DECATUR, Ala. — Butterflies and heatwaves are seemingly important ingredients to success for John Cox when he shows up at Wheeler Lake. The DeBary, Fla., pro caught 22 pounds, 2 ounces to claim the Day 1 lead at the Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake, nearly eight years after winning a Forrest Wood Cup on this fishery.
Cox holds a 2-11 advantage over second-place John Garrett while Hawaii’s Matty Wong follows in third with 19-6 and Florida’s Cliff Prince is fourth with 19-4.
“It was just one of those days,” said Cox, a six-time Classic qualifier. “It was awesome and I just caught big ones. I hope there are a few more in there. The water is falling quickly and it might be an issue even getting in there. It was really cool.”
During his Forrest Wood Cup victory in August of 2016 at Wheeler, a butterfly floated around Cox’s boat nearly the entire tournament, even landing on his nose at one point. After landing his final bass this afternoon, he noticed a butterfly flying around his marshal.
In search of his first Elite Series victory, Cox is hoping it’s a sign of things to come.
“It is nuts. I catch the last big one and this butterfly lands on my marshal's head,” Cox explained. “And when I won the Cup, that butterfly was landing on me the entire tournament. I got the chills thinking about that. It is so weird.”
Temperatures have been on the rise across northern Alabama this week, reaching the 90-degree mark on Thursday. With no rain in the forecast either, current generation at the Wheeler Dam has slowed down and made the fishing across the lake a little tougher than many anglers anticipated.
Cox landed just one limit during his three days of practice and said he would have been happy if he caught 10 pounds on Day 1.
“Today was a miracle, honestly,” he said. “I only caught a couple fish the other days of practice and I was just hoping I could get five somehow so I didn’t finish dead last. It was so incredible. As incredible as the Cup.”
After trying to find a vacant area first thing in the morning, Cox settled in and caught the majority of his weight in one small area featuring shallow grass. He caught most of his bag early in the day, but made two key culls in the afternoon hours.
The biggest key to his area was the presence of gizzard shad. A Berkley Swamp Lord produced his best bites, including a 6-12 largemouth that anchored his bag.
“I think they were eating the gizzard shad and then all of a sudden the gizzards pushed up into this area. I smoked them on the Swamp Lord,” Cox said. “They don’t look like shallow fish. I think they came out of deep water.
“You go in this area and think, ‘How can they be in this tiny, narrow creek and how can there be enough to keep catching them?’ They just kept showing up.”
There is one particular issue with Cox’s area. The water is dropping out, and if it falls any more, he is concerned he won’t be able to get to his spot.
“It has fallen a foot (since practice started), maybe a little more,” he said. “I’ll just start running if I can’t get in there.”
Garrett, a veteran of Kentucky Lake on the same Tennessee River system as Wheeler Lake, landed a 19-7 mixed-bag limit to land in second place after Day 1. The Elite Series rookie and winner of the Elite at Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes earlier this year anchored his bag with a 4 1/2-pound largemouth as well as a 4 1/2-pound smallmouth.
“It was a perfect day today,” Garrett said. “I was able to pull up on a couple places early that I wanted to get on, which is kind of rare here. I got bigger-than-average bites today.”
The Union City, Tenn., pro opened the day by catching those two big bass on a topwater lure. After searching for another place to fish that wasn’t occupied by other boats, he pulled into a spot and filled a limit weighing about 18 pounds. A key cull late in the day lifted Garrett to his final tally.
“I didn’t think it was that good and I caught them really well on it. I caught a dozen within a 30-minute timespan probably,” Garrett said. “My timing was really good this morning. Open spots don’t come around. I have two places that not everybody knows about.”
Garrett is fishing shellbeds and hard-bottom spots in 6 to 12 feet of water. The majority of the bass he is catching are largemouth, but there are smallmouth mixed in. The brown fish, however, are more difficult to catch.
In his first trip to Wheeler Lake, Wong caught an early limit before making key upgrades late in the day to reach his Day 1 weight of 19-6.
“This is my third season on tour and I have learned to settle in and take my little tips that I get from the fish and try to implement them on gameday,” Wong said. “I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow.”
While the quality bass did not show during practice, the 2022 B.A.S.S. Nation Champion found several key areas that produced big bites on Day 1. Three baits played a role in his success. On his best stretch, Wong landed a 5-pounder, a 3-pounder and a 2-pounder.
Stumps in about 5 feet of water have been the most productive pieces of cover. He has found those using his forward-facing sonar.
“The lake is fishing unlike people thought it would. The way I figured out my bite is fitting to my style and I’m glad it all came together,” Wong said. “The afternoon heat helps the bite.”
Louisiana pro Greg Hackney landed the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day, a 7-9 largemouth that anchored his 18-5 fifth-place limit.
