| 

Lintner leads at Toledo Bend

Category: Tournament

 May 1st, 2014 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified May 1st, 2014 at 12:00 AM

Toledo Bend was kind to the vast majority of the Bassmaster Elite Series pros today. All but four Elite Series pros caught a 5-fish limit of bass. Top dog after Day 1 is Shimano pro Jared Lintner, who busted a big bag of bass today, 25 pounds 7 ounces to be exact. Lintner came across the stage early in the weigh-in and didn’t relinquish his grip on first place.

Not far behind in second is Phoenix Boats pro J. Todd Tucker with 25 pounds of bass.

Rounding out the Top 5 are in third Livingston Lures pro Jacob Powroznik with 24-14. Fourth goes to Skeeter Boats pro Chris Zaldain weighing 22-6. In fifth is Mercury pro Randy Howell with 22-4.

Lintner fortunate
“I fished one extreme to the next today,” said Lintner. “I feel pretty fortunate. God blessed me for sure today. I had the fortunate bites.

“This year has been going well for me. I’m fishing the way I like to fish and I’m having fun.”

Lintner came into this event second in the Angler of the Year race.

Tucker started fast
“I caught all my fish I weighed in the first 45 minutes of the day,” said Tucker. “I had my livewell full by 7:30 this morning. I moved off the fish and didn’t catch them too hard. I ended the day practicing around. I didn’t want to hurt anything for tomorrow. You never know, 12 pounds might be golden tomorrow.”

The California Kid whacked the big bass of Day 1, this 8-pound, 12-ouncer. (Joel Shangle)

Powroznik dreaded the morning
“I had a good spot to fish to start the day,” said Powroznik. “I dreaded heading there this morning. I was afraid other anglers were gonna be on it. Nobody was there. I caught a few big ones there. I’m ready to go fishing tomorrow.”

Big bass for Zaldain
“I’ve had a rough season so far,” said Zaldain. “I caught my biggest bass first this morning. It gave me some positive momentum. Once that happens you can make some right decisions. I caught a 5-pounder, too. There are a ton of fish there and plenty of areas to find them. I can’t wait to get out again.”

Zaldain’s big fish weighed 8 pounds 12 ounces.

Slow practice for Howell
“I was excited to catch big fish this morning,” said Howell. “My practice was slow. I went to bed fish. Then I went to another area. I caught fish on my Livingston Howler crankbait. Livingston needs to get me a few more. I broke my best one.

“I also caught a good one fishing beds. I kept skipping a Senko to one 4-pounder. He kept swimming off. I finally aggravated him. I saw that pink disappear and set the hook.”

More like this