Tucker Cracks 24 To Seize Day-1 Lead

By BassFan Staff

It's no secret that sight-fishing can absolutely wear an angler out over the course of a day. From the mental drain of locating the quality bed-fish and hoping they'll stick around to the repetitive pitching of various baits in an attempt to rouse a response, it can empty even the stoutest angler's energy tank.

It's not unusual to work on a single fish for an hour or more and not get a bite. But connect with a couple – or even one – and the payoff can be huge.

J. Todd Tucker can attest to that as he pulled a pair of 8-pounders off their nests and sits atop the leaderboard at the season-opening St. Johns River Bassmaster Elite Series. The Georiga pro's 24-pound sack eclipsed Greg Hackney's catch by 2 ounces.

Hackney's 23-14 bag was anchored by a 10-09 monster that easily was the big fish of the day. Bill Lowen stuck 22-03 and sits in 3rd. He was followed in the Top 5 by Virginian Rick Morris (21-12) and Cliff Crochet (21-05).

Here's a look at the current Top 12, with deficit margin from the leader indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. J. Todd Tucker: 24-00
2. Greg Hackney: 23-14 (0-02)
3. Bill Lowen: 22-03 (1-13)
4. Rick Morris: 21-12 (2-04)
5. Cliff Crochet: 21-05 (2-11)
6. David Walker: 20-09 (3-07)
7. Edwin Evers: 20-04 (3-12)
8. John Crews: 19-09 (4-07)
9. Tommy Biffle: 19-00 (5-00)
10. Kevin Ledoux: 18-09 (5-07)
11. Yusuke Miyazaki: 18-08 (5-08)
12. Stephen Browning: 18-05 (5-11)

Tucker was among the 11 pros who weighed a 20-plus bag on day 1 at the St. Johns last year, but that number dipped to seven today as the massive bites that were the story a year ago are at such a premium this time around.

Much of the talk coming into the season-opener centered around whether there would be enough quality bed-fish to sustain someone for 4 days. The lack of quality spotted in practice forced many to develop a plan B or go all-in on their sight-fishing gameplan.

It appears someone on the all-in sight-fishing program might be left high and dry on the weekend unless they're able to connect on a few egg-packed females. Save for Hackney's "tree shaker," as he called it on stage, it seems the majority of mammoth bed-fish have checked out.

Many anglers noted that when they went to check on bed-fish they had marked in practice, daybreak revealed the beds were empty. Lake George again was a magnet for lookers and Crescent Lake was as well.

The field will be trimmed to 50 following day 2 and only the Top 12 will advance to Sunday, when the winner will be determined by highest cumulative weight.

Tucker Saw ‘Em All

> Day 1: 5, 24-00

Tucker’s day of sight-fishing went as planned, except for the two times he failed to connect on the 8-06 female that eventually came around and helped catapult him to the lead for the first time in his Elite Series career.

“I’m thrilled to death,” he said. “I know it’s the first day, but still it’s nice to be in the lead and see everybody and all of my friends are texting me and calling me. I have a lot of support out there. I didn’t catch a lot of fish today and I knew I wouldn’t, but finding the ones to spend time on was the key thing. I wanted to make sure I had a limit. I did stop on a small one or two I knew I could catch quickly, but once you get in five in the boat, sight-fishing is a whole lot easier.”

His first 8-pounder was a fish he found late on the final day of practice. He added an 8-03 bookend in the afternoon and revealed there’s another fish of similar quality in his area in Lake George.

“Who knows, maybe she’ll bite tomorrow,” he added.

He's pretty much married to a sight-fishing pattern and said he’ll be as patient as he needs to be again on day 2.

“It’s just sight-fishing,” he said. “You have to be patient and know that you have all day and know that the latter part of the day is going to be your best chance of finding a big fish. You can’t get in a hurry and you can’t fish a lot of places.

"You have to stay and let those fish come to you and know that they’re going to come at some point. That’s been the key factor. I did the same thing last year. I just kind of hung out with the push-pole and when I thought I should leave, I didn’t. I stayed and it paid off.”

He noted the water clarity this year has made it hard to get a read on how big the remaining bed-fish really are.

“The big fish are really in smaller areas,” he said. “You have to be real patient and go real slow to actually see them. The two big fish I caught today, I didn’t think they were near as big as they were until I set the hook on them. Last year, I could tell what kind of size they were. This year, they’re just a lot harder to see.

