Davis, Wade Both Top The 20-Pound Mark

Mark Davis already has one FLW Tour victory to his credit this year, and he took the first step toward another today as he whacked a 21-04 sack to lead day 1 at the Potomac River.

The Arkansas veteran has a 5-ounce edge over Tennessee's Jack Wade, who sits in 2nd with 20-15. Florida's Bobby Lane, who's endured a miserable season as he awaits the impending birth of his second child, is 3rd with 19-15.

Idaho's Ken Wick, a 3rd-year Tour angler who hopes to make it to the weekend for the first time, is 4th with 19-12. Arkansan Jerry Williams, who finished 3rd here in 2005, rounds out the Top 5 with 19-10.

Here's the remainder of the Top 10:

6. Shad Schenck: 19-08
7. Thomas LaVictoire: 18-13
8. Chris McCall: 17-15
9. Mark Pack: 17-12
10. Randy Blaukat: 17-09

With the exception of Davis, who's 7th in the Angler of the Year (AOY) race, nobody in the current Top 10 is higher than 42nd on the points list. Two of them – Williams and Vermont's Thomas LaVictoire – are competing in their first Tour event of the year.

Many of the AOY leaders had a rough go on the first day of the the next-to-last Tour stop of the season. Leader Jay Yelas wasn't among them, though – he caught 15-14 and has less than 2 pounds to make up tomorrow in order to notch his fourth consecutive Top 10.

His closest pursuer, Andy Morgan, is in 67th place. Shinichi Fukae, who's 3rd in the points, sits in 107th and would be much lower had he not caught a 7-03 that took big-bass honors for the day.

The next three anglers on the AOY list have a lot of work to do tomorrow. Tracy Adams is 181st, Michael Bennett is 146th and Chad Morgenthaler is 140th.

A storm that blew across the East Coast on Wednesday caused high tide to reach a couple of feet higher than normal, and also made the water recede more slowly than usual today. Those who made the right adjustments were unaffected for the most part, but some who'd had strong practices in particular areas were thrown for a loop.

Also, the sky remained cloudy throughout the day, and some of the leaders said that resulted in a stronger, longer bite.

Tomorrow's forecast calls for clearer skies (only partly cloudy), which might put a damper on some of the patterns that were effective today and send most of the field to the grass with a flipping stick in hand.

The field will be cut to the Top 10 after tomorrow's weigh-in, and the winner will be determined by highest combined weight over the final 2 days.

Davis Capitalized on Conditions

Davis, who won the season's second event at Ft. Loudoun-Tellico, said the ultra-high tide probably didn't help him, but he's not sure it hurt him either. The gray sky, on the other hand, was a huge bonus.

"I had a good practice and I thought that if conditions were cloudy, I could catch a pretty good stringer," he said. "I caught fish all day, from start to finish."

His bag was topped by a 5-pounder, and all the others were right around 4. He said he lost two others that exceeded 5.

"It's really hard on this river to get over the 20-pound mark because so many of the fish are in the 3 1/2 to 4 range. And once you get there, you can't afford to burn up all your fish trying to gain another pound."

He caught fish on three different baits – a worm, a crankbait and a topwater plug. He had company in most of his best areas, but doesn't think he's fishing around any of the other leaders.

He never won here during his Bassmaster days, but had a lot of good finishes and knows the fishery well.

"It's hard to win here because it's hard to stay consistent on catching those 4-pound bass, and that's what it takes to win. In my experience, these fish kind of school according to size, and if you get on the right group, you can win.

"If not, then you're fishing for 2nd or 3rd or whatever."

He won't need another huge bag tomorrow to make the cut, so he won't try to compile one.

"If I could get 13 pounds, then I'd feel like I could rest easy. I'd probably go out and practice some more after that."

2nd: Wade Keeps his Momentum

Wade had a superb practice and carried it over into day 1.

"I've caught this every day – during practice I had 18 to 21 pounds 4 days in a row," he said. "I've got three different patterns going and I've been reading the tides real well. The Lord's been good to me this week."

He caught only seven keepers, but two were right around 5 pounds and two others weighed about 4.

"I had most everything by mid-day, then I got to running some other stuff and looking for new water. I'm confident that what I'm doing will work somewhere tomorrow."

