Matt Lee Jumps Ahead After First Round At St. Lawrence Bassmaster Elite -52 Bags over 20 pounds!!!

Matt Lee of Guntersville, Ala., takes the lead on the first day of the 2018 Huk Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet, bringing 27 pounds, 12 ounces to the scales on Thursday.

Aug. 23, 2018

WADDINGTON, N.Y. — Giant limits of smallmouth bass exceeded expectations during Thursday’s opening round of competition as Matt Lee of Guntersville, Ala., weighed a tremendous 27-pound, 12-ounce limit of smallmouth bass to take an early lead at the Huk Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet.

Lee’s staggering limit, anchored by a behemoth 6-plus-pound smallmouth, is the heaviest single-day smallmouth limit in Bassmaster Elite Series history.

With so many big smallies coming in, it’s worth mentioning that a four-day total consisting of only smallmouth topping the 100-pound mark has never been caught during an Elite Series event. New records could be set at Waddington this week, as 52 five-bass limits exceeding the 20-pound mark were brought to the scales Thursday.

That’s an unprecedented number — and nothing short of impressive.

A first-place prize of $100,000 will go to the winner after four days of competition — and since Lee has never claimed an Elite Series victory, he is looking to expand his lead during Friday’s second round. He can also earn more valuable points in the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year race.

This tournament marks the conclusion of the 2018 regular Elite Series season. The Top 50 anglers in the points race will advance to the AOY Championship scheduled for mid-September on Georgia’s Lake Chatuge.

“What an amazing day,” Lee said. “Things literally went perfectly for me today, and that seldom happens in this sport. On every spot I fished today I caught a big one, and plenty of them. It was amazing.”

Lee has the lead by over a pound, and he is confident the bite will stay consistent if the forecasted weather also remains consistent.

“For some reason, I have a better batting average on fisheries that turn into slugfests,” Lee said. “I don’t know why that is, but you won’t hear me complain about it. I can’t say duplicating today’s weight is possible, but from what I saw today, it’s certainly not impossible. I’m excited to get back out there and make it happen.”

Tennessee veteran pro David Walker also enjoyed a fantastic day that produced a five-bass limit that weighed 26-8.

“I really don’t know what to say. I absolutely can’t believe that happened,” Walker said. “That was, without a doubt, the best day of smallmouth fishing I’ve ever had. I’m so happy.”

Just like Lee, Walker’s day went perfectly.

“So many times in this sport, things happen beyond your control that affect the outcome of your time on the water,” he said. “Not today. Every decision I made worked out, and I really hope my luck continues into tomorrow.”

Second-year pro Tyler Carriere of Louisiana will begin Friday’s round in third place after weighing 26 pounds of smallmouth.

“I knew catching a big limit over 20 pounds was possible after my practice,” he said. “But today was certainly beyond my expectations. My bite lasted all day long, and I was able to make a key upgrade in the afternoon to help push my weight up another pound. I’m very happy with the results, and I’m ready for tomorrow.”

Arizona’s Josh Bertrand and Scott Rook of Arkansas tied for fourth place with 25-11.

Brett Hite of Phoenix, Ariz., is leading the Phoenix Boats Big Bass competition, thanks to a 6-12 smallmouth. If the big bass holds through Championship Sunday, Hite will win a $1,500 bonus paycheck.

Competition will resume Friday morning with takeoff beginning at 6:15 a.m. ET at Whittaker Park in Waddington, N.Y., and weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at the same location.

