McNeely sacks a 12-13 en route to 84-14
Rogers dominating co-angler field
ZAPATA, Texas – Falcon Lake fished like heaven on day three of the season-opening Stren Series Texas Division event. The Rio Grande impoundment churned out a 12-pound, 13-ounce bass to Nicky McNeely, who is fishing in the first professional tournament of his career. The 2007 Louisiana TBF champion leads all competitors with an amazing three-day total weight of 84 pounds, 14 ounces.
Simply put, Friday’s competition went a long way in proving that Falcon is superior to Amistad. Sixty pounds of bass, an average of 20 pounds per day, wouldn’t even sniff a check. Over a dozen double-digit fish were recorded as the females decided to join the fun.
A co-angler, an extremely talented one at that, caught over 78 pounds of bass during the opening round. Never before has an angler fishing from the back of the boat caught 78 pounds of bass over three days. Not on the California Delta, not on Clear Lake and not on Amistad.
The story of the day was McNeely’s near 13-pounder, which won the Snickers Big Bass award, but it’s what he didn’t catch that was truly astounding.
“I caught over 30 pounds today, but to be honest with you, I lost a sack of fish nearly as big as what I 
weighed in,” said the pro leader, who caught 30-5 Friday.
While he’s on some serious fish, the action wasn’t fast and furious by any means.
“I was nervous this morning because the wind was different. I had no fish at 10:30, but the bite was good from that point forward.”
The Natchitoches, La., native says he’s targeting bedding bass as well as prespawn fish. He has a single area that’s approximately a half mile in radius that he’s fished all three days.
“I honestly think my fish are moving up and backing off, moving up and backing off.”
In the first professional event of his career, the father of five young children, including twin nine-month-old girls, has a shot at winning $25,000 and a fully-rigged Ranger boat.
“I’ve never been on a lake like this. I’m a nervous wreck. I’m 625 miles from home.”
Guidry slips to second
Day-two leader Jeremy Guidry caught 25 pounds, 15 ounces Friday but still slipped to second. His opening-round total was 82 pounds, 5 ounces, which places him roughly 2 1/2 pounds off the lead.
Guidry starts his day by throwing a Chatterbait, a lure that built its reputation as a grass bait, around huisache trees. As the day progresses, he switches to flipping a V&M creature bait. On day three he also mixed in a Lake Fork Live Magic Shad swimbait. He says all three are catching fish, and he switches baits as he switches areas.
“It wasn’t what I was looking for,” Guidry said of his 25-15. “I didn’t have my limit until 1 p.m. It was a lot tougher today; I had a lot of boats in my area.”
With 20 minutes left in the day, Guidry landed a 7-pounder, which may have saved the tournament for him.
“I feel pretty fortunate to have what I have. At noon I didn’t even know if I was going to stay in the top 10.”
Haralson third
Charles Haralson, the local guide from Laredo, Texas, fell one place to third after catching 24 pounds, 7 ounces on day three. Each of his tournament days can be described as efficient, yet nondescript. His 
three-day total weight is 79 pounds, 9 ounces. Heading into the final round, he’s in striking range despite not catching a bass over 7 pounds. While no one was about to hand Haralson a tissue, he is long overdue for a kicker.
“I was catching fish, just not the right ones,” he said. “That spot has given me all it can give.”
Haralson’s primary area is in shallow water, where he targeted spawning females. He estimates that single spot has coughed up 140 pounds of bass over three days between him and his co-anglers.
Each day, he leaves that area after a catching a solid limit and moves to deep water in search of a prespawn kicker – a kicker he is long overdue for.
“I fished for prespawners for four hours today. Thirteen of the 15 fish I have weighed have come from 3 feet or less.
“I thought this was my tournament to win coming in, but now it’s a horse race. I know where I’m going tomorrow and I’ll be the only one there.”
Gaia fourth
Andy Gaia of Tomball, Texas, ascended to the fourth spot among the pros after catching a limit weighing 26-14. Gaia has been perhaps the most consistent angler this week and his stringers have gotten slightly heavier each day.
