“You Can’t Win the Classic on Day One, but you sure can lose it today.”
2019 Classic Day 1 thoughts:
BassTrak lies.
But that’s part of the fun of following a Bassmaster Classic as it unfolds – even with all the behind the scenes vantage points afforded by today’s technology, human error, or simple sandbagging, still occurs.
One of the big surprises was Roy Hawk – BassTrak estimate, 14 pounds, 12 ounces. Actual weight, 17-11 which put him in the lead most of the way through the 52-angler weigh in. UNTIL Ott Defoe (17-11 on BassTrak) dropped 20 pounds-even and took the lead.
So much for technology.
On the other hand, Edwin Evers shared some disappointing surprises that he experienced on the water today. “Weird day. I missed a lot of fish. They were just nipping at it. They act like pressured fish.”
These lakes have a reputation for fishing small and not holding up well to angling pressure. The pressure of simply having spectator boats along with anglers pounding the shallows could make for a difficult bite over the final 2 days of this Classic.
But somebody always makes a big comeback (another one of those fun surprises). Who will it Be? Gerald Swindle gave us a big hint. “Look down the standings after the first day. Anybody with over 12 pounds has a shot, but you’ve got to have that 12-pound start in order to have any real chance of winning. Then if you can back it up with 17 and 17 the next 2 days, you’ve got a shot.”
Skeet Reese echoed that estimate just before weigh in today. “I’m hoping I have at least 12 pounds. That’s what it’s going to take to stay in the hunt.” He weighed 12-1. Another pleasant surprise.
Smallmouth will be a factor this week. Jacob Powroznik showed us a nice one before he rolled into the arena and dropped 13-4 on the scale.
Brent Ehrler also had a big, beautiful smallmouth to show off. He only had 2 other fish to go with it. Catching numbers of brown bass over the 18-inch length limit will be difficult for anybody to do.
Mark Daniels rode a 5-pounder to a great start. With 14-8 he is right where he wants to be.
Todd Faircloth had a quiet confidence that could make him a dangerous man. With 13-9, he’s off to the right kind of start.
Speaking of ‘right where they want to be’, Jacob Powroznik said, “I want to go into the final day in 7thor 8thplace because then you fish relaxed and let it happen while the guys fighting for the lead . . .” and then he made a choking gesture with his hands around his neck.
Powroznik may get his wish. He has 13-4.
In making sure we bring you the Classic in authentic fashion, We interviews the Anglers so you can hear it straight from the “Horse’s Mouth” so to speak.
Wesley Strader – 10.14 Pounds – 17th Place
Justin Lucas – 16.07 Pounds – 4th Place
Gerald Swindle – 11.15 Pounds – 15th Place
Roy Hawk – 17.11 Pounds – 2nd Place
Kevin VanDam – 10.2 Pounds – 20th Place
Full Results:
| Place | Name | Total Fish / Weight |
Day 1 Fish / Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 / 20 – 0 | 5 / 20 – 0 | |
| 2 | 5 / 17 – 11 | 5 / 17 – 11 | |
| 3 | 5 / 16 – 11 | 5 / 16 – 11 | |
| 4 | 5 / 16 – 7 | 5 / 16 – 7 | |
| 5 | 5 / 14 – 11 | 5 / 14 – 11 | |
| 6 | 5 / 14 – 8 | 5 / 14 – 8 | |
| 6 | 5 / 14 – 8 | 5 / 14 – 8 | |
| 8 | 5 / 13 – 9 | 5 / 13 – 9 | |
| 9 | 5 / 13 – 4 | 5 / 13 – 4 | |
| 9 | 5 / 13 – 4 | 5 / 13 – 4 | |
| 11 | 5 / 12 – 15 | 5 / 12 – 15 | |
| 12 | 5 / 12 – 9 | 5 / 12 – 9 | |
| 13 | 4 / 12 – 3 | 4 / 12 – 3 | |
| 14 | 5 / 12 – 1 | 5 / 12 – 1 | |
| 15 | 5 / 11 – 15 | 5 / 11 – 15 | |
| 16 | 5 / 11 – 5 | 5 / 11 – 5 | |
| 17 | 5 / 10 – 14 | 5 / 10 – 14 | |
| 17 | 5 / 10 – 14 | 5 / 10 – 14 | |
| 19 | 5 / 10 – 11 | 5 / 10 – 11 | |
| 20 | 5 / 10 – 2 | 5 / 10 – 2 | |
| 21 | 5 / 10 – 1 | 5 / 10 – 1 | |
| 22 | 5 / 9 – 11 | 5 / 9 – 11 | |
| 23 | 5 / 9 – 9 | 5 / 9 – 9 | |
| 24 | 4 / 9 – 5 | 4 / 9 – 5 | |
| 25 | 5 / 9 – 4 | 5 / 9 – 4 | |
| 26 | 5 / 9 – 2 | 5 / 9 – 2 | |
| 26 | 5 / 9 – 2 | 5 / 9 – 2 | |
| 28 | 4 / 9 – 0 | 4 / 9 – 0 | |
| 29 | 5 / 8 – 15 | 5 / 8 – 15 | |
| 30 | 5 / 8 – 12 | 5 / 8 – 12 | |
| 30 | 5 / 8 – 12 | 5 / 8 – 12 | |
| 32 | 4 / 8 – 10 | 4 / 8 – 10 | |
| 33 | 5 / 8 – 6 | 5 / 8 – 6 | |
| 34 | 4 / 8 – 4 | 4 / 8 – 4 | |
| 35 | 3 / 8 – 4 | 3 / 8 – 4 | |
| 36 | 3 / 8 – 3 | 3 / 8 – 3 | |
| 37 | 3 / 8 – 1 | 3 / 8 – 1 | |
| 38 | 4 / 7 – 14 | 4 / 7 – 14 | |
| 39 | 2 / 7 – 7 | 2 / 7 – 7 | |
| 40 | 5 / 7 – 6 | 5 / 7 – 6 | |
| 41 | 4 / 7 – 6 | 4 / 7 – 6 | |
| 42 | 4 / 7 – 0 | 4 / 7 – 0 | |
| 43 | 4 / 6 – 15 | 4 / 6 – 15 | |
| 44 | 4 / 6 – 10 | 4 / 6 – 10 | |
| 45 | 3 / 6 – 6 | 3 / 6 – 6 | |
| 46 | 4 / 6 – 5 | 4 / 6 – 5 | |
| 47 | 1 / 4 – 1 | 1 / 4 – 1 | |
| 48 | 2 / 3 – 12 | 2 / 3 – 12 | |
| 49 | 2 / 3 – 5 | 2 / 3 – 5 | |
| 50 | 2 / 3 – 3 | 2 / 3 – 3 | |
| 51 | 2 / 2 – 14 | 2 / 2 – 14 | |
| 52 | 0 / 0 – 0 | 0 |
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