2018 HUK Bassmaster Elite at St. Lawrence River presented by Black Velvet 8/23-8/26
St. Lawrence River, Waddington  NY.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Matt Lee               Guntersville, AL         5  27-12  110
Day 1: 5   27-12
2.  David Walker           Sevierville, TN          5  26-08  109
Day 1: 5   26-08
3.  Tyler Carriere         Youngsville, LA          5  26-00  108
Day 1: 5   26-00
4.  Josh Bertrand          San Tan Valley, AZ       5  25-11  107
Day 1: 5   25-11
4.  Scott Rook             Little Rock, AR          5  25-11  107
Day 1: 5   25-11
6.  Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  25-07  105
Day 1: 5   25-07
7.  Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ     5  25-00  104
Day 1: 5   25-00
8.  James Elam             Tulsa, OK                5  24-13  103
Day 1: 5   24-13
8.  Dave Lefebre           Erie, PA                 5  24-13  103
Day 1: 5   24-13
10. Jesse Wiggins          Cullman, AL              5  24-09  101
Day 1: 5   24-09
11. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         5  24-04  100
Day 1: 5   24-04
12. Mike McClelland        Bentonville, AR          5  24-01   99
Day 1: 5   24-01
13. Bobby Lane Jr.         Lakeland, FL             5  24-00   98
Day 1: 5   24-00
14. Chris Lane             Guntersville, AL         5  23-14   97
Day 1: 5   23-14
15. John Murray            Spring City, TN          5  23-13   96
Day 1: 5   23-13
16. Justin Lucas           Guntersville, AL         5  23-12   95
Day 1: 5   23-12
17. Michael Iaconelli      Pitts Grove, NJ          5  23-04   94
Day 1: 5   23-04
18. Jeff Kriet             Ardmore, OK              5  23-04   93
Day 1: 5   23-04
19. Alton Jones            Lorena, TX               5  23-03   92
Day 1: 5   23-03
20. Brent Ehrler           Redlands, CA             5  23-02   91
Day 1: 5   23-02
21. Gerald Spohrer         Gonzales, LA             5  22-15   90
Day 1: 5   22-15
22. Ott DeFoe              Blaine, TN               5  22-14   89
Day 1: 5   22-14
22. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  22-14   89
Day 1: 5   22-14
24. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  22-10   87
Day 1: 5   22-10
24. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            5  22-10   87
Day 1: 5   22-10
26. Shaw Grigsby Jr.       Gainesville, FL          5  22-09   85
Day 1: 5   22-09
26. Randall Tharp          Port St. Joe, FL         5  22-09   85
Day 1: 5   22-09
28. Paul Elias             Laurel, MS               5  22-06   83
Day 1: 5   22-06
29. Rick Morris            Lake Gaston, VA          5  22-04   82
Day 1: 5   22-04
30. Kevin VanDam           Kalamazoo, MI            5  22-03   81
Day 1: 5   22-03
31. Edwin Evers            Talala, OK               5  22-00   80
Day 1: 5   22-00
32. Jared Lintner          Arroyo Grande, CA        5  21-14   79
Day 1: 5   21-14
33. Mark Daniels Jr.       Tuskegee, AL             5  21-14   78
Day 1: 5   21-14
34. Seth Feider            Bloomington, MN          5  21-11   77
Day 1: 5   21-11
34. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  21-11   77
Day 1: 5   21-11
36. Alton Jones Jr.        Waco, TX                 5  21-11   75
Day 1: 5   21-11
37. Kelley Jaye            Dadeville, AL            5  21-10   74
Day 1: 5   21-10
38. Brett Hite             Phoenix, AZ              5  21-10   73
Day 1: 5   21-10
39. Roy Hawk               Lk Havasu Cty, AZ        5  21-06   72
Day 1: 5   21-06
39. Jonathon VanDam        Gobles, MI               5  21-06   72
Day 1: 5   21-06
41. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  5  21-04   70
Day 1: 5   21-04
42. Dustin Connell         Clanton, AL              5  21-01   69
Day 1: 5   21-01
43. Brandon Palaniuk       Hayden, ID               5  20-15   68
Day 1: 5   20-15
44. Darrell Ocamica        New Plymouth, ID         5  20-11   67
Day 1: 5   20-11
45. Jason Williamson       Wagener, SC              5  20-09   66
Day 1: 5   20-09
46. Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL                5  20-07   65
Day 1: 5   20-07
47. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA              5  20-07   64
Day 1: 5   20-07
48. Wesley Strader         Spring City, TN          5  20-05   63
Day 1: 5   20-05
49. Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX               5  20-03   62
Day 1: 5   20-03
49. Hunter Shryock         Newcomerstown, OH        5  20-03   62
Day 1: 5   20-03
49. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           5  20-03   62
Day 1: 5   20-03
52. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS         5  20-01   59
Day 1: 5   20-01
53. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  19-15   58
Day 1: 5   19-15
