Pro Randy Haynes of Ripley, Mississippi, weighed a 26-pound, 3-ounce, limit of bass Thursday to take the early lead at the FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake presented by Costa Sunglasses. Haynes’ limit – tied for the third largest single-day limit ever caught on Kentucky Lake in FLW Tour competition – will pace the field heading into Day Two of the four-day event that features the world’s most best bass-fishing professionals and co-anglers casting for top awards of up to $125,000 cash in the Pro Division and up to $25,000 cash in the Co-angler Division.

Right behind Haynes is second-place pro Jason Lambert of Michie, Tennessee, a fellow ledge-fishing expert who was the 2016 FLW Tour at Kentucky Lake Champion. With Haynes and Lambert both catching their fish out deep and separated by less than 2 pounds, the stage could be set for a potential offshore shootout.

“My first five holes were tough, but I hit a good one and stayed there most of the day. I caught a couple, left for a little while, came back and culled a couple more times,” said Haynes, who is seeking his second career win in FLW Tour competition. “It was pretty tough out there – I only had six keeper bites all day. I’m very fortunate to have what I did. It’s kind of wide open out there right now. I can fish anywhere I want to, and I like that.”

Haynes said he counted 10 bass in his primary location, six of which he put in the boat. He said it took most of the day to put together his limit.

“I just grinded it out and the bites I got were the right ones,” said Haynes. “The spot is burned to the ground now so I’m going to have to go out there and start over tomorrow. It’s all about finding them right now – finding the fresh ones. That’s the whole deal right now.”

The top 10 pros after day one on Kentucky Lake are:

               1st:          Randy Haynes, Ripley, Miss., five bass, 26-3
               2nd:         Jason Lambert, Michie, Tenn., five bass, 24-6
               3rd:          Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury, Odenville, Ala., five bass, 21-5           
               4th:          Lowrance pro Austin Felix, Eden Prairie, Minn., five bass, 19-13 
               5th:          Josh Douglas, Isle, Minn., five bass, 19-10      
               6th:          Bradley Hallman, Norman, Okla., five bass, 18-6          
               7th:          Polaris pro David Dudley, Lynchburg, Va., five bass, 18-5           
               8th:          Scott Martin, Clewiston, Fla., five bass, 17-14
               8th:          Tom Redington, Royse City, Texas, five bass, 17-14
               8th:          Andy Morgan, Dayton, Tenn., five bass, 17-14

For a full list of results visit FLWFishing.com.