Faircloth, McClelland Lead The Way With 30-Plus

The fishing at Alabama's Lake Guntersville is almost too good right now. Honestly, a 20-pound bag should never relegate an angler to 64th place in the standings, no matter who he's fishing against.

That's the deal at the Southeast's crown jewel of bass fisheries, though. Nearly two-thirds of the field at the Guntersville Bassmaster Elite Series caught limits that averaged 4 pounds per fish, and many of them will probably have to do it again tomorrow to go home with a paycheck.

Texan Todd Faircloth led the way with a 31-00 bag. He's picking off post-spawners on their way to their summer haunts and boated two that went nearly 7 pounds apiece.

Right behind him was Arkansas' Mike McClelland with 30-10. He's on a spinnerbait-oriented pattern and his stringer included an 8-pounder.

Texas' Byron Velvick was 3rd with 29-04. He had a good practice, but had no idea just how many quality fish his areas held.

Oklahoma's Ken Cook and Alabama's Aaron Martens shared the No. 4 position with 29-02 each. Cook took big-bass honors with an 8-05 bruiser and Martens worked his way through nearly 140 fish.

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

1. Todd Faircloth: 31-00
2. Mike McClelland: 30-10 (0-06)
3. Byron Velvick: 29-04 (1-12)
4. (tie) Ken Cook: 29-02 (1-14)
4. (tie) Aaron Martens: 29-02 (1-14)
6. Alton Jones: 28-12 (2-04)
7. Mike Iaconelli: 27-05 (3-11)
8. Marty Stone: 26-15 (4-01)
9. Mark Davis: 26-14 (4-02)
10. Jami Fralick: 26-11 (4-05)
11. Boyd Duckett: 26-03 (4-13)
12. Rick Clunn: 25-14 (5-02)

Guntersville has long been a favorite among tour pros, but even the most seasoned say they've never seen it this good. Mark Davis told the weigh-in crowd that he caught approximately 200 fish today – one on nearly every cast he made.

Anything and everything is working, from sight-fishing to crawling a jig across the ledges. A lot of streamlined post-spawn fish came to the scale, and they were joined by a bunch of football-shaped specimens that hadn't completed the reproduction process – and maybe hadn't even started it.

By all indications, more of the same can be expected tomorrow. Weather conditions will be similar (a mix of clouds and sun with a moderate wind) and there are still plenty of 4- and 5-pounders that haven't felt a hook.

The field will be cut to the Top 50 after tomorrow's weigh-in, and then to the Top 12 after Saturday's festivities. The winner will be determined Sunday by highest cumulative weight, and it now appears as if that angler will need somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 pounds.

Faircloth Loads Up Early

It's not like Faircloth had to labor all day to compile his monstrous bag – he had a limit in the box just a few minutes after he began fishing and had secured most of his weight by the time the local residents were just beginning their work day.

"Realistically, I was hoping I could catch 20 to 25 pounds," he said. "That's what I'd been getting in practice, but today I got lucky and got some 6-pounders."

He went through about 30 keepers and his two biggest both checked in at 6-13.

"I'm just fishing post-spawn stuff, intercepting fish as they migrate out toward their summer grounds. I've got a couple of patterns that are working for me and hopefully I can get another good bag tomorrow.

"I think the patterns will hold up, but I don't know if the spots will. I might have to run different water and stuff I haven't fished and bounce around some. Generally the places here will replenish to some degree, and these fish are coming to me, so I feel good about that."

2nd: McClelland Surprised

McClelland might've been in trouble today had he not keyed in on something in the closing hours of practice.

"(My weight) did surprise me a little, but I thought I had a good opportunity to catch at least 20 (pounds)," he said. "I figured out late yesterday what I needed to do and today it came together. I feel very blessed – the Good Lord shined on me today."

He revealed that he caught his first five fish on a War Eagle spinnerbait, and then expanded on that pattern to boost his bag. He caught 25 to 30 keepers, including the 8-pounder.

"It was a pretty hard fight," he said of his tussle against the big one. "She got up under the boat and I thought she was going to give up easy, but then she made a real hard run back toward the big motor. It was pretty spooky.

