Johnson Leads at Chickamauga with 21-12 on Day 1
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – In spite of a 1-pound dead fish penalty, Alabama angler Andrew Johnson bested the field by more than 2 pounds on Day 1 of the Toyota Series Presented by A.R.E. Central Division event on Lake Chickamauga. With a total of 21 pounds, 12 ounces, Johnson staked himself to a lead of 2-7. Johnson’s bag was bigger than many had expected, given the recent fickle state of the Tennessee River reservoir. The big bag was largely thanks to one monster bass just ounces shy of the coveted 10-pound mark.
Tied in second, Daniel Sepeck and Ken Vicchio both tallied 19-5, and Avry Thomason sits in fourth with 18-10.
“I worked really hard all day long to get them good five,” said Johnson. “I just caught the right ones this morning.
Johnson said he sight fished the entire day, even though he wasn’t seeing a lot of fish.
“I seen six or seven decent fish all day long,” he said. “I just hit the trolling motor and burned them trolling motor batteries up today.”
Johnson had not seen the kicker fish in practice. He was just cruising the bank when he spotted it. He said when he first laid eyes on the big female, he knew the fish would be a potential game-changer if he could catch it. But he admitted it rattled him initially.
“I like to died when I saw it,” he said. “It took me a minute to get my nerves together before I could pitch in there and catch it.”
He said the fish was aggressive and didn’t waste time eating. When it hit all he cared about was getting it to the boat.
“I just thought get it to the net as quick as possible,” he said. “I caught it and a 3-pounder off the same bed right off the bat.”
Johnson said he was fishing a green pumpkin Yamamoto Senko most of the day. Throughout practice, Johnson said he could tell the spawning bite was fading.
“It’s going away quick, fast and in a hurry for me,” he said. “I just happened to come across the right ones today.”
He knows Friday’s expected change in weather – clouds along with predicted rain and wind – is going to hurt, if not kill, his sight fishing. But he hopes he has a backup plan.
“I did catch some fish flipping and I can flip some up hopefully,” he said.
He said the penalty was frustrating.
“Especially against these guys. Every ounce matters,” said Johnson. “But we’ll go after ‘em tomorrow and see what we can come up with.”
Top 10 Pros
1. Andrew Johnson – 21 – 12 (5)
2. Daniel Sepeck – 19 – 05 (5)
2. Ken Vicchio – 19 – 05 (5)
4. Avry Thomason – 18 – 10 (5)
5. Cody Nichols – 18 – 05 (5)
5. Jonathan Dietz – 18 – 05 (5)
7. Andrew Nordbye – 18 – 02 (5)
8. Bryan Partak – 17 – 07 (5)
9. Adam Lynn – 17 – 06 (5)
10. Brian Morgan – 17 – 04 (5)