Derek Jenkel of Pinckneyville, Ill., weighed an 18-03 limit Saturday to win the Lake of the Ozarks Central FLW Series finale with a three-day total of 52-05.
On the final day, Jenkel said he focused on one key stretch of docks, which produced the majority of the bass he brought to the scale.
“I’m not sure why, but there was a great population of fish in that location,” said Jenkel. “I had three different rods on the deck, and flipped until my arm hurt – and then I flipped some more.”
Jenkel edged former Elite Series pro Mark Tucker for the win. Tucker finished with 51-04. Former Bassmaster Classic and Forrest Wood Cup champ Dion Hibdon took 3rd with 51-01. Dustin Evans finished 4th with 48-13 while Marcus Sykora rounded out the top 5 with 48-06.
Jenkel said he used a green-pumpkin and blue-colored Gambler Lures Tube and a Cumberland Craw-colored Lunker Lures Limit Series Jig to catch eight keepers on day 1. Additional details of his pattern will be published soon.
Here's how the top 10 finished up:
1. Derek Jenkel: 52-05
2. Mark Tucker: 51-04
3. Dion Hibdon: 51-01
4. Dustin Evans: 48-13
5. Marcus Sykora: 48-06
6. Brian Maloney: 47-02
7. Cory Steckler: 45-01
8. Shawn Kowal: 44-09
9. Jim Young: 44-01
10. Dustin Blevins: 42-07
