JASPER, Texas — The water is low, but Riley Harris’ spirits were high when he weighed in a 5-bass limit of 36 pounds, 15 ounces to lead Day 1 of the Turtlebox Bassmaster Open at Sam Rayburn Reservoir presented by Battery Tender.
After an action-packed first round produced a dozen bags over 25 pounds, Harris leads Jace Lindsay by 6-3.
Drought conditions have dropped the Sam Rayburn water level by approximately 9 feet. This decline has left many of the normally productive area drained and unproductive, but Harris said he entered the event comfortable with the situation.
“Honestly, you just have to trust yourself,” said the pro from Orange, Texas. “I’ve fished out here for a long time and I kinda had an idea where they would be. They’ve been there and I’m super thankful to have these fish.”
Harris said the key to catching a mega sack was rotating through groups of fish. Securing a limit around 10 o’clock, he worked on upgrading throughout the rest of his day.
“I just had some schools and then I caught some roamers,” Harris said. “I ran around a good bit today and once I had a good bag, I started trying to fish for a really big one.”
Harris’ big opportunity came late in the day when a huge bite delivered a game-changing upgrade.
“Around 2:15, I pulled up to one of my spots where I had caught one that was about 5, and I was able to get my biggest fish,” Harris said. “I was able to cull out one that I really wanted to get rid of. I culled one that was about 4 1/2 with an 11-14.
“It was kind of a blur. I was reeling my bait back in and I had two fish shoot up off the bottom and she was the one that got it.”
Harris kept his bait details under wraps, but he described a junk fishing day built on versatility. Ultimately, seven different baits produced keepers today.
“I think I had 20 rods on the deck and it was one of those things where one might work one day and one might not the next,” he said. “That was kinda the case in practice. I had a couple of baits that I really thought (would produce), but they didn’t want it, so I picked up some other stuff and they ate it.
“I was really trying to be at 30 pounds or a little above and I knew I had it with that one that was just under 12.”
Harris said he entered the event with an aggressive plan and no regrets.
“I fished for big ones today and I didn’t want to do anything else,” Harris said. “If I zero and I’m still fishing for big ones trying to win, I’m okay with that. We fished for big ones today and it worked out.
“There is the potential for the same weight tomorrow, but it’s super hard to replicate something like that. I know they’re there, but it’s just about getting them to react. We may only catch 10 pounds tomorrow, but we’re gonna go try to do the same thing.”
Hailing from Beckville, Texas, Lindsay is in second place with 30-12. Anchoring his limit with two 7 1/4-pounders, Lindsay said he saw several of what he called the “mega giants” on his sonar, but he could not get those big fish to commit.
Lindsay attributed his success to local knowledge — specifically, knowing the depth zone Rayburn fish prefer this time of year.
“These fish like a certain depth range and you just have to stay in that depth range,” he said. “They’re gonna pull back to that depth range, no matter how the water fluctuates and you just have to keep you boat in that range.
“I was in the areas where these prespawners are gonna be right before they pull up. I know where they’re gonna go to spawn, so I’m just trying to pick them off before they get there.”
Lindsay caught his fish on what he caught “subtle reaction” presentations. The fish he’s targeting are highly pressured, so he had to strike the right balance of stealth and enticement.
“I caught two that I weighed in early this morning, and then I upgraded all throughout the day,” Lindsay said.
Rylan Hamlin of Jackson, Mich., is in third place with 28-5. Hamlin anchored his bag with a milestone catch.
“That 11-7 was my personal best,” Hamlin said. “My previous personal best was also in last year’s Open here. I beat it by 2 ounces.
“On my first cast of the morning, I lost one as big as that one. It was hard to shake that one off, but a cast or two after that one, I caught that 11-7. That made me feel a little better.”
Hamlin targeted big schools of bass holding over hard bottom spots, where he rotated through crankbaits and jigs. He caught his big fish on a hair jig.
Harris holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead with his 11-14.
Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT at Umphrey Family Pavilion. The weigh-in will be held at the same location at 3 p.m.
Jasper Development District No. 1 is hosting this event.
