Chris Price, a roofing contractor and two-time Bassmaster Classic qualifier from Church Hill, MD took the lead today in the B.A.S.S. Nation Mid-Atlantic Divisional on Lake Erie.

With a Pennsylvania limit of 4 fish that weighed 10-12, Price assumed a lead of 5 ounces over Matt Becker of Finleyville, PA.

Michael Sentor of New Jersey is 3rd with 10-06. Also from the Garden State, Jim Groome is 4th with 10-01. Brian La Claire of Maryland is 5th with 9-14.

Gusty winds prompted tournament officials to restrict eligible waters to those contained within Presque Isle Bay. On a hunch that such would happen, Price spent half of a practice in the bay.

“I got real lucky in practice and pulled into a spot, and the first few cast I made I put together a pattern,” said Price.

Price used a 7-inch worm to pull 18 bass from a grass edge in several feet of water. “I just happened to come across a couple of good spots real quick right out in the middle of the bay.”

The good news for Price, and many other competitors, is that his main lake stuff did not get fished today. Those spots will be fresh, provided winds lay enough for the tournament field to venture forth from the bay tomorrow, which is expected to happen.