Birge’s Bad Back Won’t Keep Him From Knockout Round

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – After a solid day of fishing on Thursday, reeling in 21 pounds, Zack Birge secured his place in Saturday’s Knockout Round. However, there was little time for celebrating for the Oklahoma native.

“My lower back when I got off the water on Thursday afternoon was just shot,” Birge said. “I had some super-intense pain and I went and had to check myself into the emergency room Friday morning.”

Birge was joined in the hospital by his wife, daughter and parents Friday morning while Group B was fishing through their Elimination Round. Doctors told him that he was suffering from a muscle strain and muscle spasms in his lower back. Luckily for Birge, there was no structural damage to his back. While his pain was intense, Birge said there was no way that he was going to miss the action in the Knockout Round.

“I’ll be out there 100 percent on Saturday,” Birge said confidently. “I’ll be wearing a back brace but I will be good to go.”

Birge joins the group of 40 anglers on the waters of the Kissimmee Chain Saturday for the Knockout Round. Only the Top 10 anglers advance to Sunday’s Championship Round.