have plenty of water that's holding fish that hasn't been pounded."

He caught his second big one right after turning a couple of donuts in his boat to churn up the water. "I think those fish had gotten so used to the Memorial Day traffic that they didn't know how to act when it was slick and calm, so I stirred it up a little and caught another 5."

5th: Old Haunts for Brown

Brown, an FLW Tour pro from North Carolina, is focused exclusively on shallow water.

"I tried fishing deep for 3 days in practice and just never could figure it out," he said. "I've fished here a lot in the fall, and I'm kind of resorting back to those areas.

"It worked out today, but it might not tomorrow."

He said he caught about three limits worth of keepers on a crankbait. His best fish was a 5-09.

"This place is laid out perfectly for a shallow crankbait fisherman, and I'm just going to keep doing it," he said. "I'm just fishing places that are natural for (the fish) to pull up and feed, and there are a lot of places like that.

"If I'm there when they're feeding, I should do good."

5th: King Confident

Missouri veteran King's bag was highlighted by a smallmouth that weighed nearly 4 pounds.

"My confidence is pretty good," he said. "I caught fish every day in practice and I caught them several different ways.

"Today was a little bit unusual because I caught three real nice ones (over 3 pounds). I'd been getting only about one of those a day."

He's fishing both shallow and deep, and said his continued success might hinge on factors out of his control.

"It all kind of depends on water generation and weather," he said. "The offshore stuff really depends on current generation.

"If I have to, I can just beat the banks and junk-fish in the shallow water. I think that'll get me a few fish each day."

Powers: No Excuses

Craig Powers suffered a zero on day 1 in his home state.

"I could make up a bunch of crap, but I have no idea what happened," he said. "I can't come up with any excuses. I just stunk.

"I only live 2 hours away, but I never fish this place because I hate it," he said. "But I had a decent practice – as good as I could have expected. I didn't have any equipment breakdowns or any other problems. I just didn't catch them."

What will he do tomorrow? "Just go out and practice, brother. That's all there is to do."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 200 anglers, 88 limits, 23 fours, 37 threes, 30 twos, 12 ones, 10 zeroes.

> Lashlee and Hayes both have day jobs: Lashlee is a mortgage banker and Hayes owns a masonry business.

> Lashlee likes Hayes' chances better than his own. "He's very familiar with this lake and he knows what to do when they pull water and when they don't pull water, and he's got some fish saved. He's the one to beat."

> This will likely be the only Series event Hayes fishes this year, but he plans to compete on the entire circuit in 2007.

> For awhile, it looked like King's day might end early. His co-angler became ill from the heat, and King thought he might have to take him back to the launch. "He finally soaked a towel in the cooler and wrapped it around his head, and I ran him up and down the lake 4 or 5 miles. It got him cooled off enough so I could fish the last couple hours, but that heat was tough on me too."

> Kim Bain caught 10-13, which was more than twice as much as her husband, Andre Moore (5-03). Bain is in 26th place and Moore is in 134th.

> Powers didn't plan to sit around and try to figure out why he didn't catch any fish. He was headed to a Nashville park for a two-on-two basketball game – him and Koby Kreiger against David Dudley and Jacob Powroznik. He predicted victory for his team. "I don't know if you've ever seen Powroznik, but he's not the most athletic guy in the world."

Weather Forecast

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

> Thur, June 1 – Scattered T-Storms – 79°/64°
- Wind: From the SW at 6 mph

> Fri, June 2 – Scattered T-Storms – 79°/60°
- Wind: From the N/NW at 10 mph

> Sat, June 3 – Sunny – 81°/60°
- Wind: From the N/NE at 7 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tn -- 5, 16-06

