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Shaw Slams Them

Category: Tournament

 Mar 13th, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Mar 13th, 2014 at 12:00 AM

Mercury pro Shaw Grigsby kicked off the 2014 Bassmaster Elite Series season with bang. He used his early-season fishing prowess to bring in a limit and grab the lead with 30 pounds 5 ounces. Grigsby previously won two B.A.S.S. events on Seminole. Just off the lead is Rapala pro Bernie Schultz with 26 pounds 14 ounces. Included in Schultz’ limit was a trophy weighing 10 pounds 10 ounces.

	Day 1 leader Shaw Grigsby (bassmaster.com)

Rounding out the Top 5 are BassCat Boats pro Kevin Short weighing 25 pounds 9 ounces in third, Evinrude pro Brett Hite brought in 24 pounds 11 ounces for fourth and in fifth Ranger Boats pro Tommy Biffle with 23 pounds 13 ounces.

Shaw blessed.

“I had a really blessed day out there,” said Grigsby. “I caught more big fish than I thought I would. I executed well and put them in the boat. You don’t get many days in tournament fishing where you catch a 30-pound sack.

“Without going into detail, I’ve done well here in the past during February. During the first spawn. When most anglers are not catching them spawning. The bass have been spawning for a month. So, these fish are in pre-spawn, post-spawn and spawn modes.

“I generally do a couple of things to catch them. There is a full moon right now so they will continue to be active. I will hopefully be catching them all four days either looking at them or catching them while they are moving in or both.”

Attitude adjustment for Short.

“It’s a whole new year,” said Short. “I have a whole new attitude. It seems to be working. It was working today. I think it will work tomorrow. I think the fish are gonna bite tomorrow. They’ve got to eat.”

Hite having fun.

“I’m fishing like I like to fish,” said Hite. “I’ve been fishing on the momentum trail (Hite recently won and FLW Tour event and finished in the Top 10 in another).

“I’m fishing with a lot of confidence right now. I’m making the right decisions. I’m not second guessing myself. I’m having fun.”

Biffle slow.

“I had a very tough practice,” said Biffle. “Today, I just put my head down and fished real slow. I had a couple of good bites. I’m gonna go out and try again tomorrow.”