Josh Stracner, of Vandiver, Ala., is leading after Day 1 of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Cherokee Lake with 14 pounds, 12 ounces.

Photo by Andy Crawford/B.A.S.S.

October 29, 2020

JEFFERSON COUNTY, Tenn. — A species-focused strategy aimed at finding the heaviest average weights allowed Josh Stracner of Vandiver, Ala., to take the Day 1 lead of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Cherokee Lake with a five-bass limit of 14 pounds, 12 ounces.

Stracner holds a 4-ounce lead over Denny Fiedler of Wabasha, Minn., and Matthew Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., who are tied for second with 14-8.

“I think the key right now in this lake is catching a limit of smallmouth — I caught all smallmouth today,” Stracner said. “Keeper smallmouth have to be 15 inches, and the smallmouth here are so much healthier.

“If you catch a 15-inch smallmouth vs. a 15-inch largemouth, the smallmouth is going to weigh about three-quarters of a pound more. I think they’re just healthy this time of year.”

With a cold front moving through the region, Day 1 began with morning rains and cloudy skies that started clearing by late morning. Conditions didn’t seem to impact Stracner’s game, as he targeted points in 10 to 15 feet. True to their nature, he found the smallies relating to specific structure.

“They were sitting on one little rock on a point,” Stracner said. “If you don’t know where that rock is, you won’t get a bite. I run Humminbird electronics and that was everything.

“They were grouped up; you could see seven or eight of them sitting on one rock. It’s hard to catch more than one or two off a spot. But you could come back a couple of hours later and catch them again.”

Stracner said he had to mix up his presentations. He ended up catching his fish on a variety of baits.

“I think I caught two of them cranking, two on a drop shot and one on a Carolina rig,” he said. “I’d start off throwing a crankbait. I’d make my first two or three casts with that and then I’d throw a drop shot in there.”

Stracner said his spots hold enough potential to carry him through at least Day 2.

“I caught them early today, but I hope I didn’t make a mistake,” he said. “I quit at 12 o’clock today and weighed in two hours (earlier than scheduled) because I had two fish (that were struggling in the livewell).”

Fiedler said the recent weather played to his favor in terms of a water clarity scenario that he was able to exploit.

“Practice was tough, so I wasn’t necessarily consistent; but I did find a pattern of using moving baits in stained water,” he said. “On Monday, I was able to get a few bites. I didn’t land any of those fish, so I went back there this morning and a 5-pound, 6-ouncer was the first fish I caught.

Fiedler said he used three different reaction baits. Of his seven bites, one bait produced three and the others yielded two bites each.

Also reporting a slim practice, Robertson said he caught his fish on an offshore spot with rock structure in about 20 feet. The spot had yielded only one keeper bite in practice, but it was considerably more productive today.

“I don’t even know how that happened,” Robertson said. “I think the weather definitely made them bite. I’m just working my ‘wojo’ (winging it plus mojo) and fishing slow.”

Fiedler is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 5-6.

Bobby Drinnon of Rogersville, Tenn., leads the co-angler division with 8-5. Fishing a range of depths from the bank to offshore, Drinnon said he dialed in a particular unnamed finesse presentation that produced his three-bass limit.

“It’s been so tough, you can’t really power fish, you just have to slow down and finesse,” he said. “I was using kind of a dragging presentation. It was actually a good bite. They were holding on and running with it.”

Daniel Valois Gomez of Coral Springs, Fla., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 4-2.

Stracner currently leads the Eastern Open points standings with 582 points, followed by Bassmaster Elite Series pro Patrick Walters with 580. Pat Schlapper is in third with 550, followed by Timmy Thompkins in fourth with 533 and Bryan New in fifth with 528.

Jason Christie leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year Standings with 1,046 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7:45 a.m. ET at Cherokee Lake Dam TVA Boat Launch. The weigh-in will be held at the Boat Launch at 3:30 p.m.

After Friday’s weigh-in, the Top 12 anglers will advance to Championship Saturday.

