Michigan's Nate Wellman Whacks 'em Day 1 on Erie

SANDUSKY, Ohio — Lake Erie’s highly mobile smallmouth bass had much of the field scrambling for bites on Day One of the second 2011 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Northern Open, but several pros were able to adapt and crack the 20-pound mark.

No one was more surprised at leader Nate Wellman’s Day One weight than Wellman himself.

“My weight was a complete shock. I really thought I had 18 pounds, but as I got to the scales, they felt a lot heavier,” he said. “But, I’m sure glad they put on that weight.”

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