Thinking about what Alabama football coach Nick Saban would say facing such tough conditions as Horton encountered on the Ouachita, the Centerville, Ala., angler put together a 16-pound, 4-ounce limit to take over the lead at the FNC. “Nick would probably tell you to focus on doing your best and preparing yourself and not focusing on the goal at the end,” said Horton. “I have been telling myself that over and over and hope these three days I can fish just as clean and as hard and as good as I can do and the result at the end will be what it is.
“It was a struggle all day and I only caught six fish,” said Horton, who caught only two fish in practice but stayed away from his best spots.
Some of the competitors kept mentioning during the weigh-in that they just concentrated on catching a limit and saving the rest of their fish for the next couple of days, but Horton had a different strategy. “I went to the biggest 12 fish I knew about first and caught five of them,” he said. “I felt excellent about what I had, and then I caught a 5-pounder right before I came in.
“It was just isolated fish on isolated pieces of cover. I moved around a lot and hit all of my best stuff. I didn’t hold back anything because the way the wind was blowing, I didn’t know what tomorrow might hold. I didn’t even have a plan because I didn’t have any expectations of catching them like that, but after I caught those five and thought I had about 10 or 12 pounds, I decided I wasn’t going to let up.“
Fifty-four contestants are split into six geographical divisions in this three-day event. The top finisher in each division will qualify for a coveted berth for the 2012 Bassmaster Classic, taking place in Louisiana, on the Red River. Tournament leader Horton also tops the Southern Division. The other division leaders include Josh Polfer of Idaho in the Western with 11-3; Matt McCoy of Indiana in the Northern with 14-1; Richard McCrone of New Jersey, in the Mid-Atlantic with 10-10; John Diaco of New Hampshire, in the Eastern with 11-15; and Jared Miller of Oklahoma, in the Central with 10-9.
Tomorrow’s takeoff will begin at 7:15 a.m. CT at the Forsyth Park boat ramp (2201 Riverside Dr., in Monroe).
2011 BFNC Presented by Yahama Outboard & Skeeter Boats 11/3-11/5
Ouachita River, West Monroe LA.
(BOATER) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jamie Horton Centerville, AL 5 16-04 0
Day 1: 5 16-04
2. Matt McCoy Indianapolis, IN 5 14-01 0
Day 1: 5 14-01
3. John Diaco Rochester, NH 4 11-15 0
Day 1: 4 11-15
4. Mark Pierce Clarksville, TN 5 11-06 0
Day 1: 5 11-06
5. Josh Polfer Nampa, ID 5 11-03 0
Day 1: 5 11-03
6. Richard McCrone Cream Ridge, NJ 5 10-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-10
7. Jamie Hartman Newport, NY 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
7. Jared Miller Norman, OK 5 10-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-09
9. Michael Smith Laurel Hill, FL 5 09-03 0
Day 1: 5 09-03
10. Tom Jessop Dalhart, TX 5 08-11 0
Day 1: 5 08-11
11. Josh Wray Omaha, AR 5 08-08 0
Day 1: 5 08-08
12. Chris Price Church Hill, MD 5 08-00 0
Day 1: 5 08-00
13. George Cooper Buxton, ME 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
13. Chris Morrison St. Mary's, WV 5 07-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-15
15. Jesse Reynolds Muscatine, IA 5 07-14 0
Day 1: 5 07-14
16. Bryan McNeal Enon, OH 5 07-05 0
Day 1: 5 07-05
17. Jeff Green Gaffney, SC 5 07-01 0
Day 1: 5 07-01
18. Justy Varkevisser Johannesburg SOUTH AFRI 5 07-00 0
Day 1: 5 07-00
19. Stephen Dyer Mt Plesant, NC 5 06-15 0
Day 1: 5 06-15
20. Todd Serfoss Bath, SD 4 06-13 0
Day 1: 4 06-13
21. Curtis Spindler Missoula, MT 5 06-12 0
Day 1: 5 06-12
22. Scott Sirakos Houston, MA 4 06-11 0
Day 1: 4 06-11
23. Jason Pecoraro Youngsville, LA 5 06-08 0
Day 1: 5 06-08
24. Aaron Echternkamp Moses Lake, WA 5 06-04 0
Day 1: 5 06-04
25. Skip Sjobeck Randolph, VT 5 06-00 0
Day 1: 5 06-00
26. Andrew Nitchals Willmar, MN 5 05-13 0
Day 1: 5 05-13
27. Beau Branine Haysville, KS 3 05-11 0
Day 1: 3 05-11
28. Jared Roos Paradise, UT 5 05-09 0
Day 1: 5 05-09
29. Aaron Leon Henderson, NV 5 05-08 0
Day 1: 5 05-08
30. Tom Reynolds Lyme, CT 5 05-07 0
Day 1: 5 05-07
31. Destre Dedeaux Meadville, MS 5 05-02 0
Day 1: 5 05-02
32. Heath Martin Louisville, KY 5 04-10 0
Day 1: 5 04-10
33. Nicholas Fitzsimmons Lyle, WA 4 04-07 0
Day 1: 4 04-07
34. Mike Cumberledge Virginia Beach, VA 4 04-04 0
Day 1: 4 04-04
35. Carlo Alberto Tenchini Verona ITALY 4 04-01 0
Day 1: 4 04-01
36. Pat Klausen Lincoln, NE 3 04-00 0
Day 1: 3 04-00
37. Tony Choe Fairfax, VA 3 03-15 0
Day 1: 3 03-15
38. Edgar Romero Leon MEXICO 3 03-11 0
Day 1: 3 03-11
39. Paul Gietka Abingdon, MD 3 03-02 0
Day 1: 3 03-02
40. Greg Heindselman Lewistown, MO 2 03-02 0
Day 1: 2 03-02
41. Daniel Stark Eldon, MO 2 03-01 0
Day 1: 2 03-01
42. Boyd C Golightly Preston, ID 3 02-10 0
Day 1: 3 02-10
43. Darren Thornton Harare ZIMBABWE 1 02-10 0
Day 1: 1 02-10
44. Andrew MacColl CHEPACHET, RI 2 02-08 0
Day 1: 2 02-08
45. Don Edmonds Sacramento, CA 2 02-05 0
Day 1: 2 02-05
46. Jay Salisbury Aztec, NM 2 02-03 0
Day 1: 2 02-03
47. Jeff Jones Marietta, GA 2 02-01 0
Day 1: 2 02-01
48. Brian Christianson La Crosse, WI 1 01-14 0
Day 1: 1 01-14
49. Thomas Kiefer Fowlerville, MI 1 01-09 0
Day 1: 1 01-09
50. Ed McCaw Ingacio, CO 1 01-04 0
Day 1: 1 01-04
51. Edward Robak Weymouth, MA 1 01-03 0
Day 1: 1 01-03
52. Craig Denham Fenlon Falls ONTARIO CA 1 01-00 0
Day 1: 1 01-00
53. Gerald Kimzey Willcox, AZ 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
53. Takuya Wakebe Odawara Kanagawa JAPAN 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 28 200 314-10
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28 200 314-10