Beaver Lake Day 4 Coverage
We’re headed to weigh-in
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2:30 p.m.: We’re headed to weigh-in
It is wicked tight and anything could happen in the waning minutes of the tournament. Canterbury came in with a cushion and has done work, but Robertson has done a lot of work as well. Some of our reporters are starting to work in off the water and we’re going to go ahead and let some drama build. Be sure to watch weigh-in at 4 p.m. CT. Someone is going to win big money and there will be incredible emotion and bass on display.
1:55 p.m.: Canterbury and Robertson trading blows
At a solid 15 pounds, Darrel Robertson just added a 4-pounder to the mix to put himself past that and perhaps close to the 16-pound mark. Moments later and entirely across the lake, Scott Canterbury struck a 3+ that put him right at 15 pounds. With Jeff Sprague still frustrated by his bedding bass, we’ve got two contenders for the win. As of now, Canterbury still has the cushion to make his first win on Tour a reality.
Robertson in action
1:40 p.m.: JT Kenney?
JT Kenney has been catching them pretty good all day long, but as he started more than 5 pounds off the lead he’s had a long way to go. He’s shortened that distance considerably now after catching a giant that’ll put his total up close to 18 pounds. JT is now just one more bite from a W, that’s for sure.
1:20 p.m.: Rounding things up
With about 1:45 left to fish, it is crunch time for basically everyone in the top five. Canterbury has made one small cull since his back-to-back smash. Darrel Robertson is the hottest of the bunch and has a solid 15 pounds, but has had trouble getting his best bites into the boat. Robertson is fishing out of a borrowed boat today and flipping bushes with no Power-Poles in a ferocious wind. The lack of Poles might not be the real difference though – he’s without a scale or cull beam. Ounces is money in this game and today they might be the difference between second and $125,000.
Sprague is also in somewhat of a lull and every cull he’s made for the last few hours has been infinitesimal. Scott Martin isn’t making a run at the lead yet, but he just upgraded with a 3+ smallmouth on a vibrating jig and has gotten into the mix with 14 pounds. Andy Morgan just rolled back into Prairie Creek a moment ago to some places he’s sure hold big fish – maybe he’ll begin his charge soon.
12:35 p.m.: Robertson is making a game of it
Darrel Robertson has a proven track record on Beaver Lake. Today, despite super windy conditions, he’s expertly mixing a jig and a spinnerbait in the middle area of the lake and has now culled his way up to about 15 pounds. All of the top three are incredibly close right now, and while Scott Canterbury is very unofficially still in the lead, it sure looks like the last 2+ hours of fishing will decide who wins.
12:14 p.m.: Updating on Arey
Because of his recent success on the lake, Matt Arey was probably as big a worry as anyone else for the leaders despite starting the day in seventh place. Today, he’s largely stuck with the pattern that got him into the top 10 and earned him his first win – casting a jig on shelving rock banks – something that must be brutally hard in the driving wind. Though he’s caught all quality fish, Arey is still lacking the kicker (or two) he needs to run into the lead.
Sprague update
11:45 a.m.: Midday weight estimates
These are pretty unofficial, but we’ve assembled some totals from our marshals and OTW reporters that give a pretty good picture of things. If it keeps up, Scott Canterbury could be on the way to his first Tour win.
1. Scott Canterbury – 14½ pounds (5)
2. Darrel Robertson – 13 pounds (5)
3. Jeff Sprague – 14½ pounds (5)
4. Andy Morgan – 13 pounds (5)
5. Scott Martin – 13 pounds (5)
6. Chris Whitson – 8 pounds (5)
7. Matt Arey – 13 pounds (5)
8. Stetson Blaylock – 10 pounds (5)
9. JT Kenney – 12 pounds (5)
10. Andrew Upshaw – 11½ pounds (5)
11:25 a.m.: Sprague frustrated
Falling water has Jeff Sprague a little miffed. He’s got a lot of bass on beds, but they aren’t play nice at all. Every time he pulls up on one it simple ignores the bait or moves off because the shallower water in his skinny areas has exposed them too much.
