GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. -Fish-factory Lake Guntersville is like racing on a fast track, golfing on a short municipal course or bowling with those deflecting cushions. In other words, things can get a bit easier and infinitely more entertaining. On Thursday, Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, smashed 31 pounds, 0 ounces, on Guntersville to lead the Marine Formula STA-BIL Southern Challenge, edging out a host of anglers who caught 28-plus pounds.
   Spurred by a productive practice, Faircloth boated the vast majority of his weight by 8 a.m., just two hours into his competition day. The two-time BASS winner visited high spots on the main lake filled with either shell beds or grass. With a firm total in hand, Faircloth spent much of his day searching for new water that he could use throughout the rest of the four-day tournament.
   "It was just one of those days that you dream about having," said Faircloth, 33. "You pretty much can do whatever you want to catch them. But I know how these things typically play out. One day you can be on them and the next you can be scratching your head."
   Like many pros, Faircloth felt that the fishery had turned on due to the heavy current being pulled on Guntersville. While he felt that the areas he visited were a key to his success, he said his pattern played a significant role in his banner day. He didn't, however, divulge details of his technique.
   It's been quite a run for Faircloth over the past few seasons. He has qualified for three consecutive Bassmaster Classics, crossed the $1 million in BASS career earnings threshold and narrowly missed out on the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year, finishing second to Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich.
   He is far from done, however. This year, he is eighth in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings and still has an outside shot at the title. And a victory at Guntersville would put his credentials on par with the Elite anglers.
   "I've been running pretty good of late," said Faircloth. "But I'm always looking to improve. That's what I'll be looking to do tomorrow." While Faircloth is red hot, Mike McClelland, who is just 6 ounces behind Faircloth, is looking to turn around a less-than-stellar season. He is well positioned to do so after boating a limit of 30 pounds, 10 ounces, which included an 8-pound behemoth.
   Two days into a so-so practice period, McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., decided to change things up. Something didn't feel right and he conferred with Jeff Kriet, a fellow Elite angler, and made some slight adjustments. It worked Thursday. The six-time BASS winner, throwing a variety of baits, was able to lock in where he is comfortable, away from the shoreline.
   Troubled by events this season where sight fishing was the dominant pattern, McClelland has yet to find his grove and is 44th in the AOY standings; this after staying close to VanDam and Faircloth in the AOY chase last year.
   Nonetheless, McClelland, a six-time Classic qualifier, could easily turn things around with a top finish at Guntersville.
   "Things just fell into place today," said McClelland, 41. "This can definitely help me for the rest of the season. I feel comfortable and I plan to explore some things tomorrow."
   In third was Byron Velvick of Del Rio, Texas, with 29 pounds, 4 ounces. Tied for fourth was Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., and Ken Cook of Lawton, Okla., with 29 pounds, 2 ounces.
   To illustrate Guntersville's productivity, Martens said he caught 137 fish in the keeper-size range Thursday and had more than 200 bites translating to more than 20 bites per hour.
   Kevin VanDam and Skeet Reese finished in a tie for 15th. The two, neck and neck in the 2009 AOY race, continue to stay close to each other. Reese is trailing VanDam by more than 60 points and Alton Jones, who placed sixth Thursday, is lurking in third in the AOY race.
   Guntersville has been the site of more than 20 previous BASS events, including the 1976 Bassmaster Classic, won by Elite Series pro Rick Clunn of Ava, Mo. The last time the Elite Series visited the popular fishery, in 2007, VanDam outlasted the field to claim the trophy. His winning weight of 66 pounds, 3 ounces, was more than 7 pounds the better over St. Louis' Mark Tucker, who finished second with 59-1.
   After Day Two's competition Friday, the field will be cut to the top 50 anglers for Day Three. Only the top 12 will go on to compete in Day Four. Fans are encouraged to attend the Southern Challenge's daily launches (6 a.m. CT) and weigh-ins (4 p.m.) through Sunday at Lake Guntersville State Park, 4242 Aubrey Carr Scenic Dr., Guntersville.
   Other activities Saturday and Sunday at the Southern Challenge will begin at 1 p.m. CT at Lake Guntersville State Park, featuring the popular Dog Training &Retriever Demonstrations Brought To You By SportDog, as well as the Southern Challenge Rib Cookoff on Saturday.
   At 1:30 p.m. Saturday, fans are invited to experience Bassmaster University, which includes the "Ask the Experts" session with Elite pros at 3 p.m.
   All events at the Marine Formula STA-BIL Southern Challenge are free and open to the public. Up next in the Elite Series is the June 3-6 Tennessee Triumph on Kentucky Lake out of Paris, Tenn.

