He may have saved the best for last in terms of weigh-in order, but Danny Murphy, of Granite Falls, N.C., actually got his work done early, en route to topping the Day 1 leaderboard at the B.A.S.S. Nation Southern Divisional on Lake Eufaula.

With Georgia’s Chase Hancock holding the top spot with 18 pounds, 14 ounces since the beginning of the weigh-in, Murphy brought up the day’s final bag and dropped 19-12 on the scales to secure the lead. Murphy said he believes a rise in lake level stimulated an early bite that allowed him to lock up the lead by late morning.

“The water had been low, but it came up overnight so we got on a deeper bank today,” he said. “The fish were moving in from the main lake to the back of the pockets.

“My boat partner and I caught our limit by 11, and we started looking around for more areas after that,” continued Murphy. “We didn’t pound it really hard.”

Murphy, a member of the Riverview Bass Anglers club, said he targeted prespawn staging positions with a Hawg Caller spinnerbait and a brown Shooter jig with a Zoom Super Chunk Jr. Murphy dipped the tips in chartreuse dye for additional visual appeal.

“The bigger ones were shallow, like in 2 feet of water,” he said. “I caught one of them under a dock, one of them under a tree, just here and there.”

Overall, the Day 1 weights were much lower than expected, and the 20-pound bags that many predicted never materialized. More than half the field fell short of the five-fish daily limit. The average fish was a little more than 2 1/2 pounds. The Top 10 had 16 pounds, 10 ounces or more, but the vast majority of competitors brought in 4 to 13 pounds for their total weight.

A cold front blew through Eufaula with the usual chilly rain a day before the tournament. True to form, the weather cleared in time for a brilliant sunrise, followed by the dreaded bluebird skies. This high pressure and bright sunlight probably tempered what should be a strong spring bite. Fortunately for competitors, the day brought steady increases in air and water temperatures, promising cues for a more active second day.

Eufaula mayor and Alabama team member Jack Tibbs jokingly lamented his team’s slow start, which is currently in sixth place.

“We wanted to be good hosts to everyone, but that’s just for today!” said Tibbs. “That front that came through really messed the fish up. But the fishing has been on fire and it should get better the next two days.”

Murphy agreed. He and second-place Hancock both noted observing shad spawn aggregations, which never go unnoticed by opportunistic bass. Warming weather plus abundant baitfish should have the fish ready to go on Day 2.

“We started seeing some shad activity later in the day, so I think tomorrow the bite should be good by early morning,” Murphy said.

Murphy’s North Carolina team placed third today with 145-7 in total weight, behind first-place Georgia (163-4) and second-place South Carolina (156-13). The Georgia B.A.S.S. Nation state team has two anglers in the Top 5, as well as a 6-pound, 7-ounce lead for the state competition.

Other state leaders at the end of Day 1 are Coby Carden, Alabama; Chad Prough, Florida; Chase Hancock, Georgia; Michael Boggs, Kentucky; Danny Allen, South Carolina; and Raleigh Todd, Tennessee.

The winner of each state will advance to the 2014 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
Jack Smith, of Cadiz, Tenn., is in the lead for the Carhartt Big Bass honors with his 7-pounder.
Competition resumes Thursday at 6 a.m. CT for the launch at Lakepoint State Park Marina. The weigh-in will be broadcast live at 2 p.m. CT on Bassmaster.com.

2014 BASS Nation Southern Divisional 4/16-4/18
Lake Eufaula, Lake Eufaula  AL.
(ANGLER) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   

