By BassFan Staff

This is the 13th time that JT Kenney has competed in an FLW Tour event at Arkansas' Beaver Lake. He has a pair of Top-20 finishes on his ledger (18th in 2012 and 20th in 2005), but twice that many of 100th or lower. His average finish is 89th.

That's why he was in particularly good spirits after catching a bag that's monstrous by Beaver standards (18-05) and leading the derby for at least one day. His stringer was topped by a 6-10 behemoth that took big-bass honors.

"It was my first keeper of the day, and when I got it halfway in I think I screamed like a little girl," said the 6-foot-4, 235-pound Florida resident. "After I'd gotten it in the well, I got down on my hands and knees and reached over the railing and punched the lake.

"As much as this place has burned me over the years, it felt really good."

He'll take a half-pound lead over grizzled veteran Jimmy Houston into day 2. Houston's 17-13 haul was highlighted by a 5-12 hawg.

Rookies Kurt Mitchell and Buddy Gross occupied the Nos. 3 and 4 positions after sacking 17-08 and 15-11, respectively. Rex Huff rounded out the Top 5 with 16-11.

Here's a look at the initial Top 10, with deficit margins from the leader indicated by red numbers in parentheses:

1. JT Kenney: 18-05
2. Jimmy Houston: 17-13 (0-08)
3. Kurt Mitchell: 17-08 (0-13)
4. Buddy Gross: 16-11 (1-10)
5. Rex Huff: 16-01 (2-04)
6. (tie) Darrell Davis: 15-09 (2-12)
6. (tie) Scott Martin: 15-09 (2-12)
8. Jeff Sprague: 15-06 (2-15)
9. Larry Nixon: 15-02 (3-03)
10. David Dudley: 15-01 (3-04)

As anticipated, the overall weights were higher than what Beaver usually kicks out on day 1, primarily due to the abundance of stained water from heavy rains over the winter. Eighty-five competitors (more than half the field) caught at least 10 pounds and it looks as if it may take a 2-day aggregate of at least 25 to make the Top-20 cut.

Two-time defending champion Matt Arey was 39th with 12-06. Angler of the Year (AOY) leader John Cox bagged 11-02 and settled into 67th.



FLW
Photo: FLW

Jimmy Houston's big day got off to a quick start.

Fishing conditions should be good on day 2 – the forecast calls for mostly cloudy skies, a high temperature of 72 degrees and wind from the southeast topping out at 12 mph.

The field will be reduced to 20 after Friday's weigh-in, with only the Top 10 advancing to Sunday. The winner will be determined based on highest cumulative weight.

Kenney Wiser to Beaver's Ways

> Day 1: 5, 18-05

Kenney, who won last year's season opener at Lake Toho but has failed to post a finish higher than 42nd in eight events since, said he's learned a lot about the lake from hanging around perennial Beaver check-cashers such as Andy Morgan and Bryan Thrift. His own (mostly bad) experience has helped, too.

"You have to fish the conditions more than spots or areas, and I'm trying to do that," he said. "Today I didn't fish anywhere that I did in practice, even though the pattern was the same. If you catch one someplace, you don't go back because there's only one that lives there."

He went through 10 keepers – all largemouths – and lost one in the 4 1/2- to 5-pound class. He concentrated mainly on the stain water, but pulled one weigh-in specimen from the clearer stuff toward the dam.

All of his fish were enticed by a crankbait.

"There's a certain type of stuff they're on and I ran around the lake and looked for that. Tomorrow I won't fish anywhere near where I caught a bass today.

"I fished all day and I didn't let off because I thought I had a good bag. I know how Beaver is and I tried to get as much weight as I could."

2nd: Houston Mixing Depths

> Day 1: 5, 17-13

The 72-year-old Houston said he used the same bait to run two different patterns at different depths.

"I got the right bites today – that's the whole deal," he said. "You can't hardly catch 17 pounds 2 days in a row at Beaver Lake and I probably can't do it tomorrow. I'll just try to catch five keepers and see what happens and hope I can keep playing.