He'll try to catch at least 18 pounds tomorrow to ensure his spot in the Top 10.

"This place is a fish factory, and I didn't think they bit real good today. I know the clouds hurt my grass pattern.

"It'll be better if we get some sun tomorrow."

3rd: Lane Strikes Late

Lane had a small limit when 3:00 rolled around, but he transformed it into a big sack over the next 45 minutes. He caught a 6-pounder, a 5 and a 3 during that period on an incoming tide.

"I'm afraid I might not get that bite again (due to the tide schedule)," he said. "If I did, I think I could really hurt those fish good."

His best finish in four events this season is a 64th, and he's been 118th or worse in the other three. His second child, a boy, is due on July 9, so he could use a good showing here.

"I'd like to bring some money home to him."

He caught some of his fish on a flipping stick and some on a frog, and his sack could have been even better than it was.

"I did some missing – I probably missed eight or 10 fish. That's okay, though, because I was shooting for 16 to 18 pounds. I didn't expect to get 20."

He has a more modest goal for day 2.

"If I could get 15 pounds, I'd probably give it up."

4th: Memory Serves Wick

Wick had a lousy practice, but was able to exploit an area he'd fished the last time the Tour was here in 2005.

"I spent about 3 hours there one day (during practice) and caught a few, so I decided to venture out and try to find some new stuff that was like it, but I didn't find much," he said. "So I started there today and ended up catching them, and then I went to the one other place I'd found a got a couple more."

He said one of the keys to his day was starting in a little bit deeper water than most of the field.

"It was probably 5 to 6 feet. I got some on a wacky-rigged Senko in the morning and I had a limit within an hour, then I went looking for a big bite.

"I started throwing a (Zara) Spook on some shallower grass and caught a 4 1/2-pounder."

He caught close to 25 keepers for the day. The big Spook fish bit at about 9:30.

"I think the cloud cover really helped a lot for what I was doing, and some of the flippers didn't do as well as they expected. If the sun's out here, you have to flip. If it's sunny tomorrow, I'll try to get a couple right away in the morning and then go flipping."

He'll be prepared to throw a lot of different baits over the first hour or so.

"I'll have a lot of things rigged up – spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, topwater frogs, jigs, you name it. I'll throw them all until I find out what they're biting."

6th: Good Day for Schenck

Indiana's Shad Schenck had an excellent practice and was thrilled that his bite continued into the tournament.

"I've got three different patterns going with three different baits," he said. "If I can keep being efficient and get a couple of bites a day that are over 4 pounds, then life will be good."

He caught about 10 keepers today, including two that were within a few ounces of 5 pounds.

"Everything went well – I got bites throughout the day. I think the clouds helped my bite a lot. If you can get a cloudy day that isn't real windy, these fish will bite."

He thinks he'll need about 14 pounds tomorrow to make the cut, but he won't stop there.

"I let up one other time and it cost me making the Top 10, and I think I could have won that tournament. This place has tons of fish, and if I could get a limit along with a couple of good bites, that would do it."

195th: Suggs didn't Adjust

Arkansas' Scott Suggs came into the tournament at No. 8 in the points, but will almost certainly take a precipitous tumble after catching just one keeper for 2-03 today. The expanded high tide did him in.

"It screwed me up and I never adjusted," he said. "I was fishing out a pretty good ways, and I should have gone in to the inside of the grass.

"It was just one of those deals. The tide fell real slow all day and never fell all the way out, and I just wasted my day."

The lone fish he weighed in was his only keeper bite.

"I had as good of a practice as I've ever had, but this was one of the worst decision-making days of my entire life."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 200 anglers, 119 limits, 23 fours, 27 threes, 15 twos, 12 ones, 4 zeroes.

> Wade turned a difficult trick last year – he finished 22nd in the FLW Series points (and gained a Forrest Wood Cup berth) without earning a single check. The Series paid down to 50th place, and his finishes ranged from 53rd to 62nd in all five tournaments.

> Lane's son will be named Robert F. Lane III. "When he's born, it'll be a big day for both me and my dad."

> Schenck finished 5th in the 2003 FLW Tour Championship on the James River, which is also a tidal fishery. "I haven't had a lot of experience with the tides, but I know one thing you need to do is take a lot of notes on where the fish are at certain tide levels. You also have to be able to adapt and adjust and catch fish different ways during those conditions."

