VanDam's 21-11 Leads Big-Weight Parade, Weights Close

Things sure changed this week at Oklahoma's Grand Lake. Practice for today's Bassmaster Elite Series was laced with uncertainty as pros questioned the deep bite, and dreaded what the falling water would do to the bush bite. But the water settled out and the lake's turned into a slaughter-barn.

Kevin VanDam, the No. 1 ranked angler in the world, wielded the biggest

cleaver today and chopped of a 21-11 limit to lead by 1-01.

Right behind him is South Carolina rookie Marty Robinson with 20-00. He's followed by Mike Iaconelli and Ben Matsubu, both with 19-08, then fellow rookie Derek Remitz with 19-01.

The number of high-teens sacks today was remarkable. Overall, only six anglers failed to catch a limit, and 16 anglers caught 17 pounds or better.

The field cuts to the Top 12 after day 3, and in 12th right now is rookie Scott Campbell with 17-13.

Before that, though, the field cuts to the Top 50 after tomorrow, and Skeet Reese (with 14-04) is currently the last man inside the cut. He leads the BASS Angler of the Year race. The bad news for him is VanDam, who's 2nd in the AOY race, leads the event.

Also remarkable is that the fish seem to be going on at least three or four different patterns – from deep to shallow.

Nearly everyone's starting shallow for either topwater fish, or flip-fish in the bushes. That's the way to an easy limit. Then the challenge starts as anglers begin to move toward outside structure in the quest for a cull.

Recent flooding had left the water high and dirty, but conditions have stabilized considerably. The water's dropping much more slowly – which makes the shallow fish more willing to stick around – and the suspended silt is settling, which makes the offshore bite much more workable. And some "fishing wind" helped the shallow bite today.

Given the tight nature of the weights, the event looks to be more a marathon than a sprint. Last year, winner Mike McClelland led wire to wire and utterly dominated. Today, no one's in clear control. Especially since conditions, although more stable, are still volatile.

The whole thing could be won deep, it could be won shallow, or even in the mid-depths just out from shore. And anyone in the 14- to 15-pound range could easily mount a steady climb and play the averages to victory.

VanDam Fished the Change

During practice, VanDam told BassFans that he was struggling to find concentrations of fish – it was more a hunt-and-peck type of thing. It turns out that was okay, because he pecked out five big bites and leads.

He said he did find a few spots today with decent groups of fish, but overall the day was about labor. Also notable was that he had to adjust from his practice, and he got bites where he didn't expect to.

About the deluge of high-teen weights today, he said: "I think a lot of the guys thought they were going to catch them pretty good. The lake's flooded, and it's dirtier than last year, so the bite's been a lot better. I expected the weights to be up, actually.

"I'm just kind of hunting around here and there. I found a couple of little areas that had some fish on them, but it's just a lot of hard work right now – especially to catch a good fish. I really didn't expect to catch what I caught. You always hope, but I didn't know."

About how his fish changed, he said: "They changed a lot for me today – I didn't catch them where I thought I was going to catch them. They quit dropping the water and the lake stabilized a lot. I think those fish are feeling a lot more comfortable about being in shallow water. There's so many flooded willows, a lot of the fish are really happy."

Also notable is that he thinks the changes will continue. First, he doesn't feel a lot of the spots will replenish during the tournament, since it's summertime, which he thinks will make it harder to duplicate the big bags caught shallow. As well, the water's still clearing, "which is going to change things too."

3rd: Ike 'Surprised'

Iaconelli caught 19-08 today and said he's "surprised." Not because he caught that, but because that weight puts him 3rd. He thought there would be a ton of 19- and 20-pound bags today.

Also, he said it "feels great" to be in this position, because he's had a mediocre year thus far and "it feels good to catch them for a change."

"There's a lot of different fish biting this week, which we didn't have last year," he noted. "There's three or four different ways to catch them right now. So when I came in, I didn't think 19 pounds would hold up."

Tomorrow, he's looking for 20 pounds. That's because he thinks he's all but out of the AOY race (he's 30th in the points), and the only thing on his mind right now is winning the event.

"I've always had the win mentality, but even more so when I'm kind of out of contention for AOY. I want another 20 pounds tomorrow. That's what I'll be happy with. I think I can duplicate it. The possibility's there. I'm catching enough fish, the odds are that two or three of them will hopefully be that 4- or 5-pound caliber fish.

"That's what you need – three or four kickers a day."

> He noted he's fishing both deep and shallow and caught key fish on both patterns. "I think you need to do a little of both for a big bag here."

5th: Remitz Throws the Omega

Put a jig in the hands of the rookie Remitz and that's when he transmogrifies into "The Wolverine."

With 19-01, he trails VanDam by 2-10.