11:15 a.m.: So much action you wouldn’t believe it in a movie
Darrel Robertson just filled his limit with a 2-pounder, but not before snapping a rod across his leg after missing three good fish in a row. Second ago, Andy Morgan, who has limited up to about 10 pounds, hooked and then lost a 6-pounder right at the boat – a true fish of a lifetime at Beaver Lake.
Scott “Hammerbury” Canterbury isn’t having any of the drama today. Joust now, n back-to-back trees the Alabama pro culled by a pound and then flipped in a 3-pounder. He’s perilously close to the 15-pound mark and solidly back in the lead over Sprague.
10:40 a.m.: Robertson, others switching up
There are literal 3-footers rolling through the area Darrel Robertson is fishing now and he’s really backed off with the jig and has transitioned almost solely to a spinnerbait now. Though Scott Canterbury isn’t in water that rough, he’s also incorporating a spinnerbait a bit, though still relying heavily on the jig.
Jeff Sprague isn’t deviating from his cranking program too much, but he’s just started on a bed with a 5-pounder that he and Canterbury both tried to catch yesterday. If he can catch it today that could seal a mighty big win for the young pro.
Morning update with Canterbury
10:15 a.m.: Canterbury limits and Sprague culls
After a long run to new fishing grounds where he’s reportedly caught most of his weight this week, Jeff Sprague culled up by about 1 pound on his first cast to reach 13 pounds. Minutes later he lost a big one and then culled out a small spotted bass for a few more ounces.
Just as Sprague was culling, Scott Canterbury filled his limit with a 2½-pounder that he caught off a bed in about 25 minutes. Canterbury’s limit and Sprague’s cull put the pair in a virtual tie.
It’ still windy (so windy that Matt Arey nearly lost his hat) and pretty sunny out and there is an awful lot of time left. We’re headed for a photo finish.
10:00 a.m.: Morning weight estimates
These are pretty unofficial, but we’ve assembled some morning totals from our marshals and OTW reporters that give a pretty good picture of things. Right now, the leader is Sprague, but Canterbury has plenty of free space in his livewell for another keeper to edge ahead. However you look at it, it’s plain that the top three are going to take it down to the wire.
1. Scott Canterbury – 10 pounds (4)
2. Darrel Robertson – 10 pounds (4)
3. Jeff Sprague – 13 pounds (5)
4. Andy Morgan – 8 pounds (5)
5. Scott Martin – 6½ pounds (3)
6. Chris Whitson – Unknown
7. Matt Arey – 5 pounds (2)
8. Stetson Blaylock – 10 pounds (5)
9. JT Kenney – 12 pounds (5)
10. Andrew Upshaw – 11 pounds (5)
9:15 a.m.: Robertson making a move?
Darrel Robertson was closer than anyone to Canterbury after the scales closed yesterday and though he’s short of a limit, he might be around the right kind to put it together. He started the day with a 2½-pounder and just boated a 3½-pounder and another 2-pounder to go with it. Right now, that first big one he lost is looking less important, as he seems to have recovered nicely and figured out how to get quality bites.
9:05 a.m.: The wind is ripping
Someone turned on a fan about 10 minutes ago. The wind is ripping now, mostly out of the east. Wind ought to be a good thing for most, but a wind this strong has the potential to muddy certain areas and make beds nearly unfishable. We’ll have to see how it affects the top 10.
8:50 a.m.: Canterbury approaching a limit, others catching too
Scott Canterbury is up to four keepers now, three that are around 2 pounds each and a 4-pound kicker. For a while, the sun was out pretty strong and he’s said those are the conditions he prefers for his pattern. The clouds are pretty patchy now, so he might still get some good sun to help things along.
