Davis Starts Strong At Eufaula With 22-09

By BassFan Staff

A couple weeks ago, the shallow-water bite at Lake Eufaula was pretty strong. The water was up in the grass and bushes and the fish were all over the bank.

Since then, the water has receded, leaving most of that cover high and dry or with a negligible amount of water around it. Those fish, in turn, have vacated those areas and moved to the next available pieces of cover or structure. At Eufaula, where there are thousands of brush piles scattered on the bottom, they have plenty of options to choose from.

If day 1 of the Lake Eufaula FLW Tour is any indication of how the lake is fishing, it appears the better – and likely winning – fish will be caught away from he bank this week as a lot of fish are relating to those brush piles. A few plump individual specimens were caught shallow today, but the lion’s share of the leaders’ catches occurred offshore.

Alabama native Clent Davis, who has plenty of history at Eufaula and is fresh off a Top 10 at the Kentucky Lake Central Rayovac Series, is leading the way with 22-09. He’s followed by Georgian Troy Morrow, who bagged 21-08.

Two others broke the 20-pound mark – Adrian Avena and Ramie Colson, Jr. both sacked 20-10 and are tied for 3rd. Zack Birge continued his strong rookie season with a 19-13 effort that has him in 5th.

Randy Haynes, the winner of the 2013 Tour event at Eufaula, is in the mix again with an 18-13 stringer that put him in 7th.

Here's a look at the Top 10 after the first day of competition, with deficit margin from Davis indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. Clent Davis: 22-09
2. Troy Morrow: 21-08 (1-01)
3 (tie). Adrian Avena: 20-10 (1-15)
3 (tie). Ramie Colson, Jr.: 20-10 (1-15)
5. Zack Birge: 19-13 (2-12)
6. Derrick Snavely: 19-02 (3-07)
7. Randy Haynes: 18-13 (3-12)
8. Jeff Gustafson: 18-12 (3-13)
9. Scott Martin: 18-05 (4-04)
10. Michael Murphy: 16-15 (5-10)

Angler of the Year points leader Wesley Strader caught 13-05 today, good enough for 29th place, one spot behind Luke Clausen, who came into this week 2nd in points.

Many tried the run-and-gun approach today and will likely stick with that tactic Friday as they try to figure out the timing of when fish on certain spots tend to get into a feeding mode.

The Alabama heat wave continued today, but a downpour moved across Eufaula shortly after the weigh-in so many will be interested to see how the changes impact fishing on Friday, when morning clouds are expected to give way to more thunderstorms in the afternoon.

The 149-boat field will be reduced to 20 after Friday’s round and the Top 10 after Saturday will compete Sunday, with the winner determined by the highest cumulative weight.

Davis Junked His Way Around

> Day 1: 5, 22-09

After a “terrible practice,” Davis decided to fish some memories today. He didn’t have grand expectations, but it panned out.

“I had a lot of issues and didn’t know if I could catch a fish today,” Davis said. “I fished a bunch of stuff I’d fished before and got lucky and caught a couple.”

He wound up reeling eight keepers back to the boat and plenty of short fish. He had a 6-pound kicker and another 5-pounder that came as a surprise.

“I had lifted up my trolling motor, but my co-angler said he had a fish on so I made another cast and caught that fish,” he said.

He said the shallow bite is being hampered by the falling water, but he couldn’t detect any current around where he was fishing.

“They must have a hole in a dam,” he said. “I’ve fished the bank here all my life and when I pulled up Sunday morning, I knew it wasn’t going to be an option this week.”

Most of his fish came in 5 to 25 feet of water.

“It was just all over the place,” he added. “The best way to describe my day was junk-fishing. This place is just brutal to catch fish at now. I know it’s going to be a struggle. I figured 15 a day would win. I don’t think I can catch 22 again tomorrow. If I do, I’ll win this thing. I’m hoping to be in the 14- to 17-pound range the rest of the week.”

2nd: Morrow in his Element

> Day 1: 5, 21-08

Morrow couldn’t be happier with his day-1 outcome and he couldn’t be happier with the way this tournament seems to be shaping up.