"The first place I stopped I caught three in the first 40 minutes, and that makes the day go a lot easier."

He handled seven keepers.

FLW
Photo: FLW

Kurt Mitchell will have a couple of sight-fish to try for on day 2.

"I only culled a couple times. I'm fishing where there's some bigger fish, but I don't get many bites.

"I'm pretty humble about it because I haven't done anything yet. If I can make that cut, then I can go from there. Tomorrow will be another day at Beaver and it's not like they'll just be jumping in the boat, so if I can get up into the mid-teens again, that'd be good."

3rd: Little Company for Mitchell

> Day 1: 5, 17-08

Mitchell, a Delaware resident, got off to a great start in his maiden event at Beaver. He logged a 66th and an 89th in his first two Tour events

"I had a good practice, but everything really depended on how many boats would be in my area," he said. "Luckily there weren't too many.

"I'm doing a little bit of everything – I'm chunking and winding, and also flipping. I'm kind of going with the flow."

A 4-pounder was the biggest of the 15 keepers he boated. He lost two, including one that weighed between 4 and 5 pounds.

He's fishing several areas within a 5- to 6-mile stretch of stained water. He didn't do any sight-fishing on day 1, but he will on day 2 – he found a pair of 3 1/2-pounders on beds today.

"I'll try some new water tomorrow. I hope I can get about 14 pounds before noon, but I don't know if that'll work out."

4th: Gross's Fortunes Change

> Day 1: 5, 16-11

Gross' weight today was more than a pound higher than he amassed in his first two tournaments combined (finishes of 161st at Okeechobee and 163rd at Hartwell).

"I've had awesome practices and very bad tournaments with very bad luck," he said. "I'm just glad to get that monkey off my back."

FLW
Photo: FLW

Buddy Gross caught more weight on day 1 than he did in the season's first two tournaments combined.

He threw moving baits and flipped to catch 14 keepers, one of which was a 5 1/2-pounder. He caught quite a few spotted bass, but weighed all largemouths. He had a 4-pounder get away.

"I don't have a lot of company. I'm not fishing one spot – I have a bunch of them. I think I can catch a limit (on day 2), but those big fish are kind of a bonus.

"If you can get that one quality bite, the rest of it comes together pretty well."

5th: Lost Fish Hurt Huff

> Day 1: 5, 16-01

Huff, a Kentuckian, has never finished higher than 27th in his 3-plus seasons on the Tour. He might've challenged Kenney for the lead if he could've landed a fish that he tabbed as close to 6 pounds.

"That one made me sick to my stomach," he said.

He had a 4-pounder and a trio of 3s among the eight keepers he caught. He's working several places within a 5-mile radius and keeping a flipping stick in his hand most of the time.

"I'll start with the same type of deal tomorrow, but I'll probably have to switch up. I think I can catch a limit, but I don't know how bit it'll be."

6th: Davis Keyed on Quality

> Day 1: 5, 15-09

Davis bombed miserably in his first two Tour visits to Beaver, but started to figure things out last year and posted a 19th-place finish. He's laid the foundation to do even better this year.

He caught only seven keepers on the day.

"I'm keying on bigger bites – I didn't want to catch numbers," he said. "If I go for numbers, that's when I end up with 9 or 10 pounds."

His bag was topped by a 5-pounder and he lost one that he estimated at about 4 pounds. He stayed primarily in the stained water and took all largemouths to the scale.

"I really didn't run anything that I practiced on – I just went fishing," he said. "I've learned from the past that's what you need to do here because you can't duplicate anything from one day to the next.

"I'll run some more new water tomorrow and hope that I catch some. If I hadn't lost that 4-pounder, I'd be right up there where I need to be."

He bounced around to numerous locales and threw a variety of offerings.

"I'm just junk-fishing and I've got a couple of key baits. There's no pattern to it. When you figure out a pattern here, you run it a little while, and then it dies. Then you figure out something else, and it dies. It's one of those crazy things."

130th: Spawners Stymied Rose

> Day 1: 5, 7-00

Mark Rose spent half his day trying to catch three bedding fish and couldn't connect with any of them. He had to scramble around over the last few hours just to catch a pedestrian limit.