"It was a pretty good day," he said. "It went as expected, but then it got little better in piecing it together. Hopefully I can go out and catch at least 15 pounds tomorrow, then hit the few right spots where a couple of good fish are loaded up."

He's not concerned that he might have overfished his spots – there's "just too many fish in the lake" to hurt them in 1 day – and he thinks his bite will "get better as the week goes on and the water starts clearing and stabilizing a little bit."

He confirmed that he's throwing an Omega jig. "I feel pretty comfortable when I'm throwing that. It feels good to catch them on the jig again finally."

About his position inside the Top 10 after day 1, he noted: "I think as tight as everything's going to be, being close (today) gives you a shot to win. But you really have to take it 1 day at a time.

"I think as long as a guy had 15 to 18 pounds today, he'll be in contention. But that deeper bite can go south just as fast as it gets good."

> He said he started shallow this morning, then moved deeper as the day went on.

8th: Martens Might Reverse Things

Aaron Martens shared water with Tim Horton this morning, and would have weighed a bigger sack but suffered from some dumped fish.

His 18-08 limit included a 5-14, and he trails VanDam by 3-03.

"I lost a big one about 5 minutes before I caught (that big) one," he said. "I lost probably 10 fish today. But this lake's awesome. I did well here last year – I made the cut – and I love fishing this place."

He added that things are "quite a bit different" this year though, due to the water level. He also noted that he's seen a number of anglers, but nobody's doing what he's doing.

About tomorrow, he said: "I had a lot of company today. They were polite, but I don't know if I'll go back there tomorrow. Most of my fish came off that one spot. I have three or four other spots like that, but they're not as good.

"I didn't have much until about 10:00, but I went and sat on that spot to beat everybody there. I sacrificed some morning spots to get there, but maybe I'll (fish those other spots) tomorrow first."

He added: "(The fish) are out there, but they're hard to get to bite. There was about a 2-hour period where it was pretty exciting – it was almost every cast. This lake has a ton of fish. It's amazing how they can bite like that, then stop biting."

11th: McClelland Covering Water

McClelland blew away the field last year, but he noted this time around, the field picked up on how he and others caught their fish last year. That's created a more educated field, and is the biggest reason for the big weights today.

"I think a lot more guys have opened their eyes to the possibility of the lake," he said. "I'm not catching them as deep as I did last year, when I was catching fish out in 20 feet. They're not out there this year.

"But the fact of the matter is that everybody's really zeroed in on what works here. Also, there's still some good fish in the willow trees, and some good ones were caught in there."

About his day today, he said: "I'm having to cover a lot of water to get the bites I'm getting. Last year I narrowed it down to seven or eight spots and rotated throughout the course of the days. I'm having to fish a lot more water this year.

"The big thing is being on an area when the big gizzard shad show up. You can catch keeper-size fish pretty easy, but when the big gizzard shad show up, you have the opportunity to catch a big one.

"I was fortunate enough today to be in the right place at the right time."

He added that he, and "probably 15 or 20 other guys" have a good shot to win right now. And the possibility of a 25-pound bag is a major factor.

"The weather's getting hot, the lake's still dropping slightly, and there's a lot of current being pulled. Anybody could pull up on the right spot and catch 20 pounds on five casts. It can happen that way here."

Notes From The Field

What follows are some notes from other competitors today:

> Robinson, in 2nd, caught a 20-00 limit. "My roommate (Casey Ashley) won the last one, and I said, 'Man, he's showing me up. I have to do something.' I just went out this morning and was catching fish on a lot of different lures starting out. It's one of the best lakes I've been to and I caught a limit fairly fast and then (I did another) little deal to catch a little (bit) bigger fish."

> Ben Matsubu, tied for 3rd, caught a 19-08 limit. "I had a brutal practice – only like three keepers a day. I needed wind, which was a big key. It put the baitfish up on the bank. I lost a couple of big ones this morning, it really shook me up. But later in the day I hit a couple of spots and things were looking up. I was just hitting a lot of spots, making 10 casts, and leaving. Hopefully it'll work out tomorrow."

> Jeff Kriet, in 6th, caught a 19-00 limit. "There's a lot of ways to catch them, that's for sure. They're biting pretty good. I caught my limit in 15 minutes, then went out and fished for big ones, and it worked. It's a great start. I'm really happy."

> Terry Scroggins, in 7th, caught 18-09. "I actually got lucky. I pulled in on one stretch of bushes that had them and got a few good bites."

> Tim Horton, in 9th, caught an 18-06 limit. "You can't win it on the first day, but you sure can lose it. I had a heartbreaker. Right after I caught (my biggest), I threw back out and hooked another fish. I thought it was about a 4-pounder and I went to swing it in (and broke the line). When it floated up it was about a 7- or 8-pounder. But I'm not going to complain. It was great."

