By Jonathan Manteuffel
Special to BassFan
Anglers from coast to coast filled out the top 5 on day 1 of the Smith Lake FLW Tour as North Carolina’s David Williams jumped out to a 2-1/2 pound lead with an18-11 stringer. Weights are very tight from there down, with two- and three-way ties common on the leaderboard.
Anglers reported either feast or famine conditions, as some caught numerous keepers (over 12 inches per a waiver from the slot limit), while others struggled mightily to box five keepers.
Rain fell most of the day, keeping the anglers soggy and the water level fairly steady at four feet above full pool. Williams, fishing his first year on the FLW Tour after several years on the Bassmaster Elite Series, capitalized on a place he located in practice. His closest pursuer, Blake Smith, on the other hand, ran a ton of water to amass his 2nd-place bag of 16-02.
Tied for 3rd were close friends Cody Meyer (California) and Clent Davis (Alabama), who both sacked a limit of spotted bass weighing 15-13. Matt Arey settled into 5th with 15-09. Only 3-11 separates the Top 10, and 10th is just 1-02 away from 2nd – which illustrates how important one big bite can be on Smith.
Here's a look at the top 10 entering the second day of competition, with deficit margins from Williams indicated by red numbers in parentheses:
1. David Williams: 18-11
2. Capt Blake Smith: 16-02 (2-09)
3 (tie). Cody Meyer: 15-13 (2-14)
3 (tie). Clent Davis: 15-13 (2-14)
5. Matt Arey: 15-09 (3-02)
6. Joseph Webster: 15-08 (3-03)
7. James Niggemeyer: 15-06 (3-05)
8. Jim Moynagh: 15-02 (3-09)
9. Jeff Dobson: 15-01 (3-10)
10. Jason Reyes: 15-00 (3-11)
Like the previous tournament at Lake Cumberland, the anglers are fishing under a 12-inch minimum-length limit for all bass. In both cases it is a one-time departure from legal limits in effect, as part of a fisheries study. Tournament Director Bill Taylor said that Alabama Game and Fish has granted the Tour an exemption from the normal slot limit (bass 13-15 inches must be released) for this event. State officials conducted angler surveys and are gathering data to decide whether to lift the slot limit and possibly go to a simple minimum-length limit.
There is a three-way tie for the 30th-place cut spot: Chris McCall, Bryan Schmitt and Rex Huff each weighed 12-14 today.
The sun is forecast to shine on Friday, when the field will be reduced to the top 30 after the day-2 weigh-in. Only the top 10 will advance to Sunday, when the winner will be determined by highest cumulative weight.
Williams Whacked ‘Em
> Day 1: 5, 18-11
Big fish are enormous difference-makers at Smith Lake, and Williams corralled a 4-11 to separate himself from the pack.
“I didn’t know what to expect today,” he said. “I found one area where I got a couple good bites in practice and when I went in there this morning they were really biting. I fished until 10 or 10:30 a.m. and had all my weight. I decided I wasn’t going to help myself much if I stayed, so I left. After that I tried to help my co-angler but he only caught one. I practiced the rest of the day, but I didn’t find anything beneficial.”
He weighed all largemouths, but caught a few spots too.
“I caught them in different creeks just junk-fishing, just going down the banks. The water was stained where I was, but clear down the lake. I think what I’m doing should hold up for tomorrow. I didn’t fish anything twice and got a lot of bites. I probably went through 35 keepers.”
The four bass Williams filled out his limit with averaged 3 1/2 pounds each, bigger than many anglers managed on their best fish.
“It’ll be hard to duplicate that weight (on Friday),” he noted. “It’s all about getting a big bite. It just all fell into place today. Hopefully I can keep it rolling a while longer.”
2nd: Smith vs. Smith, Both Win
> Day 1: 5, 16-02
Blake Smith took on Lewis Smith Lake, and both came out shining.
“Today was just a total blessing,” he said. “I weighed four spots and one largemouth. It was a little more than I expected to catch.”
His biggest was a 4-12 largemouth, and he also had a 4-pound spot.
“It was more running than I imagined I’d have done,” he added. “I was like 22 miles away with 12 pounds, and I told my co-angler we need to make a long run. I probably ran over 60 miles total. But it was worth it, because just three casts after that big run I caught the big one on a topwater. That really helped.”
Smith had 12 keepers, most around the 2-pound mark.
“They were all really solid fish for here. I bounced around a lot and had maybe eight bites I couldn’t connect with. They might have been spawning in 17 feet or so. I caught fish from 8 to 17 feet deep.”
