| Brandon Dillard of Grapevine, Texas,is leading after Day 1 of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewisville Lake with 24 pounds, 9 ounces.
Photo by James Overstreet/B.A.S.S. November 19, 2020 |
Big Bite Anchors Dillard’s Day 1 Bag At Bassmaster Central Open On Lewisville
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LEWISVILLE, Texas — Abundant options nearly overwhelmed Brandon Dillard, but a moment of inspiring clarity set him on a course that led him to a 24-pound, 9-ounce limit that topped Day 1 of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Lewisville Lake.
Hailing from Grapevine, Texas, the Lewisville guide said mentally sorting through his vast local knowledge nearly kept him up all night before the opening round. Rising with only an hour of sleep was less than ideal, but an early text from his mother, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, provided a calming influence.
“She said, ‘Just have fun and go fishing,’ and that’s what I did,” Dillard said. “I had my weight by noon and then I stopped fishing. My main thing today was to just stay calm, have fun and not put a lot of pressure on myself.”
Anchoring his bag with an 8-11, Dillard said versatility was essential to his success.
“I fished from 1 foot to 17 feet; I caught shallow fish and deep fish,” Dillard said. “I have 175 brushpiles (marked on Lewisville), so I’m hitting some brushpiles and I’m hitting some rock.”
Sky conditions guided the timing of Dillard’s various targets. The morning saw cloudy skies yielding to bright blue skies by midday. Knowing the fish would reposition with the day’s developing complexion, Dillard adjusted accordingly.
“I’m hitting the shallow stuff early — what’s left of the buckbrush,” he said. “Most of the buckbrush is out of play this time of year, so anywhere you can find some kind of shallow cover like laydowns or stumps early, it’s good.
“When it turned sunny, I transitioned out to deeper (brushpiles), but I stayed shallow while we had the cloud cover and the wind.”
Keeping it textbook, Dillard hit his shallow spots with reaction baits and then switched to slower presentations once he moved deep. His biggest fish, which came off a deep brushpile, required some extra attention, but Dillard’s experience ensured the trophy bass’s safe release.
“When it bit, it felt like a perch and when I swung on it, she came right to the boat with her mouth open the whole time,” Dillard said. “I had to fizz her and I was having trouble getting her to fizz (release excess air from the swim bladder), so I spent about an hour doing that. I wound up getting her stabilized, so she made it.”
Dillard said he plans to repeat his game plan tomorrow. Knowing the lake intimately, he knows he has his work cut out for him.
“This lake can be great one day and a real struggle the next,” he said. “So, I’m going to do the same thing; I’m going to have fun and give it all I’ve got. I’ll fish the same patterns, but I’ll fish some new water tomorrow.”
Tommy Williams of Shepherdsville, Ky., is in second place with 18-8. His day started early and he had his weight by 9 a.m. After that, he simply guarded his area for Day 2.
Williams caught his fish out of shallow wood targets in pockets where wind had blown baitfish against the shoreline. Finding particular areas where he could leverage a wind break enabled him to effectively work his spots.
“I was fishing a creature bait dead slow — almost deadsticking the bait,” Williams said. “Also, very precise flips were important. You had to really fish for them.”
Greg Hackney of Gonzalez, La., is in third place with 17-1. In his first visit to Lewisville, Hackney reported fishing a mid-depth range and targeting a particular habitat feature with slow presentations. Covering a lot of water and eliminating the unproductive areas was central to his strategy.
“It’s painstakingly slow; you don’t get very many bites,” Hackney said. “I had a handful of bites in practice and I’m just running my practice, but there’s a lot of dead water for me. I just caught my fish out of a few key places.”
Dillard is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-11.
Jeff Arnold of Lewisville, Texas, holds the overall lead in the co-angler division with 9-8. Brian Hamaker of Huntsville, Ala., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 5-12.
Hackney leads the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open standings with 718 points, followed by Jason Christie with 717. Kenta Kimura is third with 717, Darold Gleason is fourth with 697 and Marc Frazier is fifth with 696.