1.  Danny Murphy           Granite Falls,  (NC)    5  19-12  0
2.  Chase Hancock          Douglasville, GA (GA)   5  18-14  0
3.  Danny Allen            Loris, SC (SC)          5  18-01  0
4.  Joe Eubanks            Marietta, GA (GA)       5  17-10  0
5.  Raleigh Todd           Lexington, TN (TN)      5  17-07  0
6.  Randy Groves           Creedmore, NC (NC)      5  17-05  0
7.  Jody Wright            Ellenboro, NC (NC)      5  17-04  0
8.  Michael Boggs          Portsmouth, OH (KY)     5  16-12  0
8.  Will Duncan            Conway, SC (SC)         5  16-12  0
10. James Clements         Charlotte, NC (SC)      5  16-10  0
11. Chad Prough            Bonifay, FL (FL)        5  16-09  0
12. Brian Fritts           Raleigh, NC (NC)        5  15-14  0
13. Jeff Hager             Alexis, NC (NC)         5  15-10  0
14. Brent Long             Iron Station, NC (SC)   5  15-07  0
15. Rob Digh               Denver, NC (NC)         5  15-04  0
15. Brendan Smith          Roswell, GA (GA)        5  15-04  0
17. Travis Mcdermott       Kennesaw, GA (GA)       5  15-02  0
18. Jack Smith             Cadiz, TN (TN)          5  14-11  0
18. William Wood           W Palm Beach, FL (FL)   5  14-11  0
20. Willie Manning         West Palm Beach, FL (FL 5  14-07  0
21. Brent Tullis           Acworth, GA (GA)        4  14-06  0
22. Coby Carden            Shelby, AL (AL)         5  14-05  0
22. Brian Hickey           Cadiz, KY (KY)          5  14-05  0
24. Chris Moody            Fayetteville, GA (GA)   5  13-14  0
25. Marvin Cross           Eastover, SC (SC)       5  13-13  0
26. Tim Hennemann          Florence, KY (KY)       5  13-11  0
26. Shawn Perrigo          Rienz, MS (AL)          5  13-11  0
28. Elliot Reedy           Piedmont, AL (AL)       5  13-09  0
29. Waine Pittman          Villa  Rica, GA (GA)    5  13-06  0
30. Darryl Halbert         Enoree, SC (SC)         5  13-05  0
31. David Presley          Kingston , TN (TN)      5  13-04  0
31. John Roth              Lawrenceburg, IN (KY)   5  13-04  0
33. Andrew Presley         Harriman, TN (TN)       5  13-03  0
34. Ray Covington          Chatom, AL (AL)         5  13-02  0
35. Jeffrey Allison Jr.    Gaffney, SC (SC)        5  13-00  0
36. Capt. Jim Keith        Newberry, FL (FL)       5  12-12  0
37. Wes Logan              Springville, AL (AL)    4  12-05  0
38. David Morton           Suwanee, GA (GA)        5  11-15  0
39. Michael Carson         Gastonia, NC (SC)       5  11-13  0
40. Todd Mallicoat         Tazewell, TN (TN)       5  11-10  0
41. Mike Mayes             Frankfort, KY (KY)      4  11-03  0
42. Jack Tibbs             Eufaula, AL (AL)        5  11-01  0
43. Benny Beckham          Newberry, FL (FL)       3  10-12  0
44. George Crain           Cropwell, AL (AL)       5  10-11  0
44. Omar De Jesus          Ashland, TN (TN)        5  10-11  0
46. Dean Harcourt          Sebastain, FL (FL)      5  10-09  0
47. Tony Beck              Social Circle, GA (GA)  5  10-03  0
48. Dave Turner            Crystal River, FL (FL)  5  10-00  0
48. Gregory Weber          Louisville, KY (KY)     5  10-00  0
50. Raymond Trudeau        Saint Cloud, FL (FL)    5  09-09  0
51. Bradley Durden         Chamblee, GA (GA)       3  09-04  0
52. Chris Jones            Conway, SC (SC)         3  08-14  0
53. Chad Mcmurrian         Perry, GA (GA)          3  08-13  0
54. Brian Nash             Jacksonville, FL (SC)   4  08-12  0
55. James Hardy            Jacksonville, AL (AL)   2  08-05  0
56. Patrick Currie         Millry , AL (AL)        4  07-15  0
57. Mark Robertson         Henderson, NC (NC)      3  07-15  0
58. Paul Burchfield        Suwanee, GA (GA)        5  07-14  0
59. Kyle Christopher       Irvine, KY (KY)         4  07-14  0
60. Joshua Norris          Spring City, TN (TN)    4  07-10  0
61. James Willis Jr        Fountain Inn, SC (SC)   4  07-08  0
62. Sam Sanders            Oviedo, FL (FL)         4  07-06  0
63. Bowman Gray            Winterville, NC (NC)    3  07-06  0
64. Jeff Narron            Sims, NC (NC)           4  06-14  0
65. Chris Blair            Newnan, GA (GA)         3  06-11  0
66. Patrick King           Lincolnton, NC (NC)     3  06-09  0
67. Brian Prowant          Moore Haven, FL (FL)    2  06-04  0
68. Eric Silverstrim       Indian Mound, TN (TN)   3  05-12  0
69. Carson Orellana        Mooresville, NC (NC)    2  05-07  0
70. Mike Gerald            Conway, SC (SC)         4  05-06  0
71. David Pair             Abbeville, AL (AL)      3  05-01  0
72. John Crisp             Mount Washington, KY (K 2  05-00  0
73. Robert Dennie          Shelbyville, KY (KY)    3  04-15  0
74. Shawn Lehr             Clarksville, TN (TN)    3  04-14  0
75. Richard Cobb           Richmond, KY (KY)       3  04-11  0
76. Brian Hatfield         Spring City, TN (TN)    2  04-10  0
77. Eric Blankendaal       Madison, TN (TN)        2  04-08  0
78. Chris Blanchette       Irmo, SC (SC)           2  04-06  0
79. John McDonald          Thomasville, NC (NC)    2  04-04  0
80. Don Errthum            Clarksville, TN (TN)    2  04-00  0
81. Steve Vann             Goldsboro, NC (NC)      2  03-15  0
82. Mark Pierce            Radcliff, KY (TN)       2  03-08  0
83. Randall Christopher    Irvine, KY (KY)         2  03-07  0
84. Joey Von Hoene         Erlanger, KY (KY)       2  03-03  0
85. Corey Lewis            Liberty, SC (SC)        2  03-02  0
86. James Lanier           Branford, FL (FL)       1  02-15  0
87. Rickey Dunn            Tuscaloosa, AL (AL)     1  02-14  0
88. KJ Jordan              Panama City, FL (FL)    1  02-02  0
89. Jerry Craig            Hiddenite, NC (NC)      1  02-00  0
90. Aaron Fox              Harrogate, TN (TN)      1  01-15  0
91. Stewart Weber          Louisville, KY (KY)     1  01-08  0
92. Lee Byrd               Birmingham, AL (AL)     1  01-07  0
92. Larry Franks           Wilsonville, AL (AL)    1  01-07  0
94. Rickie Harp            Cottondale, AL (AL)     1  01-03  0
95. Todd Daniel            Valdosta, GA (FL)       0  00-00  0
95. Eric Holder            Canton, GA (GA)         0  00-00  0
95. William Jackson        Aurora, IN (KY)         0  00-00  0
95. Scott Wise             Clermont, FL (FL)       0  00-00  0
———————————————————————–

