Quick Bites: FLW Tour, Table Rock Lake, Day 2

Walmart FLW Tour

Table Rock Lake, Branson, Mo.

Opening round, Friday

Near-record spot … Dan Morehead has been fishing for nearly 40 years of his life. But today, in the midst of a major tour-level event, he caught a bass for the ages. Late in the afternoon the Paducah, Ky., pro was looking for a fifth keeper to fill out his limit. He had one 50-yard stretch of productive bank that he hadn’t fished yet. The area was better when the wind was blowing, but with time running out, he had little choice. “I came up to a standing cedar tree,” explained Morehead. “I threw my jerkbait out there and then I just felt a ton of weight. The fish jumped and cleared the water three times on 8-pound test line before I got it in.” That fish turned out to be a 6-pound, 12-ounce spotted bass. It was the biggest spot of the tournament by a large amount. In fact, it was less than a pound shy of the Missouri State record. The record spot weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught on Table Rock in 1966. “I’ve never seen anything like it on any lake. What a beautiful, fat fish.”

Much, much nicer … It takes 30-degree weather to make 50 degrees feel warm, but day two on Table Rock felt downright tropical. The winds were calm and the sun even made sporadic appearances. This dramatically changed the fishing and for most it was much more difficult. The beneficiaries of the weather change were the jerkbait fishermen. Overall, the day-two pro catch weighed 1,323 pounds, a far cry from the 1,894 pounds registered on day one.

Donate goods, get a boat …. In partnership with Goodwill, FLW Outdoors is inviting fans to drop off clean, gently-used clothing and household materials at the Branson Convention Center, March 14 and 15 from noon to 4 p.m. In return, the first 500 people will receive a free BP die-cast boat. Donations will be sold at local Goodwill stores to help people with disabilities and other disadvantages receive job training and other important services. Goodwill Industries is North America’s leading nonprofit provider of employment training, job placement services and other critical community programs for people who have a disability, lack education or job experience or are facing economic challenges.

Thrift can’t believe his eyes … Bryan Thrift, one of the young guns on the FLW Tour, had an unbelievable 45-minute tussle with a Table Rock Lake largemouth today. Casting a jerkbait over the top of some trees, Thrift hooked up with a good fish. But before he knew it, the fish had wrapped itself in the tree. The Shelby, N.C., angler immediately hopped on his trolling motor and got over top of the tree. Four feet below the surface was a nice largemouth, which had the front hook of his jerkbait in his mouth and the back hook in the tree. After tugging in every direction, Thrift eventually tried to free the hook from the tree by jabbing at it with his net. It was a good idea until the net got stuck in the tree as well. “When the net got hung I just decided to quit,” he said. “I took nearly all of my clothes off and thought about going in after my stuff. I lost a 4-pounder, a Lucky Craft jerkbait, a net and 45 minutes of fishing time. But the worst part was just being able to stare down and see the fish. It was like looking at the aquarium at Bass Pro Shops.”

TBF National Championship … In addition to the big show taking place on Table Rock, the best grass-roots anglers in the country are battling on nearby Bull Shoals Lake. For those that are planning to attend the 4 p.m. FLW Tour weigh-in tomorrow at the Branson Convention Center, head over an hourly early and the catch the TBF action. At stake for the club anglers are berths into two of the sport’s most coveted events – the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup and the $1 million BFL All-American. In addition to championship berths, the TBF National Championship will also award $10,000 and a “Living the Dream” prize package to the first-place boater. The package includes use of a “Living the Dream” wrapped Chevy truck and Ranger boat powered either by Evinrude or Yamaha, sponsor merchandise and paid entry fees into the winner’s choice of either the 2010 FLW Tour or FLW Series. Nicholas Smyers of Franksville, Wis., currently leads the event with a two-day total catch of 10 bass weighing 34 pounds, 11 ounces.

Quick numbers

2: Number of keepers in Anthony Gagliardi’s livewell at 3 p.m. Gags finished the day with 17-15 and made the cut in eighth place.

19-3: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of the heaviest day-two stringer caught by Morehead and 2008 TBF National Championship winner Brian Travis.

50: Percentage of Player’s Advantage members who had ninth-place pro Greg Bohannan on their roster.

7: Percentage of all FLW Fantasy Fishing players who had Bohannan on their roster.

0: Number of keepers caught this week by BP co-angler Judy Israel, who won the Chevy Open on Lake Guntersville.

7-14: Weight, in pounds and ounces, of the Folgers Big Bass caught by Pete Gluszek.

25-9: $10,000-check weight, in pounds and ounces.

Sound bites

“I don’t want to finish second. I’ve been second a bunch of times – at the 2007 and 2008 Stren Series Championships. My wife is due with our first child in a few weeks so I need some diaper money,” – Bohannan, who received a request from Chris Jones to finish second in order to help his fantasy team.

“When its March in the Ozarks its Wiggle Wart time,” – Bohannan.

“This has been the most frustrating tournament. I had a pretty good practice and yesterday I just could not get a bite,” – Pretournament favorite Stacey King, who finished in 42nd place.

“You have to have a 6- or 7-pounder somewhere in order to be competitive on this lake,” – Chevy pro Dion Hibdon.

“I’m heading back to Canada where it’s warm,” – Ottawa, Ontario, pro Charles Sim.

Tomorrow’s takeoff is scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. Central time from the Table Rock State Park Marina located just off Highway 165 at 380 State Park Marina Road in Branson.