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Ehrler Takes Early Lead on Lewis Smith Lake

Category: article

 Mar 7th, 2013 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Mar 7th, 2013 at 12:00 AM

Brent Ehrler is one of the most common names to see near or at the top of the FLW Tour leaderboard over the last several years. He is a multi-event winner including a Forrest Wood Cup. So, it is not shocking that he is leading the second stop of the 2013 FLW Tour at Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Alabama. Ehrler weighed in a limit of fish weighing 17-pounds 8-ounces. In second place after Day 1, and only 8 ounces behind, is Dave Lefebre.

	Brent Ehrler (Photo FLW Outdoors)

 
A late check in time helped Ehrler.
 
:I had a nice late day,” said Ehrler. “I didn’t have to check in until 5:00 P.M. That allowed me to slow down and not panic at all. I fished very methodically on a bunch of spots and the 112 keepers I caught were spread out all day long. Some of my best fish came off spots I didn’t catch anything on in practice.
 
“I caught more than I expected based on my practice. I figured I could come up with 12 pounds, but over 17, that was fortunate.”
 
A one-two punch is keeping Ehrler somewhat confident.
 
“I have a couple of things working,” said Ehrler. “I’m fishing some deep structure and some banks. I can’t say I really have a specific deal dialed in right now, but I have a lot of things to work through during the day. I should be able to catch fish, but who knows. It’s fishing.
 
“I don’t believe the weights will be as good from now on. This lake seemed to really be affected by fishing pressure during practice. The one off day let the bass relax. After the pounding it took today, I wouldn’t be surprised if the weights were down.”

Dave Lefebre was close to having a big bag of bass.
 
“I could’ve had one of those glorious monster sacks of bass,” said Lefebre. “I blew it. I had the chance, but blew it. I’ll go at them tomorrow. For me, it’s all about the shad and making really long casts.”

