Conroe Karma Carries Birge to Knockout Round
CONROE, Texas – Do you believe in luck? What about karma? Major League Fishing pro Zack Birge may have had a little of both during Friday’s Elimination Round of the MLF Bass Pro Tour Huk Stage Two Presented By Favorite Fishing.
“I’m a firm believer in karma,” Birge said.
The Oklahoma native was on his way across Lake Conroe in Period 2 to find a new spot to fish, but instead came across a fellow boater in need.
“This guy was waving his arms like he was stranded,” Birge recapped. “You just can’t leave a guy out there like that. I’m not just going to ignore it and keep running, it’s just not the right thing to do.”
Birge stopped and gave the stranded boater a tow to his house, all the while losing about 10 minutes of fishing time. At that time, Birge was in 18th place and barely above the Elimination Line. The pro then saw himself drop below the line and fall to 21st place.
It was a good deed, but at a crucial time in his round that could have cost him a shot at making the cut. Some may have told the fellow boater, “Sorry, but I can’t help you. I hope you understand.”
That thought never even crossed Birge’s mind.
“I don’t ever second guess the right thing to do,” Birge explained. “We’re all out there trying to catch fish and have a good time and that guy is just like us. He’s just out there trying to have a good time and if he needs someone to tow him I will be that guy.”
After playing good Samaritan, Birge’s day began to take a turn for the better. After a flirtation with the Elimination Line, Birge made his move in the second period. In just 20 minutes, he jumped from 20th to 4th place courtesy of a couple 2-pounders and a 3 pound, 13 ounce bass.
“I just found the fish,” Birge said. “I came back to an area that I had been at in the morning, but they weren’t that grouped up yet. I came back later in the day and little did I know a good size group of fish had moved in.”
Birge finished the day in seventh with a two-day weight total of 36-3 and is on to Saturday’s Knockout Round. He had a strong finish to his Elimination Round so he knows what he needs in order to move on to Championship Sunday.
“I got to keep my head down,” Birge planned. “I need to execute on every bite and I have to come across some big groups of fish that are moving up.”
And hey, if there’s another stranded boater that needs a hand and Birge needs some good karma, that couldn’t hurt him.
“I’m not going to look for someone intentionally,” Birge joked. “But I’m not going to pass anybody up if they flag me down.”
Watch Saturday’s Elimination Round on MLF NOW! beginning at 10 a.m. CT on MajorLeagueFishing.com and the MLF app. The Top 40 anglers compete for 10 spots and the right to compete in Sunday’s Championship Round.