The full field will launch from Ingalls Harbor beginning at 6 a.m. CT Friday and return for weigh-in at 2 p.m. The Top 50 after the Day 2 weigh-in will advance to Day 3 before the Top 10 anglers compete on Championship Sunday.
The tournament is being hosted by Decatur Morgan County Tourism.
2024 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
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2024 Whataburger Bassmaster Elite at Wheeler Lake 6/13-6/16
Wheeler Lake, Decatur AL.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. John Cox Debary, FL 5 22-02 103
Day 1: 5 22-02
2. John Garrett Union City, TN 5 19-07 102
Day 1: 5 19-07
3. Matty Wong Honolulu, HI 5 19-06 101
Day 1: 5 19-06
4. Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 5 19-04 100
Day 1: 5 19-04
5. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 5 18-05 99 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-05
6. John Crews Jr Salem, VA 5 18-02 98
Day 1: 5 18-02
7. Drew Cook Cairo, GA 5 18-00 97
Day 1: 5 18-00
8. Wesley Gore Clanton, AL 5 17-09 96
Day 1: 5 17-09
9. Bryant Smith Roseville, CA 5 16-13 95
Day 1: 5 16-13
10. Justin Hamner Northport, AL 5 16-11 94
Day 1: 5 16-11
11. Brandon Card Salisbury, NC 5 16-10 93
Day 1: 5 16-10
12. Clark Wendlandt Leander, TX 5 16-09 92
Day 1: 5 16-09
13. Timothy Dube Nashua , NH 5 16-09 91
Day 1: 5 16-09
14. Alex Wetherell Middletown, CT 5 16-03 90
Day 1: 5 16-03
15. Justin Atkins Florence, AL 5 16-00 89
Day 1: 5 16-00
16. Seth Feider New Market, MN 5 15-14 88
Day 1: 5 15-14
17. Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 5 15-12 87
Day 1: 5 15-12
18. Cooper Gallant Bowmanville Ontario CAN 5 15-09 86
Day 1: 5 15-09
19. Ray Hanselman Jr Del Rio, TX 5 15-08 85
Day 1: 5 15-08
20. Brad Whatley Bivins, TX 5 15-07 84
Day 1: 5 15-07
21. Kyle Welcher Valley, AL 5 15-06 83
Day 1: 5 15-06
22. Lee Livesay Longview, TX 5 15-04 82
Day 1: 5 15-04
23. Wes Logan Springville, AL 5 14-12 81
Day 1: 5 14-12
24. Clifford Pirch Payson, AZ 5 14-10 80
Day 1: 5 14-10
25. Hunter Shryock Ooltewah, TN 5 14-06 79
Day 1: 5 14-06
26. Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 5 14-05 78
Day 1: 5 14-05
27. Will Davis Jr Sylacauga, AL 5 14-04 77
Day 1: 5 14-04
27. Jacob Foutz Charleston, TN 5 14-04 77
Day 1: 5 14-04
29. Cole Sands Calhoun , TN 5 14-02 75
Day 1: 5 14-02
30. Jeff Gustafson Kenora, ON Ontario CANA 5 14-01 74
Day 1: 5 14-01
30. Caleb Sumrall New Iberia, LA 5 14-01 74
Day 1: 5 14-01
32. Patrick Walters Eutawville, SC 5 14-00 72
Day 1: 5 14-00
33. KJ Queen Catawba, NC 5 13-15 71
Day 1: 5 13-15
34. Frank Talley Belton, TX 5 13-14 70
Day 1: 5 13-14
35. Alex Redwine Blue Ash, OH 5 13-11 69
Day 1: 5 13-11
36. Jay Przekurat Plover, WI 5 13-08 68
Day 1: 5 13-08
37. Kyle Patrick Cooperstown, NY 5 13-06 67
Day 1: 5 13-06
38. David Gaston Sylacauga, AL 5 13-05 66
Day 1: 5 13-05
39. Chad Pipkens Dewitt, MI 5 13-03 65
Day 1: 5 13-03
40. Logan Parks Auburn, AL 5 13-02 64
Day 1: 5 13-02
40. Tyler Rivet Raceland, LA 5 13-02 64
Day 1: 5 13-02
42. Ben Milliken New Caney, TX 5 13-00 62
Day 1: 5 13-00
43. Keith Combs Huntington, TX 5 12-14 61
Day 1: 5 12-14
43. Trey McKinney Carbondale, IL 5 12-14 61
Day 1: 5 12-14
45. Cody Huff Ava, MO 5 12-12 59
Day 1: 5 12-12
45. Tyler Williams Belgrade, ME 5 12-12 59
Day 1: 5 12-12
47. Shane LeHew Catawba, NC 5 12-12 57
Day 1: 5 12-12
