Tournament News | Fralick Leads Bassmaster Elite Series on Lake Murray
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5/12/2011 6:00:00 PM |
South Dakota angler leads fishing field on day one of chase for $100,000 top prize
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Photos and story Courtesy of B.A.S.S. Communications
Jami Fralick was struggling on Lake Murray until he landed a 6-pound, 9-ounce largemouth, the anchor to his 17-9 bag and the key to the first-day lead in the Evan Williams Bourbon Carolina Clash.
“It was tough out there. I didn’t get the number of bites I thought I was going to get. I was fortunate to catch that 6-9 — that turns around a tough day pretty fast,” said the pro from Martin, S.D.
Fralick edged ahead of Davy Hite of Ninety Six, S.C., who considers Lake Murray home water. The winner of the season’s third event, Hite had 16-7 to show for his day.
Bass fishing legend Rick Clunn was third with 15-12, and John Crews ended the day in fourth place just 1 ounce behind Clunn. Rounding out the top five with 15-8 was Steve Kennedy, who on May 8 won the Elite event on West Point Lake in his native Georgia.
The day started with fishing-favorable overcast skies, but ripened to hot sun over slick water, factors that made the postspawn bite on Murray a challenge for most of the Bassmaster Elite Series field. Only 78 of the 99 anglers were able to bring in limits.
Fralick was still after his limit when he landed his 6-9 at about 11 a.m. He followed up with an afternoon of junk fishing.
Unlike many in the field, who pulled up in a spot only to see another boat and then move on, Fralick said that after he landed his big bass, he moved to an area he had mostly to himself, an area that was new water for him. It was his remedy for the slow afternoon he had learned to expect over three days of practice. His decision helped him to 10 keeper-size bass Thursday.
“I caught one here, one there, doing a lot of different things, just fishing. If I saw a flat that looked good, I’d go fish it,” he said.
Contrary to his practice experience, Fralick was stumped by the early morning blueback herring-spawn bite.
“I had five bites in the first hour and a half. I never landed them, they came off. But that’s the key here. Tomorrow I’m going to have to catch them first thing in the morning,” said Fralick. He expressed surprise that he could take the lead of the Clash without the early bite that many in the field had declared was critical.
Hite said he caught fish in many areas and throughout the day.
“Early morning’s better, I think for everybody a little bit. But it’s key to catch fish throughout the day,” he said.
He declined to comment on the role an early blueback herring bite played or did not play in his day, and emphasized that the tournament was just beginning.
“I like to call this (Thursday) the first quarter — we have four days to fish,” he said.
Clunn said his day began — and almost ended — with the textbook Lake Murray early morning herring bite that lasted two to three hours for him.
“You’ve got to get your good fish then,” he said. “After that, you might as well go have coffee and biscuits.”
Fralick’s 6-9 set the pace for the event’s Berkley Big Bass of Tournament bonus of $500.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 5 17-09 305
Day 1: 5 17-09
2. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 16-07 295
Day 1: 5 16-07
3. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 15-12 290
Day 1: 5 15-12
4. John Crews Salem, VA 5 15-11 285
Day 1: 5 15-11
5. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 15-08 280
Day 1: 5 15-08
6. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 15-04 276
Day 1: 5 15-04
7. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 14-13 272
Day 1: 5 14-13
8. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 14-10 268
Day 1: 5 14-10
9. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 14-05 264
Day 1: 5 14-05
10. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 5 14-04 260
Day 1: 5 14-04
10. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 14-04 260
Day 1: 5 14-04
12. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 14-02 254
Day 1: 5 14-02
12. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 14-02 254
Day 1: 5 14-02
14. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 14-01 248
Day 1: 5 14-01
15. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 14-00 245
Day 1: 5 14-00
16. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 13-15 243
Day 1: 5 13-15
17. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 13-13 241
Day 1: 5 13-13
18. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 13-12 239
Day 1: 5 13-12
18. Morizo Shimizu Matsugaoka JAPAN 5 13-12 239
Day 1: 5 13-12
20. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 5 13-11 235
Day 1: 5 13-11
21. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 13-10 233
Day 1: 5 13-10
22. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 13-03 231
Day 1: 5 13-03
23. David Smith Del City, OK 5 13-02 229
Day 1: 5 13-02
24. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 13-01 227
Day 1: 5 13-01
25. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 12-15 225
Day 1: 5 12-15
26. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 12-14 223
Day 1: 5 12-14
27. Dean Alexander Georgetown, TX 5 12-12 221
Day 1: 5 12-12
27. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 12-12 221
Day 1: 5 12-12
29. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 12-11 217
Day 1: 5 12-11
30. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 5 12-10 215
