The 107-angler field will be cut to the Top 50 after today’s weigh-in, and Day 1 left a particularly crowded bunch around the cut mark. There are 26 guys separated by less than 2 pounds between 37th-place James Elam (11-14) and 62nd-place Ish Monroe and Cliff Crochet (10-1).
Mike McClelland was in the 50th spot with 11-4, but only because he didn’t have a five-bass limit. McClelland’s four fish weighed the same as Davy Hite’s and Carl Jocumsen’s five, so there’s essentially a three-way tie for 48th place.
Look for an ounce or two to make the difference in 50th place, a $10,000 check and another day of fishing versus 51st place, no check and an early start home.