The Arkansan said it was one of his worst days ever at Beaver

"Those (spawning) fish were hard to find, and it turned out they were hard to catch," he said. "When I had to leave all three without catching any of them, you can imagine the mental rut it put me in.

"After that I started fishing fast, trying to make something happen quick. I'm excited about tomorrow, though, because I'm going to spend zero time on those three fish."

He threw a shaky-head, a jig and a crankbait to compile his lackluster bag.

"I caught my biggest one, a 2 3/4-pounder, on a swing-head at the end of the day, and at the time I only had like 5 pounds. I'll do some more of that tomorrow."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 166 anglers, 124 limits, 15 fours, 8 threes, 12 twos, 5 ones, 2 zeroes.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., April 15 – Mostly Cloudy - 72°/57°
- Wind: From the SE at 12 mph

> Sat., April 16 – Cloudy - 72°/56°
- Wind: From the SE at 14 mph

> Sun., April 17 – Partly Cloudy - 75°/57°
- Wind: From the SE at 17 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 18-5 (5)

2. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 17-13 (5)

3. Kurt Mitchell -- Milford, De -- 17-8 (5)

4. Buddy Gross -- Ringgold, Ga -- 16-11 (5)

5. Rex Huff -- Corbin, Ky -- 16-1 (5)

6. Darrell Davis -- Dover, Fl -- 15-9 (5)

7. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 15-9 (5)

8. Jeff Sprague -- Point, Tx -- 15-6 (5)

9. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 15-2 (5)

10. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 15-1 (5)

11. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, Ar -- 14-14 (5)

12. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 14-14 (5)

13. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 14-11 (5)

14. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, SC -- 14-11 (5)

15. Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 14-9 (5)

16. Chris Whitson -- Louisville, Tn -- 14-8 (5)

17. Clark Reehm -- Huntington, Tx -- 14-6 (5)

18. Joe Holland -- Jefferson, Me -- 13-15 (5)

19. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, On -- 13-13 (5)

20. Shane Lehew -- Mooresville, NC -- 13-12 (5)

21. Randy Haynes -- Counce, Tn -- 13-8 (5)

22. William (Billy) Shelton III -- La Crosse, Va -- 13-8 (5)

23. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 13-7 (5)

24. Stephen Patek -- Dallas, Tx -- 13-6 (5)

25. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, On -- 13-2 (5)

26. Andrew Upshaw -- Sapulpa, Ok -- 13-2 (5)

27. Kerry Milner -- Bono, Ar -- 13-2 (5)

28. Jason Reyes -- Huffman, Tx -- 13-2 (5)

29. Chris McCall -- Brookeland, Tx -- 13-0 (5)

30. Jacob Wheeler -- Indianapolis, In -- 13-0 (5)

31. Cody Meyer -- Auburn, Ca -- 12-15 (5)

32. Scott Canterbury -- Springville, Al -- 12-14 (5)

33. Michael Neal -- Dayton, Tn -- 12-14 (5)

34. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 12-13 (5)

35. Christopher Brasher -- Longview, Tx -- 12-11 (5)

36. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, On -- 12-11 (5)

37. Randy Blaukat -- Joplin, Mo -- 12-7 (5)

38. Matt Arey -- Shelby, NC -- 12-6 (5)

39. Jason Johnson -- Gainesville, Ga -- 12-6 (5)

40. Brad Knight -- Lancing, Tn -- 12-5 (5)

41. Glenn Browne -- Ocala, Fl -- 12-4 (5)

42. Robbie Dodson -- Harrison, Ar -- 12-3 (5)

43. Mark Daniels Jr -- Tuskegee, Al -- 12-2 (5)

44. Charlie Evans -- Berea, Ky -- 12-1 (5)

45. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, NC -- 12-0 (5)

46. Greg Bohannan -- Bentonville, Ar -- 12-0 (5)

47. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, Tn -- 12-0 (5)

