DECATUR, Ala. - Three previous Bassmaster Classic champions are separated by 11 ounces of each other after the opening day of the Dixie Duel bass fishing tournament on Wheeler Lake. 2008 Classic champ Alton Jones of Waco, Texas, bagged 17 pounds, 12 ounces, to lead the field of 100 anglers on the third stop of the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series.
Right behind Jones is Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas, in second with 17-8, who won the 2004 Classic. Mike Iaconelli, winner of the 2003 Classic, is third overall with 17-1.
The trio of anglers, fishing for the top prize of $100,000, was surprised in being able to secure larger weights on Day One. During official practice earlier this week, all mentioned catching a lot of fish, but said they were on the smaller side of the scale.
"It really was a good day and it went a lot better than my practice days," said Jones, 45. "I had to realize that the conditions were going to change and had to practice for what those conditions were going to be on tournament days. I am really excited with what I had today and would have been pleased with 13 to 15 pounds."
Jones fished a couple of areas throughout the day before finding his honey hole. The five-time BASS event winner was able to haul in four bass from one location that included a largemouth that tipped the scales at 7 pounds, the big bass of day.
"I caught four of the fish I weighed-in today in about 30 minutes," said Jones. "I knew this spot had potential to cough up good quality bites. I also lost a 3-pounder from here."
Jones is holding his tackle and strategy close to his chest as other anglers were competing nearby. He is concerned about Friday as a thunderstorm unloaded during the weigh-in.
"Tomorrow will be a different stroke when the wind comes around from the opposite direction," Jones said. "We will play that game when it comes."
Omori moved around Wheeler Lake frequently and used fast moving baits to boat his limit. He is not sure about Friday's second day of competition because of the continuing rain.
"I probably caught 12 keepers today, with the biggest being 6-9," said Omori, who had other pros close. "It was a quirky day. I got bites right before the storm came. Tomorrow will be a different day."
Iaconelli, who finished second at the 2009 Classic, also fished a lot of areas and a variety of lures to boat his limit. He was shocked at his actual weight after estimating a 15-pound bag prior to weigh-in, that included a large kicker fish.
"I had one in there that I estimated was a four-pounder, but it actually ended up being 6-9 so that helps a little bit," said Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J. "I've had three tournaments in a row where I have found nothing in practice. I went out today with 15 rods on the deck and basically went junk fishing and I was able to put it together.
He was able to catch fish throughout the day up until the weather front moved in close to check-in.
"Unlike a lot of the guys in here, I don't have anything solid or a specific area, I don't have a pattern so I am just fishing," said Iaconelli. "I'm catching them on multiple different kinds of baits, I caught them as shallow as a foot-and-a-half and I caught my deepest one in about 20 feet of water."
Rounding out the top five are Rick Morris of Virginia Beach, Va., with 16-13 for fourth position, while Randy Howell of Springville, Ala., is in fifth with 16-6.
Almost the entire field brought a five-fish limit to the scales on Thursday - 97 to be exact. Other notables include last week's Elite Series champ Mark Menendez of Paducah, Ky., in seventh and 2009 Classic champion Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., in eighth.
If Jones can hang onto the lead throughout the event, he could overtake the No. 1 position for the Angler of the Year title. He currently is in second with 514 points, with four-time AOY winner Kevin VanDam in first with 560 points.
After Friday, the field will be cut to the top 50 competitors. The final day of competition, Sunday, will feature the top 12 anglers. With 1,063 miles of shoreline, Wheeler is the largest of three Alabama lakes that connect with the Tennessee River. It has been the host of 10 BASS events, including the 1974 Classic and also will feature the second Southern Open of 2009, set for April 30-May 2.