Sprague is also doing well, but hasn’t gotten another big bite. He’s now one shy of his limit having filled things out with a little spotted bass. Darrel Robertson is still struggling a bit, with only a
Around the field, Stetson Blaylock, JT Kenney and Andrew Upshaw have limits – Blaylock’s goes about 9 pounds and Kenney is rolling with 11 pounds and Upshaw is working with about 8 pounds. Realistically, guys like Kenney, Blaylock and Upshaw are quite a ways back and will really need to hammer them to catch the leaders.
Closer to the top, Matt Arey has started slow with a lost fish and a 2-pounder in the boat. He’s mixing it up a bit too, adding a spinnerbait to his jig routine as well.
8:10 a.m.: Sprague is charging
Jeff Sprague started the day about 1½ pounds behind Scott Canterbury, but he’s closed the gap and then some this morning. After catching a 3-pounder moments ago, Sprague now has three fish for at least 10 pounds. On Beaver Lake, or anywhere really, that is a start to be reckoned with. After weigh-in he worried that his bite might be going way because of the spawn, but if anything it is even stronger today. Right now, like he has all week, he’s throwing a custom-painted squarebill crankbait parallel to the bank along staging areas and hammering fish.
7:45 a.m.: Canterbury answering back
“Get in here!” Those are the word of Scott Canterbury as he boat-flipped a 4-pounder for his second fish. With a small keeper largemouth, a 2+ and a 4 in the boat already, Hammerbury is doing his part to make the rest of the field catch him.
7:35 a.m.: The big bite
On days one and two, the leader was whoever caught the biggest bass. Today, there’s a decent chance that determines the winner as well. If so, Keystone Light pro Jeff Sprague just made a big move in the right direction. The young Texan started things off right with a 5-pounder for his first keeper. With that fish, he’s got the hardest part of the day, a kicker, out of the way.
7:10 a.m.: The first fish
Right off the bat, Scott Canterbury took the pressure off with a loud “boom!” and a 2-pounder to start his limit. Everyone’s worry about Canterbury is his ability to close. If it keeps going like that for him he might end up in pretty good shape.
Despite falling off the lead on Saturday, Darrel Robertson isn’t going way quietly. He lost a good one at his first stop and then immediately redeemed himself with a solid 2+. Like Canterbury, Robertson is flipping wood, but he’s doing it in a different part of the lake entirely.
The quickest out of the gate is likely Stetson Blaylock. Per usual, he’s started in Prairie Creek – at the moment, likely pending his next cast, he’s got four in the boat for about 6 pounds total.
6:45 a.m.: Can Canterbury hold on for his first Tour win?
Quaker State pro Scott Canterbury has come perilously close to winning on the FLW Tour almost too many times to count before being derailed by one circumstance or another. Today, he’s heading out onto Beaver Lake in an attempt to make the Walmart FLW Tour presented by Jack Link’s his first win. Fishing at the top level is all about decisions and ounces. Is Canterbury a good enough fisherman to win? Absolutely. Is he due? No doubt. Will it all come together? Stay tuned to see…
The weather for the final day is very similar to the third, with a strong breeze blowing early and a warm start to the day. There’s some rain in the forecast, but it seems likely that it will either hold off or be just a minor annoyance to the pros. Pros have been catching bass off beds all week, but a few posited after weigh-in Saturday that the fish were making another more concerted push to spawn and that a change in tactics could be required today. That said, if the fish cooperate, the weather is certainly prime for a cranking or moving-bait bite – the type of conditions under which Andy Morgan excels. The G.O.A.T. might be lurking, but Darrel Robertson may have discovered a new pattern in the waning moments of day three, Jeff Sprague has fished consistently all week, Scott Martin is the Angler of the Year and the rest of the top 10 isn’t exactly filled with slackers.
Conditions
Current temperature: 61 degrees
Forecast high: 71 degrees
Sky: overcast
Precipitation: 40 percent chance, possible thunderstorms
Wind: SE at 16 mph
Weigh-in Details
Watch the day-three weigh-in live at FLWFishing.com starting at 4 p.m. CT or in-person at Walmart at 2110 W. Walnut Street, Rogers, Ark., 72756.
Click here for complete tournament details.
Day three videos