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1       47       355       928-00
———————————-
47       355       928-00

TEAM STANDINGS Day 1
———————————-
State                Lbs-Oz
1 GEORGIA              163-04
2 SOUTH CAROLINA       156-13
3 NORTH CAROLINA       145-07
4 FLORIDA              118-00
5 TENNESSEE            117-11
6 ALABAMA              117-00
7 KENTUCKY             109-13

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS Day 1
———————————————————————–

GEORGIA
    Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Chase Hancock        Douglasville, GA            5   18-14  0
2 Joe Eubanks          Marietta, GA                5   17-10  0
3 Brendan Smith        Roswell, GA                 5   15-04  0
4 Travis Mcdermott     Kennesaw, GA                5   15-02  0
5 Brent Tullis         Acworth, GA                 4   14-06  0
6 Chris Moody          Fayetteville, GA            5   13-14  0
7 Waine Pittman        Villa  Rica, GA             5   13-06  0
8 David Morton         Suwanee, GA                 5   11-15  0
9 Tony Beck            Social Circle, GA           5   10-03  0
10 Bradley Durden       Chamblee, GA                3   09-04  0
11 Chad Mcmurrian       Perry, GA                   3   08-13  0
12 Paul Burchfield      Suwanee, GA                 5   07-14  0
13 Chris Blair          Newnan, GA                  3   06-11  0
14 Eric Holder          Canton, GA                  0   00-00  0

SOUTH CAROLINA
Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Danny Allen          Loris, SC                   5   18-01  0
2 Will Duncan          Conway, SC                  5   16-12  0
3 James Clements       Charlotte, NC               5   16-10  0
4 Brent Long           Iron Station, NC            5   15-07  0
5 Marvin Cross         Eastover, SC                5   13-13  0
6 Darryl Halbert       Enoree, SC                  5   13-05  0
7 Jeffrey Allison Jr.  Gaffney, SC                 5   13-00  0
8 Michael Carson       Gastonia, NC                5   11-13  0
9 Chris Jones          Conway, SC                  3   08-14  0
10 Brian Nash           Jacksonville, FL            4   08-12  0
11 James Willis Jr      Fountain Inn, SC            4   07-08  0
12 Mike Gerald          Conway, SC                  4   05-06  0
13 Chris Blanchette     Irmo, SC                    2   04-06  0
14 Corey Lewis          Liberty, SC                 2   03-02  0

