Four Quality Fish Give Kindy The Early Lead

Four better-than-average bites can serve the same purpose as one big one, and that's how Jeremiah Kindy became the day-1 leader at the Norman FLW Tour.

The Arkansan weighed in only one fish under 2 pounds en route to a 15-06 bag that gave him a 3-ounce lead over a tightly packed field. His other fish were all between 3 and 4 pounds, and those are legitimate kickers at this North Carolina impoundment that teems with bass in the 1 3/4- to 2 1/4-pound class.

Minnesota's Jim Moynagh used a muskie bait made in Poland to wrangle a 15-03 bag that put him in 2nd. Alabama's Greg Pugh was 3rd with 14-10 and Kentucky's Mark Hardin and Tennessee's Craig Powers were tied for 4th with 14-07.

Here's how the current Top 10 looks (red numbers indicate deficit margin from the lead):

1. Jeremiah Kindy: 15-06
2. Jim Moynagh: 15-03 (0-03)
3. Greg Pugh: 14-10 (0-12)
4. (tie) Mark Hardin: 14-07 (0-15)
4. (tie) Craig Powers: 14-07 (0-15)
6. Bobby Curtis: 14-06 (1-00)
7. Eric Ambort: 14-05 (1-01)
8. (tie) Brett Hite: 14-03 (1-03)
8. (tie) John Sappington: 14-03 (1-03)
10. Jay Yelas: 14-02 (1-04)

Nearly 90% of the field (178 out of 200 anglers) caught a limit, which was expected. That percentage will likely drop tomorrow along with the overall weights now that many of the easiest shallow fish have been picked off.

Some anglers sight-fished today, but that was no more of a ticket to decent bag than any other pattern. Arkansas' Bobby Curtis (6th) caught a limit that way this morning, but ended up culling every one of those fish.

One big bite made a huge difference for some who ended up with stringers in the teens. Jay Yelas, for example, caught a 5-pounder with 10 minutes remaining that instantly propelled him from the middle of the pack to the Top 10.

The day started out calm and cloudy, but a 15-mph wind kicked up at mid-day and remained through the afternoon. A front is headed for the Charlotte, N.C. area, and thunderstorms are forecast for tomorrow morning.

The sun will likely break through at some point, and wind will be a factor again (it's expected to blow at 16 mph out of the southwest). The temperature is anticipated to reach 80 degrees.

The full field will fish on day 2, but only the Top 10 after tomorrow's weigh-in will advance to the weekend. The winner will be determined by highest weight over the final 2 days.

Kindy Ho-Hums It

Kindy hasn't cracked the Top 50 in his last nine events dating back more than a year, and hasn't made the Top 100 in any of his last three. He was pleased to be on top of the leaderboard, but didn't think he'd accomplished anything all that spectacular.

"I exceeded my expectations a little bit," he said. "At this time of year, there's so many fish on the banks that anybody can catch a good bag on any day, and there's no doubt that the wind helped me."

He caught more than a dozen keepers, and the biggest was only 3 3/4 pounds.

"I'm just flipping a little homemade jig and a finesse worm. I think a lot of the fish I caught were guarding fry.

"All I'm doing is playing the weather, and I think it'll hold up. If the wind blows good, I think I can catch them again."

He'll shoot for about 12 pounds tomorrow.

"I think the weights will go down a little bit, but not a whole lot. If I can get that, then I'll relax a little."

He didn't do any sight-fishing, but did happen across a "good one" on a bed.

"I didn't catch it, so I might give it a try tomorrow."

2nd: Moynagh Skins 'Em

Moynagh caught three of his weigh-in fish on a twitchbait called the Salmo Skinner. He's been sponsored by Salmo for about a year now, and got linked up with the company through another one of his sponsors – Vexilar Marine Electronics.

Vexilar owns Salmo's U.S. distribution rights.

Of the Skinner, he said: "It's the best muskie lure I've ever used, so I asked them to make one in a bass size, and they did. I've been playing with them off and on, but I never really found the right situation to use them (in competition). Apparently, this is it right here.

"It's a minnow-type bait, and I was just twitching it on the top like you'd fish a lot of other topwater baits. I caught quality fish on it in practice, and again today. The morning is when it's really happening."

He culled up twice with a weightless worm.