“I love it. This is my niche,” he said. “This is what I do best.”

He fished very little in practice, opting instead to stare at his electronics while idling around in search of fish-holding structure (aka brush piles) in deep water.

“I had a good idea of how I could catch them and if I didn’t have to switch things up, all the better,” he said. “I had about 100 spots with fish on them and I fished a third of them today.”

He had hoped to get a secondary pattern established along the shoreline, but after catching three short fish this morning he scrapped that plan and implemented a run-and-gun strategy offshore.

“I’d make about five casts per spot and then leave,” he said. “If it’s deep and clear, that’s where I’m headed. I’m all in on my offshore stuff. That’s what I’m doing the rest of the time. I might switch baits if I have to, but I think I have enough stuff.”

3rd (tie): Avena Focused on Mid-Range

> Day 1: 5, 20-10

Avena did most of his damage before lunch time, but the lack of bites he got the rest of the day has him a little concerned for tomorrow.

“I caught what I weighed by 10 o’clock and I had a long day as I wasn’t due in until 4:45,” he said. “I went and fished similar stuff at the other end of the lake and graphed around, but couldn’t get anything going.

“I’m running through a lot of places so I don’t know where I’m going to catch them tomorrow. I’m fishing a lot of in-between stuff. They’ve dropped the water and the fish have backed off.”

He caught several fish shallow-cranking secondary points and bars and also targeting brush. He spent some time on ledges, but didn’t catch any key fish. Most of his fish came out of 6 to 12 feet. His kicker fish was a 6 1/2-pounder.

“Clent was fishing a place I tried to get on three times today so I think it can be won off of one or two spots,” he said. “History says Bryan Thrift and guys who fish like him and fish a lot of places – that’s the way to make the Top 10 here.”

3rd (tie): Productive Morning For Colson

> Day 1: 5, 20-10

Fishing is a therapeutic exercise this week for Ramie Colson, Jr., whose mother passed away last Saturday. He didn’t arrive at Eufaula until Wednesday afternoon just before the registration meeting so he had no practice time on the lake to speak of.

“The only thing I had was 30 waypoints down toward the dam from the last time we were here, but at takeoff today I decided to run up the river to a place. I just wanted to check it because I remember catching some 2-pounders off a river ledge. I figured I’d go there, check it and then run down to those waypoints.”

As it turns out, he never did need or use those waypoints. He caught the vast majority of his weight before 10:30 a.m. and spent the rest of day in the same general vicinity. He’s pretty certain he had someone looking over him today.

“I think I have a good idea who,” he said. “She was my biggest fan.”

His first fish was a 6-pounder. Shortly thereafter, his co-angler boated a 4 1/2. Colson added a 5 1/2 later on and continued to fish the 100-yard stretch.

“I went ahead and decided to stay there and we just went back and forth and caught keeper-sized fish,” he said. “I think it was more of an early bite because after about 10:30, it got tough.”

He culled for ounces a couple times before catching a 3-pounder at the end of the day that put him over the 20-pound mark.

“It was just a blessed day,” he said.

He plans to check that stretch Friday morning and will then hit the waypoint group he has.

“We’re supposed to have clouds so that may make it better,” he said. “A lot depends, too, on how much rain we do get. We might have rising water, if they don’t let it all out.”

5th: All Deep Stuff for Birge

> Day 1: 5, 19-13

Birge hadn’t fished Eufaula prior to this week, but so far he likes the big reservoir that straddles the Alabama-Georgia border. He got off to a good start, catching four keepers off his first spot to settle in.

“I’m extremely happy with where I’m sitting right now, especially considering I found these fish on Tuesday,” he said. “I just have to see if they reload for tomorrow.

“I just fished deep all day, basically I’m just fishing drops and brush piles,” he added. “I can catch two or three off one spot and then it slows down. I’d leave and then come back to it. It was definitely a grind all day.”

He’s convinced the tournament will be won on fish caught offshore and that’s where he’s committed to fishing. He caught 10 keepers today, mixing up a big worm and a jig.

