Monster catch

Rookie Glasgow breaks all-time EverStart Series record for single-day stringer during opening round of competition on Santee Cooper

MANNING, S.C. – With anglers facing driving winds in the 15- to 25-mph range, brutally cold temperatures and a fickle bite, it was not surprising that the majority of the field in Wednesday’s competition were left scratching their heads at the end of today’s events. In fact, by the time the final angler had crossed the stage, only 12 pros and co-anglers combined had recorded five-fish limits out of a full field of 396 anglers.

But while the big story of the tournament was shaping up to be the uncharacteristically difficult fishing conditions on Santee Cooper – a set of lakes that normally produce some of the biggest fish in the country – a little-known rookie angler from Ashville, Ala., made sure to grab some headlines of his own. Using a staggering catch of 32 pounds, 13 ounces, 34-year-old angler Allan Glasgow not only grabbed the overall lead in the Pro Division in commanding fashion, but also made history in the process by setting the all-time record for largest one-day stringer in EverStart Series history.

“To be able to come in here with this level of competition and set the record is just awesome,” said Glasgow, who also outfished his nearest pro competitor by a whopping 12 pounds, 10 ounces in the process. “I was able to practice here for 10 days, so my confidence was really high coming into this tournament. But my goal was simply to catch five fish today. I was just fortunate that they were some pretty good-sized fish. It was a lot of fun today.”

The rest of the field probably didn’t feel any better to learn that this was not only Glasgow’s first season on the tour, but also his very first time fishing the Santee Cooper chain of lakes.

“This is my first time here and my first year fishing EverStarts,” said Glasgow. “I didn’t do so well at the first (Eastern Division) event on Lake Okeechobee, so I really wanted to do well here. I’ve caught some 20-pound stringers in the past, but nothing like this. This is just an awesome lake. I’m impressed.”

Glasgow said that he caught the majority of his big fish – two 8-pound-plus and one 7-pound-plus largemouth bass – flipping in an area on Lake Moultrie approximately one to two acres in size.

“I used a crankbait some of the day, but most of my big fish came flipping,” he said. “I think fishing shallow water was the key. The fish seemed to be staging, and I had most of my luck fishing in about 7 to 8 feet of water. Basically, we just tried a lot of different things today and everything just sort of worked out.”

So, with a berth in the top-10 finals almost assured, does Glasgow have plans to take it easy in Thursday’s competition?

“I’m definitely going to go out there, take the apron off and try to catch some more fish,” he said. “I’ve never made it to the finals before in my life, and I really want to get there. You just can’t be too careful on this lake. Who knows? Tomorrow 10 guys can come back in with 32-pound stringers. This lake is just that good.”

One for the record books

Glasgow’s catch of 32 pounds, 13 ounces adds yet another amazing chapter to an already banner year for record-breaking feats on the EverStart tournament trail in 2005. In January, J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md., used a catch of 32 pounds, 12 ounces on Lake Okeechobee to smash the single-day catch record previously held by Rick Gunter of Holly Hills, Fla. Gunter had held the record for the past three seasons – 30 pounds, 5 ounces – which he recorded in 2002 on Lake Okeechobee.

Kenney also set the largest two-day catch record in EverStart history during that same January tournament with a total catch of 48 pounds, 14 ounces. But amazingly enough, one month later, that record fell as well when William Davis of Russellville, Ala., brought in a two-day stringer weighing 51 pounds. Davis landed his record stringer at the February EverStart Central Division event on Sam Rayburn after pulling in consecutive-day catches weighing 23 pounds, 14 ounces and 27 pounds, 2 ounces, respectively, in the opening round.

Best of the rest

Sean Stepp of Stafford, Va., used a 20-pound, 3-ounce catch to grab second place overall in the Pro Division while Hoyt Ivie of Thomaston, Ga., netted third place with a catch of 19 pounds, 9 ounces.

Kenney, who saw the last of his January catch records fall in today’s competition, finished the day in fourth place with a stringer weighing 18 pounds, 9 ounces.

“I’ll tell you what, I’ve been sick as a dog this week, and I only caught two fish in practice, so I’m pretty happy with today,” said Kenney. “But yeah, did I think my records would fall this quickly? No, I guess I didn’t.”

Warren Wyman of Calera, Ala., finished the day in fifth place after recording a catch weighing 17 pounds, 12 ounces.

Larry Hopson of Hamilton, Ala., and Bryant Ailor of Knoxville, Tenn., shared the day’s big-bass award in the Pro Division after they both netted largemouths weighing 9 pounds, 14 ounces.

Co-angler Iddins far from idle in today’s competition

Although Keith Iddins of Knoxville, Tenn., only managed to catch three fish in today’s competition, it was still good enough to take the overall lead in the Co-angler Division. Using a total catch of 17 pounds, 3 ounces, Iddins narrowly beat out Arch Cornett of Huntsville Ala. – who netted a catch of 16 pounds, 7 ounces – to grab first place.

“It was a crazy day out there,” said Iddins, referring to the gusting winds and cool temperatures that left many anglers almost speechless. “But I was really surprised the weights came in as low as they did. Even though the weather was rough, there are still a lot of good fishermen here.”

Iddins, who landed most of his catch fishing a Rat-L-Trap around grass in “pretty shallow” water, said he was more than pleased with today’s outcome.

“It feels good to be in first place,” said Iddins. “I’m really feeling good about the rest of this tournament as well. I’m enjoying this. Hopefully I can go out there tomorrow and catch a few more good fish. It’s pretty exciting. I’m fired up.”

Iddins also netted the day’s big-bass award in the Co-angler Division after landing an 8-pound, 10-ounce largemouth.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top five were these co-anglers: Cornett (second place); Derek Schlotterback (third) of Simpsonville, S.C., with a catch of 12 pounds, 11 ounces; and Tim McTyre (fourth) of Powder Springs, Ga., with a catch of 9 pounds, 4 ounces. Edward “Ed” Adams of Egg Harbor, N.J., and Nathan Fuller of Hillsboro, Ga., tied for fifth place, each weighing 9 pounds.

Action continues at Thursday’s takeoff, scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. at John C. Land III landing, located at Lake Marion in Summerton, S.C.