Jared Lintner capitalized on the fall transition Saturday to capture the Bassmaster Opens Championship at Table Rock Lake.
The California angler, who has announced he'll depart the Elite Series for the new Bass Pro Tour for 2019, wrapped up the win with a 10-15 stringer to push his three-day total to 37-00.
Brandon Lester took 2nd with 34-11 and Derek Hudnall was 3rd with 34-01.
With the bass in their fall transition, they were most active in the low-light conditions as they moved from deep to shallow water.
“I knew the bass were moving shallow, just not enough to put together a reliable pattern,” Lintner said.
He discovered greater concentrations of bass holding on steeper, tapering shorelines used as migration routes.
“It started replicating itself so I went searching for similar areas,” he explained.
On Saturday, the sun came out and the post-frontal funk set in. Lintner caught his limit by 8:30 a.m. The sun grew brighter, the wind went calm and the bite shut down.
“The low light compensated for the lack of wind, which made the pattern really click,” he said. “Without wind, the fish could see lures from farther away in the clearer water.”
Lintner alternated between a SPRO RkCrawler 55 crankbait, and a Jackall MC/60. He also used a 3/4-ounce jig with a Strike King Rage Bug trailer. He flipped the latter setup when encountering isolated cedar trees near the transition areas.
Lintner claimed a berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic with the win. Also qualifying for the Classic were Frank Talley, Brad Whatley and Hudnall from the Central Division. Lester, Bobby Lane and Garrett Paquette made it through the Eastern Division. Lane also qualified through the Elite Series points.
Here's a look at how the top 12 finished up:
1. Jared Lintner: 37-00
2. Brandon Lester: 34-11
3. Derek Hudnall: 34-01
4. Bobby Lane: 32-07
5. Scott Suggs: 32-03
6. Carl Jocumsen: 31-15
7. Stephen Browning: 31-08
8. Luke Palmer: 30-10
9. Caleb Sumrall: 28-15
10. Mark Rose: 27-01
11. Justin Atkins: 26-06
12. Tyler Rivet: 22-13
Additional details about Lintner's winning pattern will be published soon.
