Kentucky Lake: Day 1 from the Marshals

Another good cull for Ott DeFoe.

Mike McClelland just bagged his fourth keeper of the day. He is pressing to get the livewell filled before his 3:20 p.m. check-in time. The tension is building and the patience has reached the end of the line. The common and frequent prayer is âPlease Lord….â

A late upgrade for Adrian Avena. He is grinding!

Culling up with Jake Whitaker.

Kyle Monti making a decision.

Big cull for keeper No. 6 for Kelley Jaye.

Nice keeper caught by Brian Snowden to finish out his five fish limit.

David Walker lands another good fish and culls up putting him around 16 pounds, 6 ounces.

Shaw Grigsby has been moving back up lake with a couple kickers in the boat.

Jamie Hartman’s perseverance pays off. Heâs got a limit.

Chris Lane is culling.

Avena with a nice upgrade!

Fred Roumbanis explores the many nooks and crannies of Kentucky Lake.

Four for Palaniuk.

Mike McClelland did more than just take off his rain jacket. He switched to a different spot entirely and busted a nice smallmouth. This morning McClelland exhibit great patience, but something had to give. Maybe this âsmallâ switch will land a few more for the livewell.

Kelley Jaye is on fire.

This makes for about 17 pounds in the box for Alton Jones, Jr.

A nice little chunk in the boat for Dave Lefebre.

Humpback, first cull of the day for Alton Jones Jr.

Mike McClelland has been showing extraordinary patience all morning sticking with a pattern he believes is developing here on Kentucky Lake. He has continued to give his area a chance to produce by thoroughly covering areas that share the same characteristics. He has caught several non-keepers yet patiently continues to work the work the area. With one in the livewell, the only question is, âWill his patience finally prove fruitful?â

Adrian Avena with a limit.

Chris Zaldain is catching ’em today!

Wesley Strader with a giant.

Wheeler having a decent morning, culling again.

And another for Chris Zaldain!

Wiggins with a great 3 1/2-pound smallmouth.

Limit in the boat now looking to cull. What should have been fish No. 1 became fish No.5. She was sure worth coming back for, she didnât like the early breakfast menu but on the return trip she choked the brunch option and made it in the livewell.

Cliff Prince with another nice one.

Ott DeFoe makes a good cull with a 4-pounder.

No. 1 in the live well for Kelley Jaye and its’a big one.

A little Kentucky Lake action.

Randy Howell trying to upgrade.

Casey Ashley is grinding ’em out.

Four in the boat for Sumrall.

First benchmark achieved. Five in the live well for Shaw. Rain started in and lasted for about 30. Lost a 3 plus-pounder.

Jordan Lee is culling 3-pounders.

First one in the box for Kelly Jordon.

Paul Elias has hit his limit and culling out the 1 1/2-pounder for one about 3 1/2. He has been flipping shallow brush under overcast skies.

Jacob Powroznik catches a nice one.

Sweet cull. Chap Pipkens gets one of the upgrades he was looking for.

Sumrall with third keeper.

Fish No. 2 for Shin Fukae. He’s methodically picking cover apart with the precision of a surgeon.

A great way to fill out a limit for Bertrand.

And another one. Persistence pays off.

Robbie Latuso with No. 3, a Kentucky rain bass.

The Champ is on them. Zero fish to a limit in 30 minutes. A pattern has emerged. Lee also lost a nice 3 to 4-pounder at the boat.

Second keeper for Caleb Sumrall.

Mark Daniels, Jr. has made two culls this morning increasing his weight by roughly 1 pound. He is on fish but canât get a big bite. The day is young and there is not a lot of pressure in the area.

Shaw Grigsby has four and getting close to cull time.

Bradley Roy culling up.

David Walker flipping with his crosseye cricket signature series.

Bill Weidler boating keepers.

Cliff Pace has a limit.

After a quick move Pipkens come up with No. 4. They are all little cookie cutters. Good to keep, but he really would like some Kentucky Lake giants.

Fred Roumbanis with a good smallie.

Cliff Prince bringing that 1st keeper in the boat.

Robbie Latuso with a keeper on Kentucky Lake.

Paul Elias with a solid 4-pounder caught flipping shallow.

Jordan Lee has had a little flurry with 3 keepers within minutes throwing 8+ pounds in the livewell.

After a few short fish, Pipkens gets his third. Where are the big ones?

Another fish in the boat for Brian Snowden.

Russ Lane with his third keeper.

Rick Morris off to a quick start.

No. 4 for Bradley Roy, a 5-pounder.

Andy Montgomery with a good cull up.

Three good ones for Chris Zaldain.

Josh Bertrand has another nice keeper to add to his live well.

Gerald Spohrer’s 5th one is a good one.

Solid 3-pounder for Dave Lefebre and second fish for the day.

It’s a keeper, but still not the size Pipkens expected. As a marshal in these tournaments, you get to see how professionals handle things that don’t go as planned. Chad Pipkens said his practice was great, but fishing is slow this morning. He’s still positive about the day but hopes the bass will pick up soon.