Virginia’s Chase Clarke takes the lead on Day 1 of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by SEVIIN with a weight of 25 pounds, 14 ounces.
Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.
Jan. 24, 2025
Two 6-pounders carry Clarke to the lead at Clarks Hill
EVANS, Ga. — Using lessons learned from last season, Virginia Beach’s Chase Clarke landed a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds, 14 ounces to take the Day 1 lead at the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by SEVIIN.
The former Auburn University angler anchored his bag with two largemouth over 6 pounds, including a 6-8 bucketmouth that claimed Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day honors.
“I know I’m not going to catch very many. But when they are that size, I’m doing something right,” Clarke said. “It was just one of those days where every decision I made was the right one. Hopefully that happens again tomorrow.”
Oklahoma’s Blaine Bunney holds second place with 22-7 followed by Tennessee’s Christian Nash in third with 22-5.
Winter has been in full swing this week in northeast Georgia, as a winter storm brought as much as 2 inches of snow to the area Tuesday night. That caused unsafe road conditions, leading to the cancellation of the regularly scheduled Day 1 on Thursday and shortening the event to two days. Anglers were greeted to 25-degree temperatures as they launched Friday morning.
With two full days off, though, the Opens pros showed the true potential of Clarks Hill. Nineteen bags over 18 pounds, including four over 20 pounds, hit the scales Friday and 116 limits were caught by the field of 161 anglers.
The 2024 season was Clarke’s first as an Elite Qualifier angler, and one tournament in particular from last year has helped him tremendously this week at Clarks Hill.
“I’m taking what I used at Lake Ouachita (last February) and implementing it here,” he explained. “Even though there aren’t blueback herring in Ouachita, the same thing is working for me.”
Clarke had a solid practice period on Clarks Hill, but as it progressed his daily weights went down. He never imagined a 25-pound bag was possible the way things were going.
“I didn’t think there was any chance. My best day in practice was 18 pounds, but that was the first day. The second day I had 14 and then 12 the last day. I was going downhill throughout practice. But I would pull up and look at some stuff in practice and just leave. I didn’t really know what was there exactly.”
When the tournament finally started on Thursday, Clarke worked his way to a limit by 11 a.m. Shortly after, Clarke made his lone mistake of the day. He landed a 3 ½-pounder that would have helped him, but in the process of culling, he accidentally threw that bass back, costing him a half pound.
“I caught a 2-pounder right after that, which didn’t help,” Clarke said. “I looked up to the clouds wondering, ‘How did I mess this up.’ I looked back down and on my next cast I caught one of the 6-pounders.”
Clarke mixed things up throughout the day, moving back and forth between shallow and deep water. Three baits caught the bulk of his bass — two bottom-contact baits and one bait he suspended in the water column.
Water clarity is a key component to what he is doing.
“I don’t want the clearest water in the lake, but I don’t want it to be super stained either,” Chase explained. “I’m looking for that in-between with 6 or 7 feet of visibility.”
While warmer, the forecast calls for less wind on Saturday, which Clarke thinks might change what his bass are doing.
Bunney, meanwhile, is fishing his first Open. The recent high school graduate is targeting largemouth in deep water using a jighead minnow and forward-facing sonar. He also landed a 4-3 spotted bass.
“Largemouth are what I’m looking for. That is what is going to win,” he said. “I stumbled into something the first day of practice that led me to this.”
While plenty of other competitors are chasing bass feeding on blueback herring, there isn’t much in the way of bait where Bunney is fishing. As the week has progressed, he has noticed the bass sinking lower and lower in the water column.
“You would think the bass would be really (targeting) the bait balls, but they really aren’t. They are kind of just floating in the nothing, the abyss. And they are wanting to push deeper down. When you think they would be 5 feet under the surface, they are 35 feet under the surface in 50 feet of water.”
Hailing from Dale Hollow, Nash got off to a hot start, catching a 4-pounder before filling out his limit in that same pocket. He then caught a 6-pounder out of a brushpile, anchoring his bag for the day.
“I pulled in a pocket this morning and there was someone already there, so I made a slight adjustment and went to another pocket,” he said. “The wind was blowing into a pocket, and I said, ‘Man, that looks good.’”
Nash has utilized forward-facing sonar to catch his bass, which are located between 35 feet of water to 50 feet of water.
“I’m using ¾-ounce and 1-ounce heads. When one sees it, they’ve got it,” he said. “In the mornings, I think the herring get tucked down to the bottom in the creeks. To me, it seemed like the bass just kept going deeper.”
The full field of anglers will launch from Wildwood Park beginning at 7:15 a.m. ET and return for weigh-in beginning at 3:15 p.m. The winner, given they fish all of the events in Division 1, will earn a spot in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic. The Top 50 in points at the end of Division 1 will advance to the Elite Qualifier round, details of which were just announced.
