Familiar Name Atop Leaderboard After Day 1

By John Johnson
BassFan Senior Editor

Five full-field days have now been contested on the 2018 Bassmaster Elite Series and Takahiro Omori has topped the standings after all but the first.

The winner of February's event at Alabama's Lake Martin caught a 23-12 stringer on day 1 at Grand Lake in Oklahoma to lead a contingent of 11 anglers who surpassed the 20-pound mark. He'll start day 2 with a 7-ounce lead over Brock Mosley.

"I never had any idea this would happen today after my practice," Omori said. "I hope I can stay up there, but who knows?"

Mosley boxed 23-05 to settle into the No. 2 position. Rookie Kyle Monti caught nearly three times the weight he did in two days en route to a last-place finish at Martin and landed in 3rd with 22-06.

Kevin VanDam, who won an Elite Series event at Grand in 2006 was 4th with 21-15. Brent Ehrler and Gerald Swindle were deadlocked for 5th with 21-08.

Here's a look at the initial top 12 (red numbers in parentheses indicate deficit margins from the leader):

1. Takahiro Omori: 23-12
2. Brock Mosley: 23-05 (0-07)
3. Kyle Monti: 22-06 (1-06)
4. Kevin VanDam: 21-15 (1-13)
5. (tie) Brent Ehrler: 21-08 (2-04)
5. (tie) Gerald Swindle: 21-08 (2-04)
7. Cliff Pace: 21-04 (2-08)
8. Stetson Blaylock: 21-00 (2-12)
9. Stephen Browning: 20-08 (3-04)
10. (tie) Chris Groh: 20-04 (3-08)
10. (tie) Jordan Lee: 20-04 (3-08)
12. Josh Bertrand: 19-15 (3-13)

The overall bite was superb on day 1 and should only get better as the event progresses and conditions become sunnier and warmer. Fish are crashing the banks to partake in a later-than-usual spawn that's been delayed by cold weather and sight-fishing will likely be a big factor before the derby ends.

Only six competitors in the 108-angler field failed to bring a limit to the scale. The top 58 all caught at least 15 pounds, which makes it highly plausible that it could take at least 30 pounds to survive the day-2 cut to the top 50.

The WeatherChannel.com forecast for day 2 predicts sunny skies, a high temperature of 72 degrees and a 7-mph breeze out of the northwest. Similar conditions are expected throughout the weekend, which bodes well for anglers who'll be visually searching for big females moving to the beds.

Omori Loaded Up Late

> Day 1: 5, 23-12

Omori said he had only 15 pounds at 2 o'clock – two hours before he was due to check in. He boated two fish in the 6-pound class from that point until the end of the day to start this tournament right where he left off 2 1/2 months ago.

He visited a lot of different locales to compile his massive stringer. He handled about 15 keepers and didn't lose anything.

"I moved maybe 50 times; it's not like I had just one spot," he said. "Hopefully I can have another good day tomorrow, but I don't know. The last time I fished here was five years ago, so I have no clue (what might happen).

"I've fished this place like five times and today was my best day ever. The weather's going to warm up tomorrow and that should help everybody. We'll just have to see what happens."

He declined to reveal any specifics of his pattern.

"Anybody who wants to see what I'm doing can just watch Bassmaster Live tomorrow."

2nd: Mosley had High Hopes

> Day 1: 5, 23-05

Mosley was brimming with confidence coming into day 1.

"I felt really good after practice," he said. "Yesterday before lunch I caught 18 pounds and Tuesday I would've had over 20. I really felt like I could catch 18 to 20 pounds – I said last night that if I didn't catch 18 I was going to be disappointed."

His bag was topped by a 6-pounder and he didn't lose any bites that would've helped him.

"I had 22 pounds by 11 o'clock and then I kind of quit what I was doing. I made one more cull later in the day.

"I'm running a pattern and I believe it's really about what I'm throwing. I'm not getting many bites, but it's usually a big bite when I get one. I know what to look for and where the fish are going to be."

He said he has numerous areas he didn't fish today and isn't concerned whether other competitors visited them.

"New fish are constantly moving in and I'm not afraid to go behind people right now. It would be nice to get through tomorrow, though, and only have 50 guys to worry about on Saturday."

3rd: Great Day for Monti

> Day 1: 5, 22-06

Monti did the bulk of his work during the early part of the day.

"It was just one of those days when I couldn't do anything wrong," he said. "I had one decent day in practice, but it was running a pattern. Today I went to one of my areas where I thought I could get a good bite and I got four of them."