2009 Dixie Duel 4/2-4/5
Lake Wheeler, Decatur AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Alton Jones Waco, TX 5 17-12 305
Day 1: 5 17-12
2. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 17-08 295
Day 1: 5 17-08
3. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 5 17-01 290
Day 1: 5 17-01
4. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 5 16-13 285
Day 1: 5 16-13
5. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 16-06 280
Day 1: 5 16-06
6. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 16-02 276
Day 1: 5 16-02
7. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 16-01 272
Day 1: 5 16-01
8. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 15-10 268
Day 1: 5 15-10
9. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 15-07 264
Day 1: 5 15-07
10. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 15-02 260
Day 1: 5 15-02
10. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 15-02 260
Day 1: 5 15-02
12. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 14-15 254
Day 1: 5 14-15
13. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 14-14 251
Day 1: 5 14-14
14. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 5 14-12 248
Day 1: 5 14-12
15. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 14-07 245
Day 1: 5 14-07
16. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 14-00 243
Day 1: 5 14-00
17. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 13-15 241
Day 1: 5 13-15
18. Brian Clark Haltom City, TX 5 13-14 239
Day 1: 5 13-14
18. Jason Quinn York, SC 5 13-14 239
Day 1: 5 13-14
20. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 13-13 235
Day 1: 5 13-13
21. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 13-11 233
Day 1: 5 13-11
22. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 13-10 231
Day 1: 5 13-10
22. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 13-10 231
Day 1: 5 13-10
24. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 5 13-09 227
Day 1: 5 13-09
25. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 13-06 225
Day 1: 5 13-06
26. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 13-05 223
Day 1: 5 13-05
27. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 5 13-03 221
Day 1: 5 13-03
28. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 5 13-01 219
Day 1: 5 13-01
29. Todd Auten Lake Wylie, SC 5 12-12 217
Day 1: 5 12-12
29. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 12-12 217
Day 1: 5 12-12
31. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 12-11 213
Day 1: 5 12-11
31. Matthew Sphar Pavilion, NY 5 12-11 213
Day 1: 5 12-11
33. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 12-09 209
Day 1: 5 12-09
34. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 5 12-06 207
Day 1: 5 12-06
35. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 12-03 205
Day 1: 5 12-03
36. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 12-02 203
Day 1: 5 12-02
36. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 5 12-02 203
Day 1: 5 12-02
38. Pat Golden High Point, NC 5 12-01 199
Day 1: 5 12-01
39. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 12-00 197
Day 1: 5 12-00
40. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 5 11-13 195
Day 1: 5 11-13
41. Stephen Browning Hot Springs National Pa 5 11-11 193
Day 1: 5 11-11
41. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 11-11 193
Day 1: 5 11-11
41. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 11-11 193
Day 1: 5 11-11
44. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 11-10 187
Day 1: 5 11-10
45. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-09 185
Day 1: 5 11-09
45. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 5 11-09 185
Day 1: 5 11-09
47. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 11-08 181
Day 1: 5 11-08
48. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 11-07 179
Day 1: 5 11-07
48. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 5 11-07 179
Day 1: 5 11-07
50. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 11-06 175
Day 1: 5 11-06
50. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 5 11-06 175
Day 1: 5 11-06
50. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 11-06 175
Day 1: 5 11-06
53. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 11-04 169
Day 1: 5 11-04
54. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 5 11-03 167
Day 1: 5 11-03
55. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 5 11-03 165
Day 1: 5 11-03
56. Billy Mccaghren Mayflower, AR 5 11-01 163
Day 1: 5 11-01
57. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 11-00 161
Day 1: 5 11-00
58. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 10-12 159
Day 1: 5 10-12
58. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 5 10-12 159
Day 1: 5 10-12
60. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 5 10-11 155
Day 1: 5 10-11
60. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 10-11 155
Day 1: 5 10-11
60. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 10-11 155
Day 1: 5 10-11
60. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 10-11 155
Day 1: 5 10-11
64. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 10-09 147
Day 1: 5 10-09
64. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 10-09 147
Day 1: 5 10-09
66. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 10-07 143
Day 1: 5 10-07
67. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 3 10-07 141
Day 1: 3 10-07
68. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 5 10-04 139
Day 1: 5 10-04
68. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 10-04 139
Day 1: 5 10-04
70. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 10-02 135
Day 1: 5 10-02
71. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 10-01 133
Day 1: 5 10-01
71. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 10-01 133
Day 1: 5 10-01
71. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 10-01 133
Day 1: 5 10-01
74. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 10-00 127
Day 1: 5 10-00
74. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 5 10-00 127
Day 1: 5 10-00
76. Jon Bondy Windsor CANADA 5 09-15 123
Day 1: 5 09-15
77. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 5 09-13 121
Day 1: 5 09-13
78. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, AR 5 09-08 119
Day 1: 5 09-08
79. Chris Lane Lakeland, FL 5 09-05 117
Day 1: 5 09-05
80. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, AR 5 09-02 115
Day 1: 5 09-02
81. Jim Murray Arabi, GA 5 08-15 113
Day 1: 5 08-15
81. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 5 08-15 113
Day 1: 5 08-15
83. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 08-13 109
Day 1: 5 08-13
84. Luke Gritter Kalamazoo, MI 5 08-11 107
Day 1: 5 08-11
85. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, OK 5 08-09 105
Day 1: 5 08-09
85. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 5 08-09 105
Day 1: 5 08-09
87. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 5 08-02 101
Day 1: 5 08-02
87. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 08-02 101
Day 1: 5 08-02
89. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 08-01 97
Day 1: 5 08-01
90. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 08-00 95
Day 1: 5 08-00
90. David Smith Del City, OK 5 08-00 95
Day 1: 5 08-00
92. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 5 07-13 91
Day 1: 5 07-13
93. Ken D Cook Lawton, OK 5 07-08 89
Day 1: 5 07-08
94. John Crews Salem, VA 5 07-05 87
Day 1: 5 07-05
95. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 4 07-02 85
Day 1: 4 07-02
96. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 5 07-01 83
Day 1: 5 07-01
97. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 07-00 81
Day 1: 5 07-00
98. Kevin Langill Terrell, NC 5 06-11 79
Day 1: 5 06-11
99. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 06-09 77
Day 1: 5 06-09
100. Elton Luce Jr. Brookeland, TX 3 05-13 76
Day 1: 3 05-13
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BIG BASS
Day
1 Alton Jones Waco, TX 07-00 $0.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 97 495 1147-08
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97 495 1147-08