“The first day I caught a lot of fish,” Gaia said. “The second day I only had seven or eight bites but there were five good ones. I had a few more bites today but it was still pretty slow.”
Gaia, like most others, is fishing shallow in approximately 4 to 8 feet. His key bait this week has been a Zoom Brush Hog. With one day remaining, his total weight stands at 77 pounds, 15 ounces.
Reneau fifth
Del Rio, Texas, native Tim Reneau calls Lake Amistad home, but Falcon Lake is suiting him just fine for the time being. Bucking the trend of fishing shallow for spawning bass, Reneau is mixing it up out deep. 
Despite not catching a five-bass limit on day two, Reneau’s opening-round total was 74-12.
“I’m flipping – trying to target prespawn fish in 15 feet of water,” he said. “In those deep trees you’re going to lose some. I lost two big fish the first two days so I was happy to get them in today.”
Reneau is using a 3/4-ounce Oldham jig with a Strike King Rage craw trailer. That presentation worked to the tune of 28 pounds, 13 ounces Friday.
“I’m only averaging six or seven bites a day.”
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top 10 pros after day three on Falcon Lake:
6th: David Truax, of Beaumont, Texas, 72-10
7th: Russell Cecil of Willis, Texas, 71-14
8th: Stephen Johnston of Hemphill, Texas, 71-4
9th: Peter Daniels of Shreveport, La., 71-3
10th: Toby Hartsell of Livingston, Texas, 70-10
Each of the top 10 pros caught limits Friday. In fact, 122 of the 151 pros caught limits.
Rogers rakes in 78-2
That aforementioned co-angler who caught 78 pounds, 2 ounces over three days is Bill Rogers. The Sam Rayburn stalwart is one of the best co-anglers in the game, regardless of circuit. He has 20 top-10 finishes in his FLW Outdoors career and in 2005 he placed in the top 10 three times on the Wal-Mart 
FLW Tour. Still, he has never seen anything like Falcon Lake.
“I walloped them today,” said the Jasper, Texas, native. “I was hoping I had 30.”
Rogers caught 29-14 Friday flipping a Zoom Brush Hog with 65-pound braided line. Nearly all the fish in his tournament creel weighed roughly 6 pounds.
“I betcha that’s some kind of record,” Rogers said of his 78-2 over three days.
Despite one of the best amateur track records in the sport, Rogers has never won a Stren Series event. He’s led countless times only to be paired with a pro on the final day that preferred a different style of fishing.
“I’ve had so many top-10s it hurts. But I’ve never had this much weight and I will never have another three days like this. This is a tournament of a lifetime.”
Peace second
Ray Peace’s three-day total weight of 72 pounds, 11 ounces is impressive in its own right. The 
Arlington, Texas, native caught a 27-pound limit Friday and thought he was in the driver’s seat for his first victory. Leave it to Rogers to spoil all the fun.
“We’ve still got another day to fish tomorrow,” said Peace. “I’m going to give it heck.”
Peace is catching his fish with a Texas-rigged 10-inch ribbontail worm in watermelon color.
Rest of the best
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are David Tierney of Fayetteville, Ark. (15 bass, 67-7); Eddie Stagg of Jasper, Texas (13 bass, 64-15); and Bo Middleton of Elgin, Okla. (15 bass, 64-14).
Rounding out the top 10 co-anglers who will fish day four on Falcon Lake:
6th: Robert Arnold of Little Rock, Ark., 62-4 (day-two leader)
7th: J.R. Howard of Sterling City, Texas, 62-3
8th: Mannie Lackey of Kerrville, Texas, 61-5
9th: Duke Gunnell of Mexia, Texas, 61-2
10th: Mark Oakley of Davis, Okla., 60-11
Eight of the top 10 co-anglers caught limits Friday. In fact, 71 of the 150 co-anglers caught limits.
The final day of competition begins as the top 10 pros and top 10 co-anglers take off from the Beacon Lodge at 7 a.m. Central time Saturday.