A 5 1/2-pounder was his biggest fish and the smallest one he weighed was a little over 4. He lost two that were in the 4-pound range.

"I should've lost a couple that I ended up catching. I got my line stripped once on a cable and I had another fish get hung up in a tree as soon as I set the hook. I was thinking it came off, and the next thing I know my line was moving off to the side – it had worked itself out of the tree. I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me.'

"Ninety percent of the time you lose both of those fish."

4th: Low Numbers for KVD

> Day 1: 5, 21-15

VanDam said he didn't catch a lot of fish, but he caught everything that bite and a few of those were the right size. His bag was topped by a 6-pounder

"It was kind of a grind, really," he said. "I fished quite a few spots and caught one here and one there and I used quite a few different things.

"I really feel fortunate to have caught what I did today. Every day since the start of practice I've gotten a couple of big bites and capitalizing on them is a big deal. I know it's going to be hard to duplicate and I'll probably have to keep adapting each day."

106th: Hanselman Mystified

> Day 1: 4, 8-14

First-year Elite competitor Ray Hanselman Jr. was at a loss to explain his difficult day.

"Practice was fine," he said. The first day I fished with hooks and caught like 17 pounds, and then the second day I caught one about 4 pounds and nipped my hooks off, but I would've had another 17 to 20-pound bag. Then yesterday I caught like 15 pounds.

"I had one stretch of 10 docks where I'd gotten seven bites in practice with no hooks, and on the first dock today I caught a 3 1/2 and a 2 1/2. I went back and forth over the whole stretch twice and never had another bite. It's shallow, dirty water and the temperature didn't change (from practice), so I don't know."

He said he ran some other places where he'd gotten bit in practice, but they were totally unproductive.

"I'll start on the docks again tomorrow because I know what's there, then maybe I'll go pound a big ol' swimbait in some clear water. I saw some on beds in practice, but I didn't go looking for them today because it was hard to see. I probably should've tried that."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 108 anglers, 102 limits, 4 fours, 1 three, 1 two.

Weather Forecast

> Fri., April 27 – Sunny - 72°/48°
- Wind: From the NNW at 7 mph

> Sat., April 28 – Sunny - 72°/49°
- Wind: From the NNE at 5 mph

> Sun., April 29 – Partly Cloudy - 75°/56°
- Wind: From the SSE at 11 mph

Day 1 Standings

1. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, TX -- 5, 23-12 -- 110
Day 1: 5, 23-12

2. Brock Mosley -- Collinsville, MS -- 5, 23-05 -- 109
Day 1: 5, 23-05

3. Kyle Monti -- Okeechobee, FL -- 5, 22-06 -- 108
Day 1: 5, 22-06

4. Kevin VanDam -- Kalamazoo, MI -- 5, 21-15 -- 107
Day 1: 5, 21-15

5. Brent Ehrler -- Redlands, CA -- 5, 21-08 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 21-08

5. Gerald Swindle -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 21-08 -- 106
Day 1: 5, 21-08

7. Cliff Pace -- Petal, MS -- 5, 21-04 -- 104
Day 1: 5, 21-04

8. Stetson Blaylock -- Benton, AR -- 5, 21-00 -- 103
Day 1: 5, 21-00

9. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, AR -- 5, 20-08 -- 102
Day 1: 5, 20-08

10. Chris Groh -- Spring Grove, IL -- 5, 20-04 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 20-04

10. Jordan Lee -- Grant, AL -- 5, 20-04 -- 101
Day 1: 5, 20-04

12. Josh Bertrand -- San Tan Valley, AZ -- 5, 19-15 -- 99
Day 1: 5, 19-15

13. James Elam -- Tulsa, OK -- 5, 19-13 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 19-13

13. Greg Vinson -- Wetumpka, AL -- 5, 19-13 -- 98
Day 1: 5, 19-13

15. Bill Weidler -- Helena, AL -- 5, 19-12 -- 96
Day 1: 5, 19-12

16. Cliff Crochet -- Pierre Part, LA -- 5, 19-11 -- 95
Day 1: 5, 19-11

17. Paul Mueller -- Naugatuck, CT -- 5, 19-03 -- 94
Day 1: 5, 19-03

18. Bradley Roy -- Lancaster, KY -- 5, 18-12 -- 93
Day 1: 5, 18-12

19. Fred Roumbanis -- Russellville, AR -- 5, 18-09 -- 92
Day 1: 5, 18-09

20. Boyd Duckett -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 18-07 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 18-07

20. Seth Feider -- Bloomington, MN -- 5, 18-07 -- 91
Day 1: 5, 18-07

22. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, CA -- 5, 18-05 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 18-05

