MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. — The unique two-lake format of the Bassmaster Elite at Bull Shoals/Norfork will most likely end in dramatic fashion today. There’s going to be some drama when only 3 pounds, 10 ounces separates first place from 12th place.
“Doing well at Bull Shoals means you get into a one-day, top 12 tournament, winner take all,” said Chris Zaldain, who is in second place, 6 ounces behind leader Randall Tharp.
Well, it’s not exactly winner-take-all. First place pays $100,000, second place pays $25,000 and it drops to $10,500 for 12th place. But Zaldain’s point is well-taken.
Normally, about half the top 12 anglers are far enough behind the leader that they don’t have a realistic shot at winning. For instance, the margin between first and 12th at the start of Day 4 in the Elite Series season opener at Florida’s St. Johns River was 13-3, and two weeks ago at South Carolina’s Winyah Bay it was 15-5.
Matt Herren led Thursday after Day 1 at Norfork with 17-0, due in no small part to a 6-1 big bass of the day. Without that, Herren said he would have had about 14 pounds. Big bass are obviously a key in any tournament. But with 12 anglers bunched so tightly, one big bite will probably decide the winner today.
As Zaldain mentioned, doing well at Bull Shoals was essentially the entry fee to get into this one-day shootout. But you also had to catch ‘em at Norfork on Day 1. Here’s a look at how the top 12 anglers finished Thursday at Norfork:
1. Randall Tharp 5th – 15-8
2. Chris Zaldain 3rd – 16-2
3. Skeet Reese 14th – 13-4
4. Jacob Powroznik 20th – 12-9
5. Matt Herren 1st – 17-0
6. Bill Lowen 11th – 13-10
7. Brandon Palaniuk 33rd – 11-11
8. Brian Snowden 23rd – 12-6
9. Koby Kreiger 21st – 12-8
10. Mike McClelland 49th – 11-1
11. Steve Kennedy 10th – 13-12
12. Adrian Avena 8th – 14-0