Mississippi madness during Central Open

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Pete Ponds didn't weigh a single fish in during the first day of the Bassmaster Central Open being held at Ross Barnett, Ponds' home waters.

Mississippi anglers struggle after first day of Ross Barnett Central Open

The disappointment was easy to see in the eyes and on the faces of the many Mississippi and Barnett-area fishermen as they left the water.

Pete Ponds, for one, didn’t make the stage.

“Did not get one keeper all day,” the Elite Series angler said, “and I can’t begin to tell you how disappointing that is. I know I have a lot of friends and family here today, and I hate not bringing fish to the scales.

“But it was tough: I had two short fish (12-inch minimum) all day. I didn’t miss any big ones either, and I fished different patterns. I punched some grass. I threw some frogs. I even cranked some deep ledges. I just didn’t get a decent bite. I’d like to say it was the weather, but you see other people catching fish. I had some good practice days — a couple of days ago I had five fish that would go 19 pounds.”

Shannon Denson of Brandon, who is the perennial guy to beat on Barnett in the fall, caught a limit of five early on deep ledges on the main lake, which is his bread and butter pattern.

“But then I got to thinking that I could go to the pads and throw a frog and catch a 4- or 5-pounder or two and move way on up,” Denson said. “I did not get another bite all day. Not one.

“You can bet tomorrow I won’t pull my frog rod out of the box all day. And if we get the sunshine, I won’t need to. The big fish will move back on that deep cover that I fish, and I might can get back in this tournament.”

After today’s second round, the field will be cut to the final 12 pros and non-boaters for Saturday’s final round.

Today’s weigh-in will begin at 3 p.m. at Madison Landing at Barnett Reservoir, but on Saturday it will shift to the Bass Pro Shops store in Pearl.

About Bobby Cleveland 1343 Articles
Bobby Cleveland has covered sports in Mississippi for over 40 years. A native of Hattiesburg and graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi, Cleveland lives on Ross Barnett Reservoir near Jackson with his wife Pam.

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