Chad Pipkens of Lansing, Mich., takes the lead on the first day of the Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing, bringing 17 pounds, 15 ounces to the scales on Thursday.
Photo by Seigo Saito/B.A.S.S.
June 21, 2018
LA CROSSE, Wis. — Nonstop soaking rain, increasing river levels and heavy limits of big smallmouth and largemouth bass were of hot discussion after Thursday’s opening round of competition at the 2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by Go RVing.
Thirty-four-year-old pro Chad Pipkens of Lansing, Mich., took control of the top spot after an impressive five-bass limit that weighed 17 pounds, 15 ounces.
The derby pays $100,000 to the top-scoring angler, and the dandy 5-8 largemouth has Pipkens also in charge of the Phoenix Boats Big Bass award. That fish could earn him an extra $1,500 once the event wraps up.
“It rained all day long,” he said. “And with the rising river levels, I was very pleased with what I caught today. I had a pretty difficult practice, and I really wasn’t sure what to expect. But I learned a lot today. The big question is how will the water levels affect the bite each day.”
The Upper Mississippi is expected to be at 12 foot high by Sunday. Twelve feet is considered flood stage, which will certainly change the fishing from day to day.
The spot Pipkens was fishing proved to hold the right size of fish to help him take the lead, but he learned more about it as the day went on.
“I only caught seven bass today,” he said. “I had what I weighed by about 1 p.m., and that allowed me to run around and learn more about the overall area. I think the fishing will stay pretty good, even with more water coming in.”
Like every other angler, how the increasing river levels will impact the bite is a pretty big mystery.
“I really don’t have any idea what to expect. The key to catching a good limit each day here will come down to the anglers who adapt the quickest and make the best decisions,” Pipkens said. “Today went great, and my goal is to go out tomorrow and do the same thing again.”
In a tie for second place, Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., and Jacob Powroznik of North Prince George, Va., each weighed a five-bass limit of 16-14.
“I got real fortunate today and caught three good ones,” Pace said. “Each of those bass weighed about 3 3/4 pounds, which on this fishery are very solid bass. If I can catch a few like that each day, I’ll feel very confident about finishing real strong, maybe even winning.”
Pace weighed a mixed bag of both small- and largemouth bass, which is very typical on this fishery. As most anglers do, Pace kept his cards pretty close to the vest, not willing to reveal much about the techniques he was using to catch his fish.
Powroznik agrees that how the river will fish in coming days is largely unknown.
“I fished only one area today that is pretty expansive, and I believe it will hold up for a few more days,” he said. “I feel confident about what I have going on, but with the unknowns in how the rising river will impact the bite, I’m staying cautiously optimistic. The right fish are there, I know that much.”
Rounding out the Top 5 are Dave Lefebre with 16-9, and Casey Ashley and Gerald Spohrer tied for fifth with 16-7.
Take off will occur at Veterans Freedom Park at 6 a.m. CT, and weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at the same location again on Friday. The weigh-in will move for Saturday and Sunday to Valley View Mall on Clinton Street in La Crosse.
2018 Bassmaster Elite at Mississippi River presented by GO RVing 6/21-6/24
Mississippi River, La Crosse WI.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chad Pipkens Lansing, MI 5 17-15 110
Day 1: 5 17-15
2. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 16-14 109
Day 1: 5 16-14
2. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 16-14 109
Day 1: 5 16-14
4. Dave Lefebre Erie, PA 5 16-09 107
Day 1: 5 16-09
5. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 16-07 106
Day 1: 5 16-07
5. Gerald Spohrer Gonzales, LA 5 16-07 106
Day 1: 5 16-07
7. Randall Tharp Port St. Joe, FL 5 16-06 104
Day 1: 5 16-06
8. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 16-05 103
Day 1: 5 16-05
8. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 16-05 103
Day 1: 5 16-05
10. Wesley Strader Spring City, TN 5 16-04 101
Day 1: 5 16-04
11. Darrell Ocamica New Plymouth, ID 5 16-02 100
Day 1: 5 16-02
12. Jacob Wheeler Harrison, TN 5 15-15 99
Day 1: 5 15-15
13. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 15-14 98
Day 1: 5 15-14
14. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 15-13 97
Day 1: 5 15-13
14. Gary Klein Mingus, TX 5 15-13 97
Day 1: 5 15-13
14. Hunter Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 15-13 97
Day 1: 5 15-13
17. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 15-12 94
Day 1: 5 15-12
18. Mark Daniels Jr. Tuskegee, AL 5 15-09 93
Day 1: 5 15-09
19. Boyd Duckett Guntersville, AL 5 15-08 92
Day 1: 5 15-08
20. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 15-06 91
Day 1: 5 15-06
20. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 15-06 91
Day 1: 5 15-06
22. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 15-04 89
Day 1: 5 15-04
22. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 15-04 89
Day 1: 5 15-04
22. Jonathon VanDam Gobles, MI 5 15-04 89
Day 1: 5 15-04
25. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 15-03 86
Day 1: 5 15-03
25. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 15-03 86
Day 1: 5 15-03
27. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 15-02 84
Day 1: 5 15-02
27. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 15-02 84