“With sight-fishing in a 4-day tournament, you can’t really plan on anything. I don’t have anything really to go to. All I have is my ability and my patience and I’ll rely on my decisions. Lately, I’ve been making really good decisions. I’ve been fishing real consistent and confidence plays a big part in this game.”

2nd: Hackney Needs More Big Bites

> Day 1: 5, 23-14

Hackney stole the show today when he pulled his 10-09 pig out of his weigh sack. He feels he’ll need at least one similar bite each day the rest of the way to have a shot at winning.

“The whole deal here, and I know this from last year, is that big bite,” he said. “If they were doing it here, we would, no doubt, see well over 100 pounds. There’s probably as many 8- to 10-pounders that live on this system than anywhere we go. But both times we’ve been here, it’s been just a little off. The deal is catching one of those a day. You have to have a 6- to 8-pounder every day.”

He hadn’t marked the fish previously and actually was en route to target a 4-pounder he’d found in practice. Ultimately, both fish wound up in his box, but it was the 10-pounder that made the difference. Once it was hooked a stiff battle ensued as he played it on an 8-foot flipping rod using 65-pound braid.

“Usually, I don’t leave the front of the boat when I’m fishing with that rod, but that fish was so strong,” he added. “Usually, when you get a big one, they’ll run one way and then come back. This one jumped twice. When I got it in the boat, I told my marshal, ‘That was fun.’

“Those are the fish that make your day.”

He had his limit by 10:15 just fishing and upgraded throughout the rest of the day. He’s mixing up a lot of techniques and fishing different stuff all along the river.

“I’ll probably go fishing again first tomorrow, then maybe I’ll go look (at beds),” he said. “Maybe I won’t, though. I’ll see how the first couple hours go.

“I didn’t think the sight-fishing deal would last very long. If I could get by with one day of it, that would be pretty good. I spent 50 percent of my time in practice looking and 50 percent of my time looking for where I thought they were going. I have plenty of places to fish. It’s just how they produce. We’re here during that funky time. A few of them are doing this, a few are doing that. Not one thing is going to dominate.”

3rd: So Far So Good For Lowen

> Day 1: 5, 22-03

Lowen caught two off beds and saw plenty of others, but none would have helped him today. The one that did help him immensely, though, nearly got away.

He pulled up on a big fish, but couldn’t get a positive ID on it with the high tide. Once he did get bit, it came off. He then caught the 3 1/2-pound buck and on the next cast stuck the 8-03 female.

“Today was one of those days where everything worked out well,” he said.

He’s working one offshore area and also spending some time in the shallows.

“I have about 10 little spots and I fished four of them today,” he added. “I didn’t really have any company either, which was nice.”

4th: Perfect Day For Morris

> Day 1: 5, 21-12

After last year’s Wheeler Elite Series, Morris was flat-out burned out. He wanted nothing to do with fishing, so he sold his boat, stuffed his tackle and gear in his garage and enjoyed some time with his daughter.

“It was a simple break,” he said, dismissing the suggestion that he was considering giving up fishing professionally. “I took my daughter jug-fishing and pulled her on the wakeboard and stuff like that. Then I sold the boat and then, there was no more of that either.”

The break certainly did him some good. His sack was anchored by a 7-pounder he caught off a bed, but he’s also mixing in other techniques rather than strictly sight-fishing.

“What a perfect day,” he said. “I don’t expect a repeat and I don’t think I’m in contention to win, but I’m going to have a good tournament. Even if I go out and catch 10 pounds tomorrow, I should make the Top 12.

“I knew this is the one I really needed to conquer because I was 96th here last year. I’m not good at bed-fishing in Florida. We’re more into a post-spawn now than beds. They’re in that funk right now. Some people are catching them on beds.”

He doesn’t think his areas will hold up over time, but he feels he won’t be alone in the regard since the system is going through the funk period between spawn and post-spawn.

“From my observations, a lot of the top weights are coming from guys who are fishing the opposite direction because they’re catching those fish that are going to spawn and are more active and where there are more coming in,” he added. “I expect the tournament to be won in the opposite direction from (Lake) George. I’d put money on it right now. I’m not in that direction and I don’t think I’m going to be, but I’m happy with my results.”

5th: Crochet Just Fishing

> Day 1: 5, 21-05

Crochet firmly believes a slow and steady approach will win this tournament, with the emphasis on steady. The Louisiana pro is not looking at beds and feels his program could hold up through the weekend.

