Kentucky Lake Northern Tour
Lashlee Seeks 3rd Straight Win

Photo: Bassmaster.com Sam Lashlee's name is in a very familiar spot in the standings – first place.

By now, many of the famous ledges along the river channel have been scraped clean by hundreds of jigs, Carolina rigs, and crankbaits. Yet the fish are still there. Lashlee proved it today, bringing in a limit that weighed 23-13 to take the lead on day 1.

It's a familiar place for him now, having recently won the Old Hickory FLW Series and the Kentucky Lake Midwestern Stren. He led 3 out of 4 days and averaged close to 22 pounds a day in the Stren, and today's bag topped all four of his daily weights from 2 weeks ago. He's won some 30 to 40 tournaments here over the years.

That's got to put some fear into his competition, but nobody's conceding yet. Trailing Lashlee in 2nd is Donald Cordle with a limit of 20-04. Shawn Penn is 3rd with 19-15, followed by Jason Sain in 4th with 18-06 and Rodney Brown in 5th with 18-03.

The rest of the Top 10 are:

6. Harold Knight: 17-12
7. J Todd Tucker: 16-05
8. Ed Dunnaway: 15-14
9. Pat Golden: 15-12
10. Michael Stinson: 15-11

It was hot and sunny most of today, but a strong storm blew across the Kentucky and adjoining Lake Barkely during the afternoon, bringing hail and high winds. More storms are forecast for tonight and tomorrow, and the dramatic change could shake up the leaderboard considerably.

Tomorrow the field will be cut to 50, and those anglers will then carry over their weights and fish Saturday for the win. A tie for 49th place occupies the cut spot today with a weight of 8-10.

1st: Lashlee Loves Ledges

Maybe nobody else in the field knows Kentucky Lake like Lashlee, who lives on the Tennessee end, about 80 miles from the launch near the dam. Today would seem like just another killer day for him on his home waters, but it was anything but easy.

"I was 30 or 40 miles into my 60-mile run and I blew my engine," he said. "I called BASS tournament officials to see what the procedure was to get another boat and restart. A friend of mine loaned me his boat and by the time we got going again, I'd lost 2 hours of fishing time.

"I was thinking, 'Well, I've been blessed (with a good run up to now), and if God had meant for it to (continue) it would have.' So we just went fishing.

"I went to a limit spot and squeezed out three little ones just to loosen up some," he noted.

There wasn't much else there to be had, though.

"Then I went to a spot that's a little shallower than I normally fish, and I caught a 7-pounder on a Strike King Series 6 crankbait, and then a 2-pounder. It was unreal."

He took big-bass honors with the 7-00 brute.

"On the next spot I loaded the boat," he said. "In five casts, I caught four or five good fish, and then lost one and they left. I could see them leaving on my graph. I wanted to get my co-angler some fish, so we cranked up and ran another 20 miles south to a little place I save for when I need it, and while I was telling him where to cast I caught a 4-pounder that culled a 3-1/2."

Keeping in mind his earlier troubles, he decided it would be best to get back close to the launch.

"We messed around the dam area a while, and I noticed my fish were starting to look bad," he noted. "I wasn't familiar with the livewell system in this boat, so we decided to check in an hour early."

The fish were placed in the treated water at the weigh-in area and recovered quickly.

He caught his fish mostly on ledges about 14 feet deep using a prototype 11 1/2-inch Strike King paddletail worm.

Tomorrow he has to borrow a different boat, because the first friend needs his to practice for a Saturday tournament. He's confident that he can catch another good limit tomorrow, God willing. "I can't thank the Lord enough for blessing me with another great day on Kentucky Lake."

2nd: Cordle Fished Barkley

Cordle is also from Tennessee and has fished Barkley and Kentucky all his life. He was 8th in the Stren event Lashlee won, and he's 3-09 off the lead.

"I'm fishing the same ledges I've fished the last 12 or 13 years, using a 3/4-ounce jig and a shakey-head worm in 8 to 10 feet. I was done at 11:00," he said. "I caught 10 or 11 keepers today, and lost a 4-pounder."

The bites on the worm are light.