DAY 1 STANDINGS - MARINE FORMULA STA-BIL SOUTHERN CHALLENGE2009 Marine Formula STA-BIL Southern Challenge 5/7-5/10Lake Guntersville, Guntersville  AL.(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1  Angler                  Hometown             No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$1.  Todd Faircloth         Jasper, TX              5  31-00  305  Day 1: 5  31-00  2.  Mike McClelland        Bella Vista, AR          5 30-10  295  Day 1: 5  30-10  3.  Byron Velvick          Del Rio, TX             5  29-04  290  Day 1: 5  29-04  4.  Ken D Cook            Lawton, OK              5  29-02  285  Day 1: 5  29-02  4.  Aaron Martens         Leeds, AL               5  29-02  285  Day 1: 5  29-02  6.  Alton Jones           Waco, TX                5  28-12  276  Day 1: 5  28-12  7.  Michael Iaconelli      Runnemede, NJ           5  27-05  272  Day 1: 5  27-05  8.  Marty Stone           Fayetteville, NC        5  26-15  268  Day 1: 5  26-15  9.  Mark Davis            Mount Ida, AR           5  26-14  264  Day 1: 5  26-14  10. Jami Fralick          Martin, SD              5  26-11  260  Day 1: 5  26-11  11. Boyd Duckett          Demopolis, AL           5  26-03  257  Day 1: 5  26-03  12. Rick Clunn            Ava, MO                 5  25-14  254  Day 1: 5  25-14  13. Russ Lane             Prattville, AL          5  25-12  251  Day 1: 5  25-12  13. Matt Reed             Madisonville, TX        5  25-12  251  Day 1: 5  25-12  15. Skeet Reese           Auburn, CA              5  25-09  245  Day 1: 5  25-09  15. Kevin VanDam          Kalamazoo, MI           5  25-09  245  Day 1: 5  25-09  17. John Murray           Phoenix, AZ             5  25-06  241  Day 1: 5  25-06  18. Dave Wolak            Wake Forest, NC          5 25-03  239  Day 1: 5  25-03  19. Edwin Evers           Talala, OK              5  24-12  237  Day 1: 5  24-12  20. Shaw E Grigsby        Gainesville, FL          5 24-08  235  Day 1: 5  24-08  21. Mark Menendez         Paducah, KY             5  24-07  233  Day 1: 5  24-07  22. Kevin Wirth           Crestwood, KY           5  24-06  231  Day 1: 5  24-06  23. Jeff Connella         Bentley, LA             5  24-01  229  Day 1: 5  24-01  23. Timmy Horton          Muscle Shoals, AL        5 24-01  229  Day 1: 5  24-01  25. Bobby Lane            Lakeland, FL            5  24-00  225  Day 1: 5  24-00  26. Davy Hite             Ninety Six, SC          5  23-10  223  Day 1: 5  23-10  27. Scott Rook            Little Rock, AR          5 23-07  221  Day 1: 5  23-07  28. Matthew Sphar         Pavilion, NY            5  23-06  219  Day 1: 5  23-06  29. Jeff Kriet            Ardmore, OK             5  23-04  217  Day 1: 5  23-04  29. Bill Lowen            North Bend, OH          5  23-04  217  Day 1: 5  23-04  31. Denny Brauer          Camdenton, MO           5  23-01  213  Day 1: 5  23-01  32. Bernie Schultz        Gainesville, FL          5 22-15  211  Day 1: 5  22-15  33. Billy Mccaghren        Mayflower, AR           5  22-13  209  Day 1: 5  22-13  34. Gary Klein            Weatherford, TX          5 22-10  207  Day 1: 5  22-10  35. Terry Scroggins        San Mateo, FL           5  22-04  205  Day 1: 5  22-04  36. Greg Hackney          Gonzales, LA            5  22-02  203  Day 1: 5  22-02  36. Kotaro Kiriyama        Moody, AL               5  22-02  203  Day 1: 5  22-02  38. Tommy Biffle          Wagoner, OK             5  22-01  199  Day 1: 5  22-01  39. Yusuke Miyazaki        Forney, TX              5  21-14  197  Day 1: 5  21-14  40. Scott Campbell        Springfield, MO          5 21-13  195  Day 1: 5  21-13  41. Rick Morris           Virginia Beach, VA       5 21-09  193  Day 1: 5  21-09  41. Peter E Thliveros      St Augustine, FL         5 21-09  193  Day 1: 5  21-09  43. Jason Quinn           York, SC                5  21-07  189  Day 1: 5  21-07  44. Paul Elias            Laurel, MS              5  21-06  187  Day 1: 5  21-06  45. Mark Burgess          Norton, MA              5  21-04  185  Day 1: 5  21-04  46. Randy Howell          Springville, AL          5 21-01  183  Day 1: 5  21-01  47. Kevin Langill         Terrell, NC             5  20-14  181  Day 1: 5  20-14  48. Fred Roumbanis         Bixby, OK               5  20-14  179  Day 1: 5  20-14  49. Brian Clark           Haltom City, TX          5 20-12  177  Day 1: 5  20-12  49. Britt Myers           Lake Wylie, SC          5  20-12  177  Day 1: 5  20-12  49. Zell Rowland          Montgomery, TX          