Christie leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,177 points.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT from Lewisville Lake Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m. After Friday’s weigh-in, the Top 12 anglers will advance to Championship Saturday.
The tournament is being hosted by the Lewisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.
2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewisville Lake 11/19-11/21
Lewisville Lake, Lewisville TX.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Brandon Dillard Grapevine, TX 5 24-09 200
Day 1: 5 24-09
2. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 5 18-08 199
Day 1: 5 18-08
3. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 17-01 198
Day 1: 5 17-01
4. Drew Sloan Scurry, TX 4 15-09 197
Day 1: 4 15-09
5. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 15-06 196
Day 1: 5 15-06
6. Terry Peacock Royse City, TX 5 14-07 195
Day 1: 5 14-07
7. Spike Stoker Stephenville, TX 5 14-06 194
Day 1: 5 14-06
8. Terry Bollom Frisco, TX 5 14-02 193
Day 1: 5 14-02
9. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 4 13-03 192
Day 1: 4 13-03
10. Lance Crawford Broken Bow, OK 5 13-02 191
Day 1: 5 13-02
11. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 5 12-12 190
Day 1: 5 12-12
12. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 4 12-12 189
Day 1: 4 12-12
13. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 12-08 188
Day 1: 5 12-08
14. Joey Nania Cropwell, AL 3 12-08 187
Day 1: 3 12-08
15. Robert Parkison Marshall, TX 4 12-06 186
Day 1: 4 12-06
16. Matthew Nobile Sorrento, LA 5 12-03 185
Day 1: 5 12-03
17. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 4 12-02 184
Day 1: 4 12-02
18. Billy Cline Argyle, TX 5 12-01 183
Day 1: 5 12-01
19. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 4 11-15 182
Day 1: 4 11-15
20. Chandler Stewart Waco, TX 3 11-13 181
Day 1: 3 11-13
21. Justin Prisock Robinson, TX 5 11-07 180
Day 1: 5 11-07
22. Chris Jones Bokoshe, OK 4 11-06 179
Day 1: 4 11-06
23. Jeff Lugar Princeton, TX 4 11-05 178
Day 1: 4 11-05
24. Shawn Temple Krugerville, TX 5 11-04 177
Day 1: 5 11-04
25. James Stricklin Fort Smith, AR 4 11-01 176
Day 1: 4 11-01
26. Brian Latimer Belton, SC 5 11-00 175
Day 1: 5 11-00
27. Billy Billeaud Lafayette, LA 5 10-15 174
Day 1: 5 10-15
28. David Gillham Heath, TX 4 10-12 173
Day 1: 4 10-12
28. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 4 10-12 173
Day 1: 4 10-12
30. Cody Ryan Greaney Manchaca, TX 4 10-08 171
Day 1: 4 10-08
31. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 09-15 170
Day 1: 5 09-15
32. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 4 09-14 169
Day 1: 4 09-14
33. Blake Whatley Harleton, TX 5 09-13 168
Day 1: 5 09-13
34. Wes Nofire Tahlequah, OK 3 09-04 167
Day 1: 3 09-04
35. Garrett Rose Pipecreek, TX 3 08-11 166
Day 1: 3 08-11
36. Dakota Ebare Dehnam Springs, LA 4 08-10 165
Day 1: 4 08-10
36. Jed Holt Livingston, TX 4 08-10 165
Day 1: 4 08-10
38. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 3 08-02 163
Day 1: 3 08-02
39. Shaun Haag Montgomery, TX 3 08-00 162
Day 1: 3 08-00
40. Austin Cranford Norman, OK 3 07-14 161
Day 1: 3 07-14
41. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 3 07-13 160
Day 1: 3 07-13
42. Shonn Goodwin Moore, OK 3 07-12 159
Day 1: 3 07-12
43. Cody Morrison Collinsville, TX 3 07-11 158
Day 1: 3 07-11
44. Darold Gleason Many, LA 3 07-10 157
Day 1: 3 07-10
45. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 2 07-08 156
Day 1: 2 07-08
46. James Biggs Euless, TX 3 07-04 155
Day 1: 3 07-04
46. Kazuki Kitajima Corinth, TX 3 07-04 155
