Big Bite Anchors Dillard’s Day 1 Bag At Bassmaster Central Open On Lewisville

Big Bite Anchors Dillard’s Day 1 Bag At Bassmaster Central Open On Lewisville[print_link]

LEWISVILLE, Texas — Abundant options nearly overwhelmed Brandon Dillard, but a moment of inspiring clarity set him on a course that led him to a 24-pound, 9-ounce limit that topped Day 1 of the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open on Lewisville Lake.

Hailing from Grapevine, Texas, the Lewisville guide said mentally sorting through his vast local knowledge nearly kept him up all night before the opening round. Rising with only an hour of sleep was less than ideal, but an early text from his mother, who was recently diagnosed with cancer, provided a calming influence.

“She said, ‘Just have fun and go fishing,’ and that’s what I did,” Dillard said. “I had my weight by noon and then I stopped fishing. My main thing today was to just stay calm, have fun and not put a lot of pressure on myself.”

Anchoring his bag with an 8-11, Dillard said versatility was essential to his success.

“I fished from 1 foot to 17 feet; I caught shallow fish and deep fish,” Dillard said. “I have 175 brushpiles (marked on Lewisville), so I’m hitting some brushpiles and I’m hitting some rock.”

Sky conditions guided the timing of Dillard’s various targets. The morning saw cloudy skies yielding to bright blue skies by midday. Knowing the fish would reposition with the day’s developing complexion, Dillard adjusted accordingly.

“I’m hitting the shallow stuff early — what’s left of the buckbrush,” he said. “Most of the buckbrush is out of play this time of year, so anywhere you can find some kind of shallow cover like laydowns or stumps early, it’s good.

“When it turned sunny, I transitioned out to deeper (brushpiles), but I stayed shallow while we had the cloud cover and the wind.”

Keeping it textbook, Dillard hit his shallow spots with reaction baits and then switched to slower presentations once he moved deep. His biggest fish, which came off a deep brushpile, required some extra attention, but Dillard’s experience ensured the trophy bass’s safe release.

“When it bit, it felt like a perch and when I swung on it, she came right to the boat with her mouth open the whole time,” Dillard said. “I had to fizz her and I was having trouble getting her to fizz (release excess air from the swim bladder), so I spent about an hour doing that. I wound up getting her stabilized, so she made it.”

Dillard said he plans to repeat his game plan tomorrow. Knowing the lake intimately, he knows he has his work cut out for him.

“This lake can be great one day and a real struggle the next,” he said. “So, I’m going to do the same thing; I’m going to have fun and give it all I’ve got. I’ll fish the same patterns, but I’ll fish some new water tomorrow.”

Tommy Williams of Shepherdsville, Ky., is in second place with 18-8. His day started early and he had his weight by 9 a.m. After that, he simply guarded his area for Day 2.

Williams caught his fish out of shallow wood targets in pockets where wind had blown baitfish against the shoreline. Finding particular areas where he could leverage a wind break enabled him to effectively work his spots.

“I was fishing a creature bait dead slow — almost deadsticking the bait,” Williams said. “Also, very precise flips were important. You had to really fish for them.”Greg Hackney of Gonzalez, La., is in third place with 17-1. In his first visit to Lewisville, Hackney reported fishing a mid-depth range and targeting a particular habitat feature with slow presentations. Covering a lot of water and eliminating the unproductive areas was central to his strategy.

“It’s painstakingly slow; you don’t get very many bites,” Hackney said. “I had a handful of bites in practice and I’m just running my practice, but there’s a lot of dead water for me. I just caught my fish out of a few key places.”

Dillard is in the lead for Phoenix Boats Big Bass honors with his 8-11.

Jeff Arnold of Lewisville, Texas, holds the overall lead in the co-angler division with 9-8. Brian Hamaker of Huntsville, Ala., holds the Phoenix Boats Big Bass lead among co-anglers with a 5-12.

Hackney leads the Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open standings with 718 points, followed by Jason Christie with 717. Kenta Kimura is third with 717, Darold Gleason is fourth with 697 and Marc Frazier is fifth with 696.

Christie leads the Falcon Rods Bassmaster Opens Angler of the Year standings with 1,177 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. CT from Lewisville Lake Park. The weigh-in will be held at the park at 3 p.m. After Friday’s weigh-in, the Top 12 anglers will advance to Championship Saturday.