"I've got one hot little spot that for some reason seems to have better fish in it, but I have no idea what will happen tomorrow. I might go out and catch 8 or 9 pounds, or I might not even get a limit.

"I don't have any real high expectations."

4th: Hardin Comes Through

Hardin thought he had the potential for a good day 1, but he wasn't banking on it.

"I was looking for good things to happen, but I wasn't sure they were going to," he said. "I'm just running a little pattern – nothing special. It's the same thing I've been doing all week."

He's fishing a lot of different places, but two primary areas are producing the bulk of his fish. His bag included a 4 1/2-pounder, a 3 1/2 and a 3.

"I keep trying to find more stuff, but I haven't come up with anything as good as those two places."

His goal for tomorrow is 12 pounds.

"It's hard to say what it's going to take to make the cut, but 12 would at least put me in the ball game. Another 14 should do it for sure."

4th: Powers Goes Up Top

Powers likes to catch fish on surface plugs, and he got some quality blow-ups today.

"This is the time of year when topwater shows out," he said. "I got quite a few bites, but if this tournament had started 3 days ago, I could've caught a lot more than I did today. A lot of my water has been clearing up."

He boated more than 15 fish, and the biggest was about 4 pounds.

Never one to mince words, he admitted he has no idea whether he can catch another big bag tomorrow.

"I'd like to say that the day went just like I'd planned it from practice and all of that horsecrap, but the truth is I fished places that I'd never seen in my life. I'd be tickled to death with 12 or 13 pounds (on day 2), and I'd probably be happy with 10. It'll just depend on whether I can get lucky and get a couple of 3-pounders."

If he can't find any surface action, he'll resort to finesse tactics.

"I can always go fish docks and catch them on a jighead worm, but a big bag of those would weigh 10 pounds."

6th: Curtis Culls his Lookers

Curtis has never finished higher than 15th in 35 career tour events, so he'd achieve a milestone with another good day tomorrow and a spot inside the Top 10.

"I caught a little more than what I thought I would," he said. "Early in practice I was catching them good, but those fish started going into the spawn and the pattern I was fishing was toast.

"I sight-fished this morning and caught a limit, but I ended up culling all of them. My other pattern came back around a little bit."

He caught about 10 keepers, including a 3 3/4-pounder.

"I'm just catching them on points as they're headed out of the spawning areas, and I'm using a variety of different baits. I'm also fishing some docks and throwing some jerkbaits.

"A 16-inch spot was my smallest (weigh-in) fish, so I felt fortunate to get the bites I did."

He thinks he'll need about 12 1/2 pounds tomorrow to clinch his spot in the weekend field.

"It was fairly easy to catch that in practice. But after a lot of them got relocated today, I'm not so sure."

10th: Happy Ending for Yelas

Yelas concluded a run-of-the-mill day with a big flourish. He'd seen a 5-pounder milling around the slip where he's docking his boat and caught it on a swimbait just minutes before quitting time.

"That big one saved the day," he said. "Other than that, I had a bunch of 2 3/4-pounders."

He spent the entire day around docks and plans to do the same tomorrow.

"I caught quite a few fish, but they didn't bite as good as they had in practice. I'm not seeing as many shad up around the docks as I had been, and that's somewhat of a concern. But for now, the fish are still there.

"I didn't sight-fish at all. I didn't even get to all the places where I'd gotten good bites in practice."

Like several of the current Top 10, his goal for day 2 is 12 pounds.

"It's hard to say what it'll take (to make the cut), but 26 pounds should do it."

187th: Bosley Flustered

Arkansas' Brennan Bosley notched two Top 10s in the first three Tour events last year, including a runner-up showing at Murray. He's finished 125th and 141st so far this year, and he has a big job ahead of him here just to improve on those.

His 6-02 bag was one fish short of a limit.

"I'd been catching some fish in practice, but I'm a power fisherman, so I'm up and down," he said. "It's just happened that at all three tournaments this year, finesse-fishing has been the deal."

He flipped jigs all day and got five keeper bites. "Of course, the one I missed was the biggest one."

He'll switch to a jighead worm tomorrow.

