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DECATUR, Ala. — Three previous Bassmaster Classic champions are separated by 11 ounces of each other after the opening day of the Evan Williams Bourbon Dixie Duel on Wheeler Lake.
Alton Jones, the 2008 Classic champ, leads the field of 100 anglers on the third stop of the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series after fishing in overcast skies with 17 pounds, 12 ounces.
Right behind Jones is 2004 Classic winner Takahiro Omori of Emory, Texas, with 17-8. Mike Iaconelli of Runnemede, N.J., who brought home a Classic title in 2003, is third with 17-1. Complete Story
5th: Jones Thinks Sight-Bite's Over
Sight-fishing has been a significant part of Jones' attack, but he doesn't expect that to hold up through the coming weather.
"I think more of them pulled up today," he said. "I came back through late and caught a 3-pounder, and the female I spent the last 2 hours working on and the male that was with her were both new.
"But with that front coming through hard, it wouldn't surprise me if all of them are gone tomorrow."
He can't see the fish in his primary area, but he thinks it replenished some today.
"I still caught one or two in there, so it wasn't a total loss. Tomorrow I'll run some new water again.
"I was a little disappointed in one of my backup areas – the rain muddied it up and there was current running through it, and it cooled from 60 degrees to 54. Tomorrow everything's going to be cold, though, so it won't matter. I'll just go out and make another run at it." Read More
20 Questions with Alton Jones
It's been a great year for Alton Jones. The Classic title comes with money, fame and obligations, but AJ has been more than up to the task. But how well does he handle our 20 questions? Read More
Flooded Out
2008 Bassmaster Classic champion Alton Jones was fishing the back of Piney Bay and had a hard time generating bites when the conditions turned off the fish.
"It got really muddy, like chocolate milk," Jones said. "Last night they dropped the water out. The pad stems I was fishing dried up and while I intersected five keepers today, I only boated three of them." Read More