HUDDLESTON, Va. - The sight bite was right for Jason Williamson Thursday on picturesque Smith Mountain Lake at the Blue Ridge Brawl bass fishing tournament. Williamson of Wagener, S.C., persevered through a frustrating morning eventually regrouping at his primary area and picking off enough spawning bass to accumulate 22 pounds, 9 ounces, good enough for a scant 1-plus pound lead over Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla.
The a.m. aggravation for Williamson was caused by fellow Elite competitors. His primary area was stacked with boats, which isn't unusual, but what was bugging Williamson was the way the area was being fished. Anglers were on top of the beds and missing the larger bass. But Williamson parlayed the misjudgment of other anglers into a distinct advantage, amassing all his weight by 11 a.m. after the other anglers vacated the area.
"I couldn't have asked for it to go any better than it did today,"said Williamson, 29. "It started off slow but I was able to remain patient and that was the key."
While sight fishing is the dominant pattern on Smith Mountain this week, Williamson said he was executing a bit differently. He is working deeper water, four to five feet, and felt that was necessary to locate the bigger bass.
He mixed in typical springtime lures - a Zoom lizard and trick worm - and spent no more than 30 minutes on each bass. Williamson was one of a contingent of anglers who strictly sight fished. The prevailing thought is that as the week progresses, the bite could dry up, and mixing in cruising bass would thus be critical. But Williamson is confident that the sight bite will remain productive throughout the four-day event.
He didn't, however, rule out mixing things up if the conditions drastically changed and that included throwing a swimbait, which was the lure that lifted him to his first Elite Series victory on big-bass factory Lake Amistad.
"Everything is a timing deal right now," said Williamson, who broke into the Elite Series in 2007. "The less time you spend with the bedding bass, the more opportunities you have to explore. There is plenty of fish out there."
Sharing the area with Williamson, and fishing it correctly, was Lane, who totaled 21 pounds, 7 ounces. An accomplished sight fisherman, Lane boated all his bass by 10 a.m. Part of that limit was a 6-pounder, which was caught blindcasting a worm.
"I have been carrying around this lucky marble that my daughter gave me ever since Clear Lake (the last Elite event)," said Lane, who like Williamson scored an Elite victory in 2009. "It worked at Clear Lake and man, it worked today. I would rather be lucky than good any day."
But make no mistake; Lane is locked in to the bedding bass this week. He wasn't as optimistic as Williamson about the shared area throughout the week and therefore he would consider moving on if the area went sour.
While Williamson was looking deeper, Lane was working the extreme shallows -one to two foot of water depth - for bedding bass. Lane, who finished 25th on Smith Mountain last year, used his '09 experience to his advantage Thursday, working two areas that he found then.
Right behind Lane in third was another Florida-based shallow water expert, Terry Scroggins of Palatka, with 19-13. In fourth was Marty Robinson of Lyman, S.C., with 19-2. Rounding out the top five was Jason Quinn of York, S.C., with 18-11.
Other notables included seventy-year-old Guy Eaker of Cherryville, N.C., who continued his 2010 tear and was eighth. Bassmaster Angler of the Year points leader Skeet Reese of Auburn, S.C., posted another stellar day and was 10th. Kevin VanDam, who took victory here last year, was 34th. The full standings can be found below.
Smith Mountain Lake out of Huddleston, Va., is the 2010 Elite Series' third stop. Pros are competing for a $100,000 first-place prize. They also will be after points to qualify for the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason in July, when the $200,000 Bassmaster Angler of the Year contest will play out in Alabama. Points also count towards berths in the 2011 Bassmaster Classic.
All spectator activities are free and open to the public, including the launches and weigh-ins at Parkway Marina, 16918 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway, Huddleston, VA 24104. Takeoff is set for 6:20 a.m. ET; weigh-ins will begin at 3:30 p.m. ET.
Other fan events include a Friday tailgate party with live music and a "corn hole"tournament. The party will begin after weigh-in. Likewise, a Karaoke contest will begin after Saturday's weigh-in.
Special events for kids include a Saturday tournament, "Fish Like the Pros," and Saturday and Sunday activities hosted by the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance. Also for young fans is the Kids Casting Challenge.