He thinks despite the change from stormy to sunny weather, tomorrow will be good.
“I found these fish on a sunny day in practice. I’ve been fishing clean since Harris but haven’t put two good days together. I’ve been a second-day person. Now I've got a good first day, so maybe this is the turnaround.”
3rd (tie): Davis Scrambled, Succeeded with Spots
> Day 1: 5, 15-13
Davis might have just as well skipped practice, as nothing he learned was of any benefit to him today. Fortunately for him, he has a lot of experience on Smith to fall back on.
“I just went fishing,” he said. “I didn’t fish anything I fished in practice. The few places I wanted to go had boats on them.
“I moved around a bunch and hit points, pockets – all kinds of stuff. I got bit about everywhere I went. Most of the water was clear, but I fished what looked good as I came to it, stained or clear.”
He did most of his damage with a Smith Lake staple – the reliable shaky-head worm on a spinning rod. His biggest fish weighed 3-3/4 pounds.
“I caught about 20 keepers, all spots. There’s a specific depth that’s working best.”
As for tomorrow, it’s just another day of fishing.
“I’ve fished Smith so much in my life and it changes so much from day to day, all I can do is go fishing,” he said.
3rd (tie): Meyer Targeted Suspending Spots
> Day 1: 5, 15-13
Meyer is happy sharing a tie for 3rd ith his good friend Davis.
“I’ve traveled with Clent around the country in the past,” he said. “I’d leave my stuff at his house when I’d go back to California. We talk some, but we’re doing different stuff this time. But it’s cool to be able to kick things back and forth, talk about practice and stuff like that.
“Today was great. I didn’t expect to catch that much. I didn’t catch that many in practice. The fish I did catch were small and thin, so today I fished all new water and randomly picked one up here and there.”
He ran through a dozen or so keepers and his biggest weighed 3 1/2 pounds.
“It rained a lot today, but I fished a lot of offshore deeper stuff for fish that were suspending, so water level didn’t affect them,” he noted. “I caught them on a few different areas. Most of them were around 10 feet down, and bottom depth didn’t seem to matter. I wish I had something better to say, but it was just a go-fishing kind of day.
Meyer knows a thing or two about herring lakes, but this one isn’t following the playbook this time.
“The spots were just kind of out there, not following bait or anything,” he observed. “The herring hate overcast skies so they never really came up. When the sun comes out they’ll come up to the surface and the bass will school. I haven’t seen schooling activity this whole week. I think the bass are mostly post-spawn, so they should be out schooling and feeding up, but they just aren’t.”
Without a solid pattern to run, Meyer plans to repeat his day-1 agenda until something better materializes.
“I’ll move around, see what I can find,” he said. “I’ll do some swimbait and light-line fishing and hope I can get on something solid.”
14th: Cox Struggled
> Day 1: 5, 14-02
With the current flooded shoreline conditions and stain in the water, putting money on guys like John Cox can be a good bet. Today wasn’t a bad showing, but it was much harder than it looked.
“Man, it was really tough on me today,” he said. “I caught the five I weighed on five different baits. Three were largemouths and two were spots. The largemouths were right up on the bank on laydowns and the spots were suspended in 60 feet of water.”
Like others, Cox ran a fair portion of the lake – in his case, 15 miles up one creek, then back down and about the same distance up another.
“We tried the largemouth pattern first and it didn’t work so well,” he lamented. “I caught one on a Dirty Jigs spinnerbait, one on a swim jig and one on a Berkley The General stickbait. I caught one on a Ned rig, too. I never caught two in the same spot.”
His biggest fish was a largemouth that weighed about 4 pounds. He totaled only seven bites and said his co-angler didn’t even get one.
“It was awful. But I like this place and I’m still excited about tomorrow,” he added. “The sun tomorrow might make them bite better, but I’m not sure. I’m looking forward to hopefully getting on something that’s more of a pattern.”
Notable
> Day 1 stats – 182 anglers, 160 limits, 8 fours, 6 threes, 4 twos, 4 zeroes.
> Bryan Thrift (23rd place) continued his record-setting string of consecutive limits in FLW Tour competition, notching No. 54.
