Anglers finish out first day of Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Lake
EVANS, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - Day one of the Bassmaster Open at Clarks Hill Reservoir has come to an end, and Virginia Beach’s Chase Clarke has taken the lead.
Clarke landed a five-bass limit weighing 25 pounds 14 ounces.
The former Auburn University angler anchored his bag with two largemouths over 6 pounds, including a 6-8 bucketmouth.
“I know I’m not going to catch very many. But when they are that size, I’m doing something right,” said Clarke. “It was just one of those days where every decision I made was the right one. Hopefully that happens again tomorrow.”
Oklahoma’s Blaine Bunney holds second place with 22-7 followed by Tennessee’s Christian Nash in third with 22-5.
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The 2024 season was Clarke’s first as an Elite Qualifier angler.
“I’m taking what I used at Lake Ouachita and implementing it here,” he said. “Even though there aren’t blueback herring in Ouachita, the same thing is working for me.”
Clarke mixed things up throughout the day, moving back and forth between shallow and deep water.
Three baits caught the bulk of his bass — two bottom- baits and one bait he suspended in the water column.
While warmer, the forecast calls for less wind on Saturday, which Clarke thinks might change what his bass are doing.
Bunney is fishing his first Open.
The recent high school graduate is targeting largemouth in deep water using a jighead minnow and forward-facing sonar. He also landed a 4-3 spotted bass.
While plenty of other competitors are chasing bass feeding on blueback herring, there isn’t much in the way of bait where Bunney is fishing.
As the week has progressed, he has noticed the bass sinking lower and lower in the water column.
This year even brought women competitors for the first time.
“The whole focus behind this initiative is to hopefully encourage more women to get out there and do this and take part in a sport in God’s creation and just enjoy every single second of it,” said Christine Fischer, Weaping Water NB.
“This being my very first open. The nerves were kind of high. The adrenaline was high. I was just thankful for every moment,” said Fischer.
The full field of anglers will launch from Wildwood Park beginning at 7:15 a.m. and return for weigh-in beginning at 3:15 p.m.
The winner, given they fish all of the events in Division 1, will earn a spot in the 2026 Bassmaster Classic.
The Top 50 in points at the end of Division 1 will advance to the Elite Qualifier round, details of which were just announced.
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