Weather Forecast

Here's the weather forecast for the remaining tournament days.

> Fri, June 15 – Partly Cloudy – 77°/63°
- Wind: From the N at 6 mph

> Sat, June 16 – Partly Cloudy – 85°/69°
- Wind: From the S at 6 mph

> Sun, June 17 – Sunny – 93°/74°
- Wind: From the W/SW at 8 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, Ar -- 5, 21-04

2. Jack Wade -- Knoxville, Tn -- 5, 20-15

3. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, Fl -- 5, 19-15

4. Ken Wick -- Star, Id -- 5, 19-12

5. Jerry Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 5, 19-10

6. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 5, 19-08

7. Thomas C Lavictoire -- West Rutland, Vt -- 5, 18-13

8. Chris McCall -- Jasper, Tx -- 5, 17-15

9. Mark Pack -- Mineola, Tx -- 5, 17-12

10. Randy Blaukat -- Lamar, Mo -- 5, 17-09

11. Brent Long -- Catawba, Nc -- 5, 17-05

12. Jacob Powroznik -- Prince George, Va -- 5, 16-13

13. Terry Tucker -- Gadsden, Al -- 5, 16-09

14. Curt Lytle -- Zuni, Va -- 5, 16-07

15. James Schneider -- Albany, Ny -- 5, 16-04

16. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 5, 16-02

16. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 5, 16-02

18. Gabe Bolivar -- Ramona, Ca -- 5, 15-15

18. Jack Gadlage -- Benton, Ky -- 5, 15-15

18. Keith Williams -- Conway, Ar -- 5, 15-15

21. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, Sc -- 5, 15-14

21. Jay Yelas -- Tyler, Tx -- 5, 15-14

23. Eric Ambort -- Mabelvale, Ar -- 5, 15-13

23. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Az -- 5, 15-13

25. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 5, 15-12

25. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 15-12

27. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 5, 15-11

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

29. Terry Baksay -- Easton, Ct -- 5, 15-08

29. Dion Hibdon -- Stover, Mo -- 5, 15-08

31. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 5, 15-07

32. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, Nc -- 5, 15-06

33. Terry Olinger -- The Plains, Va -- 5, 15-05

34. Mike Hawkes -- Sabinal, Tx -- 5, 15-01

35. Chad Cook -- Summerville, Sc -- 5, 15-00

36. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tn -- 5, 14-14

37. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 5, 14-13

37. Tom Mann Jr -- Buford, Ga -- 5, 14-13

37. Sandy Melvin -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 5, 14-13

40. Tom Burns -- Carbondale, Il -- 5, 14-12

40. Kevin Long -- Berkley, Mi -- 5, 14-12

40. Danny Pierce -- Greenbrier, Ar -- 5, 14-12

43. Tim Carroll -- Owasso, Ok -- 5, 14-11

43. Jeremiah Kindy -- Benton, Ar -- 5, 14-11

43. Mark Rose -- Marion, Ar -- 5, 14-11

46. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 5, 14-10

46. Robert Sherry -- Saint Charles, Il -- 5, 14-10

48. Kevin Lasyone -- Dry Prong, La -- 5, 14-09

49. Keith Monson -- Burgin, Ky -- 5, 14-08

50. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 5, 14-07

51. Richard Lowitzki -- St Charles, Il -- 5, 14-06

51. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 5, 14-06

53. Hank Cherry -- Maiden, Nc -- 5, 14-04

53. Joel Richardson -- Kernersville, Nc -- 5, 14-04

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

56. Guido Hibdon -- Gravois Mills, Mo -- 5, 14-02

56. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 5, 14-02

58. Dale Evans -- Ridgeville, Sc -- 5, 14-00

59. Chris Daves -- Hopewell, Va -- 5, 13-15

59. Art Ferguson III -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 5, 13-15

59. J.T. Kenney -- Daytona Beach, Fl -- 5, 13-15

62. Ray Scheide -- Russellville, Ar -- 5, 13-14