The tournament is being hosted by the Lewisville Convention & Visitors Bureau.

2020 Basspro.com Bassmaster Central Open at Lewisville Lake 11/19-11/21Lewisville Lake, Lewisville  TX.(BOATER) Standings Day 1

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Brandon Dillard        Grapevine, TX            5  24-09  200Day 1: 5   24-092.  Tommy Williams         Shepherdsville, KY       5  18-08  199Day 1: 5   18-083.  Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             5  17-01  198Day 1: 5   17-014.  Drew Sloan             Scurry, TX               4  15-09  197Day 1: 4   15-095.  Trey Swindle           Cleveland, AL            5  15-06  196Day 1: 5   15-066.  Terry Peacock          Royse City, TX           5  14-07  195Day 1: 5   14-077.  Spike Stoker           Stephenville, TX         5  14-06  194Day 1: 5   14-068.  Terry Bollom           Frisco, TX               5  14-02  193Day 1: 5   14-029.  KJ Queen               Catawba, NC              4  13-03  192Day 1: 4   13-0310. Lance Crawford         Broken Bow, OK           5  13-02  191Day 1: 5   13-0211. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              5  12-12  190Day 1: 5   12-1212. Brian Clark            Haltom City, TX          4  12-12  189Day 1: 4   12-1213. Keith Poche            Pike Road, AL            5  12-08  188Day 1: 5   12-0814. Joey Nania             Cropwell, AL             3  12-08  187Day 1: 3   12-0815. Robert Parkison        Marshall, TX             4  12-06  186Day 1: 4   12-0616. Matthew Nobile         Sorrento, LA             5  12-03  185Day 1: 5   12-0317. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           4  12-02  184Day 1: 4   12-0218. Billy Cline            Argyle, TX               5  12-01  183Day 1: 5   12-0119. Scott Pellegrin        Chippewa Falls, WI       4  11-15  182Day 1: 4   11-1520. Chandler Stewart       Waco, TX                 3  11-13  181Day 1: 3   11-1321. Justin Prisock         Robinson, TX             5  11-07  180Day 1: 5   11-0722. Chris Jones            Bokoshe, OK              4  11-06  179Day 1: 4   11-0623. Jeff Lugar             Princeton, TX            4  11-05  178Day 1: 4   11-0524. Shawn Temple           Krugerville, TX          5  11-04  177Day 1: 5   11-0425. James Stricklin        Fort Smith, AR           4  11-01  176Day 1: 4   11-0126. Brian Latimer          Belton, SC               5  11-00  175Day 1: 5   11-0027. Billy Billeaud         Lafayette, LA            5  10-15  174Day 1: 5   10-1528. David Gillham          Heath, TX                4  10-12  173Day 1: 4   10-1228. Joel Willert           Prior Lake, MN           4  10-12  173Day 1: 4   10-1230. Cody Ryan Greaney      Manchaca, TX             4  10-08  171Day 1: 4   10-0831. Jason Christie         Park Hill, OK            5  09-15  170Day 1: 5   09-1532. Luke Plunkett          Pinson, AL               4  09-14  169Day 1: 4   09-1433. Blake Whatley          Harleton, TX             5  09-13  168Day 1: 5   09-1334. Wes Nofire             Tahlequah, OK            3  09-04  167Day 1: 3   09-0435. Garrett Rose           Pipecreek, TX            3  08-11  166Day 1: 3   08-1136. Dakota Ebare           Dehnam Springs, LA       4  08-10  165Day 1: 4   08-1036. Jed Holt               Livingston, TX           4  08-10  165Day 1: 4   08-1038. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               3  08-02  163Day 1: 3   08-0239. Shaun Haag             Montgomery, TX           3  08-00  162Day 1: 3   08-0040. Austin Cranford        Norman, OK               3  07-14  161Day 1: 3   07-1441. Caleb Gibson           Locust Grove, OK         3  07-13  160Day 1: 3   07-1342. Shonn Goodwin          Moore, OK                3  07-12  159Day 1: 3   07-1243. Cody Morrison          Collinsville, TX         3  07-11  158Day 1: 3   07-1144. Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 3  07-10  157Day 1: 3   07-1045. John Hunter Jr         Shelbyville, KY          2  07-08  156Day 1: 2   07-0846. James Biggs            Euless, TX               3  07-04  155Day 1: 3   07-0446. Kazuki Kitajima        Corinth, TX              3  07-04  155Day 1: 3   07-0448. Spencer Lambert        West Monroe, LA          2  07-04  153Day 1: 2   07-0449. Greg Yates             Oak Point, TX            4  07-03  152Day 1: 4   07-0350. Jake Boomer            Spokane Valley, WA       4  07-01  151Day 1: 4   07-0151. Branden Hollingshead   Azle, TX                 2  07-00  150Day 1: 2   07-0052. Marc Schilling         Shady Shores, TX         3  06-15  149Day 1: 3   06-1553. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             3  06-13  148Day 1: 3   06-1354. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Shi JAPAN       2  06-13  147Day 1: 2   06-1355. Kenny Mittelstaedt     Minnetonka, MN           4  06-12  146Day 1: 4   06-1256. Bryan New              Belmont, NC              3  06-10  145Day 1: 3   06-1057. Mark Watson            Midlothian, TX           2  06-10  144Day 1: 2   06-1058. Floyd Teat             Valley Mills, TX         3  06-08  143Day 1: 3   06-0859. Brad Shuflin           Windsor, CO              1  06-07  142Day 1: 1   06-0760. Kyle Dorsett           Odenville, AL            3  06-04  141Day 1: 3   06-0461. Bradley Hallman        Norman, OK               3  06-03  140Day 1: 3   06-0362. Ken Iyobe              Tokoname, Aichi JAPAN    3  05-15  139Day 1: 3   05-1563. Kevin Ledoux           Choctaw, OK              3  05-12  138Day 1: 3   05-1264. Hunter Denmark         Saraland, AL             2  05-11  137Day 1: 2   05-1165. Casey Bennett          Waco, TX                 2  05-08  136Day 1: 2   05-0866. Paul Browning          Pecos, TX                2  05-07  135Day 1: 2   05-0767. Billy Smith            Montgomery, TX           1  05-05  134Day 1: 1   05-0568. John Hammersmith       Branson, MO              3  05-04  133Day 1: 3   05-0469. Cody Bird              Granbury, TX             2  05-03  132Day 1: 2   05-0369. Jake Rossi             Columbus, OH             2  05-03  132Day 1: 2   05-0371. Chancy Walters         West Des Moines, IA      2  05-01  130Day 1: 2   05-0172. Bart Stanisz           Brookeland, TX           2  04-13  129Day 1: 2   04-1373. Steve Sennikoff        Edgewood, TX             3  04-12  128Day 1: 3   04-1274. Kylie Sparks           Denham Spgs, LA          2  04-10  127Day 1: 2   04-1075. David Drinkard         Sour Lake, TX            2  04-08  126Day 1: 2   04-0876. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          2  04-06  125Day 1: 2   04-0677. Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              2  04-01  124Day 1: 2   04-0178. Denny Fiedler          Wabasha, MN              2  04-00  123Day 1: 2   04-0078. Kyle Hogg              Hewitt, TX               2  04-00  123Day 1: 2   04-0078. Brian Post             Janesville, WI           2  04-00  123Day 1: 2   04-0078. Dustin Reneau          Mckinney, TX             2  04-00  123Day 1: 2   04-0082. Todd Castledine        Nacogdoches, TX          1  03-14  119Day 1: 1   03-1483. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              2  03-10  118Day 1: 2   03-1084. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             1  03-10  117Day 1: 1   03-1085. Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             2  03-07  116Day 1: 2   03-0785. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         2  03-07  116Day 1: 2   03-0787. Steven Caldwell        Whitesboro, TX           2  03-06  114Day 1: 2   03-0688. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             1  03-06  113Day 1: 1   03-0689. Andy Hribar            Lakeville, MN            1  03-05  112Day 1: 1   03-0590. Teb Jones              Hattiesburg, MS          2  03-04  111Day 1: 2   03-0491. Ryan Dusek             Azle, TX                 2  03-02  110Day 1: 2   03-0291. Jerry Riddle Jr        Summit, MS               2  03-02  110Day 1: 2   03-0293. Greg Mansfield         Olathe, KS               1  03-02  108Day 1: 1   03-0294. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          2  03-00  107Day 1: 2   03-0095. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  1  02-15  106Day 1: 1   02-1595. Ernie Stumpf III       Frisco, TX               1  02-15  106Day 1: 1   02-1597. Jay Stidham            China Spring, TX         2  02-14  104Day 1: 2   02-1498. Marshall Hughes        Hemphill, TX             2  02-13  103Day 1: 2   02-1399. Jerod Hawkes           Eagle Pass, TX           1  02-13  102Day 1: 1   02-1399. Tommy Murray           Bedford, TX              1  02-13  102Day 1: 1   02-13101. Jake Biram             Tulsa, OK                1  02-11  100Day 1: 1   02-11101. Wardell Motley Jr      Dallas, TX               1  02-11  100Day 1: 1   02-11103. Matt Pangrac           Broken Arrow, OK         1  02-08   98Day 1: 1   02-08103. Ron Wells              Claremore, OK            1  02-08   98Day 1: 1   02-08105. Toby Hartsell          Afton, OK                1  02-05   96Day 1: 1   02-05106. Jim Dillard            West Monroe, LA          1  02-03   95Day 1: 1   02-03106. Gary Hall              Wardville, OK            1  02-03   95Day 1: 1   02-03106. Brian Mathis           Cedar Park, TX           1  02-03   95Day 1: 1   02-03109. Cameron Mattison       Bossier City, LA         1  02-02   92Day 1: 1   02-02110. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  1  02-00   91Day 1: 1   02-00111. Jeff Bridges           Prosper, TX              1  01-15   90Day 1: 1   01-15111. Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            1  01-15   90Day 1: 1   01-15113. Dale Hightower         Mannford, OK             1  01-14   88Day 1: 1   01-14113. Randy Qualls           Streetman, TX            1  01-14   88Day 1: 1   01-14113. Andrew Wright          Plano, TX                1  01-14   88Day 1: 1   01-14116. Doug Vahrenberg        Higginsville, MO         1  01-13   85Day 1: 1   01-13117. Clark Reehm            Elm Groove, LA           1  01-11   84Day 1: 1   01-11118. Brandon Ackerson       Afton, OK                1  01-10   83Day 1: 1   01-10118. Travis Ledford         Tuttle, OK               1  01-10   83Day 1: 1   01-10120. Troy O’Rourke          Bentonville, AR          1  01-08   81Day 1: 1   01-08120. Larry Puckett          Decatur, TX              1  01-08   81Day 1: 1   01-08120. Andrew Upshaw          Tulsa, OK                1  01-08   81Day 1: 1   01-08123. Daisuke Aoki           Minamitsurugun Yamanash  1  01-07   78Day 1: 1   01-07124. Scott Siller           Milwaukee, WI            1  01-05   77Day 1: 1   01-05125. Andrew Thomasson       Dublin, VA               1  01-04   76Day 1: 1   01-04126. Chris Bachta           Grapevine, TX            0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Chris Bailey           Eddy, TX                 0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Neels Beneke           Amanzimtoti SOUTH AFRIC  0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Randy Blaukat          Joplin, MO               0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Lucas Bradley          Flippin, AR              0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Josh Bragg             Jacksonville, AL         0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Jay Brainard           Mountain Home, OK        0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Wyatt Burkhalter       Coker, AL                0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. James Caldemeyer       Gilmer, TX               0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Theron Caldwell        Decatur, TX              0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. RJ Chandler Jr.        Vinton, LA               0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. James Davis Jr         Ferriday, LA             0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Justin Hallmark        Bertram, TX              0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Mark Hicks             Glouster, OH             0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Brent Homan            Graham, TX               0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Larry Jenkins          Leesburg, TX             0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Lyvon Kennard          Harker Hts, TX           0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Terry Luedtke          Burton, TX               0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Brandon Mcdonald       Longview, TX             0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Bill McNutt            Henry, IL                0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Chad Mrazek            Montgomery, TX           0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Allan Nail             Sand Springs, OK         0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Lance Rose             Pipe Creek, TX           0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Greg Vance             Delhi, IA                0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Bill Watts             Beaumont, TX             0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Dirk Wenzlaff          Frisco, TX               0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Jd Williams            Mckinney, TX             0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00126. Trait Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           0  00-00    0Day 1: 0   00-00———————————————————————–TotalsDay   #Limits    #Fish      Weight1        18       327       836-04———————————-18       327       836-04

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