2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Eastern Open at Cherokee Lake 10/29-10/31
Lake Cherokee, Dandridge TN.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1

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

1. Joshua Stracner Vandiver, AL 5 14-12 200
Day 1: 5 14-12
2. Denny Fiedler Wabasha, MN 5 14-08 199
Day 1: 5 14-08
2. Matthew Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 14-08 199
Day 1: 5 14-08
4. Andy Hribar Lakeville, MN 5 13-10 197
Day 1: 5 13-10
5. Bill Humbard New Market, TN 5 13-05 196
Day 1: 5 13-05
6. Jeremy Gordon Rutledge, TN 5 12-08 195
Day 1: 5 12-08
7. Timmy Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 5 12-06 194
Day 1: 5 12-06
8. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 12-02 193
Day 1: 5 12-02
9. Masayuki Matsushita Tokoname-Shi JAPAN 5 12-00 192
Day 1: 5 12-00
10. Josh Roark Bean Station, TN 5 11-13 191
Day 1: 5 11-13
11. Patrick Walters Summerville, SC 5 11-05 190
Day 1: 5 11-05
12. Joel Willert Prior Lake, MN 5 10-03 189
Day 1: 5 10-03
13. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 4 10-03 188
Day 1: 4 10-03
14. Freddy Palmer Estill Springs, TN 3 09-03 187
Day 1: 3 09-03
15. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 09-00 186
Day 1: 5 09-00
16. Bobby Lane Jr. Lakeland, FL 3 09-00 185
Day 1: 3 09-00
17. Gregg Fogner Conway, SC 4 08-15 184
Day 1: 4 08-15
18. Whitney Stephens Waverly, OH 4 08-14 183
Day 1: 4 08-14
19. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 4 08-11 182
Day 1: 4 08-11
20. Jason Casteel Winter Garden, FL 3 08-11 181
Day 1: 3 08-11
21. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 3 08-07 180
Day 1: 3 08-07
22. Spencer Peters Knoxville, TN 3 08-04 179
Day 1: 3 08-04
23. Mark Pappas Dandridge, TN 4 08-03 178
Day 1: 4 08-03
24. Harvey Horne Bella Vista, AR 3 08-01 177
Day 1: 3 08-01
25. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 3 07-14 176
Day 1: 3 07-14
26. Rex Nickel Huff Corbin, KY 4 07-10 175
Day 1: 4 07-10
27. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 3 07-10 174
Day 1: 3 07-10
28. Luke Plunkett Pinson, AL 4 07-09 173
Day 1: 4 07-09
29. Jon Canada Helena, AL 3 07-06 172
Day 1: 3 07-06
30. Bryan New Belmont, NC 4 07-05 171
Day 1: 4 07-05
30. Joe Thompson Clayton, GA 4 07-05 171
Day 1: 4 07-05
32. Jonathan Carter Glenburn, ME 2 07-03 169
Day 1: 2 07-03
33. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 4 06-13 168
Day 1: 4 06-13
34. Hunter Sales Blaine, TN 3 06-12 167
Day 1: 3 06-12
35. Andy Wicker Pomaria, SC 3 06-11 166
Day 1: 3 06-11
36. Stephen Mui Odessa, FL 2 06-09 165
Day 1: 2 06-09
37. Rich Chriscinske Salyersville, KY 3 06-08 164
Day 1: 3 06-08
37. Davey May Odessa, FL 3 06-08 164
Day 1: 3 06-08
39. Dave Turner Crystal River, FL 2 06-06 162
Day 1: 2 06-06
40. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 3 06-04 161
Day 1: 3 06-04
41. Tyler Berger Delaware, OH 2 06-04 160
Day 1: 2 06-04
42. Garrett Rocamora Lithia, FL 2 06-01 159
Day 1: 2 06-01
43. Keith Carson Debary, FL 3 06-00 158
Day 1: 3 06-00
43. Darrell Davis Dover, FL 3 06-00 158
Day 1: 3 06-00
45. Richard Reeger Gastonia, NC 5 05-14 156
Day 1: 5 05-14
46. Ben Nielsen Lowell, MI 3 05-14 155
Day 1: 3 05-14
47. Adam Neu Forestville, WI 3 05-13 154
Day 1: 3 05-13
48. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 4 05-12 153
Day 1: 4 05-12
49. Cody Hahner Wausau, WI 3 05-11 152
Day 1: 3 05-11
50. Jordan Burdette Knoxville, TN 2 05-10 151
Day 1: 2 05-10
51. Derrick Snavely Piney Flats, TN 2 05-09 150
Day 1: 2 05-09
52. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 2 05-08 149
Day 1: 2 05-08
52. Brandon Johnson Mt Sterling, KY 2 05-08 149
Day 1: 2 05-08
54. John Hunter Jr Simpsonville, KY 3 05-06 147
Day 1: 3 05-06
55. Kotaro Kiriyama Guntersville, AL 2 05-03 146
Day 1: 2 05-03
56. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 3 05-02 145
Day 1: 3 05-02
57. Hunter Bland Williston, FL 3 04-14 144
Day 1: 3 04-14
58. Brian Latimer Belton, SC 2 04-14 143
Day 1: 2 04-14
58. Matt Lee Bremen, AL 2 04-14 143
Day 1: 2 04-14
60. Andrew Upshaw Tulsa, OK 3 04-13 141
Day 1: 3 04-13
61. Derek Lehtonen Woodruff, SC 3 04-11 140
Day 1: 3 04-11
62. Brandt Tumberg Moore, SC 2 04-10 139
Day 1: 2 04-10
63. Daisuke Aoki Minamitsurugun Yamanash 2 04-08 138
Day 1: 2 04-08
63. Matt Mattingly Gravel Switch, KY 2 04-08 138
Day 1: 2 04-08
65. Scott Patton Paris, TN 2 04-07 136
Day 1: 2 04-07
66. Greg Mansfield Olathe, KS 2 04-06 135
Day 1: 2 04-06
67. Christiana Bradley Goldvein, VA 1 04-06 134
Day 1: 1 04-06
68. John Garrett Union City, TN 2 04-04 133
Day 1: 2 04-04
69. Nick Hatfield Chuckey, TN 2 04-03 132
Day 1: 2 04-03
70. Stephen Morella Townshed, VT 2 04-02 131
Day 1: 2 04-02
71. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 2 04-00 130
Day 1: 2 04-00
72. Chris Kingree Inverness, FL 2 03-15 129
Day 1: 2 03-15
73. Von Dilbeck Corbin, KY 2 03-14 128
Day 1: 2 03-14
74. Tyler Ellis Battlefield, MO 2 03-13 127
Day 1: 2 03-13
75. Jeremy Maye Windsor, VA 1 03-11 126
Day 1: 1 03-11
76. Kyle Austin Ridgeville, SC 2 03-10 125
Day 1: 2 03-10
77. Allen Brooks Canton, GA 1 03-09 124
Day 1: 1 03-09
77. Craig Chambers Midland, NC 1 03-09 124
Day 1: 1 03-09
79. Steve Sennikoff Edgewood, TX 2 03-08 122
Day 1: 2 03-08
80. Cam Sterritt Newfields, NH 3 03-07 121
Day 1: 3 03-07
81. Chris Ferguson Wittensville, KY 2 03-06 120
Day 1: 2 03-06
82. Kameron Harbin Abbeville, SC 2 03-05 119
Day 1: 2 03-05
82. Cody Huff Ava, MO 2 03-05 119
Day 1: 2 03-05
84. Timmy Cales Sandstone, WV 1 03-05 117
Day 1: 1 03-05
84. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 1 03-05 117
Day 1: 1 03-05
84. Garrett Rose Pipecreek, TX 1 03-05 117
Day 1: 1 03-05
87. Todd Goade White Pine, TN 1 03-04 114
Day 1: 1 03-04
87. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 1 03-04 114
Day 1: 1 03-04
89. Colby Robertson Summerfield, FL 1 03-03 112
Day 1: 1 03-03
90. Cody Detweiler Orlando, FL 1 03-02 111
Day 1: 1 03-02
91. Cody Bertrand Dyer, IN 1 02-15 110
Day 1: 1 02-15
91. Preston Julian Seymour, TN 1 02-15 110
Day 1: 1 02-15
93. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 1 02-12 108
Day 1: 1 02-12
94. Wyatt Burkhalter Coker, AL 1 02-11 107
Day 1: 1 02-11
94. Shawn Hendrix Sharpsburg, GA 1 02-11 107
Day 1: 1 02-11
94. Nick Tate Knoxville, TN 1 02-11 107
Day 1: 1 02-11
97. Gary Adkins Green Bay, WI 1 02-10 104
Day 1: 1 02-10
97. Cole Drummond Effingham, SC 1 02-10 104
Day 1: 1 02-10
99. Chad Smith Minnetonka, MN 2 02-09 102
Day 1: 2 02-09
100. Chandler Stewart Waco, TX 2 02-08 101
Day 1: 2 02-08
101. Ken Iyobe Tokoname, Aichi JAPAN 1 02-08 100
Day 1: 1 02-08
102. Jason Burroughs Hodges, SC 1 02-07 99
Day 1: 1 02-07
103. Josh Douglas Isle, MN 1 02-02 98
Day 1: 1 02-02
104. Brandon Tallhamer Parkersburg, WV 2 02-01 97
Day 1: 2 02-01
105. Brad Knight Lancing, TN 1 02-01 96
Day 1: 1 02-01
106. Kenta Kimura Osaka JAPAN 1 02-00 95
Day 1: 1 02-00
107. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 1 01-15 94
Day 1: 1 01-15
107. Andrew Thomasson Dublin, VA 1 01-15 94
Day 1: 1 01-15