62. Tim Shmigal -- Akron, Oh -- 5, 13-14

64. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 5, 13-13

64. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 5, 13-13

64. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, Ca -- 5, 13-13

67. Chris Elliott -- Beaufort, Nc -- 5, 13-12

67. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 5, 13-12

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

70. David Fritts -- Lexington, Nc -- 5, 13-08

70. Sean Hoernke -- Magnolia, Tx -- 5, 13-08

72. Jason Knapp -- Uniontown, Pa -- 5, 13-07

73. George Jeane Jr -- Evans, La -- 5, 13-05

73. Koby Kreiger -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 5, 13-05

73. Craig Powers -- Rockwood, Tn -- 5, 13-05

76. Jason Abram -- Gray, Tn -- 5, 13-03

76. Harry Barton -- Sterrett, Al -- 5, 13-03

78. Craig Dowling -- Many, La -- 5, 13-02

78. Al Little -- Greensboro, Nc -- 5, 13-02

80. Dave Lefebre -- Union City, Pa -- 5, 13-01

81. Harmon Davis -- Marlow, Ok -- 5, 13-00

81. Michael Murphy -- Gilbert, Sc -- 5, 13-00

81. Joe Thomas -- Milford, Oh -- 5, 13-00

84. Robert Walser -- Lexington, Nc -- 4, 12-15

85. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 5, 12-14

86. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 5, 12-13

87. Danny Correia -- Marlborough, Ma -- 5, 12-12

87. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 5, 12-12

87. Sam Swett -- Covington, La -- 5, 12-12

90. George Cochran -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 5, 12-11

90. Todd Schaaf -- Hume, Va -- 5, 12-11

92. Tim Johnson -- Dallas, Ga -- 5, 12-10

93. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 5, 12-09

93. Ricky D Scott -- Van Buren, Ar -- 5, 12-09

95. Charles Cummings -- Leeds, Al -- 5, 12-08

96. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 5, 12-06

97. Roger Crafton -- Boca Grande, Fl -- 5, 12-05

97. John Tanner -- Quitman, Tx -- 4, 12-05

99. Randy Morris -- Garfield, Ar -- 5, 12-04

99. Wes Thomas -- Hanover, In -- 5, 12-04

101. Andre Moore -- Alabaster, Al -- 5, 12-01

102. Fabian Rodriguez -- Ocean City, Md -- 5, 12-00

102. Karen Savik -- St. Louis Park, Mn -- 5, 12-00

104. Katsutoshi Furusawa -- Tokyo, Japan -- 5, 11-15

105. Marcel Veenstra -- Brighton, Mi -- 5, 11-12

106. Ron Shuffield -- Bismarck, Ar -- 5, 11-11

107. Shinichi Fukae -- Mineola, Tx -- 3, 11-10

108. Aaron Hastings -- Middletown, Md -- 4, 11-09

109. Mark Hardin -- Jasper, Ga -- 5, 11-08

110. Greg Pugh -- Cullman, Al -- 5, 11-06

111. David Cooke -- Mooresville, Nc -- 5, 11-05

111. Sam Newby -- Pocola, Ok -- 5, 11-05

113. Jeff Magee -- Mendenhall, Ms -- 5, 11-04

114. Mike Gardner -- Sterling, Va -- 4, 11-01

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

114. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, Az -- 4, 11-01

117. Art Berry -- Hemet, Ca -- 5, 11-00

118. Tony Couch -- Buckhead, Ga -- 4, 10-15

118. Rick Marsh -- High Point, Nc -- 5, 10-15

120. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 5, 10-13

120. Steve Redding -- Plano, Tx -- 5, 10-13

120. Kevin Vida -- Clare, Mi -- 5, 10-13

123. Tommy Martin -- Hemphill, Tx -- 5, 10-11

124. Matt Herren -- Trussville, Al -- 4, 10-10

125. Nate Wellman -- Jenison, Mi -- 3, 10-08

126. Toby Hartsell -- Livingston, Tx -- 5, 10-07

127. Jerry Green -- Del Rio, Tx -- 3, 10-04

128. Bud Pruitt -- Spring, Tx -- 3, 10-02

129. Gary Yamamoto -- Mineola, Tx -- 4, 10-01

130. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 4, 10-00

131. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 5, 9-13

132. Bill Chapman -- Salt Rock, Wv -- 4, 9-12

