LIVE BLOG: Heading to the Evening Period in Shotgun Round 1

Bobby Lane hopes to have just as much success in Stage Seven that he had in Stage Six on Table Rock Lake. Photo by Phoenix Moore

May 31, 2019 • Mason Prince • Bass Pro Tour

BRANSON, Mo. — The Bad Boy Mowers Stage Seven Presented by Covercraft is off to a later-than-normal start on Table Rock Lake.

This is the second look these anglers are getting at the lake in the past two weeks. Group A’s 40 anglers started Shotgun Round 1 at noon rather than the normal 6:30 a.m. start time, which has proven to be an interesting change.

With the later start time, the early-morning shad spawn was a non-factor for the pros. How will the anglers adjust to the later start time and how will their strategies change in Stage Seven compared to Stage Six? We’re finding out now as we head into the afternoon.

6:40 p.m. CT – We’re beginning to sound like a broken record: another Bass Pro Tour record has been shattered. Shin Fukae has now broken the record for most weight caught in a single round with 108-15 and he still has over an hour remaining in his Shotgun Round. Not to be outdone, Jacob Wheeler has the record for most fish caught in a single day with 70, and he’s still going as well.

David Walker catches the 3-12 as the sun begins to go down over Table Rock Lake.

5:46 p.m. CT – Rob Newell just had a quick interview with Justin Lucas on the water. Lucas said that even though he is in fourth place with 59 pounds, 11 ounces, he is not in “practice mode” yet. Lucas probably knows that no amount of weight is safe here at Table Rock Lake where the fish are plentiful and have proven that they will bite no matter what time of day.

5:21 p.m. CT – That’s the end of Period 2 and Shin Fukae remains our leader with 79 pounds, 3 ounces. Fukae leads Jacob Wheeler by 4-14. Down near the Elimination Line, Britt Myers owns the 20th and final spot in the Top 20 with Takahiro Omori tied with him in total weight but in 21st place because of the total-catch tiebreaker. Jared Lintner, Randy Howell and Stephen Browning are all within 1 pound of 20th place.

Jonathon VanDam lands a 2-5 smallmouth to move into 12th place.

4:50 p.m. CT – We have a new leader in Shotgun Round 1. Shin Fukae, after finishing in 75th place in Stage Six, leads Group A with 42 bass for 70 pounds, 9 ounces. Shin has capitalized with the offshore strategy and can’t miss many fish right now. Fukae was able to jump in front of Adrian Avena, who had led all day long until the Japanese pro took the lead.

3:21 p.m. CT – The offshore onslaught continues for Stage Six Champion Aaron Martens. After a slow start to the day, Martens has now worked his way into 13th place and inside the Top 20. Martens has 23 pounds, 1 ounce and trails Adrian Avena by more than 26 pounds.

2:50 p.m. CT – At least one angler seems to be repeating his successful pattern from last week: Bobby Lane. The Florida pro currently sits in 13th place after the first period, and is fishing the same pattern he used to finish sixth in Stage Six. Lane is fishing shallow lips/breaks on bluff walls, plucking a regular flow of spotted bass on a plastic worm.

2:35 p.m. CT – That’s the end of Period 1 and it was a very active first period. Although there was not a shad spawn to take advantage of, our leader Adrian Avena did just fine without it. Avena caught 28 bass for 43-1 and leads Jeff Sprague by 12-14.

David Walker lands a 3-pounder in Period 1.

Fletcher Shryock catches a 3-pounder in Period 1.

1:55 p.m. CT – It’s good to be Jeff Sprague this season. He has made every single Knockout Round and qualified for three Championship Rounds. He seems to be well on his way to making his seventh consecutive Knockout Round as he sits in third place with 13 bass for 23-5.

Terry Scroggins lands a 2-3 bass on Table Rock Lake in Period 1.

1:25 p.m. CT – Adrian Avena is in the lead with 25-8 on 17 bass. Avena has had success fishing along some shoreline while other anglers are trying to focus their efforts on offshore fishing. Avena is trying to fend off his roommate, Jacob Wheeler, in second place.

12:07 p.m. CT – Terry Scroggins is off to a hot start with three bass for 4 pounds, 13 ounces. Right now, the offshore bite is working for Scroggins and we could see a lot of anglers follow that strategy. Stage Six champion Aaron Martens took home the trophy just over a week ago exclusively fishing offshore.