Californians Gutierrez, Monroe Set Fast Pace On Day 1

In this game, size only matters when you're talking about the fish.

Greg Gutierrez, one of the smallest anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series, caught the biggest bag today at Clear Lake. The 5-foot-3 full-time firefighter hauled in 32-13 to take the day-1 lead in what could become a record-breaking tournament as thousands of big fish have moved into the shallows and appear poised to lock onto spawning beds.

He has a 4-ounce lead over fellow Californian Ish Monroe, who's 2nd with 32-09. He predicted 9 days ago that Preston Clark's 4-day record of 115-15 would be broken at this event.

Florida's Peter Thliveros weighed 28-11 to grab the No. 3 slot. South Carolina rookie Jason Williamson is 4th with 28-10 and North Carolina's Britt Myers was 5th with 28-09.

Here's a look at the current Top 12 (red numbers in parentheses indicate deficit margin from leader):

1. Greg Gutierrez: 32-13
2. Ish Monroe: 32-09 (0-04)
3. Peter Thliveros: 28-11 (4-02)
4. Jason Williamson: 28-10 (4-03)
5. Britt Myers: 28-09 (4-04)
6. John Murray: 27-13 (5-00)
7. (tie) Kevin VanDam: 27-08 (5-05)
7. (tie) Kurt Dove: 27-08 (5-05)
9. Kevin Wirth: 27-02 (5-11)
10. Ray Sedgwick: 27-00 (5-13)
11. Russ Lane: 26-13 (6-00)
12. (tie) Skeet Reese: 26-12 (6-01)
12. (tie) Mike McClelland: 26-12 (6-01)

This place is just getting warmed up – literally and fishing-wise. The below-freezing overnight temperatures brought on by a cold front that arrived early in the week are gone, and the bite is back to where it was a week ago. And it should only get better.

Anglers reported seeing huge numbers of 6-pound-plus fish cruising the shallows. If they lock on in the next couple of days, this will become a full-blown sight-fishing slugfest.

All 108 anglers caught a limit, and nearly half of those bags (51) weighed 20 pounds or more. The lightest checked in at 13 pounds – a decent sack on a lot of venues. Davy Hite had a 10-pound kicker, and all it got him was a tie for 16th place.

Forty pounds might be needed to get into the Top 50 cut after tomorrow's weigh-in. Skeet Reese and Mike McClelland are currently tied for 12th, but the next 28 anglers are all within 5 pounds of them.

Anglers who were in the last flight today (Gutierrez was among them) had a definite advantage as more and more fish kept moving up. Everybody will get a crack at them tomorrow.

The field will be cut to 12 after Saturday's weigh-in, and the winner will be determined by highest combined weight over 4 days.

Gutierrez Surprised

Gutierrez started the day with the idea that a 22-pound bag would be respectable.

"I wasn't thinking about fish like those," he said. "I thought if I could catch three (4-pounders) and a couple of 5s to boost me up a little over 20 pounds, I'd be right in my comfort zone."

He ended up throwing back 4-pounders for much of the day. His bag was anchored by a 10-00 that matched Hite for big bass, and each of the other four weighed at least 5.

He fished offshore with a big jig first thing this morning, then went flipping after he had a limit. He caught his brute and two other weigh-in fish on the big rod.

He fished most of the day in the south end of the lake, and then finished up in the north. He didn't do any sight-fishing today, but said he probably will tomorrow.

"I'll change up my schedule a little bit. I'll start on the last place I stopped today, where there was a ton of swimbait fish, and I'd like to get one or two of those.

"Then I've got a little rockpile with three fish ready to (lock on). If I can work a little finesse magic on those guys, that's 35 pounds on three fish."

Realistically, he'd be happy with a bag that was 2/3 the size of today's.

"If I caught 20 to 25 pounds, I'd be okay with that. I'm fishing pretty relaxed right now."

2nd: Monroe Makes Right Moves

It seemed that Monroe could do no wrong.

"I basically ran around a lot, fished a lot of big-fish water, and caught fish off of every spot but one," he said. "I fished a lot of stuff I didn't practice on because I didn't want anybody to see me on those places."

He had a 20-pound limit in his livewell after about 45 minutes, and then culled four times throughout the rest of the day. His five weigh-in fish came from four different locations.

He didn't sight-fish at all today, but plans to look at a few tomorrow.

"Another day or 2 and a bunch of them will be ready. There's probably some locking on as we speak."

He didn't have much company, and hopes that phenomenon continues.

"There were a few boats at my first stop, but the rest of the day I was pretty much all alone."