"I knew I could catch a decent bag," he said. "For me to catch 21-05, that's more than I thought I could catch. Steady will be the deal because the sight-fish are going to play out. Obviously, the fish we caught today we can't catch tomorrow and as we go further along I don't know if a post-spawn funk will come into play or if the fish are so far along that they're coming out of the post-spawn funk."

Coming into the event, he thought a 17 1/2-pound average would claim the trophy, but he doesn't believe the sight-bite is strong enough to hold up for 4 days. He's just fishing a milk run of sorts in Lake George and staying away from the crowds.

"I really enjoy sight-fishing, but I didn't see enough in practice to sight-fish this tournament," he added. "To sight-fish, I need to see them and I need to see a bunch of them. I hope the sight-fish are played out because that'll help the fishermen."

12th: Browning Stoked After Start

> Day 1: 5, 18-05

Browning made the most of his eight keeper bites today. He spent the day sight-fishing, a technique he admits is not a strength of his.

"After the practice I had, I felt like I could get a day or 2 worth of sight-fishing done," he said. "I'm real happy to get off to a good start. I'm not the most accomplished sight-fisherman. Mentally, it's without a doubt the toughest thing we do. It happens so quick sometimes."

He added that he worked on one fish for an hour this morning and couldn't coax a bite, but after making a move, he scored four bites in a span of 90 minutes. His big fish weighed 6-07 and, it turns out, was blind on one side.

To have a chance at the win, he things a backup plan will be needed for the weekend.

"I was able to generate enough bites to fall back on something," he said. "If I can salvage one more decent day of sight fishing, I feel I can contend."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 99 anglers, 94 limits, 2 fours, 2 threes, 1 one.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., March 16 – Mostly Sunny - 79°/55°
- Wind: From the E/SE at 10 mph

> Sat., March 17 – Mostly Sunny - 78°/57°
- Wind: From the SE at 9 mph

> Sun., March 18 – Partly Sunny - 77°/57°
- Wind: From the E/SE at 10 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, GA -- 5, 24-00 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 24-00

2. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 23-14 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 23-14

3. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 22-03 -- 97
Day 1: 5, 22-03

4. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 5, 21-12 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 21-12

5. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 5, 21-05 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 21-05

6. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 5, 20-09 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 20-09

7. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 20-04 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 20-04

8. John Crews -- Salem, VA -- 5, 19-09 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 19-09

9. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 19-00 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 19-00

10. Kevin Ledoux -- Choctaw, OK -- 5, 18-09 -- 90
Day 1: 5, 18-09

11. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, TX -- 5, 18-08 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 18-08

12. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 18-05 -- 88
Day 1: 5, 18-05

13. Casey Scanlon -- Lenexa, KS -- 5, 18-01 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 18-01

14. Derek Remitz -- Grant, AL -- 5, 17-08 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 17-08

15. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 17-05 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 17-05

16. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 5, 17-02 -- 84
Day 1: 5, 17-02

17. Alton Jones -- Woodway, TX -- 5, 16-07 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 16-07

18. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 16-02 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 16-02

19. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 15-14 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 15-14

19. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 5, 15-14 -- 81
Day 1: 5, 15-14

21. Pete Ponds -- Madison, MS -- 5, 15-12 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 15-12

22. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 15-11 -- 78
Day 1: 5, 15-11

23. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, OK -- 5, 15-10 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 15-10

24. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 15-10 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 15-10

25. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 15-07 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 15-07

26. Russell Parrish -- Riesel, TX -- 5, 15-03 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 15-03

26. Fletcher Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 5, 15-03 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 15-03

28. Matt Herren -- Trussville, AL -- 5, 14-14 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 14-14

28. Kelly Jordon -- Palestine, TX -- 5, 14-14 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 14-14

30. Randy Howell -- Springville, AL -- 5, 14-10 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 14-10

31. Nate Wellman -- Newaygo, MI -- 5, 14-08 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 14-08

32. Michael Iaconelli -- Pittsgrove, NJ -- 5, 14-04 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 14-04

32. Morizo Shimizu -- Matsugaoka JAPAN -- 5, 14-04 -- 68
Day 1: 5, 14-04

34. Casey D Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 14-03 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 14-03

35. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 14-00 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 14-00

36. Timmy Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 5, 13-13 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 13-13

37. Ott DeFoe -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 13-10 -- 63
Day 1: 5, 13-10

38. Bobby Lane -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 13-07 -- 62
Day 1: 5, 13-07

39. Grant Goldbeck -- Boerne, TX -- 5, 13-03 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 13-03

40. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 5, 12-15 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 12-15

41. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, TX -- 5, 12-13 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 12-13

41. John Murray -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 12-13 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 12-13

43. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 12-12 -- 57
Day 1: 5, 12-12

44. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 5, 12-10 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 12-10

45. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, TX -- 5, 12-07 -- 55
Day 1: 5, 12-07

46. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 12-06 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 12-06

47. Dustin Wilks -- Rocky Mount, NC -- 5, 12-04 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 12-04

48. Terry Butcher -- Talala, OK -- 5, 12-02 -- 52
Day 1: 5, 12-02

49. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, AR -- 5, 12-01 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 12-01

50. Jared Miller -- Norman, OK -- 5, 12-00 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 12-00

51. Pat Golden -- Bethlehem, GA -- 5, 11-13 -- 49
Day 1: 5, 11-13

52. Gerald Swindle -- Warrior, AL -- 5, 11-11 -- 48
Day 1: 5, 11-11

53. Clark Reehm -- Lufkin, TX -- 5, 11-11 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 11-11

54. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, AL -- 5, 11-10 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 11-10

54. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 11-10 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 11-10

56. Fred Roumbanis -- Bixby, OK -- 5, 11-09 -- 44
Day 1: 5, 11-09

57. Jami Fralick -- Martin, SD -- 5, 11-08 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 11-08

58. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 11-07 -- 42
Day 1: 5, 11-07

59. Brandon Palaniuk -- Rathdrum, ID -- 5, 11-01 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 11-01

60. Brandon Card -- Caryville, TN -- 5, 10-15 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 10-15

60. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 5, 10-15 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 10-15

62. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 10-10 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 10-10

63. Charlie Hartley -- Grove City, OH -- 5, 10-08 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 10-08

64. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 10-07 -- 36
Day 1: 5, 10-07

65. Jamie Horton -- Centerville, AL -- 5, 10-06 -- 35
Day 1: 5, 10-06

66. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 5, 10-05 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 10-05

67. Kyle A. Fox -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 10-03 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 10-03

67. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 10-03 -- 33
Day 1: 5, 10-03

69. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 10-01 -- 31
Day 1: 5, 10-01

70. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 10-00 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 10-00

71. Travis Manson -- De Pere, WI -- 5, 09-12 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 09-12

71. Byron Velvick -- Boenre, TX -- 5, 09-12 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 09-12

73. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, SC -- 5, 09-10 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 09-10

74. Denny Brauer -- Camdenton, MO -- 5, 09-01 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 09-01

74. Chad Griffin -- Cresson, TX -- 5, 09-01 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 09-01

74. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 09-01 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 09-01

77. Jeremy Starks -- Scott Depot, WV -- 5, 09-00 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 09-00

78. Matt Greenblatt -- Port St Lucie, FL -- 5, 08-13 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 08-13

79. Davy Hite -- Ninety Six, SC -- 5, 08-11 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 08-11

80. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 4, 08-11 -- 20
Day 1: 4, 08-11

81. Zell Rowland -- Austin, TX -- 5, 08-09 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 08-09

82. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 5, 08-08 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 08-08

83. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5, 08-07 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 08-07

84. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, AR -- 5, 08-06 -- 16
Day 1: 5, 08-06

85. Mark Davis -- Mount Ida, AR -- 5, 08-04 -- 15
Day 1: 5, 08-04

86. Chris Zaldain -- San Jose, CA -- 5, 07-13 -- 14
Day 1: 5, 07-13

87. Jonathon VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 07-12 -- 13
Day 1: 5, 07-12

88. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 07-11 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 07-11

89. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 07-10 -- 11
Day 1: 5, 07-10

90. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 07-05 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 07-05

91. James Niggemeyer -- Van, TX -- 5, 07-01 -- 9
Day 1: 5, 07-01

92. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 06-08 -- 8
Day 1: 5, 06-08

93. David Smith -- Del City, OK -- 5, 06-07 -- 7
Day 1: 5, 06-07

94. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 06-03 -- 6
Day 1: 5, 06-03

95. Michael Simonton -- Fremont, OH -- 4, 05-11 -- 5
Day 1: 4, 05-11

96. Kenyon Hill -- Norman, OK -- 5, 05-08 -- 4
Day 1: 5, 05-08

97. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 3, 03-15 -- 3
Day 1: 3, 03-15

98. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, AL -- 3, 03-12 -- 2
Day 1: 3, 03-12

99. Brent Broderick -- Oregonia, OH -- 1, 01-04 -- 1
Day 1: 1, 01-04