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CURTISS WINS RAYOVAC FLW SERIES WESTERN DIVISION EVENT ON CALIFORNIA DELTA

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CURTISS WINS RAYOVAC FLW SERIES WESTERN DIVISION EVENT ON CALIFORNIA DELTA

CURTISS WINS RAYOVAC FLW SERIES WESTERN DIVISION EVENT ON CALIFORNIA DELTA

Farage wins co-angler title

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OAKLEY, Calif. (May 9, 2015) – Wade Curtiss of Meadow Vista, California, weighed a five-bass limit totaling 22 pounds, 7 ounces Saturday to win the Rayovac FLW Series Western Division event on the California Delta presented by Ranger  Boats with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 61 pounds, 13 ounces. For his victory, Curtiss earned $36,100.

“This has been an amazing tournament,” said Curtiss, who earned the first victory of his career. “After starting the day in 10th place, I knew I’d have my work cut out for me. And I honestly didn’t think that I had enough weight to win it. This is my seventh or eighth tournament that I’ve competed in on the Delta, and to get the win is just so sweet.”
Curtiss said that he fished, “from the north end of the Delta to the south end of the Delta,” targeting grass beds and big flats.
“The first two days I ran my areas and caught a lot of fish – around 50 keepers on day one, and 25 keepers on day two. Today, I just went fishing and ended up fishing a lot of new water. I caught around 20 keepers, and none of my fish came deeper than 6 feet of water all week.”
Curtiss credited two key baits for his success throughout the week – a Jackall MC 60 crankbait in red or brown and orange, and a 3/8-ounce bluegill-colored swimjig with a Zoom Horny Toad trailer. He also said that he picked up a Jackall Iobee Frog Saturday and used it to boat his largest bass of the day.
“In the mornings I would catch them real well on the incoming tide,” Curtiss said. “I would just try to run the high tide each day as long as possible. The key for me was definitely finding the right fish along the grass lines. I knew the fish were there and that’s how I like to fish, so this tournament set up perfectly for me.”
The top 10 pros on the California Delta were:
  1st:         Wade Curtiss, Meadow Vista, Calif., 15 bass, 61-13, $36,100
  2nd:       Ken Mah, Elk Grove, Calif., 15 bass, 59-9, $13,989
  3rd:                       David Valdivia, Norwalk, Calif., 15 bass, 55-13, $10,830
  4th:                       Chris Parks, Eugene, Ore., 15 bass, 55-13, $9,025
  5th:                       Stephen Tosh Jr., Turlock, Calif., 15 bass, 55-5, $8,122
  6th:                       Joe Uribe Jr., Surprise, Ariz., 15 bass, 54-6, $7,220
  7th:                       Phillip Dutra, Antioch, Calif., 14 bass, 50-4, $6,317
  8th:                       Gary Dobyns, Live Oak, Calif., 15 bass, 49-15, $5,415
  9th:                       Austin Bonjour, Atascadero, Calif., 15 bass, 47-9, $4,512
  10th:      Nick Nourot, Benicia, Calif., 13 bass, 43-12, $3,610
Complete results can be found at FLWFishing.com.
Valdivia caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the pro division Friday – a monster weighing 10 pounds even – that earned him the day’s Big Bass award of $254.
Jack Farage of Discovery Bay, California, won the co-angler division and a Ranger Z117C with an Evinrude or Mercury outboard motor, with a three-day total of 15 bass weighing 54 pounds, 9 ounces. Farage’s winning margin of 15 pounds, 7 ounces was the third largest co-angler margin of victory in Rayovac FLW Series history.
 The top 10 co-anglers on the California Delta were:
  1st:         Jack Farage, Discovery Bay, Calif., 15 bass, 54-9, Ranger Z117C with a 90-horsepower outboard
  2nd:       Todd Kline, San Clemente, Calif., 15 bass, 39-2, $4,536
  3rd:                       Jordan Pinasco, Galt, Calif., 14 bass, 38-15, $3,629
  4th:                       John Rossetti, Stockton, Calif., 14 bass, 38-4, $3,175
  5th:                       Eric Hawkins, Sacramento, Calif., 15 bass, 38-0, $2,721
  6th:                       Randy Bruno, Huntington Beach, Calif., 13 bass, 37-8, $2,268
  7th:                       Daniel Leue, Colusa, Calif., 15 bass, 36-11, $1,814
  8th:                       Paul Reutlinger, West Jordan, Utah, 12 bass, 36-9, $1,588
  9th:                       Rafael Ortiz, Roseville, Calif, 12 bass, 33-10, $1,361
  10th:      Tom Nokes, Riverton, Utah, 15 bass, 33-6, $1,134
Bruno caught the biggest bass of the tournament in the co-angler division to earn the day’s Big Bass award of $169.
The Rayovac FLW Series consists of five divisions – Central, Northern, Southeast, Texas and Western. Each division consists of three tournaments and competitors will be vying for valuable points in each division that could earn them the opportunity to fish in the no-entry-fee Rayovac FLW Series Championship. The 2015 Rayovac FLW Series Championship is being held Oct. 29-31 on the Ohio River in Paducah, Kentucky.
The Rayovac FLW Series on the California Delta was presented by Ranger Boats and was hosted by the City of Oakley. It was the second of three Western Division tournaments in 2015. The next Rayovac FLW Series tournament will be a Southeastern Division event presented by Evinrude, held May 21-23, on Lake Seminole in Bainbridge, Georgia. For a complete schedule, visit FLWFishing.com.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow FLW on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

Pirch Maintains Slim Lead In Havasu Elite Series

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Pirch Maintains Slim Lead In Havasu Elite Series

May 9, 2015

Pirch Maintains Slim Lead In Havasu Elite Series

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LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — Home-state angler Cliff Pirch caught five bass that weighed 14 pounds, 15 ounces Saturday and held onto the top spot in the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Havasu presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels with a three-day total of 51-11.

Pirch leads Emory, Texas, angler Takahiro Omori (50-12) by less than a pound, and Sunday’s championship round could come down to a battle between those two anglers fishing just a few hundred yards away from one another near the takeoff site.

Omori caught 20-0 Saturday to jump into second place.

“I just really didn’t have the big bite today, and that’s why my weight was lower than it was Thursday and Friday,” said Pirch, who narrowly missed winning a Bassmaster Open event on Havasu in 2003. “I’ve been drop shotting all week. I don’t know what Takahiro’s doing, but I know he caught a big one today.

“I need that big bite tomorrow.”