"They don't even know they're hooked until they're halfway to the boat," he said. "I'd caught two shorts in a row, and thought the 4-pounder was another small one. They just sort of swim around with the worm until they're 2 feet from the boat and then they go crazy. Not being able to use a net is a little bit of a thrill."

He fished Barkley, which he noted is much shallower than Kentucky, where he would fish twice as deep.

"I do the same thing here every year," he said. "I won the Triton Owner's Tournament the same week (as this year) in 2004, on the same spots. Tomorrow I'll go fish the same milk-run as I have for the last 10 years.

"I've been on a roll since April, catching about 16 pounds a day. Today's weight was just a blessing from God. I'm glad, and I've got to catch all I can tomorrow, because Saturday will be really tough."

That's because of local tournaments, and all the boats crowding the ledges – especially his ledges.

"I ledge-fish about 40 tournaments a year," he said. "I've worked my butt off to find all these spots, but GPS makes it too easy to steal spots. You get all these out-of-towners in fancy boats with funny hair idle by and 'beep-beep'. Local guys are following me around too."

4th: Sain Scored Schoolers

Tennessean Sain caught a limit from Barkley that weighed 18-06, so he has almost 5 1/2 pounds to make up on Lashlee. His day started out slow.

"I didn't catch a fish on the first two or three places I went," he said. "Then I got on some schoolers and caught a limit, and so did my partner. A storm was blowing across the lake pretty hard right after that, so we fished out of the wind for a little bit.

"Then I tried to go cherry-pick some spots for a bigger fish. I was able to cull some in Little River and Edie Creek, just fishing some major creek ledges on south Barkley. I didn't get any big fish today, but it was a good day. I just wish I had some big-fish places to go to."

He had to check in at 2:00 today, but not until 4:15 tomorrow. "That will be a tremendous help," he noted. "I always catch fish better late in the day, and I think the current runs better then. I'll have time late to fish on what I think are good locations."

He's fishing a big worm, jigs, and crankbaits – "just the normal things" – exclusively on Barkley. "I think so many fish have been caught recently on Kentucky Lake (that it's getting tough there), and I don't think a lot of people have been practicing on Barkley. I didn't have a lot of boats around me, which helps."

Notable

> Day 1 stats – 110 anglers, 38 limits, 15 fours, 19 threes, 16 twos, 15 ones, 7 zeroes.

> This is the first of five events on the Bassmaster Northern Tour. Anglers get to drop their lowest finish and count their points for the other four toward final standings and qualification for the Bassmaster Elite Series (Top 5) and Bassmaster Classic (Top 3).

> Lashlee won the Angler of the Year in the 2005 ESPN Outdoors Bassmaster Series in his division, but hadn't fished a "big" BASS event since 1993. He said he planned to fish just this first event on the Northern Tour, but may consider fishing the rest. "It intrigues me that the Top 3 make the Classic," he said. "I'll decide after this tournament (whether to fish the other four events)."

> Lashlee's 23-13 was more than twice as much as 24th place (11-14), and 15-03 more than the 50th-place cut spot. Weights are not zeroed after the cut, but accumulate for all 3 days.

Day 1 Standings

1. -- Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tenn. -- 5, 23-13 -- 305 -- $1,000.00
Day 1: 5, 23-13

2. -- Donald Cordle -- Brentwood, Tenn. -- 5, 20-04 -- 295
Day 1: 5, 20-04

3. -- Shawn Penn -- Eddyville, Ky. -- 5, 19-15 -- 290
Day 1: 5, 19-15

4. -- Jason Sain -- Beechgrove, Tenn. -- 5, 18-06 -- 285
Day 1: 5, 18-06

5. -- Rodney Brown -- Eddyville, Ky. -- 5, 18-03 -- 280
Day 1: 5, 18-03

6. -- Harold Knight -- Cadiz, Ky. -- 5, 17-12 -- 276
Day 1: 5, 17-12

7. -- J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga. -- 5, 16-05 -- 272
Day 1: 5, 16-05

