| Canada’s Jeff Gustafson leads the opening round of the Toyota Bassmaster Elite At Lake Lanier with 19 pounds, 2 ounces.
Photo by B.A.S.S. / Seigo Saito
Feb. 14, 2019 |
Canadian Pro Gustafson Feels At Home In Georgia, Takes Lead At Bassmaster Elite
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GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — Jeff Gustafson said coming into this week that Lake Lanier on the
historic Chattahoochee River was probably his favorite fishery in the lower 48 United States.
Thursday didn’t do a thing to change his mind.
The 36-year-old first-year Elite Series pro from Keewatin, Canada, caught five bass that weighed
19 pounds, 2 ounces and took the lead in the Toyota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Lanier. He said
the lake reminds him of home — even though he is more than 2,000 miles away, fishing for
green spotted bass instead of brown smallmouth.
“Obviously, today was a lot more fun for me than last week when I had two fish to start out my
Elite Series career in Florida,” Gustafson said. “I’m not catching a lot of fish, but I got some good
ones today.”
Gustafson learned to love Lake Lanier last year when he finished seventh here in an FLW Tour
event. He said that prior knowledge told him what was swimming in the lake — but not how to
catch them this week.
“It’s completely different this year,” he said. “I didn’t catch fish off any of the places that I did
last year.
“But I like fishing for spots. These things act a lot like the smallmouths do up at Lake of the
Woods, where I live.”
Gustafson’s two biggest fish — both spotted bass in the 4-pound range — were the first two he
put in his livewell. His finesse tactics included a jerkbait, a swimbait and other lures he said
were “really no secret.”
His biggest obstacle of the day was the light line he’s using to target fish in the clear water. He
said he broke off two bass in brushpiles that could have helped him eclipse the 20-pound mark.
Gustafson’s bag topped a day that was dominated by healthy spotted bass that looked like they
had all swallowed footballs. David Mullins of Mount Carmel, Tenn., was second with 17-12,
followed by Virginia pro Rick Morris with 17-6 and Californian Chris Zaldain with 16-15.
Like Gustafson, Mullins said his experience with smallmouth — albeit on Tennessee’s Cherokee
Lake — played a role in his Day 1 success.
“This lake fishes a lot like home, where you have a window in the morning for about an hour
and half to two hours and then it kicks back up in the evening,” Mullins said. “It’s the same way
at home — and if you have wind, it seems like they’ll bite all day long.
“The wind just didn’t blow much today.”
Mullins wasn’t the only angler who said the flat, calm conditions made the fishing tougher
Thursday. Likewise, he wasn’t the only one excited about Friday’s forecast that calls for clouds,
increased winds and rain showers beginning around 1 p.m.
“If it stays cloudy with a low ceiling all day, I feel like I’m going to catch them,” Mullins said.
“When I don’t catch them is when it gets sunny and slick.”
Morris, a noted shallow-water expert, said he leaned on his background from Upstate New York
to find the Lake Lanier spots.
“I grew up with a spinning rod in my hand,” Morris said. “When I first went pro in the Opens, I
had all spinning rods on the deck — didn’t even know how to throw a baitcaster. I have
spinning-rod skills, and I had to apply them today.”
Though he said he’d rather be fishing fast, he used a slow finesse game Thursday around deep
structure.
“I caught probably a dozen fish,” Morris said, “so I feel pretty confident that I can go out and
probably catch 13 to 14 pounds tomorrow.”
One of the few big largemouth brought in Thursday belonged to Indiana pro Bill Lowen. It
weighed 6-14 and claimed the lead in the race for Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the week.
Patrick Walters, who took the lead in the DICK’S Sporting Goods Rookie of the Year race last
week with a fourth-place finish on the St. Johns River, had another stellar day Thursday. The 24-
year-old South Carolina pro caught five bass that weighed 16-12 and finished tied for fifth place
with Ray Hanselman Jr.
“I came into the season thinking (Toyota Bassmaster) Angler of the Year,” Walters said. “If you
think like that — and fish like that — Rookie of the Year will take care of itself.” As the leader in
the DICK’S Sporting Goods Rookie of the Year race, Walters collected $500. He’ll get another
$500 if he retains the lead after this week’s Elite event, and $10,000 if he earns the crown at
season’s end.
Other bonus awards winners from the Power-Pole Bassmaster Elite at St. Johns River last week
were Rick Clunn, who won $1,000 for being the Toyota AOY leader and John Crews Jr., who
collected the $1,500 Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for his 11-2 largemouth.
The tournament resumes Friday, with takeoff scheduled for 6:45 a.m. from Laurel Park in Hall
County and weigh-in back at the park at 3:10 p.m. Only the Top 35 anglers will advance to
Saturday’s semifinal round.
Takeoffs Saturday and Sunday will also be at 6:45 a.m. from Laurel Park, but the weigh-ins will
shift to Coolray Field on Buford Dr. in Lawrenceville, Ga., at 4 p.m.
