Photo courtesy of James Overstreet/Bassmaster.com _ Michael Neal hoists a couple of bass after the first day of competition in the Bass Pro Shops Southern Open.
Pro angler Michael Neal of Dayton opened the 2017 Bass Pro Shops Southern Open tournament with a fourth-place weigh-in after day one on Thursday.
Neal weighed five bass for a total of 23 pounds. The local Dayton fisherman has been a staple on tours including the FLW since 2008.
“I had a great day today for day one of the BASS Southern Open. Weighed in 23 pounds and currently sitting in fourth,” Neal stated on his Facebook page. “Time to rest up and get ready to get after them again tomorrow.”
Hunter Shryock, from Ohio, topped the leaderboard with a weigh-in total of 25 pounds, seven ounces. The top-ten pros are listed below with a complete leaderboard via www.bassmaster.com.
The Open continues today, Friday April 21, with only the top-twelve anglers moving onto the final day of the event which is on Saturday. Weigh-in on Friday is at the boat dock in Dayton with the champion crowed Saturday at the Bass Pro Shop of East Ridge.
Activities Saturday will begin between noon and 1:00 p.m. at the East Ridge Bass Pro Shop. The event will include booths and displays with pro-anglers rolling in during the day. The final twelve pro anglers will pull in with their catch around 3:00 pm with final weigh-in expected to start around 3:30. Bass Pro is located at 1000 Bass Pro Drive, in East Ridge, Tenn.
Bassmaster Bass Pro Shop Southern Open Top Ten
1 Hunter Shryock – 5 / 25.7
2 Shaw Grigsby Jr. – 5 / 25.1
3 Josh Douglas – 5 / 24.13
4 Michael Neal – 5 / 23.0
5 John Cox – 5 / 22.6
6 Freddy Palmer – 5 / 21.2
7 Rick Morris 5 / 20.14
8 Bill Weidler – 5 / 19.13
9 Brandon Lester 5 / 19.11
10 Johnny Patterson – 5 / 19.10
Kent Whitaker, also known as “The Deck Chef,” is a culinary writer and cookbook author. He’s also penned Young Reader and History titles. The former winner of the Emeril Live Food Network Barbecue Contest also covers football, motor-sports, and bass fishing. Kent currently lives in East Tennessee with his wife, son, and a couple of dogs that love when he fires up the smoker or grill.
