COLUMBIA, South Carolina – A first-timer on the tournament waters for the sixth Bassmaster Elite Series event of 2008, Grant Goldbeck of Gaithersburg, Maryland, says he ignored his instincts and claimed the lead Thursday with a limit of 20 pounds, 4 ounces, in the Carolina Clash presented by Evan Williams Bourbon on Lake Murray. Goldbeck holds less than a 1-pound advantage over Oklahoma's Edwin Evers, whose five-fish limit weighed 19 pounds, 5 ounces.

Goldbeck found a pattern during the three-day practice period and stuck with it. After losing two 5-plus-pounders early Thursday, he eventually settled on three or four favorite spots, returning to them repeatedly throughout the day.

The 37-year-old said he experienced a Kevin VanDam kind of day – running from the front of the boat to the livewell and not locking the lid before running back to the front to catch another and another. After the weigh-in, though, Goldbeck wasn't ready to offer the details of his successful day.

"Things started off kind of slow, and I was kind of stressed out about it," he said. "Then I got a 2-pounder in the boat and decided it was time to run and gun and I've got some spots out there that are holding pretty good fish.

"It seemed like if I let them go for 20, 30 minutes, I could go catch another fish. Leave them alone, let them rest for a while, go give them a fresh bait again every once in a while, I'd get two or three bites."

Pleased with his early flight time for Friday's Day 2, Goldbeck was confident his luck and his lead could hold. If so, the victory would be his first in the Elite Series, worth $100,000 and valuable points in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. Goldbeck is 98th in the AOY standings with 573 points, nearly 700 points behind leader Todd Faircloth of Texas. Goldbeck and the other top anglers could stand to gain significant ground on Faircloth, who struggled Thursday and is in 90th place.

"As long as there's a little bit of wind, a little bit of cloud coverage or something to generate a reason for those fish to be up off the bottom, I think it'll hold out," Goldbeck said.

Evers, who led Days 2 and 3 this month at the Pride of Georgia on Clarks Hill Lake, said he, too, found it crucial on Lake Murray to let his spots rest, though unlike Goldbeck he was working crowded waters.

"Once the fish sees your bait and you don't catch that fish, it educates that one, and the rest of them," said Evers, whose practice made him think he'd get a much stronger bite during the tournament. "I caught them probably until about 12 o'clock. I just didn't get as many bites – maybe eight or nine, 10."

Behind Evers was Matt Sphar of Pavilion, N.Y., in his sophomore season as an Elite pro, with 18-14. Placing fourth was Chris Lane of Winter Haven, Fla., with 18-10. Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., currently in second place in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year race, was fifth with 18-7.

In the co-angler division, amateurs are battling for a top prize of $25,000. Georgia's Travis McDermott is on top with 13 pounds, 11 ounces, leading South Carolina's Lad Hunter (13-4) and North Carolina's Clay Lowder (12-11).

Activities at the Carolina Clash include live musical performances at 12:45 p.m. Saturday and Sunday by Black Bottom Biscuits, and Cherry Dillinger. There will be a Berkley Beginner fishing class at 2 p.m. and a "Boat Performance with Skeeter" class daily at 2:15 p.m. both days.

On Saturday, fans can talk to the Elite pros during "Ask the Experts" at Bassmaster University, set for 2:30 p.m. at the weigh-in site.

Location and Field
Carolina Clash presented by Evan Williams Bourbon
Lake Murray
Columbia, S.C.
May 15-18, 2008

Field
108 pros, 108 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 pros and co-anglers after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3

Launch/Weigh-in
Lake Murray Marina & Yacht Club
Irmo, S.C.
6:30 a.m./ 3 p.m.

2008 Bassmaster Elite Series Event Tournament Locations/Dates

March 6-9 Sunshine Showdown Harris Chain of Lakes Leesburg, Fla.

March 13-16 Citrus Slam Kissimmee Chain Lake Wales, Fla.

April 3-6 Lone Star Shootout Falcon Lake Zapata, Texas

April 10-13 Battle on the Border Lake Amistad Del Rio, Texas

May 1-4 Pride of Georgia Clarks Hill Lake Evans, Ga.

May 15-18 Carolina Clash Lake Murray Columbia, S.C.

June 5-8 Southern Challenge Wheeler Lake Decatur, Ala.

June 12-15 Bluegrass Brawl Kentucky Lake Gilbertsville, Ky.

June 26-29 River Rumble Mississippi River Fort Madison, Iowa

July 31- Aug. 3 Empire Chase Lake Erie/Niagara River Buffalo, N.Y.

Aug. 7-10 Champion's Choice Oneida Lake Syracuse, N.Y.

About BASS

For 40 years, BASS has served as the authority on bass fishing. With its considerable multi-media platforms and expansive tournament trail, BASS is guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry leading publications Bassmaster Magazine, BASS Times and Fishing Tackle Retailer and comprehensive web properties in Bassmaster.com and ESPNOutdoors.com, the organization is committed to delivering content true to the lifestyle. Additionally, television programming on ESPN2 continues to provide relevant content from tips and techniques to in-depth tournament coverage to passionate audiences.

The organization oversees the prestigious Bassmaster tournament trail which includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bassmaster Opens, Women's Bassmaster Tour and the Bassmaster Classic, the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing. Through its grassroots network, the BASS Federation Nation, BASS sanctions more than 20,000 events annually.

BASS also offers an array of services to its more than 525,000 members while spearheading progressive, positive change on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.