Today was the first day of the 2007 ESPN Elite Bassmasters series at Clear Lake. Day one was totally off the hook. (fishing joke)
You can see the coverage of it all next weekend on ESPN. Today every Elite (pro) guy got to fish with a co-angler paired at random. They weigh in 5 fish max. After Friday only 50 from each class gets to fish, it is the first cut, then Sunday only 12 are on the water for the final day. All fish are released back into the lake.
So is it a bunch of rednecks? Ya think huh? But no. San Francisco native African American Ish Monroe was the earlier leader all day until later in the day Red Bluff firefighter Double G Greg Gutierrez took the lead. Also in the mix are Japanese pros and people from all over the USA.
Ish with Fish!
Double G showing off!
Takahiro Omori on Clear Lake
Kevin Wirth former Kentucky Derby jockey
So how is Clear Lake doing? Very well thank you. In fact this might be the most fish ever weighed in for the first day of a Bassmaster tournament. The 4 day total could easily be a record as well.
Ish and Greg both came in with 5 fish over 30 lbs total. That is just crazy. During the weigh-in angler after angler shook their head and couldn't believe the fishing at Clear Lake, 50, 60 70 fish caught all day, and all big. A 20 pound sack doesn't come close to feeling safe that you will fish on Saturday.
One guy that competes is a fish biologist. He was asked about Clear Lake. He said it is an extremely healthy lake, lots of baitfish, and the fish population is big and healthy and everywhere in the lake. He was among those that shook his head at the number of fish caught today on the lake.
In the Co-Angler division the guy I hire as a guide Bob Myskey is currently in 4th place. The pro that gets Bob as his co-angler is a lucky guy. Bob lives on the lake and has a guide service that puts him on the water well over 200 days a year.
Check his website.
In 2 weeks I am once again headed up there for a week, and a ZZ Top concert. Not a bad vacation eh?
Clear Lake rocks!
From the ESPN story filed after today's results:
LAKEPORT, Calif. — Everyone knew that the Bassmaster Elite Series anglers would catch 'em at Clear Lake. What they didn't know is that everyone would catch 'em.
The first day of the Golden State Shootout presented by Evan Williams Bourbon was a circus of bass-catching, even by the standards of the 108 pros who yanked thousands of bass out of the calm, fecund waters of this mountain lake. All 108 caught limits. The two anglers tied for 107th place both had 13 pounds even. It took 20 pounds just to make it to the top 50, and 27 pounds to breach the top 10.
"It possibly could reach record-setting in the next couple of days," promised Lee Bailey, whose 22 pounds were good enough for just 34th place.
One after another, anglers gushed about the fishing. By day's end, they were shaking their heads in disappointment when the scale registered only 20 pounds.
"This place is awesome," James Charlesworth said. "There were fish everywhere I went." He's in 46th place.
"I can't even imagine what this place would be like had it not gotten cold," marveled Charlie Youngers. That's the guy in 71st place.
"It's un-freaking-believable," said Scott Rook. "I'll wind up in 50th with 19 pounds, 15 ounces."
Pretty close: 54th. It was that kind of day.
some quotes found here
"I did not throw a swimbait all day. If I could figure out how to catch these swimbait fish, these guys would be in trouble." — Glenn Delong (18th, 25-8)
"I got so many 3- to 5-pounders in it, it's sick. I enjoyed it. I just wish it weren't 2,000 miles from my house." — Arkansan Stephen Browning
"I caught them every way that I can possibly think." — Mark Menendez
"Something got into the food supply, because I've never seen so many fat, healthy bass." — Kevin VanDam
KVD with 2 big healthy Clear Lake fish
"I wore the hide off my hands catching fish today." — Jimmy Mize
ESPN coverage here
Oh by the way there is such a thing as fantasy fishing. I'm in the top 10% after day one!
Crazy ain't it?!
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