“I’m going to stay out there and cycle through areas and hopefully they’ll replenish,” he said. “It seems like everybody is fishing brush piles and just running pile to pile.”

6th: Snavely Caught ‘Em Shallow and Deep

> Day 1: 5, 19-02

Derrick Snavely mixed up a deep-water and shallow-water game today and came away with nearly 20 pounds.

“I knew I had some fish located, but I didn’t know how good it would be,” he said. “I shook everything off in practice. It turned out to be pretty good.”

After starting the day shallow, he fished some deep-water spots, before moving back shallow and then out deep again.

“I caught one big one shallow to start with and got on a deep spot and finished my limit there,” he said. “I thought I had more weight that what I had. I think I could’ve caught more off of one deep spot, but I didn’t want to beat it up too bad, and another boat was trying to get on there. I was trying to protect it.”

He said there are still plenty of good fish to be caught shallow even with the falling water prior to the tournament. His big shallow fish was a 4-plus pounder that ate a jig. He also caught a 6-pounder.

“I’d like to start shallow tomorrow morning, but I’m probably not going to because I’m afraid someone will get on the (deep) spot I did best on today,” he added.

141st: Shallow Bite Betrayed Arey

> Day 1: 1, 2-09

Matt Arey figured 12 to 13 pounds a day was realistic based on the bites he generated in practice fishing in the river. After weighing a lone 2 1/2-pounder today, the Beaver Lake winner says he’ll be spending more time away from the bank on Friday.

“I didn’t have a strong bite going in practice, but over the last day and a half to 2 days, I got on a strong flipping bite in the river,” he said. “I wasn’t catching many big ones, but I was getting 25 bites a day doing that.”

He started there in the morning and soon realized things had changed. He ran down the lake, caught the fish he ultimately weighed in, lost another and fished around a little bit more before heading back up the river, thinking the afternoon bite would be better.

“There weren’t any big bags out of the river, but quite a few guys caught limits up there,” he said. “I just got in a bad rotation. At one point, Andy Morgan was flipping stretches I wanted to get on and that’s never a good thing. My rotations were just really bad.

“Decision wise, I wouldn’t have changed anything. It’s just that my timing and execution were poor. They dropped the water some more and that’s not helping the shallow deal. With the falling water the fish abandoned it. They just left.”

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 149 anglers, 102 limits, 17 fours, 9 threes, 12 twos, 6 ones, 3 zeroes.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., May 15 – Scattered Thunderstorms, Then Cloudy - 87°/66°
- Wind: From the ESE at 5 to 10 mph

> Sat., May 16 – Mixed Clouds, Chance of Rain - 88°/68°
- Wind: From the SE at 5 to 10 mph

> Sun., May 17 – Partly Cloudy - 91°/68°
- Wind: From the SE at 0 to 5 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, Al -- 22-9 (5)

2. Troy Morrow -- Eastanollee, Ga -- 21-8 (5)

3. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, Nj -- 20-10 (5)

3. Ramie Colson Jr. -- Cadiz, Ky -- 20-10 (5)

5. Zack Birge -- Blanchard, Ok -- 19-13 (5)

6. Derrick Snavely -- Rogersville, Tn -- 19-2 (5)

7. Randy Haynes -- Counce, Tn -- 18-13 (5)

8. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, On -- 18-12 (5)

9. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 18-5 (5)

10. Michael Murphy -- Lexington, SC -- 16-15 (5)

11. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 16-4 (5)

12. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 16-3 (5)

13. Mark Daniels Jr. -- Tuskegee, Al -- 16-0 (5)

14. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC -- 15-15 (5)

15. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 15-13 (5)

16. John Cox -- Debary, Fl -- 15-10 (5)

17. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, Pa -- 15-6 (5)

18. Jason Reyes -- Huffman, Tx -- 14-13 (5)

19. Cody Kelley -- Conway, Ar -- 14-12 (5)

20. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 14-9 (5)

20. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 14-9 (5)

22. Austin Terry -- San Angelo, Tx -- 14-7 (5)

23. Jt Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 14-3 (5)

23. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, In -- 14-3 (5)

25. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 13-15 (5)

25. Shad Schenck -- Waynetown, In -- 13-15 (5)

27. Shinichi Fukae -- Palestine, Tx -- 13-13 (5)

28. Luke Clausen -- Spokane, Wa -- 13-12 (5)

29. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 13-5 (5)

30. Marshall Deakins -- Dunlap, Tn -- 13-1 (5)

31. Nick Hensley -- Cumming, Ga -- 12-11 (5)

32. Randy Blaukat -- Joplin, Mo -- 12-10 (5)

32. Capt Blake Smith -- Lakeland, Fl -- 12-10 (5)

34. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Ms -- 12-9 (5)

35. Jason Meninger -- Gainesville, Ga -- 12-6 (5)

36. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 12-4 (5)

37. Cody Meyer -- Auburn, Ca -- 12-1 (5)

37. Matthew Stefan -- Junction City, Wi -- 12-1 (5)

37. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 12-1 (5)

40. Peter Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 11-15 (5)

41. Colby Schrumpf -- Highland, Il -- 11-14 (5)

42. Clayton Batts -- Macon, Ga -- 11-12 (5)

42. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 11-12 (5)

44. Tim Malone -- Gatlinburg, Tn -- 11-11 (5)

45. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- 11-10 (5)

45. Andrew Young -- Mound, Mn -- 11-10 (5)

47. Keith Amerson -- Selmer, Tn -- 11-9 (5)

47. Dion Hibdon -- Sunrise Beach, Mo -- 11-9 (5)

47. Mark Rose -- West Memphis, Ar -- 11-9 (5)

50. John Voyles -- Petersburg, In -- 11-3 (5)

51. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 11-2 (5)

52. Vic Vatalaro -- Kent, Oh -- 11-1 (4)

53. Jimmy Reese -- Witter Springs, Ca -- 11-0 (5)

54. Shane Lehew -- Mooresville, NC -- 10-15 (5)

55. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 10-13 (5)

55. Robert Pearson -- Herndon, Va -- 10-13 (5)

57. Richard Lowitzki -- Hampshire, Il -- 10-12 (5)

57. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 10-12 (4)

59. Charlie Ingram -- Centerville, Tn -- 10-10 (2)

59. Stacey King -- Reeds Spring, Mo -- 10-10 (5)

59. Ishama Monroe -- Hughson, Ca -- 10-10 (5)

62. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 10-9 (5)

63. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 10-8 (5)

64. Clay Elliott -- Ozark, Al -- 10-7 (5)

65. Chris Neau -- New Orleans, La -- 10-6 (5)

66. Michael Hall -- Annandale, Va -- 10-2 (5)

66. Rex Huff -- Corbin, Ky -- 10-2 (5)

66. Lendell Martin Jr. -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 10-2 (5)

69. Drew Benton -- Panama City, Fl -- 9-14 (5)

69. Todd Hollowell -- Fishers, In -- 9-14 (5)

71. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 9-12 (5)

71. Jayme Rampey -- Liberty, SC -- 9-12 (5)

71. Scott Wiley -- Bay Minette, Al -- 9-12 (5)

71. Michael Wooley -- Collierville, Tn -- 9-12 (5)

75. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, Ar -- 9-10 (5)

76. Andrew Upshaw -- Sapulpa, Ok -- 9-7 (4)

77. Casey Martin -- New Hope, Al -- 9-6 (5)

77. Drew Montgomery -- Maiden, NC -- 9-6 (5)

79. Alex Davis -- Albertville, Al -- 9-5 (5)

80. Alvin Shaw -- Roaring Gap, NC -- 9-4 (5)

80. James Watson -- Springfield, Mo -- 9-4 (5)

82. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, Ar -- 9-3 (5)

82. Darrell Davis -- Dover, Fl -- 9-3 (5)

82. Billy Shelton III -- La Crosse, Va -- 9-3 (5)

85. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, Md -- 9-1 (5)

86. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, NC -- 8-15 (5)

86. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 8-15 (5)

