Bassmaster Open Championship
McClelland Is Best By 3-00

Photo: Bassmaster.com Mike McClelland feels "pretty good," but knows he needs current to get his bites.

He's followed by tour pro Matt Reed with 14-12 (3 pounds back). Tour pro Doug Garrett is 3rd with a 13-03 limit and tour pro and former Open Champion John Murray is 4th with a 12-07 limit. Soon-to-be tour pro Jon Bondy, with 12-00, is tied for 5th with tour pro Rick Morris. Bondy did it with four fish – Morris with five.

Unlike traditional Bassmaster Opens, the Open Championship cuts to 10 anglers after day 2, then to five anglers after day 3. Here's a look at the rest of the all-important Top 10:

7. Terry Scroggins: 5, 10-04
8. Ricky Shabazz: 3, 10-01
9. Steve Kennedy: 5, 10-00
10. Ron Colby: 4, 9-12
10. Dave Smith: 4, 9-12

Aside from the fog, weather was not a factor major today. It was clear, then cloudy, then clear again with occasional drizzle and little to no wind. Temperatures were cool –near freezing in the morning with highs around 60. So it seems everything's about current right now, which sets up an interesting scenario.

Recent rainfall has pushed up the lakes, and competitors noted the current today was stronger than in practice, which brought the better fish to the bank. It should repeat tomorrow, but if history serves, the gates might close on Saturday and Sunday. That sets up two separate tournaments: The quest to make the Top 10 in current, then the quest to win with another pattern.

Anglers who carried two gameplans into day 1 might have the clear advantage if the current stops. And weights are tight: 9-12 is 10th right now, but 20th place is only 7-14 (Ben Matsubu). Tomorrow is moving day, so expect to see some big changes.

McClelland Credits Current

McClelland, from Bella Vista, Ark., finished 68th in the Bassmaster Tour points this year. This is his ticket to the Classic, and he knows it.

"I feel pretty good," he said. "But the condition of the river has got to be favorable for me to catch them again. The current got a lot stronger, and definitely positioned the fish where I could catch them."

He noted there's three main pools anglers can fish: "The Coosa River, the Jordan Dam diversion canal and the Tallapoosa River, which dumps out of Lake Martin. With as much rain as they got, they're definitely trying to flush some water. I think they'll do it again tomorrow.

"The water color has actually gotten more stained since practice, and there's lots of muddy water coming down from the Tallapoosa, mixing with clean water out of Jordan," he added. "I think that helped what I'm doing."

He's fishing a 7/16-ounce Jewel jig and also caught a few on a War Eagle spinnerbait. Out of 11 bites, he caught "eight or nine" keepers and culled three times.

"One thing I do have to keep in mind is that when current flow changes, it really affects things," he said. "They shut it down around noon today, and I went back and hit a few of my areas and didn't catch anything.

Photo: Bassmaster.com Matt Reed isn't getting a lot of bites, but he's getting the right ones.

"With the position I'm in, I think catching two or three fish tomorrow will definitely give me a Top 10. That will give me the opportunity to loosen up a little and fish for a win.

"There's no doubt, you have to fish for a win."

> He said two of his fish "were pushing 5 pounds."

Reed Getting Right Bites

Reed, in 2nd, went into today knowing he might only get five bites. But if he got them, a few would be good ones. That's exactly what happened. He got five bites and weighed a five-bag that included two 4-pound spots and a 4-pound largemouth.

"Man, I'm just fishing," he said. "I'm tickled to death with what I had today. I hadn't been getting but five or six bites a day in practice, but I was getting good bites.

"It's a situation that's kind of scary. I'll just have to load up and go do it again."

In other words, he's not sure he can catch another limit. But weights aren't zeroed for any cut, so it's all about the quality bites now. And he has a long run to contend with, which has him a little concerned about another possible fog delay tomorrow.

"I ran my big motor for over 2 hours, and had less than 6 hours fishing time today," he said.