48. Matthew Stefan -- Junction City, Wi -- 11-15 (5)

49. Matt Greenblatt -- Port St Lucie, Fl -- 11-15 (5)

50. Jordan Osborne -- Longview, Tx -- 11-14 (5)

51. Charlie Ingram -- Centerville, Tn -- 11-14 (5)

52. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 11-13 (5)

53. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 11-13 (4)

54. Tim Malone -- Gatlinburg, Tn -- 11-13 (5)

55. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, Ar -- 11-10 (5)

56. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, SC -- 11-10 (5)

57. Kurt Dove -- Del Rio, Tx -- 11-9 (5)

58. Zack Birge -- Blanchard, Ok -- 11-8 (5)

59. Brandon McMillan -- Clewiston, Fl -- 11-7 (5)

60. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, Md -- 11-7 (5)

61. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 11-6 (5)

62. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Tx -- 11-6 (5)

63. Dan Morehead -- Paducah, Ky -- 11-4 (5)

64. Harry Moore -- Valley, Al -- 11-3 (5)

65. James Watson -- Nixa, Mo -- 11-3 (5)

66. John Cox -- Debary, Fl -- 11-2 (5)

67. Jay Yelas -- Corvallis, Or -- 11-2 (5)

68. George Kapiton -- Inverness, Fl -- 11-1 (5)

69. Marc Evans -- Angola, In -- 10-14 (5)

70. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 10-13 (5)

71. Jimmy Reese -- Witter Springs, Ca -- 10-13 (5)

72. Shawn Gordon -- Russellville, Ar -- 10-12 (5)

73. Jamie Horton -- Centerville, Al -- 10-10 (5)

74. Mike Boyles -- Kimberling City, Mo -- 10-8 (5)

75. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 10-7 (5)

76. Drew Montgomery -- Maiden, NC -- 10-5 (5)

77. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, NC -- 10-5 (5)

78. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 10-4 (5)

79. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 10-3 (5)

80. Clayton Batts -- Macon, Ga -- 10-2 (4)

81. Jason Abram -- Piney Flats, Tn -- 10-2 (5)

82. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, Mn -- 10-2 (5)

83. Terry Segraves -- Kissimmee, Fl -- 10-0 (5)

84. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 10-0 (5)

85. Gerald Spohrer -- Gonzales, La -- 10-0 (5)

86. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Ms -- 9-15 (5)

87. John Voyles -- Petersburg, In -- 9-11 (5)

88. Jonathan Newton -- Rogersville, Al -- 9-10 (5)

89. Jason Meninger -- Gainesville, Ga -- 9-10 (5)

90. Joshua Weaver -- Macon, Ga -- 9-9 (5)

91. Andy Young -- Mound, Mn -- 9-9 (5)

92. Kyle Mabrey -- Mccalla, Al -- 9-6 (5)

93. Brandon Hunter -- Benton, Ky -- 9-4 (5)

94. Jayme Rampey -- Liberty, SC -- 9-3 (5)

95. Todd Hollowell -- Fishers, In -- 9-2 (5)

96. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, Ok -- 9-2 (5)

97. Chris Baumgardner -- Gastonia, NC -- 9-1 (5)

98. Jason Lambert -- Pickwick Dam, Tn -- 9-0 (5)

99. Brian Latimer -- Belton, SC -- 8-15 (5)

100. Timmy Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, SC -- 8-14 (5)

101. Michael Wooley -- Collierville, Tn -- 8-14 (5)

102. Capt. Blake Smith -- Lakeland, Fl -- 8-12 (4)

103. Peter Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 8-11 (5)

104. Nick Prvonozac -- Warren, Oh -- 8-8 (5)

105. Jay Kendrick -- Grant, Al -- 8-8 (5)

106. Sven Hilland -- Sanford, Fl -- 8-7 (5)

107. Troy Gibson -- Mountain Home, Ar -- 8-7 (4)

108. Troy Morrow -- Eastanollee, Ga -- 8-6 (5)

109. Chase Brooks -- Iraan, Tx -- 8-5 (5)

110. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, Fl -- 8-5 (5)