Bassmaster LIVE coverage of the St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by SEVIIN begins at 8 a.m. Saturday on Bassmaster.com.
Visit Columbia County is hosting the tournament.
2025 St. Croix Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir presented by SEVIIN 1/24-1/25 Clarks Hill Lake, Evans GA. (BOATER) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Chase Clarke Virginia Beach, VA 5 25-14 200 Day 1: 5 25-14 2. Blaine Bunney Claremore, OK 5 22-07 199 Day 1: 5 22-07 3. Christian Nash Allons, TN 5 22-05 198 Day 1: 5 22-05 4. Matt Adams Guntersville, AL 5 20-00 197 Day 1: 5 20-00 5. Tyler Campbell Martin, GA 5 19-15 196 Day 1: 5 19-15 6. Robbie Mills Jr Appling, GA 5 19-07 195 Day 1: 5 19-07 7. Dylan Fogarty Mechanicsburg, PA 5 19-06 194 Day 1: 5 19-06 8. Zach Goutremout Chaumont, NY 5 19-02 193 Day 1: 5 19-02 9. Chris Blanchette Edisto Island, SC 5 19-00 192 Day 1: 5 19-00 10. Hayden Seabolt Dawsonville, GA 5 18-13 191 Day 1: 5 18-13 11. River Lee Diboll, TX 5 18-11 190 Day 1: 5 18-11 12. Michael Neal Dayton, TN 5 18-06 189 Day 1: 5 18-06 13. Hayden Gaddis Dandridge, TN 5 18-03 188 Day 1: 5 18-03 13. Laker Howell Guntersville, AL 5 18-03 188 Day 1: 5 18-03 15. John Hunter Jr Shelbyville, KY 5 18-02 186 Day 1: 5 18-02 16. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 18-01 185 Day 1: 5 18-01 17. Dillon Falardeau Hixson, TN 5 18-00 184 Day 1: 5 18-00 17. Ryan Lachniet Gum Spring, VA 5 18-00 184 Day 1: 5 18-00 17. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 18-00 184 Day 1: 5 18-00 20. Cody Stahl Barnsville, GA 5 17-12 181 Day 1: 5 17-12 21. Tyler Malone Chunchula, AL 5 17-10 180 Day 1: 5 17-10 22. Dylan Akins Flowery Branch, GA 5 17-09 179 Day 1: 5 17-09 23. James Chandler Liberty, TX 5 17-07 178 Day 1: 5 17-07 23. Hamp Rowland Appling, GA 5 17-07 178 Day 1: 5 17-07 25. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 17-06 176 Day 1: 5 17-06 26. Brooks Anderson Marietta, GA 5 17-05 175 Day 1: 5 17-05 27. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 17-04 174 Day 1: 5 17-04 27. Sam Hanggi Knoxville, TN 5 17-04 174 Day 1: 5 17-04 29. Carter Cunningham Dawsonville, GA 5 17-03 172 Day 1: 5 17-03 30. Lucas Murphy West Columbia, MI 5 17-02 171 Day 1: 5 17-02 31. Wesley Sandifer Chapin, SC 5 17-01 170 Day 1: 5 17-01 32. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 16-15 169 Day 1: 5 16-15 33. Ryan Salzman Huntsville, AL 5 16-13 168 Day 1: 5 16-13 33. Jody White Shaftsbury, VT 5 16-13 168 Day 1: 5 16-13 35. Trey Schroeder Theodosia, MO 5 16-09 166 Day 1: 5 16-09 36. Darold Gleason Leesville, LA 5 16-07 165 Day 1: 5 16-07 37. Elijah Benson Dahlonega, GA 5 16-03 164 Day 1: 5 16-03 38. Lucas Lindsay Auburn , AL 5 16-00 163 Day 1: 5 16-00 38. Tristan McCormick Bon Aqua, TN 5 16-00 163 Day 1: 5 16-00 38. Jaden Parrish Liberty, TX 5 16-00 163 Day 1: 5 16-00 41. Reed Rooke Dawsonville, GA 5 15-15 160 Day 1: 5 15-15 42. Erik Brztowski Lemont, IL 5 15-14 159 Day 1: 5 15-14 43. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 15-13 158 Day 1: 5 15-13 44. Donavan Carson Bluff City, TN 5 15-12 157 Day 1: 5 15-12 44. Tanner Visco Antioch, IL 5 15-12 157 Day 1: 5 15-12 44. Dustin Williamson Modoc, SC 5 15-12 157 Day 1: 5 15-12 47. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 15-09 154 Day 1: 5 15-09 48. Casey Smith Victor, NY 5 15-08 153 Day 1: 5 15-08 49. Brycen Williamson Aiken, SC 5 15-08 152 Day 1: 5 15-08 50. Jason Burroughs Hodges, SC 5 15-07 151 Day 1: 5 15-07 51. Tommy Dunaway Havana, FL 5 15-04 150 Day 1: 5 15-04 52. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 5 15-01 149 Day 1: 5 15-01 53. William Ross Livingston, TX 5 15-00 148 Day 1: 5 15-00 53. Evan White Roanoke Rapids, NC 5 15-00 148 Day 1: 5 15-00 55. Brandon McMillan Clewiston, FL 5 14-15 146 Day 1: 5 14-15 56. Caleb Hudson Lincolnton, GA 5 14-14 145 Day 1: 5 14-14 57. Parker Guy Appling, GA 5 14-13 144 Day 1: 5 14-13 58. Emery Burnett Appling, GA 5 14-12 143 Day 1: 5 14-12 59. Dylan Welton Middleville, MI 5 14-08 142 Day 1: 5 14-08 60. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 5 14-07 141 Day 1: 5 14-07 61. Tanner Hadden Appling, GA 5 14-06 140 Day 1: 5 14-06 61. Brandon Hightower Edgerton, KS 5 14-06 140 Day 1: 5 14-06 63. Michael Spaulding Jr. Dundee, MI 5 14-04 138 Day 1: 5 14-04 64. Colt Blanton Piketon, OH 5 13-15 137 Day 1: 5 13-15 65. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 13-15 136 Day 1: 5 13-15 66. Cody Detweiler Guntersville, AL 5 13-14 135 Day 1: 5 13-14 67. Alex Prince Blue Ridge, GA 5 13-13 134 Day 1: 5 13-13 67. Collin Smith Honea Path, SC 5 13-13 134 Day 1: 5 13-13 69. Adam Rasmussen Sturgeon Bay, WI 5 13-12 132 Day 1: 5 13-12 70. Shayne Berlo Mclean, VA 5 13-11 131 Day 1: 5 13-11 70. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 13-11 131 Day 1: 5 13-11 70. Connor Jacob Auburn, AL 5 13-11 131 Day 1: 5 13-11 73. Brayden Rakes Winston Salem, NC 5 13-05 128 Day 1: 5 13-05 74. Brandon Kelley Evans, GA 5 13-03 127 Day 1: 5 13-03 75. Tommy Wood Peregian Springs AUSTRA 5 13-01 126 Day 1: 5 13-01 76. Jerry Fowler Ellijay, GA 5 12-15 125 Day 1: 5 12-15 77. Aaron Yavorsky Palm Harbor, FL 5 12-14 124 Day 1: 5 12-14 78. Sean Anderson Leesville, SC 5 12-13 123 Day 1: 5 12-13 79. Trey Swindle Cleveland, AL 5 12-12 122 Day 1: 5 12-12 80. Matthew Oconnell Brooks, GA 5 12-09 121 Day 1: 5 12-09 81. Jeremy Sadowski Voluntown, CT 5 12-08 120 Day 1: 5 12-08 82. Josh Bragg Fayetteville, GA 5 12-07 119 Day 1: 5 12-07 82. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 12-07 119 Day 1: 5 12-07 84. Ryan Matylewicz Tunkhannock, PA 5 12-04 117 Day 1: 5 12-04 85. Ryan Broughman Corapeake, NC 5 12-01 116 Day 1: 5 12-01 85. Alec Morrison Peru, NY 5 12-01 116 Day 1: 5 12-01 85. Brian Mullaney Ijamsville, MD 5 12-01 116 Day 1: 5 12-01 85. Micheal Stout Gallatin, TN 5 12-01 116 Day 1: 5 12-01 89. Tyler Conde Chepachet, RI 5 11-14 112 Day 1: 5 11-14 89. Billy Gilbert Hamburg, NY 5 11-14 112 Day 1: 5 11-14 91. Matt Messer Warfield, KY 5 11-11 110 Day 1: 5 11-11 92. Bo Thomas Edwardsburg, MI 5 11-08 109 Day 1: 5 11-08 93. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 11-07 108 Day 1: 5 11-07 94. TJ McKenzie Myrtle Beach, SC 5 11-04 107 Day 1: 5 11-04 95. Anthony Garcia Los Angeles, CA 5 11-02 106 Day 1: 5 11-02 96. Hunter Davidson Reform, AL 5 11-01 105 Day 1: 5 11-01 97. Jonathan Dietz Corry, PA 5 11-00 104 Day 1: 5 11-00 98. John Duvall Madison, GA 5 10-15 103 Day 1: 5 10-15 98. Mark Guhne Hixson, TN 5 10-15 103 Day 1: 5 10-15 100. David Miller Stratford, CT 5 10-14 101 Day 1: 5 10-14 101. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 5 10-11 100 Day 1: 5 10-11 102. Easton Lindus Woodville, WI 5 10-08 99 Day 1: 5 10-08 102. Brady Vernon Sterrett, AL 5 10-08 99 Day 1: 5 10-08 104. Cade Law Elmore, AL 5 10-04 97 Day 1: 5 10-04 105. Drew Boggs Lebanon, TN 4 10-01 96 Day 1: 4 10-01 106. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 5 10-00 95 Day 1: 5 10-00 107. Jacob Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 4 09-12 94 Day 1: 4 09-12 108. Bobby Bakewell Orlando, FL 5 09-11 93 Day 1: 5 09-11 108. Byron Kenney Jr Monticello, GA 5 09-11 93 Day 1: 5 09-11 110. Johnathan Crossland Chapin, SC 5 09-09 91 Day 1: 5 09-09 111. Jake Maddux Roswell, GA 5 08-14 90 Day 1: 5 08-14 112. Chris McCarthy Woonsocket, RI 4 08-12 89 Day 1: 4 08-12 113. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 5 08-08 88 Day 1: 5 08-08 114. Nick Toomey Evans, GA 3 08-07 87 Day 1: 3 08-07 115. Bryson Osteen Live Oak, FL 4 08-06 86 Day 1: 4 08-06 116. Eugene Buff Hodges, SC 4 08-05 85 Day 1: 4 08-05 117. Rich Ortiz Fort Ann, NY 5 08-04 84 Day 1: 5 08-04 118. Shannon Abbott Louisville, TN 3 07-15 83 Day 1: 3 07-15 119. Hunter Eubanks Landrum , SC 3 07-13 82 Day 1: 3 07-13 120. Tyler Shawger Zanesville, OH 3 07-12 81 Day 1: 3 07-12 121. Joshua Weaver Macon, GA 5 07-09 80 Day 1: 5 07-09 122. Mike McClelland Blue Eye, MO 5 07-05 79 Day 1: 5 07-05 123. Josh Gauthier Petawawa CANADA 4 07-03 78 Day 1: 4 07-03 124. Troy Coney Owego, NY 5 07-02 77 Day 1: 5 07-02 125. Tommy Dickerson Orange, TX 4 06-13 76 Day 1: 4 06-13 126. Colden Baker Ridgeway, SC 5 06-10 75 Day 1: 5 06-10 127. Derrick Sadlowski Monaca, PA 2 06-05 74 Day 1: 2 06-05 128. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 3 06-02 73 Day 1: 3 06-02 129. Tim Cales Beckley, WV 3 05-10 72 Day 1: 3 05-10 130. John Pollard Eclectic, AL 2 05-05 71 Day 1: 2 05-05 131. Lucas Toliver Paw Paw, MI 3 05-04 70 Day 1: 3 05-04 132. Skeeter Crosby Green Pond, SC 3 05-01 69 Day 1: 3 05-01 133. Kristine Fischer Weeping Water, NE 5 05-00 68 Day 1: 5 05-00 134. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 2 04-14 67 Day 1: 2 04-14 135. Chris Lighthizer Zanesville, OH 2 04-11 66 Day 1: 2 04-11 136. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 3 04-10 65 Day 1: 3 04-10 137. Ryan Michl Newton, IL 2 04-07 64 Day 1: 2 04-07 138. Mitch Mitchell Appling, GA 3 04-05 63 Day 1: 3 04-05 139. Kyle Weisenburger Columbus Grv, OH 2 04-02 62 Day 1: 2 04-02 140. Lance Owen Greer, SC 2 04-01 61 Day 1: 2 04-01 141. Rick Greene Ocala, FL 2 03-09 60 Day 1: 2 03-09 141. Mike Penney Cameron, NC 2 03-09 60 Day 1: 2 03-09 143. Duke Nave Oxford, PA 1 02-04 58 Day 1: 1 02-04 144. Grae Buck Green Lane, PA 1 02-01 57 Day 1: 1 02-01 145. Teb Jones Yalaha, MS 1 01-09 56 Day 1: 1 01-09 146. Anastasia Patterson Sumter, SC 1 01-03 55 Day 1: 1 01-03 147. Wyatt Wisian Ardmore, OK 1 01-02 54 Day 1: 1 01-02 148. Clint Leonard Jr Saint Cloud, FL 1 01-01 53 Day 1: 1 01-01 149. Nicholas Mandes North Stonington, CT 1 00-15 52 Day 1: 1 00-15 150. William Baker Ridgeway, SC 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Ryan Bass Royse city, TX 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Jason Carpenter Castle Pines, CO 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Woo Daves Spring Grove, VA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Kyle Healey Almonte CANADA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Kristian Johnson Belvidere, NJ 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Scott Kerslake Okeechobee, FL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Phillip Kroll Otego, NY 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. William Kronander Brownsville, PA 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Mikey Weems Hull, TX 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 150. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 0 00-00 0 Day 1: 0 00-00 ———————————————————————– Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 116 663 1849-02 ———————————- 116 663 1849-02 |