22. Randall Tharp -- Port St. Joe, FL -- 5, 18-05 -- 89
Day 1: 5, 18-05

24. Matt Herren -- Ashville, AL -- 5, 18-02 -- 87
Day 1: 5, 18-02

25. Justin Lucas -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 17-12 -- 86
Day 1: 5, 17-12

26. Keith Poche -- Pike Road, AL -- 5, 17-09 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 17-09

26. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, AR -- 5, 17-09 -- 85
Day 1: 5, 17-09

28. Brandon Card -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 17-07 -- 83
Day 1: 5, 17-07

29. Jamie Hartman -- Newport, NY -- 5, 17-06 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 17-06

29. Brandon Lester -- Fayetteville, TN -- 5, 17-06 -- 82
Day 1: 5, 17-06

31. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, NJ -- 5, 17-05 -- 80
Day 1: 5, 17-05

32. Gary Klein -- Mingus, TX -- 5, 17-04 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 17-04

32. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, CA -- 5, 17-04 -- 79
Day 1: 5, 17-04

34. John Crews Jr -- Salem, VA -- 5, 17-03 -- 77
Day 1: 5, 17-03

35. Randy Howell -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 17-02 -- 76
Day 1: 5, 17-02

36. Clifford Pirch -- Payson, AZ -- 5, 17-01 -- 75
Day 1: 5, 17-01

37. Roy Hawk -- Lk Havasu Cty, AZ -- 5, 16-15 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 16-15

37. Brandon Palaniuk -- Hayden, ID -- 5, 16-15 -- 74
Day 1: 5, 16-15

39. Drew Benton -- Panama City, FL -- 5, 16-12 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 16-12

39. Aaron Martens -- Leeds, AL -- 5, 16-12 -- 72
Day 1: 5, 16-12

41. Brian Snowden -- Reeds Spring, MO -- 5, 16-11 -- 70
Day 1: 5, 16-11

42. Caleb Sumrall -- New Iberia, LA -- 5, 16-10 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 16-10

42. Jacob Wheeler -- Harrison, TN -- 5, 16-10 -- 69
Day 1: 5, 16-10

44. Tommy Biffle -- Wagoner, OK -- 5, 16-09 -- 67
Day 1: 5, 16-09

45. Alton Jones -- Lorena, TX -- 5, 16-03 -- 66
Day 1: 5, 16-03

46. Hank Cherry Jr -- Lincolnton, NC -- 5, 15-14 -- 65
Day 1: 5, 15-14

47. Alton Jones Jr. -- Waco, TX -- 5, 15-12 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 15-12

47. Andy Montgomery -- Blacksburg, SC -- 5, 15-12 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 15-12

47. Fletcher Shryock -- Dennison, OH -- 5, 15-12 -- 64
Day 1: 5, 15-12

50. Jonathon VanDam -- Gobles, MI -- 5, 15-11 -- 61
Day 1: 5, 15-11

51. Gerald Spohrer -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 15-09 -- 60
Day 1: 5, 15-09

52. Greg Hackney -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 15-07 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 15-07

52. Hunter Shryock -- Newcomerstown, OH -- 5, 15-07 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 15-07

52. Chris Zaldain -- Laughlin, NV -- 5, 15-07 -- 59
Day 1: 5, 15-07

55. Mark Daniels Jr. -- Tuskegee, AL -- 5, 15-04 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 15-04

55. David Walker -- Sevierville, TN -- 5, 15-04 -- 56
Day 1: 5, 15-04

57. Jake Whitaker -- Fairview, NC -- 5, 15-01 -- 54
Day 1: 5, 15-01

58. David Fritts -- Lexington, NC -- 5, 15-00 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 15-00

58. Jacob Powroznik -- North Prince George, VA -- 5, 15-00 -- 53
Day 1: 5, 15-00

60. Dustin Connell -- Clanton, AL -- 5, 14-13 -- 51
Day 1: 5, 14-13

61. Brent Chapman -- Lake Quivira, KS -- 5, 14-11 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 14-11

61. Skylar Hamilton -- Dandridge, TN -- 5, 14-11 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 14-11

61. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, KY -- 5, 14-11 -- 50
Day 1: 5, 14-11

64. Mike McClelland -- Bentonville, AR -- 5, 14-10 -- 47
Day 1: 5, 14-10

65. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 14-08 -- 46
Day 1: 5, 14-08