111. Curtis Richardson -- Belleville, On -- 8-4 (5)

112. Luke Dunkin -- Lawrenceburg, Tn -- 8-4 (5)

113. Powell Kemp -- Scotland Neck, NC -- 8-4 (5)

114. Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Ct -- 8-1 (4)

115. Tony Dumitras -- Winston, Ga -- 8-0 (3)

116. Tony Davis -- Williston, Fl -- 7-15 (5)

117. Mike Kernan -- Wylie, Tx -- 7-14 (5)

118. Shinichi Fukae -- Palestine, Tx -- 7-13 (5)

119. Tim Frederick -- Leesburg, Fl -- 7-13 (5)

120. Keith Amerson -- Selmer, Tn -- 7-12 (4)

121. Gene Eisenmann -- Frisco, Tx -- 7-12 (4)

122. Travis Fox -- Rogers, Ar -- 7-12 (3)

123. Chris Neau -- New Orleans, La -- 7-9 (5)

124. Tommy Dickerson -- Orange, Tx -- 7-5 (5)

125. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 7-5 (5)

126. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 7-5 (5)

127. Jimmy Brewer -- Marshall, Tx -- 7-4 (4)

128. Blake Nick -- Adger, Al -- 7-2 (4)

129. Shawn Murphy -- Nicholasville, Ky -- 7-2 (5)

130. Mark Rose -- West Memphis, Ar -- 7-0 (5)

131. Craig Livesay -- Johnson City, Tn -- 6-15 (5)

132. Shirley Crain -- Fort Smith, Ar -- 6-8 (4)

133. Kevin Johnson -- Surprise, Az -- 6-8 (2)

134. Austin Terry -- San Angelo, Tx -- 6-7 (4)

135. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 6-6 (4)

136. Rodney Thomason -- Maumelle, Ar -- 6-6 (4)

137. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, SC -- 6-1 (5)

138. Michael Hall -- Annandale, Va -- 6-0 (4)

139. Charlie Weyer -- West Hills, Ca -- 5-15 (2)

140. Jerry Lawler -- Athens, Al -- 5-13 (3)

141. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 5-10 (4)

142. Bob Morin -- Seymour, Tn -- 5-10 (3)

143. Gary Yamamoto -- Palestine, Tx -- 5-9 (5)

144. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Ok -- 5-7 (2)

145. Jim Jones -- Big Bend, Wi -- 5-6 (5)

146. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, SC -- 5-6 (5)

147. Troy Broussard -- Beaumont, Tx -- 5-6 (2)

148. Cody Kelley -- Conway, Ar -- 5-0 (2)

149. Bill McDonald -- Greenwood, In -- 4-14 (3)

150. Bill Day -- Frankfort, Ky -- 4-13 (3)

151. Shane Melton -- Kokomo, In -- 4-9 (2)

152. Scott Wiley -- Bay Minette, Al -- 4-6 (3)

153. James Stricklin Jr -- Fort Smith, Ar -- 4-0 (2)

154. David Smith -- Del City, Ok -- 3-15 (3)

155. Braxton Setzer -- Montgomery, Al -- 3-9 (2)

156. Tom Redington -- Royse City, Tx -- 3-9 (2)

157. Bill Terrell -- Memphis, Tn -- 3-1 (2)

158. Larry Schroeder -- Clayton, Oh -- 2-15 (1)

159. Dalton Cooksey -- New Concord, Ky -- 2-14 (2)

160. Rick Cotten -- Guntersville, Al -- 2-10 (1)

161. Richie Eaves -- Nauvoo, Il -- 2-5 (1)

162. Alex Davis -- Albertville, Al -- 2-3 (1)

163. Richard Lowitzki -- Hampshire, Il -- 2-1 (2)

164. Matt Wittekiend -- Angleton, Tx -- 1-14 (1)

165. Eric Jackson -- Walling, Tn -- 0-0 (0)

165. Ryan Chandler -- Hebron, In -- 0-0 (0)

Big Fish

> Day 1: J.T. Kenney -- 6-10 -- $500