Day 1 Standings

1. Brent Ehrler — Redlands, Ca — 17-08 (5)

2. Dave Lefebre — Erie, Pa — 17-00 (5)

3. Wayne Hauser — Mooresville, NC — 16-08 (5)

4. Randy Haynes — Counce, Tn — 16-02 (5)

5. Brandon McMillan — Clewiston, Fl — 15-02 (4)

6. Koby Kreiger — Okeechobee, Fl — 15-00 (5)

7. Blake Nick — Adger, Al — 14-15 (5)

8. Jacob Powroznik — Prince George, Va — 14-11 (5)

8. Spencer Shuffield — Bismarck, Ar — 14-11 (5)

10. John Voyles — Petersburg, In — 14-07 (5)

11. Drew Benton — Panama City, Fl — 14-04 (5)

12. Zell Rowland — Montgomery, Tx — 14-03 (5)

12. Jay Yelas — Corvallis, Or — 14-03 (5)

14. Ray Scheide — Dover, Ar — 13-15 (5)

15. Richard Lowitzki — St Charles, Il — 13-11 (5)

16. Pete Thliveros — Saint Augustine, Fl — 13-08 (5)

17. Jacob Wheeler — Indianapolis, In — 13-05 (5)

18. Rob Kilby — Hot Springs, Ar — 13-04 (5)

19. David Fritts — Lexington, NC — 13-03 (5)

20. Luke Clausen — Spokane, Wa — 13-00 (5)

21. Mike Surman — Boca Raton, Fl — 12-15 (5)

21. Austin Terry — San Angelo, Tx — 12-15 (5)

23. Fred Roumbanis — Bixby, Ok — 12-12 (5)

24. Cody Meyer — Auburn, Ca — 12-11 (5)

25. Kelley Jaye — Dadeville, Al — 12-09 (5)

26. Michael Neal — Dayton, Tn — 12-07 (5)

26. Matthew Stefan — Park Ridge, Il — 12-07 (5)

28. Chris Baumgardner — Gastonia, NC — 12-05 (5)

29. Stetson Blaylock — Benton, Ar — 12-02 (5)

29. Jason Christie — Park Hill, Ok — 12-02 (5)

29. Justin Lucas — Guntersville, Al — 12-02 (5)

29. Barry Wilson — Birmingham, Al — 12-02 (5)

33. Bryan Thrift — Shelby, NC — 12-01 (5)

34. Anthony Gagliardi — Prosperity, SC — 12-00 (5)

35. Christopher Brasher — Hallsville, Tx — 11-15 (5)

35. Robert Morin — Seymour, Tn — 11-15 (5)

35. Derek Yasinski — Senoia, Ga — 11-15 (5)

38. Scott Suggs — Bryant, Ar — 11-13 (5)

39. Adrian Avena — Vineland, NJ — 11-12 (5)

40. Chad Grigsby — Maple Grove, Mn — 11-09 (4)

40. Randall Tharp — Gardendale, Al — 11-09 (5)

42. Matt Arey — Shelby, NC — 11-08 (5)

43. Robbie Dodson — Harrison, Ar — 11-07 (5)

43. Charlie Ingram — Santa Fe, Tn — 11-07 (5)

45. Wade Leblanc — Gonzales, La — 11-06 (5)

46. Bobby Lane — Lakeland, Fl — 11-03 (5)

47. Andy Morgan — Dayton, Tn — 11-02 (5)

48. Brandon Coulter — Knoxville, Tn — 10-14 (5)

48. Darrell Davis — Dover, Fl — 10-14 (4)

48. Chad Morgenthaler — Coulterville, Il — 10-14 (5)

51. Randy Blaukat — Joplin, Mo — 10-11 (5)

51. Charlie Evans — Gilbertsville, Ky — 10-11 (4)

53. Chris Neau — New Orleans, La — 10-10 (5)

54. Tim McDonald — Prestonsburg, Ky — 10-07 (5)

54. Tom Redington — Royse City, Tx — 10-07 (5)

56. Tommy Biffle — Wagoner, Ok — 10-05 (5)

57. James Watson — Waynesville, Mo — 10-03 (5)

58. John Cox — Debary, Fl — 10-02 (5)

59. Micah Frazier — Newnan, Ga — 10-01 (5)

59. Todd Hollowell — Fishers, In — 10-01 (5)

61. James Biggs — Richland Hills, Tx — 10-00 (5)

62. Shinichi Fukae — Palestine, Tx — 9-15 (5)

63. Jonathan Newton — Rogersville, Al — 9-14 (5)

64. Ramie Colson Jr — Cadiz, Ky — 9-11 (5)

65. Colby Schrumpf — Highland, Il — 9-09 (4)

65. Andrew Upshaw — Hemphill, Tx — 9-09 (5)

67. Robert Behrle — Hoover, Al — 9-08 (5)

67. Jimmy Houston — Cookson, Ok — 9-08 (5)

69. Stacey King — Reeds Spring, Mo — 9-06 (5)

70. Clent Davis — Montevallo, Al — 9-04 (5)

70. Ken Golub — Pittsford, NY — 9-04 (5)

72. Brent Long — Cornelius, NC — 9-03 (5)

72. Dan Morehead — Paducah, Ky — 9-03 (5)

74. Brett Hite — Phoenix, Az — 9-02 (5)

75. Mark Rose — West Memphis, Ar — 9-01 (5)

75. Wesley Strader — Spring City, Tn — 9-01 (5)

77. Jack Wade — Knoxville, Tn — 9-00 (5)

78. Rich Dalbey — Greenville, Tx — 8-15 (5)

78. Christopher Lane — Guntersville, Al — 8-15 (5)

80. Bob Eagleston — Newberry, Fl — 8-13 (5)

80. Jeff Gustafson — Keewatin, On — 8-13 (5)

80. Clark Wendlandt — Leander, Tx — 8-13 (5)

83. Ishama Monroe — Hughson, Ca — 8-12 (5)

84. Glenn Browne — Ocala, Fl — 8-11 (5)

84. Scott Martin — Clewiston, Fl — 8-11 (5)