66. Marty Robinson -- Lyman, SC -- 5, 14-07 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 14-07

66. Wesley Strader -- Spring City, TN -- 5, 14-07 -- 45
Day 1: 5, 14-07

68. Ott DeFoe -- Blaine, TN -- 5, 14-04 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 14-04

68. Micah Frazier -- Newnan, GA -- 5, 14-04 -- 43
Day 1: 5, 14-04

70. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, AZ -- 5, 14-03 -- 41
Day 1: 5, 14-03

71. Edwin Evers -- Talala, OK -- 5, 14-02 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 14-02

71. Dave Lefebre -- Erie, PA -- 5, 14-02 -- 40
Day 1: 5, 14-02

73. Keith Combs -- Huntington, TX -- 5, 14-00 -- 38
Day 1: 5, 14-00

74. Tyler Carriere -- Youngsville, LA -- 5, 13-14 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 13-14

74. Todd Faircloth -- Jasper, TX -- 5, 13-14 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 13-14

74. John Murray -- Spring City, TN -- 5, 13-14 -- 37
Day 1: 5, 13-14

77. Jason Christie -- Park Hill, OK -- 5, 13-12 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 13-12
77. Jesse Wiggins -- Cullman, AL -- 5, 13-12 -- 34
Day 1: 5, 13-12

79. Dean Rojas -- Lake Havasu City, AZ -- 5, 13-09 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 13-09

79. Morizo Shimizu -- Suita, Japan -- 5, 13-09 -- 32
Day 1: 5, 13-09

81. Chad Pipkens -- Lansing, MI -- 5, 13-08 -- 30
Day 1: 5, 13-08

82. Bill Lowen -- Brookville, IN -- 5, 13-03 -- 29
Day 1: 5, 13-03

83. Skeet Reese -- Auburn, CA -- 5, 13-01 -- 28
Day 1: 5, 13-01

84. Russ Lane -- Prattville, AL -- 5, 12-15 -- 27
Day 1: 5, 12-15

85. Rick Morris -- Lake Gaston, VA -- 5, 12-14 -- 26
Day 1: 5, 12-14

86. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, NJ -- 5, 12-13 -- 25
Day 1: 5, 12-13

87. Bernie Schultz -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 12-12 -- 24
Day 1: 5, 12-12

88. Tim Horton -- Muscle Shoals, AL -- 5, 12-10 -- 23
Day 1: 5, 12-10

89. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, AL -- 5, 12-08 -- 22
Day 1: 5, 12-08

90. Robbie Latuso -- Gonzales, LA -- 5, 12-07 -- 21
Day 1: 5, 12-07

91. Kelly Jordon -- Flint, TX -- 5, 12-05 -- 20
Day 1: 5, 12-05

92. Brandon Coulter -- Knoxville, TN -- 5, 12-00 -- 19
Day 1: 5, 12-00

93. Shin Fukae -- Palestine TX -- 5, 11-14 -- 18
Day 1: 5, 11-14

94. Casey Ashley -- Donalds, SC -- 5, 11-13 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 11-13

94. Bobby Lane Jr. -- Lakeland, FL -- 5, 11-13 -- 17
Day 1: 5, 11-13

96. Rick Clunn -- Ava, MO -- 4, 11-12 -- 15
Day 1: 4, 11-12

96. Randy Sullivan -- Breckenridge, TX -- 4, 11-12 -- 15
Day 1: 4, 11-12

98. Cliff Prince -- Palatka, FL -- 5, 11-11 -- 13
Day 1: 5, 11-11

99. David Mullins -- Mt Carmel, TN -- 5, 11-09 -- 12
Day 1: 5, 11-09

100. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, OK -- 5, 11-03 -- 11
Day 1: 5, 11-03

101. Matt Lee -- Guntersville, AL -- 5, 11-02 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 11-02

101. Darrell Ocamica -- New Plymouth, ID -- 5, 11-02 -- 10
Day 1: 5, 11-02

103. Shaw Grigsby Jr. -- Gainesville, FL -- 5, 09-14 -- 8
Day 1: 5, 09-14

104. Terry Scroggins -- San Mateo, FL -- 5, 09-04 -- 7
Day 1: 5, 09-04

105. Kelley Jaye -- Dadeville, AL -- 4, 09-04 -- 6
Day 1: 4, 09-04

106. Ray Hanselman Jr -- Del Rio, TX -- 4, 08-14 -- 5
Day 1: 4, 08-14

107. Paul Elias -- Laurel, MS -- 3, 05-08 -- 4
Day 1: 3, 05-08

108. Jason Williamson -- Wagener, SC -- 2, 05-08 -- 3
Day 1: 2, 05-08