No one said it was easy, not even leader Kevin VanDam, who finished Day 1 with 19 pounds, 3 ounces. But Lake Dardanelle was surprisingly productive in spite of the high, muddy Arkansas River flowing through this 30,000-acre lake.
The results tell that story:
– 80 of 109 anglers weighed 5-bass limits;
– 487 bass were weighed, averaging 2.49 lbs.;
– David Mullins’ 6 1/2-pounder took big bass honors.
If the water level continues to drop and clarity improves, Lake Dardanelle will show why it’s considered the best bass fishing lake in Arkansas. The rapidly changing water conditions were mentioned again and again at Friday’s weigh-in. These guys know they’re going to see a different lake every day here. And that’s why no one sounded confident about repeating a successful Day 1.
Finally, there’s this: Making the Day 2 cut to the top 51 that will fish on Sunday will almost certainly be decided by a tiebreaker (biggest bag) or a single ounce. Based on Day 1, a 12-pound average will make the cut, but anything below that is dicey. Twelve anglers are separated by 8 ounces – from 47th-place Kelley Jaye with 11-15 to 57th place Keith Poche and Gerald Spohrer, both with 11-7.