Weather Forecast
> Fri., April 27 – Sunny – 75°/48°
- Wind: From the NW at 5 mph
> Sat., April 28 – Sunny – 77°/46°
- Wind: From the NW 5-10 mph
> Sun., April 29 – Sunny – 73°/44°
- Wind: From the NNE 5-10 mph
Day 1 Standings
1. David Williams -- Maiden, Nc -- 18-11 (5)
2. Blake Smith -- Lakeland, Fl -- 16-2 (5)
3. Cody Meyer -- Auburn, Ca -- 15-13 (5)
3. Clent Davis -- Montevallo, Al -- 15-13 (5)
5. Matt Arey -- Shelby, Nc -- 15-9 (5)
6. Joseph Webster -- Winfield, Al -- 15-8 (5)
7. James Niggemeyer -- Van, Tx -- 15-6 (5)
8. Jim Moynagh -- Carver, Mn -- 15-2 (5)
9. Jeff Dobson -- Bartlesville, Ok -- 15-1 (5)
10. Jason Reyes -- Huffman, Tx -- 15-0 (5)
11. Evan Barnes -- Hot Springs , Ar -- 14-13 (5)
12. Furman (Joe) Thompson -- Clayton, Ga -- 14-6 (5)
13. Billy McCaghren -- Mayflower, Ar -- 14-3 (5)
14. John Cox -- Debary, Fl -- 14-2 (5)
15. Braxton Setzer -- Montgomery, Al -- 13-14 (5)
16. Matt Becker -- Finleyville, Pa -- 13-11 (5)
17. Randy Haynes -- Ripley, Ms -- 13-10 (5)
17. Jimmy Reese -- Witter Springs, Ca -- 13-10 (5)
17. Wade Curtiss -- Lincoln, Ca -- 13-10 (5)
20. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 13-9 (5)
20. Todd Castledine -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 13-9 (5)
22. Jason Johnson -- Dawsonville, Ga -- 13-8 (5)
23. Scott Dobson -- Clarkston, Mi -- 13-6 (5)
23. Bryan Thrift -- Shelby, Nc -- 13-6 (5)
25. Robert Behrle -- Hoover, Al -- 13-5 (5)
26. Andy Morgan -- Dayton, Tn -- 13-4 (5)
26. Cody Hahner -- Wausau, Wi -- 13-4 (5)
28. Jordan Osborne -- Longview, Tx -- 13-3 (5)
29. JT Kenney -- Palm Bay, Fl -- 13-0 (5)
30. Chris McCall -- Palmer, Tx -- 12-14 (5)
30. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, Md -- 12-14 (5)
30. Rex Huff -- Corbin, Ky -- 12-14 (5)
33. Jimmy Houston -- Cookson, Ok -- 12-13 (5)
34. Brandon McMillan -- Clewiston, Fl -- 12-12 (5)
35. Kyle Cortiana -- Broken Arrow, Ok -- 12-11 (5)
35. Jared McMillan -- Belle Glade, Fl -- 12-11 (5)
35. Scott Martin -- Clewiston, Fl -- 12-11 (5)
38. Shane Lehew -- Catawba, Nc -- 12-10 (5)
39. Chris Johnston -- Peterborough, On -- 12-8 (5)
40. Jeff Gustafson -- Keewatin, On -- 12-7 (5)
40. Mark Rose -- West Memphis, Ar -- 12-7 (5)
42. Michael Neal -- Dayton, Tn -- 12-6 (5)
43. Terry Bolton -- Paducah, Ky -- 12-5 (5)
44. Tom Monsoor -- La Crosse, Wi -- 12-4 (5)
44. David Larson -- Mound, Mn -- 12-4 (5)
44. Matthew Stefan -- Junction City, Wi -- 12-4 (5)
44. John Voyles -- Petersburg, In -- 12-4 (5)
48. Justin Atkins -- Florence, Al -- 12-3 (5)
48. Clark Reehm -- Elm Grove, La -- 12-3 (5)
50. Sheldon Collings -- Grove, Ok -- 12-2 (5)
50. Austin Felix -- Eden Prairie, Mn -- 12-2 (5)
52. Chad Randles -- Elkhorn, Ne -- 12-1 (5)
52. Richie Eaves -- Nauvoo, Il -- 12-1 (5)
54. Greg Bohannan -- Bentonville, Ar -- 12-0 (5)
54. Andrew Upshaw -- Tulsa, Ok -- 12-0 (5)
56. Alex Davis -- Albertville, Al -- 11-15 (5)
57. Derrick Blake -- Rockwood, Tn -- 11-14 (5)
58. Rusty Trancygier -- Hahira, Ga -- 11-11 (5)
