MUSKOGEE, Okla. – Success on Day 1 of the Toyota Series Presented by Phoenix Boats Southwestern Division event on the Arkansas River was no guarantee of success on Day 2. Changing conditions, lots of incoming water and tough fishing shuffled up the leaderboard, and a few who stayed consistent are on top, combined with a few who put together stellar rallies on Day 2.
In the lead, Levi Thibodaux added 14 pounds, 11 ounces to a 12-pound bag on Day 1 for a 27-2 total. Behind him, Chad Mrazek put up 13-9 for a 26-7 total, and Devin Freeman is tight in third with 26-2. Making a big rally to get up to fourth, Andrew Rickman blasted 16-3, the biggest bag of the event, and slid into fourth.
On the co-angler side, James Edmonds has a big lead with eight for 21-6, and Alan Hults is in second with seven for 18-9. For solid proof of how tough the fishing is, no co-angler managed to limit two days in a row.
Thibodaux mixing and matching for the lead
Starting the event in ninth, Thibodaux moved up big on Day 2. Making the run down to Kerr Reservoir, the young pro is new to the Arkansas River, but certainly no stranger to playing shallow, and, after last week in the Tackle Warehouse Pro Circuit event at Eufaula, he’s in tune with the Oklahoma bass.
“It’s kind of just fishing, and it’s coming together,” Thibodaux said. “This morning started fast, yesterday kind of did too. I found a school in practice, and yesterday morning I started on that school and pretty much caught my limit off of it.
“This morning, instead of going there first, I went and fished some other stuff that I thought might have had some pressure on it,” he said. “I’m glad I did, because there were a lot of boats in there, but I had 10 or 11 pounds pretty quick, and I had a couple big ones that didn’t convert.”
Using Zook rods and punching some mats with a Big Bite Baits Fighting Craw and a Big Bite Baits YoMama, Thibodaux is also mixing in some shallow LiveScope action.
“I feel like that might be a little against the trend on this place,” he said of his ‘Scope success. “I’m fishing so shallow, if one is on it and doesn’t want to do it, there’s not much I can do other than not catch it. You can’t reverse or anything when you’re in like a foot.”
Even his offshore school isn’t deep.
“They’re in 3 or 4 foot of water; the water is so nasty, I don’t think they could get deeper – the water looks like a brick,” he said. “But, they’re in an offshore area.”
Tomorrow, Thibodaux will have a few options to work with, and though he’s won as a co-angler and in college, the Louisiana pro has yet to seal the deal on a big one. With the fishing as hard as it is for everyone, Saturday could be a good chance to win, but it won’t be easy.
“I feel good, but I really don’t know how to feel,” he said. “Every time I’m in this position, I’ve blown it. So, I’m hoping I don’t blow it.”
7 Brew Angler of the Year race continues
With only the Top 25 fishing on the final day, movement is limited, but there will still be an intense battle for 7 Brew Angler of the Year. Chris Jones, Cody Ross and Andrew Rickman all made the cut, and depending on what happens on Saturday, any of them might have a shot at it. Starting the event in the lead and now ahead in the event and the points, Jones will be hard to beat. A local expert and very seasoned, it looks like he has the inside track to his second Southwestern Division AOY title.
Top 10 pros
1. Levi Thibodaux – 27 – 2 (10)
2. Chad Mrazek – 26 – 7 (10)
3. Devin Freeman – 26 – 2 (10)
4. Andrew Rickman – 25 – 1 (9)
5. Rodney Copeland – 24 – 13 (10)
6. Denton Cooper – 24 – 5 (10)
7. Chris Jones – 24 – 1 (10)
8. Aaron Johnson – 23 – 10 (10)
9. Jeff Clark – 23 – 2 (9)
10. Shonn Goodwin – 22 – 8 (8)