After last week’s tournament when most anglers made daily round-trip boat runs of 160 miles or more, Pirch said the longest run he’s made this week has been about 10 miles. The majority of his fish have come just a stone’s throw away from Lake Havasu State Park.

Pirch has tried several methods — and a few other areas — but he keeps coming back to the drop shot rig in the same small stretch near the launch.

“I went and tried a couple of other places today that I knew from practice, and it really just didn’t seem like those areas were on,” Pirch said. “There were a couple of areas where I caught them cranking and doing some other stuff, but that has really tailed off. I’ve had to slow down to catch them.”

Pirch couldn’t help but wonder if his brief trips out of his best area might have hurt him Saturday. He worries he might have missed the big-bite window that allowed Omori to bring a 5-pounder to the scales.

While he may try one more spot Sunday that was good to him in practice, he expects to spend most of his time in the area that’s been best to him this week — especially with the field down to 12 anglers.

“Fewer boats might make that rotation a little better tomorrow,” Pirch said. “A lot of fish have been caught out of that spot this week, but hopefully there are five more big ones I can catch.”

Omori has been a constant presence in the area this week. But he only weighed in 15-4 Thursday and 15-8 Friday because he couldn’t put his biggest fish in the boat.

The 5-pound bass he landed Saturday gave him the biggest catch of the day with 20-0 and put the 2004 Bassmaster Classic champion in serious contention for his sixth career victory with B.A.S.S.

“I see the potential out there all week,” said Omori, a Japanese native who moved to the United States to pursue a pro fishing career. “I’ve been fishing around a bunch of other guys who’ve had big bags. I lost big ones the last two days, but every bite I had today I put in the boat.”

Despite heavy pressure, Omori said he believes there are plenty of fish left where he and Pirch are fishing.
“It’s held up three days and in practice,” Omori said. “Maybe it will hold up one more day. That’s what I’m hoping for.”

Behind Pirch and Omori, the remainder of the Top 12 qualifiers for Sunday were Edwin Evers (50-6), Aaron Martens (49-4), Justin Lucas (48-9), Casey Ashley (47-9), David Williams (47-4), Dean Rojas (19-9), John Murray (47-0), Brandon Palaniuk (46-13), Gary Klein (46-4) and Jonathon VanDam (45-15).

Rojas, who lives on Lake Havasu, caught 19-9 Saturday and jumped from 50th place into eighth. He also made his third-straight Top 12 cut and took over the top spot in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
“This is Havasu weather, and I know how to catch them in this stuff,” said Rojas, referring to Saturday’s bright, sunny, calm conditions. “I think the wind kind of served as an equalizer the first two days and helped some guys who don’t have a lot of experience here. These are the kinds of conditions I like, and I think it’s going to be a shootout tomorrow.”

The tournament concludes Sunday with a 6:15 a.m. PT takeoff from Lake Havasu State Park and the final weigh-in back at the park at 3:15 p.m. PT. The wining angler will take home $100,000.

2015 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Havasu presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels 5/7-5/10
Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City  AZ.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              15  51-11  100     $500.00
Day 1: 5   17-08     Day 2: 5   19-04     Day 3: 5   14-15
2.  Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX               15  50-12   99
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   15-08     Day 3: 5   20-00
3.  Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              15  50-06   98
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   14-01     Day 3: 5   15-14
4.  Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               15  49-04   97
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   16-06     Day 3: 5   17-10
5.  Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL        15  48-09   96
Day 1: 5   15-15     Day 2: 5   13-14     Day 3: 5   18-12
6.  Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC             15  47-09   95
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   14-11     Day 3: 5   17-08
7.  David Williams         Maiden, NC              15  47-04   94
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   11-04     Day 3: 5   19-08
8.  Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ    15  47-01   93
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   13-07     Day 3: 5   19-09
9.  John Murray            Phoenix, AZ             15  47-00   92
Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   16-01     Day 3: 5   11-07
10. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            15  46-13   91
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   18-08     Day 3: 5   13-15
11. Gary Klein             Weatherford, TX         15  46-04   90
Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   14-09     Day 3: 5   18-01
12. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI           15  45-15   89
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   15-08     Day 3: 5   18-08
13. Brent Ehrler           Newport Beach, CA       15  45-14   88  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   16-04     Day 3: 5   15-12
14. Chad Morgenthaler      Coulterville, IL        15  45-08   87  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   14-13     Day 3: 5   17-00
15. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                 15  45-05   86  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   13-09     Day 3: 5   15-12
16. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA       15  45-02   85  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   15-04     Day 3: 5   14-12
17. Ott DeFoe              Knoxville, TN           15  45-01   84  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   14-12     Day 3: 5   16-07
18. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              15  45-01   83  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   15-10     Day 3: 5   14-14
19. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK             15  45-00   82  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   16-00     Day 3: 5   14-07
20. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY           15  44-01   81  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 5   16-07     Day 3: 5   15-01
21. Davy Hite              Ninety Six, SC          15  44-00   80  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   16-01     Day 3: 5   12-13
22. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR         15  43-13   79  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   12-13     Day 3: 5   14-05
23. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL         15  43-10   78  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   13-07     Day 3: 5   12-04
24. Dennis Tietje          Roanoke, LA             15  43-10   77  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   16-03     Day 3: 5   14-11
25. Jared Miller           Norman, OK              15  43-09   76  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 5   16-02     Day 3: 5   14-00
26. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              15  43-08   75  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   12-10     Day 3: 5   15-05
27. Randy Howell           Springville, AL         15  43-06   74  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 5   16-13     Day 3: 5   11-02
28. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX              15  43-03   73  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   12-14     Day 3: 5   13-10
29. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL        15  43-02   72  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   13-10     Day 3: 5   11-05
30. Josh Bertrand          Gilbert, AZ             15  43-02   71  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   15-15     Day 3: 5   11-00
31. Jacob Powroznik        Port Haywood, VA        15  42-15   70  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   13-01     Day 3: 5   13-09
32. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            15  42-11   69  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   14-07     Day 3: 5   09-11
33. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN      14  42-11   68  $10,000.00
Day 1: 4   11-03     Day 2: 5   16-04     Day 3: 5   15-04
34. Kevin Short            Mayflower, AR           15  42-06   67  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   16-00     Day 3: 5   14-04
35. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL            15  42-05   66  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   12-04     Day 3: 5   12-04
36. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             15  42-05   65  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   14-05     Day 3: 5   11-13
37. Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX               15  41-14   64  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   14-03     Day 3: 5   09-15
38. David Walker           Sevierville, TN         15  41-05   63  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   14-09     Day 3: 5   12-00
39. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          15  41-03   62  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   16-04     Day 3: 5   10-03
40. Seth Feider            Bloomington, MN         15  41-03   61  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   13-15     Day 3: 5   12-14
41. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        15  41-01   60  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   14-12     Day 3: 5   10-09
42. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA             15  40-15   59  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   17-03     Day 3: 5   11-06
43. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            15  40-05   58  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   13-02     Day 3: 5   12-12
44. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL        14  40-04   57  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   17-04     Day 3: 4   07-11
45. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL            15  40-02   56  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   10-13     Day 3: 5   12-10
46. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         15  39-11   55  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 5   13-11     Day 3: 5   10-15
47. Casey Scanlon          Lanexa, KS              15  39-07   54  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 5   12-10     Day 3: 5   10-06
48. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           14  37-03   53  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 5   14-05     Day 3: 4   07-00
49. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           12  36-10   52  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   13-09     Day 3: 2   07-07
50. Mike Kernan            Wylie, TX               13  35-10   51  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   13-00     Day 3: 3   04-08
51. Brandon Card           Caryville, TN           13  34-13   50  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   12-07     Day 3: 3   07-01
52. Chad Pipkens           Holt, MI                10  29-00   49  $10,000.00
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   14-11     Day 3: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        93       524      1457-04
2        96       524      1422-05
3        46       246       684-05
———————————-
235      1294      3563-14

