OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — Greg DiPalma of Millville, N.J., believes Lake Okeechobee may be one of the nation’s least-explored bass fisheries, but he did his best to change that by sacking up a limit of 29 pounds, 12 ounces to lead Day 1 of the Bassmaster Elite tournament at Lake Okeechobee. Fishing an atypical area that he found during practice, DiPalma heads into Day 2 with a lead of 3-10 over Will Davis Jr.
“Me and Will were sitting side-by-side, which was pretty special,” DiPalma said. “There were four of us in one area and we all had (big) bags.
“It was an absolutely incredible day. To be leading one of these, to be honest with you, it’s about time! It feels good. It’s gonna feel really good if I can maintain it.”
As DiPalma explained, recent years have seen high water levels choke out much of the Lake Okeechobee vegetation that once created vast bass habitat. With the obvious targets heavily pressured, he knew he needed to find something unique.
“This is probably the most unlocked lake in the country, to be honest with you, because everybody beats the bank here and nobody really goes out in the lake and looks for anything,” DiPalma said. “I think there are key areas in this lake if you can find them, and that was one of them.
“There’s not a lot of contour where we’re fishing, and this is the only area that has a little high spot where they can pull up and feed. I’m guessing maybe that’s part of it. It does have some current flowing through there — not a lot, just a little bit at times.”
DiPalma said his key area has the dingy water tone common to much of the lake. The high point rose to about 4 feet from surrounding depths of 10.
“The key was working together with the other anglers,” DiPalma said. “We just laughed and giggled and caught fish all day.”
Noting that he leaned on a trio of baits to amass his leading weight, DiPalma said he’s eager to give his spot another shot on Day 2.
“There’s definitely some fish in the area; I just hope they stay where they’re at so I can catch them again tomorrow,” DiPalma said.
Hailing from Sylacauga, Ala., Davis is in second place with 26-2. The spot he shared with DiPalma, as well as third-place Brandon Palaniuk, comprised the ideal coming-and-going scenario.
“There’s a lot of hyacinth mats and deep water close to it,” Davis said. “It was just the perfect storm; it was a postspawn/prespawn-type place. There’s a lot of bait in the area.
“There’s more fish around, but they got really educated with (several) of us jacking on them. We might pull up there tomorrow and not get a bite, but if we do, I think the quality is there, and I think we’re going to do good.”
Davis said he threw a mix of moving baits and slower presentations. He caught keepers on both styles. Looking ahead to Day 2, Davis said he’s comfortable again sharing water with his fellow competitors. In his view, the proximity enhanced the experience.
“It was a blessed day; there was a couple of us fishing around one another and we worked really well together,” Davis said. “It was one of those days you dream about. It was awesome to catch those Okeechobee giants.”
Palaniuk, who makes his home in Rathdrum, Idaho, is in third place with 23-7. In his opinion, the day’s shared productivity was a pleasant surprise.
“It was pretty obvious that we all knew what was going on, but I don’t think any of us knew what was there,” Palaniuk said. “Each one of us caught a big one there in practice and then left. Today, we go to show what it was capable of, but it’s not lights-out.
“I had six bites, Greg might’ve had seven or eight and Will had like seven. It seemed like one guy would get a hot hand.”
Describing a junk-fishing scenario that required each of the neighboring anglers to rotate through several different baits, Palaniuk said he caught his fish on four different baits. Combining camaraderie with competition fueled the necessary cooperation.
“The thing that I’ve learned over the past 15 years is (sharing a spot requires) communication,” Palaniuk said. “The fish catches were special, but being able to work with fellow competitors was pretty amazing.”
