As some expected, the overall weights on day 1 of the 2015 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Southern Open were on the low side. Andrew Slegona of Walker Valley, NY broke that expectation, surprising everyone at weigh-in with a massive 31-02 bag. By 10:30, Slegona had his tournament leading limit in the boat, which was anchored by a pair of bunkers weighing 9-01 and 8-10.
“I caught them out of one area and never saw a boat come within 300 yards of where I was fishing,” Slegona told Bassmaster.com in a post weigh-in interview. “I found this spot in practice and today I realized I was really onto something.”
According to the report, Slegona is flipping hydrilla in 10 feet of water.
Joey Nania caught a pair of 8 + pound bunkers to anchor his 25-01, 2nd place bag. His limit also consisted of 2 fish that weighed less than 2 pounds.
Garrett Rocamora sits in 4th place with 24-04, thanks in part to his 11-09 giant.
Brandon McMillian weighed in 24-09 to move into 3rd place. Garrett Rocamora caught 24-04, and sits in 4th place. Brad Knight rounded out the Top 5 with a 20-13 bag.
Rocamora anchored his bag with an 11-09 monster bass that stands as the Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament.
Daniel Lanier sits at the top of the Co-angler standings, weighing an 11-09, 3 bass limit. In 2013, Lanier sat as the day 1 leader on the Pro side with a giant 27-11 limit. Lanier was unable to secure a spot on the Pro side this year, so decided to capitalize on fishing as a Co-angler.
Craig Cullen trails Lanier in 2nd place with 11-04. Steve Jarrett is not far behind in 3rd place with an 11-02 total.
Cullen won the Big Bass award for day 1 with a 9-04 lunker.
With the cold front that pushed across the state Thursday evening, it will be interesting to see if the top anglers can duplicate their day 1 catches. At the close of scales this afternoon, the field of 200 Pros and Co-anglers will be cut to the Top 12. Those anglers will earn the chance to compete for the title tomorrow. The remainder of the Top 40 will earn a check for their efforts. Only 5-03 separates 40th place from 12th.
This is still anyones tournament to win. JT Kenney sits in 65th place with a 10-00 total, but is only 6-07 away from making the Top 12 cut. And there are many anglers still within striking distance. One big bite can completely turn an anglers tournament around.
Weigh-in today will begin at 3:00 pm at Big Toho Marina. Tomorrow’s weigh-in will be held at Bass Pro Shops in Orlando, beginning at 4:00 pm.
Photos: Shaye Baker