Jonathon VanDam Choose smallmouth rod actions carefully

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Jonathon VanDam Choose smallmouth rod actions carefully

JVD: Choose smallmouth rod actions carefully

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— Honing his bass fishing skills on smallmouth in lakes around his Kalamazoo, Mich. home, pro angler Jonathon VanDam offers up some advice on the right rods for key techniques.

The techniques used for northern smallmouth bass fishing aren’t much different than those used for largemouth bass, but the fishing rod requirements are.
The reasons are two-fold. First, smallmouth anglers battling powerful, hard-pulling bass on light line and secondly, you’re usually fishing in clear water. You not only need the proper rod for playing and landing fish, but one that allows us to make long casts and refined presentations.
Here are three spinning rods you’ll find in my boat when the smallies are biting:
Tube baits: The ideal length is between 7-foot-3-inch and 7-foot-6, especially when fishing waters in the Great Lakes region where long casts are necessary. My favorite is the G. Loomis NRX 872S JWR, an extra-fast action jig/worm rod measuring 87 inches and in a 2 ‘medium’ power. The length and soft tip enables me to make extra-long casts in ultra-clear water with 10-pound PowerPro Super 8 Slick braid tipped with a 5-foot fluorocarbon leader. The rod loads perfectly for launching baits, has the backbone needed for a good hook set, and will absorb stress from hard-fighting smallmouth that won’t give up.
Now, if I’m fishing really light tubes (1/8-ounce or less), I’ll use the JWR 902, a 7-6 rod with slightly softer action for hurling lighter baits long distances.
While I rely on the best in the G. Loomis rod line for my tournament fishing, if you’re just looking into G. Loomis quality for the first time, try out the new E6X 852S JWR medium power spinning rod – at 7-foot-1-inch, it’s a great choice to help you with long distance casting and good backbone you’ll need.
Drop shotting: When fishing these rigs, the action and feel are more important than length. Because I’m tall, I prefer 6-foot-10-inch rods like the NRX 822S DSR – but I’ve seen shorter guys fish 6-foot-6-inch models with solid success.
A medium action drop-shot rod must transfer the stress of big fish from the line to the rod but you also need a fast tip to feel light bites. Drop-shot baits employ small, light-wire hooks, so the softer action delivers get a good hook-set without straightening hooks hook or pulling them out of bass’ mouth.
The NRX or E6X 822S DSR paired with 10-pound PowerPro and a 6-pound fluorocarbon leader are perfect for this. You can check out the 6-foot-6 E6X ‘Classic Action’ 782S SJR – it can also be used for a few different techniques.
Finesse jigs: Smaller skirted jigs with weed guards are good baits for fishing around rocks and wood in river systems. For this, I use a 7-foot-1 NRX or GLX 853S JWR, or the value-priced E6X medium heavy power version. The length is best for making pinpoint casts to eddies and structure, while the extra power helps drive the heavier hook home when fishing with 10 pound or heavier line.

Arizona Elite Series Anglers Lead The Field At Lake Havasu

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Arizona Elite Series Anglers Lead The Field At Lake Havasu

May 8, 2015

Arizona Elite Series Anglers Lead The Field At Lake Havasu

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LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. — After two days, the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Havasu presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels has turned into a neck-and-neck battle between two home-state pros with a star-studded cast lurking not too far behind.

Payson, Ariz., angler Cliff Pirch had an impressive catch of 19 pounds, 4 ounces Friday and took the lead with a two-day total of 36-12. John Murray of Phoenix, Ariz., caught 16-1 Friday to land in second, a little more than a pound back, with 35-9.

The anglers, who both have a long list of amateur victories on Lake Havasu, will lead the remaining field of 52 anglers into Saturday, as they brace for the lake’s legendary weekend boat traffic.

“The increased boat traffic may hurt me, I just don’t know,” said Pirch, who finished second in a Bassmaster Open event on Havasu in 2003. “It’s one of those things where you just hope you can make some adjustments and keep on fishing. It was tough out there today.”

Pirch’s biggest competition Friday wasn’t recreational boat traffic, but rather the high volume of Elite Series pros who were crowded into the areas he’s been fishing. He said the increased pressure, combined with several near misses on good fish early, almost caused him to lose focus.

“I cut one off on the first cast, and when I stood up from re-rigging, there were eight guys fishing around me,” Pirch said. “I was on kind of a community hole, and I got my head out of the game a little bit. I had to leave and go do some other stuff. But I finally got some things going, and it went really well after that.”

Pirch said anglers who spent Thursday sight fishing might have run out of fish and filtered into the area he was fishing Friday out of desperation.

“I had three to four times the guys on the areas where I wanted to fish today than what I had yesterday,” he said. “They didn’t have anything today, so the best thing to do is kind of see what other guys are doing.”

Though Pirch didn’t say exactly how he was fishing, he said he’s using a finesse tactic that requires a spinning reel and lighter line than the pros sometimes use on other fisheries where the water isn’t as clear. He lost four of the first five fish that bit Friday, and he’s being forced to handle every fish carefully.