2025 Bassmaster Elite Tournament at Lake Okeechobee 2/27-3/2
Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 29-12 104 $500.00
Day 1: 5 29-12
2. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 26-02 103
Day 1: 5 26-02
3. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 23-07 102
Day 1: 5 23-07
4. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 21-00 101
Day 1: 5 21-00
5. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 20-12 100
Day 1: 5 20-12
6. Cody Meyer Eagle, ID 5 20-03 99
Day 1: 5 20-03
7. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 19-15 98
Day 1: 5 19-15
7. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 19-15 98
Day 1: 5 19-15
9. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 19-07 96
Day 1: 5 19-07
10. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 5 18-03 95
Day 1: 5 18-03
11. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 18-00 94
Day 1: 5 18-00
12. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 17-12 93
Day 1: 5 17-12
13. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 17-06 92
Day 1: 5 17-06
14. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 5 17-04 91
Day 1: 5 17-04
15. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 16-13 90
Day 1: 5 16-13
16. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 16-12 89
Day 1: 5 16-12
17. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 16-11 88 $500.00
Day 1: 5 16-11
18. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 16-09 87
Day 1: 5 16-09
19. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 15-04 86
Day 1: 5 15-04
20. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 15-03 85
Day 1: 5 15-03
21. Paul Marks Cumming, GA 5 14-15 84
Day 1: 5 14-15
21. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 14-15 84
Day 1: 5 14-15
23. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 14-14 82
Day 1: 5 14-14
24. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 14-11 81
Day 1: 5 14-11
25. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 14-08 80
Day 1: 5 14-08
26. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 14-06 79
Day 1: 5 14-06
27. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 14-01 78
Day 1: 5 14-01
28. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 14-00 77
Day 1: 5 14-00
29. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 13-15 76
Day 1: 5 13-15
29. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 13-15 76
Day 1: 5 13-15
31. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 13-13 74
Day 1: 5 13-13
32. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 13-12 73
Day 1: 5 13-12
32. Emil Wagner Marietta, GA 5 13-12 73
Day 1: 5 13-12
34. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 13-11 71
Day 1: 5 13-11
34. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 13-11 71
Day 1: 5 13-11
34. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 13-11 71
Day 1: 5 13-11
37. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 13-08 68
Day 1: 5 13-08
38. Evan Kung Pickering Ontario CANAD 5 13-07 67
Day 1: 5 13-07
39. Ben Milliken Omaha, NE 5 13-06 66
Day 1: 5 13-06
40. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 13-05 65
Day 1: 5 13-05
41. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 13-03 64
Day 1: 5 13-03
42. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 13-02 63
Day 1: 5 13-02
43. Tucker Smith Birmingham, AL 5 13-01 62
Day 1: 5 13-01
44. Beau Browning Hot Springs National Pa 5 13-00 61
Day 1: 5 13-00
45. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 12-11 60
Day 1: 5 12-11
46. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 12-10 59
Day 1: 5 12-10
47. Blake Capps Muskogee, OK 5 12-08 58
Day 1: 5 12-08
48. John Cox Debary, FL 5 12-06 57
Day 1: 5 12-06
49. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 12-03 56
Day 1: 5 12-03
50. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 12-01 55
Day 1: 5 12-01
51. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 11-15 54
Day 1: 5 11-15
52. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 11-14 53
Day 1: 5 11-14
53. Cole Sands Johnson City, TN 5 11-11 52
Day 1: 5 11-11
53. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 11-11 52
Day 1: 5 11-11
55. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 11-09 50
Day 1: 5 11-09
56. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 4 11-07 49
Day 1: 4 11-07
57. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-06 48
Day 1: 5 11-06
58. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 11-05 47
Day 1: 5 11-05
58. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 11-05 47
Day 1: 5 11-05
60. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 11-00 45
Day 1: 5 11-00
61. Cliff Pace Ovett, MS 5 10-09 44
Day 1: 5 10-09
62. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 10-08 43
Day 1: 5 10-08
62. Chris Zaldain Boyd, TX 5 10-08 43
Day 1: 5 10-08
64. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 10-05 41
Day 1: 5 10-05
65. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 10-02 40
Day 1: 5 10-02
66. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 10-00 39
Day 1: 5 10-00
66. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 10-00 39
Day 1: 5 10-00
68. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 09-14 37
Day 1: 5 09-14
69. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 5 09-13 36
Day 1: 5 09-13
69. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 09-13 36
Day 1: 5 09-13
71. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 09-12 34
Day 1: 5 09-12
71. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 09-12 34
Day 1: 5 09-12
71. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 09-12 34
Day 1: 5 09-12
74. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 09-10 31
Day 1: 5 09-10
74. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 09-10 31
Day 1: 5 09-10
76. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 09-08 29
Day 1: 5 09-08
77. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 5 09-06 28
Day 1: 5 09-06
78. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 09-02 27
Day 1: 5 09-02
79. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 09-01 26
Day 1: 5 09-01
80. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 5 08-15 25
Day 1: 5 08-15
81. Dakota Ebare Brookeland, TX 5 08-14 24
Day 1: 5 08-14
82. Easton Fothergill Grand Rapids , MN 5 08-11 23
Day 1: 5 08-11
83. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 08-10 22
Day 1: 5 08-10
83. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 08-10 22
Day 1: 5 08-10
85. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 08-08 20
Day 1: 5 08-08
86. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 08-06 19
Day 1: 5 08-06
87. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 08-03 18
Day 1: 5 08-03
87. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 08-03 18
Day 1: 5 08-03
89. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 4 07-12 16
Day 1: 4 07-12
90. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 07-07 15
Day 1: 5 07-07
90. Ed Loughran III Richmond, VA 5 07-07 15
Day 1: 5 07-07
92. Andrew Loberg Guntersville, AL 4 07-06 13
Day 1: 4 07-06
93. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 07-04 12
Day 1: 5 07-04
94. Seth Feider Elko New Market, MN 4 06-13 11
Day 1: 4 06-13
95. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 06-01 10
Day 1: 5 06-01
96. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 3 06-00 9
Day 1: 3 06-00
96. Bryan New Leesville, SC 3 06-00 9
Day 1: 3 06-00
98. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 4 05-15 7
Day 1: 4 05-15
99. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 05-07 6
Day 1: 5 05-07
100. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 4 05-07 5
Day 1: 4 05-07
101. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 05-04 4
Day 1: 5 05-04
102. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 3 04-15 3
Day 1: 3 04-15
103. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
103. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 08-10 $500.00
1 Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 08-10 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 93 498 1261-13
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93 498 1261-13