Buddy Blasts 24-1 on Pickwick
Gross gambles on grass for Toyota Series lead
Buddy Gross won his first FLW Tour event on Pickwick Lake in May of 2016 fishing a shad spawn on eelgrass along the Tennessee River channel. Today, Gross rekindled those old memories from four years ago to bring in 24 pounds, 1 ounce and take the day one lead in the Toyota Series Central Division event on Pickwick.
While he is fishing the same general area where he won before, Gross says the cover is much different this time around.
“Last time it was all about the eelgrass,” he says. “This time the eelgrass is not as dominant – it’s not as tall – to create current breaks. This time there is more hydrilla there. But the common denominator is the shad spawn. The shad are still spawning, but it doesn’t last long. I caught a few big ones quickly, but it died fast.”
Gross says he normally likes to fish out much deeper on Pickwick than the 6- to 7-foot zone he is targeting now. But since he had a late boat draw (128) he figured the best deep community spots would be covered up, so he took a chance on the shallow grass first thing this morning because the spot was “open” and the gamble paid off.
Though Gross didn’t want to give up his exact baits just yet, he did say they are all big gizzard shad imitating baits.
“They are big baits and difficult to fish in that stringy hydrilla,” he adds. “I fought the grass all day, constantly slapping baits in the water to clear them. But if I could ever get a bait to come through the right zone clean, it would get inhaled.”
Gross has an earlier boat position tomorrow morning, which will give him a few more precious minutes in the height of shad spawn to make hay.
“There was no one on it this morning and no one ever tried to stop on it all day, so I should have it to myself first thing tomorrow and I’m looking forward to it.”
Top 10 pros
1. Buddy Gross – Chickamauga, Ga. – 24-1 (5)
2. Justin Atkins – Florence, Ala. – 21-14 (5)
3. Brent Anderson – Kingston Springs, Tenn. – 20-8 (5)
4. Michael Brewer – Lawrenceburg, Tenn. – 19-11 (5)
5. Josh Butler – Hayden, Ala. – 18-14 (5)
6. Seth Davis – Harrison, Tenn. – 18-13 (5)
7. Sloan Pennington – Childersburg, Ala. – 18-8 (5)
8. Keith Amerson – Bethel Springs, Tenn. – 18-6 (5)
9. Jacob Wheeler – Harrison, Tenn. – 18-2 (5)
10. Jason Lambert – Michie, Tenn. – 17-9 (5)
Corkern leads co-anglers
Daniel Corkern of Florence, Miss., leads the Co-angler Division after day one with a five-bass limit weighing 16 pounds, 4 ounces. Corkern is no stranger to Pickwick as he has racked up three top 10’s in the Phoenix Bass Fishing League. This is his first Toyota Series event and he has now put himself in the pole position going into day two.