February 22, 2018

They say you should make hay while the sun shines, and apparently the FLW Tour’s best pros already knew that. They steamed back to Florida’s Harris Chain for the second event of the season, which is presented by Lowrance, and enjoyed a sunny, breezy, all-around beautiful first day that resulted in 11 limits of more than 20 pounds. Their co-angler partners added four more 20-plus bags.

At the top of the heap is Alabama pro Jamie Horton, who weighed 24-13 to take the early lead over Florida’s Koby Kreiger. Kreiger, who was assessed a 2-pound penalty after he violated rule No. 8 by running the main motor while he was on the front deck, trails Horton by just 1 ounce.

 

Horton admits he didn’t really have a sound game plan coming into the day, but he had two patterns that he knew had the potential to produce limits of fish. Thankfully for Horton, he was able to put a few in the boat early to relieve some of the pressure caused by his uncertainty.

“I just caught a couple good ones this morning,” he says. “I tried to capitalize on the shad spawn, what little bit was going on.”

With what would eventually be his second-best kicker in the boat early, Horton switched his attention from shad eaters to spawners in an area where he’d found bedding fish in practice, but where he didn’t expect to see the quality he found during day one. Thankfully, the water had cleared a tad, allowing him a better visual approach, and he was able to slowly decipher what they were “sitting on.” From there he just chipped away at 24 pounds.

“I knew I could catch a limit because I knew where enough bucks were on beds,” he says. “I didn’t catch many, but I caught a big one late. And I found three this afternoon that I didn’t know about.”

Horton wound up weighing in two keepers from the shad spawn pattern and three keepers caught while bed-fishing. Two of those were caught sight-fishing, while the other he caught blind-casting in the area.

He knows his lead is thin and the potential for monster stringers is high tomorrow, so Horton says he’s skipping the shad spawn program in the morning and racing straight to the remaining beds he located today. The biggest hurdle is company. Several other pros were in his best area today, so he’ll have to share and make the best of what’s left if he wants to hang around the top of the standings after Friday’s weigh-in.

 

Top 10 pros

1. Jamie Horton – Centerville, Ala. – 24-13 (5)

2. Koby Kreiger – Bokelia, Fla. – 24-12 (5)

3. John Devere – Berea, Ky. – 24-4 (5)

4. Jordan Osborne – Longview, Texas – 24-1 (5)

5. Randy Haynes – Counce, Tenn. – 22-8 (5)

5. Harry Moore – Valley, Ala. – 22-8 (5)

7. Anthony Gagliardi – Prosperity, S.C. – 22-7 (5)

8. Zack Birge – Blanchard, Okla. – 21-13 (5)

9. Glenn Browne – Ocala, Fla. – 21-3 (5)

10. Kerry Milner – Bono, Ark. – 21-1 (5)

Complete results

 

Eckman roars to co-angler lead with 24-1

It’s quite possible Ryan Eckman’s feet never touched the ground as he walked through the weigh-in line today. The Okeechobee, Fla., co-angler crushed a 24-pound, 1-ounce stringer while fishing with his personal fishing hero David Dudley. Eckman leads the co-angler division by 2 1/2 pounds. He says a day like this has been a long time coming.

“I don’t even know how to explain it,” Eckman says. “David Dudley is my person I want to be like when it comes to fishing some day. It was a God thing. It was meant to be for me. I have to give all the glory to God. David would tell you, too; he caught 25 fish, and I caught seven. But I got all the big ones to bite.”

Eckman says that when he found out on Wednesday evening that he’d be fishing with Dudley, he knew it would be a special tournament. It was, he says, the first restful night of sleep he’s ever had before a tournament.

In the morning, Eckman landed a runt that barely kept, and was worried he’d have to bring that small fish to the scale. But every half-hour or so he’d haul another toad over the gunwale.

The key was bombing long casts with either a Zoom UV Speed Worm or a Yamamoto Senko.

“I started this morning fishing them on a slow retrieve, but as the day went on I was reeling faster. I knew I’d be around them,” says Echman. “I consider him [Dudley] to be the best fisherman on Tour. I have to give a lot of credit to David. He got to that net quicker than I do as a co-angler. He took it above and beyond to make sure I got every fish in the boat.”

