ESPN Elite Series

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — On a day when mere survival appeared to be the order of the day, local co-angler Ron Plocek dodged the severe weather gripping the Oneida Lake region of central New York to bolt to the Day One lead.

Thanks to his co-angler limit of three bass weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces, the 42-year-old from Liverpool, N.Y., took the early lead in the final co-angler event to ever be held on the Bassmaster Elite Series circuit.

When asked what he used to catch his mixed bag of smallmouth and largemouth bass, which including the 4-5 Purolator Big Bass leader, Plocek was surprisingly candid.

Especially when compared to other tight-lipped anglers looking to win the last $25,000 co-angler first-place check that will be awarded on Saturday.

"Most of my fish were caught in about 8 feet of water, around rocky areas with weeds," Plocek said. "The big largemouth was a fluke — I caught it in 2 feet of water when it hit a horny toad.

"That was totally unexpected."

What wasn't unexpected was a day of severe weather that left many pros and co-anglers alike talking about their near misses on the water, as wave after wave of heavy thunderstorms blitzed the 51,000-acre body of water with blinding rain, small hail, deafening thunder and intense lightning.

Co-angler Ronnie Tyson, who sat in 16th place after fishing with 2003 Bassmaster Classic champ and 2006 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Mike Iaconelli, admitted the day proved to be quite a challenge.

"It was terrible today," he said. "I don't think I've ever seen so much rain, lightning and hail.

"One time, during a hail storm, the bottom of the boat was white with hail.

"And another time or two, Ike and I both felt a buzz in our rods."

Mike Bass, the Austin, Texas, resident who captured the co-angler title at the Bluegrass Brawl on Kentucky Lake earlier this summer, had a similar experience.

"There was a time or two when we cast our line and it would try and stay up in the air," he said. "There was so much electricity out there."

For pros and co-anglers alike, the common sentiment of the day was echoed by co-angler Alan Hall of Brandon, S.D.: "I just want to say, first of all, I want to thank the Lord we didn't get struck by lightning out there."

Hall, whose three-fish limit of 9-11 on Thursday put him in second place, said he only got five bites all day.

But fishing shallow and deep with a spinnerbait, among other things, he was able to capitalize on those bites and land three good fish to be in solid position for Friday's top-50 cut of co-anglers advancing to Saturday's final round.

"This is my first time to fish an event as a co-angler," Hall said. "I'm the youth director for the Federation in South Dakota, and I thought I'd better go and fish this once.

"I'm glad I did, since this is the last one."

Fishing with Elite Series pro Scott Campbell, Hall admitted his "fish something different" strategy really didn't pay any dividends early in the day.

And since Campbell was having better luck in the front of the boat, the South Dakota co-angler switched to something similar, albeit with a slight color variation.

"Scott is a super-good gentleman and he had a lot of fish that he caught today," Hall said, noting he hopes he can catch similar-quality bass tomorrow, when he fishes with Team Realtree's Elite Series pro Kevin Short.

California co-angler Tom Frink sat in third place after Thursday's weigh-in, totaling three bass tipping the scales at 8-15.

"It would be cool to catch them (like that) again," he said.

For now, however, Plocek appears to be somewhat in command, with more than a 1-pound lead heading into Friday's cut-round.

With co-anglers only able to weigh in three fish — and with more inclement weather in the forecast — his local knowledge of Oneida could have a major role.

"It would be huge," Plocek said, about winning a title in only his second co-angler start.

"This is not only the last co-angler event, but by being here, you get to learn so much from these pros. They are all so nice, and it is such a pleasure to fish with them.

"And BASS does such a great job putting on these events."

Even if the weather forecast is in no mood to cooperate just yet.

For now, Plocek will make sure his rain suit is ready to go again.

"To be in the lead on the first day is an honor, but to win the thing — that would be unimaginable," he said.

Plocek admits his strategy for winning might need more inclement weather.

"I fished a lot of soft plastics today and it seemed like right before a thunderstorm hit, the fishing seemed to pick up," he said. "When a storm got close, there seemed like there was a little more action."

With more storms forecast for Friday, Plocek is hoping to ride that action all the way to the bank Saturday.

Visit Bassmaster.com for full coverage of the Elite Series Champion's Choice with weigh-in host Keith Alan, Aug. 3-10, 2008. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, daily weigh-ins with live streaming video and real-time leaderboards start at 5:00 p.m. ET. On Saturday, catch "Bassmaster University" at 4:15 p.m. ET before the weigh-in. Then on Sunday, get "Hooked Up" with hosts Tommy Sanders and Mark Zona at 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET. Live JWC weigh-in video starts at 5 p.m. ET with the final weigh-in and real-time leaderboard of the season starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.

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