2. Ashley Hayes -- Rockvale, Tn -- 5, 15-15

3. Sean Hoernke -- Magnolia, Tx -- 5, 15-14

4. Gary Clouse -- La Vergne, Tn -- 5, 15-05

5. Michael Brown -- Rocky Face, Ga -- 5, 14-09

5. Stacey King -- Reeds Spring, Mo -- 5, 14-09

7. Tommy Martin -- Hemphill, Tx -- 5, 14-00

8. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Al -- 5, 13-14

9. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 13-11

10. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 5, 13-07

11. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 13-06

12. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 5, 13-05

13. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 12-11

14. Woo Daves -- Spring Grove, Va -- 4, 12-05

14. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5, 12-05

16. Jack Wade -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 12-00

17. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 5, 11-14

18. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 5, 11-08

19. Richard Patterson -- Windermere, Fl -- 5, 11-07

20. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 11-06

21. Robert Degrandcourt -- Springfield, Va -- 5, 11-04
22. Mike Hicks -- Goochland, Va -- 5, 11-00
23. Bill Day -- Frankfort, Ky -- 5, 10-15
23. Jay Yelas -- Tyler, Tx -- 5, 10-15
25. O T Fears Iii -- Sallisaw, Ok -- 5, 10-14
26. Kim Bain -- Alabaster, Al -- 5, 10-13
26. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 5, 10-13
28. Chris Elliott -- Beaufort, Nc -- 5, 10-09
28. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 5, 10-09
30. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, Nc -- 5, 10-05
30. Kelly Albert -- Goodlettsville, Tn -- 5, 10-05
30. Eric Ambort -- Mabelvale, Ar -- 5, 10-05
33. Noriaki Narita -- Chiba Japan, Jp -- 5, 10-04
34. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 10-03
35. R J Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 5, 10-02
35. Brennan Bosley -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 10-02
37. Art Berry -- Hemet, Ca -- 5, 10-01
37. Randy Blaukat -- Lamar, Mo -- 5, 10-01
37. Bobby Lanham -- Scottsdale, Az -- 3, 10-01
37. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 5, 10-01
41. Jason Knapp -- Uniontown, Pa -- 5, 10-00
42. Terry Baksay -- Easton, Ct -- 5, 9-15
42. Marcel Veenstra -- Brighton, Mi -- 4, 9-15
44. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 5, 9-14
44. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 9-14
46. Harold Allen -- Shelbyville, Tx -- 5, 9-11
46. Brent Crow -- Hartselle, Al -- 5, 9-11
46. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 5, 9-11
49. Shawn Hagler -- Sugar Land, Tx -- 5, 9-10
49. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 5, 9-10
49. Danny White -- Milledgeville, Ga -- 5, 9-10
52. Rusty Salewske -- Alpine, Ca -- 4, 9-09
53. Scott Napier -- Lebanon, Tn -- 5, 9-08
54. Travis Loyd -- Vienna, Il -- 5, 9-03
55. Jason Meninger -- Gainesville, Ga -- 5, 9-02
56. Frank Ippoliti -- Smithsburg, Md -- 5, 9-01
57. John Kitchens -- Atlanta, Ga -- 5, 9-00
58. Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga -- 5, 8-14
59. Adam Wagner -- Cookeville, Tn -- 5, 8-13
60. Tony Chachere -- Opelousas, La -- 5, 8-12
60. Tim Peek -- Sharpsburg, Ga -- 5, 8-12
62. Shawn Strader -- Rockwood, Tn -- 4, 8-11
63. Kyle Mabrey -- Birmingham, Al -- 5, 8-10
64. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 5, 8-09
64. Paul Driskell -- Jefferson, Ga -- 5, 8-09
64. Frank Lannom -- Mount Juliet, Tn -- 4, 8-09
67. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, Ar -- 5, 8-08
67. Ott Defoe -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 8-08
67. Tom Obryant -- Cedar Grove, Tn -- 5, 8-08
67. David Wharton -- Sam Rayburn, Tx -- 5, 8-08
71. Patrick Baynes -- Chatsworth, Ga -- 5, 8-07
71. Art Ferguson Iii -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 5, 8-07
71. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 8-07
71. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 5, 8-07
75. Tim Messer -- Hendersonville, Tn -- 5, 8-06
75. Wes Thomas -- Hanover, In -- 5, 8-06
77. Peter Cherkas -- Des Moines, Ia -- 5, 8-05
77. Chris Daves -- Hopewell, Va -- 5, 8-05
77. Bud Pruitt -- Spring, Tx -- 5, 8-05
80. Travis Adams -- Danielsville, Ga -- 3, 8-04
80. Jimmy Millsaps -- Canton, Ga -- 5, 8-04
82. Mark Hardin -- Jasper, Ga -- 4, 8-02
83. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 5, 8-01
83. Keith Whitley -- Gallatin, Tn -- 4, 8-01
85. Simon Morrow -- Alexander City, Al -- 5, 8-00
86. Curt Lytle -- Zuni, Va -- 5, 7-15
86. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 4, 7-15
86. Russ Moran -- Manchester, Tn -- 5, 7-15
89. Ken Bearden -- La Grange, Ga -- 3, 7-14
90. Shinichi Fukae -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 7-13
91. J T Kenney -- Daytona Beach, Fl -- 3, 7-12
92. Johnny Lesesne -- Blue Ridge, Ga -- 4, 7-11
93. Kevin Marrs -- Melbourne, Fl -- 5, 7-10
94. Trey Bain -- Hendersonville, Tn -- 4, 7-09
95. Danny Pierce -- Greenbrier, Ar -- 4, 7-07
96. Michael Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 5, 7-06
96. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 4, 7-06
98. Mike Cox -- Huntsville, Al -- 5, 7-05
98. Nick Grebb -- Maumelle, Ar -- 3, 7-05
100. Chip Hawkins -- White Hall, Ar -- 4, 7-03
101. Sam Swett -- Covington, La -- 5, 7-01
102. Jerry Green -- Justiceburg, Tx -- 3, 7-00
102. Bryan Montgomery -- Lebanon, Tn -- 4, 7-00
104. Edward Gettys -- Stevenson, Al -- 2, 6-15
104. Carl Svebek Iii -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 5, 6-15
106. Ray Scheide -- Russellville, Ar -- 5, 6-14
106. Paul Whitman Jr -- Dallas, Tx -- 4, 6-14
108. Barrett Moss -- Somerset, Ky -- 5, 6-12
109. Jason Abram -- Chuckey, Tn -- 5, 6-10
110. John Hempel -- Brownstown, Mi -- 3, 6-09
111. Tim Johnson -- Dallas, Ga -- 3, 6-08
111. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 4, 6-08
113. Theron Caldwell -- Fort Worth, Tx -- 2, 6-07
113. Jeff Magee -- Mendenhall, Ms -- 3, 6-07
115. Mike Auten -- Benton, Ky -- 4, 6-06
116. Matt Bichanich -- Fort Atkinson, Wi -- 4, 6-04
116. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 5, 6-04
116. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 4, 6-04
119. Pat Fisher -- Buckhead, Ga -- 3, 6-03
120. Steve Redding -- Irvine, Ca -- 3, 6-02
121. Harry Barton -- Sterrett, Al -- 4, 6-01
122. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 3, 5-15
122. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, Tn -- 3, 5-15
124. David Fritts -- Lexington, Nc -- 3, 5-14
124. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 4, 5-14
126. Steve Wilson -- Lufkin, Tx -- 3, 5-13
127. Brian Bylotas -- Olyphant, Pa -- 4, 5-12
127. Mike Hawkes -- Sabinal, Tx -- 3, 5-12
129. H.D. Dotson -- Paintsville, Ky -- 3, 5-08
130. Tommy Mcknight -- Kosciusko, Ms -- 4, 5-06
130. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 2, 5-06
130. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 3, 5-06
130. Terry Tucker -- Gadsden, Al -- 3, 5-06
134. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, Al -- 2, 5-03
134. Andre Moore -- Alabaster, Al -- 3, 5-03
134. Michael Murphy -- Gilbert, Sc -- 3, 5-03
137. Guido Hibdon -- Gravois Mills, Mo -- 3, 5-02
137. Mark Rizk -- Arab, Al -- 3, 5-02
139. Tommy Carpenter -- Jacksons Gap, Al -- 3, 5-01
139. Chris Mccall -- Jasper, Tx -- 3, 5-01
139. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, Tx -- 3, 5-01
142. Brian Mathis -- Columbia, Sc -- 3, 5-00
142. Gary Riffle -- Paris, Tx -- 3, 5-00
144. Jody Cordell -- Flowery Branch, Ga -- 3, 4-15
145. Bill Stutzman -- Nampa, Id -- 3, 4-14
146. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 3, 4-13
147. Steve Wright -- Oskaloosa, Ia -- 3, 4-12
148. Jeff Baker -- Hendersonville, Tn -- 2, 4-10
148. Jason Reyes -- Humble, Tx -- 3, 4-10
150. Johnny Crase -- Lexington, Ky -- 2, 4-09
150. John Sappington -- Willard, Mo -- 2, 4-09
152. Jason Kilpatrick -- Satsuma, Al -- 3, 4-07
152. Mark King -- Gurdon, Ar -- 2, 4-07
154. Greg Bohannan -- Rogers, Ar -- 3, 4-04
154. Tim Mcdonald -- Hagerhill, Ky -- 2, 4-04
156. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 2, 4-01
157. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, Nc -- 3, 4-00
157. Brad Wall -- Clarksville, Oh -- 2, 4-00
159. Fabian Rodriguez -- Ocean City, Md -- 3, 3-13
160. Wayne Jeffcoat -- Chapin, Sc -- 2, 3-12
160. Jeremiah Kindy -- Benton, Ar -- 2, 3-12
162. Roger Crafton -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 2, 3-11
162. Sam Newby -- Pocola, Ok -- 2, 3-11
162. Tomohiro Usui -- Gifu, Japan 501-04-66 -- 2, 3-11
165. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Al -- 2, 3-10
165. Jeffrey Thomas -- Broadway, Nc -- 2, 3-10
167. Tim Farley -- Lula, Ga -- 2, 3-09
168. Edward Guice -- Decatur, Al -- 2, 3-08
169. Curt Mcguire -- Lawrenceburg, Tn -- 2, 3-05
170. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 2, 3-03
170. Harmon Davis -- Marlow, Ok -- 2, 3-03
170. Tim Shmigal -- Akron, Oh -- 2, 3-03
173. Horace Alred -- Cedartown, Ga -- 2, 3-02
173. Bobby Curtis -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 2, 3-02
173. David Mansue -- Robbinsville, Nj -- 2, 3-02
176. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 2, 3-01
177. Scott Lunsford -- Calhoun, Ga -- 2, 2-13
178. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 1, 2-09
179. Rick Marsh -- High Point, Nc -- 2, 2-06
180. Willie White -- Powder Springs, Ga -- 1, 2-03
181. Douglas Jones -- Fort Gibson, Ok -- 1, 2-02
182. Mary Divincenti -- Clinton, La -- 1, 1-14
182. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 1, 1-14
184. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 1, 1-13
184. Lloyd Pickett Jr -- Bartlett, Tn -- 1, 1-13
186. Dale Evans -- Ridgeville, Sc -- 1, 1-11
187. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, Tn -- 1, 1-10
188. Matthew Crabill -- Murfreesboro, Tn -- 1, 1-09
189. Mark Burgess -- Norton, Ma -- 1, 1-04
190. Marty Sisk -- Evansville, In -- 1, 1-03
James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, Fl -- 0, 0-00
Erwin Cole -- Murfreesboro, Tn -- 0, 0-00
Steve Cornett -- Manchester, Ky -- 0, 0-00
Dwayne Horton -- Knoxville, Tn -- 0, 0-00
Scott Lefevers -- Mount Juliet, Tn -- 0, 0-00
Keith Monson -- Burgin, Ky -- 0, 0-00
Rock Monteith -- Columbia, Sc -- 0, 0-00
Cliff Pace -- Petal, Ms -- 0, 0-00
Craig Powers -- Rockwood, Tn -- 0, 0-00
Richard Wyrick -- Frankfort, Il -- 0, 0-00

Big Bass Leaders

Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tn -- 5-13
Ashley Hayes -- Rockvale, Tn -- 5-13