CULLMAN, Ala. – The shad spawn was on during Period 1 of the MLF Bass Pro Tour Phoenix Boats Stage Five Presented by Mercury, and a couple of anglers were able to capitalize on the early morning bite it provided. One of those anglers, Shaw Grigsby, boated 11 bass for 19 pounds, 15 ounces.
“This morning I was just skipping a jig up to some bushes and I was really having a dandy time doing that,” Grigsby explained. “I was feeling good after the first period because I didn’t execute very well and I still had 19 pounds. I really scrambled after that first period though, and it was really painful to hear so many other guys doing so well on SCORETRACKER™. The rest of the day was pretty rough for me.”
Grigsby finished the first period in the top 5 on SCORETRACKER™, but quickly saw himself fall out of the top 10 after tough Periods 2 and 3. The Florida pro was only able to add four bass for 6-9 to his final tally. He would finish the day in 15th place, above the Elimination Line, but far from feeling safe from Thursday’s cut. The main difference in Grigsby’s morning and afternoon was the ever-changing early-morning shad spawn.
“If I don’t get the fish to bite on Thursday morning I’m going to be crying big tears,” Grigsby chuckled. “I was able to take advantage of the shad spawn early this morning and that worked out well. What’s interesting though, is that the shad spawns on Sunday and Monday during practice were amazing. Today, it was not as good. That’s what scares me about Thursday.”
As for his strategy heading into Thursday’s Elimination Round 1, Grigsby already has an idea on how he is going to attack the day.
“I’m working the backs of creeks with bushes which just looks like the prototypical largemouth area,” Grigsby detailed. “I’m throwing a Strike King Thunder Cricket around some docks and that’s a standard strategy for catching fish anywhere. We’re definitely at a post-spawn time right now so working the bushes and the docks are really what I hope can work well for me this week.”
Lewis Smith Lake is known for its plethora of spotted bass as well as a quality largemouth population. While some anglers may be trying to focus on one species or the other, Grigsby is not one to turn either fish away.
“A bass is a bass whether it’s a spot or a largemouth and I need them all,” Grigsby highlighted. “I was fishing that jig and I was just catching whatever would bite. It was definitely a mixed bag because this is such a great spotted bass lake, but it’s a great largemouth lake as well.”
Five spots and 1-11 separates Grigsby from the Elimination Line as he prepares for Thursday’s Elimination Round 1. His strategy is simple, yet complicated. Catching fish is the obvious winning formula, but it’s more about when he catches those fish rather than what he catches or where.
“This game is about execution,” Grigsby explained. “If I can catch the bites I get and get those bites in the morning, I should be able to catch 25 pounds in the first period. If you catch 25 pounds in the first period you should be able to hang in there and make the cut. I just have to take advantage of the bites I get and not miss them.”
Grigsby and the rest of Group A will take Wednesday off as Group B begins their Shotgun Round 2 on Smith Lake. You can follow along on SCORETRACKER™ at MajorLeagueFishing.com as Group B begins their day at 6:30 a.m. CT. Group A will return to action on Thursday, May 2 when the 40 anglers will battle for their place the Top 20 and the right to move on to Saturday’s Knockout Round.