![LEWISVILLE1[1]](https://www.lsonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/LEWISVILLE1%5B1%5D.jpg "LEWISVILLE1[1]")
![LEWISVILLE1[1]](https://www.lsonews.com/wp-content/smush-webp/2012/02/LEWISVILLE1%5B1%5D.jpg.webp "TOUGH RUN: Angler James Niggemeyer, of Van, Texas, talks about the tough conditions on Lewisville Lake after the first day of the Central Open. Weigh-in is scheduled for 3 p.m. tomorrow at Lake Lewisville Park. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.")
Coming into the 2012 Bass Pro Shops Central Open #1 on Lewisville Lake, the anglers knew it was going to be a tough event.
Then Mother Nature made it tougher when a cold front moved in Wednesday night, dropping water temperatures below 50 degrees.
But Wagoner, Okla., angler Brad Lankford found the right pattern and managed a five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, 1 ounce.
“I only caught five fish all week (during practice),” he said. “I had a spot that I felt would hold up and pulled up on it this morning and then never started the big motor again. We stayed on it all day and it worked.”
Arizona resident Josh Bertrand weighed the only other five-bass limit totaling 18 pounds, and trails Lankford by just 1 ounce.
Several Texas anglers managed to fish their way into a top ten position after the opening day, including Metroplex angler Bill Wilcox in 7th with 9 pounds, 2 ounces, and Little Elm native Janet Parker in 8th with 8 pounds, 15 ounces.
Last year’s winner, Mark Tucker, is sitting in 9th place with 8 pounds, 9 ounces, and said the lake is fishing totally different than last year.
“I was worried about just catching one fish today,” the St. Louis native said. “I couldn’t even fish where I fished last year (because of the higher water levels). It is a mental grind because you have to cover so much water with not many bites.
“I was fishing shallow all day. Hopefully I can catch three more tomorrow.”
![LEWISVILLE2[1]](https://www.lsonews.com/wp-content/smush-webp/2012/02/LEWISVILLE2%5B1%5D.jpg.webp "DAY’S END: Boats line the shore as anglers get ready to weigh in their catches after a difficult first day on Lewisville Lake. Photo by Conor Harrison, LSON.")
Slow-rolling spinnerbaits and fishing square-billed crankbaits caught the fish today, according to some pros.
It’s a grind,” said Van, Texas angler James Niggemeyer, “but there are a lot of fish out there. I grew up fishing these Metroplex lakes, and if conditions get right, we can catch some fish out here.”
Niggemeyer is currently sitting in 12th place after he boated two bass weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces.
The big bass of the day was caught by Chip Porche of Bixby, Okla. and weighed 7 pounds, 1 ounce.
Eighty-one of the 178 anglers competing in the event did not catch a fish.
Brad Lankford, 5 fish, 18-1
Josh Bertrand, 5 fish, 18-0
Tommy Jonovich, 2 fish, 11-2
Brent Chapman, 3 fish, 10-13
Billy McCaghren, 3 fish, 10-5
Carl Jocumsen, 3 fish, 9-7
Bill Wilcox, 2 fish, 9-2
Janet Parker, 3 fish, 8-15
Mark Tucker, 3 fish, 8-9
