TBF Southern Divisional Championship, Day 1

Reitzel sacks 15-1 to lead opening day

HURRICANE MILLS, Tenn. – It’s been 20 years since Karl Reitzel fished Kentucky Lake, but the North Carolina resident had no trouble finding bass after such a long hiatus. He’s got a slim lead after the first day of the The Bass Federation’s Southern Divisional Championship with a five-bass limit of 15 pounds, 1 ounce.

Reitzel, a member of Old Lake Bassmasters, threw topwaters early in the day and then switched to subsurface lures when the sun came up over Kentucky Lake’s treeline. He caught 10 keepers, including a largemouth that weighed 4 1/2 pounds.

“I went back to the water I prefished during the practice period, and they were still there,” said Reitzel, a cabinet distributor from Trinity, N.C. “I’m nervous. I’m not sure if my spots will hold up for all three days, and I feel like I’ve got a bull’s-eye painted on me. I’m just glad to be contributing to our outstanding team effort. That’s what really matters.”

Team North Carolina is in a close race with Alabama, the state leader with a total of 96 pounds, 13 ounces. North Carolina is just 7 ounces behind, followed by Tennessee with 82 pounds, 5 ounces. Florida is fourth, Georgia is in fifth place, and the home team, Kentucky, is in sixth place. The winning team splits a $20,000 purse.

Alabama is anchored by the second- and third-place anglers, Jamie Horton and Terry Davidson. Horton, who weighed 14 pounds, 15 ounces, is fishing his third divisional championship. He advanced to the Federation championship all three times.

“I feel like the odds are stacked against me, but I’m on a pretty good pattern. It’s one that has helped me win quite a few other tournaments,” said Horton, a Centerville, Ala., resident. “I only put five keepers in the boat, but I lost five others that were all bigger than the ones I caught. One was a five and one was a six that I lost in the same spot. I just had some bad luck today that I hope I can turn around.”

Horton started his day swimming a jig, but switched to a slower presentation when that bite died. It wasn’t too slow, however: He hit at least 100 spots throughout the day, targeting specific cover on pinpoint locations within a 60-mile section of the lake.

“If my partner tomorrow keeps his life vest on, I’ll try to make 200 stops,” he joked. “I think my pattern will hold up tomorrow as long as the conditions don’t change too much. The only thing I’m worried about is running out of the baits I’m using. There aren’t any tackle stores around.”

Davidson, who is fishing as a nonboater, rounds out the top three with 14 pounds, 4 ounces. That limit was supported by the big fish of the day, a 6-pound, 8-ounce largemouth. He caught five keepers all day, but he’s confident he can catch another limit tomorrow if his partners hit the right spots.

James Nance of North Carolina is fourth with 14-2, and Alabama’s Michael Horne is in fifth place with 14 pounds, 1 ounce.

Two anglers had their first day’s catch disqualified after they realized they were fishing in an off-limits area. David Glenn, representing the Florida Bass Federation and Georgia Bass Federation angler Mike Peek approached TBF President and Tournament Director Robert Cartlidge after they looked at a map and realized their mistake.

“I confirmed their belief that they had indeed gone into the off-limits area and fished, and I had no choice but to disqualify the day’s catch of both anglers. I hope they both go out tomorrow and are rewarded with 20-pound sacks for being so honest,” Cartlidge said. “The anglers were fishing unseen, no one was around; they could have easily said nothing, but they did, and that speaks volumes about their character and the character of the TBF state federations’ leadership.”

The Bass Federation Southern Divisional Championship is presented by the National Guard and is hosted by the Tennessee Bass Federation and the Humphrey County Chamber of Commerce. Daily weigh-ins start at 2:30 p.m. at Cuba Landing.