Hopkins holds on to pro lead in Lake Texoma Stren Series event

Middleton maintains top co-angler spot

DENISON, Texas – In tournament fishing, details of a hot location will leak like a cheap diaper. Fortunately for Mounds, Okla., pro Ronnie Hopkins Jr., who leads the Stren Series event on Lake Texoma, reconnaissance and infiltration didn’t deny him a third day atop the field.

After two days of limit catches, Hopkins bagged four on day three. This 8-pound, 14-ounce catch – his lowest of the event – gave him a 42-4 total. Interrupted privacy probably had something to do with his declining performance.

“I had a little company today for the first time this week – eventually they’re going to find you, but that’s what happens,” he said. “(The other pro) got a limit, and I only caught four keepers.

“I lost a 3-pounder right at the boat, otherwise I would have been right where I was wanting to be. I was wanting to extend my lead a little bit because I’m running out of fish quickly. I wore them out a little too much yesterday. I maybe got a little too greedy and tried to get a little too much weight yesterday.”

On day two, Hopkins finished 6 pounds, 14 ounces ahead of second-place pro Doug Jones. At day three’s conclusion, Hopkins held a 5-pound margin over Jones, who entered Saturday’s final round again in second place with a three-day total of 37-4.

Hopkins has caught the majority of his fish on crankbaits. He’ll stick with this bait in the final round, but he plans some logistical adjustments.

“I’m going to try some different stuff tomorrow,” he said. “I think the bite has switched from a late bite to an early bite, so I’m going to try to get a little more fishing time in early and a little less running.

“I’m hoping I won’t see anyone (on my spot) tomorrow. I think if I can have the spot to myself again tomorrow, I can get a limit. I think if I get five fish, I’ll be tough to beat.”

Jones gains some ground

Since day one, Jones has fished in protected creek coves upriver from the launch site at Hiport Marina. Fishing jigs and plastics around brush in 2 to 5 feet of water, he focused on refining his pattern based on fish preference.

“I think it’s just a slow, precise presentation,” he said. “The fish seem to move from the long, slick lay-down logs to the bushy tops. I’ll present the bait depending on where they want to be.”

Most of his day-three action came between 9 a.m. and noon, but Jones said his day-three fish required a more concerted effort.

“I’ve been going in there and getting five fish and then leaving, but today I had to pound on them a little harder,” he said.

Even though he enjoyed smooth running today, Jones said he’s hoping for some wind in the final round: “I caught them better when the wind blew. Where I’m fishing, the wind won’t (hurt) me.”

Martin stakes down third

In third place, Nacagdoches, Texas, pro Lendell Martin Jr. bagged 11-14 on day three for a 34-11 total. Reprogramming himself for calm conditions proved more challenging than he anticipated.

“I got so used to the wind blowing 25 mph that it was like I had to learn how to fish all over again,” he said. “Yesterday, you’d make a cast and it would land 15 feet from where you threw it.”

Rest of the best

Keith Combs of Temple, Texas, finished fourth with 33-1, while Bradley Hallman of Norman, Okla., took fifth with 32-8.

Rounding out the top 10 pro leaders at the Stren Series Texas event on Lake Texoma:

6th: Ben Matsubu of Hemphill, Texas, 32-8

7th: Craig Hatchel of Whitesboro, Texas, 32-3

8th: Russell Cecil of Willis, Texas, 31-9

9th: Ryan Lovelace of Denison, Texas, 31-2

10th: Robert McFarlane of San Antonio, Texas, 30-4

Middleton makes adjustments, maintains co-angler lead

For the second consecutive day, Elgin, Okla., co-angler Bo Middleton could only manage three bass weighing 7 pounds, 8 ounces, but he still retained the top position that he’s held since day one. He said his ability to adapt to the week’s changing conditions, as well as each pro with whom he fished, has been essential to his success.

Day three’s clear skies and low wind proved challenging, but Middleton made the necessary adjustments to keep himself in the top spot with 26-4. “The fish got real finicky, so I downsized my line and lures and changed colors for different water (clarity).”

Middleton anticipates needing the same flexibility and perception in the final round: “I think the wind’s going to pick up a little bit. I think I’m going to be in a whole different part of the lake (on Saturday), so I’m jut going to wait and see what happens when I get there.”

Rest of the best

In second place, Richard Carpenter of Sam Rayburn, Texas, caught 13 pounds – his biggest bag of the event and the heaviest co-angler weight for day three – and tallied 23-8. Third place went to Bart Blakelock of Lake Charles, La. (20-9), while David Underwood of Waco, Texas, placed fourth with 19-7. Pittsburg, Texas, co-angler Gilbert Herald had 18-7 for fifth place.

Rounding out the top 10 co-angler leaders at the Stren Series Texas event on Lake Texoma:

6th: Dan Wilson of Pilot Point, Texas, 18-2

7th: Kenny Moser of Alba, Texas, 17-6

8th: Ray Peace of Arlington, Texas, 16-15

9th: Naohiro Maruo of Takamatsu Kagawa, Japan, 16-14

10th: Steve Sommer of Norman, Okla., 15-15

Double shot of big bass

Producing the day’s biggest bass definitely qualifies a spot as special. Doing so twice means it’s a real humdinger. Knocking out the double play inside of half an hour is the stuff of bragging rights.

That was the case for Tyler, Texas, pro Rick Turner, who weighed in a 4-pound, 5-ounce smallie – the day’s Snickers Big Bass. Moments after leaving the stage, he turned to watch his co-angler Bart Blakelock hoist a 4-pound, 14-ounce largemouth that also won a Snickers Big Bass award.

“He had four fish in the boat, and I had four fish in the boat, and I said, `Man, it would be nice if we could both catch one about 4 pounds,'” Blakelock recalled. “About 20 minutes later, I caught my (big) fish, and five minutes after that, he caught his.”

About 40 minutes earlier in the weigh-ins, Livingson, Texas, pro Toby Hartsell brought his own 4-5 – this one a largemouth – to the scale. He and Turner shared big-bass honors for day three.

The final day of Stren Series action on Lake Texoma continues at Saturday’s takeoff, scheduled to take place at 7:30 a.m. CT at Hiport Marina, located at 120 Texoma Harbor Drive in Pottsboro, Texas.