Joe Balog took the Day One lead on the very familiar waters of Lake Erie.

SANDUSKY, Ohio — Joe Balog of Harrison Township, Mich., took the Day 1 lead in the CITGO Bassmaster Northern Tour event on Lake Erie with 23 pounds, 12 ounces of bass, besting second-place holder Paul Noechel of Lost Creek, W.Va., by more than 8 pounds.

Heavy winds and high waves plagued anglers on Thursday, the first day of the three-day event. Several said they were forced to give up on planned runs to key water and instead stayed inside Sandusky Bay, which offered more protection. But Balog was one of the few who braved the open water and made a long run. He said his destination was near the Canadian border.

"I've been fishing here since 1988 and this is the toughest day I've ever fished," said the 32-year-old, who estimated he's fished more than 100 tournaments on Lake Erie. But while the conditions were difficult, he said the fishing was phenomenal.

"This time of year, the fish get on deep structure and start going deep for the winter," he said. "The fish are feeding for the fall. The key is to get the bait vertical. Once it's down there, you just wait."

Balog said he targeted rockpiles, going 28 to 32 feet deep with a drop-shot rig to bring in his five-fish limit.

Noechel, 50, finished the first day in second place with a limit of largemouth that weighed 15 pounds, 7 ounces. He may be a West Virginia native, but he considers Lake Erie his home water because he makes the trip to Erie eight to 10 times a year. Noechel said that during practice earlier in the week, he focused on locating an area he felt would produce a limit no matter how badly weather might kick up the water on Thursday.

"The key is to fish very, very slowly," he said. "I can't emphasize that enough. I'm fishing a Senko and dead-sticking it."

Joe Cox, 20, of DeBary, Fla., held third place with a limit of largemouth bass weighing 14 pounds, 10 ounces. He was one of only 13 pros who brought a limit to the scales on Thursday. In fourth was Sam Lashlee of Camden, Tenn., with 13-12. In fifth was Bassmaster Elite Series pro Jami Fralick of Martin, S.D., with 12-14.

Heavy winds and high waves plagued anglers during Day One.

On the co-angler side, Mark Harcharik of Cleveland, Ohio, led on Day 1 with 13 pounds. Included in his limit was a 4-10 largemouth that took Purolator Big Bass co-angler honors and earned him a $400 bonus. Trailing Harcharik were Craig Schmidt of Columbus, Neb., with 8-9; Brad Brodnicki of Buffalo, N.Y., with 8-6; Lee Pilz of Wawaka, Ind., with 6-14; and John Terry of Mansfield, Ohio, with 6-7.

Anglers on the pro side are vying for a first-place payout of $30,000 in cash and a Triton boat rig worth $45,000. Co-anglers are up against each other for a top prize of a Triton boat package valued at $30,000. Total payout for the tournament is $324,650 in cash and merchandise to the top 60 pros; the top 50 co-anglers share a payout of $68,800 in prizes.

The Lake Erie tournament is the fourth of five events on the CITGO Bassmaster Northern Tour circuit. In addition to earning enough points to capture one of three 2007 CITGO Bassmaster Classic berths, Northern Tour pros are also building points toward eligibility to move up to the next level of competition, the CITGO Bassmaster Elite Series.

The field cuts to the top 50 anglers and top 50 co-anglers for Saturday's competition.