 

PLACE	ANGLER	CITY/STATE	DAY 1 WT (Fish)	DAY 1&2 WT (Fish)	WINNINGS
1	JAMIE HORTON	CENTERVILLE, AL	24 – 13 (5)	24 – 13 (5)
2	KOBY KREIGER	BOKEELIA, FL	24 – 12 (5)	24 – 12 (5)
3	JOHN DEVERE	BEREA, KY	24 – 4 (5)	24 – 4 (5)	$500
4	JORDAN OSBORNE	LONGVIEW, TX	24 – 1 (5)	24 – 1 (5)
5	RANDY HAYNES	COUNCE, TN	22 – 8 (5)	22 – 8 (5)
5	HARRY MOORE	VALLEY, AL	22 – 8 (5)	22 – 8 (5)
7	ANTHONY GAGLIARDI	PROSPERITY, SC	22 – 7 (5)	22 – 7 (5)
8	ZACK BIRGE	BLANCHARD, OK	21 – 13 (5)	21 – 13 (5)
9	GLENN BROWNE	OCALA, FL	21 – 3 (5)	21 – 3 (5)
10	KERRY MILNER	BONO, AR	21 – 1 (5)	21 – 1 (5)
11	BRAXTON SETZER	MONTGOMERY, AL	20 – 5 (5)	20 – 5 (5)
12	CHRIS JOHNSTON	PETERBOROUGH, ON	19 – 13 (5)	19 – 13 (5)
13	MATT GREENBLATT	PORT ST LUCIE, FL	19 – 11 (5)	19 – 11 (5)
13	TONY DUMITRAS	WINSTON, GA	19 – 11 (5)	19 – 11 (5)
15	KURT DOVE	DEL RIO, TX	19 – 4 (5)	19 – 4 (5)
16	SHAWN MURPHY	NICHOLASVILLE, KY	19 – 1 (5)	19 – 1 (5)
17	JIM JONES	BIG BEND, WI	19 – 0 (5)	19 – 0 (5)
18	GREG BOHANNAN	BENTONVILLE, AR	18 – 15 (5)	18 – 15 (5)
19	FURMAN (JOE) THOMPSON	CLAYTON, GA	18 – 5 (5)	18 – 5 (5)
20	MATT WITTEKIEND	ANGLETON, TX	18 – 1 (5)	18 – 1 (5)
21	SHANE LINEBERGER	LINCOLNTON, NC	17 – 15 (5)	17 – 15 (5)
21	JEFF GUSTAFSON	KEEWATIN, ON	17 – 15 (5)	17 – 15 (5)
23	CLARK WENDLANDT	LEANDER, TX	17 – 12 (5)	17 – 12 (5)
24	JOSH DOUGLAS	ISLE, MN	17 – 9 (5)	17 – 9 (5)
25	DAVID WILLIAMS	MAIDEN, NC	17 – 6 (5)	17 – 6 (5)
26	RONALD YOUNG	LAKE WALES, FL	17 – 4 (5)	17 – 4 (5)
27	JARED MCMILLAN	BELLE GLADE, FL	17 – 2 (5)	17 – 2 (5)
27	DARRELL DAVIS	DOVER, FL	17 – 2 (5)	17 – 2 (5)
29	BRYAN THRIFT	SHELBY, NC	16 – 9 (5)	16 – 9 (5)
30	WILLIAM(BILLY) SHELTON III	LA CROSSE, VA	16 – 6 (5)	16 – 6 (5)
31	BRADLEY HALLMAN	NORMAN, OK	16 – 4 (5)	16 – 4 (5)
32	CURTIS RICHARDSON	BELLEVILLE, ON	16 – 3 (5)	16 – 3 (5)
33	CODY HAHNER	WAUSAU, WI	16 – 0 (5)	16 – 0 (5)
33	CODY MEYER	AUBURN, CA	16 – 0 (5)	16 – 0 (5)
35	JT KENNEY	PALM BAY, FL	15 – 15 (5)	15 – 15 (5)
35	KYLE CORTIANA	BROKEN ARROW, OK	15 – 15 (5)	15 – 15 (5)
