Matt Robertson Leads Day One of 2023 Bassmaster Elite Series Santee Cooper

Bucks Falcon Mercury

CLARENDON COUNTY, S.C. — Capitalizing on an early start, Matt Robertson of Kuttawa, Ky., caught a five-bass limit of 28 pounds, 1 ounce to lead Day 1 of the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes.

Coming off a Top 30 finish at last week’s Elite Series event at Lake Murray, Robertson heads into Friday’s second round leading rookie Bryant Smith of California by just over a pound.

2023 Bassmaster Elite Series Santee Cooper Lakes Day One Leader Matt Robertson – photo by Christina O’Sullivan – AdvancedAngler.com

Noting that he’s fishing the way he likes to fish, Robertson said he focused mostly on postspawn bass. He spent time in Lake Marion and Lake Moultrie and caught bass in two different areas.

“I’m running a shad spawn early and then later in the morning, I’m going fishing for postspawners,” Robertson said. “I was done by about 10:30 or 11.”

Understandably guarded with his details, Robertson said he believes he dialed in a specific pattern that gave him the opening-round advantage. While he declined to elaborate, Robertson said his choice of habitat played a key role in his success.

“I think I’m doing something a little different from everybody, and hopefully it will hold up,” he said.

Robertson used three different baits to amass his big bag. Despite his dominant day, he said his leading limit was surprising.

“I had a bad practice,” he said. “I got a few bites in an area but I didn’t know I was going to catch what I caught today.

“I don’t know what I’m doing here,” he said. “I didn’t catch ‘em here the last time (the 2022 Elite at Santee Cooper), so I just went out there and approached it totally different from what I did last time.”

After a calm Day 1, Friday’s forecast calls for windier conditions and possible showers. Robertson said he’s unconcerned.

“I don’t care; I have something for (all conditions),” he said. “I like catching big bass, and I hope we can go out there and do it again tomorrow.”

Hailing from Roseville, Calif., Smith is in second place with 26-15. He spent his day in Lake Marion targeting cypress trees. With countless options, he was able to figure out a replicable pattern that allowed him to pick out three trees with the greatest potential.

“I think the positioning of the trees is important, but we’ll find out tomorrow,” Smith said. “There’s something about the trees that I’m looking for that’s kind of the same deal.

“I’m not really going down big lines of trees; I’m trying to pick out the right trees.”

Smith said a single finesse bait proved reliable Thursday, but he’s not sure if he can back up his Day 1 effort with another solid limit on Friday. Even if his pattern holds, he’s dealing with a lot of fishing pressure in his area, and that’s a notorious bite killer.

“I could get in a bad rotation, so I may have to fish fresh water tomorrow,” Smith said. “I don’t think what I’m fishing is going to reload that well. I just have to keep my head down and keep grinding and hopefully, I can run into five bites tomorrow.”

Smith made a big move by boating a 6-pounder around 3:10 Thursday afternoon.

“That got me going in the right direction,” Smith said. “I just got in a good rotation, pulled up on the right tree and (that fish) was there.”

Paul Mueller of Naugatuck, Conn., is in third place with 25-10. Starting the day with a game plan that included both lakes, he ended up spending all of his time in Lake Moultrie.

“I had a couple of areas where I thought I could get bit and the fish moved,” said Mueller, who holds two career Elite Series wins. “I just moved around, fished new water and I was fortunate to get the three good bites that I got off of new water — places I hadn’t practiced.

“This lake is so big, you can’t just run around. The problem is, I had bites in areas that are so spread out, you have to commit and do one thing and hopefully, it’s the right thing for the weather.”

Stating that he caught his fish on one moving bait and two finesse rigs, Mueller pointed out that he’s seen fish in prespawn, spawn and postspawn modes. This, he said, has created a challenging scenario that he believes will become even more difficult with Friday’s weather.

“I’ve got my work cut out for me tomorrow,” Mueller said. “I’m not sure what that’s going to do, but we’ll take it one bite at a time. At least I got off to a good start.”

David Gaston of Sylacauga, Ala., earned the $1,000 daily bonus for catching the Phoenix Boats Big Bass of the Day with his 8-5 largemouth.

Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., leads the Progressive Insurance Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings with 380 points. Kyle Welcher of Opelika, Ala., is in second with 369 points, followed by Drew Cook of Cairo, Ga., with 364, Carl Jocumsen of Queensland, Australia, with 364 and John Cox of DeBary, Fla., with 335.

Smith leads the Bassmaster Rookie of the Year standings with 305 points.

Friday’s takeoff is scheduled for 7 a.m. ET at John C. Land III Sport Fishing Facility. The weigh-in will be held back at the facility at 3 p.m., with only the Top 50 anglers advancing to Semifinal Saturday. Bassmaster LIVE coverage starts at 8 a.m. on Bassmaster.com, Tubi and the FOX Sports digital platforms.

The Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce is hosting the AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes.

2023 Bassmaster Elite Series Platinum Sponsor: Toyota
2023 Bassmaster Elite Series Premier Sponsors: Bass Pro Shops, Dakota Lithium, Humminbird, Mercury, Minn Kota, Nitro Boats, Power-Pole, Progressive Insurance, Ranger Boats, Rapala, Skeeter Boats, Yamaha
2023 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsors: AFTCO, Daiwa, Garmin, Lew’s, Marathon, Triton Boats, VMC
2023 Bassmaster Conservation Partners: AFTCO, Yamaha Rightwaters

Connect with #Bassmaster on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok.

About B.A.S.S.
B.A.S.S., which encompasses the Bassmaster tournament leagues, events and media platforms, is the worldwide authority on bass fishing and keeper of the culture of the sport, providing cutting edge content on bass fishing whenever, wherever and however bass fishing fans want to use it. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the 515,000-member organization’s fully integrated media platforms include the industry’s leading magazines (Bassmaster and B.A.S.S. Times), website (Bassmaster.com), TV show, radio show, social media programs and events. For more than 50 years, B.A.S.S. has been dedicated to access, conservation and youth fishing.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the most prestigious events at each level of competition, including the Bassmaster Elite Series, St. Croix Bassmaster Opens Series, TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation Series, Strike King Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops, Strike King Bassmaster High School Series presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Team Championship, Yamaha Rightwaters Bassmaster Kayak Series powered by TourneyX, Yamaha Bassmaster Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Toyota.

2023 AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes 4/27-4/30
Santee Cooper Lakes, Clarendon County  SC.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 1

Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Matt Robertson         Kuttawa, KY              5  28-01  104
Day 1: 5   28-01
2.  Bryant Smith           Roseville, CA            5  26-15  103
Day 1: 5   26-15
3.  Paul Mueller           Naugatuck, CT            5  25-10  102
Day 1: 5   25-10
4.  Kyle Norsetter         Cottage Grove, WI        5  24-13  101
Day 1: 5   24-13
5.  Kyle Welcher           Opelika, AL              5  23-00  100
Day 1: 5   23-00
6.  Mark Menendez          Paducah, KY              5  21-14   99
Day 1: 5   21-14
7.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID             4  21-14   98
Day 1: 4   21-14
8.  Drew Cook              Cairo, GA                5  21-13   97
Day 1: 5   21-13
9.  Darold Gleason         Many, LA                 5  21-08   96
Day 1: 5   21-08
10. Luke Palmer            Coalgate, OK             5  21-03   95
Day 1: 5   21-03
11. Brandon Cobb           Greenwood, SC            5  21-00   94
Day 1: 5   21-00
12. David Gaston           Sylacauga, AL            5  20-15   93   $1,000.00
Day 1: 5   20-15
13. Chris Zaldain          Fort Worth, TX           5  20-11   92
Day 1: 5   20-11
14. Joshua Stracner        Vandiver, AL             5  20-07   91
Day 1: 5   20-07
15. Chris Johnston         Otonabee Ontario CANADA  5  20-01   90
Day 1: 5   20-01
16. Carl Jocumsen          Queensland AUSTRALIA     5  19-10   89
Day 1: 5   19-10
17. John Cox               DeBary, FL               5  19-08   88
Day 1: 5   19-08
18. Masayuki Matsushita    Tokoname-Aichi JAPAN     5  19-06   87
Day 1: 5   19-06
19. Joseph Webster         Hamilton, AL             5  19-01   86
Day 1: 5   19-01
20. Ray Hanselman Jr       Del Rio, TX              5  18-13   85
Day 1: 5   18-13
20. Wes Logan              Springville, AL          5  18-13   85
Day 1: 5   18-13
22. Jamie Hartman          Newport, NY              5  18-10   83
Day 1: 5   18-10
23. Cliff Prince           Palatka, FL              5  18-02   82
Day 1: 5   18-02
24. Taku Ito               Chiba JAPAN              4  18-01   81
Day 1: 4   18-01
25. Caleb Kuphall          Mukwonago, WI            5  18-00   80
Day 1: 5   18-00
25. Jacob Powroznik        North Prince George, VA  5  18-00   80
Day 1: 5   18-00
27. Steve Kennedy          Auburn, AL               5  17-14   78
Day 1: 5   17-14
28. Cole Sands             Calhoun, TN              5  17-13   77
Day 1: 5   17-13
29. Scott Canterbury       Odenville, AL            5  17-12   76
Day 1: 5   17-12
29. Josh Douglas           Isle, MN                 5  17-12   76
Day 1: 5   17-12
29. Bill Lowen             Brookville, IN           5  17-12   76
Day 1: 5   17-12
32. Gary Clouse            Winchester, TN           5  17-11   73
Day 1: 5   17-11
33. Bryan New              Saluda, SC               5  17-10   72
Day 1: 5   17-10
34. Will Davis Jr          Sylacauga, AL            5  17-03   71
Day 1: 5   17-03
34. Chad Pipkens           DeWitt, MI               5  17-03   71
Day 1: 5   17-03
36. Brandon Card           Salisbury, NC            5  17-00   69
Day 1: 5   17-00
37. Derek Hudnall          Zachary, LA              5  16-08   68
Day 1: 5   16-08
38. Jay Przekurat          Stevens Point, WI        5  16-05   67
Day 1: 5   16-05
39. Drew Benton            Panama City, FL          5  16-03   66
Day 1: 5   16-03
40. Clent Davis            Montevallo, AL           5  15-10   65
Day 1: 5   15-10
41. Scott Martin           Clewiston, FL            5  15-09   64
Day 1: 5   15-09
42. Stetson Blaylock       Benton, AR               5  15-08   63
Day 1: 5   15-08
42. Michael Iaconelli      Pittsgrove, NJ           5  15-08   63
Day 1: 5   15-08
44. Jonathan Kelley        Old Forge, PA            5  15-05   61
Day 1: 5   15-05
45. Koby Kreiger           Alva, FL                 5  15-02   60
Day 1: 5   15-02
46. Skylar Hamilton        Jefferson, TN            5  15-01   59
Day 1: 5   15-01
46. Pat Schlapper          Eleva, WI                5  15-01   59
Day 1: 5   15-01
48. Jeff Gustafson         Kenora, Ontario CANADA   5  14-15   57
Day 1: 5   14-15
49. Shane LeHew            Catawba, NC              5  14-11   56
Day 1: 5   14-11
50. Seth Feider            New Market, MN           5  14-07   55
Day 1: 5   14-07
51. Todd Auten             Lake Wylie, SC           3  14-07   54
Day 1: 3   14-07
52. Logan Latuso           Gonzales, LA             5  14-01   53
Day 1: 5   14-01
52. Clifford Pirch         Payson, AZ               5  14-01   53
Day 1: 5   14-01