He'd be happy with anything over 20 pounds tomorrow.

"If I can get that and add a couple more good bites, then it'd be 25 or 30."

3rd: Thliveros Secretive

Thliveros didn't want to say much about how he fished today because he thinks it might be something that's unique to the entire field.

"I'm doing something that's pretty different and it's working – at least it was today. Tomorrow might be different, but I'll have to wait and see."

He caught about 10 keepers and his bag was topped by a 9-02. He said the lack of wind played to his advantage.

He spent all of his time in the south end and encountered a lot of company. "The good thing was I was able to catch fish behind people."

Like Gutierrez, he said 20 to 25 pounds is a realistic target weight for tomorrow.

"It's possible to catch all 5-pounders, but there's no way of knowing if you're going to get one over 9, or even over 7."

4th: Williamson Connects Early

Williamson had 20 pounds socked away by 8:20. He didn't expect to catch much more than that all day.

"I figured I could catch 20 to 22 pounds," he said. "I just got more big bites than I thought I would."

He started the day out deep, then moved to the shallows at about 11:30. He went through 10 keepers and his biggest fish weighed 6-13.

"I'm around a bunch of good ones – it's just a matter of catching them."

He plans to do some sight-fishing tomorrow.

"I won about $100,000 doing that on the (Bassmaster Northern and Southern tours) last year, and that's my strength. If they're up on the beds, that should be even better for me."

7th: Personal Record for Dove

Virginia 2nd-year pro Kurt Dove had never caught a 27 1/2-pound bag before.

"I'm totally jacked," he said. "I think last year I had one that was 23 pounds or something. I'm just really excited."

He didn't get on anything solid until the final practice day. He fished shallow prior to that and caught mostly small males.

"What I started to do was try to find areas that were a little deeper, where the big females would be coming from. I found three quality fish in one spot, and that's what clued me in to that type of area."

His bag didn't contain a fish over 6 1/2 pounds.

"It's like they were quintuplets – they were all identical. Some of the guys who got big weights got a big bite, and hopefully I'll get one tomorrow and make up some ground on the leaders."

He doesn't plan to sight-fish tomorrow, but that could change.

"I like sight-fishing, but I like to do it when they're ready to eat the trolling motor. I've seen a lot of cruisers, but they weren't locked on.

"The reason I think I'm pretty proficient at sight-fishing is I don't play around with the ones that are going to be here today, then gone tomorrow."

9th: Wirth Gets an Eyeful

Kevin Wirth saw so many big fish today that he's sure weights will be even higher tomorrow.

"It might get ugly the next couple of days," he said. "They're just sitting there by the thousands, ready to lock down."

He caught his biggest fish (a 9-09) and a 6-pounder off the same bed. He left and came back later, and said a monster had moved onto that bed.

"It was at least 12 or 13 pounds – it was way bigger than the 9-09."

He also said he saw "literally hundreds of 6- to 10-pounders" on the shady side of a single dock.

"I've never seen that many show up like that. Now that the (air temperature) is getting up into the 70s and there's a full moon coming (on Monday), they should definitely be locked down by Saturday.

"You could see a 40-pound bag put together pretty quick."

106th: Remitz Digs a Hole

Alabama rookie Derek Remitz has a lot of work to do if he wants to keep his two-tournament streak of finishing in the Top 2 alive. He caught just 13-04 today.

"I just missed the ball," he said. "I knew a lot of fish were going to move up, but I didn't think they'd do it today. I'll have to try to catch 25 or 30 pounds tomorrow and see if I can get back in the game.

"I thought I could catch at least 15 pounds doing whatever, and then go looking. I just did the wrong things at the wrong times, but some of my best tournaments have been when I made a comeback on day 2."

He caught 20 keepers, but his biggest was only 3 pounds.

"I should have done more looking. I spent 2 or 3 hours just culling ounces at a time."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 108 anglers, 108 limits.

> BassFan Big Stick John Murray is in 6th place with 27-13. To read his report, click here.

> The 10-pounder isn't the biggest fish Gutierrez has caught in competition here. He bagged an 11 en route to winning a WON Bass event a few years back.

> Monroe was sticking with his prediction that Clark's 4-day weight record, set a year ago at South Carolina's Santee Cooper, would be eclipsed here. "Oh yeah, it's only going to get better. It's going to take about 42 pounds just to make the Top 50, and then weights will go up from there."

> Davy Hite (tied for 16th with 25-15) skipped the Bassmaster Tour's last western swing in 2003 (that was an option open to Tour anglers at that time). Now he wishes he hadn't. "This place is unbelievable. I just didn't want to come all the way out here, but I was sure missing out on a good fishery."