54. Randy Sullivan         Breckenridge, TX         5  19-11   57
Day 1: 5   19-11
55. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  19-10   56
Day 1: 5   19-10
56. Chris Zaldain          Laughlin, NV             5  19-08   55
Day 1: 5   19-08
57. Boyd Duckett           Guntersville, AL         5  19-07   54
Day 1: 5   19-07
57. Bradley Roy            Lancaster, KY            5  19-07   54
Day 1: 5   19-07
59. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  19-04   52
Day 1: 5   19-04
60. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         5  19-03   51
Day 1: 5   19-03
61. Adrian Avena           Vineland, NJ             5  19-01   50
Day 1: 5   19-01
62. Brandon Coulter        Knoxville, TN            5  18-11   49
Day 1: 5   18-11
63. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          5  18-10   48
Day 1: 5   18-10
64. Chris Groh             Spring Grove, IL         5  18-09   47
Day 1: 5   18-09
65. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            5  18-07   46
Day 1: 5   18-07
66. Fred Roumbanis         Russellville, AR         5  18-06   45
Day 1: 5   18-06
67. Casey Ashley           Donalds, SC              5  18-05   44
Day 1: 5   18-05
68. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               5  18-05   43
Day 1: 5   18-05
69. Jordan Lee             Grant, AL                5  18-04   42
Day 1: 5   18-04
70. Gary Klein             Mingus, TX               5  18-03   41
Day 1: 5   18-03
71. Cliff Crochet          Pierre Part, LA          5  18-02   40
Day 1: 5   18-02
72. Fletcher Shryock       Dennison, OH             5  18-01   39
Day 1: 5   18-01
73. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  17-15   38
Day 1: 5   17-15
73. Andy Montgomery        Blacksburg, SC           5  17-15   38
Day 1: 5   17-15
75. Jacob Wheeler          Harrison, TN             5  17-12   36
Day 1: 5   17-12
76. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX                5  17-12   35
Day 1: 5   17-12
77. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  17-08   34
Day 1: 5   17-08
78. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            5  17-06   33
Day 1: 5   17-06
78. Shin Fukae             Palestine TX JAPAN       5  17-06   33
Day 1: 5   17-06
78. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         5  17-06   33
Day 1: 5   17-06
81. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          5  17-03   30
Day 1: 5   17-03
82. Randy Howell           Guntersville, AL         5  17-01   29
Day 1: 5   17-01
83. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL            5  16-15   28
Day 1: 5   16-15
84. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL            5  16-13   27
Day 1: 5   16-13
85. Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  16-12   26
Day 1: 5   16-12
86. Brandon Card           Knoxville, TN            5  16-02   25
Day 1: 5   16-02
86. Cliff Pace             Petal, MS                5  16-02   25
Day 1: 5   16-02
88. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC                5  16-01   23
Day 1: 5   16-01
89. Greg Vinson            Wetumpka, AL             5  15-11   22
Day 1: 5   15-11
90. Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  15-08   21
Day 1: 5   15-08
91. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  15-03   20
Day 1: 5   15-03
92. Jake Whitaker          Fairview, NC             5  15-02   19
Day 1: 5   15-02
93. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           5  15-00   18
Day 1: 5   15-00
94. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL           5  14-14   17
Day 1: 5   14-14
95. Skylar Hamilton        Dandridge, TN            5  14-10   16
Day 1: 5   14-10
96. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  14-08   15
Day 1: 5   14-08
97. Kyle Monti             Okeechobee, FL           5  14-04   14
Day 1: 5   14-04
98. Kelly Jordon           Flint, TX                5  14-02   13
Day 1: 5   14-02
99. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                5  13-06   12
Day 1: 5   13-06
100. Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA               5  13-00   11
Day 1: 5   13-00
101. Bill Weidler           Helena, AL               4  12-11   10
Day 1: 4   12-11
102. Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK              5  12-10    9
Day 1: 5   12-10
103. Tim Horton             Muscle Shoals, AL        3  12-08    8
Day 1: 3   12-08
104. Robbie Latuso          Gonzales, LA             5  12-03    7
Day 1: 5   12-03
105. Morizo Shimizu         Suita, Osaka JAPAN       5  12-02    6
Day 1: 5   12-02
106. Chad Pipkens           Lansing, MI              5  11-05    5
Day 1: 5   11-05
107. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00