52. Bryan Schmitt          Deale, MD                5  14-01   53
Day 1: 5   14-01
55. Gerald Swindle         Guntersville, AL         5  13-13   50
Day 1: 5   13-13
56. Jacob Foutz            Charleston, TN           5  13-09   49
Day 1: 5   13-09
57. Matt Herren            Ashville, AL             5  13-05   48
Day 1: 5   13-05
58. Hunter Shryock         Ooltewah, TN             5  13-02   47
Day 1: 5   13-02
58. Alex Wetherell         Middletown, CT           5  13-02   47
Day 1: 5   13-02
60. Cooper Gallant         Bowmanville Ontario CAN  5  13-00   45
Day 1: 5   13-00
61. Keith Combs            Huntington, TX           5  12-14   44
Day 1: 5   12-14
62. Larry Nixon            Bee Branch, AR           2  12-13   43
Day 1: 2   12-13
63. Matt Arey              Shelby, NC               5  12-05   42
Day 1: 5   12-05
63. Joey Cifuentes III     Clinton, AR              5  12-05   42
Day 1: 5   12-05
63. Keith Poche            Cecil, AL                5  12-05   42
Day 1: 5   12-05
66. Brad Whatley           Bivins, TX               4  12-04   39
Day 1: 4   12-04
67. Cory Johnston          Cavan CANADA             5  12-03   38
Day 1: 5   12-03
68. Micah Frazier          Newnan, GA               5  12-02   37
Day 1: 5   12-02
69. John Crews Jr          Salem, VA                4  12-00   36
Day 1: 4   12-00
70. Gregory DiPalma        Millville, NJ            5  11-11   35
Day 1: 5   11-11
70. David Williams         Newton, NC               5  11-11   35
Day 1: 5   11-11
72. Kyoya Fujita           Minamitsuru, Yamanashi   3  11-10   33
Day 1: 3   11-10
73. Jason Christie         Dry Creek, OK            5  11-09   32
Day 1: 5   11-09
74. Rick Clunn             Ava, MO                  4  11-09   31
Day 1: 4   11-09
75. Tyler Rivet            Raceland, LA             5  11-08   30
Day 1: 5   11-08
76. John Soukup            Sapulpa, OK              5  11-01   29
Day 1: 5   11-01
77. Frank Talley           Temple, TX               5  10-11   28
Day 1: 5   10-11
77. Clark Wendlandt        Leander, TX              5  10-11   28
Day 1: 5   10-11
79. Buddy Gross            Chattanooga, TN          4  10-09   26
Day 1: 4   10-09
80. Jason Williamson       Aiken, SC                5  10-01   25
Day 1: 5   10-01
81. Mike Huff              London, KY               4  09-12   24
Day 1: 4   09-12
82. Justin Hamner          Northport, AL            5  09-09   23
Day 1: 5   09-09
83. Hank Cherry Jr         Lincolnton, NC           4  09-06   22
Day 1: 4   09-06
84. Austin Felix           Eden Prairie, MN         3  09-02   21
Day 1: 3   09-02
85. Greg Hackney           Gonzales, LA             4  08-14   20
Day 1: 4   08-14
86. Patrick Walters        Eutawville, SC           4  08-07   19
Day 1: 4   08-07
87. Brandon Lester         Fayetteville, TN         4  08-04   18
Day 1: 4   08-04
88. Matty Wong             Honolulu, HI             3  08-02   17
Day 1: 3   08-02
89. KJ Queen               Conover, NC              2  08-02   16
Day 1: 2   08-02
90. Bradley Hallman        Edmond, OK               3  07-13   15
Day 1: 3   07-13
91. Brock Mosley           Collinsville, MS         3  07-09   14
Day 1: 3   07-09
92. Ed Loughran III        Richmond, VA             2  07-03   13
Day 1: 2   07-03
93. Justin Atkins          Florence, AL             3  07-01   12
Day 1: 3   07-01
94. Kenta Kimura           Osaka JAPAN              2  07-00   11
Day 1: 2   07-00
95. Bob Downey             Detroit Lakes, MN        2  06-04   10
Day 1: 2   06-04
96. Lee Livesay            Longview, TX             3  06-02    9
Day 1: 3   06-02
97. Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL          2  06-01    8
Day 1: 2   06-01
98. Cody Huff              Ava, MO                  2  06-00    7
Day 1: 2   06-00
99. Alex Redwine           Blue Ash, OH             3  05-08    6
Day 1: 3   05-08
100. David Mullins          Mt Carmel, TN            2  04-15    5
Day 1: 2   04-15
101. Jake Whitaker          Hendersonville, NC       1  03-01    4
Day 1: 1   03-01
102. Caleb Sumrall          New Iberia, LA           1  02-12    3
Day 1: 1   02-12
103. Marc Frazier           Newnan, GA               1  01-02    2
Day 1: 1   01-02
104. David Fritts           Lexington, NC            0  00-00    0
Day 1: 0   00-00
———————————————————————–

PHOENIX BOATS BIG BASS
Day
1   David Gaston             Sylacauga, AL       08-05      $1,000.00

———————————————————————–
Totals
Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight
1        72       450      1465-12
———————————-
72       450      1465-12