Combs Delivers on Day One at Falcon
Category: article
Mar 21st, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified Mar 21st, 2013 at 12:00 AM
There is no doubt that the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Falcon Lake out of Zapata, Texas was the most anticipated regular season event of 2013. Why? Well, big bass lurk there and they are in abundance. Keith Combs out of Huntington, Texas took the Day 1 lead with a fat 5-fish limit weighing 34 pounds 13 ounces. For you math whizzes, that is almost 7 pounds per bass!
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Keith Combs (Photo B.A.S.S.)
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Big bass for the day was weighed in by Rick Morris out of Lake Gaston, Virginia. His beefy bucketmouth tipped the scales at 9 pounds 11 ounces.
Fishing memories not a problem for Keith Combs.
“I struggled in practice,” said Combs. “I fish Falcon a bunch, but I just couldn’t put anything together worthwhile in practice. I didn’t sleep last night because I knew I would have to go and fish memories today. Fishing in places I’ve caught them in the past. That is usually one of the worst things you can do in a tournament, but it paid off today.”
Combs caught clones throughout the day.
“I went into today hoping for two or three big bites,” said Combs. “Today I had 8 big bites. I caught all of them and two smaller keepers as well. All the fish were clones. All of the fish I kept were right around 7 pounds. It was the Falcon I am used to fishing today. It’s been a bit off the last 6 months.
“Falcon usually holds up and spots will produce the next day, but Falcon has been off lately. I had to leave my primary spot today because I was not really upgrading with the cull fish. I’d kill for those fish tomorrow. So I moved to fish other areas.
“Tomorrow I will check out a few spots I didn’t today. I think my primary area has to come through for me to do well. I hope nobody moves in on me. I had one angler do that today and explained what I had going. He left me alone.”
Jason Christie worried.
“I had one good practice day, one okay day and one sorry practice day,” said Christie. “Going into today I was not too sure. After today, I am not too sure. I only had 8 bites today, but 4 of the 5 I weighed were big. The action was sporadic. I’m going to stick to my basic plan, it’s all I got.”
Christie ended the Day in 4th with 28 pounds and 15 ounces.
Day One Standings
1. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 34-13 100
Day 1: 5 34-13
2. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 30-13 99
Day 1: 5 30-13
3. Josh Bertrand Gilbert, AZ 5 30-05 98
Day 1: 5 30-05
4. Jason Christie Park Hill, OK 5 28-15 97
Day 1: 5 28-15
5. Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 28-12 96
Day 1: 5 28-12
6. Rick Morris Lake Gaston, VA 5 27-14 95
Day 1: 5 27-14
7. Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 5 27-08 94
Day 1: 5 27-08
8. Alton Jones Lorena, TX 5 26-10 93
Day 1: 5 26-10
9. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 5 26-08 92
Day 1: 5 26-08
10. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 5 26-07 91
Day 1: 5 26-07
11. John Crews Salem, VA 5 26-03 90
Day 1: 5 26-03
12. Pete Ponds Madison, MS 5 26-00 89
Day 1: 5 26-00
13. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 25-15 88
Day 1: 5 25-15
14. Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 5 25-09 87
Day 1: 5 25-09
14. Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 5 25-09 87
Day 1: 5 25-09
16. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 25-05 85
Day 1: 5 25-05
17. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 5 24-09 84
Day 1: 5 24-09
18. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 5 24-08 83
Day 1: 5 24-08
19. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 5 23-15 82
Day 1: 5 23-15
20. Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 5 23-12 81
Day 1: 5 23-12
21. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 23-12 80
Day 1: 5 23-12
22. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 5 23-11 79
Day 1: 5 23-11
22. John Murray Phoenix, AZ 5 23-11 79
Day 1: 5 23-11
24. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 5 23-09 77
Day 1: 5 23-09
25. Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 5 23-02 76
Day 1: 5 23-02
26. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 5 22-12 75
Day 1: 5 22-12
27. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 5 22-09 74
Day 1: 5 22-09
28. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 5 22-06 73
Day 1: 5 22-06
29. Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 5 22-05 72
Day 1: 5 22-05
29. Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 5 22-05 72
Day 1: 5 22-05
29. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 5 22-05 72
Day 1: 5 22-05
32. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 5 22-03 69
Day 1: 5 22-03
33. Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 5 21-11 68
Day 1: 5 21-11
34. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 5 21-09 67
Day 1: 5 21-09
34. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 5 21-09 67
Day 1: 5 21-09
36. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 5 21-07 65
Day 1: 5 21-07
37. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 5 20-15 64
Day 1: 5 20-15
38. Dennis Tietje Roanoke, LA 5 20-10 63
Day 1: 5 20-10
39. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 20-08 62
Day 1: 5 20-08
40. Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 5 20-05 61
Day 1: 5 20-05
40. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 5 20-05 61
Day 1: 5 20-05
42. Kelley Jaye Dadeville, AL 5 20-04 59
Day 1: 5 20-04
42. Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 5 20-04 59
Day 1: 5 20-04
44. Brandon Card Caryville, TN 5 20-03 57
Day 1: 5 20-03
45. Randy Howell Springville, AL 5 20-00 56
Day 1: 5 20-00
46. Hank Cherry Maiden, NC 5 19-05 55
Day 1: 5 19-05
47. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 5 19-02 54
Day 1: 5 19-02
48. Paul Elias Laurel, MS 4 19-02 53
Day 1: 4 19-02
49. Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 5 18-13 52
Day 1: 5 18-13
50. Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 5 18-12 51
Day 1: 5 18-12
51. Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 5 18-10 50
Day 1: 5 18-10
52. Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 5 18-09 49
Day 1: 5 18-09
53. Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 5 18-07 48
Day 1: 5 18-07
54. David Walker Sevierville, TN 5 18-05 47
Day 1: 5 18-05
55. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 3 18-04 46
Day 1: 3 18-04
56. Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 5 17-13 45
Day 1: 5 17-13
57. Matt Herren Trussville, AL 5 17-08 44
Day 1: 5 17-08
58. Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 5 17-06 43
Day 1: 5 17-06
59. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 5 17-05 42
Day 1: 5 17-05
59. Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 5 17-05 42
Day 1: 5 17-05
61. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 16-14 40
Day 1: 5 16-14
62. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 3 16-06 39
Day 1: 3 16-06
63. Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 5 16-05 38
Day 1: 5 16-05
64. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 5 15-13 37
Day 1: 5 15-13
65. Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 5 15-11 36
Day 1: 5 15-11
66. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 4 15-08 35
Day 1: 4 15-08
67. Morizo Shimizu Osaka JAPAN 5 15-07 34
Day 1: 5 15-07
68. Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 5 15-00 33
Day 1: 5 15-00
69. David Smith Del City, OK 5 14-13 32
Day 1: 5 14-13
70. Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 4 14-06 31
Day 1: 4 14-06
71. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 13-13 30
Day 1: 5 13-13
72. Clark Reehm Shreveport, LA 5 13-11 29
Day 1: 5 13-11
73. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 5 13-04 28
Day 1: 5 13-04
73. Derek Remitz Grant, AL 5 13-04 28
Day 1: 5 13-04
75. Kevin Hawk Guntersville, AL 5 13-02 26
Day 1: 5 13-02
76. Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 5 13-00 25
Day 1: 5 13-00
77. Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 3 12-13 24
Day 1: 3 12-13
78. Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 5 12-12 23
Day 1: 5 12-12
79. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 3 12-12 22
Day 1: 3 12-12
80. James Elam Tulsa, OK 5 12-08 21
Day 1: 5 12-08
81. Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 3 12-05 20
Day 1: 3 12-05
82. Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 5 11-13 19
Day 1: 5 11-13
83. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 2 11-10 18
Day 1: 2 11-10
84. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 4 11-08 17
Day 1: 4 11-08
85. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 5 11-00 16
Day 1: 5 11-00
86. Cliff Pace Petal, MS 3 11-00 15
Day 1: 3 11-00
87. Jami Fralick Martin, SD 3 10-09 14
Day 1: 3 10-09
88. Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 3 10-02 13
Day 1: 3 10-02
89. Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 5 08-11 12
Day 1: 5 08-11
90. Kurt Dove Del Rio, TX 4 08-07 11
Day 1: 4 08-07
91. Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 2 07-14 10
Day 1: 2 07-14
92. Chad Pipkens Holt, MI 2 07-03 9
Day 1: 2 07-03
93. Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 2 06-13 8
Day 1: 2 06-13
94. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 3 05-14 7
Day 1: 3 05-14
95. J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 3 05-10 6
Day 1: 3 05-10
96. Chip Porche Bixby, OK 3 04-11 5
Day 1: 3 04-11
97. BJ Haseotes Centerville, MA 2 04-00 4
Day 1: 2 04-00
98. Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 2 02-13 3
Day 1: 2 02-13
99. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
99. Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 76 445 1797-13
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76 445 1797-13