"I have to try to save face, so I'll throw it all day long. I caught my two biggest fish in practice on a topwater, so I'll probably keep that (Zara) Spook handy too."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 200 anglers, 178 limits, 12 fours, 5 threes, 2 twos, 1 one, 2 zeroes.

> Greg Pugh (3rd) was another angler who caught an early limit of spawners that he ended up culling. "I actually thought I might do a little better than what I did because I'd seen some good ones on beds, but I'm tickled with what I have."

> Hardin had to throw back a quality fish. "When I hung my last one and started bringing it in, my partner (David Hudson of Alabama) went to get the net. When I got it to the boat, there were about 10 more with it between 2 and 3 1/2 pounds. When David went to net it, he got my fish and another 3-pounder."

> Curtis was impressed by the pre-launch flyover of a National Guard Apache helicopter. "That really fired me up. It was incredible."

> Tour points leader Dave Lefebre is in a three-way tie for 81st with 10-11, but he's just a little more than 3 pounds out of the Top 10.

> Nearly half the field (95 anglers) is within 5 pounds of the lead.

Weather Forecast

> Fri, April 27 – A.M. Showers – 80°/56°
- Wind: From the SW at 16 mph

> Sat, April 28 – Partly Cloudy – 77°/53°
- Wind: From the W at 14 mph

> Sun, April 29 – Sunny – 80°/52°
- Wind: From the NW at 9 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Jeremiah Kindy -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 15-06

2. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 5, 15-03

3. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Al -- 5, 14-10

4. Mark Hardin -- Jasper, Ga -- 5, 14-07

4. Craig Powers -- Rockwood, Tn -- 5, 14-07

6. Bobby Curtis -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 5, 14-06

7. Eric Ambort -- Mabelvale, Ar -- 5, 14-05

8. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 14-03

8. John Sappington -- Willard, Mo -- 5, 14-03

10. Jay Yelas -- Tyler, Tx -- 5, 14-02

11. Tim Johnson -- Dallas, Ga -- 5, 14-01

12. Al Little -- Greensboro, Nc -- 5, 14-00

13. Tony Couch -- Buckhead, Ga -- 5, 13-14

13. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 5, 13-14

15. Hank Cherry -- Maiden, Nc -- 5, 13-13

15. Mark Mauldin -- Cleveland, Tn -- 5, 13-13

17. Bill Chapman -- Salt Rock, Wv -- 5, 13-12

17. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 13-12

19. Art Ferguson III -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 5, 13-11

19. Chris Malone -- Ironton, Oh -- 5, 13-11

21. Michael Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 5, 13-08

22. Roger Crafton -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 5, 13-06

23. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 5, 13-04

24. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 5, 13-01

25. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, Tn -- 5, 12-15

26. Monte Knight -- Quitman, Ms -- 5, 12-13

27. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 5, 12-11

27. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 5, 12-11

29. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, Nc -- 5, 12-09

30. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 5, 12-08

31. Joe Thomas -- Milford, Oh -- 5, 12-07

32. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 12-06

33. Charles Cummings -- Leeds, Al -- 5, 12-04

33. Tony Defilippo -- Lake Ann, Mi -- 5, 12-04

33. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 12-04

36. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 5, 12-03

37. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 5, 12-02

37. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 5, 12-02

39. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 12-00

40. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 5, 11-15

40. Bud Pruitt -- Spring, Tx -- 5, 11-15

42. Kim Bain -- Alabaster, Al -- 5, 11-14

42. Shinichi Fukae -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 11-14

42. Tim Klinger -- Boulder City, Nv -- 5, 11-14

42. Alex Ormand -- Bessemer City, Nc -- 5, 11-14

42. Joe Don Setina -- Pittsburg, Tx -- 5, 11-14

47. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, Nc -- 5, 11-12

47. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 11-12

47. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5, 11-12

50. Robert Griswold -- Angier, Nc -- 5, 11-10

50. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 5, 11-10

50. Alvin Shaw -- State Road, Nc -- 5, 11-10

50. Robert Walser -- Lexington, Nc -- 5, 11-10

54. David Ryan -- Levasy, Mo -- 5, 11-08

55. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 5, 11-07

55. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 5, 11-07

55. Jerry Green -- Del Rio, Tx -- 5, 11-07

55. Nate Wellman -- Jenison, Mi -- 5, 11-07

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

59. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 5, 11-06

59. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 5, 11-06

59. Marcel Veenstra -- Brighton, Mi -- 5, 11-06

63. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 5, 11-05

64. Craig Dowling -- Many, La -- 5, 11-03

64. Jack Gadlage -- Benton, Ky -- 5, 11-03

64. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 11-03

64. John Tanner -- Quitman, Tx -- 5, 11-03

64. Wes Thomas -- Hanover, In -- 5, 11-03

69. Gabe Bolivar -- Ramona, Ca -- 5, 11-02

69. Toby Hartsell -- Livingston, Tx -- 5, 11-02

71. Chip Harrison -- Bremen, In -- 5, 11-01

72. Tom Burns -- Carbondale, Il -- 5, 11-00

73. Kevin Lasyone -- Dry Prong, La -- 5, 10-15

73. Jimmy Millsaps -- Canton, Ga -- 5, 10-15

75. O T Fears III -- Sallisaw, Ok -- 5, 10-14

75. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 5, 10-14

75. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 10-14

78. Ott Defoe -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 10-13

79. Harmon Davis -- Marlow, Ok -- 5, 10-12

79. Brent Long -- Catawba, Nc -- 5, 10-12

81. Mike Hawkes -- Sabinal, Tx -- 5, 10-11

81. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 5, 10-11

81. Mike Todd -- Norman, Ok -- 5, 10-11

84. Chad Cook -- Summerville, Sc -- 5, 10-10

84. Pete Gluszek -- Franklinville, Nj -- 5, 10-10

84. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 5, 10-10

87. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 5, 10-09

87. Brad Wall -- Clarksville, Oh -- 5, 10-09

89. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 5, 10-08

89. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 5, 10-08

91. Richard Lowitzki -- St Charles, Il -- 5, 10-07

91. Curt Lytle -- Zuni, Va -- 5, 10-07

91. Vu (Ted) Nguyen -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 5, 10-07

91. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 5, 10-07

95. Keith Pace -- Monticello, Ar -- 5, 10-06

96. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, Ar -- 5, 10-05

96. Michael Murphy -- Gilbert, Sc -- 5, 10-05

96. Danny Pierce -- Greenbrier, Ar -- 5, 10-05