8. -- Ed Dunnaway -- Flowood, Miss. -- 5, 15-14 -- 268
Day 1: 5, 15-14

9. -- Pat Golden -- High Point, N.C. -- 5, 15-12 -- 264
Day 1: 5, 15-12

10. Michael -- Gary Stinson -- Scottsville, Ky. -- 5, 15-11 -- 260
Day 1: 5, 15-11

11. Curt Mcguire -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn. -- 5, 15-06 -- 257
Day 1: 5, 15-06

12. Mark Hicks -- Millfield, Ohio -- 5, 15-03 -- 254
Day 1: 5, 15-03

13. Anre' De Villiers -- Goodwood, South Africa -- 5, 14-13 -- 251
Day 1: 5, 14-13

14. Ray Brazier -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn. -- 5, 14-04 -- 248
Day 1: 5, 14-04

15. Scott Campbell -- Springfield, Mo. -- 5, 14-01 -- 245
Day 1: 5, 14-01

16. Boyd Duckett -- Demopolis, Ala. -- 5, 13-12 -- 242
Day 1: 5, 13-12

16. Randy Mccarty -- Hagerhill, Ky. -- 5, 13-12 -- 242
Day 1: 5, 13-12

18. James Charlesworth -- Saint Cloud, Fla. -- 5, 13-07 -- 239
Day 1: 5, 13-07

19. Todd Ary -- Moody, Ala. -- 4, 13-06 -- 237
Day 1: 4, 13-06

20. John Cox -- Debary, Fla. -- 5, 13-01 -- 235
Day 1: 5, 13-01

21. Clark Reehm -- Leesville, La. -- 5, 12-15 -- 233
Day 1: 5, 12-15

22. Darrin Schwenkbeck -- Silver Spring, Md. -- 5, 12-14 -- 231
Day 1: 5, 12-14

23. Brian Wilhoit -- Oxon Hill, Md. -- 5, 12-01 -- 229
Day 1: 5, 12-01

24. Sammy Burks -- Joplin, Mo. -- 5, 11-14 -- 226
Day 1: 5, 11-14

24. Eric Nethery -- Acworth, Ga. -- 5, 11-14 -- 226
Day 1: 5, 11-14

26. Ron Brown -- Mount Pleasant, S.C. -- 5, 11-11 -- 223
Day 1: 5, 11-11

27. Matthew Sphar -- Pavilion, N.Y. -- 5, 11-07 -- 220
Day 1: 5, 11-07

27. Craig Dowling -- Many, La. -- 4, 11-07 -- 220
Day 1: 4, 11-07

29. Charles Hill -- Franklin, Ky. -- 5, 11-04 -- 217
Day 1: 5, 11-04

30. Gregory Dipalma -- Millville, N.J. -- 5, 10-15 -- 214
Day 1: 5, 10-15

30. Jason Williamson -- Aiken, S.C. -- 3, 10-15 -- 214
Day 1: 3, 10-15

32. Monty Fralick -- Martin, S.D. -- 4, 10-14 -- 210
Day 1: 4, 10-14

32. Mike Pickett -- Brandenburg, Ky. -- 4, 10-14 -- 210
Day 1: 4, 10-14

34. Charlie Weyer -- West Hills, Calif. -- 5, 10-13 -- 207
Day 1: 5, 10-13

35. Tom Frink -- Simi Valley, Calif. -- 5, 10-09 -- 205
Day 1: 5, 10-09

36. Matt Hupp -- Gainesville4, Texas -- 5, 10-05 -- 202
Day 1: 5, 10-05

36. John Chaffo -- Pittsburgh, Pa. -- 5, 10-05 -- 202
Day 1: 5, 10-05

38. Craig Nels -- Baldwinsville, N.Y. -- 5, 9-15 -- 199
Day 1: 5, 9-15

39. Aaron Lee Jakub -- Lincoln, Neb. -- 5, 9-13 -- 196
Day 1: 5, 9-13

39. Rogne Brown -- Kimball, Tenn. -- 4, 9-13 -- 196
Day 1: 4, 9-13

41. Jason Welch -- Royse City, Texas -- 4, 9-08 -- 192
Day 1: 4, 9-08