37	BRANDON MCMILLAN	CLEWISTON, FL	15 – 9 (5)	15 – 9 (5)
37	JASON LAMBERT	MICHIE, TN	15 – 9 (5)	15 – 9 (5)
39	CHRIS NEAU	NEW ORLEANS, LA	15 – 8 (5)	15 – 8 (5)
40	ANDY WICKER	POMARIA, SC	15 – 6 (5)	15 – 6 (5)
41	BUDDY GROSS	CHICKAMAUGA, GA	15 – 1 (5)	15 – 1 (5)
42	CLENT DAVIS	MONTEVALLO, AL	14 – 15 (5)	14 – 15 (5)
42	AUSTIN FELIX	EDEN PRAIRIE, MN	14 – 15 (5)	14 – 15 (5)
44	SHANE LEHEW	CATAWBA, NC	14 – 12 (5)	14 – 12 (5)
45	GREG MANSFIELD	BURNSVILLE, MN	14 – 10 (5)	14 – 10 (5)
46	CHAD GRIGSBY	MAPLE GROVE, MN	14 – 9 (5)	14 – 9 (5)
46	TERRY BOLTON	PADUCAH, KY	14 – 9 (5)	14 – 9 (5)
48	SCOTT ASHMORE	BROKEN ARROW, OK	14 – 5 (5)	14 – 5 (5)
49	STEVEN HATALA	ST. CLAIR SHORES, MI	14 – 3 (5)	14 – 3 (5)
49	CHAD RANDLES	ELKHORN, NE	14 – 3 (5)	14 – 3 (5)
51	BRANDON COBB	GREENWOOD, SC	14 – 2 (5)	14 – 2 (5)
51	JOEY CIFUENTES	CLINTON, AR	14 – 2 (5)	14 – 2 (5)
53	RYAN CHANDLER	HEBRON, IN	14 – 1 (5)	14 – 1 (5)
54	JOHNNY MCCOMBS	MORRIS, AL	14 – 0 (5)	14 – 0 (5)
55	CODY KELLEY	CONWAY, AR	13 – 14 (5)	13 – 14 (5)
56	JAY KENDRICK	GRANT, AL	13 – 13 (5)	13 – 13 (5)
57	SCOTT WILEY	BAY MINETTE, AL	13 – 12 (5)	13 – 12 (5)
58	SCOTT SUGGS	ALEXANDER, AR	13 – 11 (5)	13 – 11 (5)
59	MATT BECKER	FINLEYVILLE, PA	13 – 10 (5)	13 – 10 (5)
60	DERRICK BLAKE	ROCKWOOD, TN	13 – 9 (5)	13 – 9 (5)
60	JASON REYES	HUFFMAN, TX	13 – 9 (5)	13 – 9 (5)
62	SCOTT MARTIN	CLEWISTON, FL	13 – 6 (5)	13 – 6 (5)
62	JOHN HUNTER	SHELBYVILLE, KY	13 – 6 (5)	13 – 6 (5)
62	BOB MORIN	SEYMOUR, TN	13 – 6 (5)	13 – 6 (5)
65	TOM MONSOOR	LA CROSSE, WI	13 – 5 (5)	13 – 5 (5)
65	CHRISTOPHER BRASHER	LONGVIEW, TX	13 – 5 (5)	13 – 5 (5)
67	TODD HOLLOWELL	FISHERS, IN	13 – 2 (5)	13 – 2 (5)
67	JUSTIN ATKINS	FLORENCE, AL	13 – 2 (5)	13 – 2 (5)
69	BILLY MCCAGHREN	MAYFLOWER, AR	13 – 1 (5)	13 – 1 (5)
70	DAVID WOOTTON	COLLIERVILLE, TN	13 – 0 (5)	13 – 0 (5)
71	CAPT BLAKE SMITH	LAKELAND, FL	12 – 12 (5)	12 – 12 (5)
72	MATTHEW STEFAN	JUNCTION CITY, WI	12 – 11 (5)	12 – 11 (5)