Day 1: 5 15-02
27. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 15-02 84
Day 1: 5 15-02
30. Chris Groh Spring Grove, IL 5 15-00 81
Day 1: 5 15-00
30. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 15-00 81
Day 1: 5 15-00
32. Josh Bertrand San Tan Valley, AZ 5 14-15 79
Day 1: 5 14-15
32. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 14-15 79
Day 1: 5 14-15
34. Fletcher Shryock Dennison, OH 5 14-14 77
Day 1: 5 14-14
35. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 14-13 76
Day 1: 5 14-13
36. Chris Zaldain Laughlin, NV 5 14-12 75
Day 1: 5 14-12
37. Matt Lee Guntersville, AL 5 14-11 74
Day 1: 5 14-11
38. Justin Lucas Guntersville, AL 5 14-10 73
Day 1: 5 14-10
39. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 14-09 72
Day 1: 5 14-09
40. Dustin Connell Clanton, AL 5 14-08 71
Day 1: 5 14-08
40. Alton Jones Jr. Waco, TX 5 14-08 71
Day 1: 5 14-08
42. Randy Howell Guntersville, AL 5 14-07 69
Day 1: 5 14-07
43. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 14-06 68
Day 1: 5 14-06
44. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 14-03 67
Day 1: 5 14-03
44. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 14-03 67
Day 1: 5 14-03
44. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 14-03 67
Day 1: 5 14-03
47. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 5 14-00 64
Day 1: 5 14-00
47. John Murray Spring City, TN 5 14-00 64
Day 1: 5 14-00
49. Mike McClelland Bentonville, AR 5 13-15 62
Day 1: 5 13-15
50. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 13-14 61
Day 1: 5 13-14
51. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 13-11 60
Day 1: 5 13-11
52. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 13-10 59
Day 1: 5 13-10
53. Brent Ehrler Redlands, CA 5 13-09 58
Day 1: 5 13-09
53. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 13-09 58
Day 1: 5 13-09
53. Shin Fukae Palestine TX JAPAN 5 13-09 58
Day 1: 5 13-09
53. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 13-09 58
Day 1: 5 13-09
57. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 13-08 54
Day 1: 5 13-08
57. Brandon Palaniuk Hayden, ID 5 13-08 54
Day 1: 5 13-08
57. Jake Whitaker Fairview, NC 5 13-08 54
Day 1: 5 13-08
60. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 5 13-07 51
Day 1: 5 13-07
61. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 13-05 50
Day 1: 5 13-05
62. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 13-04 49
Day 1: 5 13-04
63. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-03 48
Day 1: 5 13-03
64. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 13-02 47
Day 1: 5 13-02
65. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 13-01 46
Day 1: 5 13-01
66. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 12-15 45
Day 1: 5 12-15
67. Brett Hite Phoenix, AZ 5 12-14 44
Day 1: 5 12-14
68. Robbie Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 12-10 43
Day 1: 5 12-10
68. Jordan Lee Grant, AL 5 12-10 43
Day 1: 5 12-10
70. Micah Frazier Newnan, GA 5 12-09 41
Day 1: 5 12-09
70. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 12-09 41
Day 1: 5 12-09
72. Tyler Carriere Youngsville, LA 5 12-08 39
Day 1: 5 12-08
73. Brandon Card Knoxville, TN 5 12-07 38
Day 1: 5 12-07
73. Seth Feider Bloomington, MN 5 12-07 38
Day 1: 5 12-07
73. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 12-07 38
Day 1: 5 12-07
76. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 12-06 35
Day 1: 5 12-06
76. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 12-06 35
Day 1: 5 12-06
78. Roy Hawk Lk Havasu Cty, AZ 5 12-03 33
Day 1: 5 12-03
79. Morizo Shimizu Suita, Osaka JAPAN 5 12-02 32
Day 1: 5 12-02
80. Kyle Monti Okeechobee, FL 5 12-01 31
Day 1: 5 12-01
81. Shaw Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 11-15 30
Day 1: 5 11-15
82. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 11-13 29
Day 1: 5 11-13
83. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 11-11 28
Day 1: 5 11-11
83. Ott DeFoe Blaine, TN 5 11-11 28
Day 1: 5 11-11
85. Fred Roumbanis Russellville, AR 5 11-08 26
Day 1: 5 11-08
85. Bill Weidler Helena, AL 5 11-08 26
Day 1: 5 11-08
87. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 11-05 24
Day 1: 5 11-05
88. Jesse Wiggins Cullman, AL 5 11-04 23
Day 1: 5 11-04
89. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 11-03 22
Day 1: 5 11-03
90. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 4 11-03 21
Day 1: 4 11-03
91. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 10-14 20
Day 1: 5 10-14
92. Brandon Coulter Knoxville, TN 5 10-07 19
Day 1: 5 10-07
93. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 10-05 18
Day 1: 5 10-05
94. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 09-15 17
Day 1: 5 09-15
95. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 09-13 16
Day 1: 5 09-13
96. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 3 09-09 15
Day 1: 3 09-09
97. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 09-07 14
Day 1: 5 09-07
98. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 09-05 13
Day 1: 5 09-05
99. Randy Sullivan Breckenridge, TX 5 08-14 12
Day 1: 5 08-14
100. David Fritts Lexington, NC 3 08-10 11
Day 1: 3 08-10
101. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 08-04 10
Day 1: 5 08-04
102. Skylar Hamilton Dandridge, TN 4 08-04 9
Day 1: 4 08-04
103. Jason Williamson Wagener, SC 3 06-05 8
Day 1: 3 06-05
104. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 2 05-07 7
Day 1: 2 05-07
105. Adrian Avena Vineland, NJ 2 04-02 6
Day 1: 2 04-02
106. David Walker Sevierville, TN 1 02-02 5
Day 1: 1 02-02
107. Kelly Jordon Flint, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