FLORIDA
Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Chad Prough          Bonifay, FL                 5   16-09  0
2 William Wood         W Palm Beach, FL            5   14-11  0
3 Willie Manning       West Palm Beach, FL         5   14-07  0
4 Capt. Jim Keith      Newberry, FL                5   12-12  0
5 Benny Beckham        Newberry, FL                3   10-12  0
6 Dean Harcourt        Sebastain, FL               5   10-09  0
7 Dave Turner          Crystal River, FL           5   10-00  0
8 Raymond Trudeau      Saint Cloud, FL             5   09-09  0
9 Sam Sanders          Oviedo, FL                  4   07-06  0
10 Brian Prowant        Moore Haven, FL             2   06-04  0
11 James Lanier         Branford, FL                1   02-15  0
12 KJ Jordan            Panama City, FL             1   02-02  0
13 Todd Daniel          Valdosta, GA                0   00-00  0
13 Scott Wise           Clermont, FL                0   00-00  0

ALABAMA
Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Coby Carden          Shelby, AL                  5   14-05  0
2 Shawn Perrigo        Rienz, MS                   5   13-11  0
3 Elliot Reedy         Piedmont, AL                5   13-09  0
4 Ray Covington        Chatom, AL                  5   13-02  0
5 Wes Logan            Springville, AL             4   12-05  0
6 Jack Tibbs           Eufaula, AL                 5   11-01  0
7 George Crain         Cropwell, AL                5   10-11  0
8 James Hardy          Jacksonville, AL            2   08-05  0
9 Patrick Currie       Millry , AL                 4   07-15  0
10 David Pair           Abbeville, AL               3   05-01  0
11 Rickey Dunn          Tuscaloosa, AL              1   02-14  0
12 Lee Byrd             Birmingham, AL              1   01-07  0
12 Larry Franks         Wilsonville, AL             1   01-07  0
14 Rickie Harp          Cottondale, AL              1   01-03  0

NORTH CAROLINA
Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Danny Murphy         Granite Falls,              5   19-12  0
2 Randy Groves         Creedmore, NC               5   17-05  0
3 Jody Wright          Ellenboro, NC               5   17-04  0
4 Brian Fritts         Raleigh, NC                 5   15-14  0
5 Jeff Hager           Alexis, NC                  5   15-10  0
6 Rob Digh             Denver, NC                  5   15-04  0
7 Mark Robertson       Henderson, NC               3   07-15  0
8 Bowman Gray          Winterville, NC             3   07-06  0
9 Jeff Narron          Sims, NC                    4   06-14  0
10 Patrick King         Lincolnton, NC              3   06-09  0
11 Carson Orellana      Mooresville, NC             2   05-07  0
12 John McDonald        Thomasville, NC             2   04-04  0
13 Steve Vann           Goldsboro, NC               2   03-15  0
14 Jerry Craig          Hiddenite, NC               1   02-00  0

KENTUCKY
Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Michael Boggs        Portsmouth, OH              5   16-12  0
2 Brian Hickey         Cadiz, KY                   5   14-05  0
3 Tim Hennemann        Florence, KY                5   13-11  0
4 John Roth            Lawrenceburg, IN            5   13-04  0
5 Mike Mayes           Frankfort, KY               4   11-03  0
6 Gregory Weber        Louisville, KY              5   10-00  0
7 Kyle Christopher     Irvine, KY                  4   07-14  0
8 John Crisp           Mount Washington, KY        2   05-00  0
9 Robert Dennie        Shelbyville, KY             3   04-15  0
10 Richard Cobb         Richmond, KY                3   04-11  0
11 Randall Christopher  Irvine, KY                  2   03-07  0
12 Joey Von Hoene       Erlanger, KY                2   03-03  0
13 Stewart Weber        Louisville, KY              1   01-08  0
14 William Jackson      Aurora, IN                  0   00-00  0

TENNESSEE
Angler               Hometown                   No./lbs-oz Total $$$
1 Raleigh Todd         Lexington, TN               5   17-07  0
2 Jack Smith           Cadiz, TN                   5   14-11  0
3 David Presley        Kingston , TN               5   13-04  0
4 Andrew Presley       Harriman, TN                5   13-03  0
5 Todd Mallicoat       Tazewell, TN                5   11-10  0
6 Omar De Jesus        Ashland, TN                 5   10-11  0
7 Joshua Norris        Spring City, TN             4   07-10  0
8 Eric Silverstrim     Indian Mound, TN            3   05-12  0
9 Shawn Lehr           Clarksville, TN             3   04-14  0
10 Brian Hatfield       Spring City, TN             2   04-10  0
11 Eric Blankendaal     Madison, TN                 2   04-08  0
12 Don Errthum          Clarksville, TN             2   04-00  0
13 Mark Pierce          Radcliff, KY                2   03-08  0
14 Aaron Fox            Harrogate, TN               1   01-15  0