72	MICHAEL NEAL	DAYTON, TN	12 – 11 (5)	12 – 11 (5)
72	BRANDON MOSLEY	CHOCTAW, OK	12 – 11 (5)	12 – 11 (5)
75	JOHN VOYLES	PETERSBURG, IN	12 – 10 (5)	12 – 10 (5)
76	JASON JOHNSON	GAINESVILLE, GA	12 – 8 (5)	12 – 8 (5)
76	JOSHUA WEAVER	MACON, GA	12 – 8 (5)	12 – 8 (5)
78	KENNETH (BOO) WOODS	LONDON, KY	12 – 7 (5)	12 – 7 (5)
79	DENNIS TIETJE	ROANOKE, LA	12 – 6 (5)	12 – 6 (5)
79	ANDY MORGAN	DAYTON, TN	12 – 6 (5)	12 – 6 (5)
81	KEITH BRYAN	NOVATO, CA	12 – 5 (5)	12 – 5 (5)
81	CHAD MORGENTHALER	REEDS SPRING, MO	12 – 5 (5)	12 – 5 (5)
83	TAYLOR ASHLEY	WARRIOR, AL	12 – 4 (5)	12 – 4 (5)
83	RICHIE EAVES	NAUVOO, IL	12 – 4 (5)	12 – 4 (5)
85	ROBERT PEARSON	HERNDON, VA	12 – 2 (5)	12 – 2 (5)
86	MATT GARNER	SEMINOLE, OK	12 – 1 (5)	12 – 1 (5)
86	MARK ROSE	WEST MEMPHIS, AR	12 – 1 (5)	12 – 1 (5)
88	CORY JOHNSTON	CAVAN, ON	12 – 0 (5)	12 – 0 (5)
89	SHELDON COLLINGS	GROVE, OK	11 – 15 (5)	11 – 15 (5)
90	JAMES WATSON	LAMPE, MO	11 – 14 (5)	11 – 14 (5)
90	CARL JOCUMSEN	FRISCO, TX	11 – 14 (5)	11 – 14 (5)
92	JEFF SPRAGUE	POINT, TX	11 – 13 (5)	11 – 13 (5)
93	CLINT BROWN	BAINBRIDGE, GA	11 – 11 (5)	11 – 11 (5)
94	JEFF DOBSON	BARTLESVILLE, OK	11 – 10 (5)	11 – 10 (5)
95	JAY YELAS	LINCOLN CITY, OR	11 – 7 (5)	11 – 7 (5)
95	DAVID DUDLEY	LYNCHBURG, VA	11 – 7 (5)	11 – 7 (5)
97	BILLY HINES	VACAVILLE, CA	11 – 5 (5)	11 – 5 (5)
98	TIM FREDERICK	LEESBURG, FL	11 – 4 (5)	11 – 4 (5)
98	CRAIG ROZEMA	SIMPSONVILLE, SC	11 – 4 (5)	11 – 4 (5)
98	JAMES NIGGEMEYER	VAN, TX	11 – 4 (5)	11 – 4 (5)
98	ZELL ROWLAND	MONTGOMERY, TX	11 – 4 (5)	11 – 4 (5)
102	JIM MOYNAGH	CARVER, MN	11 – 3 (5)	11 – 3 (5)
103	LARRY NIXON	BEE BRANCH, AR	11 – 2 (5)	11 – 2 (5)
104	JASON ABRAM	PINEY FLATS, TN	11 – 1 (5)	11 – 1 (5)
104	JIMMY HOUSTON	COOKSON, OK	11 – 1 (5)	11 – 1 (5)
104	KURT MITCHELL	MILFORD, DE	11 – 1 (5)	11 – 1 (5)
107	CHARLIE EVANS	BEREA, KY	11 – 0 (5)	11 – 0 (5)
108	DARYL BIRON	SOUTH WINDSOR, CT	10 – 14 (5)	10 – 14 (5)
108	MICHAEL WOOLEY	COLLIERVILLE, TN	10 – 14 (5)	10 – 14 (5)
108	MATT REED	MADISONVILLE, TX	10 – 14 (5)	10 – 14 (5)