2010 Moneta, VA 4/15-4/18 Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta VA. (PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 22-09 305 Day 1: 5 22-09 2. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 21-07 295 Day 1: 5 21-07 3. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 19-13 290 Day 1: 5 19-13 4. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 19-02 285 Day 1: 5 19-02 5. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 18-11 280 Day 1: 5 18-11 6. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 18-09 276 Day 1: 5 18-09 7. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 18-06 272 Day 1: 5 18-06 8. Guy Eaker Cherryville, NC 5 18-01 268 Day 1: 5 18-01 9. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 17-10 264 Day 1: 5 17-10 10. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 5 17-09 260 Day 1: 5 17-09 11. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 17-03 257 Day 1: 5 17-03 12. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 17-01 254 Day 1: 5 17-01 13. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 16-11 251 Day 1: 5 16-11 14. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 5 16-09 248 Day 1: 5 16-09 15. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 16-08 245 Day 1: 5 16-08 16. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 16-07 243 Day 1: 5 16-07 17. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 5 16-05 241 Day 1: 5 16-05 18. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 5 16-03 239 Day 1: 5 16-03 19. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 5 16-01 237 Day 1: 5 16-01 20. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 15-15 235 Day 1: 5 15-15 21. Alton Jones Waco, TX 5 15-14 233 Day 1: 5 15-14 22. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 15-13 231 Day 1: 5 15-13 23. Terry Butcher Talala, OK 5 15-11 229 Day 1: 5 15-11 24. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 15-09 227 Day 1: 5 15-09 24. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 15-09 227 Day 1: 5 15-09 26. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 15-08 223 Day 1: 5 15-08 27. Keith Poche Troy, AL 5 15-03 221 Day 1: 5 15-03 28. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 15-01 219 Day 1: 5 15-01 29. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 5 14-15 217 Day 1: 5 14-15 30. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 5 14-14 215 Day 1: 5 14-14 31. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 14-13 213 Day 1: 5 14-13 31. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 14-13 213 Day 1: 5 14-13 31. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 14-13 213 Day 1: 5 14-13 34. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 5 14-12 207 Day 1: 5 14-12 34. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 14-12 207 Day 1: 5 14-12 36. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 5 14-11 203 Day 1: 5 14-11 37. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 14-10 201 Day 1: 5 14-10 37. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 14-10 201 Day 1: 5 14-10 37. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 5 14-10 201 Day 1: 5 14-10 37. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 14-10 201 Day 1: 5 14-10 37. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 14-10 201 Day 1: 5 14-10 42. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 14-07 191 Day 1: 5 14-07 42. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 14-07 191 Day 1: 5 14-07 44. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 13-12 187 Day 1: 5 13-12 45. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 13-11 185 Day 1: 5 13-11 46. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 13-09 183 Day 1: 5 13-09 46. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 5 13-09 183 Day 1: 5 13-09 46. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 5 13-09 183 Day 1: 5 13-09 49. Bradley Hallman Norman, OK 5 13-07 177 Day 1: 5 13-07 49. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 13-07 177 Day 1: 5 13-07 51. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 5 13-06 173 Day 1: 5 13-06 52. Wade Grooms Bonneau, SC 5 13-05 171 Day 1: 5 13-05 53. Byron Haseotes Centerville, MA 5 13-04 169 Day 1: 5 13-04 53. Marty Stone Fayetteville, NC 5 13-04 169 Day 1: 5 13-04 55. Vince Fulks Purcell, OK 5 13-03 165 Day 1: 5 13-03 56. Matt Greenblatt Palm Beach Gardens, FL 5 13-01 163 Day 1: 5 13-01 57. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 5 13-00 161 Day 1: 5 13-00 58. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 12-15 159 Day 1: 5 12-15 58. Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 5 12-15 159 Day 1: 5 12-15 60. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 12-14 155 Day 1: 5 12-14 61. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, NC 5 12-13 153 Day 1: 5 12-13 62. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 5 12-11 151 Day 1: 5 12-11 63. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 12-10 149 Day 1: 5 12-10 64. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 12-08 147 Day 1: 5 12-08 65. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 12-07 145 Day 1: 5 12-07 65. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 5 12-07 145 Day 1: 5 12-07 67. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 12-06 141 Day 1: 5 12-06 68. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 5 12-05 139 Day 1: 5 12-05 68. John Crews Salem, VA 5 12-05 139 Day 1: 5 12-05 70. Pat Golden High Point, NC 5 11-15 135 Day 1: 5 11-15 70. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 11-15 135 Day 1: 5 11-15 72. Zell Rowland Austin, TX 5 11-14 131 Day 1: 5 11-14 73. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 5 11-13 129 Day 1: 5 11-13 74. Jeff Connella Bentley, LA 5 11-09 127 Day 1: 5 11-09 75. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 5 11-04 125 Day 1: 5 11-04 76. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 10-15 123 Day 1: 5 10-15 77. Shaw E Grigsby Gainesville, FL 5 10-14 121 Day 1: 5 10-14 78. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY 5 10-13 119 Day 1: 5 10-13 79. Clark Reehm Russellville, AR 5 10-11 117 Day 1: 5 10-11 80. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 10-10 115 Day 1: 5 10-10 81. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 10-04 113 Day 1: 5 10-04 82. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 5 09-14 111 Day 1: 5 09-14 83. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 09-13 109 Day 1: 5 09-13 84. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 3 09-10 107 Day 1: 3 09-10 85. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 09-00 105 Day 1: 5 09-00 86. Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 4 08-15 103 Day 1: 4 08-15 87. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 4 08-12 101 Day 1: 4 08-12 88. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 5 08-11 99 Day 1: 5 08-11 89. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 08-06 97 Day 1: 5 08-06 90. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 3 06-10 95 Day 1: 3 06-10 91. David Smith Del City, OK 2 04-11 93 Day 1: 2 04-11 92. Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, MD 1 03-06 91 Day 1: 1 03-06 93. Mark Burgess Norton, MA 2 01-09 89 Day 1: 2 01-09 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 86 449 1264-00 ---------------------------------- 86 449 1264-00