Day 1: 3 07-04
48. Spencer Lambert West Monroe, LA 2 07-04 153
Day 1: 2 07-04
49. Greg Yates Oak Point, TX 4 07-03 152
Day 1: 4 07-03
50. Jake Boomer Spokane Valley, WA 4 07-01 151
Day 1: 4 07-01
51. Branden Hollingshead Azle, TX 2 07-00 150
Day 1: 2 07-00
52. Marc Schilling Shady Shores, TX 3 06-15 149
Day 1: 3 06-15
53. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 3 06-13 148
Day 1: 3 06-13
54. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 2 06-13 147
Day 1: 2 06-13
55. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 4 06-12 146
Day 1: 4 06-12
56. Bryan New Belmont, NC 3 06-10 145
Day 1: 3 06-10
57. Mark Watson Midlothian, TX 2 06-10 144
Day 1: 2 06-10
58. Floyd Teat Valley Mills, TX 3 06-08 143
Day 1: 3 06-08
59. Brad Shuflin Windsor, CO 1 06-07 142
Day 1: 1 06-07
60. Kyle Dorsett Odenville, AL 3 06-04 141
Day 1: 3 06-04
61. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 3 06-03 140
Day 1: 3 06-03
62. Ken Iyobe Tokoname, Aichi JAPAN 3 05-15 139
Day 1: 3 05-15
63. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 3 05-12 138
Day 1: 3 05-12
64. Hunter Denmark Saraland, AL 2 05-11 137
Day 1: 2 05-11
65. Casey Bennett Waco, TX 2 05-08 136
Day 1: 2 05-08
66. Paul Browning Pecos, TX 2 05-07 135
Day 1: 2 05-07
67. Billy Smith Montgomery, TX 1 05-05 134
Day 1: 1 05-05
68. John Hammersmith Branson, MO 3 05-04 133
Day 1: 3 05-04
69. Cody Bird Granbury, TX 2 05-03 132
Day 1: 2 05-03
69. Jake Rossi Columbus, OH 2 05-03 132
Day 1: 2 05-03
71. Chancy Walters West Des Moines, IA 2 05-01 130
Day 1: 2 05-01
72. Bart Stanisz Brookeland, TX 2 04-13 129
Day 1: 2 04-13
73. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 3 04-12 128
Day 1: 3 04-12
74. Kylie Sparks Denham Spgs, LA 2 04-10 127
Day 1: 2 04-10
75. David Drinkard Sour Lake, TX 2 04-08 126
Day 1: 2 04-08
76. Wes Logan Springville, AL 2 04-06 125
Day 1: 2 04-06
77. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 2 04-01 124
Day 1: 2 04-01
78. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 2 04-00 123
Day 1: 2 04-00
78. Kyle Hogg Hewitt, TX 2 04-00 123
Day 1: 2 04-00
78. Brian Post Janesville, WI 2 04-00 123
Day 1: 2 04-00
78. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 2 04-00 123
Day 1: 2 04-00
82. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, TX 1 03-14 119
Day 1: 1 03-14
83. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 2 03-10 118
Day 1: 2 03-10
84. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 1 03-10 117
Day 1: 1 03-10
85. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 2 03-07 116
Day 1: 2 03-07
85. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 2 03-07 116
Day 1: 2 03-07
87. Steven Caldwell Whitesboro, TX 2 03-06 114
Day 1: 2 03-06
88. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 1 03-06 113
Day 1: 1 03-06
89. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 1 03-05 112
Day 1: 1 03-05
90. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 2 03-04 111
Day 1: 2 03-04
91. Ryan Dusek Azle, TX 2 03-02 110
Day 1: 2 03-02
91. Jerry Riddle Jr Summit, MS 2 03-02 110
Day 1: 2 03-02
93. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 1 03-02 108
Day 1: 1 03-02
94. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 2 03-00 107
Day 1: 2 03-00
95. Cody Huff Ava, MO 1 02-15 106
Day 1: 1 02-15
95. Ernie Stumpf III Frisco, TX 1 02-15 106
Day 1: 1 02-15
97. Jay Stidham China Spring, TX 2 02-14 104
Day 1: 2 02-14
98. Marshall Hughes Hemphill, TX 2 02-13 103
Day 1: 2 02-13
99. Jerod Hawkes Eagle Pass, TX 1 02-13 102
Day 1: 1 02-13
99. Tommy Murray Bedford, TX 1 02-13 102
Day 1: 1 02-13
101. Jake Biram Tulsa, OK 1 02-11 100
Day 1: 1 02-11