Most of the bass he’s weighed this week have taken several minutes to land – and since B.A.S.S. rules prohibit a landing net, each has been an adventure.

“These are postspawn fish that aren’t really weighing what they should,” Pirch said. “But they’re big-framed fish, and you have to take it easy with them.”

One of the few anglers in the field this week with as much experience on Lake Havasu as Pirch is Murray.

The 50-year-old angler, who said Thursday he has been fishing the lake since 1985, amended that to 1978 Friday, remembering he caught his first-ever tournament bass on Havasu when he was still in high school.

He spent Thursday fishing areas he’s known for years and caught a good bag of 19-8 despite not finding bunches of fish in any one area. He did the same thing Friday and added 16-1 to his total.

Just as he embraced the high winds on Thursday and Friday, he said he’s actually looking forward to the flood of recreational boat traffic Saturday.

“You’ll start hearing the boats fire up about 10 o’clock, and that’s when the fish turn on,” Murray said. “They like the boat traffic. The boats spook the shad and all the other baitfish, and the bass start biting. Until you start hearing the big boats start, it won’t get right.”

Murray said his fish came from random areas Friday, just as they did Thursday. That worries him heading into Day 3.

“It always scares you, because you don’t have one place you can go,” Murray said. “But tomorrow’s Saturday, so I know I’ll be getting a check. Today, I was stressing. Tomorrow, I’ll fish a little more relaxed.”

All of the 52 anglers who qualified for Saturday’s semifinal round will all earn at least $10,000, but only the Top 12 from Saturday’s weigh-in will advance to Sunday’s championship round with a chance to compete for the $100,000 first-place prize.

Behind Pirch and Murray are Edwin Evers (34-8), Matthew Herren (33-0), Brandon Palaniuk (32-14), Chris Lane (32-9) and Randy Howell (32-4).

Pirch, as the leader on the second day of the tournament, will be awarded the Livingston Lures Leader Award of $500.

Saturday’s take-off is scheduled for 6:15 a.m. PT from Lake Havasu State Park, with the weigh-in scheduled back at the park at 3:15 p.m. PT.
2015 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Havasu presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels 5/7-5/10
Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City  AZ.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 2