59. Darrel Robertson -- Jay, Ok -- 11-10 (5)
60. Tim Frederick -- Leesburg, Fl -- 11-9 (5)
60. Zell Rowland -- Montgomery, Tx -- 11-9 (5)
60. Troy Morrow -- Eastanollee, Ga -- 11-9 (5)
60. Clark Wendlandt -- Leander, Tx -- 11-9 (5)
64. Shane Lineberger -- Lincolnton, Nc -- 11-7 (5)
65. Johnny McCombs -- Morris, Al -- 11-6 (5)
66. Jason Abram -- Piney Flats, Tn -- 11-2 (5)
66. Scott Suggs -- Alexander, Ar -- 11-2 (5)
68. Taylor Ashley -- Warrior, Al -- 11-1 (5)
68. Brett Preuett -- Monroe, La -- 11-1 (5)
68. Zack Birge -- Blanchard, Ok -- 11-1 (5)
68. Brandon Mosley -- Choctaw, Ok -- 11-1 (5)
72. Jay Kendrick -- Grant, Al -- 10-15 (5)
73. Cameron Gautney -- Muscle Shoals, Al -- 10-14 (5)
74. Luke Dunkin -- Lawrenceburg, Tn -- 10-13 (5)
74. Gary Yamamoto -- Palestine, Tx -- 10-13 (5)
76. Casey Scanlon -- Lake Ozark, Mo -- 10-12 (5)
77. Brandon Cobb -- Greenwood, Sc -- 10-10 (5)
78. Joey Cifuentes -- Clinton, Ar -- 10-9 (5)
79. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga -- 10-8 (5)
79. Scott Canterbury -- Odenville, Al -- 10-8 (5)
81. Shawn Murphy -- Nicholasville, Ky -- 10-6 (5)
81. Dennis Tietje -- Roanoke, La -- 10-6 (5)
83. Nick Gainey -- Charleston, Sc -- 10-5 (5)
83. David Nichol -- Gainesville, Ga -- 10-5 (5)
85. Clint Brown -- Bainbridge, Ga -- 10-2 (5)
85. Cory Johnston -- Cavan, On -- 10-2 (5)
85. Jamie Horton -- Centerville, Al -- 10-2 (5)
88. Russell Cecil -- Willis, Tx -- 10-1 (5)
88. Cody Kelley -- Conway, Ar -- 10-1 (5)
88. Carl Jocumsen -- Frisco, Tx -- 10-1 (5)
91. Dean Alexander -- Georgetown, Tx -- 10-0 (5)
91. Greg Mansfield -- Olathe, Ks -- 10-0 (5)
93. Scott Wiley -- Bay Minette, Al -- 9-15 (5)
93. Brian Latimer -- Belton, Sc -- 9-15 (5)
93. Rob Kilby -- Hot Springs, Ar -- 9-15 (5)
96. Ryan Chandler -- Hebron, In -- 9-14 (5)
96. Jeff Sprague -- Point, Tx -- 9-14 (5)
96. Anthony Gagliardi -- Prosperity, Sc -- 9-14 (5)
96. Buddy Gross -- Chickamauga, Ga -- 9-14 (5)
100. Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Ct -- 9-13 (5)
100. Koby Kreiger -- Bokeelia, Fl -- 9-13 (5)
102. Chad Grigsby -- Maple Grove, Mn -- 9-12 (5)
102. Richard Lowitzki -- Hampshire, Il -- 9-12 (5)
104. Peter Thliveros -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 9-11 (5)
104. Chris Gosselaar -- Fresno, Ca -- 9-11 (5)
106. Matt Wittekiend -- Angleton, Tx -- 9-10 (5)
107. Jason Meninger -- Saint Augustine, Fl -- 9-9 (5)
107. Scott Ashmore -- Broken Arrow, Ok -- 9-9 (5)
107. Aaron Britt -- Yuba City, Ca -- 9-9 (5)
110. Kurt Mitchell -- Milford, De -- 9-8 (5)
111. Billy Hines -- Vacaville, Ca -- 9-7 (5)
112. David Dudley -- Lynchburg, Va -- 9-6 (5)
112. Clayton Batts -- Macon, Ga -- 9-6 (5)
112. Michael Wooley -- Booneville, Ms -- 9-6 (5)
115. Larry Nixon -- Bee Branch, Ar -- 9-5 (5)
116. Bill McDonald -- Greenwood, In -- 9-4 (5)
117. Rob Jordan -- Flowery Branch, Ga -- 9-3 (5)
117. Bob Morin -- Seymour, Tn -- 9-3 (5)
119. Grae Buck -- Harleysville, Pa -- 9-2 (5)
