Mike Pedroza, a part-time guide on the Red River, caught a 17-01 bag today to pull into the lead at the Bassmaster Central Open at that venue with a 2-day total of 29-02.
“I have a lot of local knowledge here, and that helps,” said Pedroza, who moved up from 20th place.
With only three keepers in the boat, Pedroza decided to change locations in the afternoon.
“When the sun popped out at about 2 o’clock, I moved to another location ¬– a duck blind – and caught two off of that to complete my limit. I came back there at about 4 o’clock and caught my biggest fish (a 5-pounder).
“That last fish was just a gift. I was just kind of bumping the duck blind and turned around to talk to my partner. When I looked back, my line was just moving out so I set the hook, and I was just hanging on then.”
Chad Morgenthaler weighed 15-05 today to move into 2nd with 27-01. Day-1 leader Jimmy Johnson brought in just 7-07 and fell to 14th, missing the cut.
Here are the totals for the anglers who'll return to the water for the final day:
1. Mike Pedroza: 29-02
2. Chad Morgenthaler: 27-01
3. Randall Tharp: 26-15
4. Justin Lucas: 26-08
5. Peter Daniels: 25-13
6. Craig Schuff: 24-12
7. Roy Sanford: 24-09
8. Wesley Strader: 24-07
9. Roger Richter: 24-05
10. Mike Iaconelli: 24-03
11. Ken Iyobe: 24-02
12. Stephen Browning: 24-00
