‘Bubble Boy’ Browning’s Buzzer Beater

CONROE, Texas – If you’re watching the Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour, you’re guaranteed to see a couple of things every time you tune in: Fish will be caught, and there will be drama. That was the case once again during the Knockout Round of the Huk Stage Two Presented by Favorite Fishing.

MLF pro Stephen Browning is no stranger to the drama the Elimination Line brings. In Stage One, Browning just missed out on qualifying for the Knockout Round by 1 pound, 7 ounces thanks to a late push by the eventual winner, Jordan Lee. In Stage Two, Browning found himself in the Knockout Round, but once again, he was flirting with the Elimination Line.

“I guess you can just call me ‘Bubble Boy Browning’ because I guess that’s where I like to be,” Browning said with a laugh.

With only 30 seconds left in the round, Browning needed 11 ounces to beat Shin Fukae who was sitting in 10^th place. On his last cast, Browning reeled in a 3-4 that put him on the right side of the Elimination Line.

“I knew I needed a scoreable bass to move into 10^th place,” Browning said. “I told my official, ‘If I get what I’m looking for I’m going to catch one. I’m going to make it happen.’ It just so happened it was with 30 seconds left.”

Browning decided to make a bold to change in the way he was fishing before the round started. For most of the week, the Arkansas native spent most of his day punching through heavy timber. That all changed Saturday. Because of the cloud cover, he opted to cast a ChatterBait, which proved to be the winning formula.

With one fish being the difference between fishing Sunday or heading home to Arkansas, Browning needed to make a move, and quick. Then, he ran up next to a spot that he knew looked perfect.

“I saw two logs that were at the end of the bank and I thought to myself, ‘That’s it,’” Browning recapped.

Browning set the hook on a fish as the clock started to wind down on the round. When the fish came in the boat, Browning let out a big, “I told you!” to his MLF official. His blood pressure and adrenaline were at an all-time high.

“It’s hard on your heart for an old man like me,” Browning joked. “That’s the fun thing about it, you don’t have to think where you stand, you know where you stand in MLF. That makes a difference in how you fish and it makes a difference in the outcome.”

Browning is known for his positive mindset. No matter where he stands, no matter the day, he always keeps his sight on the bright side. That’s what he knew he had to do as the time was winding down.

“You just have to keep positive, that’s all I can say,” Browning preached. “I stay positive all the time and because of that I didn’t let a bite get away from me in those closing minutes.”

Thanks to his positivity and nerves of steel, Browning is fishing on Sunday in the Championship Round. He knows what he needs to do to come away with that $100,000 check.

“I feel like I made the right moves today to be around the right fish to win,” Browning said. “I know I’m going to have to fish a lot of new water tomorrow and that’s fine with me because I have nothing to lose.”

Watch Sunday’s Championship Round on the MLF NOW! live stream beginning at 10 a.m. CT on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MLF app. The Top 10 anglers compete for the Stage Two trophy and a $100,000 pay day.