120. John Devere -- Berea, Ky -- 9-0 (5)
120. Randy Blaukat -- Joplin, Mo -- 9-0 (5)
122. Kyle Weisenburger -- Ottawa, Oh -- 8-15 (5)
122. Mark Fisher -- Wauconda, Il -- 8-15 (5)
122. Jeremy Lawyer -- Sarcoxie, Mo -- 8-15 (5)
122. Miles Howe -- San Juan Capistrano, Ca -- 8-15 (5)
122. Jim Moulton -- Merced, Ca -- 8-15 (5)
122. Jim Tutt -- Longview, Tx -- 8-15 (5)
122. Billy Shelton III -- La Crosse, Va -- 8-15 (5)
129. Todd Hollowell -- Fishers, In -- 8-14 (5)
130. Matt Greenblatt -- Port St Lucie, Fl -- 8-11 (5)
131. Curtis Richardson -- Belleville, On -- 8-10 (5)
132. Chris Neau -- New Orleans, La -- 8-8 (5)
132. Glenn Browne -- Citrus Springs, Fl -- 8-8 (5)
132. John Hunter -- Shelbyville, Ky -- 8-8 (5)
132. Jay Yelas -- Lincoln City, Or -- 8-8 (5)
136. Mike Surman -- Boca Raton, Fl -- 8-7 (5)
136. Britt Myers -- Lake Wylie, Sc -- 8-7 (5)
138. William Campbell -- Middlesboro, Ky -- 8-6 (5)
139. Tyler Stewart -- West Monroe, La -- 8-5 (5)
140. Freddy Hurley -- Somerset, Ky -- 8-3 (5)
141. Eric Jackson -- Walling, Tn -- 7-14 (5)
142. Glenn Chappelear -- Acworth, Ga -- 7-12 (5)
142. David Smith -- Edmond, Ok -- 7-12 (5)
142. Charlie Evans -- Berea, Ky -- 7-12 (5)
145. Dylan Hays -- Sheridan, Ar -- 7-11 (5)
145. Josh Douglas -- Isle, Mn -- 7-11 (5)
147. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Ms -- 7-9 (5)
148. Lendell Martin Jr -- Nacogdoches, Tx -- 7-8 (5)
149. Jason Lambert -- Michie, Tn -- 7-7 (5)
149. Ronald Young -- Lake Wales, Fl -- 7-7 (5)
151. Kerry Milner -- Bono, Ar -- 7-4 (5)
152. Jim Dillard -- West Monroe, La -- 7-2 (5)
152. Bradley Hallman -- Norman, Ok -- 7-2 (4)
152. Bradley Dortch -- Atmore, Al -- 7-2 (5)
152. Bill Hutchison -- Bessemer, Al -- 7-2 (5)
156. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Tx -- 7-1 (3)
157. Chase Brooks -- Iraan, Tx -- 6-15 (5)
158. Allen Boyd -- Salem, In -- 6-14 (4)
159. Brad Knight -- Lancing, Tn -- 6-13 (4)
160. James Watson -- Lampe, Mo -- 6-8 (4)
160. Barry Wilson -- Birmingham, Al -- 6-8 (4)
160. Jim Jones -- Big Bend, Wi -- 6-8 (5)
160. Tim Cales -- Sandstone, Wv -- 6-8 (4)
164. Matt Garner -- Seminole, Ok -- 6-5 (5)
164. Jimmy Brewer -- Marshall, Tx -- 6-5 (5)
166. Darrell Davis -- Dover, Fl -- 6-3 (5)
166. David Wootton -- Collierville, Tn -- 6-3 (5)
168. Wes Logan -- Springville, Al -- 5-11 (2)
169. Yusuke Miyazaki -- Forney, Tx -- 5-8 (4)
170. Chad Morgenthaler -- Reeds Spring, Mo -- 5-7 (3)
171. Keith Bryan -- Novato, Ca -- 5-6 (3)
172. Joshua Weaver -- Macon, Ga -- 5-0 (4)
173. Tom Redington -- Royse City, Tx -- 4-15 (2)
173. Christopher Brasher -- Longview, Tx -- 4-15 (3)
175. Andy Wicker -- Pomaria, Sc -- 4-11 (3)
176. Kurt Dove -- Del Rio, Tx -- 3-10 (2)
177. Tony Dumitras -- Winston, Ga -- 3-9 (3)
178. Craig Rozema -- Simpsonville, Sc -- 3-8 (2)
Steven Hatala -- St. Clair Shores, Mi -- 0-0 (0)
Timmy Thompkins -- Myrtle Beach, Sc -- 0-0 (0)
Ramie Colson Jr -- Cadiz, Ky -- 0-0 (0)
Harry Moore -- Valley, Al -- 0-0 (0)