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ              10  36-12  100     $500.00
Day 1: 5   17-08     Day 2: 5   19-04
2.  John Murray            Phoenix, AZ             10  35-09   99
Day 1: 5   19-08     Day 2: 5   16-01
3.  Edwin Evers            Talala, OK              10  34-08   98
Day 1: 5   20-07     Day 2: 5   14-01
4.  Matt Herren            Ashville, AL            10  33-00   97
Day 1: 5   18-09     Day 2: 5   14-07
5.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            10  32-14   96
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   18-08
6.  Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL        10  32-09   95
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   17-04
7.  Randy Howell           Springville, AL         10  32-04   94
Day 1: 5   15-07     Day 2: 5   16-13
8.  Josh Bertrand          Gilbert, AZ             10  32-02   93
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   15-15
9.  Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX               10  31-15   92
Day 1: 5   17-12     Day 2: 5   14-03
10. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL        10  31-13   91
Day 1: 5   18-03     Day 2: 5   13-10
11. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               10  31-10   90
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   16-06
12. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL         10  31-06   89
Day 1: 5   17-15     Day 2: 5   13-07
13. Davy Hite              Ninety Six, SC          10  31-03   88
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   16-01
14. Mike Kernan            Wylie, TX               10  31-02   87
Day 1: 5   18-02     Day 2: 5   13-00
15. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN          10  31-00   86
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   16-04
16. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX               10  30-12   85
Day 1: 5   15-04     Day 2: 5   15-08
17. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK             10  30-09   84
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   16-00
18. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL             10  30-08   83
Day 1: 5   16-03     Day 2: 5   14-05
19. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO        10  30-08   82
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 5   14-12
20. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA       10  30-06   81
Day 1: 5   15-02     Day 2: 5   15-04
21. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT           10  30-03   80
Day 1: 5   15-14     Day 2: 5   14-05
22. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL              10  30-03   79
Day 1: 5   14-09     Day 2: 5   15-10
23. Brent Ehrler           Newport Beach, CA       10  30-02   78
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   16-04
24. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL            10  30-01   77
Day 1: 5   17-13     Day 2: 5   12-04
25. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC             10  30-01   76
Day 1: 5   15-06     Day 2: 5   14-11
26. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL        10  29-13   75
Day 1: 5   15-15     Day 2: 5   13-14
27. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA             10  29-09   74
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   17-03
28. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX              10  29-09   73
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   12-14
29. Jared Miller           Norman, OK              10  29-09   72
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 5   16-02
30. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                 10  29-09   71
Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   13-09
31. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR         10  29-08   70
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   12-13
32. Jacob Powroznik        Port Haywood, VA        10  29-06   69
Day 1: 5   16-05     Day 2: 5   13-01
33. David Walker           Sevierville, TN         10  29-05   68
Day 1: 5   14-12     Day 2: 5   14-09
34. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN           10  29-03   67
Day 1: 5   15-10     Day 2: 5   13-09
35. Casey Scanlon          Lanexa, KS              10  29-01   66
Day 1: 5   16-07     Day 2: 5   12-10
36. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY           10  29-00   65
Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 5   16-07
37. Chad Pipkens           Holt, MI                10  29-00   64
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   14-11
38. Dennis Tietje          Roanoke, LA             10  28-15   63
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   16-03
39. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         10  28-12   62
Day 1: 5   15-01     Day 2: 5   13-11
40. Ott DeFoe              Knoxville, TN           10  28-10   61
Day 1: 5   13-14     Day 2: 5   14-12
41. Chad Morgenthaler      Coulterville, IL        10  28-08   60
Day 1: 5   13-11     Day 2: 5   14-13
42. Seth Feider            Bloomington, MN         10  28-05   59
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   13-15
43. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA              10  28-03   58
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 5   12-10
44. Gary Klein             Weatherford, TX         10  28-03   57
Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   14-09
45. Kevin Short            Mayflower, AR           10  28-02   56
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   16-00
46. David Williams         Maiden, NC              10  27-12   55
Day 1: 5   16-08     Day 2: 5   11-04
47. Brandon Card           Caryville, TN           10  27-12   54
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   12-07
48. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA            10  27-09   53
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   13-02
49. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL            10  27-08   52
Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   10-13
50. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ    10  27-08   51
Day 1: 5   14-01     Day 2: 5   13-07
51. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN       9  27-07   50
Day 1: 4   11-03     Day 2: 5   16-04
52. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI           10  27-07   49
Day 1: 5   11-15     Day 2: 5   15-08
53. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX              10  27-06   48
Day 1: 5   14-07     Day 2: 5   12-15
54. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ         10  27-04   47
Day 1: 5   13-08     Day 2: 5   13-12
55. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL           10  27-00   46
Day 1: 5   14-08     Day 2: 5   12-08
56. Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR           10  26-15   45
Day 1: 5   14-11     Day 2: 5   12-04
57. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TX AUSTRALIA 10  26-10   44
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   15-01
58. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI            8  26-08   43
Day 1: 5   17-06     Day 2: 3   09-02
59. Fletcher Shryock       New Philadelphia, OH    10  26-01   42
Day 1: 5   08-04     Day 2: 5   17-13
60. Fred Roumbanis         Bixby, OK               10  26-01   41
Day 1: 5   15-05     Day 2: 5   10-12
61. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL          10  26-01   40
Day 1: 5   13-15     Day 2: 5   12-02
62. Matt Reed              Madisonville, TX        10  25-14   39
Day 1: 5   12-00     Day 2: 5   13-14
63. Kevin Hawk             Guntersville, AL        10  25-12   38
Day 1: 5   16-04     Day 2: 5   09-08
64. David Smith            Del City, OK            10  25-12   37
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   11-06
65. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK           10  25-08   36
Day 1: 5   13-10     Day 2: 5   11-14
66. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC          10  25-06   35
Day 1: 5   11-05     Day 2: 5   14-01
67. Kurt Dove              Del Rio, TX             10  25-04   34
Day 1: 5   13-07     Day 2: 5   11-13
68. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX              10  25-02   33
Day 1: 5   13-03     Day 2: 5   11-15
69. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC          10  24-15   32
Day 1: 5   14-06     Day 2: 5   10-09
70. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL           10  24-15   31
Day 1: 5   12-03     Day 2: 5   12-12
71. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS        10  24-14   30
Day 1: 5   12-14     Day 2: 5   12-00
72. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA               8  24-13   29
Day 1: 3   06-00     Day 2: 5   18-13
73. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR         10  24-05   28
Day 1: 5   14-05     Day 2: 5   10-00
74. Gerald Swindle         Warrior, AL             10  24-04   27
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   11-05
75. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS               10  23-15   26
Day 1: 5   12-06     Day 2: 5   11-09
76. Ken Iyobe              Tokoname  Aichi JAPAN   10  23-14   25
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   11-12
77. Zell Rowland           Montgomery, TX           8  23-11   24
Day 1: 5   15-09     Day 2: 3   08-02
78. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR         10  23-11   23
Day 1: 5   10-02     Day 2: 5   13-09
79. Kenyon Hill            Norman, OK              10  23-11   22
Day 1: 5   12-02     Day 2: 5   11-09
80. Chris Zaldain          San Jose, CA             9  23-07   21
Day 1: 4   08-14     Day 2: 5   14-09
81. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         9  23-04   20
Day 1: 4   10-01     Day 2: 5   13-03
82. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL           10  23-04   19
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 5   12-05
83. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC               10  23-03   18
Day 1: 5   11-09     Day 2: 5   11-10
84. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                8  22-15   17
Day 1: 5   12-07     Day 2: 3   10-08
85. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK              9  22-14   16
Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 4   10-02
86. Randy Allen            Shreveport, LA          10  22-13   15
Day 1: 5   13-05     Day 2: 5   09-08
87. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN        10  22-13   14
Day 1: 5   11-02     Day 2: 5   11-11
88. Byron Velvick          Boenre, TX               8  22-06   13
Day 1: 3   06-05     Day 2: 5   16-01
89. Koby Kreiger           Bokeelia, FL            10  22-06   12
Day 1: 5   12-15     Day 2: 5   09-07
90. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              8  22-05   11
Day 1: 3   07-05     Day 2: 5   15-00
91. Kevin Ledoux           Choctaw, OK              9  21-10   10
Day 1: 4   10-05     Day 2: 5   11-05
92. Nate Wellman           Newaygo, MI             10  21-01    9
Day 1: 5   10-10     Day 2: 5   10-07
93. Scott Ashmore          Broken Arrow, OK         9  20-14    8
Day 1: 5   10-15     Day 2: 4   09-15
94. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA         10  20-12    7
Day 1: 5   10-05     Day 2: 5   10-07
95. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  8  20-05    6
Day 1: 5   12-08     Day 2: 3   07-13
96. James Elam             Tulsa, OK                8  19-13    5
Day 1: 3   07-01     Day 2: 5   12-12
97. Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL                7  19-10    4
Day 1: 2   04-02     Day 2: 5   15-08
98. Billy McCaghren        Mayflower, AR            6  19-07    3
Day 1: 5   15-12     Day 2: 1   03-11
99. Jordan Lee             Vinemont, AL             8  19-02    2
Day 1: 5   12-09     Day 2: 3   06-09
100. Derek Remitz           Grant, AL                8  19-01    1
Day 1: 3   07-04     Day 2: 5   11-13
101. Matt Lee               Auburn , AL              8  18-11    0
Day 1: 3   06-10     Day 2: 5   12-01
102. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH           9  18-07    0
Day 1: 5   09-09     Day 2: 4   08-14
103. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           9  17-08    0
Day 1: 5   08-04     Day 2: 4   09-04
104. Joseph Sancho          New Windsor, NY          7  16-12    0
Day 1: 3   05-08     Day 2: 4   11-04
105. Hank Cherry Jr         Maiden, NC               9  16-10    0
Day 1: 4   08-06     Day 2: 5   08-04
106. J Todd Tucker          Moultrie, GA             7  15-12    0
Day 1: 2   05-07     Day 2: 5   10-05
107. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              6  14-08    0
Day 1: 4   09-08     Day 2: 2   05-00
108. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL        8  14-07    0
Day 1: 3   04-11     Day 2: 5   09-12
109. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  13-09    0
Day 1: 5   13-09     Day 2: 0   00-00
110. Stephen Longobardi     Northford, CT            5  12-14    0
Day 1: 2   03-15     Day 2: 3   08-15
111. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN            6  12-06    0
Day 1: 3   05-11     Day 2: 3   06-11
112. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               2  03-03    0
Day 1: 2   03-03     Day 2: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        93       524      1457-04
2        96       524      1422-05
———————————-
189      1048      2879-09

Newest Updates on Fishidy – May 7, 2015

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Newest Updates on Fishidy – May 7, 2015

Newest Updates on Fishidy

by Fishidy on May 7, 2015

See below for the latest series of new updates on Fishidy!