"The Top 5 is the whole goal I've got here," he added. "This is one of those tournaments where I didn't see any reason to go out and catch a little limit. I thought I'd figured out a way to catch big ones. I just have to go get it done."

Garrett Anticipates Adjustment

Garret (in 3rd) rooms with leader McClelland and said they're doing similar things, but on "different ends of the world."

"Current was the major factor today," he said. "The harder current pushed the fish up on the banks, and I was catching mine flipping and pitching a jig.

"But the current changes, and you have to adjust to it because it will move your fish."

He noted that when the current stops, the fish suspend and he has to pull off the bank and throw cranks.

"It'd be great to make the Classic," he added. "I think I can catch five tomorrow, but I don't know what the quality's going to be.

"I think I can get it done. This is my style of fishing."

> He caught the day's big bass (7-12).

Bondy 3 Days From Dream

Bondy, a Canadian, is 5th. He signed up to fish the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series, and launched a website called HelpJohnFish.com to solicit sponsors. He's always wanted to fish a tour, but his true dream is to fish the Bassmaster Classic. He's 3 days away from that dream right now.

"I feel real good," he said. "We had that fog delay and I'm running about 30 miles, so that really shortened my day.

"The fish really weren't biting today – I only caught four – but I think I can catch a limit tomorrow."

He got a late fish, and it was a good one – a 5-07 largemouth. "I was pretty pumped," he said. "I had one about 4 and one about 2 1/2 in the first four flips this morning, then it kind of died on me."

On making the Classic, he said: "The goal of my life is to be in the Classic with my family and friends in the crowd. I don't do this for myself. I do it for my friends and family now."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 90 anglers, 26 limits, 11 zeroes.

> McClelland never saw the Alabama River until 3 days ago.

> The Top 3 – McClelland, Reed and Garrett – all had dinner together tonight.

> This will be the final Open Championship, since BASS changed next year's format to the Northern and Southern Tours. If John Murray wins, he can boast that he won two of the three Open Championships ever held.

> Last year's champion, Bradley Stringer, is not fishing.

> The Alabama River at Prattville is close to BASS's former headquarters in Montgomery, Ala.

> The Alabama River was also the site of a 2004 Bassmaster Elite 50. At that E50, Stacey King said he was shot at by a local landowner. The alleged shooter, Paul Gray of Lowndesboro, Ala., was found not guilty at trial.

Day 1 Standings

1. Mike McClelland -- Bella Vista, Ark. -- 5, 17-12 -- 305
Day 1: 5, 17-12

2. Matt Reed -- Madisonville, Texas -- 5, 14-12 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 14-12

3. Doug Garrett -- Cabot, Ark. -- 5, 13-03 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 13-03

4. John Murray -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 5, 12-07 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 12-07