88. Brandon Hunter -- Benton, Ky -- 8-12 (5)

88. Jason Johnson -- Gainesville, Ga -- 8-12 (4)

88. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 8-12 (5)

91. Stephen Patek -- Dallas, Tx -- 8-10 (4)

92. James Biggs -- Euless, Tx -- 8-9 (5)

92. Jason Lambert -- Pickwick Dam, Tn -- 8-9 (4)

94. Dustin Grice -- Robinson, Tx -- 8-8 (5)

94. Clark Reehm -- Huntington, Tx -- 8-8 (5)

96. Mike Boyles -- Kimberling City, Mo -- 8-7 (4)

96. Jeff Sprague -- Point, Tx -- 8-7 (5)

98. Kerry Milner -- Bono, Ar -- 8-5 (4)

98. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 8-5 (5)

100. Jimmy Brewer -- Marshall, Tx -- 8-4 (5)

100. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 8-4 (5)

102. Dalton Cooksey -- New Concord, Ky -- 8-2 (5)

103. Brad Knight -- Lancing, Tn -- 8-1 (5)

104. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, NC -- 8-0 (5)

105. Spencer Shuffield -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 7-15 (5)

106. Troy Hollowell -- Paducah, Ky -- 7-14 (5)

107. Dale Hightower -- Mannford, Ok -- 7-12 (5)

107. Michael Neal -- Dayton, Tn -- 7-12 (4)

109. Troy Broussard -- Beaumont, Tx -- 7-11 (4)

109. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 7-11 (4)

109. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 7-11 (5)

112. Greg Bohannan -- Bentonville, Ar -- 7-10 (5)

113. Rodney Thomason -- Maumelle, Ar -- 7-8 (5)

114. Charlie Evans -- Gilbertsville, Ky -- 7-5 (4)

115. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 7-3 (4)

116. Blake Nick -- Adger, Al -- 7-2 (2)

117. Tony Davis -- Williston, Fl -- 6-14 (4)

118. Travis Fox -- Rogers, Ar -- 6-8 (5)

119. Richard Peek -- Centre, Al -- 6-7 (3)

120. Matt Greenblatt -- Port St Lucie, Fl -- 6-6 (4)

121. Tony Dumitras -- Winston, Ga -- 6-2 (3)

122. Rich Dalbey -- Greenville, Tx -- 5-14 (3)

123. Robbie Dodson -- Harrison, Ar -- 5-8 (3)

124. Tommy Martin -- Hemphill, Tx -- 5-6 (4)

125. Shawn Murphy -- Nicholasville, Ky -- 5-1 (4)

126. Marc Evans -- Angola, In -- 4-15 (3)

127. Bill McDonald -- Greenwood, In -- 4-13 (3)

128. Harry Moore -- Valley, Al -- 4-12 (2)

129. Powell Kemp -- Scotland Neck, NC -- 4-11 (2)

130. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 4-8 (2)

131. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 4-7 (3)

132. Gary Yamamoto -- Palestine, Tx -- 4-6 (3)

133. Ryan Davidson -- Huntington, WV -- 3-14 (3)

134. Stephen McKinnie -- Umatila, Fl -- 3-12 (2)

134. Kevin Stewart -- Elk Grove, Ca -- 3-12 (2)

136. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 3-7 (2)

136. David Smith -- Del City, Ok -- 3-7 (2)

138. Tom Redington -- Royse City, Tx -- 3-3 (2)

139. Lionel Botha -- Fort Pierce, Fl -- 2-13 (2)

140. Jeff Barth -- Marshfield, Wi -- 2-10 (2)

141. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 2-9 (1)

141. Bill Terrell -- Memphis, Tn -- 2-9 (1)

143. Brent Long -- Iron Station, NC -- 2-8 (1)

144. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 2-0 (1)

145. Michael Williamson -- Fort Smith, Ar -- 1-9 (1)

146. Bob Morin -- Seymour, Tn -- 1-3 (1)

Craig Livesay -- Johnson City, Tn -- 0-0 (0)

Shirley Crain -- Fort Smith, Ar -- 0-0 (0)

Kyle White -- Clinton, Mo -- 0-0 (0)