1. New Braggin’ Board

The best fishing photo contest around has been designed to be even better! No more waiting a week before your entry gets approved. As soon as you submit, your catch is entered into the contest and becomes social-share ready to earn votes so you can become the next weekly Braggin’ Board champ!

new braggin board

2. Social Sharing

Share your favorite catches and spots with your buddies across Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and hundreds of other social networks with one click of a button!

social sharing buttons

3. New Public Facing Pages

No more worrying about logging into your Fishidy account to view shared catches and spots. Check it out for yourself: http://www.fishidy.com/c/54295f4966b0170a2cc68f3c

public facing pages

4. Like and Comment from the Map

Now you can like and comment on catches/spots directly from Fishidy’s maps!

comment from map

Head over to Fishidy now and let us know what you think of these latest updates in the comments below!

REGISTRATION OPEN FOR INAUGURAL ICAST CUP FISHING TOURNAMENT – FLW May 8th 2015

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REGISTRATION OPEN FOR INAUGURAL ICAST CUP FISHING TOURNAMENT

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KISSIMMEE, Fla. (May 8, 2015) – Registration for the first annual ICAST Cup Tournament which is being held the morning of Tuesday, July 14 on Lake Toho in conjunction with ICAST in Orlando, Florida, is now open. The tournament will feature three-person teams made up of a fishing industry representative, professional angler, and a member of the media for an action-packed, three hour bass-fishing shootout on Lake Toho. Teams will takeoff from Big Toho Marina in Kissimmee.
The tournament, which is presented by FLW, will feature prizes for top teams with the winners taking home the ICAST Cup. Each member of the winning team will receive a commemorative trophy with a larger trophy for industry representatives to display at their corporate headquarters.
Following weigh-in, participants and spectators may relax and enjoy refreshments while they explore ICAST on the Water presented by Fishing Tackle Retailer at Kissimmee Lakefront Park.
All proceeds from the tournament will benefit KeepAmericaFishing, an industry-leader in promoting conservation by keeping fisheries free and open to anglers.
Industry teams and media members who wish to compete in the tournament can register at www.icastcup.com.

New Humminbird® Software Bridges the Gap Between ONIX® and Core Units

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New Humminbird® Software Bridges the Gap Between ONIX® and Core Units

New Humminbird® Software Bridges the Gap Between ONIX® and Core Units
Latest version 2.300 software update allows anglers to network ONIX with core units, share waypoints and much more!

EUFAULA, AL (May 6, 2015) – In response to anglers’ requests to network ONIX and 800, 900 or 1100 series units on the same boat, Humminbird engineers rolled up their sleeves and started writing code.

Now, after months of caffeine-fueled sessions in the lab and on the water, Humminbird® is proud to announce Version 2.300 Software, a free download available through each unit owner’s “My Humminbird” account that seamlessly integrates 800, 900 and 1100 Series units with ONIX.

Most notably, Version 2.300 software offers significant performance upgrades and features, including the ability to share waypoint data (and Spot-Locks) in both directions between core units and ONIX.

Another breakthrough feature of Version 2.300 software is a new waypoint list view that allows easy viewing of map areas with dense waypoint clustering, which will be of particular interest to tournament anglers and guides.

Additionally, Version 2.300 software saves anglers considerable time and frustration when transferring waypoint data from non-Humminbird sources via an SD card. Version 2.300 imports and converts Raymarine, Lowrance, Garmin, and Google Earth waypoints, which can be immediately shared between ONIX and core units on the same network. No PC or laptop required.

The Software Update Process

To begin the update process, users should first verify they have registered their product and previously updated to Version 2.000 or 2.100 software via the owner’s My Humminbird account.

Following product registration, users should download the software to their computer. Once successfully downloaded onto your PC, unzip the files on your computer before copying them to a blank 4 GB or greater Class 6 SD card. Do not rename files.

Once the files have been saved to the blank SD card, eject the card from your computer or external card reader and insert into your Humminbird unit. Please note that during the update process it is critical that you maintain continual power to your unit.

Once the installation is completed, power down the unit and restart. Following restart, users will note significantly improved speed and additional new features, including:

  • Improved cartography data load times
  • Faster zoom in/out on cartography
  • Viewable waypoint list for map areas of dense waypoint clustering
  • Faster network syncing for units with thousands of waypoints
  • Current navigation track is saved in the event of power loss
  • Improved waypoint accuracy on chart when waypoints are selected in sonar, Down Imaging or Side Imaging view
  • Direct import of competitive TWR data (HWR, USR, GDB, MPS, KML, RWF, and GPS Babel extensions)
  • AS RC1 Bluetooth Remote support
  • LakeMaster PLUS support

WALMART FLW TOUR PRO GERARD OUT AT EUFAULA

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WALMART FLW TOUR PRO GERARD OUT AT EUFAULA
WALMART FLW TOUR PRO GERARD OUT AT EUFAULA
MINNEAPOLIS (May 7, 2015) – Walmart FLW Tour pros Joe Gerard of Concordia, Kansas, informed FLW this afternoon that he will also miss the upcoming Walmart FLW Tour at Lake Eufaula presented by Quaker State tournament next week. Gerard will miss the event due to a medical issue with his father. Gerard will return for the fifth regular-season FLW Tour event next month on Lake Chickamauga. A tournament field of 150 boats will compete on Lake Eufaula.
In FLW Tour competition, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. The 2015 Forrest Wood Cup will be in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 20-23 on Lake Ouachita and is hosted by Visit Hot Springs. The Forrest Wood Cup Champion could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

WALMART FLW TOUR PROS STARKS, GOINES OUT AT EUFAULA

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WALMART FLW TOUR PROS STARKS, GOINES OUT AT EUFAULA
WALMART FLW TOUR PROS STARKS, GOINES OUT AT EUFAULA
MINNEAPOLIS (May 7, 2015) – Walmart FLW Tour pros Jeremy Starks of Scott Depot, West Virginia, and Mark Goines of Shady Point, Oklahoma, will both miss the upcoming Walmart FLW Tour at Lake Eufaula presented by Quaker State tournament next week. Starks will miss the event due to a medical exemption, while Goines will be attending his daughter’s graduation. Both anglers will return for the fifth regular-season FLW Tour event next month on Lake Chickamauga. A tournament field of 151 boats will compete on Lake Eufaula.
In FLW Tour competition, anglers are also vying for valuable points in hopes of qualifying for the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup, the world championship of bass fishing. The 2015 Forrest Wood Cup will be in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Aug. 20-23 on Lake Ouachita and is hosted by Visit Hot Springs. The Forrest Wood Cup Champion could win as much as $500,000 – professional bass-fishing’s richest prize.
For complete details and updated information visit FLWFishing.com. For regular updates, photos, tournament news and more, follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FLWFishing and on Twitter at Twitter.com/FLWFishing.

