ESCANABA – With the first day of competition completed, Greg Hackney is now two days away from being crowned the Toyota Bassmaster Angler of the Year.

Hackney caught five fish for a total weight of 18 pounds Thursday, to maintain his lead in the Angler of the Year standings. His total weight puts him in 17th position for the event.

“I caught a lot of fish today. I just never got a big bite,” Hackney said. “I probably zigged when I should have zagged. Didn’t start how I should have this morning, but I’ll take it.”

With only Friday and Sunday left, it would be understandable for Hackney to be feeling the nerves at this point. He has, but just not when it matters most-when he’s in the boat.

“It’s one of those deals when I feel it when I’m not fishing,” Hackney said about feeling pressure. “I felt a little anxiety when i was out on the end, and probably the last hour out there fishing. When I’m fishing, I don’t really think about it. Especially when I started getting some bites and was kind of getting in a groove. It is what it is. It’s an honor to have an opportunity at Angler of the Year.”

Hackney and defending Angler of the Year Aaron Martens, along with Todd Faircloth entered this weekend as the top three anglers. They still are, but Faircloth managed to jump Martens for second place, catching five fish for 20 pounds and 15 ounces.

“Every one of these guys want to win that one day,” Faircloth said about being Angler of the Year. “I’ve been close several times and just haven’t been able to get it done. I’m just going to go out there every day and just try to catch the most I can catch. I can’t do anything about what Hackney, or what Aaron is doing, or the guys behind us. I can kind of control what I’m doing out there and that’s what I’m going to try to do. Just put it in the hands of the Lord and whatever happens, happens. I’ll be happy with the outcome.”

Faircloth’s performance was good for 10th place in the event. Hackney has 748 points in the Angler of the Year standings, while Faircloth now sits in second with 738. Martens is in third with 729.

For Martens, it was a disappointing day. While he managed to catch five fish for 17 pounds, 6 ounces, for 21st place, it paled in comparison to what he was hauling in during his practice outings during the week.

“I caught 24 pounds two of the days in practice and I tried to shake them off,” Martens said. “I caught a seven and one close to seven and lots of fours and fives. Today, I got stuck with two, two pounders. That’s why my bag is so small. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. If we go out tomorrow, I think they’ll bite good.”

The competition for Angler of the Year is hotly contested, but it was Brett Hite who is your overall leader after day one. Hite caught five fish for 24 pounds, 6 ounces.

“This is a special place,” Hite said about the area’s fishing. “I went there this morning and it was pretty lights out. About 11 o’clock I kind of went pre-fishing and was throwing back 3 1/2 pounders here and there. It’s fun to have a relaxed tournament where I already know I’m already going to the Bassmaster Classic and I’m just trying to fish for a little bit more money and Angler of the Year. It’s been a great year and I’m going to try to keep the ball rolling the rest of the weekend.”

The 2014 Bassmaster Classic champion, Randy Howell, is in 39th place after he caught five fish for 14 pounds, 9 ounces.

“It was a tough morning for me,” Howell said. “Caught one here and there and it was tough. Then it got slick and calm, then I got old Cinco out, and they bit that Cinco good. I just couldn’t get in front of a big one. I didn’t lose any today, but I couldn’t get the big one. It was fun. Hopefully we get to go out again and work them hard and catch some big ones and make a comeback. They live here. We know that.”

The second day of competition resumes today, where they anglers will launch at 7:30 a.m. The weigh-in will take place at 4 p.m., again.