Photo by B.A.S.S. Communications
If it worked once, repeat. That’s Pat Golden’s plan when he gets back
on Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes on Friday to defend his slim lead in
the Sunshine Showdown, the season opener of the 2011 Bassmaster Elite
Series.
Working several canals for bedding bass, the High Point, N.C., pro
linked together 20 pounds, 7 ounces Thursday for a 10-ounce lead over
Stephen Browning and Kevin Wirth, who tied for second place with 19-13.
Sharing fourth place at 17-9 were Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Fla.,
and Kevin VanDam, the Michigan pro fresh off his fourth Bassmaster
Classic victory.
“I was looking at them today, mainly,” said Golden, an Elite pro
since 2008. “I had some I scoped out during practice and I went back to
them today, and some were still there and some weren’t. That’s kind of
how it goes with sight-fishing. That’s how I got them all.”
He plans to return Friday to the same area.
“You got to go with what brought you here,” he said. “I’ll start with
that first and see what happens. I’ve got some stretches I can throw
on, but I am going to start out tomorrow to see if I can look at them
again.”
He said he’ll go back after an 8-pounder he was unsuccessful in
hooking Thursday under windy conditions. That lunker would be a twin to
the big bass he hauled to the scales, an 8-15. It fell for a
green-pumpkin Senko, he said, rigged weightless with a round-bend
Gamakatsu hook, the same rig that took three other fish.
Wirth, of Crestwood, Ky., who won an Elite event in 2008, said he
made an adjustment away from sight-fishing that resulted in six bites
for six good fish.
“They came a long way apart. Tomorrow I’ll just have to keep my nose to the grindstone and keep fishing,” he said.
Browning, also not sight-fishing, said he slowed down Thursday.
“I’m taking a flipping stick and doing what you’re supposed to do in
Florida, throwing a worm and slowing down,” he said. “It worked out real
well for me today.”
He said he concentrated on one lake on the opening day and would return to the same location to try again.
“You catch almost 20 pounds, you have to go back,” said the Hot
Springs, Ark., pro, who is recovering from elbow injuries. He said he
likely will share the water with other competitors, if Thursday was any
indication of the competition for fish.
Browning is trying for his first Elite win. This year for the first
time, a win is worth an instant qualification for the 2012 Bassmaster
Classic as well as $100,000.
2011 Sunshine Showdown - Tavares, FL 03/10-03/13 Harris Chain Of Lakes, Tavares Fla.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz
1. Pat Golden High Point, N.C. 5 20-07
2. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 5 19-13
2. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 5 19-13
4. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 5 17-09
4. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 17-09
6. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, Ga. 5 17-08
7. Clark Reehm Lufkin, Texas 5 17-02
8. Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 5 15-01
9. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 5 14-10
10. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 5 14-09
11. Shaw Grigsby Gainesville, Fla. 5 14-07
12. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, Idaho 5 14-06
13. Chris Lane Guntersville, Ala. 5 14-05
14. Lee Sisson Winter Haven, Fla. 5 14-04
15. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, Okla. 5 14-03
15. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 5 14-03
17. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, Ala. 5 14-02
18. Ott Defoe Knoxville, Tenn. 5 14-00
19. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 3 13-15
20. Jonathon Vandam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 13-14
21. David Walker Sevierville, Tenn. 5 13-13
22. Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 5 13-09
23. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, La. 4 13-05
24. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, Texas 5 13-03
25. Travis Manson Green Bay, Wisc. 5 13-00
26. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 5 12-14
27. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 5 12-08
28. Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 5 12-06
28. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, S.C. 5 12-06
30. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 5 12-03
30. Ben Parker Springville, Tenn. 5 12-03
32. Dean Alexander Florence, Texas 5 12-02
33. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 5 12-00
33. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, N.J. 5 12-00
35. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 5 11-14
36. Zell Rowland Austin, Texas 5 11-10
37. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 5 11-09
37. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 5 11-09
39. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 5 11-07
40. James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 5 11-06
41. Mark Davis Mount Ida, Ark. 5 11-05
42. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, Okla. 5 11-04
43. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 5 11-03
43. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, Ariz 5 11-03
45. Marty Robinson Lyman, S.C. 3 11-03
46. Craig Schuff Watauga, Texas 5 11-02
47. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 5 11-01
48. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 5 11-00
48. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 5 11-00
50. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 5 10-15
50. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 5 10-15
52. John Crews Salem, Va. 5 10-13
52. Matt Herren Trussville, Ala. 5 10-13
54. Nate Wellman Newaygo, Mich. 5 10-12
55. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, N.C. 5 10-11
56. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 5 10-10
57. Russell Parrish Riesel, Texas 5 10-09
58. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, S.C. 5 10-08
59. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, N.C. 5 10-04
60. Matt Greenblatt Palm Beach Gardens, Fl 5 10-03
61. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5 10-02
62. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 5 10-01
63. James Stricklin Jasper, Texas 5 9-15
64. Keith Combs Del Rio, Texas 5 9-14
65. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 4 9-14
66. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 5 9-12
67. Jeff Connella Bentley, La. 5 9-06
67. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 5 9-06
69. Kelly Jordon Palestine, Texas 5 9-03
69. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 5 9-03
71. Chad Griffin Cresson, Texas 5 9-02
71. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 5 9-02
73. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 5 9-01
73. Peter Thliveros St Augustine, Fla. 5 9-01
75. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 5 9-00
75. Bradley Roy Lancaster, Ky. 5 9-00
77. Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 5 8-06
78. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 5 8-03
79. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 5 7-13
80. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, Ark. 5 7-10
80. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 5 7-10
82. Bill Lowen Brookville, Ind. 5 7-07
83. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 4 7-06
84. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 5 7-03
85. Ish Monroe Hughson, Calif. 4 6-06
86. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 4 6-04
87. Bobby Lane Lakeland, Fla. 3 6-01
88. Keith Poche Troy, Ala. 4 6-00
89. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 4 5-08
90. Bradley Hallman Norman, Okla. 2 5-03
91. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 2 4-08
92. Ryan Said Wixom, Mich. 4 4-06
93. Morizo Shimizu Osaka, Japan 2 3-10
94. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, La. 3 3-09
95. Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 3 3-05
96. Brent Broderick Oregonia, Ohio 3 3-05
97. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, Md. 1 1-01
98. David Smith Del City, Okla. 1 0-10
99. Derek Remitz Grant, Ala. 0 0-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 79 453 1052-09