Edwin Evers Leads First Round Of Lake Havasu Elite Series Bass Tournament

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Edwin Evers Leads First Round Of Lake Havasu Elite Series Bass Tournament

Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., takes the lead on the first day of the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Havasu presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels, bringing 20 pounds, 7 ounces to the scales on Thursday. 

Photo by Seigo Saito/Bassmaster

May 7, 2015

Edwin Evers Leads First Round Of Lake Havasu Elite Series Bass Tournament

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LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – The wind was blowing hard across Lake Havasu before daylight Thursday, and it only got worse throughout the day as it sometimes pushed 30 miles per hour.

But big gusts and even bigger waves weren’t enough to keep the scenic fishery on the California-Arizona border from showing just how far it’s come.

Oklahoma pro Edwin Evers caught five bass that weighed 20 pounds, 7 ounces to take the Day 1 lead in the Bassmaster Elite at Lake Havasu presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels. He was one of 20 anglers to bring at least 16-0 to the scales on a day when many elected to fish close to the launch site instead of making rough journeys along the Colorado River.

Phoenix, Ariz., pro John Murray was second with 19-8. He was followed by Matthew Herren of Ashville, Ala., with 18-9; Randall Tharp of Port St. Joe, Fla., with 18-3; and Mike Kernan of Wylie, Texas, with 18-2.

“It was a great day, but I wasn’t really doing anything special,” Evers said. “It’s not like I’ve got one area I can go into and find a big school of fish. I’m going to have to fish new water all week, and hopefully find more fish like I caught today. The fish are out there, but it’s going to be a week of adjustments, for sure.”

A 20-pound bag was once considered virtually impossible on Havasu, but anglers raved Thursday about the lake’s metamorphosis. Murray, who has been fishing Havasu for three decades, said he once enjoyed fishing tournaments on the lake because he knew it wouldn’t take much to win.

He said things are different now.

“I’m fishing techniques I don’t normally fish, actually a technique that I used to win a tournament on this lake 23 years ago,” Murray said. “I’ve been fishing this lake since 1985. Back then, it took about 10 pounds to win here. I’m fishing the same spots now and just catching bigger fish.”

Murray said he believes the size of the bass on Havasu began improving when quagga mussels appeared during the early 1990s.

Quaggas are an invasive Ukrainian species that most believe were accidentally introduced into the lake. The mussels often settle in massive colonies that can block water intakes and affect municipal water supplies, causing billions of dollars in damage.

But Murray said the quaggas actually jumpstarted Havasu’s fish growth.

“Quagga mussels kicked the food chain into high gear,” Murray said. “Divers say the crawdads are all over the bottom, and the redear (sunfish) are growing to world-record size now. Before the quaggas showed up, fish this size just weren’t here.”

While some anglers were bothered by the high winds Thursday, others, like Murray, said it actually helped their cause on a lake as clear as Havasu.

“The wind is why they bite,” Murray said. “If we didn’t have the wind today, it would have been a battle – at least for my stuff. I saw the weather forecast, and I geared my tackle for the wind.”

If the forecast is correct and the wind is much lighter for Friday’s second round, Murray said he might have to use some new tricks to further his success. Tharp and other pros said it isn’t likely to have much effect on their tactics either way.

“I really only saw one other angler doing what I’m doing,” said Tharp, who needed the good day after finishing 61st, 84th and 98th in the first three Elite Series events of the season. “I caught my fish early and then spent most of the day running new water, looking for something I could use the rest of the week. I actually got three bites this afternoon and didn’t set the hook.

“I know it does for some, but I honestly don’t believe the wind makes any difference for what I’m doing.”

The tournament will resume with take-off at 6:15 a.m. Friday from Lake Havasu State Park. Weigh-in is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. back at the park, with only the Top 52 anglers advancing to Saturday.

