How to Catch a Keeper

LAKE FORK, Texas — On the first day of the McDonald's Big Bass Splash, anglers cashed in every hour for their portion of what will eventually total $400,000 in payouts and prizes. Here were some of the techniques they employed to catch the larger bass of the tournament so far:

Steve Hope of Ovilla, Texas, 10.62-pound largemouth
"I caught this fish at first light in about 16 feet of water fishing standing timber. I have been using bigger baits and fishing deeper. I think there will be a lot of big bass caught this weekend. This lake can produce, especially with the number of fishermen out there."

Ronnie Buget of Houma, La., 7.86-pound largemouth
Ronnie caught his fish in standing timber flipping wood structure in 12 to 15 feet of water. "She hit real subtle," he said. "It wasn't a hard bite at all."

Tim McClure of Longview, Texas, 7.33-pound largemouth
"I was dragging a 7 ½-inch Berkley Power Worm on an 1/8 ounce weight in 5to 6 feet of water. The fish didn't fight all that hard,  it hit like a bream. The other fish I caught just pounded it."

John Wiseman of Splendora, Texas, 7.55-pound largemouth
"I was using a jig in 22 feet of water fishing tree tops. We didn't really fish during practice, we have been here since Tuesday but I spent a lot of time this week looking at my electronics."

Chris Eubanks of Tyler, Texas, 7.84-pound largemouth
"I was fishing 20 feet deep with a Berkley Power Worm in scattered timber on the main lake points."

Kevin Baxter of Killgore, Texas, 9.29 pound largemouth
"I caught this one on a 'Giggyhead,' a type of shaky jig that a friend of mine used to make. I was fishing a hump about 22 feet deep, surrounded by water from 20 to 35 foot deep. We caught five other big bass that were inside the slot. We fished offshore structure all day."

Mike Lachefield of DeQueen, Ark., 9.55-pound largemouth
"This is the first fish I have caught all day. I was fishing a place I have never fished before. I was fishing deep."

OVERHEARD
"Common sense and courtesy goes a long way out here, and safety always comes first. We want each of you back next year." Tournament director Bob Sealy addressing the crowd during registration

"You will be able to walk across the lake without getting wet when all those boats hit the water." Jerry at Fisherman's One Stop commenting on the number of boats he saw Friday morning

"I think that fish will weigh 10 ½ to 11 pounds." Chris Robinson talking to Steve Hope, who weighed a 10.62 pound bass. Chris' fish weighed 8.79 pounds.

"This is the only bite I have had all day." Kathy Graham, just after weighing in a 6-pound largemouth.

"I swear to God that fish had to shrink." A participant talking to a game warden after realizing he had an illegal fish. It was a half-inch shy of the 24-inch slot.

"I caught one that weighed at least 7 ½ pounds, but it was only 23 inches long." Matt Jones, one of many fishermen that caught large fish that were inside the slot and had to be released immediately.

"We have weighed three fish over 24 inches in the first hour. That usually doesn't happen until after the forth or fifth hour." Kurt Kelley, Game Warden for the Texas Parks and Wildlife.

"Did I win?" a 13-year-old boy named Robert, after weighing in his crappie.

"I weighed in earlier and got bumped from the money, but not this time." David Schultz, after weighing in an 8.69-pound largemouth during the 11 a.m. to noon hour.

"We have weighed 14 bass over 24-inches-long and we still have two hours to go. We have had tournaments here when that was more than we weighed in over the course of the whole weekend. One tournament we had here, we only weighed three bass over 24 inches." Sealy speaking to the audience from the weigh in stage on the first day of the tournament.