48. Drew Benton Panama City, FL 5 12-11 56
Day 1: 5 12-11
49. Robert Gee Knoxville, TN 5 12-10 55
Day 1: 5 12-10
49. Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 5 12-10 55
Day 1: 5 12-10
51. Jacob Powroznik North Prince George, VA 5 12-10 53
Day 1: 5 12-10
52. Joey Cifuentes III Clinton, AR 5 12-07 52
Day 1: 5 12-07
53. Jonathan Kelley Old Forge, PA 5 12-06 51
Day 1: 5 12-06
54. Gregory DiPalma Millville, NJ 5 12-05 50
Day 1: 5 12-05
55. Koby Kreiger Alva, FL 5 12-05 49
Day 1: 5 12-05
55. Caleb Kuphall Mukwonago, WI 5 12-05 49
Day 1: 5 12-05
57. Austin Felix Eden Prairie, MN 5 12-01 47
Day 1: 5 12-01
57. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 5 12-01 47
Day 1: 5 12-01
59. Rick Clunn Ava, MO 5 12-01 45
Day 1: 5 12-01
60. Scott Canterbury Odenville, AL 5 11-14 44
Day 1: 5 11-14
61. Matt Herren Ashville, AL 5 11-13 43
Day 1: 5 11-13
61. Luke Palmer Coalgate, OK 5 11-13 43
Day 1: 5 11-13
63. Jordan Lee Cullman, AL 5 11-12 41
Day 1: 5 11-12
64. Brock Mosley Collinsville, MS 5 11-11 40
Day 1: 5 11-11
65. Chris Johnston Otonabee Ontario CANADA 5 11-11 39
Day 1: 5 11-11
66. Brandon Cobb Greenwood, SC 5 11-08 38
Day 1: 5 11-08
67. Kenta Kimura Osaka OK JAPAN 5 11-05 37
Day 1: 5 11-05
67. Chris Zaldain Fort Worth, TX 5 11-05 37
Day 1: 5 11-05
69. JT Thompkins Myrtle Beach, SC 4 11-03 35
Day 1: 4 11-03
70. Pat Schlapper Eleva, WI 5 11-00 34
Day 1: 5 11-00
71. Matt Robertson Kuttawa, KY 5 10-13 33
Day 1: 5 10-13
72. Matt Arey Shelby, NC 5 10-09 32
Day 1: 5 10-09
73. Hank Cherry Jr Lincolnton, NC 5 10-07 31
Day 1: 5 10-07
73. Bryan New Leesville, SC 5 10-07 31
Day 1: 5 10-07
75. Logan Latuso Gonzales, LA 5 10-00 29
Day 1: 5 10-00
75. John Soukup Sapulpa, OK 5 10-00 29
Day 1: 5 10-00
75. Gerald Swindle Guntersville, AL 5 10-00 29
Day 1: 5 10-00
78. David Mullins Mt Carmel, TN 5 09-15 26
Day 1: 5 09-15
79. Carl Jocumsen Queensland TN AUSTRALIA 5 09-13 25
Day 1: 5 09-13
80. Scott Martin Clewiston, FL 5 09-11 24
Day 1: 5 09-11
81. Cory Johnston Otonabee CANADA 5 09-09 23
Day 1: 5 09-09
82. Jake Whitaker Hendersonville, NC 5 09-02 22
Day 1: 5 09-02
83. Jason Christie Dry Creek, OK 5 08-10 21
Day 1: 5 08-10
84. Todd Auten Clover, SC 5 08-08 20
Day 1: 5 08-08
85. Bob Downey Detroit Lakes, MN 5 08-03 19
Day 1: 5 08-03
86. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 5 08-02 18
Day 1: 5 08-02
87. Marc Frazier Newnan, GA 5 08-00 17
Day 1: 5 08-00
87. Kyle Norsetter Cottage Grove, WI 5 08-00 17
Day 1: 5 08-00
89. Joseph Webster Hamilton, AL 5 07-14 15
Day 1: 5 07-14
90. Brandon Lester Fayetteville, TN 5 07-11 14
Day 1: 5 07-11
91. Stetson Blaylock Benton, AR 4 07-08 13
Day 1: 4 07-08
92. Taku Ito Dalton GA JAPAN 5 07-07 12
Day 1: 5 07-07
93. Kyoya Fujita Yamanashi CA JAPAN 5 07-04 11
Day 1: 5 07-04
94. Paul Mueller Naugatuck, CT 5 06-15 10
Day 1: 5 06-15
95. Buddy Gross Chattanooga, TN 5 06-06 9
Day 1: 5 06-06
96. Bryan Schmitt Deale, MD 5 05-14 8
Day 1: 5 05-14
97. Mike Huff London, KY 2 04-11 7
Day 1: 2 04-11
98. Michael Iaconelli Pitts Grove, NJ 3 02-13 6
Day 1: 3 02-13
99. Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 2 00-13 5
Day 1: 2 00-13
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PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 07-09 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 94 485 1227-13
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94 485 1227-13