111	JIM TUTT	LONGVIEW, TX	10 – 12 (5)	10 – 12 (5)
111	ANDREW UPSHAW	TULSA, OK	10 – 12 (5)	10 – 12 (5)
113	JOHN COX	DEBARY, FL	10 – 9 (5)	10 – 9 (5)
114	DAVID LARSON	MOUND, MN	10 – 8 (5)	10 – 8 (5)
114	ALEX DAVIS	ALBERTVILLE, AL	10 – 8 (5)	10 – 8 (5)
116	SCOTT CANTERBURY	ODENVILLE, AL	10 – 7 (5)	10 – 7 (5)
116	BRYAN SCHMITT	DEALE, MD	10 – 7 (5)	10 – 7 (5)
118	GARY YAMAMOTO	PALESTINE, TX	10 – 6 (5)	10 – 6 (5)
119	MILES HOWE	SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA	10 – 5 (5)	10 – 5 (5)
120	RANDY BLAUKAT	JOPLIN, MO	10 – 4 (5)	10 – 4 (5)
121	PETE PONDS	MADISON, MS	10 – 3 (5)	10 – 3 (5)
122	MARK FISHER	WAUCONDA, IL	10 – 1 (5)	10 – 1 (5)
123	TOM REDINGTON	ROYSE CITY, TX	10 – 0 (5)	10 – 0 (5)
124	CLARK REEHM	HUNTINGTON, TX	9 – 15 (4)	9 – 15 (4)
125	FREDDY HURLEY	SOMERSET, KY	9 – 14 (5)	9 – 14 (5)
126	TODD CASTLEDINE	NACOGDOCHES, TX	9 – 13 (5)	9 – 13 (5)
126	BRITT MYERS	CLOVER, SC	9 – 13 (5)	9 – 13 (5)
128	RAMIE COLSON JR	CADIZ, KY	9 – 11 (5)	9 – 11 (5)
129	MIKE SURMAN	BOCA RATON, FL	9 – 10 (5)	9 – 10 (5)
129	CHRIS GOSSELAAR	FRESNO, CA	9 – 10 (5)	9 – 10 (5)
131	J TODD TUCKER	MOULTRIE, GA	9 – 9 (5)	9 – 9 (5)
132	ROBERT BEHRLE	HOOVER, AL	9 – 7 (5)	9 – 7 (5)
133	DYLAN HAYS	SHERIDAN, AR	9 – 6 (5)	9 – 6 (5)
133	BRADLEY DORTCH	ATMORE, AL	9 – 6 (5)	9 – 6 (5)
135	BARRY WILSON	BIRMINGHAM, AL	9 – 5 (5)	9 – 5 (5)
135	ROB KILBY	HOT SPRINGS, AR	9 – 5 (5)	9 – 5 (5)
137	TROY MORROW	EASTANOLLEE, GA	9 – 4 (5)	9 – 4 (5)
138	KYLE WEISENBURGER	OTTAWA, OH	9 – 2 (5)	9 – 2 (5)
138	LENDELL MARTIN JR	NACOGDOCHES, TX	9 – 2 (5)	9 – 2 (5)
140	JIMMY REESE	WITTER SPRINGS, CA	8 – 14 (5)	8 – 14 (5)
140	CAMERON GAUTNEY	MUSCLE SHOALS, AL	8 – 14 (5)	8 – 14 (5)
140	TYLER STEWART	WEST MONROE, LA	8 – 14 (5)	8 – 14 (5)
143	GRAE BUCK	HARLEYSVILLE, PA	8 – 12 (5)	8 – 12 (5)
144	JIMMY BREWER	MARSHALL, TX	8 – 11 (5)	8 – 11 (5)
144	BRETT PREUETT	COLFAX, LA	8 – 11 (5)	8 – 11 (5)
146	RUSTY TRANCYGIER	HAHIRA, GA	8 – 10 (5)	8 – 10 (5)
