LIVE BLOG: Final Push for Stage Four Championship

This 5-7 helped Andy Morgan hold on to the lead during the Championship Round.

April 14, 2019 • Mason Prince • Bass Pro Tour

DAYTON, Tenn. – It’s a day of adjustments on Championship Sunday at the Bass Pro Tour Econo Lodge Stage Four presented by Winn Grips.

With a potentially violent storm line moving through East Tennessee and the National Weather Service calling for possible severe thunderstorms and wind gusts to 30 mph on Lake Chickamauga, the following changes in competition procedures have been implemented by Major League Fishing:

Anglers trailered to ramps: The Championship 10 anglers departed the Dayton Boat Dock and Grill at 6 a.m. to trailer to a ramp of their own choosing on Lake Chickamauga. This contingency is a safety measure to allow the anglers, officials and cameramen to arrive at their chosen fishing location without having to run through potentially hazardous water that could result from heavy winds blowing against the current.

Competition began at 7:30 a.m. ET: Lines went in at 7:30 a.m. ET as usual.

Weather breaks are possible: If conditions become bad enough at any point in the day, the 10 anglers, officials and cameramen can call for a stop in the action. If that request is confirmed, the anglers will be given a “lines out” time until the weather has passed. At that time, lines will go back in and competition will continue.

Competition day scheduled to end at 3:30 p.m. ET: Official end of competition is still 3:30 p.m. ET, but if forecasts are accurate, the heaviest weather will arrive in East Tennessee mid-morning and into the afternoon. If it’s determined that hazardous conditions could endanger the anglers, officials and cameramen, competition can be called before 3:30 p.m. In that case, an official “end of day” declaration will be sent one to two hours ahead of that stop time.

“This is all standard procedure on the MLF Cup level, and we’ve enacted this weather contingency multiple times in Cup competition – it’s our first time doing it on the Bass Pro Tour, but with just 10 anglers on the water today, it works out great,” said Aaron Beshears, MLF’s Manager of Officials Recruitment and Training. “We’re able to adjust and stay ahead of the conditions, and err on the side of safety.”

3:05 p.m. ET – Morgan has now crossed the 70-pound threshold and his lead is 12 pounds, 8 ounces. Lintner is not going away, but it would help if Morgan slowed down a little bit. Jacob Powroznik just landed our largest bass of the day at 7-9, but that only has him in fourth place. He is 30-12 behind Morgan.

2:40 p.m. ET – Andy Morgan has extended his lead over Jared Lintner to 9 pounds, 5 ounces. Morgan has not slowed down in the third period and was able to land a 6-9 largemouth to get a little more comfortable. However, because of the hour-long stoppage during Period 1, there will be an extra hour of fishing in this final period. Plenty of time for Lintner to make a run.

1:45 p.m. ET – There has been no change to the top of SCORETRACKER. Andy Morgan is still very steady and continues to hold off a surging Jared Lintner. The two seemed destined to battle this one out on Lake Chickamauga.

12:00 p.m. ET – As the a.m. changes to p.m., the top of SCORETRACKER remains the same. Andy Morgan continues to lead Jared Lintner, but Lintner has narrowed the gap to just 2 pounds, 14 ounces. There is a long way to go in this one.

11:25 a.m. ET – Jared Lintner has started to make a run toward Andy Morgan. Lintner sits in second place thanks to two 3-pounders in a seven-minute span. Lintner is 6 pounds, 15 ounces behind Morgan for the lead.

11:01 a.m. ET – Morgan has had success using a variety of baits this morning: soft plastics, chatterbait, jigs, and crankbaits. He continues to have a very productive day and currently leads by more than 13 pounds over Keith Poche.

10:38 a.m. ET – Andy Morgan is off to a commanding lead early in this Championship Round. He leads second-place Brandon Palaniuk by more than 14 pounds. The Tennessee pro is very familiar with Lake Chickamauga and he is fishing like it.

10:09 a.m. ET – Period 1 is in the books and Andy Morgan remains on top of SCORETRACKER™. Major League Fishing officials just announced that due to the hour-long delay in Period 1, an extra hour of fishing will be added to Period 3. The Championship Round will now end at 4:30 p.m. ET.

9:24 a.m. ET – Lines are back in the water as Period 1 continues on Lake Chickamauga after an hour-long delay. Andy Morgan is your leader with 18 pounds, 13 ounces. He is followed by Brandon Palaniuk with 17-6. No word yet on any more weather-related delays, but better safe than sorry.

8:15 a.m. ET – MLF officials have declared a weather stoppage due to lightning on Lake Chickamauga. All 10 anglers are lines out and seeking shelter. Competition will commence again when safer conditions allow.