5. Rick Morris -- Lanexa, Va. -- 5, 12-00 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 12-00

5. Jon Bondy -- Windsor, Canada -- 4, 12-00 -- 280
Day 1: 4, 12-00

7. Terry Scroggins -- Palatka, Fla. -- 5, 10-04 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 10-04

8. Ricky Shabazz -- Rialto, Calif. -- 3, 10-01 -- 268
Day 1: 3, 10-01

9. Steve Kennedy -- Auburn, Ala. -- 5, 10-00 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 10-00

10. Ron Colby -- Page, Ariz. -- 4, 9-12 -- 260
Day 1: 4, 9-12

10. Dave Smith -- Del City, Okla. -- 4, 9-12 -- 260
Day 1: 4, 9-12

12. Mark Rizk -- Arab, Ala. -- 5, 9-11 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 9-11
13. David Wharton -- Sam Rayburn, Texas -- 5, 9-10 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 9-10
14. Larry Jones -- Acworth, Ga. -- 5, 8-01 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 8-01
15. Lawren Wetzel -- Sharon, Canada -- 5, 8-00 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 8-00
16. Chad Brauer -- Osage Beach, Mo. -- 5, 7-15 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 7-15
16. Homer Humphreys, Jr -- Minden, La. -- 5, 7-15 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 7-15
16. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 5, 7-15 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 7-15
16. John Pollard -- Eclectic, Ala. -- 5, 7-15 -- 243
Day 1: 5, 7-15
20. Ben Matsubu -- Hemphill, Texas -- 5, 7-14 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 7-14
21. Guy Eaker -- Cherryville, N.C. -- 4, 7-06 -- 233
Day 1: 4, 7-06
22. Jeremy Guidry -- Opelousas, La. -- 5, 7-02 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 7-02
23. Shinichi Fukae -- Osaka, Japan -- 5, 6-14 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 6-14
24. Brad Hallman -- Norman, Okla. -- 5, 6-12 -- 227
Day 1: 5, 6-12
25. Jami Norman -- Sunbury, Ohio -- 5, 6-10 -- 225
Day 1: 5, 6-10
26. Mick Karshner -- Fresno, Calif. -- 3, 6-09 -- 223
Day 1: 3, 6-09
27. Michael Johnson -- Talking Rock, Ga. -- 3, 6-07 -- 221
Day 1: 3, 6-07
28. Gary Klein -- Weatherford, Texas -- 5, 6-06 -- 219
Day 1: 5, 6-06
29. Jeff Connella -- Bentley, La. -- 5, 6-04 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 6-04
30. Terry Butcher -- Talala, Okla. -- 4, 6-01 -- 215
Day 1: 4, 6-01
30. Tony Chachere -- Opelousas, La. -- 3, 6-01 -- 215
Day 1: 3, 6-01
32. Chris Lane -- Winter Haven, Fla. -- 3, 5-15 -- 211
Day 1: 3, 5-15
33. Tom Hamlin -- Lizella, Ga. -- 5, 5-14 -- 209
Day 1: 5, 5-14
33. Tommy Martin -- Hemphill, Texas -- 4, 5-14 -- 209
Day 1: 4, 5-14
35. Jess Salmon -- Milford, N.J. -- 5, 5-13 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 5-13
36. Takahiro Omori -- Emory, Texas -- 5, 5-04 -- 203
Day 1: 5, 5-04
36. Jeff Buchanan -- Lufkin, Texas -- 4, 5-04 -- 203
Day 1: 4, 5-04
38. Jay Kendrick -- Ooltewah, Tenn. -- 5, 5-03 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 5-03
39. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 3, 4-13 -- 197
Day 1: 3, 4-13
40. Ken Cook -- Lawton, Okla. -- 3, 4-06 -- 195
Day 1: 3, 4-06
40. Jason Quinn -- York, S.C. -- 2, 4-06 -- 195
Day 1: 2, 4-06
42. Ed Allen -- Lakeview, Ohio -- 4, 4-05 -- 191
Day 1: 4, 4-05
42. Kevin Langill -- Terrell, N.C. -- 3, 4-05 -- 191
Day 1: 3, 4-05
44. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, Ohi -- 2, 4-03 -- 187
Day 1: 2, 4-03
45. Chad Martin -- Sacramento, Calif. -- 2, 4-01 -- 185
Day 1: 2, 4-01