Weather Forecast

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

> Fri, March 30 – Partly Cloudy – 73°/41°
- Wind: From the W at 9 mph

> Sat, March 31 – Partly Cloudy – 69°/40°
- Wind: From the NW at 8 mph

> Sun, April 1 – Partly Cloudy – 66°/36°
- Wind: From the W/NW at 10 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 5, 32-13 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 32-13
2. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 5, 32-09 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 32-09
3. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, Fla. -- 5, 28-11 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 28-11
4. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, S.C. -- 5, 28-10 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 28-10
5. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 5, 28-09 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 28-09
6. John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 5, 27-13 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 27-13
7. Kurt Dove -- Fairfax, Va. -- 5, 27-08 -- 270
Day 1: 5, 27-08
7. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, Mich. -- 5, 27-08 -- 270
Day 1: 5, 27-08
9. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, Ky. -- 5, 27-02 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 27-02
10. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, S.C. -- 5, 27-00 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 27-00
11. Russ Lane -- Prattville, Ala. -- 5, 26-13 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 26-13
12. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, Ark. -- 5, 26-12 -- 252
Day 1: 5, 26-12
12. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, Calif. -- 5, 26-12 -- 252
Day 1: 5, 26-12
14. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Texas -- 5, 26-06 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 26-06
15. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, Ala. -- 5, 26-00 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 26-00
16. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, S.C. -- 5, 25-15 -- 242
Day 1: 5, 25-15
16. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, Fla. -- 5, 25-15 -- 242
Day 1: 5, 25-15
18. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, Ohio -- 5, 25-08 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 25-08
19. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, Calif. -- 5, 25-00 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 25-00
20. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 5, 24-11 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 24-11
21. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 5, 24-07 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 24-07
22. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, Okla. -- 5, 24-06 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 24-06
23. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, Kan. -- 5, 23-11 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 23-11
24. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 5, 23-06 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 23-06
25. Edwin Evers -- Talala, Okla. -- 5, 23-05 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 23-05
26. Alton Jones -- Waco, Texas -- 5, 23-04 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 23-04
27. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, Texas -- 5, 23-03 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 23-03
28. Paul Elias -- Laurel, Miss. -- 5, 23-01 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 23-01
29. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla. -- 5, 22-12 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 22-12
30. William Smith -- Somerset, Ky. -- 5, 22-08 -- 215
Day 1: 5, 22-08
31. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas -- 5, 22-05 -- 213
Day 1: 5, 22-05
32. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas -- 5, 22-04 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 22-04
33. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, N.C. -- 5, 22-02 -- 209
Day 1: 5, 22-02
34. Lee Bailey -- Boaz, Ala. -- 5, 22-00 -- 207
Day 1: 5, 22-00
35. Mark Tyler -- Vian, Okla. -- 5, 21-15 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 21-15
36. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, La. -- 5, 21-14 -- 202
Day 1: 5, 21-14
36. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, N.C. -- 5, 21-14 -- 202
Day 1: 5, 21-14
38. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, Mo. -- 5, 21-13 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 21-13
39. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 5, 21-12 -- 197
Day 1: 5, 21-12
40. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, Texas -- 5, 21-10 -- 195
Day 1: 5, 21-10
41. Marty Robinson -- Landrum, S.C. -- 5, 21-09 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 21-09
42. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, Mo. -- 5, 21-03 -- 191
Day 1: 5, 21-03
43. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, N.C. -- 5, 21-02 -- 189
Day 1: 5, 21-02
44. Cliff Pace -- Petal, Miss. -- 5, 21-01 -- 187
Day 1: 5, 21-01
45. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, Texas -- 5, 20-13 -- 185
Day 1: 5, 20-13
46. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, Fla. -- 5, 20-12 -- 183
Day 1: 5, 20-12
47. Rick Clunn -- Ava, Mo. -- 5, 20-07 -- 180
Day 1: 5, 20-07
47. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 5, 20-07 -- 180
Day 1: 5, 20-07
49. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, Pa. -- 5, 20-04 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 20-04
50. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala. -- 5, 20-01 -- 175
Day 1: 5, 20-01
51. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, Okla. -- 5, 20-00 -- 171
Day 1: 5, 20-00
51. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 5, 20-00 -- 171
Day 1: 5, 20-00
51. Mark Rogers -- Naples, Fla. -- 5, 20-00 -- 171
Day 1: 5, 20-00
54. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark. -- 5, 19-15 -- 167