86. Tim Gaskill — Edwardsville, Il — 8-10 (5)

86. Kevin Stewart — Elk Grove, Ca — 8-10 (5)

88. Dion Hibdon — Sunrise Beach, Mo — 8-09 (5)

88. Michael Williamson — Fort Smith, Ar — 8-09 (5)

90. J.P. Prouty — Vero Beach, Fl — 8-08 (5)

91. Terry Bolton — Paducah, Ky — 8-07 (5)

92. Ron Shuffield — Bismarck, Ar — 8-05 (5)

93. Kyle White — Tightwad, Mo — 8-03 (5)

94. Rex Huff — Corbin, Ky — 8-01 (5)

95. Philip Jarabeck — Lynchburg, Va — 7-14 (5)

95. Todd Schmitz — Goshen, In — 7-14 (5)

97. Charlie Weyer — West Hills, Ca — 7-13 (5)

98. Tony Dumitras — Wnston, Ga — 7-11 (5)

99. Bill Day — Frankfort, Ky — 7-08 (5)

99. Terry Segraves — Kissimmee, Fl — 7-08 (5)

101. Cody Bird — Granbury, Tx — 7-04 (5)

102. Rodney Jones — Athens, Ga — 7-03 (5)

103. Larry Nixon — Bee Branch, Ar — 7-02 (5)

104. Kenneth (Boo) Woods — Hazard, Ky — 7-01 (3)

104. Gary Yamamoto — Palestine, Tx — 7-01 (5)

106. Travis Fox — Rogers, Ar — 7-00 (5)

106. Jim Moynagh — Carver, Mn — 7-00 (5)

106. Vic Vatalaro — Kent, Oh — 7-00 (4)

109. Jason Meninger — Gainesville, Ga — 6-14 (2)

109. Chad Prough — Chipley, Fl — 6-14 (4)

111. Brad Knight — Wartburg, Tn — 6-13 (5)

112. Darrel Robertson — Jay, Ok — 6-11 (5)

113. Rusty Trancygier — Hahira, Ga — 6-10 (5)

114. Chad Billiot — Raceland, La — 6-07 (3)

114. Lendell Martin Jr — Nacogdoches, Tx — 6-07 (5)

116. Troy Morrow — Eastanollee, Ga — 6-03 (5)

116. Shad Schenck — Waynetown, In — 6-03 (3)

118. Ray Meredith — Smiths Grove, Ky — 6-02 (5)

119. Robert Collins — Morrow, Oh — 6-00 (4)

120. Jim Dillard — West Monroe, La — 5-13 (5)

120. George Kapiton — Inverness, Fl — 5-13 (5)

122. Casey Martin — New Market, Al — 5-12 (4)

123. Shane Long — Willard, Mo — 5-10 (5)

123. Joe Don Setina — Pittsburg, Tx — 5-10 (3)

125. Greg Bohannan — Rogers, Ar — 5-09 (5)

126. Tom Monsoor — La Crosse, Wi — 5-07 (3)

126. Jason Reyes — Huffman, Tx — 5-07 (4)

126. Scott Wiley — Bay Minette, Al — 5-07 (4)

129. Bobby Lanham — Cave Creek, Az — 5-06 (4)

130. Wade Hendricks — Thompsons Station, Tn — 5-04 (4)

131. Douglas Jones — Fort Gibson, Ok — 5-03 (4)

131. Russell Parrish — Riesel, Tx — 5-03 (3)

131. Brad Rightnour — Mingoville, Pa — 5-03 (2)

134. Roland Martin — Naples, Fl — 5-02 (3)

135. Scott Canterbury — Springville, Al — 5-00 (3)

135. David Dudley — Lynchburg, Va — 5-00 (2)

137. Guido Hibdon — Sunrise Beach, Mo — 4-15 (3)

138. Tim Malone — Gatlinburg, Tn — 4-12 (5)

139. Glenn Chappelear — Acworth, Ga — 4-10 (4)

139. Shirley Crain — Fort Smith, Ar — 4-10 (3)

141. Jim Tutt — Longview, Tx — 4-07 (4)

142. John Devere — Berea, Ky — 3-12 (2)

142. Travis Loyd — Kinmundy, Il — 3-12 (3)

144. JT Kenney — Palm Bay, Fl — 3-10 (1)

145. Shawn Murphy — Nicholasville, Ky — 3-08 (3)

146. Matt Pennington — Springdale, Ar — 3-07 (3)

147. Payden Hibdon — Sunrise Beach, Mo — 3-05 (2)

148. Wil Hardy — Harlem, Ga — 3-04 (2)

149. Rodney Thomason — Maumelle, Ar — 2-14 (2)

150. Robert Pearson — Herndon, Va — 2-11 (3)

151. Tommy Martin — Hemphill, Tx — 2-04 (1)

152. Steve Kennedy — Auburn, Al — 2-02 (2)

152. Alton Wilhoit — Harrah, Ok — 2-02 (1)

154. Zach Caudle — Shreveport, La — 2-00 (1)

154. Alex Davis — Albertville, Al — 2-00 (1)

156. Allan Glasgow — Ashville, Al — 1-15 (1)

157. Todd Auten — Lake Wylie, SC — 1-08 (1)

157. Ryan Chandler — Valparaiso, In — 1-08 (1)

157. Bill McDonald — Greenwood, In — 1-08 (1)

160. Stephen McKinnie — Umatila, Fl — 1-07 (1)

161. Sammy Burks — Joplin, Mo — 1-04 (1)

Frank Clark. Benton, Il — 0-00 (0). 0-00 (0)

Rick Cotten. Guntersville, Al — 0-00 (0). 0-00 (0)

Jerry Gore. St Cloud, Fl — 0-00 (0). 0-00 (0)

Dale Hightower. Mannford, Ok — 0-00 (0). 0-00 (0)

Lamonte Loyd. Gilmer, Tx — 0-00 (0). 0-00 (0)

Harry Moore. Valley, Al — 0-00 (0). 0-00 (0)

Tommy Robinson. Westland, Mi — 0-00 (0). 0-00 (0)

Kevin Spooner. Vero Beach, Fl — 0-00 (0). 0-00 (0)

Big Bass

Day 1: Brandon McMillan — 6-07 — $500