2015 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Havasu presented by Dick Cepek Tires & Wheels 5/7-5/10
Lake Havasu, Lake Havasu City  AZ.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Edwin Evers            Talala, OK               5  20-07  100
Day 1: 5   20-07
2.  John Murray            Phoenix, AZ              5  19-08   99
Day 1: 5   19-08
3.  Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  18-09   98
Day 1: 5   18-09
4.  Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL         5  18-03   97
Day 1: 5   18-03
5.  Mike Kernan            Wylie, TX                5  18-02   96
Day 1: 5   18-02
6.  Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL          5  17-15   95
Day 1: 5   17-15
7.  Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL             5  17-13   94
Day 1: 5   17-13
8.  Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX                5  17-12   93
Day 1: 5   17-12
9.  Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  17-08   92
Day 1: 5   17-08
10. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI            5  17-06   91
Day 1: 5   17-06
11. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          5  16-11   90
Day 1: 5   16-11
11. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX               5  16-11   90
Day 1: 5   16-11
11. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL             5  16-11   90
Day 1: 5   16-11
14. David Williams         Maiden, NC               5  16-08   87
Day 1: 5   16-08
15. Casey Scanlon          Lanexa, KS               5  16-07   86
Day 1: 5   16-07
16. Jacob Powroznik        Port Haywood, VA         5  16-05   85
Day 1: 5   16-05
17. Kevin Hawk             Guntersville, AL         5  16-04   84
Day 1: 5   16-04
18. Josh Bertrand          Gilbert, AZ              5  16-03   83
Day 1: 5   16-03
18. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  16-03   83
Day 1: 5   16-03
20. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                  5  16-00   81
Day 1: 5   16-00
21. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL         5  15-15   80
Day 1: 5   15-15
22. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  15-14   79
Day 1: 5   15-14
23. Billy McCaghren        Mayflower, AR            5  15-12   78
Day 1: 5   15-12
23. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         5  15-12   78
Day 1: 5   15-12
25. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  15-10   76
Day 1: 5   15-10
26. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               5  15-09   75
Day 1: 5   15-09
26. Zell Rowland           Montgomery, TX           5  15-09   75
Day 1: 5   15-09
28. Randy Howell           Springville, AL          5  15-07   73
Day 1: 5   15-07
29. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC              5  15-06   72
Day 1: 5   15-06
30. Brandon Card           Caryville, TN            5  15-05   71
Day 1: 5   15-05
30. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL         5  15-05   71
Day 1: 5   15-05
30. Fred Roumbanis         Bixby, OK                5  15-05   71
Day 1: 5   15-05
33. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL                5  15-04   68
Day 1: 5   15-04
33. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX                5  15-04   68
Day 1: 5   15-04
35. Davy Hite              Ninety Six, SC           5  15-02   66
Day 1: 5   15-02
35. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA        5  15-02   66
Day 1: 5   15-02
37. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  15-01   64
Day 1: 5   15-01
38. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  14-12   63
Day 1: 5   14-12
38. David Walker           Sevierville, TN          5  14-12   63
Day 1: 5   14-12
40. Mark Davis             Mount Ida, AR            5  14-11   61
Day 1: 5   14-11
41. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  14-09   60
Day 1: 5   14-09
41. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK              5  14-09   60
Day 1: 5   14-09
43. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL            5  14-08   58
Day 1: 5   14-08
44. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX               5  14-07   57
Day 1: 5   14-07
45. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  14-07   56
Day 1: 5   14-07
46. Seth Feider            Bloomington, MN          5  14-06   55
Day 1: 5   14-06
46. Britt Myers            Lake Wylie, SC           5  14-06   55
Day 1: 5   14-06
46. David Smith            Del City, OK             5  14-06   55
Day 1: 5   14-06
49. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             5  14-06   52
Day 1: 5   14-06
50. Chad Pipkens           Holt, MI                 5  14-05   51
Day 1: 5   14-05
50. Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR          5  14-05   51
Day 1: 5   14-05
52. Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ     5  14-01   49
Day 1: 5   14-01
53. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           5  13-15   48
Day 1: 5   13-15
54. Ott DeFoe              Knoxville, TN            5  13-14   47
Day 1: 5   13-14
54. Brent Ehrler           Newport Beach, CA        5  13-14   47
Day 1: 5   13-14
56. Chad Morgenthaler      Coulterville, IL         5  13-11   45
Day 1: 5   13-11
57. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            5  13-10   44
Day 1: 5   13-10
57. Gary Klein             Weatherford, TX          5  13-10   44
Day 1: 5   13-10
59. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  13-09   42
Day 1: 5   13-09
60. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  13-08   41
Day 1: 5   13-08
61. Kurt Dove              Del Rio, TX              5  13-07   40
Day 1: 5   13-07
61. Jared Miller           Norman, OK               5  13-07   40
Day 1: 5   13-07
63. Randy Allen            Shreveport, LA           5  13-05   38
Day 1: 5   13-05
64. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX               5  13-03   37
Day 1: 5   13-03
65. Gerald Swindle         Warrior, AL              5  12-15   36
Day 1: 5   12-15
66. Koby Kreiger           Bokeelia, FL             5  12-15   35
Day 1: 5   12-15
67. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS         5  12-14   34
Day 1: 5   12-14
68. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK              5  12-12   33
Day 1: 5   12-12
68. Dennis Tietje          Roanoke, LA              5  12-12   33
Day 1: 5   12-12
70. Jordan Lee             Vinemont, AL             5  12-09   31
Day 1: 5   12-09
70. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY            5  12-09   31
Day 1: 5   12-09
72. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  12-08   29
Day 1: 5   12-08
73. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  12-07   28
Day 1: 5   12-07
74. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA              5  12-06   27
Day 1: 5   12-06
74. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS                5  12-06   27
Day 1: 5   12-06
76. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL            5  12-03   25
Day 1: 5   12-03
77. Kenyon Hill            Norman, OK               5  12-02   24
Day 1: 5   12-02
77. Ken Iyobe              Tokoname  Aichi JAPAN    5  12-02   24
Day 1: 5   12-02
77. Kevin Short            Mayflower, AR            5  12-02   24
Day 1: 5   12-02
80. Matt Reed              Madisonville, TX         5  12-00   21
Day 1: 5   12-00
81. Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI            5  11-15   20
Day 1: 5   11-15
82. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland TX AUSTRALIA  5  11-09   19
Day 1: 5   11-09
82. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC                5  11-09   19
Day 1: 5   11-09
84. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC           5  11-05   17
Day 1: 5   11-05
85. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN       4  11-03   16
Day 1: 4   11-03
86. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  11-02   15
Day 1: 5   11-02
87. Scott Ashmore          Broken Arrow, OK         5  10-15   14
Day 1: 5   10-15
87. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            5  10-15   14
Day 1: 5   10-15
89. Nate Wellman           Newaygo, MI              5  10-10   12
Day 1: 5   10-10
90. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA          5  10-05   11
Day 1: 5   10-05
91. Kevin Ledoux           Choctaw, OK              4  10-05   10
Day 1: 4   10-05
92. Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR          5  10-02    9
Day 1: 5   10-02
93. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         4  10-01    8
Day 1: 4   10-01
94. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH           5  09-09    7
Day 1: 5   09-09
95. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              4  09-08    6
Day 1: 4   09-08
96. Chris Zaldain          San Jose, CA             4  08-14    5
Day 1: 4   08-14
97. Hank Cherry Jr         Maiden, NC               4  08-06    4
Day 1: 4   08-06
98. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  08-04    3
Day 1: 5   08-04
98. Fletcher Shryock       New Philadelphia, OH     5  08-04    3
Day 1: 5   08-04
100. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              3  07-05    1
Day 1: 3   07-05
101. Derek Remitz           Grant, AL                3  07-04    0
Day 1: 3   07-04
102. James Elam             Tulsa, OK                3  07-01    0
Day 1: 3   07-01
103. Matt Lee               Auburn , AL              3  06-10    0
Day 1: 3   06-10
104. Byron Velvick          Boenre, TX               3  06-05    0
Day 1: 3   06-05
105. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA               3  06-00    0
Day 1: 3   06-00
106. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN            3  05-11    0
Day 1: 3   05-11
107. Joseph Sancho          New Windsor, NY          3  05-08    0
Day 1: 3   05-08
108. J Todd Tucker          Moultrie, GA             2  05-07    0
Day 1: 2   05-07
109. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL        3  04-11    0
Day 1: 3   04-11
110. Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL                2  04-02    0
Day 1: 2   04-02
111. Stephen Longobardi     Northford, CT            2  03-15    0
Day 1: 2   03-15
112. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               2  03-03    0
Day 1: 2   03-03
———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        93       524      1457-04
———————————-
93       524      1457-04

1...1,2781,2791,280...1,533Page 1,279 of 1,533

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