"She'd eaten the bait pretty good and I wasn't concerned about her getting off, but I didn't want her to get wrapped up in the motor."

He doesn't expect to catch 30 pounds again tomorrow, but feels he can put together another strong sack.

"I had the 8 today and another one pushing 7, and those could easily become 3- and 4-pounders that would put me in the middle of the crowd. But I think I might have a little something that'll carry me through the next day or 2."

3rd: Quality and Quantity for Velvick

Velvick got some good bites in practice, but he was surprised by how many good fish were in those areas today.

"In practice I'd catch a good one and leave, then go somewhere else and catch a good one and leave," he said. "You don't want people to see you in there catching them, so a lot of times you really don't know how many of them are there.

"These are just aggressive fish – my first one this morning snapped the rod. And I can't believe the weights."

A 7 1/2-pounder was the best of the 20 keepers he caught. He had a "pretty substantial limit" by 10:00.

"I didn't start in my best area right off the bat and I moved around a lot. I've got three or four places I can rotate through.

"It'll be hard to catch 29 pounds again tomorrow, but who knows. If I can get a couple of big bites, I could end up with over 30."

4th: Martens had Huge Numbers

Martens' weight was about what he anticipated bringing to the scale, and the numbers of fish he went through were staggering.

His marshal had him down for 137 fish. He said about 80 of those were keepers and 60 or so weighed at least 3-pounds. And here's the biggie – he culled at least a dozen 5-pounders.

"Every day I've been here so far, it's been ridiculous," said Martens, who lives a little more than an hour's drive from the lake in Leeds, Ala. "I only come up here once or twice a year for fun-fishing. I should do it more.

"I'm going to have to do some stretches tonight because I got a good workout today."

He visited only 10 of the 40 waypoints he'd marked in practice. His biggest fish weighed a little more than 6 pounds.

"I'd been catching that much every day (during practice), but I didn't know they'd weigh almost 30 pounds. I thought it was 27 or maybe 28.

"There's just so many 5-pounders."

4th: Cook Sticking to Basics

Cook said there's nothing special about the way he's fishing.

"It's pretty standard Guntersville stuff," he said. "I'm fishing the grass and the shad spawn early, and when the fish move out, I move with them.

"I'd have been shocked to have less than 22 to 24 pounds, but an 8-pounder will put you up there pretty good."

He said the big one was "pretty cooperative for a fish that size." He caught a 6-05 at about noon that didn't surrender so easily.

"I was fishing a Rapala DT10 and the hooks were in its bottom lip, and I couldn't get ahold of it. The third time I grabbed it I got a hook in my thumb and it got away from me again, and I ended up having to body-grab it. It was my last cull of the day."

He expects his weight to be slightly lower tomorrow, but not much.

"I can't count on 8 1/2-pounders, but I can count on 4- and 5-pounders. There's so many 4-pounders that it's stupid.

"I've been coming here since the early (1980s) and it's always been good, and I've had good and bad tournaments. But I've never experienced it like this."

6th: No Looking for Jones

Alton Jones expected to post a big number today, and he did just that.

"I thought I could catch at least 25 (pounds)," he said. "Beyond that, it's hard to predict because you're depending on big bites. I was pretty sure I could load up with 5-pounders, but I also caught a 7 1/2. I'm excited to be where I am.

"I will say that I'm not sight-fishing – I'm fishing outside and working the current and that sort of thing. There are lots of fish, and when you find the little sweet spots it can be 20 or 30 straight. Once you figure out the magic cast, it's lights out."

He figures he caught about 50 fish even though he stopped casting midway through the day.

"I played some defense just to keep the boats off. I was boat No. 1 (to leave the launch) today, but I'm dead-last tomorrow so I may have to muscle my way back in there. Hopefully guys will show me some courtesy – nobody was on my little sweet spot, but other big bags were caught close by.

"I've got one other spot nearby that I was able to keep an eye on, and nobody touched it."

94th: Bad Call by Herren

Matt Herren was high on many favorites lists this week due to his familiarity with the lake and his strong start in his initial Elite Series season. But he weighed just 14-00 today and likely would be unable to crack the Top 50 with a 25-pound bag tomorrow.