133. David Lauer -- South Bend, In -- 4, 9-11

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

135. Ott Defoe -- Knoxville, Tn -- 4, 9-10

136. Mike Todd -- Norman, Ok -- 4, 9-08

137. Bobby Curtis -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 4, 9-05

137. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, Tn -- 3, 9-05

139. Tim McDonald -- Lexington, Ky -- 4, 9-04

140. Chad Morgenthaler -- Coulterville, Il -- 4, 8-14

141. Kevin Bishop -- Hilton, Ny -- 4, 8-11

141. Lewis Denney -- Indian Mound, Tn -- 3, 8-11

143. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 3, 8-10

143. Pete Gluszek -- Franklinville, Nj -- 4, 8-10

143. Vu (Ted) Nguyen -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 3, 8-10

146. Michael Bennett -- Roseville, Ca -- 3, 8-09

146. Pat Fisher -- Buckhead, Ga -- 4, 8-09

148. Derek Jones -- Chicago, Il -- 3, 8-08

148. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 3, 8-08

150. James Davis Jr -- Ferriday, La -- 3, 8-03

151. Carl Svebek III -- Siloam Springs, Ar -- 4, 8-02

152. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 4, 8-01

153. Jim Short -- Ocean Pines, Md -- 3, 7-14

154. Alvin Shaw -- State Road, Nc -- 3, 7-11

155. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 2, 7-09

156. Cody Bird -- Granbury, Tx -- 3, 7-05

156. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wa -- 4, 7-05

158. Tee Watkins -- East Point, Ky -- 3, 7-04

159. Matt Arey -- Shelby, Nc -- 4, 7-03

160. Tim Klinger -- Boulder City, Nv -- 3, 7-02

161. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Al -- 3, 7-01

162. Thanh Le -- Lake Havasu City, Az -- 3, 7-00

163. Fred Contaoi -- Lakeport, Ca -- 3, 6-09

163. Clay Dyer -- Hamilton, Al -- 2, 6-09

163. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 3, 6-09

163. Jason Reyes -- Humble, Tx -- 3, 6-09

167. Alfred Williams -- Jackson, Ms -- 2, 6-08

168. James Quillman -- Mineola, Tx -- 2, 6-05

169. Peter Odonnell -- Deale, Md -- 2, 6-04

170. Sparky Petersen -- Laytonsville, Md -- 3, 5-15

171. Ralph Laster Jr -- Lees Summit, Mo -- 2, 5-13

172. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, Tn -- 2, 5-10

172. Norman Seat -- Branson West, Mo -- 2, 5-10

174. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 3, 5-09

175. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 3, 5-08

176. Mark Goines -- Shady Point, Ok -- 3, 5-07

176. Mac Mcmanus -- Ruther Glen, Va -- 2, 5-07

178. Kim Bain -- Alabaster, Al -- 2, 5-04

179. Brent Crow -- Hartselle, Al -- 1, 5-03

180. Brian Bylotas -- Olyphant, Pa -- 3, 5-02

181. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, Nc -- 2, 4-14

181. O T Fears III -- Sallisaw, Ok -- 2, 4-14

183. Brad Wall -- Clarksville, Oh -- 2, 4-05

184. Kim Stricker -- Howell, Mi -- 2, 4-04

185. Woo Daves -- Spring Grove, Va -- 2, 4-02

186. Brennan Bosley -- Benton, Ar -- 1, 3-14

187. Michael Huminik -- Stafford, Va -- 1, 3-04

188. Keith Pace -- Monticello, Ar -- 1, 3-01

189. Scott Dameron -- Beckley, Wv -- 1, 3-00

189. Monte Knight -- Quitman, Ms -- 1, 3-00

189. Danny Shanz Sr -- Berlin, Md -- 1, 3-00

192. Chuck Medley -- Owens Cross Roads, Al -- 1, 2-11

193. Jerrod Lloyd -- Vineland, Nj -- 1, 2-10

194. Tony Defilippo -- Cedar, Mi -- 1, 2-09

195. Scott Suggs -- Bryant, Ar -- 1, 2-03

195. Jeffrey Thomas -- Broadway, Nc -- 1, 2-03

Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 0, 0-00

Dwayne Horton -- Knoxville, Tn -- 0, 0-00

Frank Ippoliti -- Smithsburg, Md -- 0, 0-00

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

Big Bass

Day 1: Shinichi Fukae -- Mineola, Tx -- 7-03 -- $750