41. Justin Riley -- Woodbine, Md. -- 3, 9-08 -- 192
Day 1: 3, 9-08

43. Chris Daves -- Hopewell, Va. -- 5, 9-07 -- 189
Day 1: 5, 9-07

44. James Opalecky -- Elk Grove, Calif. -- 5, 9-06 -- 186
Day 1: 5, 9-06

44. Raymond Hagan Jr. -- Brownsville, Ky. -- 5, 9-06 -- 186
Day 1: 5, 9-06

46. Mark Menendez -- Paducah, Ky. -- 5, 8-15 -- 182
Day 1: 5, 8-15

46. Woo Daves -- Spring Grove, Va. -- 4, 8-15 -- 182
Day 1: 4, 8-15

48. Glenn Delong -- Bellville, Ohio -- 4, 8-11 -- 179
Day 1: 4, 8-11

49. Ronald Pierce -- Mountain Home, Ark. -- 4, 8-10 -- 176
Day 1: 4, 8-10

49. Lawren Wetzel -- Sharon, Canada -- 3, 8-10 -- 176
Day 1: 3, 8-10

51. Butch Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga. -- 4, 8-07 -- 173
Day 1: 4, 8-07
52. Tim Dungan -- Cinncinati, Ohio -- 4, 7-10 -- 171
Day 1: 4, 7-10
53. Jess Salmon -- Milford, N.J. -- 3, 7-07 -- 169
Day 1: 3, 7-07
54. David Hovanec -- Unionville, N.Y. -- 4, 7-06 -- 167
Day 1: 4, 7-06
55. John Kolinski -- Greenville, Wisc. -- 3, 7-05 -- 164
Day 1: 3, 7-05
55. Paul Mazzitelli -- Pittston, Pa. -- 3, 7-05 -- 164
Day 1: 3, 7-05
57. Derek Remitz -- Hemphill, Texas -- 3, 7-00 -- 161
Day 1: 3, 7-00
58. Travis Loyd -- Vienna, Ill. -- 4, 6-12 -- 157
Day 1: 4, 6-12
58. David Barnes -- Weeks Mills, Maine -- 3, 6-12 -- 157
Day 1: 3, 6-12
58. Edward Gettys -- Stevenson, Ala. -- 3, 6-12 -- 157
Day 1: 3, 6-12
61. Terry Sternard -- Clarksville, Tenn. -- 3, 6-11 -- 153
Day 1: 3, 6-11
62. Kirk Mcfadden -- Paloa, Kan. -- 4, 6-10 -- 151
Day 1: 4, 6-10
63. Maurice Parent -- Taylorsville, N.C. -- 3, 6-08 -- 149
Day 1: 3, 6-08
64. Danny Davis -- Franklin, Tenn. -- 4, 6-07 -- 147
Day 1: 4, 6-07
65. Larry Mazur -- Lancaster, N.Y. -- 2, 6-06 -- 145
Day 1: 2, 6-06
66. Steven Bunt -- Wallkill, N.Y. -- 3, 6-04 -- 143
Day 1: 3, 6-04
67. Paul Hirosky -- Guys Mills, Pa. -- 3, 6-01 -- 140
Day 1: 3, 6-01
67. Kip Bodkin -- Rhome, Texas -- 3, 6-01 -- 140
Day 1: 3, 6-01
69. Jeff Stoner -- Wellsville, Pa. -- 3, 5-14 -- 135
Day 1: 3, 5-14
69. Doug Story -- Stewart, Tenn. -- 3, 5-14 -- 135
Day 1: 3, 5-14
69. Billy Hurt -- Spring Creek, Tenn. -- 2, 5-14 -- 135
Day 1: 2, 5-14
72. Daryl Biron -- South Windsor, Conn. -- 3, 5-12 -- 131
Day 1: 3, 5-12
73. Rick Morris -- Virginia Beach, Va. -- 2, 5-10 -- 129
Day 1: 2, 5-10
74. Kenneth Acornley -- Larksville, Pa. -- 2, 5-07 -- 127
Day 1: 2, 5-07
75. Travis Rulle -- Loveland, Colo. -- 3, 5-06 -- 124
Day 1: 3, 5-06
75. Ron Wheaton -- Columbia, Tenn. -- 3, 5-06 -- 124
Day 1: 3, 5-06
77. John Morris -- Robinson, Ill. -- 2, 5-02 -- 121
