BRANSON, Mo. — The top 40 anglers headed out onto Table Rock Lake for the Knockout Round, and only the Top 10 will move on to Wednesday’s Championship Round.
It is a steamy day in southwest Missouri with air temperatures expected to hit the high 80s. Storms are expected later in the day around the Period 2 time frame, so MLF management will be on alert throughout the day monitoring the severe weather chance.
8:05 p.m. CT – We have our Top 10 that will be competing in Wednesday’s Championship Round.
6:57 p.m. CT – Jesse Wiggins is on a tear and he’s not stopping. Wiggins began Period 2 in 37th place but since then he has shot his way up SCORETRACKER™, now in third place and still rising. Right now he’s catching them faster than his MLF official can write them down.
5:24 p.m. CT – We have been informed that lines will go back in the water at 5:30 p.m. CT. The 40 anglers on the water will have a full Period 3 to fish until 8 p.m. CT. Here is where the Top 10 stand after two period of fishing:
5:05 p.m. CT – There will be a weather delay for lightning beginning at 5:05 p.m. CT. Anglers are advised to seek shelter off the water and competition will resume when MLF officials deem it safe to return to action. Stay with us on social media for updates on a restart time.
4:45 p.m. CT – Dustin Connell is your new leader with 44 bass for 58-15. Kevin VanDam led for a majority of the first period but has since fallen back to seventh place. VanDam has only reeled in eight fish in Period 2 compared to 20 fish in Period 1.
3:50 p.m. CT – Here comes Jordan Lee. The Stage One Champion is now into the Top 10 in eighth place with 38 pounds, 8 ounces. Period 2 has been his period so far with 13 bass for 24-6. Keep an eye on Lee as the day develops as he is looking to make his second-straight Championship Round on Table Rock Lake.
3:09 p.m. CT – Couple of quick looks from the water: Hackney is still craking a tube, catching smallmouth; Suggs is battling the wind and boat waves offshore; Martens has had some frustrations with lost fish.
2:50 p.m. CT – You may notice that Jacob Wheeler is not on his typical blue boat. That’s because during the first period his over-heating alarm went off on his Triton boat and he switched over to a spare MLF official boat. It hasn’t hindered Wheeler too much as he is in sixth place with 27-1.
2:35 p.m. CT – Through on Period in the Knockout Round, 10 pros have positioned themselves inside the Top 10 and are on track to move on to the Championship Round.
2:12 p.m. CT – Brandon Palaniuk and Aaron Martens aren’t far apart. Martens is further offshore, but Palaniuk is fishing deeper water near docks.
1:15 p.m. CT – Fred Roumbanis just made the statement, “I can’t tell you how many fish I’ve caught on a swimbait out on this lake in the last couple of weeks.” Roumbanis also said where he’s located on the water that it is a “no-brainer” to throw a swimbait. He is currently in second place behind Kevin VanDam with 18-10.
12:45 p.m. CT – Jacob Powroznik is working a drop-shot to perfection right now early in Period 1. The Virginia pro has six bass for 12-7 including a 3-12. He seems to be on top of a school right now and he just continues to reel in the bites.
12:29 p.m. CT – VanDam just gave a quick rundown of what he’s frequently referred to as his “cranking system”: His Quantum rod and reel, which he developed specifically to maximize his ability to fish a crankbait. Words that the rest of the field doesn’t want to hear, from VanDam: “I’m liking what I’m seeing so far.”
12:26 p.m. CT – Kevin VanDam just made a switch to a crankbait and caught three fish on his first three casts after making multiple casts on a bottom-related bait with no bites. VanDam has found a rhythm with nine fish in 22 minutes.
12:15 p.m. CT – John Murray is off to a quick lead in Period 1. Murray has four bass for 7-10 as he leads Jonathon VanDam by 8 ounces.