147	WILLIAM CAMPBELL	MIDDLESBORO, KY	8 – 8 (5)	8 – 8 (5)
148	ROB JORDAN	FLOWERY BRANCH, GA	8 – 7 (5)	8 – 7 (5)
148	PETER THLIVEROS	SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL	8 – 7 (5)	8 – 7 (5)
148	JASON MENINGER	GAINESVILLE, GA	8 – 7 (5)	8 – 7 (5)
151	MATT AREY	SHELBY, NC	8 – 6 (5)	8 – 6 (5)
152	BILL MCDONALD	GREENWOOD, IN	8 – 5 (4)	8 – 5 (4)
153	RICHARD LOWITZKI	HAMPSHIRE, IL	8 – 4 (5)	8 – 4 (5)
153	NICK GAINEY	CHARLESTON, SC	8 – 4 (5)	8 – 4 (5)
155	JIM MOULTON	MERCED, CA	7 – 14 (5)	7 – 14 (5)
155	TODD AUTEN	LAKE WYLIE, SC	7 – 14 (5)	7 – 14 (5)
157	WADE CURTISS	MEADOW VISTA, CA	7 – 12 (5)	7 – 12 (5)
158	ERIC JACKSON	WALLING, TN	7 – 10 (5)	7 – 10 (5)
158	LUKE DUNKIN	LAWRENCEBURG, TN	7 – 10 (5)	7 – 10 (5)
160	YUSUKE MIYAZAKI	FORNEY, TX	7 – 9 (5)	7 – 9 (5)
160	CLAYTON BATTS	MACON, GA	7 – 9 (5)	7 – 9 (5)
160	TIM CALES	SANDSTONE, WV	7 – 9 (5)	7 – 9 (5)
163	GLENN CHAPPELEAR	ACWORTH, GA	7 – 7 (4)	7 – 7 (4)
164	JIM DILLARD	WEST MONROE, LA	7 – 6 (5)	7 – 6 (5)
165	DAVID NICHOL	GAINESVILLE, GA	7 – 5 (3)	7 – 5 (3)
166	DAVID SMITH	DEL CITY, OK	7 – 4 (5)	7 – 4 (5)
167	DARREL ROBERTSON	JAY, OK	7 – 1 (5)	7 – 1 (5)
168	SCOTT DOBSON	CLARKSTON, MI	6 – 12 (5)	6 – 12 (5)
169	REX HUFF	CORBIN, KY	6 – 11 (5)	6 – 11 (5)
170	BRIAN LATIMER	BELTON, SC	6 – 10 (5)	6 – 10 (5)
171	WES LOGAN	SPRINGVILLE, AL	6 – 9 (5)	6 – 9 (5)
171	JOSEPH WEBSTER	FULTON, MS	6 – 9 (5)	6 – 9 (5)
173	CHASE BROOKS	IRAAN, TX	6 – 8 (5)	6 – 8 (5)
174	EVAN BARNES	HOT SPRINGS, AR	6 – 7 (3)	6 – 7 (3)
175	ALLEN BOYD	SALEM, IN	6 – 4 (5)	6 – 4 (5)
176	JEREMY LAWYER	SARCOXIE, MO	5 – 8 (5)	5 – 8 (5)
177	CHRIS MCCALL	PALMER, TX	5 – 5 (5)	5 – 5 (5)
177	BILL HUTCHISON	BESSEMER, AL	5 – 5 (5)	5 – 5 (5)
179	CASEY SCANLON	LAKE OZARK, MO	5 – 1 (5)	5 – 1 (5)
180	AARON BRITT	YUBA CITY, CA	5 – 0 (5)	5 – 0 (5)
181	DEAN ALEXANDER	GEORGETOWN, TX	4 – 9 (5)	4 – 9 (5)
182	BRAD KNIGHT	LANCING, TN	3 – 13 (2)	3 – 13 (2)
183	TIMMY THOMPKINS	MYRTLE BEACH, SC	2 – 13 (2)	2 – 13 (2)
	RUSSELL CECIL	WILLIS, TX