Day 1: 2, 5-02
78. Nathan Sulham -- Orange, Mass. -- 2, 5-00 -- 119
Day 1: 2, 5-00
79. William Beekman -- East Quogue, N.Y. -- 2, 4-06 -- 115
Day 1: 2, 4-06
79. Matthew Lazaroff -- Mercer, Pa. -- 2, 4-06 -- 115
Day 1: 2, 4-06
79. David Longrie -- Stoughton, Wisc. -- 2, 4-06 -- 115
Day 1: 2, 4-06
82. H D -- (Howard) Dotson -- Paintsville, Ky. -- 2, 4-00 -- 111
Day 1: 2, 4-00
83. Brian Brooks -- Mount Ephraim, N.J. -- 2, 3-15 -- 109
Day 1: 2, 3-15
84. Jack Smith -- Pewee Valley, Ky. -- 2, 3-14 -- 107
Day 1: 2, 3-14
85. Jeremy Montoia -- Fort Collins, Colo. -- 2, 3-12 -- 105
Day 1: 2, 3-12
86. Kotaro Kiriyama -- Moody, Ala. -- 2, 3-09 -- 103
Day 1: 2, 3-09
87. John Gray -- Noblesville, Ind. -- 2, 3-04 -- 101
Day 1: 2, 3-04
88. Lucy Mize -- Ben Lomond, Ark. -- 2, 3-03 -- 99
Day 1: 2, 3-03
89. Kevin Marrs -- Melbourne, Fla. -- 1, 3-02 -- 97
Day 1: 1, 3-02
90. Terry Bloom -- Groveland, Fla. -- 1, 3-00 -- 95
Day 1: 1, 3-00
91. Paul Kimball -- Glastonbury, Conn. -- 1, 2-04 -- 93
Day 1: 1, 2-04
92. Raul Morineau -- Mexico City , Mexico -- 1, 2-03 -- 91
Day 1: 1, 2-03
93. David Marion -- Cold Spring, N.Y. -- 1, 2-02 -- 89
Day 1: 1, 2-02
94. Nate Noble -- Morgantown, Ky. -- 1, 2-00 -- 87
Day 1: 1, 2-00
95. Jimmy Watson -- Springfield, Tenn. -- 1, 1-14 -- 85
Day 1: 1, 1-14
96. Mark Tyler -- Scottsdale, Ariz. -- 1, 1-13 -- 83
Day 1: 1, 1-13
97. Brannon Jones -- Montgomery, Ala. -- 1, 1-12 -- 80
Day 1: 1, 1-12
97. John Wilder -- Wellington, Colo. -- 1, 1-12 -- 80
Day 1: 1, 1-12
99. Joe Conway -- Colorado Springs, Colo -- 1, 1-11 -- 76
Day 1: 1, 1-11
99. Paul Noechel -- Lost Creek, W.Va. -- 1, 1-11 -- 76
Day 1: 1, 1-11
101.Rocky Cummings -- Emmet, Ark. -- 1, 1-08 -- 74
Day 1: 1, 1-08
101.Dave Parsons -- Yantis, Texas -- 1, 1-08 -- 74
Day 1: 1, 1-08
103.Greg Roth -- Cambridge, Canada -- 1, 1-07 -- 73
Day 1: 1, 1-07
104.Frank Boothe -- Albuquerque, N.M. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
104.Brent Broderick -- Oregonia, Ohio -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
104.Tony Dadante -- Franklin, Tenn. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
104.Rodney Hardwick -- Connersville, Ind. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
104.Trent Masterson -- Ortonville, Mich. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
104.Mike Weiss -- Union Grove, Wisc. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00
104.Don Yeager -- Jackson, Ohio -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00

Big Bass

Day 1: Sam Lashlee -- Camden, Tenn. -- 7-00 -- $1,000