"It was poor decision-making," he said. "I thought I could catch them up real shallow way up in the river, and it didn't work. They really dropped the water last night.

"I've dug myself a god-awful hole now, but when you gamble and it backfires, you get burned. All I can do is go fishing tomorrow. I know where to crank and I know where to fish (deep)."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 99 anglers, 96 limits, 2 threes, 1 two.

> Jones said he started his big motor just twice – once to leave the launch and once to return. "I needed to play defense, so I didn't move at all. That's not my style and it's not something I normally do, but when it's working, it's working."

> Kevin VanDam and Skeet Reese, the leaders in the Toyota Tundra Angler of the Year (AOY) race, are tied for 15th with 25-09. Jones is 3rd on that list.

Weather Forecast

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

> Fri., May 8 - P.M. T-Storms - 87°/67°
- Wind: From the S/SW at 13 mph

> Sat., May 9 - P.M. T-Storms - 84°/64°
- Wind: From the W/SW at 13 mph

> Sun., May 10 - Scattered T-Storms - 74°/58°
- Wind: From the N at 7 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 31-00 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 31-00

2. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 30-10 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 30-10

3. Byron Velvick -- Del Rio, TX -- 5, 29-04 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 29-04

4. Ken D. Cook -- Lawton, OK -- 5, 29-02 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 29-02

4. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 29-02 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 29-02

6. Alton Jones -- Waco, TX -- 5, 28-12 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 28-12

7. Michael Iaconelli -- Runnemede, NJ -- 5, 27-05 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 27-05

8. Marty Stone -- Fayetteville, NC -- 5, 26-15 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 26-15

9. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 5, 26-14 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 26-14

10. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 5, 26-11 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 26-11

11. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 5, 26-03 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 26-03

12. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 25-14 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 25-14

13. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 25-12 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 25-12

13. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 5, 25-12 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 25-12

15. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 25-09 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 25-09

15. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 25-09 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 25-09

17. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 25-06 -- 241
Day 1: 5, 25-06

18. Dave Wolak -- Wake Forest, NC -- 5, 25-03 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 25-03

19. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 24-12 -- 237
Day 1: 5, 24-12

20. Shaw E. Grigsby -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 24-08 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 24-08

21. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 24-07 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 24-07

22. Kevin Wirth -- Crestwood, KY -- 5, 24-06 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 24-06

23. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, LA -- 5, 24-01 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 24-01

23. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 5, 24-01 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 24-01

25. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 24-00 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 24-00

26. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 5, 23-10 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 23-10

27. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 23-07 -- 221
Day 1: 5, 23-07

28. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, NY -- 5, 23-06 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 23-06

29. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 23-04 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 23-04

29. Bill Lowen -- North Bend, OH -- 5, 23-04 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 23-04

31. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 5, 23-01 -- 213
Day 1: 5, 23-01

32. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 22-15 -- 211
Day 1: 5, 22-15

33. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 22-13 -- 209
Day 1: 5, 22-13

34. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 5, 22-10 -- 207
Day 1: 5, 22-10

35. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 22-04 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 22-04

36. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 22-02 -- 203
Day 1: 5, 22-02

36. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 5, 22-02 -- 203
Day 1: 5, 22-02

38. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 22-01 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 22-01

39. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 5, 21-14 -- 197
Day 1: 5, 21-14

40. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, MO -- 5, 21-13 -- 195
Day 1: 5, 21-13

41. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, VA -- 5, 21-09 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 21-09

41. Peter E Thliveros -- St Augustine, FL -- 5, 21-09 -- 193
Day 1: 5, 21-09

43. Jason Quinn -- York, SC -- 5, 21-07 -- 189
Day 1: 5, 21-07

44. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 5, 21-06 -- 187
Day 1: 5, 21-06

45. Mark Burgess -- Norton, MA -- 5, 21-04 -- 185
Day 1: 5, 21-04

46. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 5, 21-01 -- 183
Day 1: 5, 21-01

47. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, NC -- 5, 20-14 -- 181
Day 1: 5, 20-14

48. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 5, 20-14 -- 179
Day 1: 5, 20-14

49. Brian Clark -- Haltom City, TX -- 5, 20-12 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 20-12

49. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 20-12 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 20-12

49. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, TX -- 5, 20-12 -- 177
Day 1: 5, 20-12

52. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 5, 20-12 -- 171
Day 1: 5, 20-12

53. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, OK -- 5, 20-09 -- 169
Day 1: 5, 20-09

53. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 5, 20-09 -- 169
Day 1: 5, 20-09

55. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 5, 20-08 -- 165
Day 1: 5, 20-08

56. Jeff Reynolds -- Idabel, OK -- 5, 20-07 -- 163
Day 1: 5, 20-07

57. Mark Tucker -- Saint Louis, MO -- 5, 20-06 -- 161
Day 1: 5, 20-06

58. Kelly Jordon -- Mineola, TX -- 5, 20-05 -- 159
Day 1: 5, 20-05

59. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 5, 20-04 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 20-04

59. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 5, 20-04 -- 157
Day 1: 5, 20-04

61. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 20-03 -- 153
Day 1: 5, 20-03

61. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 5, 20-03 -- 153
Day 1: 5, 20-03

63. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 5, 20-01 -- 149
Day 1: 5, 20-01

64. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 5, 19-13 -- 147
Day 1: 5, 19-13

65. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 19-12 -- 145
Day 1: 5, 19-12

66. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 19-06 -- 143
Day 1: 5, 19-06

66. Morizo Shimizu -- Osaka JAPAN -- 5, 19-06 -- 143
Day 1: 5, 19-06

66. Mark Tyler -- Vian, OK -- 5, 19-06 -- 143
Day 1: 5, 19-06

69. Wade Grooms -- Bonneau, SC -- 5, 19-04 -- 137
Day 1: 5, 19-04

70. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 19-03 -- 135
Day 1: 5, 19-03

71. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 18-14 -- 133
Day 1: 5, 18-14

72. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 18-13 -- 131
Day 1: 5, 18-13

73. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 18-10 -- 129
Day 1: 5, 18-10

74. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 5, 18-08 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 18-08

74. Vince Fulks -- Purcell, OK -- 5, 18-08 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 18-08

74. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 18-08 -- 127
Day 1: 5, 18-08

77. Mike Wurm -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 18-04 -- 121
Day 1: 5, 18-04

78. Jimmy Mize -- Ben Lomond, AR -- 5, 17-12 -- 119
Day 1: 5, 17-12

79. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 17-07 -- 117
Day 1: 5, 17-07

80. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 5, 17-00 -- 115
Day 1: 5, 17-00

81. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 5, 16-13 -- 113
Day 1: 5, 16-13

82. Pat Golden -- High Point, NC -- 5, 16-11 -- 111
Day 1: 5, 16-11

83. Jeremy Starks -- Charleston, WV -- 5, 16-09 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 16-09

83. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, NC -- 5, 16-09 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 16-09

85. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 5, 16-04 -- 105
Day 1: 5, 16-04

86. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, NC -- 5, 15-11 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 15-11

87. Grant Goldbeck -- Gaithersburg, MD -- 5, 15-09 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 15-09

87. Clark Reehm -- Russellville, AR -- 5, 15-09 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 15-09

89. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 5, 15-09 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 15-09

90. Luke Gritter -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 15-00 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 15-00

91. Elton Luce Jr. -- Brookeland, TX -- 5, 14-15 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 14-15

91. David Smith -- Del City, OK -- 5, 14-15 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 14-15

93. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 14-01 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 14-01

94. Matt Herren -- Trussville, AL -- 5, 14-00 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 14-00

95. Chris Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 13-00 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 13-00

96. Jim Murray -- Arabi, GA -- 5, 12-08 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 12-08

97. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 3, 12-00 -- 81
Day 1: 3, 12-00

98. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 3, 07-13 -- 79
Day 1: 3, 07-13

99. Brent Broderick -- Oregonia, OH -- 2, 04-04 -- 77
Day 1: 2, 04-04

Big Bass

Day 1: Ken D. Cook -- Lawton, OK -- 8-05