96. Jack Wade -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 10-05

100. J T Kenney -- Daytona Beach, Fl -- 5, 10-04

100. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 5, 10-04

102. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 5, 10-03

103. Fred Contaoi -- Lakeport, Ca -- 5, 10-02

103. Derek Jones -- Chicago, Il -- 5, 10-02

103. Ricky D. Scott -- Van Buren, Ar -- 5, 10-02

106. Tim Mcdonald -- Lexington, Ky -- 5, 10-01

107. Woo Daves -- Spring Grove, Va -- 5, 10-00

107. Shannon Shuler -- Ypsilanti, Mi -- 5, 10-00

109. Maurice Freeze -- Concord, Nc -- 5, 9-15

109. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 9-15

111. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 5, 9-14

111. David Fritts -- Lexington, Nc -- 5, 9-14

111. David Lauer -- South Bend, In -- 5, 9-14

111. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 5, 9-14

111. Carl Svebek III -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 5, 9-14

116. Brent Crow -- Hartselle, Al -- 5, 9-13

116. Dwayne Horton -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 9-13

118. Kevin Vida -- Clare, Mi -- 5, 9-11

119. Randy Blaukat -- Lamar, Mo -- 5, 9-10

119. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Al -- 5, 9-10

121. Aaron Hastings -- Middletown, Md -- 5, 9-09

121. Mark Pack -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 9-09

121. Jason Reyes -- Humble, Tx -- 5, 9-09

121. Terry Tucker -- Gadsden, Al -- 5, 9-09

125. Karen Savik -- St. Louis Park, Mn -- 5, 9-08

126. Jason Abram -- Gray, Tn -- 5, 9-07

126. Alfred Williams -- Jackson, Ms -- 5, 9-07

128. Jim Short -- Ocean Pines, Md -- 5, 9-06

128. Chris Slopak -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 9-06

130. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 5, 9-05

131. Frank Ippoliti -- Smithsburg, Md -- 5, 9-04

131. Ralph Laster Jr -- Lees Summit, Mo -- 5, 9-04

133. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 5, 9-03

134. Jason Knapp -- Uniontown, Pa -- 5, 9-02

134. Kevin Long -- Berkley, Mi -- 5, 9-02

134. Keith Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 5, 9-02

137. Tommy Brown -- Louisville, Tn -- 5, 9-01

137. Sean Hoernke -- Magnolia, Tx -- 5, 9-01

137. Kim Stricker -- Howell, Mi -- 5, 9-01

140. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 5, 9-00

141. Pat Fisher -- Buckhead, Ga -- 4, 8-15

142. Sam Newby -- Pocola, Ok -- 5, 8-14

142. James Quillman -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 8-14

144. Tim Carroll -- Owasso, Ok -- 5, 8-13

144. Danny Correia -- Marlborough, Ma -- 5, 8-13

146. Mark Goines -- Shady Point, Ok -- 5, 8-12

146. Tommy Martin -- Hemphill, Tx -- 5, 8-12

146. Jeffrey Thomas -- Broadway, Nc -- 5, 8-12

149. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 8-11

149. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 5, 8-11

151. Katsutoshi Furusawa -- Tokyo, Japan -- 5, 8-10

152. Dale Evans -- Ridgeville, Sc -- 5, 8-09

152. Randy Sanford -- Carriere, Ms -- 4, 8-09

154. Harry Barton -- Sterrett, Al -- 5, 8-08

154. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, Sc -- 5, 8-08

154. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 5, 8-08

157. Jeff Magee -- Mendenhall, Ms -- 5, 8-06

157. Keith Monson -- Burgin, Ky -- 4, 8-06

159. Tee Watkins -- East Point, Ky -- 5, 8-05

160. Scott Dameron -- Beckley, Wv -- 5, 8-04

160. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 5, 8-04

162. Jerry Goble -- Sherrills Ford, Nc -- 5, 8-03

163. Andre Moore -- Alabaster, Al -- 5, 8-02

164. Jerry Bono -- Advance, Nc -- 5, 8-01

164. Scott Hamrick -- Denver, Nc -- 5, 8-01

164. John Peters -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 8-01

164. Steve Redding -- Plano, Tx -- 5, 8-01

168. James Davis Jr -- Ferriday, La -- 5, 8-00

168. Guido Hibdon -- Gravois Mills, Mo -- 4, 8-00

168. Chris Mccall -- Jasper, Tx -- 5, 8-00

171. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 5, 7-15

171. Frank Meyer -- Marianna, Fl -- 4, 7-15

173. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, Nc -- 5, 7-14

174. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 5, 7-13

174. George Jeane Jr -- Evans, La -- 5, 7-13

174. Ray Scheide -- Russellville, Ar -- 5, 7-13

174. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 4, 7-13

178. Matt Arey -- Shelby, Nc -- 5, 7-12

179. Art Berry -- Hemet, Ca -- 5, 7-11

180. David Cooke -- Mooresville, Nc -- 5, 7-10

181. Lewis Denney -- Indian Mound, Tn -- 5, 7-07

182. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 7-06

183. Sam Swett -- Covington, La -- 5, 7-05

184. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 4, 7-04

185. Eric Weir -- Belmont, Nc -- 5, 6-11

186. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 4, 6-10

187. Brennan Bosley -- Benton, Ar -- 4, 6-02

188. Terry Baksay -- Easton, Ct -- 4, 5-12

189. Rick Marsh -- High Point, Nc -- 3, 5-11

190. Chuck Medley -- Owens Cross Roads, Al -- 4, 5-01

191. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 3, 4-11

192. Tony Dadante -- Derby, Ny -- 3, 4-09

193. Norman Seat -- Branson West, Mo -- 3, 4-08

194. Randy Morris -- Garfield, Ar -- 4, 4-05

195. Chris Elliott -- Beaufort, Nc -- 3, 4-01

196. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 2, 4-00

197. Robert Sherry -- Saint Charles, Il -- 1, 3-13

198. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 2, 3-03

Clay Dyer -- Hamilton, Al -- 0, 0-00

Bob Kujan Jr -- Belton, Tx -- 0, 0-00

Big Bass

Day 1: Chris Malone -- Ironton, Oh -- 5-08 -- $1,000