5  20-12  177  Day 1: 5  20-12  52. Derek Remitz          Grant, AL               5  20-12  171  Day 1: 5  20-12  53. Bradley Hallman        Norman, OK              5  20-09  169  Day 1: 5  20-09  53. Gerald Swindle         Warrior, AL             5  20-09  169  Day 1: 5  20-09  55. Charlie Hartley        Grove City, OH          5  20-08  165  Day 1: 5  20-08  56. Jeff Reynolds         Idabel, OK              5  20-07  163  Day 1: 5  20-07  57. Mark Tucker           Saint Louis, MO          5 20-06  161  Day 1: 5  20-06  58. Kelly Jordon          Mineola, TX             5  20-05  159  Day 1: 5  20-05  59. Dean Rojas            Lake Havasu City, AZ     5  20-04 157  Day 1: 5  20-04  59. Greg Vinson           Wetumpka, AL            5  20-04  157  Day 1: 5  20-04  61. Ish Monroe            Hughson, CA             5  20-03  153  Day 1: 5  20-03  61. J Todd Tucker         Moultrie, GA            5  20-03  153  Day 1: 5  20-03  63. James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                 5  20-01  149  Day 1: 5  20-01  64. John Crews            Salem, VA               5  19-13  147  Day 1: 5  19-13  65. Takahiro Omori         Emory, TX               5  19-12  145  Day 1: 5  19-12  66. Cliff Pace            Petal, MS               5  19-06  143  Day 1: 5  19-06  66. Morizo Shimizu         Osaka JAPAN             5  19-06  143  Day 1: 5  19-06  66. Mark Tyler            Vian, OK                5  19-06  143  Day 1: 5  19-06  69. Wade Grooms           Bonneau, SC             5  19-04  137  Day 1: 5  19-04  70. Casey Ashley          Donalds, SC             5  19-03  135  Day 1: 5  19-03  71. Brian Snowden          Reeds Spring, MO         5 18-14  133  Day 1: 5  18-14  72. Brent Chapman          Lake Quivira, KS         5 18-13  131  Day 1: 5  18-13  73. Todd Auten            Lake Wylie, SC          5  18-10  129  Day 1: 5  18-10  74. Terry Butcher         Talala, OK              5  18-08  127  Day 1: 5  18-08  74. Vince Fulks           Purcell, OK             5  18-08  127  Day 1: 5  18-08  74. Kevin Short           Mayflower, AR           5  18-08  127  Day 1: 5  18-08  77. Mike Wurm             Hot Springs, AR          5 18-04  121  Day 1: 5  18-04  78. Jimmy Mize            Ben Lomond, AR          5  17-12  119  Day 1: 5  17-12  79. Steve Kennedy         Auburn, AL              5  17-07  117  Day 1: 5  17-07  80. Chad Griffin          Cresson, TX             5  17-00  115  Day 1: 5  17-00  81. Marty Robinson         Lyman, SC               5  16-13  113  Day 1: 5  16-13  82. Pat Golden            High Point, NC          5  16-11  111  Day 1: 5  16-11  83. Jeremy Starks         Charleston, WV          5  16-09  109  Day 1: 5  16-09  83. Dustin Wilks          Rocky Mount, NC          5 16-09  109  Day 1: 5  16-09  85. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC               5  16-04  105  Day 1: 5  16-04  86. Guy Eaker             Cherryville, NC          5 15-11  103  Day 1: 5  15-11  87. Grant Goldbeck        Gaithersburg, MD        5  15-09  101  Day 1: 5  15-09  87. Clark Reehm           Russellville, AR        5  15-09  101  Day 1: 5  15-09  89. Kenyon Hill           Norman, OK              5  15-09   97  Day 1: 5  15-09  90. Luke Gritter          Kalamazoo, MI           5  15-00   95  Day 1: 5  15-00  91. Elton Luce Jr.         Brookeland, TX          5  14-15   93  Day 1: 5  14-15  91. David Smith           Del City, OK            5  14-15   93  Day 1: 5  14-15  93. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR          5 14-01   89  Day 1: 5  14-01  94. Matt Herren           Trussville, AL          5  14-00   87  Day 1: 5  14-00  95. Chris Lane            Lakeland, FL            5  13-00   85  Day 1: 5  13-00  96. Jim Murray            Arabi, GA               5  12-08   83  Day 1: 5  12-08  97. Pete Ponds            Madison, MS             3  12-00   81  Day 1: 3  12-00  98. Jared Lintner         Arroyo Grande, CA        3 07-13   79  Day 1: 3  07-13  99. Brent Broderick        Oregonia, OH            2  04-04   77  Day 1: 2  04-04  -----------------------------------------------------------------------BIG BASSDay 1   Ken D Cook              Lawton, OK         08-05         $0.00-----------------------------------------------------------------------TotalsDay  #Limits    #Fish     Weight 1       96      488      2064-09----------------------------------         96      488      2064-09

   

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