109. Trevor Topken Warwick, NY 1 01-14 92
Day 1: 1 01-14
110. Cameron Smith Wareham, MA 1 01-13 91
Day 1: 1 01-13
111. Michael Hall Annandale, VA 1 01-12 90
Day 1: 1 01-12
111. Frank Ramsey Spring Grove, IL 1 01-12 90
Day 1: 1 01-12
111. Dustin Reneau Mckinney, TX 1 01-12 90
Day 1: 1 01-12
114. Robert Gibson Niota, TN 1 01-11 87
Day 1: 1 01-11
114. Randy Huffman Charleston, WV 1 01-11 87
Day 1: 1 01-11
114. Teb Jones Hattiesburg, MS 1 01-11 87
Day 1: 1 01-11
114. Bryce Matthews Olanta, SC 1 01-11 87
Day 1: 1 01-11
118. Terry Segraves Kissimmee, FL 1 01-10 83
Day 1: 1 01-10
119. Barry Wilson Birmingham, AL 1 01-09 82
Day 1: 1 01-09
120. David Williams Newton, NC 1 01-08 81
Day 1: 1 01-08
121. Robbie Harrelson Moncks Corner, SC 1 01-07 80
Day 1: 1 01-07
122. Randy Blaukat Joplin, MO 1 01-06 79
Day 1: 1 01-06
123. Corey Lindsey Blacklick, OH 1 01-03 78
Day 1: 1 01-03
123. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 1 01-03 78
Day 1: 1 01-03
125. Bo Goodin Harrogate, TN 1 01-00 76
Day 1: 1 01-00
126. Barry Brandt Jr. Newport News, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Brad Burkhart Speedwell, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Todd Castledine Nacogdoches, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Mark Duerr West Allis, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Anthony Dumitras Winston, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Clayton Dyer Fayetteville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Randy Elliott Severn, MD 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Tim Frederick Leesburg, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Derek Freeman Anderson, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jerry Gallogly Jr North Tazewell, VA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Ronnie Getz Sunman, IN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Caleb Gibson Locust Grove, OK 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Darryl Halbert Enoree, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Josh Hubbard Braidwood, IL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Keith Iddins Knoxville, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Denis Karachopan Rocky Point, NY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. David Kilgore Jasper, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. John Maner Falkville, AL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Matthew Mccarthy Marysville, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Parker Mott Winter Garden, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Lance Owen Greer, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Scott Pellegrin Chippewa Falls, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Chris Peters Birchwood, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Trevor Prince Blue Ridge, GA 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Chad Randles Elkhorn, NE 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jake Rossi Columbus, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Ronald Ryals Jr Live Oak, FL 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Hermilo Salgado Artemus, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Scott Siller Milwaukee, WI 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Jack Williams Kingsport, TN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Tommy Williams Shepherdsville, KY 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
126. Trait Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00