LIVE BLOG: Powroznik Pushes Ahead to First in Period 3
OKEECHOBEE, Fla. — The battle for $100,000 and a Favorite Fishing Stage Two Presented by Bass Cat championship comes to a conclusion here today in central Florida. Ten anglers are trolling through the shallow and grassy waters of Lake Okeechobee hoping to be the last one standing on top of SCORETRACKER® at the end of the day.
Jordan Lee and Takahiro Omori earned their spots in the Championship Round by winning their Qualifying Rounds, something Jacob Wheeler is very familiar with. Wheeler took home the Stage One title after being in the same position Lee and Omori find themselves.
We’ll see how the day plays out as steady rain is expected throughout the day across much of the more than 448,000-acre lake.
3:38 p.m. EST — Dare we say, dagger? Jacob Powroznik just brought in a 4-3 to push his lead to 11-1 over Michael Neal. It’s looking like we will have another two-time champion on the Bass Pro Tour, Jacob Powroznik.
3:26 p.m. EST — Closing in on only 30 minutes remaining in the Championship Round and Jacob Powroznik is still in the lead. The Virginia pro is 6-6 ahead of Wheeler, but we’ve seen multiple 6-pounders pulled out of Lake Okeechobee today and this week. Wheeler, Michael Neal and Randall Tharp aren’t out of it yet.
2:55 p.m. EST — In a 15-minute span, Jacob Powroznik has boated four bass for 13-10 to take the lead from Jacob Wheeler. Powroznik has focused on sight fishing beds to build his lead. He is now ahead of Wheeler by 6-6 with an hour to go.
2:08 p.m EST — Here comes Fletcher Shryock. The Ohio native has an area all to himself that he is taking advantage of. Shryock is now in second place, just 3-10 behind leader Randall Tharp.
1:50 p.m. EST — Tharp fired the first shot in Period 3, landing a 3-12 to push 4 pounds ahead of second-place Wheeler. Powroznik just brought in a 5-5 for his biggest of the day, moving just 6-4 behind Tharp.
1:15 p.m. EST — After two periods here is where we stand in the Championship Round:
- Randall Tharp 28-10
- Jacob Wheeler 28-06
- Michael Neal 28-04
- Jeff Sprague 22-14
- Fletcher Shryock 21-05
- Jacob Powroznik 20-13
- Jordan Lee 9-15
- Zack Birge 6-06
- Takahiro Omori 4-12
- James Elam 2-05
1:03 p.m. EST — This may look like a three-horse races, but don’t look past Jeff Sprague, Fletcher Shryock and Jacob Powroznik. With the type of big bass we have seen in Lake Okeechobee this week, those three anglers are far from out of it with one more period to go.
12:30 p.m. EST – Randall Tharp has made his move and took a 2-pound lead over Michael Neal with a 3-15.
11:55 a.m. EST – Michael Neal claimed the top spot from Jacob Wheeler with a 2-5, giving him just a 9-ounce lead.
11:15 a.m. EST — Wheeler still leads Michael Neal by 1-12. Jacob Powroznik just brought in a 5-2 to move into fourth place and 11-8 behind Wheeler. Keep an eye on Randall Tharp as the Florida angler continues to stay within striking distance.
10:30 a.m. EST — Period 1 is finished and here’s where we stand in the Championship Round:
- Jacob Wheeler 22-15
- Michael Neal 19-10
- Randall Tharp 19-08
- Jordan Lee 9-15
- Fletcher Shryock 6-14
- Jacob Powroznik 6-07
- Jeff Sprague 5-07
- Zack Birge 3-04
- James Elam 2-05
- Takahiro Omori 2-03
9:40 a.m. EST — We are making our way back into Taylor Creek where Jordan Lee and Jason Elam are. It’s been slow for both with one combined fish between them. But, this area has been responsible for some great come-from-behind stories this week so we can’t rule out another one.
9:20 a.m. EST — As of now, Michael Neal is the only angler really challenging Randall Tharp for the lead. Tharp is on top of Neal by 1-10.
The calvary has arrived for Zack Birge. He just told MLF Manager of Operations Planning an Logistics that he was going about 74 mph when he just heard a loud pop on his engine and it stopped. Birge is now in a Nitro and JT Kenney just pointed out how little Birge transferred over to the new boat. From the looks of hit, Birge has one tackle box, a grocery bag full of plastic baits and two rods on the deck. Birge didn’t seem like he wanted to waste anymore time as he was ready to get a move on to the Caloosahatchee River.
8:50 a.m. EST — James Elam is the only angler without a scorable bass this morning. Randall Tharp has jumped out to quick lead with four bass for 11-13. He leads Michael Neal by 5-12. We just saw Neal pull out a 6-pounder for his first fish of the day. Jeff Sprague also found a 5-7 to get his day started.
8:40 a.m. EST — After having an issue with the motor on the back of his boat, Zack Birge is going to be fishing out of an MLF officials boat for the time being. Birge has been using his trolling motor to work around the area he is currently sitting in while he waits for the MLF boat to reach him. He just reeled in a 3-4 to start his day.
8:32 a.m. EST — We are on Fletcher who is deep in the thick stuff, concealed behind a wall of tall vegetation not far from the launch around Eagle Bay. He’s still looking for his first scorable bass.
8:24 a.m. EST — Jordan Lee fires the opening salvo with a 4-12 back in a canal. Randall Tharp quickly answers with a 3-9 he caught while working some reeds on the south end of the lake.