> Edwin Evers, in 10th, caught an 18-04 limit, which included a 5-13. ""I'll take it. It's kind of an oxymoron, because I didn't catch a 4-pounder in practice. I caught lots of 2-pound fish, but that's how it works. Today I caught two big ones. At least I saved them for the right day."

> Denny Brauer, in 22nd, caught a 16-06 limit. "I had a good day on a great lake. I fished three different patterns – one was fishing bushes. I caught two big fish on a topwater right off the bat, then one other keeper, then the sun popped out and that died. If I get the right weather, I might be able to catch a big bag on that (topwater pattern). Other than that, it was hard."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 108 anglers, 102 limits, 2 fours, 2 threes, 2 twos.

> If the tournament ended today, VanDam would be leading the AOY race over Reese by 16 points.

> About the AOY race, VanDam said: "When I fish, I'm trying to effectively control all the variables that I can. I've had some ups and downs this year, but if I finish well, I have a real shot at AOY."

> How'd Oklahomans do today? Kriet's 6th, Edwin Evers is 10th, Kenyon Hill's 33rd, Tommy Biffle's 44th, Bradley Hallman's 52nd, Dave Smith's 57th, Ken Cook's 62nd, Terry Butcher's 66th, and Jeff Reynolds is 82nd. Also, recent transplant Mark Tyler's 20th.

> Elton Luce, Jr. is back after missing Clarks Hill and Smith Mt. for a family matter. He did fish Guntersville between those two events.

Weather Forecast

Here's the forecast for the remaining tournament days.

> Fri, June 22 – Isolated T-Storms – 90°/69°
- Wind: From the S/SW at 12 mph

> Sat, June 23 – Isolated T-Storms – 90°/71°
- Wind: From the SW at 11 mph

> Sun, June 24 – Scattered T-Storms – 84°/70°
- Wind: From the S at 9 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 21-11 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 21-11

2. Marty Robinson -- Landrum, SC -- 5, 20-00 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 20-00

3. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, NJ -- 5, 19-08287.5
Day 1: 5, 19-08

3. Ben Matsubu -- Hemphill, TX -- 5, 19-08287.5
Day 1: 5, 19-08

5. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, TX -- 5, 19-01 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 19-01

6. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 19-00 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 19-00

7. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 18-09 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 18-09

8. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 18-08 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 18-08

9. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 5, 18-06 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 18-06

10. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 18-04 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 18-04

11. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 17-15 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 17-15

12. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, MO -- 5, 17-13 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 17-13

13. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 5, 17-12 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 17-12

14. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 17-10 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 17-10

15. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 5, 17-07 -- 244
Day 1: 5, 17-07

15. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 5, 17-07 -- 244
Day 1: 5, 17-07

17. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 16-15 -- 241
Day 1: 5, 16-15

18. Jim Murray -- Arabi, GA -- 5, 16-13 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 16-13

19. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 16-09 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 16-09

20. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 5, 16-08 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 16-08

21. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, VA -- 5, 16-07 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 16-07

22. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 5, 16-06 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 16-06

23. Peter E Thliveros -- Jacksonville, FL -- 5, 16-04 -- 228
Day 1: 5, 16-04

23. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 5, 16-04 -- 228
Day 1: 5, 16-04

25. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 16-00 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 16-00

26. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, NC -- 5, 15-15 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 15-15

27. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, MD -- 5, 15-14 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 15-14

28. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 5, 15-12 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 15-12

29. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, WV -- 5, 15-11 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 15-11

30. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, OH -- 5, 15-08 -- 214
Day 1: 5, 15-08

30. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 5, 15-08 -- 214
Day 1: 5, 15-08

32. Lee Bailey -- Boaz, AL -- 5, 15-07 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 15-07

33. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 5, 15-05 -- 209
Day 1: 5, 15-05

34. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 5, 15-04 -- 206
Day 1: 5, 15-04

34. Morizo Shimizu -- Murrieta, CA -- 5, 15-04 -- 206
Day 1: 5, 15-04

36. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 5, 15-00 -- 203
Day 1: 5, 15-00

37. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 5, 14-15 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 14-15

37. Preston Clark -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 14-15 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 14-15

37. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 5, 14-15 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 14-15

40. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 14-14 -- 195
Day 1: 5, 14-14

41. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 14-12 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 14-12

42. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, FL -- 5, 14-11 -- 191
Day 1: 5, 14-11

43. Jimmy Mason -- Rogersville, AL -- 5, 14-10 -- 189
Day 1: 5, 14-10

44. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 5, 14-09 -- 186
Day 1: 5, 14-09

44. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 14-09 -- 186
Day 1: 5, 14-09

46. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 14-08 -- 183
Day 1: 5, 14-08

47. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 14-05 -- 180
Day 1: 5, 14-05

47. Bradley Stringer -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 14-05 -- 180
Day 1: 5, 14-05

49. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 14-04 -- 176
Day 1: 5, 14-04

49. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 14-04 -- 176
Day 1: 5, 14-04

51. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, FL -- 5, 14-02 -- 173
Day 1: 5, 14-02
52. Ken Brodeur -- Niantic, CT -- 5, 14-01 -- 170
Day 1: 5, 14-01
52. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, OK -- 5, 14-01 -- 170
Day 1: 5, 14-01
54. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, NC -- 5, 13-15 -- 167
Day 1: 5, 13-15
55. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 13-13 -- 165
Day 1: 5, 13-13
56. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, OH -- 5, 13-11 -- 163
Day 1: 5, 13-11
57. Dave Smith -- Del City, OK -- 5, 13-10 -- 160
Day 1: 5, 13-10
57. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 5, 13-10 -- 160
Day 1: 5, 13-10
59. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 5, 13-06 -- 155
Day 1: 5, 13-06
59. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 13-06 -- 155
Day 1: 5, 13-06
59. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 13-06 -- 155
Day 1: 5, 13-06
62. Ken D Cook -- Lawton, OK -- 5, 13-01 -- 151
Day 1: 5, 13-01
63. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 13-00 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 13-00
63. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 13-00 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 13-00
63. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 13-00 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 13-00
66. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 5, 12-15 -- 142
Day 1: 5, 12-15
66. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 12-15 -- 142
Day 1: 5, 12-15
68. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 12-14 -- 139
Day 1: 5, 12-14
69. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, NC -- 5, 12-13 -- 137
Day 1: 5, 12-13
70. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, TX -- 5, 12-12 -- 135
Day 1: 5, 12-12
71. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 12-08 -- 133
Day 1: 5, 12-08
72. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Varysburg, MD -- 5, 12-07 -- 130
Day 1: 5, 12-07
72. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 5, 12-07 -- 130
Day 1: 5, 12-07
74. Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, IL -- 5, 12-05 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 12-05
75. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 5, 12-01 -- 125
Day 1: 5, 12-01
76. James Kennedy -- Lacombe, LA -- 5, 12-00 -- 123
Day 1: 5, 12-00
77. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, GA -- 5, 11-13 -- 121
Day 1: 5, 11-13
78. Dean Rojas -- Grand Saline, TX -- 5, 11-12 -- 119
Day 1: 5, 11-12
79. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 11-11 -- 117
Day 1: 5, 11-11
80. Jon Bondy -- Windsor CANADA -- 5, 11-08 -- 114
Day 1: 5, 11-08
80. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, NY -- 5, 11-08 -- 114
Day 1: 5, 11-08
82. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, OK -- 5, 11-07 -- 111
Day 1: 5, 11-07
83. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 11-05 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 11-05
84. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, PA -- 5, 11-02 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 11-02
85. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, LA -- 5, 10-14 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 10-14
85. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 10-14 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 10-14
87. Steve Daniel -- Clewiston, FL -- 5, 10-13 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 10-13
88. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 5, 10-10 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 10-10
89. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 5, 10-09 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 10-09
89. William Smith Jr. -- Somerset, KY -- 5, 10-09 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 10-09
89. Greg Gutierrez -- Red Bluff, CA -- 5, 10-09 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 10-09
92. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 10-06 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 10-06
92. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, PA -- 5, 10-06 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 10-06
94. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 5, 10-05 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 10-05
95. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 5, 10-01 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 10-01
96. Mark Rogers -- Naples, FL -- 5, 10-00 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 10-00
97. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 09-15 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 09-15
98. Kurt Dove -- Fairfax, VA -- 5, 09-13 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 09-13
99. Ray Sedgwick -- Cross, SC -- 5, 09-09 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 09-09
100. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, AR -- 5, 09-08 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 09-08
101. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 5, 09-06 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 09-06
102. Bryan Hudgins -- Orange Park, FL -- 5, 09-00 73.5
Day 1: 5, 09-00
102. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 4, 09-00 73.5
Day 1: 4, 09-00
104. Matt Amedeo -- Clinton, OH -- 4, 07-15 -- 72
Day 1: 4, 07-15
105. Charlie Youngers -- Geneva, FL -- 2, 07-09 -- 71
Day 1: 2, 07-09
106. Elton Luce Jr -- Brookeland, TX -- 3, 07-05 -- 70
Day 1: 3, 07-05
107. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 3, 06-07 -- 69
Day 1: 3, 06-07
108. Keith Phillips -- Calera, AL -- 2, 03-13 -- 68
Day 1: 2, 03-13

Big Bass

> Day 1 -- Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 05-14 -- $1,000