Day 1: 5, 19-15
55. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, Ala. -- 5, 19-12 -- 165
Day 1: 5, 19-12
56. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, Ala. -- 5, 19-11 -- 162
Day 1: 5, 19-11
56. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 5, 19-11 -- 162
Day 1: 5, 19-11
58. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, Okla. -- 5, 19-10 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 19-10
58. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, Ala. -- 5, 19-10 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 19-10
58. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, Mo. -- 5, 19-10 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 19-10
61. Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, Ill. -- 5, 19-07 -- 153
Day 1: 5, 19-07
62. Preston Clark -- Palatka, Fla. -- 5, 19-04 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 19-04
63. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Miss. -- 5, 19-00 -- 149
Day 1: 5, 19-00
64. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, Md. -- 5, 18-14 -- 146
Day 1: 5, 18-14
64. Morizo Shimizu -- Murrieta, Calif. -- 5, 18-14 -- 146
Day 1: 5, 18-14
66. Jon Bondy -- Windsor, Canada -- 5, 18-13 -- 142
Day 1: 5, 18-13
66. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Silver Spring, Md. -- 5, 18-13 -- 142
Day 1: 5, 18-13
68. Bryan Hudgins -- Orange Park, Fla. -- 5, 18-09 -- 138
Day 1: 5, 18-09
68. Dave Smith -- Del City, Okla. -- 5, 18-09 -- 138
Day 1: 5, 18-09
70. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 5, 18-08 -- 135
Day 1: 5, 18-08
71. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, Fla. -- 5, 18-05 -- 132
Day 1: 5, 18-05
71. Charlie Youngers -- Geneva, Fla. -- 5, 18-05 -- 132
Day 1: 5, 18-05
73. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, Ohio -- 5, 18-03 -- 129
Day 1: 5, 18-03
74. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville , N.C. -- 5, 18-02 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 18-02
75. John Crews -- Salem, Va. -- 5, 17-15 -- 125
Day 1: 5, 17-15
76. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, Ohi -- 5, 17-12 -- 123
Day 1: 5, 17-12
77. Ben Matsubu -- Hemphill, Texas -- 5, 17-06 -- 121
Day 1: 5, 17-06
78. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, S.C. -- 5, 17-05 -- 119
Day 1: 5, 17-05
79. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, Ga. -- 5, 17-03 -- 116
Day 1: 5, 17-03
79. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, Texas -- 5, 17-03 -- 116
Day 1: 5, 17-03
81. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, Va. -- 5, 17-01 -- 113
Day 1: 5, 17-01
82. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Okla. -- 5, 17-00 -- 111
Day 1: 5, 17-00
83. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 5, 16-15 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 16-15
84. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, La. -- 5, 16-14 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 16-14
84. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, Fla. -- 5, 16-14 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 16-14
84. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, Texas -- 5, 16-14 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 16-14
87. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 5, 16-09 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 16-09
88. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, N.Y. -- 5, 16-06 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 16-06
89. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, Pa. -- 5, 16-03 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 16-03
90. Jim Murray -- Arabi, Ga. -- 5, 16-01 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 16-01
91. James Niggemeyer -- Van, Texas -- 5, 16-00 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 16-00
92. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 5, 15-14 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 15-14
92. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, Ohio -- 5, 15-14 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 15-14
94. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, Texas -- 5, 15-08 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 15-08
95. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, Fla. -- 5, 15-06 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 15-06
95. Bradley Stringer -- Huntington, Texas -- 5, 15-06 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 15-06
97. Keith Phillips -- Calera, Ala. -- 5, 15-05 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 15-05
98. Terry Butcher -- Talala, Okla. -- 5, 15-04 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 15-04
98. Jami Fralick -- Martin, S.D. -- 5, 15-04 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 15-04
100. James Kennedy -- Lacombe, La. -- 5, 15-02 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 15-02
101. Ken Brodeur -- Niantic, Conn. -- 5, 14-15 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 14-15
102. Ken D Cook -- Lawton, Okla. -- 5, 14-10 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 14-10
102. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, N.J. -- 5, 14-10 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 14-10
104. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, Mo. -- 5, 14-04 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 14-04
105. Matt Amedeo -- Clinton, Ohio -- 5, 13-09 -- 71
Day 1: 5, 13-09
106. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, Texas -- 5, 13-04 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 13-04
107. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, Ark. -- 5, 13-00 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 13-00
107. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, W.Va. -- 5, 13-00 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 13-00

Big Bass

Day 1: Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, Calif. -- 10-00 -- $500
Day 1: Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, S.C. -- 10-00 -- $500