James Watson, an FLW Tour pro from Missouri, moved to the top of the standings at the Table Rock Lake Bassmaster Central Open in his home state on Friday as a 15-04 stringer improved his 2-day total to 30-03. He'll take a 4-pound lead into the final day.
“I had to find calm water today,” said the 42-year-old Watson. “I couldn't get bit in the wind today, but yesterday I did get bit in the wind. So today I had to shift gears and find the calmest water I could to get bit.”
Having fished the lake his whole life, Watson understands the many faces of his home waters.
“That’s Table Rock – it’s a crapshoot. If I'm not catching them a certain way, I know I need to make a couple of adjustments to get that one clue. I got the clue this morning and I just stayed with it.”
During practice, Watson caught 15 to 16 pounds a day on multiple lures and patterns. He also found out he needed to do a lot of running and gunning.
“Today I fished nothing that I fished yesterday,” he said. “And tomorrow, guess what? (I’ll fish) all new stuff.”
Jim Dillard, the day-1 leader, caught only three fish for 5-04 and finished 19th. Tommy Biffle, who started the day in 2nd, managed just a single keeper for 2-10 and plummeted to 51st.
Here are the totals for the 12 anglers who qualified to compete on the final day:
1. James Watson: 30-03
2. Justin Margraves: 26-00
3. Joseph Brantley: 25-12
4. Rick Clunn: 25-12
5. Jacob Wheeler: 25-03
6. Shane Long: 25-01
7. Luke Clausen: 24-10
8. Brett Preuett: 24-02
9. James Elam: 24-02
10. Josh Bertrand: 23-11
11. Samuel Canoe: 23-04
12. Jay Brainard: 23-00