2019 Toyota Bassmaster Elite at Lake Lanier 2/14-2/17 Lake Lanier, Gwinnett GA. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Jeff Gustafson Keewatin Ontario CANADA 5 19-02 100 Day 1: 5 19-02 2. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 17-12 99 Day 1: 5 17-12 3. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 17-06 98 Day 1: 5 17-06 4. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 16-15 97 Day 1: 5 16-15 5. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 16-12 96 Day 1: 5 16-12 5. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 16-12 96 Day 1: 5 16-12 7. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 16-11 94 Day 1: 5 16-11 7. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 16-11 94 Day 1: 5 16-11 7. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 16-11 94 Day 1: 5 16-11 10. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 16-06 91 Day 1: 5 16-06 11. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 16-01 90 Day 1: 5 16-01 12. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 15-15 89 Day 1: 5 15-15 12. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 15-15 89 Day 1: 5 15-15 14. Drew Cook Midway, FL 5 15-14 87 Day 1: 5 15-14 14. Clent Davis Montevallo, AL 5 15-14 87 Day 1: 5 15-14 14. Jesse Tacoronte Kissimmee, FL 5 15-14 87 Day 1: 5 15-14 17. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 5 15-11 84 Day 1: 5 15-11 18. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 15-08 83 Day 1: 5 15-08 19. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 15-07 82 Day 1: 5 15-07 20. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 15-06 81 Day 1: 5 15-06 21. Gary Clouse Winchester, TN 5 15-02 80 Day 1: 5 15-02 22. Chris Johnston Peterborough Ontario CA 5 15-01 79 Day 1: 5 15-01 22. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 15-01 79 Day 1: 5 15-01 24. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 14-15 77 Day 1: 5 14-15 25. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 14-12 76 Day 1: 5 14-12 26. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 5 14-10 75 Day 1: 5 14-10 27. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 5 14-08 74 Day 1: 5 14-08 27. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 14-08 74 Day 1: 5 14-08 29. Shane Lineberger Lincolnton, NC 5 14-06 72 Day 1: 5 14-06 30. Derek Hudnall Baton Rouge, LA 5 14-04 71 Day 1: 5 14-04 30. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 14-04 71 Day 1: 5 14-04 32. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 14-00 69 Day 1: 5 14-00 33. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 13-15 68 Day 1: 5 13-15 34. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 13-13 67 Day 1: 5 13-13 35. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 13-12 66 Day 1: 5 13-12 36. Mike Huff Corbin, KY 5 13-11 65 Day 1: 5 13-11 37. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 13-10 64 Day 1: 5 13-10 38. Garrett Paquette Canton, MI 5 13-08 63 Day 1: 5 13-08 39. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 13-05 62 Day 1: 5 13-05 40. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 13-03 61 Day 1: 5 13-03 41. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 13-02 60 Day 1: 5 13-02 42. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 5 13-00 59 Day 1: 5 13-00 43. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 12-15 58 Day 1: 5 12-15 44. Greg DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 12-13 57 Day 1: 5 12-13 45. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 12-12 56 Day 1: 5 12-12 46. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 12-11 55 Day 1: 5 12-11 47. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 12-08 54 Day 1: 5 12-08 48. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 12-07 53 Day 1: 5 12-07 49. Frank Talley Temple, TX 5 12-04 52 Day 1: 5 12-04 50. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 5 11-15 51 Day 1: 5 11-15 51. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 11-14 50 Day 1: 5 11-14 51. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 11-14 50 Day 1: 5 11-14 53. Chad Morgenthaler Reeds Spring, MO 5 11-13 48 Day 1: 5 11-13 54. David Fritts Lexington, NC 5 11-09 47 Day 1: 5 11-09 55. Brett Preuett Monroe, LA 5 11-07 46 Day 1: 5 11-07 56. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 11-05 45 Day 1: 5 11-05 57. Cory Johnston Cavan CANADA 5 11-04 44 Day 1: 5 11-04 58. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 4 11-04 43 Day 1: 4 11-04 59. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 5 11-03 42 Day 1: 5 11-03 59. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 11-03 42 Day 1: 5 11-03 61. Jay Yelas Lincoln City, OR 5 11-01 40 Day 1: 5 11-01 62. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 11-00 39 Day 1: 5 11-00 62. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 11-00 39 Day 1: 5 11-00 64. Rob Digh Denver, NC 5 10-13 37 Day 1: 5 10-13 65. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 4 10-13 36 Day 1: 4 10-13 66. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 5 10-10 35 Day 1: 5 10-10 67. Shane Lehew Catawba, NC 5 10-06 34 Day 1: 5 10-06 68. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 10-02 33 Day 1: 5 10-02 69. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 09-10 32 Day 1: 5 09-10 70. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 4 09-10 31 Day 1: 4 09-10 71. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 5 09-05 30 Day 1: 5 09-05 72. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 4 08-07 29 Day 1: 4 08-07 73. Quentin Cappo Prairieville, LA 3 06-03 28 Day 1: 3 06-03 74. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 2 05-06 27 Day 1: 2 05-06 75. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 ------------------------------------------------------------ ----------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 68 361 988-08 ------------------------------ ---- 68 361 988-08