BAINBRIDGE, Ga. – The first day of action in the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southern Division event on Lake Seminole was good, but not quite the slugfest we saw last year. Still, 19 pounds went down to ninth place, and the top eight are separated by under 4 pounds, which should make for a very compelling race.
In the lead, Kyle Glasgow started off with 23 pounds, 2 ounces, and Matt Baty is right on his heels with 21-5. Max Hondorp is in third with 21-2, and Wyatt Frankens and Hayden Marbut are also both over the 20-pound mark.
On the co-angler side, Jim Short leads with 17-2, and co-angler superstar Keith Honeycutt is in second with 15-4.
Power fishing puts Glasgow ahead
Having a few close calls to make the cut under his belt on Seminole, things might all be going right for Glasgow this time around. Getting going in style, the Alabama pro stuck to his strengths on Day 1.
“I caught my fish on a 3/8-ounce Berkley PowerBait Swim Jig and a Berkley Power Blade Spinnerbait,” he said. “I probably caught 15 keepers, not a ton, but I honestly just got the right bites.”
“I was just power fishing, which is what I do,” he said. “I’ve got some stuff I haven’t fished, that may or may not work tomorrow. But any time they’re up shallow is good for me. I like a shallow bite.”
While Baty is fired up to get back out on the water, Glasgow isn’t so positive the rest of the week will be clear sailing.
“There weren’t a lot of opportunities, there was a lot of gap between them,” he said. “So, I don’t know if I can catch them or not tomorrow, to be honest. My buddy says I’m a pessimist whenever I get on ‘em, but I think I’m a realist.”
Local knowledge buoys Baty
With two MLF wins to his credit already on Seminole, Baty is clearly one of the premier locals in the event. Today, he showed why he’s a force to be reckoned with on the historic reservoir, catching fish every which way.
“My plan was to not turn my ‘Scope on until midday, and then just ‘Scope later in the day,” Baty said. “This is my home water, I know what I like to do. I love to throw a crankbait, and I started in Spring Creek, and fished some deep grass points. I caught me a nice limit on a crankbait and a Carolina rig, and I had some ledges I hit later in the day. I turned my ‘Scope on at like 11:40, and caught a couple ‘Scoping on the ledges. It hasn’t been easy on the ledges; they’re getting a lot of pressure.”
Then, with a little bit of time left with forward-facing sonar, Baty made a smart move.
“I had 13 minutes left on my ‘Scope, and I told my (co-angler) ‘Hey, I’ve got one more thing I want to go ‘Scope,’” he said. “I left, and when I got there, I had six minutes left, and in those six minutes I caught a 2-pounder and a 7-pounder.”
Weighing three fish caught without forward-facing sonar, Baty did most of his damage with a Berkley Dredger, a Carolina rig and a Berkley PowerBait Drip Minnow. Ideally, Baty wants to run the same game plan, catching fish in the morning old-school, and then firing up the screens in the afternoon.
“I obviously know spots I can go catch them without ‘Scope,” he said. “I feel like if you’re not on a ‘Scope pattern, and you can save your ‘Scope until later when the bite is slow, that’s my plan for the week. It may change; I’m a fly-by-night kind of guy, but if I can save my ‘Scope and utilize it when they’re not biting as good, that’s my plan.”
Top 10 pros
1. Kyle Glasgow – 23 – 2 (5)
2. Matt Baty – 21 – 5 (5)
3. Max Hondorp – 21 – 2 (5)
4. Wyatt Frankens – 20 – 8 (5)
5. Hayden Marbut – 20 – 5 (5)
6. Evrett Hunter – 19 – 11 (5)
7. Matt Wieteha – 19 – 10 (5)
8. Dylon Smith – 19 – 6 (5)
9. Levi Thibodaux – 19 – 0 (5)
10. Mason Boylan – 18 – 14 (5)