Day 1: 5 12-10
30. Clark Reehm Lufkin, TX 5 12-10 215
Day 1: 5 12-10
32. Keith Poche Troy, AL 5 12-09 211
Day 1: 5 12-09
33. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 12-07 209
Day 1: 5 12-07
34. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 12-05 207
Day 1: 5 12-05
35. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 5 12-02 205
Day 1: 5 12-02
36. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 12-01 203
Day 1: 5 12-01
37. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 12-00 201
Day 1: 5 12-00
37. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 12-00 201
Day 1: 5 12-00
39. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 11-15 197
Day 1: 5 11-15
40. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 11-14 195
Day 1: 5 11-14
41. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 11-11 193
Day 1: 5 11-11
42. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 11-10 191
Day 1: 5 11-10
43. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 11-09 189
Day 1: 5 11-09
44. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 11-03 187
Day 1: 5 11-03
44. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 5 11-03 187
Day 1: 5 11-03
46. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 11-01 183
Day 1: 5 11-01
47. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 10-14 181
Day 1: 5 10-14
48. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 5 10-12 179
Day 1: 5 10-12
49. Randy Howell Springville, AL 4 10-11 177
Day 1: 4 10-11
50. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 10-10 175
Day 1: 5 10-10
50. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 10-10 175
Day 1: 5 10-10
52. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 5 10-08 171
Day 1: 5 10-08
53. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 10-02 169
Day 1: 5 10-02
54. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 10-00 167
Day 1: 5 10-00
55. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 09-14 165
Day 1: 5 09-14
56. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 09-13 163
Day 1: 5 09-13
57. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 5 09-12 161
Day 1: 5 09-12
57. Zell Rowland Austin, TX 5 09-12 161
Day 1: 5 09-12
57. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, FL 5 09-12 161
Day 1: 5 09-12
60. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 5 09-11 155
Day 1: 5 09-11
60. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 09-11 155
Day 1: 5 09-11
62. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 09-08 151
Day 1: 5 09-08
63. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 09-03 149
Day 1: 5 09-03
64. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 09-02 147
Day 1: 5 09-02
65. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 09-00 145
Day 1: 5 09-00
66. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 08-15 143
Day 1: 5 08-15
67. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 08-13 141
Day 1: 5 08-13
68. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 08-09 139
Day 1: 5 08-09
69. Ben Parker Union City, TN 5 08-08 137
Day 1: 5 08-08
70. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 08-07 135
Day 1: 5 08-07
71. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 5 08-03 133
Day 1: 5 08-03
72. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 08-02 131
Day 1: 5 08-02
73. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 08-01 129
Day 1: 5 08-01
74. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 07-14 127
Day 1: 5 07-14
75. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 4 07-14 125
Day 1: 4 07-14
76. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 4 07-12 123
Day 1: 4 07-12
77. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 07-11 121
Day 1: 5 07-11
78. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 07-10 119
Day 1: 5 07-10
79. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 4 07-10 117
Day 1: 4 07-10
80. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 07-00 115
Day 1: 5 07-00
81. Craig Schuff Watauga, TX 4 07-00 113
Day 1: 4 07-00
82. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 3 06-10 111
Day 1: 3 06-10
83. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 06-01 109
Day 1: 5 06-01
84. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 5 05-14 107
Day 1: 5 05-14
85. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 4 05-12 105
Day 1: 4 05-12
86. Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 4 05-11 103
Day 1: 4 05-11
87. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 3 05-08 101
Day 1: 3 05-08
88. Alton Jones Waco, TX 4 05-05 99
Day 1: 4 05-05
89. Travis Manson De Pere, WI 4 05-02 97
Day 1: 4 05-02
90. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 3 05-02 95
Day 1: 3 05-02
91. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 3 04-14 93
Day 1: 3 04-14
92. Ryan Said Wixom, MI 4 04-08 91
Day 1: 4 04-08
93. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 3 03-14 89
Day 1: 3 03-14
94. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 2 03-13 87
Day 1: 2 03-13
95. Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 2 03-06 85
Day 1: 2 03-06
96. Pat Golden High Point, NC 2 02-02 83
Day 1: 2 02-02
97. James Stricklin Texarkania, TX 2 02-01 81
Day 1: 2 02-01
98. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 1 01-11 79
Day 1: 1 01-11
99. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 1 01-02 77
Day 1: 1 01-02
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 78 455 1009-07
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78 455 1009-07
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