101. Wardell Motley Jr Dallas, TX 1 02-11 100
Day 1: 1 02-11
103. Matt Pangrac Broken Arrow, OK 1 02-08 98
Day 1: 1 02-08
103. Ron Wells Claremore, OK 1 02-08 98
Day 1: 1 02-08
105. Toby Hartsell Afton, OK 1 02-05 96
Day 1: 1 02-05
106. Jim Dillard West Monroe, LA 1 02-03 95
Day 1: 1 02-03
106. Gary Hall Wardville, OK 1 02-03 95
Day 1: 1 02-03
106. Brian Mathis Cedar Park, TX 1 02-03 95
Day 1: 1 02-03
109. Cameron Mattison Bossier City, LA 1 02-02 92
Day 1: 1 02-02
110. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 1 02-00 91
Day 1: 1 02-00
111. Jeff Bridges Prosper, TX 1 01-15 90
Day 1: 1 01-15
111. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 1 01-15 90
Day 1: 1 01-15
113. Dale Hightower Mannford, OK 1 01-14 88
Day 1: 1 01-14
113. Randy Qualls Streetman, TX 1 01-14 88
Day 1: 1 01-14
113. Andrew Wright Plano, TX 1 01-14 88
Day 1: 1 01-14
116. Doug Vahrenberg Higginsville, MO 1 01-13 85
Day 1: 1 01-13
117. Clark Reehm Elm Groove, LA 1 01-11 84
Day 1: 1 01-11
118. Brandon Ackerson Afton, OK 1 01-10 83
Day 1: 1 01-10
118. Travis Ledford Tuttle, OK 1 01-10 83
Day 1: 1 01-10
120. Troy O’Rourke Bentonville, AR 1 01-08 81
Day 1: 1 01-08
120. Larry Puckett Decatur, TX 1 01-08 81
Day 1: 1 01-08
120. Andrew Upshaw Tulsa, OK 1 01-08 81
Day 1: 1 01-08
123. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 1 01-07 78
Day 1: 1 01-07
124. Scott Siller Milwaukee, WI 1 01-05 77
Day 1: 1 01-05
125. Andrew Thomasson Dublin, VA 1 01-04 76
Day 1: 1 01-04
126. Chris Bachta Grapevine, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Chris Bailey Eddy, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Neels Beneke Amanzimtoti SOUTH AFRIC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Randy Blaukat Joplin, MO 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Lucas Bradley Flippin, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Josh Bragg Jacksonville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jay Brainard Mountain Home, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. James Caldemeyer Gilmer, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Theron Caldwell Decatur, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. RJ Chandler Jr. Vinton, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. James Davis Jr Ferriday, LA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Justin Hallmark Bertram, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Mark Hicks Glouster, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Brent Homan Graham, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Larry Jenkins Leesburg, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Lyvon Kennard Harker Hts, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Terry Luedtke Burton, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Brandon Mcdonald Longview, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Bill McNutt Henry, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Chad Mrazek Montgomery, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Allan Nail Sand Springs, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Lance Rose Pipe Creek, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Greg Vance Delhi, IA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Bill Watts Beaumont, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Dirk Wenzlaff Frisco, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jd Williams Mckinney, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Trait Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
——————————
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 18 327 836-04
——————————
18 327 836-04