Where there’s a Will, there’s a way
Local pro Will Dupler takes EverStart Central lead on Columbus Pool
COLUMBUS, Miss. – Although the bite on the Columbus Pool far exceeded expectations, it was a local latecomer who took the EverStart Series Central Division pros to school on day one. Columbus resident Will Dupler used a few old fishing holes to put together a five-bass stringer that weighed 19 pounds and gave him a 1-pound, 7-ounce lead over his nearest competition.
Dupler, a regular in the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Mississippi Division, agreed to enter this week’s EverStart after tournament director Chris Jones gave him a call.
“They were short boats, and we’re the hometown Ranger dealer,” Dupler said. “My son was getting married and I didn’t have time to practice, so I (originally) decided not to fish it.”
Dupler triumphed despite the lack of practice time, thanks to local knowledge of the fishery that goes way back. “The cold snap came in, and that helped me,” he said. “I’m pretty familiar with what the fish are going to do. They back into deeper water.”
Dupler did lock through to the Pickensville area in Alabama, but did not employ the sight-fishing technique used by many anglers who are making the run south. “I’m too old; I can’t see,” Dupler laughed. “I’m drift-fishing through a bunch of moss beds, just a slow drag.”
Dupler brought in the heavy stringer on a day when no one really expected much to come out of the Columbus Pool and Tenn-Tom Waterway. The words “I had a horrible practice” were uttered by many an angler who nonetheless crossed the weigh-in stage today with respectable sacks of bass. The current top-10 cut weight on the pro side is 13 pounds, 13 ounces, a weight that should have been good enough to lead based on pretournament speculation.
Martin stays close
In second place behind Dupler is EverStart standout Lendell Martin Jr., who avoided the long run through the locks and stayed close by in the Columbus Pool. He caught a 17-pound, 9-ounce limit Wednesday despite a crowded fishing area.
“I’d win the tournament if it wasn’t for the other boats,” Martin said. “I don’t think I can catch 17 tomorrow.” Martin said he would be satisfied with 10 pounds on day two.
LeBlanc nabs big bass, sits in third
Many, La., pro Blaine LeBlanc brought in the day’s heaviest bass on the pro side, a hefty 6-pound, 6-ouncer, to place third with a total weight of 16 pounds, 2 ounces. LeBlanc joins the list of fishermen who caught bass today despite hard luck in practice.
“I didn’t have a good practice; I only caught one 5-pounder,” said LeBlanc, who initially locked down to Aliceville. “I went in there today and lost a 6, so I locked (back) through at 1 o’clock and caught that big one on a spinnerbait close. I’d never fished that area before in my life.”
Curtis returns to the top
Danny Walden, also a Columbus resident, sits in the No. 4 spot heading into day two with a five-bass catch that weighed 16 pounds, 1 ounce. Behind him in fifth is David Curtis, who scored a top-10 at the Central Division season opener on Sam Rayburn. Curtis caught five bass today that weighed 15 pounds, 4 ounces.
Best of the rest
Rounding out the top 10 pros on the Columbus Pool after day one:
6th: Dick Shaffer of Rockford, Ohio, five bass, 14-13
7th: Chris Slopak of Vidor, Texas, five bass, 14-11
8th: Larry Sisk of Evansville, Ind., five bass, 14-7
9th: Matthew Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., five bass, 13-15
10th: Ramie Colson Jr. of Cadiz, Ky., five bass, 13-13
Mighty Michi leads co-anglers
Michi Oba of Tokyo caught 16 pounds, 6 ounces of Mississippi bass Wednesday to lead the list of co-anglers. His hefty stringer included two bass that weighed 5 pounds, 2 ounces.
“I was trying to catch cruising fish in an oxbow,” Oba said. “I’m flipping and doing pretty much everything.”
Although Oba certainly caught them today, he says the fish bite even better if the sun comes out. Although the forecast does not call for sunshine, Oba still does not think he can catch them as well tomorrow.
“If I catch two I’ll be happy,” he said.
Medlock hauls in big bass
Tom Medlock of Licking, Mo., caught the day’s heaviest bass, a 7-pound, 5-ouncer, to wind up with a 15-pound, 1-ounce limit of bass that put him in second on the co-angler side. Behind him in third is Brett Turner of Eros, La., with 11 pounds, 2 ounces, and Mack McCoy of Ringgold, La., currently sits in fourth with 9 pounds, 9 ounces. Ranking fifth is Danny Bickom of Canastota, N.Y., with 8 pounds, 15 ounces.
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers after day one on the Columbus Pool:
6th: Stetson Blaylock of Benton, Ark., three bass, 8-14
7th: Kerry Schlipp of Chisago City, Minn., three bass, 8-3
8th (tie): Steve Graf of Natchitoches, La., three bass, and Joel Ross of Brandon, Miss., four bass, each with 7-12
10th: David Kendrick of Altus, Ark., two bass, 7-11
Anglers will take off on day two at 6 a.m. from Columbus Marina, located at 295 Marina Drive in Columbus.