46. Rodney Sorrell -- Stokesdale, N.C. -- 1, 3-15 -- 183
Day 1: 1, 3-15
47. Fred Roumbanis -- Auburn, Calif. -- 1, 3-12 -- 181
Day 1: 1, 3-12
48. Britt Myers -- Mt. Holly, N.C. -- 3, 3-11 -- 179
Day 1: 3, 3-11
49. Todd Auten -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 4, 3-06 -- 177
Day 1: 4, 3-06
50. Gary Howell -- Stockton, Calif. -- 3, 3-05 -- 175
Day 1: 3, 3-05
50. William Smith, Jr -- Somerset, Ky. -- 3, 3-05 -- 175
Day 1: 3, 3-05
52. Justin Riley -- Woodbine, Md. -- 2, 3-03 -- 171
Day 1: 2, 3-03
52. Thomas O'Bryant -- Cedar Grove, Tenn. -- 1, 3-03 -- 171
Day 1: 1, 3-03
54. Joey Rodrigues -- Danbury, Conn. -- 4, 3-01 -- 167
Day 1: 4, 3-01
54. Vince Hurtado -- Waterford, Calif. -- 2, 3-01 -- 167
Day 1: 2, 3-01
56. Ken Brodeur -- Niantic, Conn. -- 3, 3-00 -- 163
Day 1: 3, 3-00
57. Johnny Lesesne -- Blue Ridge, Ga. -- 1, 2-15 -- 161
Day 1: 1, 2-15
58. Conrad Picou -- Carencro, La. -- 3, 2-13 -- 159
Day 1: 3, 2-13
59. Randy Dearman -- Onalaska, Texas -- 3, 2-10 -- 157
Day 1: 3, 2-10
60. Steven Clapper -- Lima, Ohio -- 2, 2-06 -- 155
Day 1: 2, 2-06
61. Dean Meckes -- Clayton, N.Y. -- 2, 2-03 -- 153
Day 1: 2, 2-03
61. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala. -- 1, 2-03 -- 153
Day 1: 1, 2-03
63. Ryan Hawthorne -- Mansfield, Conn. -- 1, 1-14 -- 149
Day 1: 1, 1-14
64. Lee Hartley -- Buford, Ga. -- 2, 1-13 -- 147
Day 1: 2, 1-13
64. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Silver Spring, Md. -- 2, 1-13 -- 147
Day 1: 2, 1-13
66. Craig Dowling -- Many, La. -- 2, 1-12 -- 143
Day 1: 2, 1-12
67. Jeff Kriet -- Ardmore, Okla. -- 2, 1-10 -- 141
Day 1: 2, 1-10
67. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, Ga. -- 1, 1-10 -- 141
Day 1: 1, 1-10
69. Brett Hite -- Phoenix, Ariz. -- 2, 1-06 -- 137
Day 1: 2, 1-06
70. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark. -- 2, 1-05 -- 135
Day 1: 2, 1-05
71. Pete Ponds -- Madison, Miss. -- 1, 1-01 -- 133
Day 1: 1, 1-01
71. Jimmy Reese -- Ukiah, Calif. -- 1, 1-01 -- 133
Day 1: 1, 1-01
73. Paul Ferguson -- Arp, Texas -- 1, 1-00 -- 129
Day 1: 1, 1-00
74. Chris Daves -- Hopewell, Va. -- 1, 0-15 -- 127
Day 1: 1, 0-15
74. Cliff Pace -- Petal, Miss. -- 1, 0-15 -- 127
Day 1: 1, 0-15
74. Zachary Thompson -- Orinda, Calif. -- 1, 0-15 -- 127
Day 1: 1, 0-15
77. Sean Minderman -- Spokane, Wash. -- 1, 0-12 -- 121
Day 1: 1, 0-12
78. Doc Merkin -- Downers Grove, Ill. -- 1, 0-11 -- 119
Day 1: 1, 0-11
79. Kurt Dove -- Warrenton, Va. -- 1, 0-10 -- 117
Day 1: 1, 0-10
80. Stephen Browning -- Hot Springs, Ark. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Ken Cassettari -- Alamo, Calif. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. John Chaffo -- Pittsburgh, Pa. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Jim Davis -- San Jose, Calif. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Mike Desforges -- Burlington, Canada -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Jamie Fabian -- Pleasant City, Ohio -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, Pa. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Jared Lintner -- Arroyo Grande, Calif. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Jeff Magee -- Mendenhall, Miss. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Keith Philips -- Calera, Ala. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
80. Doc Seger -- Reeds Springs, Mo. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00

Big Bass

> Day 1: Doug Garrett -- Cabot, Ark. -- 7-12 -- $1,000